Red Cross Of Rome And Constantine.

His mother . St . Helena , was an English princess and daughter of Cnylus , King of Britain . The Red Rose , we need hardly say . is the proud emblem of the magnificent County Palatine , and the conclave so named cannot fail to flourish under the wise command of Sir Kt . Moore , whose noble exertions to ensure tbe success of the Northern Counties Asylum when the foundation stone was laid by the Earl of Zetlandmust be fresh in the

, memories of our readers . The Red Cross Order has now obtained a lasting seat in the hearts and affections of English Masons , and as its principles become more widely known , we may reasonably anticipate that its spread will be co-extensive with that of Freemasonry from which to quote the "History of the Order , " "its members are chosen , and with which they consider it their duty as well as

their privilege to continue allied . " CHANNEL ISLANDS . JERSEY . CONCORD CONCLAVE ( NO . S ) . —At an assembly of this important conclaveholden at the JIasonic TempleStopford-road

, , , four brethren , officers in II . M . 's service , were duly installed as Knights , viz ., Captain Frederick , AV . Wood-all , Pioyal Elthorne Light Infantry ; and Lieut . Ellis A . Owen , Bennett , C . S . Clarke , and W . J . Eckford of the regular forces . The ceremony was admirably performed by Sir Kt . Benhnm , JI . P . S ; Tracy , V . E . ; Le Couteur , Iggleden , Binet , Iggleden , Cooper , and the other efficient officers of the conclave . It is but fair

to add that the great success of the Order in Jersey is due to the zeal and good working ofthe members , and the conclave has also the advantage of possessing in Sir Kt . A . Schmitt , P . Sov . Recorder , a brother of untiring energy- as well as of vast experience in the conduct and management of JIasonic bodies . AVe undertand that the conclave will meet again early in January to install a number of approved candidate .

Reviews.

REVIEWS .

PUBLICATIONS OF THE MASONIC PUBLISHING AND MANUFACTURING COMPANY , 432 BROOME STREET , NEAV YORK . SECOND PAPER .

( "The _ Guide to the Royal Arch , " by Companion Gould , _ is not the least interesting of these publications , and will be found eminentl y useful to the CEI / EV , RANTS of the various grades . This work consists of an introductory account of the Royal Arch , and then proceeds in a lucid manner with explanations of the rituals of the Mark , Past , and Most Excellent Master . *' , the Royal Arch

, and the High Priesthood Degrees , concluding with the Ceremonies of the Order , Chapter ' s Jewels , and Masonic Documents . AA'e purpose ' briefly noticing the historical portions of the work , without tonching ' " \ ipon the ritualistic , for which wo feel nothing but admiration . Perhaps no Order has given rise to so much bitter

controversy , and led to more confusion than the origin of the Royal Arch , and the various grades which compose it . While the Supremo Grand Chapter of Scotland acknowledges the grades of Mark , Past , Excellent Masters , Royal Arch , Ark Mariner , and Red Cross Degrees , with the ceremonials of the three Grand Principals , the English acknowled onlthe Royal Arch

ges y as an adjunct to the three degrees . The Grand Lodge of Scotland acknowledges no degree above the third , with the exception of the Mark Man , and Mark Master , which it permits respectively to be given in the Fellow Graft and Master degrees . The different rites place the degrees , of which they are composed , in different positionsand it is often to understand

, very puzzling their sequence , and tho reason for their ' being so placed . This , however , being foreign to this orescnt review , we -do not notice . There is no doubt that the Mark Degree is one of the most ancient in existence . We know from the blocks of

the Pyramids that the workmen thereon had each a distinguishing mark which was carved upon every block that came from under each one ' s hammer and chisel . Indeed , the use of the mark as a means of identification of workmen is lost in the mist of antiquity , and we find it up on the ruins of the lordly buildings of Egypt , Greece , the banks of the Zab , a tributary of the Tigris ,

India , and the ancient buildings of France and Germany . The form of the mark varies in the different countries . In the Great Pyramid of Gizeb , it consists in many instances of the cross and triangle in various positions . In Heraculanenm we find the double triangle and square prominent . France , and , as a matter of course , seeing their intimate relationship , in Scotland , we have the

cross , square , and compass , within a heart , oval and circle appearing , as at Strasbnrg and Roslin . Hungary deals in the half circle , square and cross ; England in the triangle , square , compass , sand glass , and their figures superposed upon lines , and often upon each other . Melrose Abbey abounds in five pointed stars , irregular lines and geometric figures . Glasgow Cathedral is

peculiarly rich in these . The Palm House , Royal Botanic Gardens , Edinburgh , built in 1856 , is rich with the square and compass , sand-glass , gardener ' s line , and crosses . India deals more in the circle than the

lineas may be expected from the form of the characters of their alphabet—and a favourite mark is a point within a circle superposed upon a half circle . Many old lodges in Scotland have Marks attached to signatures . It is easy to understand the origin of the Mark to have taken place , when learning was confined to the few ; and the custom of signing deeds by a mark before notaries is

legal at the present day . Tho marks might have also been hierogl yphic , and been a language known only to the initiated . The operative Masons of the present day , according to Laurio , throughout Scotland , still use the mark . In building the Scott monument at Edinburgh , thoy were used with great success under the foreman , Mr . John Baker . As many of the compartments of the

design were alike , it was found necessary , to prevent confusion and to exercise a close superintendance over the workmen , to have each stone numbered and marked on its bed . Tho respective sides of tho monument were therefore indicated by tho letters A B 0 D ; the places of the stones by numbers , and the workmen by their marks , yvhich were also cut upon their working toolsso that

, at any time tho position of a stone in the monument , and the name of the party who prepared it could bo ascertained , In Scotland it is not unusual for sons of Masons to inherit their father ' s marks , along with their building tools .

Means of recognition and marks upon implements is not confined to Jlasons , but smiths , gardeners , plumbers , and slaters have all their toucli . es and marks , and the smiths ' , considering their importante in the middle ages , must be of considerable antiquity . Their touch is the same as the lewis . The Cadgers have a curious mode of reception . They blindfold the candidate , fill his mouth

with salt , tumble him into a tub of dirty water , and swear him to cheat the whole world , but never a brother Cadger , an oath which they break on the first favourable occasion . They have a distinguishing mark also which they 7 affix : to all articles connected with their carts and donkeys . The whole system of the present trade marh is founded upon this princile .

p Masonic marks on ancient structures labour under the disadvantage of being for the most part buried in between the sides of ths joining-stones , and seldom are seen either outside or within . AVhat a wealth of marks the Pyramids or one of our own cathedrals would yield , if pullad down , can easily be imagined—say St . Paul ' s or Westminster Abbey !

The teachings of the Mark Degree are interesting and instructive , pointing out to the candidate the necessity for using diligence , attention , and patience , that he may , in place of leaving his mark upon mere stone , place it