Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

The Editor is not responsible for the opinions expressed by Correspondents , CANADIAiY HIGH DEGREES . TO THE EDITOR OF T . K FUEEKA . SOXS' 1 _ A . GA . ZIXE . O'l . iliSOXIC ItlnUOU . Dear Sir aud Brother , —It was with uo little

surprise that I perceived iu the October number of the EEEEMASON ' S MAGAZINE , NO . 841 , a letter signed by "An American Ereemason , " impugning my knowledge of historic truth , and referring to the " ignorance " evinced in the address delivered by me before the Prov : G . Conclave of Kni ghts Templar for

Canada ( which appeared in the pages of your journal Sept . 26 ) , also calling into question my authority for establishing the A . and A . Rite 33 ° in the Dominion . " The tone and stylo of your correspondent is so objectionable and so utterly at variance with that fraternal feeling which should exist amongst

members of our order , even though they may disagree on many points , and so different from the genuine kindness J have invariably met with amongst the Masonic Society in the United States of America , that I would not deem it worthy of notice did I not , in justice to myselffeel called upon to repudiate so

, erroneous a construction as "An American Ereemason " has put upon my remarks . Had " An American Ereemason " been conversant with the history of the Order of the Temple and Hospital in Great Britain before he so positively condemned my assertions , he

would have known that the Masonic Orders of the Temple and Hospital in England , Wales , and Dependencies of the British Crown are united , and , although the ceremonies of a reception are distinet and separate , the two orders are conferred under the same warrant or patent of authority . In the early

history of the Templars and Kni ghts of St . John a jealous feeling of each other ' s power and authority existed ancl created discord and rivalry , which prevented that union , so desirable in the Crusades , to carry out the object for which both orders were maini y instituted ; but history also tells us that

, from the time of the persecution of the Templars , that Order in Scotland became merged in the Hospitallers of St . John , and in that country King James IV . confirmed all former grants— " Sanclo flospitali de Jerusalem , et fratribus ejusdem militia Templi Salonwnis , " as recorded iu the Register of the

Great Seal of Scotland , a satisfactory proof that the Order was retained conjointly with that of the Hospital . The last Grand Preceptor of the Order of St . John in Scotland , at the period of the Reformation , surrendered to the Crown the whole possessions of the combined Templars and Hospitallers , being declared forfeited to the state .

It is not my intention to enter into any discussion with "An American Ereemason" on the subject of his letter , - but it may gratify him to know that there is no likelihood of the brethren in Canada ( in whose behalf he expresses so much anxiety ) being imposed uponas my authority for establishing the A & A

, . . Rite in the Dominion emanates from the "Supreme Grand Council of the Rite in England and Wales , & c , of which I am a member and their representative . The authority I hold , as Grand Prior of the Order of the Temple is from the Supreme Grand

Master of the Order of the Knig hts Templars , & c , in England , the two orders having no connexion whatever ; but , previous to the A . & A . Rite being revived in England in IS to ( and , indeed , until a few years later ) , the degrees of Rosa Croix and Kadosh were always conferred under Templar warrantsand had

, been for many years ; this my own diploma ancl several old by-laws of the " Observance , " " Cross of Christ , " and other encampments of London ( England ) in my possession clearly show . Tour correspondent is so far right , that my remark about the necessity of a Mason travelling on the continent of Europe being

in possession of the Rose > J < degree referred to Erance , where I do know ( or , at least did , some years ago ) , this degree is looked upon as tho " Ne plus ultra " of Ereemasonry . In taking leave of this subject , let me endeavour to impress upon " An American Ereemason" the

necessity of being fully conversant with the subject he purposes writing about , and endeavour to couch his remarks in a more courteous tone , and with less assumption of ouperior knowledge , instead of striving to create discord by an unfair review of the opinions of others , to whom lie may take exception .

Tours fraternally , W . J . B . M'LEOD MOORE , 33 ° , Grand Prior of the Order of the Temple , & c , and Representative S . G . C . of A . & A . Rite for England and "Wales iu the Dominion of Canada . 2 Sth November , 1 S 6 S .

TO TUB EDITOR OF THE FREE :. ASOHS' HAGAZISE A > 'D MASONIC HIKltOB . Dear Sir and Brother , — -Since writing to you on the 28 th ult ., relative to the remarks of " An American Ereemason " on my address to the Knights Templars of Canada , I find , on comparing the orig inal address with your copy , that you omitted to publish the

following paragraph : — "I last year stated that it was probable the A . & A . Rite would he introduced into Canada by me . Since then I have been in communication with the Supreme Grand Council , 33 ° , for England and Wales , who claim jurisdiction over all dependencies of the British

Crown , and having been honoured by being elected an active member of the Supreme Grand Council , and appointed their representative for Canada , I have acted upon my authority , & c . ' ' This " omission" no doubt led " An American Ereemason " to suppose I had introduced the Rite

on the authority merely of my being head of the Templar Order in Canada , and its being introduced in an address to Templars . The announcement was made to them as it was by Knights Templar solely . I had been requested to introduce the rite into Canada some years ago , when I obtained the 33 ° in

the Hnited States . The insertion of this letter will oblige . Tours fraternally , W . J . B . M'LEOD MOORE , S . G . C . 33 ° , A . & A . Rite , and Grand Prior Knight Templar & cfor Canada .

, , Dominion of Canada , December 7 th , 1 S 6 S . [ We feel much indebted to Colonel M'Leod Moore for the above communications , which put the question in its proper light . The communication of " An