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  • Dec. 20, 1884
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  • GRADE AND DEGREE.
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    Article CONSTITUTION OF A PROV. GRAND ROYAL ARCH CHAPTER FOR GLOUCESTERSHIRE. ← Page 2 of 2
    Article SOME ANCIENT YORK MASONS AND THEIR EARLY HAUNTS. Page 1 of 1
    Article SOME ANCIENT YORK MASONS AND THEIR EARLY HAUNTS. Page 1 of 1
    Article GRADE AND DEGREE. Page 1 of 1
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.

Constitution Of A Prov. Grand Royal Arch Chapter For Gloucestershire.

qualities which had approved Sir Michael Hicks-Beach to the Fraternity ; but he expressed , on behalf of H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , the pleasure with which he had appointed to his present honour one who , having occupied a distinguished place in the councils of the nation , and whose time had shewn such

was so largely given to the public service , great interest in Masonry , and had governed his province with such distinguished ability . He hoped and believed that under Sir Michael's beneficent sway the Province of Gloucester would continue still further to grow and unfold in Masonic strength and unity .

The Grand Superintendent of the province then nominated as his Second and Third Principals Comps . Brook-Smith ( his Deputy ) , and H . Jeffs , and they were duly installed and proclaimed . The election of Treasurer followed , to which office Comp . Gwinnett ( Prov . G . Treas . ) was elected by the acclamation of the chapter . Comp . Phillips was also elected Janitor . The remaining officers were then appointed by the Grand Superintendent , the full list of appointments being as follows :

Comp . Right Hon . Sir Michael Hicks-Beach , Bart ., P . Z ., Prov . G . M . Gloucester ... ... Prov . G . Supt . „ J . Brook-Smith , M . A ., P . Z ., D . Prov . G . M . ... Prov . G . H . „ H . Jeffs , P . Z ., P . P . J . G . W . Prov . G . J . „ E . Trinder , P . Z ., Prov . G . Sec . ... ... Prov . G . S . E . „ A . V . Hatton , P . Z ., P . P . J . G . W Prov . G . S . N .

„ J . Walker , M . A ., P . Z ., P . P . S . G . W . ... Prov . G . Pr . Soj „ T . ] . Cottle , P . Z ., P . P . J . G . W Prov . G . Asst . Soj „ J . . Winterbotham , P . Z ., P . P . G . J . W . ... Prov . G . 2 nd A . S „ W . H . Gwinnett , P . Z ., Prov . G . Treas . ... Prov . G . Treas . „ VV . L . Bain , P . Z ., P . P . G . R . ... ... Prov . G . Reg .

„ F . VV . Fisher , P . Z ., P . P . G . S . W Prov . G . Swd . B „ W . B . Stocker , P . Z ., P . P . G . S . D . ... ... Prov . G . Std . B . „ L . Winterbotham , P . Z ., P . P . G . R . ... ... Prov . G . D . C . „ J . A . Matthews ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Org . „ H . Phillips , Prov . G . Tyler ... ... ... Prov . G . Janitor .

The ordinary business of the chapter having been transacted , Provincial Grand Chapter was closed , and the companions retired to the banqueting room , where an excellent dinner was served . The Grand Superintendent presided , and in the course of the toast list , acknowledging the fraternal cordiality with which his appointment had been received , he spoke of the pleasure it gave him to meet , in an atmosphere where party was unknown , the cordial and kindly friends who met him on occasions like the present .

An incident of the evening was the presentation to Col . Shadwell H . Clerke , on behalf of Comp . Jeffs , of one of the medals struck in 1791 upon the installation of the Prince of Wales , afterwards George the Fourth , as Grand Master of the Order .

Some Ancient York Masons And Their Early Haunts.

SOME ANCIENT YORK MASONS AND THEIR EARLY HAUNTS .

