Uniformity Of Working.

marks . I candidly confess that there are portions of the ritual which might with advantage be amended , and others which appear to be at variance with the Lectures , but for the reasons mentioned I am opposed to any alterations by individual Masters or officers on their own responsibilitj-, and therefore , in discharging my duties as WM which I h recentlagain enteredendeavour

.., on ave y , to carry out the working I have " been taught from the Instruction Lodge of Unions , notwithstanding that those who have made innovations , in accordance with their own opinions , which I admit are in many cases capable of justification , point out to me the inconsistency of such a course .

The practical deduction to be made from what I have stated is , that some means should be adopted by the Grand Lodge of England to keep a supervision over the proceedings of private lodges , such as the appointment ¦ of authorized visitors of great Masonic knowledge and experience , to periodically attend the meetings , to examine into the system of working in each , as well as into its

condition in other respects , and formally to report thereon to a Board appointed for the purpose . " Especially should this commission require the warrant to be produced , as well as the by-laws , minute-book , and other records . I have in my mind a case now under examination , in which such a requirement would have checked a serious irregularityand probablhave led to its correction before

, y it become impossible in such a manner as is desirable , but which cannot now be effected , owing to lapse of time since the irregularity arose . The necessity for this increases in proportion to the increase in the number of lodges , which has lately been very great , for whereas fifteen years ago the highest number was about 800 , and really there were not so many , because some on the list had ceased to

exist , the highest number is now nearly 1300 . * There is of course a corresponding addition to the pecuniary resources of Grand Lodge , which should provide therefrom for such an expenditure as would attend the course suggested , in order to maintain efficiency and correctness . There can be little doubt that the adoption of a regular and exact supervision would lead to a conviction on the

part of the Masonic authorities of the importance of that uniformity of ritual to which I first alluded ; of the difficulties which stand in the way of the zealous Master even when most anxious to perform his duties satisfactorily and correctly ; of the laxity which exists where the opportunities of obtaining instruction are very limited ; and of the necessity for talcing measures to obtain a similarity

in the mode of working , by fixing upon a standard , in forming which apparent anomalies and errors might be corrected . When once this is adopted , all should be required to conform to it , and any departures from it should be noticed by the Board appointed for the purpose , on receiving a report to that effect from the travelling commissioners . This would moreover furnish a favourable

opportunity for entering into negotiations with the Grand Lodges of Scotland and Ireland to the same end , Trusting that this communication may lead some of those in London who take an active part in Grand Lodge proceedings to consider the matter , and to take such steps as the } ' may deem expedient , I have the honour to remain , yours fraternally , H . PL , P . M . 51 , W . M . 1260 . Jersey , June 13 th , 1863 .

York Freemasons And Freemasons Of York.

YORK FREEMASONS AND FREEMASONS OF YORK .

TO THE EDITOR OF THE FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE AND MASONIC MIRROTI . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER . —Every one has heard of the Kentish men and the men of Kent , though but few know the difference , and now wo have anew version of the same in the York Freemasons and the Freemasons of York ; but in this latter case the distinction is obvious , as will be shown presently .

In the last number of THE MAGAZINE , page 47 o , there is an account of the consecration of a new Masonic Hall , in York , and the Rev . Bro . J . E . M . Young , Prov . G . Chap ., in his oration on that occasion , brought prominently before his auditors , claims for the Freemasons of York , to be considered as York Masons—two things as widely differing in reality as they are nearly assimilated in sound .

It is not my business to analyse the evidence which could be brought forward to prove that the so-called charter of Athelstan , which the speaker said was granted in the tenth century , and that there was strong reason to believe was in existence at the beginning of the present century , and might be so yet , is nothing more than one of those fond illusions which frequently haunt

Freemasons , and make them assert many incongruous things which , if not actually false , are at the best . 'but doubtful . Freemasonry is decidedly ancient , but in the absence of documentary proof , legendary accounts of its antiquity can serve no good purpose , and tend rather to bring discredit on its pretensions than to enhance its value . That York oriinallwas the seat of the Grand Lodge

g y of all England there is no denying . That the York rite was that most popularly known wherever Freemasonry was practised , is equally true . But that the present Freemasons of York have any special claim to be ranked as York Freemasons , i . e ., brethren of the York rite , is equally unfounded . Before the revival of Freemasonry in Londonin 1717

, , the York rite was the only known Freemasonry in England , and despite the modern Grand Lodge , it flourished under the name of Ancient Masonry , up to the union in 1813 , when such portions of it as suited the Lodge of Reconciliation , was altered and adapted to our present

system of working , and that poz'fcion which did not please , was solemnly declared not to belong to Craft Masonry , and has been , in accordance with this decision , ignored by our Grand Lodge , and though unconnected with blue Freemasonry , yet flourishes vigorously in this country , totally independent of the Grand Lodge of England . In foreign countries the York rite is Freemasonry per

se . It is regarded as the original form of Freemasonry , and from which England alone , of all nations on the earth , the land in which the York rite first had birth , solemnly repudiated it , as a whole , and formed that poor jargon which we now call our Craft ritual from the more copious , elegant , correct , and interesting ritual of the York rite .

If we trace the history of the Grand Lodge of England , from the Grand Mastership of Bro . Payne , at its revival , down to our present M . W . G . M ., the Earl of Zetland , we shall find that every one who has occupied that exalted position , has been a modern Mason , and to show how unfounded are the claims of the Prov . G . Chaplain of North and East Yorkshireto be " remembered we are a

, York lodge , " or that they " may prove worthy of the name of York Masons ; " it is evidenced by the fact that the M . W . G . M . is , as well as being head of the Craft , the Prov . G . M . of North aud East Yorkshire , and if he is not a York Freemason as the one , he cannot be as the nth Rt \

These remarks are m no way intended to trench upon the collective , or individual , worthiness of the Freemasons of Yorkshire , but are put forward to show that Freemasons who are natives of , or reside in , Yorkshire , are no more York Freemasons , according to the old acceptance of the term , than a man who is born in a stable is a horse .

For the future , let us have as much enquiry as possible , but no assumption founded merely on the ring of words which in the case of Freemasonry proper , mean a distinct rite , and on the other hand a locality . I am , dear Sir and brother , jours fraternally , A YORK CULDEE FREEMASON . London , June 14 th , 1863 .