The New " United Orders."

those who think with me , is the fact that inside its precincts wo know ourselves to be on equal . footing with the most socially exalted member of the Order . For us , therefore , membership - of the " United Order" will be to a certain extent an anomalynot sufficiently soperhapsas to

, , , cause us to " leave the ranks " but quite enough to induce us to abstain from taking any active part in its executive . While there is - nothing strictly objectionable in the " Statutes of the Convent General , " there is quite enough to shew us that

. according to the ideas wrought out , we are as it were members by accident , and the . position of " silent members " will I suggest be the most consistent with wisdom and good taste . . It is ahnost a j > ity that it has been ¦ ¦ thought necessary to revert to the costume of : the . old chivalric order . The effect will

doubtless be picturesque , but to my mind rather too . suggestive of a masquerade . Of course - with the practices of our judges and . lawyers , wigs and gowns , and our levees , anchcourtreceptions , to keep us in countenance , - the absurdity of the proceeding will not beperhapsover conspicuousbut if

, , , : we : have many public " demonstrations " : ; we may expect a fair share of the caustic .. . ridicule that permeated the articles lately " ¦ . appearing in some English papers , nor can ¦ y we . fairly quarrel with the view taken of - ¦ bur . proceedings , from the standpoint of a ¦

' .. common-sense practical " outsider . " ::: The title of the new " United Order " is .. somewhat peculiar . The blending of the ¦ Order of the Temple and the Hospital , has in it to a student of history , a slight dash of : the " comic " element . - Thenagain

, , - while there are some clergymen , and a few - soldiers to be found , in our ranks , I would " . ' be glad to know what other clahns we can . piit forward to be considered as either : " Religious " or " Military ?"

It is the opinion of a good many shrewd brethren , that there-is a political motive underl ying the recent change , and if so , we ¦ have of course an additional reason for - ¦ - being on our guard against the Templar r Order-being hi any way identified with Ereemasonry . As before stated there is

¦ less danger of such a mistake in England ' - than . exists here , where the Templar ¦ ' - qualification is required for candidates for ' .-the--Rose Croix Order usually known as " Prince Masons . " Another difficulty is

The New " United Orders."

suggested . Rose Croix Masons here must have taken all the preliminary degrees in our system , among which occurs , for instance the degree of " Knight of the East and West . " This degree has hitherto been worked in Ireland under a Templar

warrant ; but in England it is claimed as one of the degrees under the government of the Supreme Council 33 ° , and by the " Tripartite Treaty . " The Templars of England , were , I believe , bound not to work any of the degrees conferred by ihe

A . and A . Rite . Does that treaty bind us now ? and if so , to whom is the working of the Degree to be relegated ? I fancy the " New Order " will find some difficulty hi either expunging or altering the control of this degreeespecially among our

, country "Preceptories , " should the governing body consider such a step necessary . The High Knights Templar here , were tenants for a portion of our Dublin Masonic

Hall . I presume that tenancy will not be in any way disturbed by the recent change . Composed as then- Order will continue to be , of Freemasons who have received the R . A . degrees , they are , though not Masonic , eminently allied with Freemasonry , - and there can ' therefore be no difficulty in

permitting them to confer their degrees within our walls . In fairness , however , should kindred bodies , such as the " Rosicrucian Society of England , " and the English " Order of Rome and Constantine" whose members are necessarily

M . M . ' s , at any future time seek to extend then ,- system in this country'there should be no objection to afford them similar accomodation if space permitted . Whether all the Encampments under the old system will continue their

allegiance to the new , can hardly yet be con-- sidered settled . If any of them refuse to ¦ do so the question may yet become difficult and complicated . JOSEPH H . WOODWORTH .

Verbum Sat Sapienti.

VERBUM SAT SAPIENTI .

We have often been struck with one or two little matters hi our Masonic system and practice , to which we think the attention of the Craft is not always sufficiently directed , and so we hope to be permitted from time to time in . the pages of ; the Magazine , and under our friendly signature