Masonic Orders Of Knighthood.

of a Rose Croix Chapter , and consequently no one is eligible for the degree unless a vacancy occurs in one of the chapters , to which he has to be regularly recommended . The degree is so highly esteemed and is so select , that many worthy brethren have to wait a life time , before their turn for election comes .

There can be very little doubt , but that the degree of Rose Croix , as practised at present , differs very materially from the degree to work which , Prince Charles Edward Stuart granted a charter to Arras , and even from the ceremonial

formerly practised in Templar Encampments . I am of opinion , that the degree itself , in Avhat ever shape Ave find it , Avas elaborated , by ( probably ) the Chevalier Ramsay from the conjunction of the two points of the Roy al Order of

Scotland , H . R . M . and R . S . Y . C . S ., the latter of which is undoubtedly the oldest , and indeed according to Bro . Donald Campbell , 32 ° , the editor of Bro . Mackey ' s Lexicon , the only genuine Order of Knighthood in connection with Freemasonry .

This beautiful degree has the same relation to " Blue " Masonry , as the latter has to the world at large . As Craft Masonry is intended to receive all of the outer Avorld , Avhether Jew or Gentile , Avho acknowledge the existence of the Great Architect

of the Universe , so the Eoyal Order is open to all worthy Master Masons , AVIIO profess the Christian faith , aud acknowledge the doctrine of the Holy Trinity . I will not enter into the legend of its institution ,

which , I am sure , must be familiar to all your readers , but Avill content myself Avith observing that the general excellence , and sublime purity of the teaching of this degree , place it , more than any other , on an equality with the precepts of

Craft Masonry , than Avhich nothing can be more in accordance Avith the Divine command , "Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself . " Indeed , many accurate brethren believe the Royal Order in its first point to be the

Christianized form of the ancient degree of Master Mason . By the constitutions of the Order , the Grand Lodge and Grand Chapter can only be held in Scotland , the King of Avhich country , UOAV of course merged into Great Britain , is the hereditary Grand Master and Governor .

This office is UOAV temporarily vacant , as her most Gracious Majesty is necessarily ineligible . Every Provincial Lodge or Chapter must have a warrant from the chief body in Scotland , no

matter in what country it may be held , and at each and every meeting of the Order a vacant chair is placed on the dais , which can only be occupied by the Hereditary Grand Master . " Those Avho are in possession of this degree

and the so-called higher degrees , cannot fail to perceive that the greater part of them have been concocted from the Royal Order to satisfy the morbid craving for distinction , Avhich was so characteristic of the Continent during- the last half of last

century /''—Vide Mackey ' s Lexicon . The degree of K . H , Avas formerly , like that of the Rose Croix , under the jurisdiction of the Grand Conclave of K . T . It is to be found in nearly all the existing Rites , aud in many of them is at the

head of the list , and dignified as the neplus ultra , of Masonry . Dr . Oliver enumerates six degrees which bore this name , but the only important one of those that still continue to be Avorked is the 80 ° of the Ancient and Accepted Rite , whose

chiefs , the S . C . 83 ° , have the sole right to confer this honour in England . I must confess I have no reliable information of importance as to the date of its institution or its founders .

I hope time will soon permit me to refer to the Red Cross Knights of Babylon , or BabylonisH Pass , a degree of some importance , and altogether connected Avith JeAvish legends .

The Ancient Mysteries.

THE ANCIENT MYSTERIES .

( From the Voice of Masonry . ) So long as man shall remain in ignorance respecting anything in nature , that thing in respect to Avhich he is in a state of ignorance may be said to be mysterious to him—a mystery .

In this sense the order of nature , the movements of the heavenly bodies , and the causes of the seasons were mysteries to the primitive inhabitants of the earth . All these things are still mysterious to cm-selves in certain respects ; that

is to say , our knoAvledge of them is limited to a few particulars , and what Ave actually know of them is a small portion of Avhat still remains to be knoAvn . Human knowledge , therefore , is at best very

limited . We knoAV nothing of the essences of things , and in this sense the universe , our own existence upon it , and everything connected there-Avith , may be regarded as deep and impenetrable mysteries , the solution of which we need hardly