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upon that great white stone , the type of eternity . The envy and malice of others , the ignorance and imbecility of those in high office , the jeers and insolence of pretenders must never discourage him ; but , relying upon a higher power , and his sense of the right , he must win his way to a high place in this life , and to a happier home in the next .

The Past Master's Degree we suspect is the old ceremonial of installing a Master of a lodge , and it is this ceremonial which is in . use upon the election of one on St . John's Day , when a lodge of Past Masters is convened and the new are installed . This degree in a manner , closes what is called the class symbolic . The Excellent Master is the entrance degree to the Eoyal Archfrom which it is divided bthe VeilsAs

, y . a preparatory degree it is only of third-rate interest , although in a manner admirable from the simplicity of its imagery and gravity of its prayers . The origin of the Royal Arch is one enveloped in the deepest of confused darkness ; few can agree upon it , and no two writers but have a different version . Undoubtedly there is a considerable resemblance between the German

Eosicrucianism of the 17 th century and it , which has afforded the followers of Soanes grounds for identifying the whole framework of Freemasonry with the secret vanlt of Eoseneranz , but this , in our opinion , is perfectly absurd , however much the framers of the Eoyal Arch may have been indebted to it . Comp . Gould enters very fully into the vexed question , but each reader must

choose his own theory . One thing is very evident . The Ancient Masons of England knew of the Eoyal Arch previous to the Modern , and both previous to the Scots Masons , for it was only in 1817 that the Supreme Chapter was instituted . Laurie says M . Eeghelline de Schio distinctly stated that it was invented by Eamsay , and to entertain the same belief himselfan

appears , opinion which is controverted by Clavel , who insists upon its originators having been three Jews . We confess that we are at a loss to assign any date to it , or to believe that it originally formed part ofthe Third Degree , which , as a matter of course , must have been known to

all the older lodges of the Modern Masons . Furthermore , we do not find any trace of such a degree in the old Minute Books of the old lodges of Scotland , and it is said that the first appearance of it in Scotland is to be found , or was to be found , in a lost Minute Book of the Lodge St . Stephen . This , we confess , looks suspicious , •when we find the Mark constantly in operation previous to the foundation of the lod St . Stephen . We refer

ge our readers to Oliver ' s Eoyal Arch , and to the present work for all the arguments . There is no doubt , however , that in the course of Masonic teaching , the Royal Arch , apart from its beauty and symmetry as a degree is entitled to all the consideration given to it from its ranking among the most important in the various ritesas well as its eminence in

, the English Grand Lodge system , with which it is incorporated and forms an essential portion . Whether it does supplement and finish the Master ' s Degree or not , it deserves all reverence and respect , from whatever origin it sprung . Its lessons are pertinet , its traditions replete with tender and holy memories , and its precepts list and true . Even its anachronisms may be defended

on the ground that it was necessary to place prominently before the candidate those great and good men who took part in the glorious work which it chronicles , while the pure morality and incentives to study will always keep it a favourite with thinking Masons . The holiness which surrounded the office of High Priest , and the circumstance of its importance in the

Jewish history , calls for an elaborate ceremony . Oomp . Gould says that no one can legally receive it , until he has been duly elected as High Priest in a regular Chapter of Royal Arch Masons . It has been the in this country to consider the grade as a side and for one High Priest to confer the degree uponwi

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regular Companion , while a separate ceremony is used in installing the Principal of a Chapter . We ' confess that having received this degree , before being constituted a principal in the three offices , it has always struck us as somewhat anomolous to have two ceremonies , and that some means should be adopted to do away with the side degree , and allow no one but a duly elected principal to obtain it .

Companion Gould ' s work will be found what it pretends to be—a Guide to the Chapter . The ceremonials are very amply noticed , aud the illustrative remarks worthy of attention and study . The copious documents , and the illustrations of the jewels , sacred vessels of Scripture , and scenes mentioned in the different degrees will be found alike interesting and instructive . In our next we will notice Bro . M'Clenachan's Book of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Eite , which concludes our series of papers .

Masonic Lifeboat Fund.

MASONIC LIFEBOAT FUND .

Further subscriptions received : —Bro . Colonel T . Goddard , Kilburn , £ 1 Is- Bro . John Coram , Dover , £ lls .

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Public Amusements.

PUBLIC AMUSEMENTS .

STRAND THEATEE . Mr . Stirling Coyne ' s comedy of A Widow Hunt creates nightly roars of laughter from crowded houses . Mr . J . S . Clarke , who made his debut at the St . James ' s Theatre , has proved himself a genuine comic actor , and well qualified to assume higher characters , which he is so well able to perform . He is well supported b

y Bro . Walter Joyce , who is a very gentlemanly actor . Mr . Belford has quite a host in himself , his excellent acting has been known so long in connexion with the Strand Theatre that it requires no comment . Miss Eleanor Bufton looked and acted charmingly . Miss Lydia Maitland and Mrs . Eaymond deserve especial praise . The various characters in the comedy were

called before the curtain at the end of each act . The extravaganza of The Field of the Gloth of Gold , by W . Brough , followed , having completed its 225 th night . Bro . Arthur Swanborough is the acting manager .

Metropolitan Lodge Meetings, Etc., For The Week Ending January 2nd, 1869.

METROPOLITAN LODGE MEETINGS , ETC ., FOR THE WEEK ENDING JANUARY 2 ND , 1869 .

MONDAY , December 28 th . —Lodges : Pythagorean , 79 , Lecture Hall , Royal Hill , Greenwich . British Oak , 831 , Bank of Friendship Tavern , Bancroft-place , Mile End . Tower Hamlet's Engineers , 902 , George Hotel , Aldermanbury . Chapter : Joppa , 188 , Albion Tavern , Aldersgate-street . WEDNESDAY , December 30 th . —Temperance in the

East , 898 , Private Assembly Eooms , 6 , Newby-place , Poplar . THURSDAY , December 31 st . — Gen- Com . Female School , at Freemasons' Hall , at 4 . FRIDAY , January 1 st , 1869 . —Hornsey , 890 , Anderton ' s Hotel , Fleet-street . Chapter : Fidelity , 3 , London Tavern , Bishopsgate-street . SATURDAY , January , 2 . —Gen . Com . Boy ' s School , at Freemasons' Hall , at 4 .

To Correspondents.

TO CORRESPONDENTS .

3 11 communications to be addressed to 19 , Salisbury Strand , London , W . C . —Write to Bro . R . AV . Little . 1