Original Correspondence.

Original Correspondence .

r We do net hold ourselves res : > 'Mi . Mnlt : for , or even as appTtn-lne -if theopinions "pressed In- our correspondents , but we wish , in a spirit of fair play to afl , to permit—within certain necewarj limits—free discussion . — En . ]

THE SUi'REME COUN'Cft . . ;; , ' IN' SCOTL VXD . Letter from D G . A . Walker A mott , t . i Alexander James Stewart , Grand Clerk « f t ' . ie Grand L-J Ige i > f Scotland . 2 . Victoria Terrace , Downhill , near Glasgow , 18 April , 1 S 7 ; . My dear Sir ,

To answer your letter fully would consume a vast deal mere time than I cm afford , particularly as you seem to be perfectly ignorant of vvh it preceded the formation of the Supreme Council of the 3 ; r . l by Dr . Morrison . The order of Mizraim of Qi ° wis established in Scotland about 40 years ago , I think in 1 S 22 , b-. it p .-ih : i ; is earlier ; at all events , it w : is ljnar he ' ore M u - . -li rSe ; . The heads

of that body were the Messrs . Be . Urridj , of Paris . The late Duke of Athole , and Bro . II . R . Roux and some others were admitted to the 90 th degree , and in March several o ' . h . rs to th .: nu ' . h and inferior degrees . I had oace a copy ot the printed original list , but it seems to have gone astriy Alexr . Deuchar , Sir Patrick Walker , and some others were

admitted to the ijoth ia 1829 . The same year it was establishe . l here the Uedarndu esta ' jH . died it in Ireland , and there it forms the third series of their Supreme Council of Rites . The order of Mizraim contained all the degrees that belong to the Rite Ancient of 33 ( and many more ) , except the two highest degrees , the 32 ° and 33 . You must be aware also , that what was

called Prussian Masonry , or the Rite of Perfection , consisted of 25 degrees , and that the highest is the " Princes of the Royal Secret , " and identical with the 32 nd of the " Ancient Scottish Rite . " These were the original degrees , but in America an addition took place in the beginning of the century ( 4 th December , 1802 , at Charleston ) , so as to make the total number 31 ( the number

of years our Saviour was 0 : 1 earth ) . No new degree was however concocted , except the 33 ° itself , all the other 7 were taken from the floating degrees belonging to several small rites in France anil elsewhere , all perfectly- puerile . Now the Rite of Perfection of 25 degrees was brought to Scotland , from America , bcfo . e the Rite Ancient , and Alexr . Deuchar and some others initiated . Deuchar ,

however , had a wish that all Masonic degrees above M . M ., should , if not Christian , be placed under the Royal Aich series ; and all those that were Christian , made part of those of the Temple . No arrangement was however completed , although many of the degiecs were in accordance with that view , given by him in the Royal Arch Chapters and Templar " Encampments . "

The history of the Ancient and Accepted Rite in Scotland is more obscure . From documents shewn to me by Mr . A Deuchar , it appeared that both he and the late Duke of Athole had receiyed the 33 . regularly , as they believed , and , in consequence , Mr . Deuch ir received from France , in French , the Ritual of the 33 ° , I think also of the 31 or 32 , bat these he already had .

I was admitted by A . De-uehar to the first degree of Mizraim as far as the 77 th 0 : 1 23 rd November , 1 S 42 , and as Mr . Deuchar was anxious that f shoul I relieve him of the trouble of looking after the high degr . es , I was soon after promoted to the go , an 1 I als . ) obtained the highest degree of all the other rites . No one doubted the perfect legality of our practising

these until Dr . Morrison cam , and , as the proper documents had leen lost , he deemeii that the Kite Ancier . t had been properly established , in consequence of the body with which he was connected in Paris laying down certain forms , which were not regarded necessary by the oher body in France which practise I the Right Ancient , viz ., the Grand Orient of France , the only me now permitted to

practise Masonry , and by which our body here would be regarded as irregular , having derived its authority from the polluted source if their opponent- - . From this yon will at once understand that , although there may be a doubt ab . iut the power of the Scottish Council of Rites , formed by tile anialg ima ' . i > n of all the rites , to initiate anyone into the liite Ancient generally ,