BY BRO . T . B . VVHYTEHEAD , YORK . Continued from page 529 . On the 16 th May a " gentleman " named Gregory Rhodes was admited , and on the 24 th June two more " gentlemen , " named Jno . Crossley and Wm . Johnstone , were initiated . . The latter seems to have been a doctor , and I suspect was a member of a Jacobite family of the name who lived at

Pontefract . One of them had a house in York , and was amongst the recusants who were punished by fine and imprisonment about this time . At the same time as the two last entered the Society , the following other " persons " were made : William Marshall , Ralph Campleman , Matthew Cellar ( his marke ) , Benjamin Campbell , William Muschamp , Wm . Robinson , Matthew Gray , John Bradleay , and John Hawman .

At this time the old lodge at York suffered from a little internal trouble . It is recorded under date of July 6 th , 1726 , that " Whereas it has been certify'd to me that Mr . 'Willm . Scourfield has presum'd to call a Lodge and make Masons without the consent of the Grand Master or Deputy , and in opposition to the Sth Article of the Constitutions , I do , with the consent of the Grand Master and the approbation of the whole Lodge , declare him to be disqualify'd from being a member of this Society , and he is hereby for ever banish'd from thc

same . " Such members as were assisting in constituting and forming Mr . Scourlield ' s Scismatical Lodge on the 24 of the last month , whose names are John Carpenter , William Musgrave , Thomas Allansen , and Thos . Preston , are , b y the same authority , liable to the same sentence ; * yet upon their acknowled g ing their error in being deluded and making such submission as shall be judg'd requisite by the Grand Master and Lodge at the next monthly meeting , shall be receiv'd into the favour of the Brotherhood , otherwise to be banish'd with Mr . Scourfield , and their names to be eras'd out of the Roll and Articles .

"If any other Brother or Brothers shall hereafter separate from us , or be aiding and assisting in forming any Lodge under the said Mr . Scourfield or other any person without due license for the same , He or they so offending shall be disown'das members of this Lodge , and for ever excluded from the same . " The names of Carpenter and Allansen have not appeared previously in the minutes .

On the same day , at the lodge at which the above minute was recorded , at Gibson ' s Hotel , in Blake-street , Henry Tireman and Will . Thompson were admitted . Tireman is an old York name . Henry Tireman was Sheriff in 1 744 . On August 13 th , 1726 , Bellingham Graham and Nic . Roberts were sworn . The former was a son of Sir Reginald Graham , of North Conyers . He died unmarried in 1730 .

The next minute is dated December 13 th , 1726 , and says that " at a private Lodge at the Star , in Stonegate , the Right Honble . Arthur Ld . Viscount Irwin was sworn and admitted . " This was a Scotch peerage , now extinct , and very short lived . The founder of the family was Hugh Ingram , a London merchant , who died in 1612 , having acquired the Temple Newsham property . The third viscount married an Isabel Machel , and

had nine sons , of whom five—Edward , Richard , Arthur , Henry , and George—were successively fourth , fifth , sixth , seventh , and eighth viscounts . Ihe last viscount died at Temple Newsham in 1778 . The first viscount was Secretary to the Council of the North at York , and had a mansion in the Minster-yard , where James , Duke of York and Albany and his Duchess were lodged during their visit to York , already mentioned .

wo cl ^" * " ' , ater another meeting was held at the Star , when Jno . Motley , Wm . Dayile , and Thos . Trowsell were sworn , and on the 22 nd of the same month Richard Woodhouse and Robart Selburn were admitted . Here we find a long gap in the records , extending to Midsummer , 1829 , during which time we have no record as to the doings of the York brethren . Happily within the last few days I have obtained some information , which

Some Ancient York Masons And Their Early Haunts.

has enabled me to bridge over a portion of the chasm , and placed us in possession of the name of another Grand Master at York . A short time ago , I noticed in an old copy of " Dcbrett" a statement that the first baronet of the Milner family was Grand Master of Freemasons in England . I knew that he had been made at York , as also that he had not been Grand Master of either of the Southern Bodies , and , after some inquiry and the kind assistanceof Capt . Clements Markham and of Bro . Sir F . G . Miiner , I have ascertained that the first baronet was Grand Master at York in 1728-0 . In

a MS . work in four volumes in Leeds Library , entitled " A Collection of Coats of Arms and Descents of the Several Families of the West Riding , from MSS . of John Hopkinson ; corrected by T . VVilson , of Leeds , " is the following entry under the name of Sir VV . Milner : On St . John Baptist Day , 1728 , at York , he was elected Grand Master of the Freemasons in England , being the 79 S successor from Edwin the Great . " This is an interesting addition to thc list of the York Grand Masters .

