Ar00100

Contents . PAGE . The Rites of Freemasonry—By LI . W . L 481 The Lodge of Glasgow St . John—By Bro . W . P . Buchan 483 How I Spent my Five Weeks'Leave 484 Uniformity of Ritual—By Bro . Henry Melville 480 Masonic Notes and Queries 488

Correspondence 490 Masonic Mems 491 CRAFT LODGE MEETINGS : — Metropolitan 491 Provincial 492 Scotland 494 Italy 496 Royal Arch 496

Knights Templar 490 Fenianism and Freemasonry 497 Two Hours at a Chapter of Instruction in Royal Arch Masonry 499 Poetry 499 Scientific Meetings for the Week 499 List of Loclge , & c , Meetings for ensuing week 500 To Correspondents 500

The Rites Of Freemasonry.

THE RITES OF FREEMASONRY .

ZONDON , SATURDAY , DECEMBER 18 , 1869 .

A COMPILATION . By LL . W . L . Bro . Dr . Mackay defines " Rite '' ' as a modification of Freemasonry , in which , the tliree antient degrees and their essentials being preserved ,

there are variations in the ceremonies , artd number and names of the additional degrees . A Masonic Rite is , therefore , in accordance with the general signification of the word , the method , order , and rules observed in the performance and government

of the Masonic system . Pure Antient Freemasonry consists of but three degrees , but the ingenuity of some , vanity of others , and that morbid craving for distinction , so prevalent on the Continent during the last

century , have added to these an infinite number of high degrees , and of ceremonies unknown to the original institution . Some of these lived only with their authors ; others have had a permanent existence . A Master Mason is , however ,

acknowknowledged as such in all countries , and can visit the Symbolic Lodges of any Rite . The following are the more generally practised at the present time : —

The English ( York ) . The Antient and Accepted ( Scotch ) . The French ( Modern ) . The Swedish . The Three Globes ( Berlin ) . Of the English system , which is adopted by some four-fifths of the Freemasons of the world

little need be said . The act of union between the two Grand Lodges of England in 1813 declares that pure antient Masonry consists of three degrees , and no more , viz ., those of the E . A ., the F . C , and the M . M ., including the Supreme Order

of the Holy Royal Arch . This latter ( the R . A . ) is not , however , acknowledged as part of Antient Freemasonry in any other country . The degree was invented by the self-styled "Antient Masons " in the year 1770 , and by them its recognition was

successfully insisted on at the union . Since then many different rituals have been used in conferring it . Bro . How states that the present one was arranged by the Rev . Bro . Adam Brown , at the

instance of the late Duke of Sussex , and that the object his Royal Highness had in view is apparent to every R . A . Mason who has attained the rank of Past First Principal . A Royal Arch chapter , represents the great Sanhedrim , convened for the

building of ZerubbabeFs Temple . The degree of Mark Master has no satisfactory status in England , Some lodges are under a recently established Grand Lodge of Mark Masters of England and Wales , whilst others still work

under warrants derived from the Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Scotland . In the United States the degree is given preparatory to the Eoyal Arch .

Although in this country it has not long had a firm footing , the Antient and Accepted is undoubtedly the oldest of the modern Rites , having been established about the year 1700 . The Supreme Grand Council for England and Wales and the

Dependencies of Great Britain , was instituted in conformity with the general system of government adopted in France , the United States , Ireland , and other parts of both Continents , and comprehends the authority of the Antient Order of

Harodim , which has existed from a very early period in this country . It does not intei'fere with Grand Lodge , Grand Chapter , or Grand Conclave ; and , although not recognising the degrees vested under the latter bodies as part of

the antient system , it does not forbid any of its members taking them . The Rite consists of thirty-three degrees ; the three first are , of course ,, symbolic , aud must be taken in England at all events in a regular Craft lodge . The 3 . 1 ° , 32 ° ,

and 33 ° are limited in numbers and administrative ] oft he remainder , only the 18 ° , or Rose Croix , and the 30 ° , or elected Knight Kadosh , are usually given in cxtenso , the intervening degrees being