we had a full right to confer all the degrees it contains except the 33 ° itself . The object of establishing these degrees here was one merely of curio .-, i : y ; no i ne eonsal . rerl it to . be of the smallest value , and the only object was to keep up the knowledge of them as a record of the folly of those who aspired to " high d egrees . " A mere trifle was therefore charged for

initiation , or rather affiliation , from those who resided in Scotland , but a higher rate was taken from those out of Scotland , because they had some peculiar object in view . Now , if my memoranda be correct , James Bell and . two others , all Knights of the Royal Order and Royal Arch companions of the Chapter Edinburgh , No . 1 , were affiliated into the Degree of Rose Croix in March , 184 ; , and

as our rule was to admit them members of all the tites as far as the same degree , in each , this would probably be done . The same at least were all admitted to the degree of K . H ., and afterwards to the 87 th Degree of Mizraim , to the 25 th Degree of Rite of Perfection , and 32 nd Degree of the Ancient Rite . Archibald Douglas alone was then admitted to the 33 " , but I know that others were

afterwards , but feel sure that among these Mr . Bell was not . After Dr . Morrison established the 33 ° in his own fashion , I , feeling that there was great impropriety in there being two such powe 3 in Scotland , refused to hold any meetings of the original body , although I did not object to confer the degrees in Mizraim and Rite of Perfection—in short , all except the "Grand Inspector General . " I formed

Original Correspondence.

the determination rather to ailow the whole to drop than to do anything that would cause umbrage . I ought to incnttrm that Bro . W . Alex . Laurie , Secretary to lhc Grand Lodge , had been admitted to the Rose Croix , to the rjctli of Mizraim , and to the 33 rd Degree of the Aneient R . te inSiptcmber , 1845 . After Dr . Morrison's death—r . t least , I think it was not

till then—a proposal was ^ made to me to join the 33 ° , as the-ie was then a vacancy . I refused , unless arrangements could be made to admit also to the same degree they who had obtained from my Supreme Council all those in my list—and at a trifling fee—and that if there was no place for them at present in the corresponding degree they were to be received into that of next highest , with the

understanding that they were to be promoted when a vacancy occurred , or at all events were to be so according to seniority—they to rank from the date at which they had obtained the degree from Supreme Council . This was agreed to by the late J . L . Woodman , and I find a memorandum among my papers , dated Glasgow , 1 st May , 1857 , ( at the time I left Glasgow and came to

reside here , and when ray Masonic papers were likely to get into great confusion by the flitting—indeed , same have entirely disappeared ) , to the following effect : — "In consequence of the Rite Ancient having been established in Scotland by D . \ Charles Morrison , in connection with the Supreme Council of the 33 ° of France , and as the late Alex . Degchar had left no documents to shuw

that this rite had been properly established in Scotland , and that he had been admitted a member of the 33 rd Degree according to the precise mariner laid down in its regulations , the members of the Supreme Council of Ritrs agreed , without any formal meeting , that they would no longer grant any degree as part of the Rite Ancient , and on the other hand the newU-formed bc-dy agreed to admit ,

as far as there was a place for them , those of the 33 ° , i . i connection with the Council of Rites , cither to the 33 ° , or to the next highest degree in which there might be a vacancy , on payment of a modified fee . It was in consequence agreed , also , by the members of the Council of Rites , that in future they would not grant any degrees but those belonging to the Order of Mizraim , and , moreover ,

that they ' would not grant more than the 45 th Degiee to one who was tut a memb . r of the Royal Order , or of the 18 th of the Rite Ancient , or more than the ( 13 rd Degree until one had obtained the 30 th of the Rite Ancient , or the 06 th Degree to one who had not received the 31 st in the Rite Ancient . This was agreed to , so as to avoid any collision , and in the hope that the fees would be made so

moderate as not to exclude brethren . But the members of the Order of Mizraim reserved to themselves power at any time , if they saw cause , to act quite independently of the Rite Ancient , especially if they found it placed obstacles , either by high fees or the ballot , in the way of any brother of respectability , although not of civil rank , obtaining all the degrees up to the list inclusive .