It would be still more interesting to discover the entire list of Grand Masters as given by the early Masons from Edwin at York , if such they promulgated . Thc number in descent from Edwin seems to show that they believed in a regular actual succession , and that they had a list of names . Where is this list now ?

Referring again to the roll of minutes , we find that on June 24 th , 1729 , " at St . John's Lodge , " at the Star Inn , Basil Forcer and John Lambe were sworn . These are both names of old Durham families . " The same day Edward Thompson , Junior , of Marston , Esq ., was chosen Grand Master ; Mr . John Wilmer , Deputy Grand Master ; Mr . George Rhodes and Mr . George Reynoldson , Grand Wardens for the year ensuing , and afterwards the Grand Master was pleased to order ye following appointments , viz . :

" I do appoint Dr . Johnson and Mr . Drake , Mr . Marsden , Mr . Denton , Mr . Brigham , Mr . R . Marsh , and Air . Ettv to assist in regulating ye state of the Lodge , and redressing from time to time any inconveniences that may arise . " EDWD . THOMPSON , Grand Master . "

Here , again it will be noted are names occurring for the first time . This Board of General Purposes cannot have been a success . At all events , no lodge meetings are recorded until the 4 th May , 1730 , when one was held at the White Swan , in Petergate , and it was then " Order'd by thc Dep . Master then present that if from thenceforth any of the officers of ye Lodge should be absent from ye company at ye monthl y Lodges they shall forfeit the sum of one shilling for each omission . "J WILMER , Dep . G . M . "

This is the last entry on the parchment roll of minutes . Edward Thompson , junior , was the grandson of Sir Henry Thompson , of Marston , who was Lord Mayor in 1663 and the ancestor of the present Lord Wenlock .

It will be observed that throughout the whole of thc foregoing minutes no mention whatever is made of degrees , so that either the three must have been conferred in one evening , or , what is more likely , thc ceremony was much simpler than what was practised elsewhere , and was , in fact , a survival of the old guild ceremony and a simple swearing in and communication of tokens and words .

It is possible that some of the descendants of these ancient brethren may possess family papers and records that would throw li ght upon our early history . That such things must exist is certain , and the only difficulty is in getting at them . Perhaps this list of their names may have the effect of drawing attention to Ihe subject .

Grade And Degree.

GRADE AND DEGREE .

There seems to be a little confusion in the use of these words in a recent controversy in the Freemason , which it may not bc amiss to consider and touch upon . The words are used as if there was an essential difference between them , whereas , to say the truth , strictly speaking , they are " ab origine" identical in meaning . No doubt , common usage and familiar handling seem to have brought about a difference ; but whether that difference is really justifiable is a matter of grave doubt , and deserves careful

consideration . In a popular work their difference is thus summarized—for instance , Degree means " quality , class , station , " as well as " the 360 th part of a circle , " and " 60 geographical miles ; " whereas Grade is said to denote " rank , degree , a s * ep . " VVhen , however , we look into the matter closely we find that Degree comes from the Norman- French " Degre , " and the Grade from "Graad , " a Saxon or Scandinavian word , though Johnson seems to think it also comes from the French ; and there is a French word Grade , which means the same as Degree .

Both words are derived from the Latin " gradus , " one of several steps , though there was a substantive " gradatio , " staircase , and there was an adjective gradatus , and an adverb gradation *! . Some have derived the word from gradior or gradatic , but the best derivation is clearly gradus , which alike may be translated by Degree and Grade .

Still there is a difference in common use . It is perhaps hardly safe to say , as we might be tempted to do , that the difference is between the person and the thing , but there seems to be almost a margin as between the abstract idea and the concrete fact . VVhen it is said , nevertheless , there was one Degree and two Grades before 1717 , we confess that we hardl y are able to follow the able writer in his conclusions .

