Mark Masonry.

The toast of " The Ladies'' was then proposed by W . Bro . AVordsworth . D . Prov . G . M . M ., and facetiously responded to by Bro . Dr . Crossby , Prov . G . S ., shortly after which the company dispersed , owing to so many having to go by railway . Between the speeches songs were given by Bros . F . AVhitaker , Prince , and Haigh , Bro . Thomas AVhitaker , Prov . G . Org ., presiding at the pianoforte .

Knights Templar.

KNIGHTS TEMPLAR .

PROVINCE OF SUFF . AJK . A Special Conclave of the Companion AVarriors of the Royal Plantagent Priory of Malta , was held at tho Masonic Hall , Ispwich , on Tuesday , the 29 th August , for the purpose of receiving into the Order several Knights Templar , aud also to install Eminent Prior Elect , Sir Knight J . H . Townsend . There were present : —Sir Knigts Rev , R . N . Snndertou , D . Prov . G . C , Suffolk and CambridgePE . P . ; AV . T . AVestgateE . P . ; T . C

, . , Townsend , Chancellor , P . E . P . ; Emra Holme ? , Captain General ; E . Robertson , See . The Conclave having been opened , and the minutes of last Priory read aud confirmed , the ballot was taken lor Sir Knights P . Cornell and Rev . G . AV . Marwood , of the Prudence Encampment , and Sir Knights H . B . MaeCall , of the Plantagent Encampment , who were unanimously elected . Sir Knights

Cornell and MaeCall being present they were admitted into the guard room , and there received the intermediate degree of Knights of St . Paul , or the Mcditevrean Pass . They were afterwards dubbed and created , and invested Knights Hospitaller of St . John of Jerusalem , Palestine , Rhodes and Malta , the impressive ceremony being performed by Sir Knight Sanderson with his customary characteristic aud ability . The Sir Knights afterwards sat down to a substantial repastprovided bPrater

, y George Spalding , the Guard to the Priory . The usual toasts having been proposed , Sir Knight Sanderson proposed " The newly-installed Sir Knights , " to which Sir Knight MaeCall responded . The E . P . Sir Knight AA estgate proposed " Sir Knight Sanderson , D . Prov . G . C , " and eulogised his services in tho high degrees . Sir Knight S . mdcrson in responding acknowledged his great love for the Order of the Temple and the Ancient and Accepted Rite , which was based not only on the fiict of the

noble truths taught in these degrees , but principally because the great principles of Christianity were acknowledged and taught therein . Some of the Knights present contributed to tho vocal harmony , ancl au agreeable evening was at length brought to a close . The Installation of tiie Eminent Prior Elect was postponed , in consequence of his absence through illness .

Cryptic Masonry.

CRYPTIC MASONRY .

BANQUET TO THE AMERICAN BRETH . HEN . On AVednesday , 23 rd ult ., a banquet was given at Bro . AA * . Young , the Albion , A ' ernon Place , to the representatives of tho Crpytic Rites in America , who have lately visited England , at tho solicitation of some eminent Freemasons to communicate the working of Cryptic Masonry . Comp . F . Binckes , Grand

Recorder , occupied the chair , and Comp . Captain Philips , 33 ° ., the vice-chair . The guests of the evening wero Comps . Jackson , H . Chase , 33 ' ., and Col . Thompson , who sat respectively on the right and left of the Chairman . The Chairman , in proposing the " Health of Comps . Chase and Thompson , " said that Comp . Martin , the other distinguished American In-other , was unable to bo present . The companions had come across the broad Atlantic for the purpose of

communicating to English Masons a further knowledge of Masonry , 'those brethren would , however , acknowledge that they originally received from the mother country , amongother blessings , tiie light of Freemasonry , and thoy had extended it . The rec > g-

Cryptic Masonry.

nised Masonic system , nnder our Grand Lodge , was of a very restricted character , and Freemasons , who much honoured , studied , supported , followed , and appreciated that system , felt themselves compelled for the purpose of keeping alive a knowledge of the higher aud unrecognised degrees , to organise various bodies to disseminate it . The guests of the evening had come immediately they wero asked to spread a knowledge of those degrees ,

every one of which was connected with the universal system . AVhether under the title of Crpytic or Capitular Masonry , it was all a part of that Catholic whole , of which Grand Lodge professed itself to be so ardent au admirer . The American brethren who had come here to indoctrinate us in the superior knowledge of the mysteries of the Order were noble representatives of the large body of American Freemasons , and wo hailed them with a great deal of leasure . AVo extended our welcome

p to them as brother Masons , and also as charged with a special mission . For the patience they had exhibited , for the attention they had given , for the courtesy they extended , and for the manner in which they had shown that they were prepared to answer all the demands upon them to afford us instruction , the most sincere thanks Were due , for they could not be excelled even if they could be equalled . Comp . Chase , in reply , said it was with hearts filled with

gratitude he and his brethren thanked the English Freemasons for their cordial welcome . America , as the chairman had remarked , owed its Masonry to England , and he was proud to acknowledge it . In 1765 she first received it , and she had improved the occasion and extended it all over her vast continent . AVit'h regard to tho visit he ancl his brethren had paid to this country , ha could only say they were called upon very suddenly to repair to England , and ill one week , though he was

200 miles from home at the time , he and his two brethren , Col . Thompson and Capt . Martin were ou their way . They were glad of the opportunity of showing their readiness to exemplify tho degrees , of which they possessed a knowledge , and they were still more pleased to find how acceptable was that knowledge to their English brethren . Col . Thomson also replied , though , he said , before he came away from home he had entered into a compact with Bro . Chase

that he should do all the speaking . He returned thanks very warmly for the kindness ancl courtesy he had received since he had been in this country . Capt . Philips responded to the toast of " The Alee Chairman , " and afterwards proposed "The Health of the Chairman , " to which Comp . Binckes replied , aud the company shortly afterwards separated .

"Passion Plays" At Ober-Ammagan.

"PASSION PLAYS" AT OBER-AMMAGAN .

This curious relic of a bygone ago , although ib has been AVCII described in other papers , may possess some points of interest to your readers . Tbe comparative difficulty of reaching- the ont-of' -the-way village , and the want of publicity as to tbe performance itself , combine to make it rarely visited bj- English , tourists . A fearful pestilence iu 1630 led tbe Town

( Jouiieil to make a vow to give a representation of the Passion and Death of our Saviour . The pestilence ceased , so says the legend , but since that time tho play has been repeated every ten years . Last year the representations Avere interrupted owing to the war , and have been renewed this year in June , so that till the end cf September this curious sight is to bo seen every second Sunday .

I do not purpose to give a detailed account of a spectacle Avhich lasts ivith an interval of one hour from eight a . m . to five p . m ., but simply to make a few observations on some of tho most remarkable scenes . 1 do not exaggerate ivhen I say at the great act of the Crucifixion the large audience of 4 , 500 persons Avere moved in tho most profound manner , and among the women there were not many dry eyes . The Theatre is a large open buildi ng , capable of containing nearly six thousand people ,