" In consequence of the above , no meeting has taken place for several years , the general wish being to allow the Order of Mizraim to die out , unless for the purpose of admitting some worthy brother who would take charge of the papers of the body . " I do not recollect what the modified fees ' were ( but think £ 1 is . ) made by the Supreme Council of ? i ° . I alone was

admitted to the 33 ° , there being only one vacancy . Archibald Douglas and some others of my 33 were admitted to the 3 2 ° ; others cared so little about it that they would not apply or pay the fee . W . A . Laurie , I believe , refused . Dr . MacRitchie and Thomas Elder MacRitchie were both entitled to join the 32 ° , but I do not , know if they did so . Mr . Bell , about whom you wrote , was entitled to join the

32 ° , but not the 33 ° ; or , if the number was limited , and no place for him , he was entitled to join the 31 st , it being distinctly understood that the modified fee was to be a single payment for all the 31 , 32 , and 33 ° , and that no fee whatever was to be paid for K . IL , or Rose Croix , unless they wished a diplama , when they were to pay for the parchment , & c .

I have faithfully kept to my part of the bargain , and hope that the Supreme Council will ke .-p to theirs . I regret to say that in the matter of thcRiyil Order , and the iS ° , it was distinctly understood by Woodman and myself , when the aiticles of agreement were made , that everyone admitted by the R iy , ii Order ^ as a Knight was entitled to be affiliated into the 18 without ballot or fees ,

the Royal Order paying the fee of £ 1 is . for them . Had Woodman been alive this paction would never have been attempted to be broken , and will force me to grant the Rose Croix of the Order of Mizraim . You will recollect , also , that the Rose Croix formed part of the degree of the Temple in England and Scotland long before Dr . Morrison introduced the 33 ' . Mr . Bell ' s oath to the body under me

prevents his publishing any secrets , and I do not believe he ever had access to the rituals , at least not from me . Yours , very truly , G . A . WAI . KEH AHNOTT . P . S . As I know you dislike reading or writing long letters , I shall here . add a summary—my reasons being given above . 1 . Mr . Bell was a member of the 32 ° before the Rite

Ancient was established in Scotland by Dr . Morrison . 2 . Mr . Bell is entitled to be admitted to the 31 ° of your now established Rite Ancient , in virtue of the agreement between me and Mr . Woodman—although rather late of asking to be affiliated with you . j . Mr . Bell is not entitled to be affiliated except on payment of the modified fee , I believe £ 1 is ., but the

Supreme Council books will show what the others paidas Arch' ! . Douglas , etc . 4 . Mr . Bell is not entitled to free himself from his oath and publish any rituals , & c ., unless you violate the paction with me . tg $ . Mr . Bell remains still a member of the 8 7 of Mizraim , which I regret you do not combine with the Rite

Original Correspondence.

Ancient , nearly as done in Ireland , in the one Supreme Council of Rites , and so end these squabbles . 6 . 'I he first principles of Masonry , I was taught , were equality as far as regards civil rank or private fortune , and to give high office to those only who had proved themselves best Masons , provided their character in the world was unblemished . Bv these principles I have been

actuated throughout ; and as Mr . James Bell had been admitted in the Royal Order , and afteiwarJs into the Order of Mizraim , Perfection , etc ., at a time , too , when it was difficult to rouse any one to assist in ( the giving ) the higher degrees , I see no reason why he ought not to be admitted at once to the 32 ° , or , if the number is limited , into the 31 ° until a vacancy in the 32 ° takes place , and

that lor the modified fee , but without ballot , and by m-rely taking the vow of allegiance to you . 7 . I furnished Mr . Woodman at the time with a list of all ( not many ) who belonged to the several rites under me , and the degree in the series of 33 ° to which each was entitled . It would cost me too much trouble and time

now to furnish another , from my having allowed the rites to b . come almost obsolete . G . A . W . A . Be so good as to ' read this postcript to Mr . Bell , or I will send a copy if you wish it . Since writing the preceding I have foui . d the following memorandum , apparently a copy of the one I gave to Woodman .