We understand him , indeed , to mean that there was one degree conferred with a ceremonial , & c , and two other honorary steps or distinctions . But , as wc said before , we venture to doubt if any such difference in the meaning of the words can be safely sustained , or whether there was any such valid difference and so clearly marked . Is it not a distinction rather without a difference ?

We think we grasp the idea intended to be conveyed , —that there was a difference between a Degree conferred , and a merely titular distinction ; but then , as we said before , wc doubt if the words will bear it , and whether it is quite safe philologically or terminologically to adopt such a difference of meaning , much less to assert that such a distinction then existed or was recognized . We must always bear in mind that our use of many English

words is very corrupt and by no means expert ; and that because we affix a certain meaning to words to-day it is by no means clear that it is anything but a passing use , without authority ancl without right . Johnson clearly saw no difference in the meaning . He tells us that Grade was then a word of modern introduction , but that it meant rank , degree , and that

Degree meant quality , rank , station , place of dignity . He gives us examples of the use in other meanings of first Degree , second , third , fourth Degrees . Therefore , we think a word of caution needful , as we do not feel sure at all that we are warranted , in the common usage of the hour , to make any distinction really and truly as between Degree and Grade ,

“The Freemason: 1884-12-20, Page 3” Masonic Periodicals Online, Library and Museum of Freemasonry, 27 July 2025, django:8000/periodicals/fvl/issues/fvl_20121884/page/3/.
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CONTENTS. Article 1
Untitled Article 1
CONSECRATION OF THE BYRON LODGE OF ROYAL ARK MARINERS AT NOTTINGHAM. Article 2
CONSTITUTION OF A PROV. GRAND ROYAL ARCH CHAPTER FOR GLOUCESTERSHIRE. Article 2
SOME ANCIENT YORK MASONS AND THEIR EARLY HAUNTS. Article 3
GRADE AND DEGREE. Article 3
Untitled Ad 4
Untitled Ad 4
Untitled Ad 4
Untitled Ad 4
Untitled Ad 4
Untitled Ad 4
Untitled Ad 4
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Untitled Ad 4
Untitled Ad 4
Untitled Ad 4
Untitled Ad 4
Untitled Ad 4
Untitled Ad 4
Untitled Ad 5
Untitled Ad 5
Untitled Article 5
To Correspondents. Article 5
Untitled Article 5
Original Correspondence. Article 5
REVIEWS Article 5
Masonic Notes and Queries. Article 5
REPORTS OF MASONIC MEETINGS. Article 6
INSTRUCTION. Article 8
Royal Arch. Article 8
INSTRUCTION. Article 9
Mark Masonry. Article 9
Knights Templar. Article 9
Red Cross of Constantine. Article 9
Royal Ark Mariners. Article 9
Obituary. Article 10
MASONIC AND GENERAL TIDINGS Article 10
FREEMASONRY IN 1884. Article 11
THE " RED APRON " LODGES. Article 15
A VISIT TO THE BRITISH OPHTHALMIC HOSPITAL, JERUSALEM. Article 16
OCCURRENCES OF THE YEAR. Article 18
BRO. ROB MORRIS'S REMINISCENCES OF SMYRNA. Article 20
Untitled Article 20
Untitled Article 20
AN ALARMING DISEASE AFFLICTING A NUMEROUS CLASS. Article 20
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.

Constitution Of A Prov. Grand Royal Arch Chapter For Gloucestershire.

qualities which had approved Sir Michael Hicks-Beach to the Fraternity ; but he expressed , on behalf of H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , the pleasure with which he had appointed to his present honour one who , having occupied a distinguished place in the councils of the nation , and whose time had shewn such

was so largely given to the public service , great interest in Masonry , and had governed his province with such distinguished ability . He hoped and believed that under Sir Michael's beneficent sway the Province of Gloucester would continue still further to grow and unfold in Masonic strength and unity .

