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( Contents . PAGE FRJEEJIASOXS' MAGAZIHE : — The Cryptic Rite 181 Tho Universality of Freemasonry ! 1 S 1 182

The Mystic Beauties of Freemasonry Masonic Jottings—No . 81 183 Antiquity of the Craft 184 Time ! .... '; 187 Masonic Notes and Queries 188 Correspondence 190 Masonic Sa 3 'ings aud Doings Abroad 101 MASOXIC MIUKOII -.

—Masonic Hems 171 CRAFT LODGE MEETINGS : — Metropolitan 173 Provincial i 173 Mark Masonry 173 "Passion Play at Ober-Ammagan 195 Knights Templar 195 Obituary 196

Reviews 197 Summary of Masonic Law 198 Poetry 200 Notices to Correspondents 200 List of Lodge , & c , Meetings for ensuing week 200

The Cryptic Rite.

THE CRYPTIC RITE .

LONDON , SATURDAY , St

This rite , comparatively unknown and hitherto unpractised in this country , has been imported , and will be now added to the long list of Pseudo-Masonic Orders , so many of which have recently ¦ been inventedrecievedor imported .

, , Three brethren from the United States have , on the invitation of some English brethren , -visited the country for the purpose of inargurating the " Rite . "

Cryptic Masonry , Ave are informed , offers to the Master Mason the opportunity of having conferred upon him the degrees of Mark and Most Excellent Master , while it offers to those Avho have been exalted in the Royal Arch

-Chapter , the grades of Royal and Select Master . Bro . Jackson H . Chase , 33 ° , Bro . Martin , and Bro . Thompson , of New York , are the brethren ¦ who responded to the request of their English brethren , and braved the journey across the

Atlantic in order to enlighten the latter in the secrets of these degrees , which have hitherto been unworked in this country .

A Grand Council for England has been established , Avith Bro . the Rev . G . R . Portal as Grand Master , and Bro . P . Binckes as Grand Recorder . Pour Councils have also been formed , namely , Grand Master ' s ( No . 1 ) Constantine ( No . 2 ); Macdonald ( No . 3 ); and Mark ( No . 4 ) .

The Cryptic Rite.

On Monday , 21 st ult ., the American brethren completed their labours , so kindly begun and energetically continued , when several brethren were advanced to the various degrees . Abanquet concluded theproceedings , an account

of which Avill be found in another column . Amongst the brethren present were the names of Ills . Bros . Capt . Phillips , 33 ° ; R . Hamilton , M . I ) ., 33 ° ; Hyde Pullen , 33 ° ; S . Rosenthal ; F . Binckes , 30 ° W . Stone , E , Baxter , Rev . D . Shaboe , T .

Dawson , P . Meggy , R . Spencer , J " . Stevens , R . W . Little , & c . We fear that this addition to our alreidy long list of unrecognised Masonic Orders will lead to confusion ; indeed it is admitted by the most

enthusiastic supporters of this newest addition , that "An obvious difficulty exists as to the fifth in the series , the Past Master's Degree , because none but an Installed Master can legally obtain the chair secrets under the English Constitution . "

If this wholesale manufacture , importation , and resuscitation of degrees is to continue , the Grand Lodge of England will be compelled , in self defence , to take some action upon the matter . It will become absolutely necessary that that body

should either declare these degrees lawful , and assume some control over them , or else denounce them as unmasonic , and forbid , under pain of exclusion , its members taking any part in them , so long as they profess to be Masonic , or base their

ritual and ceremonies upon the tradition of Craft Masonry . In some of these " degrees " the ritual treads so closely upon that of Ancient Craft Masonry , and in a measure is so nearly identical , that it is open

to grave doubt whether the Master Mason is mindful of his obligation when he takes part in their proceedings . Let him reflect whilst engaged in the " work , " Avhether the " secrets " are not being communicated elsewhere than in the body of a lodge , just , perfect , and regular .

The Universality Of Freemasonry !

THE UNIVERSALITY OF FREEMASONRY !

We extract from " The Landmark " the following extraordinary item of news -. — " On Friday , June 16 th , the Grand Lodge of "Wisconsin laid the corner stone of the new Jewish synagogue at Milwaukie . The Grand lodge was escorted by Knights Templar in full array , accom-