Review.

" Strangest Adventure . " " A Recovered Manuscript . " "The " Editor ' s Easy Chair . " " Book Notices , " and "Tidings from " the Craft . " Without pledging ourselves to a coincidence of opinion in all these articles , —indeed it is but fair to add that from some of the views promulgated we differ in tote , —yet no one can take up this

number of Mackey ' s National Freemason without benefit to himself and fully admitting that the articles it contains are written by scholars and gentlemen . But if we , as Englishmen , institute a comparison between the nameless sheet issued here and the jjublication under notice , it makes one blush to think that whilst American Brethren can write sense , in gentlemanly and scholarly diction , we are treated to the impertinences of an interested

cleric , an ex-militiaman , impostors , charlatans , and ignoramuses , whose sole attempt tends to drag a noble science—far above their comprehension—down to the lowest depths of imbecility and ignorance . Anxiously awaiting the arrival of number two we cordially tender our best thanks to the editor of Mackey ' s National Freemason and wish him all the prosperity he can , himself , desire for

this , his most recent character on that stage where he won golden opinions of old and to which he has returned to achieve new fame .

Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

The Editor does not hotd hbnsctf responsible for the facts , or opinions , expressed by any correspondent . He reserves to hiinself the right of deciding inhen any subject shail be discontinued , and of rejecting such matter as he deems unsuitable to THE MASONIC EXAMINER . Every communication must be accompanied by the full names , masonic rank , and address of the luritei ' , not necessarily for publication , -unless

desired , but as a guarantee of good faith . These particulars ivill always be treated as a confidential trust , close rvWl . I ANCIENT AND PRIMITIVE RITE OF MASONRY : THE GRAND LODGE OF ENGLAND : AND THE REFORMED RITE OF MEMPHIS .

To the Editor of THE MASONIC EXAMINER . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER : —The following correspondence ( names suppressed ) has taken place between the officials of the Ancient and Primitive Rite , and the Craft Grand Lodge . Please instruct your readers thereon , * and allow me to state that the Rite has representatives in and with the Grand Orient of France , and Italy—with Chili , Roumania , & c , Sic ., & c . ; and is largely

practised in America , most of the Knights Templar who were filed here , being high functionaries ; and the founder of the "Cryptic" humbug , who acted in conjunction with the Gd . Mk . Master Bro . Portal , and Capt . Philips , 33 ° , A . and A . —is one of the 33 ° , A . and P . Rite . The order is of great purity in its rituals , tolerant , and universal , well and easily ruled , and is calculated to become a great success in this country . The

circular alluded to in the following correspondence , laid down basis of laws for working the degrees of the Chapter ( 4 ° ° ) , Senate ( 12 ° 20 ° ) , Council ( 21 ° 30 ° ) , Mystic Temple ( 31 32 ° ) . The first is a very excellent series , terminating with Rose Croix ; the second terminates- with Gd . Inspector , following the Knt . Kadosh ; and the third enters upon Egyptian Theosophy as the foundation of all Masonry . All fees are to be used for the

legitimate purposes of Masonry , and refreshments dispensed with . The Northern Councils are held under the Sovereign Sanctuary of America until some brother of position is placed at the head of affairs in London . A bronze decoration is to be granted for noble deeds in man or woman ; and there are many features of peculiar interest connected with the rite . It is to be hoped some brother in your next issue will enlighten us upon the system of the " Royal Grand Council of Ancient Rites—time immemorial . "

Correspondence.

" September i 6 tb , 1871 . " Although I am aware that nothing in Masonic publications "is to be taken officially , yet as they are said to represent the " office of Grand Lodge , I write to ask a question . " I find it stated that ' Bro . Morton Edwards and Bro . Meyer "Lowenstark have organised a Lodge of Memphis' and 'that " no Member of the Order of Memphis can be-allowed to enter " a regularly constituted Lodge under the Grand Lodge of "England . '

' " You will see from this Circular that I am mixed up here " with the 'Ancient and Primitive Rite of Masonry , ' which is '' neither a Lodge or higher grade of Memphis , but a cumula" tion of the Scottish , Mizraim , and Memphis Rites — and " embracing the best of all—by the ruling body or Grand Orient " of France . The rite has numerous members in America , " Roumania , and elsewhere , and admits only Master Masons , in

" good standing , under the Constitutional Grand Lodges . It " works precisely in the same way as the 'Ancient and Accepted "Scottish Rite , " but unlike that has never claimed dominion " over the Grand Lodges of blue Masonry . The rite is like the " Craft—tolerant and universal in principle ; nor will it ever "interfere in blue Masonry in any way to its disadvantage . " Anything to the contrary is Calumny . The Rite is superior in

" every shape-and form to the 'Ancient and Accepted , ' and if " one of the Grand Lodge Laws is illegal—so is the other . " As , however , I wish to do nothing contrary to the laws of " Grand Lodge , I should be glad to have a line from you at your " earliest convenience touching upon this , and the statement " heading , this letter . " Reply : — " September 21 st , 1871 .

" Permit me to say , in the first instance , that" [ the periodical is here mentioned by its title ] "does not in any way represent " the office of Grand Lodge , neither has the office anything to "do , either directly , or indirectly , with that which may appear " ii _ Its cuhuuii _ , liuae i . ^ cvr . orTer no opinion on the extract you " quote . " I am in a similar position with regard to the ' Ancient and

" Primitive Rite of Masonry , ' of whicli I know nothing beyond " what you are good enough to communicate in your note , and " am therefore unable to say how it might be viewed by Grand "Lodge . I may , however , recall to your recollection that in " October 1859 , a circular was issued by Grand Lodge , repudia" ting the Reformed Masonic Order of Memphis , and cautioning " all Lodges against admitting its members . "

Acknowledgement : — " September 22 nd , 1871 . " Whilst thanking you for your letter I must point out that "the law of 1859 is directed against irregular Masons of the " three first degrees . The G . C . has nothing to do with " extraneous rites , which make the regular symbolic degrees . " their basis , as you yourself instructed me when I attempted to . " cite the 'Ancient and Accepted Rite' before the Board for

'' swindling under a forged power : that , out of the twenty-eight " rites now practised , is the only one whose basis is fraudulent . " SINCERITY . *[ Our correspondent must excuse us from attempting to instinct any one on a subject of which we have no knowledge . —ED . MAS . EX . ]

Notes And Queries For Free-Masons.

NOTES AND QUERIES FOR FREE-MASONS .

THE ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED RITE . QUERY I . _ Jf Frederick the Great invented the A . & A . Rite , why did he not style it Prussian , instead of Scottish ? 2 . If he invented the 33 ° , why did he make the eagle doubleheaded like that of his Austrian enemy , instead of using the singleheaded black eagle of Prussia ?

3 . If he invented the motto— "My God and my ri ght , " how came he to trespass upon the English Dieu et mon droit ? ANSWER : Frederick never received any but the third degree