The Grand Superintendent of the province then nominated as his Second and Third Principals Comps . Brook-Smith ( his Deputy ) , and H . Jeffs , and they were duly installed and proclaimed . The election of Treasurer followed , to which office Comp . Gwinnett ( Prov . G . Treas . ) was elected by the acclamation of the chapter . Comp . Phillips was also elected Janitor . The remaining officers were then appointed by the Grand Superintendent , the full list of appointments being as follows :

Comp . Right Hon . Sir Michael Hicks-Beach , Bart ., P . Z ., Prov . G . M . Gloucester ... ... Prov . G . Supt . „ J . Brook-Smith , M . A ., P . Z ., D . Prov . G . M . ... Prov . G . H . „ H . Jeffs , P . Z ., P . P . J . G . W . Prov . G . J . „ E . Trinder , P . Z ., Prov . G . Sec . ... ... Prov . G . S . E . „ A . V . Hatton , P . Z ., P . P . J . G . W Prov . G . S . N .

„ J . Walker , M . A ., P . Z ., P . P . S . G . W . ... Prov . G . Pr . Soj „ T . ] . Cottle , P . Z ., P . P . J . G . W Prov . G . Asst . Soj „ J . . Winterbotham , P . Z ., P . P . G . J . W . ... Prov . G . 2 nd A . S „ W . H . Gwinnett , P . Z ., Prov . G . Treas . ... Prov . G . Treas . „ VV . L . Bain , P . Z ., P . P . G . R . ... ... Prov . G . Reg .

„ F . VV . Fisher , P . Z ., P . P . G . S . W Prov . G . Swd . B „ W . B . Stocker , P . Z ., P . P . G . S . D . ... ... Prov . G . Std . B . „ L . Winterbotham , P . Z ., P . P . G . R . ... ... Prov . G . D . C . „ J . A . Matthews ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Org . „ H . Phillips , Prov . G . Tyler ... ... ... Prov . G . Janitor .

The ordinary business of the chapter having been transacted , Provincial Grand Chapter was closed , and the companions retired to the banqueting room , where an excellent dinner was served . The Grand Superintendent presided , and in the course of the toast list , acknowledging the fraternal cordiality with which his appointment had been received , he spoke of the pleasure it gave him to meet , in an atmosphere where party was unknown , the cordial and kindly friends who met him on occasions like the present .

An incident of the evening was the presentation to Col . Shadwell H . Clerke , on behalf of Comp . Jeffs , of one of the medals struck in 1791 upon the installation of the Prince of Wales , afterwards George the Fourth , as Grand Master of the Order .

Some Ancient York Masons And Their Early Haunts.

SOME ANCIENT YORK MASONS AND THEIR EARLY HAUNTS .

BY BRO . T . B . VVHYTEHEAD , YORK . Continued from page 529 . On the 16 th May a " gentleman " named Gregory Rhodes was admited , and on the 24 th June two more " gentlemen , " named Jno . Crossley and Wm . Johnstone , were initiated . . The latter seems to have been a doctor , and I suspect was a member of a Jacobite family of the name who lived at

Pontefract . One of them had a house in York , and was amongst the recusants who were punished by fine and imprisonment about this time . At the same time as the two last entered the Society , the following other " persons " were made : William Marshall , Ralph Campleman , Matthew Cellar ( his marke ) , Benjamin Campbell , William Muschamp , Wm . Robinson , Matthew Gray , John Bradleay , and John Hawman .

At this time the old lodge at York suffered from a little internal trouble . It is recorded under date of July 6 th , 1726 , that " Whereas it has been certify'd to me that Mr . 'Willm . Scourfield has presum'd to call a Lodge and make Masons without the consent of the Grand Master or Deputy , and in opposition to the Sth Article of the Constitutions , I do , with the consent of the Grand Master and the approbation of the whole Lodge , declare him to be disqualify'd from being a member of this Society , and he is hereby for ever banish'd from thc

same . " Such members as were assisting in constituting and forming Mr . Scourlield ' s Scismatical Lodge on the 24 of the last month , whose names are John Carpenter , William Musgrave , Thomas Allansen , and Thos . Preston , are , b y the same authority , liable to the same sentence ; * yet upon their acknowled g ing their error in being deluded and making such submission as shall be judg'd requisite by the Grand Master and Lodge at the next monthly meeting , shall be receiv'd into the favour of the Brotherhood , otherwise to be banish'd with Mr . Scourfield , and their names to be eras'd out of the Roll and Articles .

