Correspondence.

The real degree of Red Cross Knight , which is referred to in the article preceding the few lines on the degree of Red Cross of Rome and Constantine , was and is still given in Knight Templar Encampments , with which I need hardl y tell your readers the Red Cross now under notice has no connection except in name . The brotherwho is not likely to get a Crown

, if he bases his pretensions on the possession of the ( Red ) Cross , concludes by giving a long list of names of illustrious members of the Order , aud I can only express my wonder that he has uot added the fullblown titles of the young noblemen who have been tempted into the degree by the display of millinery

and high-sounding titles , as well as by the adulation which is bestowed by the gentlemen who are ever ready to do the arch of steel business over a real live lord .

I should not trouble you at such length upon this matter but that I see that the time has come when the constituted authorities should interfere to put down and repudiate these new degrees . In your issue of June 15 th , 1867 , a Knight Templar and Knight of the Royal Order of Scotland asked Bro . Little by what authority the degree of

Kni ght of St . John was given in a conclave of Red Cross Knights . To this Bro . Little did not respond , but an editorial note was appended to the letter stating that the degree was not the same with that of Knight of St . John of Malta . And yet , Sir , almost immediately afterwards a series of articles appeared

in your valuable Magazine on the Order of St . John , which was acknowledged to be the same as the Knights Hospitallers , or Knights of St . John of Jerusalem and Malta . * The writer brings down the history of the Order to the present date , and coolly asserts that Lord Kenlis is the present chief of the

Kni ghts of the Holy Sepulchre—which he admits was merged in the Order of St . John—claiming the Duke of Manchester as the Grand Prior of the Order of St . John .

Thus the Grand Conclave and Supreme G-rand Council are set aside , and Bro . Little and his friends are masters of the situation . In the Magazine for the 18 th May , 1867 , 1 observe that several Sir Knights were made Prince Masons in the original or premier Conclave of England of the Red Cross Knihts . Your readers were probably

g under the impression , as I was myself , that Prince Masons were made under the S . G . C ., in chapters of the Hose < J <; but it appears we are all mistaken , and the gentlemen who assemble at the George Hotel , are the real disposers of these titles and dignities . It is time that ( unlessas Bro . Harris suggestswe

, , go in for the further propogation of tomfoolery , and institute a Masonic Order of the Garter , referring curious brethren to Ashmole for the history of the Order , when they persist , like Dickens ' s hero , in " wanting to know" ) these degrees , which will not bear the light of dayshould be put down with a

, high hand ; and I trust that the Supreme Grand Council aud the Grand Conclave of Knights Templar will see to the matter , and take action at their next meeting . Yours fraternally , & .

Correspondence.

TO TUB EDITOK OE THE EEEEJIASOITS' MAGAZIHE AUD 3 TASOIU 0 SIIEHOE . Dear Sir and Brother , —I see that Lord Kenlis at his installation was received under an arch of steel . I can make a shrewd guess what this means ; but I wish to ask any of your readers who are likely to know whether any other Sovereign , or whatever he

might have been called , before Lord Kenlis , was ever received under any other arch of steel than an arch of knives ancl forks ? "So Cross no Crown" may be able to tell us what was done in 1813 , Yours fraternallv , E . E .

Red Cross Knights.

RED CROSS KNIGHTS .

TO THE EDITOR OE THE FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE AND MASONIC MIRROR . Dear Sir and Brother , —In one sense very littleis known of the Red Cross degree in America , because although it is a side degree long since imported from the old country , it has been worked occasionally only , but it can hardly be said to be

little known there , as its ritual is to be found in many American manuals . It is not ' generally restricted either to Templars , or to P . E . C , but is liberally communicated to Masons when a brother has a fancy for propagating it . Lig ht come , light go ; and it is soon forgottenas so many of these side degrees are .

, What would interest us very much is to know whether those eminent brethren who are commemorated in your valuable Magazine , page 290 , worked the same as any ofthe American rituals , and whether such is the working of the eminent brethren now assembled under tho banner of Bro . R . A . Little aud

Lord Kenlis . This will go a great way , I think , towards settling the legitimacy and succession of this as a Masonic Order . Yours fraternally , AN A-JIEEICAN MASON , H . P ., & c .

TO THE EDITOE OE TEE EREEMASONS' MAGAZINE AND MASONIC MIKHOH . Dear Sir aud Brother , — " No Cross , no Crown ,-can settle a little doubt which has arisen in conse quence of his communication , which is rathtr at variance with what we have learned from Bro . Little . This brother claims to have the jurisdiction over the

whole Order of Red Cross , of which he has established many conclaves since the revival by him in 1805 . Now , the body described by " So Cross , no Crown , " was only one of the Red Cross fraternities existing at that time , as there are several warrants out . How came this Conclave of Bro . Little to be

Supreme ? That is one question . Can he claim jurisdiction over the other warrants , or has he any warrant of his own ? Another question is this , do any of the existing warrants show signs of having emanated from Bro . Little ' s original Supreme Conclave ? A third is . what is the difference between

his Premier and Original Conclave and Iris Gvnnd Conclave ? and on what constitutional ground can either create other conclaves or other warrants ? Yours fraternallv , " E . $ < .

TO TEE EDITOK Or * inE FREEMASONS' MAGA ZINE AND MASONIC MIRi-OH . Dear Sir and Brother , —A Templar is , I expect , at sea when he seeks to sever the Templar degree and