Members of Rite Ancient . Archibald Douglas , 33 " , admitted 22 nd March , 184 ; .. F . Sennebier , 31 , 22 nd March , 1845 , elected , hilt not obligated . W . Burn Callender , 31 ° , ditto .

Thomas Elder MacRitchie , \ - * V " ^ !* ' ^' ' ( 33 , 4 th July , 1845-James Bell , 32 , 22 nd March , 1845 . Edouard Fischer , ( in Belgium ) , member of the 33 R ' . te Prin de Naumur , 30 ° 4 th June , 1845 . Lieut . Walter Lawrence , 32 , Oth June , 1845 ; 33 ° , 5 th January , 1846 .

John Grant , surgeon , Calcutta , 33 , Oth June , 1845 . J . L . Hamilton Bourgoync , 3 i ° , * 4 th July , 1845 < 33 ° > 12 th September , 1845 . A . D . Barrowman , 31 ° , 4 th July , 1845 . W . D . MacRitchie , 32 , 4 th July , 1845 ; 33 ° > ' 2 ' h September , 1845 . W . Laurence , Esq ., 33 ° , 4 th July , 1845 .

W . A . Laurie , 33 , 12 th September , 1845 . Viscount Surdale , 32 ° , 5 th January , 1846 . George Phil . Stanhope , 30 , 5 th January , 1846 . J . L . Woodman , 33 ° , 5 th January , 184 C I freed Woodman from his obligation to us when he wished to join Dr . Morrison's body . The letter , hitherto unpublished , by Dr . G . A . Walker

Arnott to Alexander James Stewart ( formerly Grand Clerk , then Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of Scotland , and Secretary General to the Supreme Grand Council 33 ° > is a m ° st important document , and should be carefully noted by jour numerous Scottish reaelers . _ The career of Dr . Arnott is too well known to require any notice from me , and masonically , I presume , few would claim to be

his equals in knowledge , and none his superiors , throughout Scotland , his death being a great loss to the Craft . Bro . Stewart also was well known as Grand Clerk , and subsequently as Grand Secretary ; the latter office be held but for a short time prior to his decease . Of the names mentioned I have but to state that Bro . Archibald Douglas ( deceased ) was a searcher of Public Records in

Edinburgh . Bro . T . Sennebier ( deceased ) was a teacher of the French language and a foreigner . Bro . W . B . Callender ( deceased ) a landed proprietor , resided in Edinburgh . Bro . T . E . MacRitchie , a writer to the Signet , I am happy to state is still living , and a member of the present Supreme Grand Council 33 ° . Bro . James Bell ( deceased ) , a solicitor in the Supreme Grand Courts of Scotland , and was

proprietorof a bi-weekl y newspaper called the " North Briton , " published in Edinburgh . Bro . W . D . MacRitchie was a medical practitioner in the same city , since deceased . Bro . W . A . laurie was the Grand Secretary of Scotland prior to Bro . Stewart . Bro . Laurie succeeded his father in that

office , and the present Grand Secretary is a representative of the same family , beloved and respected by all who know him . Bro . Viscount Suidale became subsequently Earl of Donoughmore , and Grand Warden of Seotland , and Bro . T . L . Woodman was a writer to th : Signet , Grand Clerk to the Grand Lodge of Scotland , and has been dead for

many years . In the other names I have not discovered any particulars worth chroniclinsr here . W . J . HOGHAN .

A QUERY FOR BRO . J . C . PARKINSON . To the Editor of the Freemason , Dear Sir and Brother , — Do I understand our excellent Bro . J . C . Parkinson , to say Dr . Samuel Johnson was a Freemason ,

as appears from a speech at the centenary festival of St . Thomas ' s Lodge , recently reported in the columns of the " Freemason ? " This is a new fact , and if a fact , most interesting to all . Yours fraternally . A MASONIC STUDENT .

BRO . BURGESS AND THE MARK DEGREE . To the Editor of the Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — Will you in the cause of fair play allow me to say in the " Freemason " that , having learnt on the 26 th

of November last that a meeting of the Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons would be held on the 30 th of that month , I at once addressed a letter to the Secretary , asking him to place before that Grand Lodge my claim ' , to be at once re-instated , on the ground of my expulsion having been illegally carried out , in defiance of Article 13 of the