"If any other Brother or Brothers shall hereafter separate from us , or be aiding and assisting in forming any Lodge under the said Mr . Scourfield or other any person without due license for the same , He or they so offending shall be disown'das members of this Lodge , and for ever excluded from the same . " The names of Carpenter and Allansen have not appeared previously in the minutes .

On the same day , at the lodge at which the above minute was recorded , at Gibson ' s Hotel , in Blake-street , Henry Tireman and Will . Thompson were admitted . Tireman is an old York name . Henry Tireman was Sheriff in 1 744 . On August 13 th , 1726 , Bellingham Graham and Nic . Roberts were sworn . The former was a son of Sir Reginald Graham , of North Conyers . He died unmarried in 1730 .

The next minute is dated December 13 th , 1726 , and says that " at a private Lodge at the Star , in Stonegate , the Right Honble . Arthur Ld . Viscount Irwin was sworn and admitted . " This was a Scotch peerage , now extinct , and very short lived . The founder of the family was Hugh Ingram , a London merchant , who died in 1612 , having acquired the Temple Newsham property . The third viscount married an Isabel Machel , and

had nine sons , of whom five—Edward , Richard , Arthur , Henry , and George—were successively fourth , fifth , sixth , seventh , and eighth viscounts . Ihe last viscount died at Temple Newsham in 1778 . The first viscount was Secretary to the Council of the North at York , and had a mansion in the Minster-yard , where James , Duke of York and Albany and his Duchess were lodged during their visit to York , already mentioned .

wo cl ^" * " ' , ater another meeting was held at the Star , when Jno . Motley , Wm . Dayile , and Thos . Trowsell were sworn , and on the 22 nd of the same month Richard Woodhouse and Robart Selburn were admitted . Here we find a long gap in the records , extending to Midsummer , 1829 , during which time we have no record as to the doings of the York brethren . Happily within the last few days I have obtained some information , which

Some Ancient York Masons And Their Early Haunts.

has enabled me to bridge over a portion of the chasm , and placed us in possession of the name of another Grand Master at York . A short time ago , I noticed in an old copy of " Dcbrett" a statement that the first baronet of the Milner family was Grand Master of Freemasons in England . I knew that he had been made at York , as also that he had not been Grand Master of either of the Southern Bodies , and , after some inquiry and the kind assistanceof Capt . Clements Markham and of Bro . Sir F . G . Miiner , I have ascertained that the first baronet was Grand Master at York in 1728-0 . In

a MS . work in four volumes in Leeds Library , entitled " A Collection of Coats of Arms and Descents of the Several Families of the West Riding , from MSS . of John Hopkinson ; corrected by T . VVilson , of Leeds , " is the following entry under the name of Sir VV . Milner : On St . John Baptist Day , 1728 , at York , he was elected Grand Master of the Freemasons in England , being the 79 S successor from Edwin the Great . " This is an interesting addition to thc list of the York Grand Masters .

It would be still more interesting to discover the entire list of Grand Masters as given by the early Masons from Edwin at York , if such they promulgated . Thc number in descent from Edwin seems to show that they believed in a regular actual succession , and that they had a list of names . Where is this list now ?

Referring again to the roll of minutes , we find that on June 24 th , 1729 , " at St . John's Lodge , " at the Star Inn , Basil Forcer and John Lambe were sworn . These are both names of old Durham families . " The same day Edward Thompson , Junior , of Marston , Esq ., was chosen Grand Master ; Mr . John Wilmer , Deputy Grand Master ; Mr . George Rhodes and Mr . George Reynoldson , Grand Wardens for the year ensuing , and afterwards the Grand Master was pleased to order ye following appointments , viz . :

" I do appoint Dr . Johnson and Mr . Drake , Mr . Marsden , Mr . Denton , Mr . Brigham , Mr . R . Marsh , and Air . Ettv to assist in regulating ye state of the Lodge , and redressing from time to time any inconveniences that may arise . " EDWD . THOMPSON , Grand Master . "

