The Orders Of Chivalry In Canada.

Scotia , and iu this Province of New Brunswick ; thafc Capitular Masonry , embracing the Degrees of ' Mark Master , '' Past Master / ' Most Excellent Master , ' ancl the 'Royal Arch , ' is governed by the Grand Chapter of Canada , and the Grand

Chapter of Nova Scotia , and that the Grand Chapter of R . A . Masons of Scotland continues to govern Chapters holding Warrants from ifc in one or more of our Provinces granting authority to confer in addition to the above-mentioned Degrees ,

the Degree of Royal Ark Mariner and Babylonish Pass , which latter Degree consists of three points , viz .: 'Knights of the Swords , Knights of the East , and Knights of the East and West , ' a separate charge may be made for this Degree , and a

Certificate or Diploma , of the same , may be had from Grand Chapter of Scotland if desired . The degree is in many respects identical with that to which my resolution refers , and I am aware that members of those Scottish Councils are admitted

as visitors in Councils of the ' Red Cross ' * in the United States , working under Encampment Warrants .

" The next in progression , according to the American system , is the Rite known as ' Cryptic Masonry , ' which in the Dominion of Canada is at present solely governed by this Grand Council . "The 'Chivalric Order' in the Dominion is

under the jurisdiction of the Grand Conclave of England ancl Wales and Dependencies , with its subordinate Grand Conclave of Canada , with the exception of a very successful Encampment and Priory of this city known as the St . John

Encampment and Priory , No . 47 , under the Grand Encampment of Scotland . In the several Provinces of the Dominion there are , if my memory serves me , nineteen Encampments and Priories of Knights Templar and Kni ghts of Malta , all under

Warrants of authority from Grand Conclave of England , except the one above-mentioned under Warrant from Scotland .

" As you are aware , neither fche Grand Conclave of England ancl Wales , nor yefc fche Grand Encampment of Scotland , grant by Warrant ihe

power to confer the Masonic Degree of fche Red Cross , ' very properly , in my opinion , taking the ground that their Order is ' Chivalric' and nofc c Masonic' As the possession of the Degree of the 'Red Cross' is deemed a pre-requisite to

gaining admission to an Encampmenfc of Knights Templar in the United States , the members of the Scotch Encampment working in this city receive the degree of ' Red Cross , " as conferred in Scotland , in a Council working in this city , under a

Warrant granted to Carleton Royal Arch Chapter by the Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Scotland . The respective Encampments of Knights Templar in Canada , under England , by authority from fche Grand Prior of the Grand Conclave of Canada , by

virtue of an arrangement with the Grand Conclave of the United States , I believe , communicate to their Fratres sufficient of the American Degree of the 'Red Cross or Babylonish Pass' to enable said Fratres to visit Encampments in thafc country .

" The Order of Knighthood known as the " Imperial , Ecclesiastical , and Military Order of the Red Cross of' Eome and Constantine" is governed in Canada by Warrants of Authority from the Grand Council of England , located in

London , and the Order known as the ' Ancient and Accepted Rite' is worked in this country by Warrants of Authority from the Supreme Grand Council of England ancl Wales ancl Dependencies of the British Crown .

" It will thus appear evident to this Grand Council , thafc all the Degrees known and recognized in America either as ' Masonic' or 'Chivalric , ' have a legal status , ancl are conferred under regular Warrant of Authority , throughout fche whole of

the Dominion of Canada , save and except the Degree known in the States as the ' Red Cross or Babylonish Pass ; ' the questions , therefore , which are naturally presented , appear to be—Shall we continue to communicate this Order in

the present informal manner ? Shall we abandon it altogether ? Or , shall we either in this Grand Council or elsewhere , secure for fche Degree the protection of this or some other Grand Body , duly recognized in this Dominion ? For the idea of

creating a Grand Council , solely for this Degree , would certainly not be considered expedient , and I believe the feeling is growing stronger day by day , tlntb ifc is better not to confer this Degree afc all , if it cannot be conferred throughout the whole