Here , again it will be noted are names occurring for the first time . This Board of General Purposes cannot have been a success . At all events , no lodge meetings are recorded until the 4 th May , 1730 , when one was held at the White Swan , in Petergate , and it was then " Order'd by thc Dep . Master then present that if from thenceforth any of the officers of ye Lodge should be absent from ye company at ye monthl y Lodges they shall forfeit the sum of one shilling for each omission . "J WILMER , Dep . G . M . "

This is the last entry on the parchment roll of minutes . Edward Thompson , junior , was the grandson of Sir Henry Thompson , of Marston , who was Lord Mayor in 1663 and the ancestor of the present Lord Wenlock .

It will be observed that throughout the whole of thc foregoing minutes no mention whatever is made of degrees , so that either the three must have been conferred in one evening , or , what is more likely , thc ceremony was much simpler than what was practised elsewhere , and was , in fact , a survival of the old guild ceremony and a simple swearing in and communication of tokens and words .

It is possible that some of the descendants of these ancient brethren may possess family papers and records that would throw li ght upon our early history . That such things must exist is certain , and the only difficulty is in getting at them . Perhaps this list of their names may have the effect of drawing attention to Ihe subject .

Grade And Degree.

GRADE AND DEGREE .

There seems to be a little confusion in the use of these words in a recent controversy in the Freemason , which it may not bc amiss to consider and touch upon . The words are used as if there was an essential difference between them , whereas , to say the truth , strictly speaking , they are " ab origine" identical in meaning . No doubt , common usage and familiar handling seem to have brought about a difference ; but whether that difference is really justifiable is a matter of grave doubt , and deserves careful

consideration . In a popular work their difference is thus summarized—for instance , Degree means " quality , class , station , " as well as " the 360 th part of a circle , " and " 60 geographical miles ; " whereas Grade is said to denote " rank , degree , a s * ep . " VVhen , however , we look into the matter closely we find that Degree comes from the Norman- French " Degre , " and the Grade from "Graad , " a Saxon or Scandinavian word , though Johnson seems to think it also comes from the French ; and there is a French word Grade , which means the same as Degree .

Both words are derived from the Latin " gradus , " one of several steps , though there was a substantive " gradatio , " staircase , and there was an adjective gradatus , and an adverb gradation *! . Some have derived the word from gradior or gradatic , but the best derivation is clearly gradus , which alike may be translated by Degree and Grade .

Still there is a difference in common use . It is perhaps hardly safe to say , as we might be tempted to do , that the difference is between the person and the thing , but there seems to be almost a margin as between the abstract idea and the concrete fact . VVhen it is said , nevertheless , there was one Degree and two Grades before 1717 , we confess that we hardl y are able to follow the able writer in his conclusions .

We understand him , indeed , to mean that there was one degree conferred with a ceremonial , & c , and two other honorary steps or distinctions . But , as wc said before , we venture to doubt if any such difference in the meaning of the words can be safely sustained , or whether there was any such valid difference and so clearly marked . Is it not a distinction rather without a difference ?

We think we grasp the idea intended to be conveyed , —that there was a difference between a Degree conferred , and a merely titular distinction ; but then , as we said before , wc doubt if the words will bear it , and whether it is quite safe philologically or terminologically to adopt such a difference of meaning , much less to assert that such a distinction then existed or was recognized . We must always bear in mind that our use of many English

words is very corrupt and by no means expert ; and that because we affix a certain meaning to words to-day it is by no means clear that it is anything but a passing use , without authority ancl without right . Johnson clearly saw no difference in the meaning . He tells us that Grade was then a word of modern introduction , but that it meant rank , degree , and that

Degree meant quality , rank , station , place of dignity . He gives us examples of the use in other meanings of first Degree , second , third , fourth Degrees . Therefore , we think a word of caution needful , as we do not feel sure at all that we are warranted , in the common usage of the hour , to make any distinction really and truly as between Degree and Grade ,

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