Smyrna times., 1867-11-13

SOMETHING ABOUT MASONRY. Y.-Ihe gene
raj notion in regard to Masonry is somewhat
vague and uncertain Ever since the Pope is
sued an ALLEGATION ex-cOmmuncatngin gindiscrimi-
nately all members of the fraternity of Free
Masons it has excited public attention The
Order has received an immense forward impe-
tus in Italy and France. Large numbers have
joined the prohibited craft, thinking that if it
was distastefu to His Holiness its secrets would
be worth knowing and no doubt they are
"SymbOlical Masonry" consists of three de-
grees, viz: those Of Entered Apprentice, Eel
low Craft, and Master Mason. The lodge con
fers these three, of which the Master Mason is
the governing degree. All business is transac-
ted in this degree; all officers must be Master
Masons, and only such can attend Masonic tu-
nerals, or receive Masonic interments. They
are called "symbOlical" because the lessons
taught are drawn from the moral use of the
working tools Of operative masonry After the
lodge or symbOliZed masonry comes Capitular
Chapitral, or Chapter Masonry The degrees
are those of Mark Master, Past Master most
| Excellent Master, and Royal Arch Cryptic. -
| Masonry comes next, and consists Of two de-
grees-thOse of the Royal Master and Select
| Master. These are the summit of Ancient
| Craft Masonry. In the District of Columbia
Crypt Masonry is not separate from Capitular
Masonry the council being under the control
of the Royal Arch Chapter, Cryptic Masonry
is the complement of Royal Arch Masonry, and
explanatory of the previous degrees. The En-
campmcnt IS a separate organization, into
which none, however, are admitted but Royal
Arch MasOns. Its degrees or orders are those
Of the Red Cross-Malta and Templars. 1t is
founded on Christianity. Its members are
called Knights as those of the Chapter are
called Companions and those Of the Lodge Bro
thcrs The oldest lodge in England is called
the lodge of Antiquity. Sir Christopher Wrer
was Grand Master at the time of building St
Paups. In eighty-four years the Grand Lodge
of England has had but four presiding officers
The Duke of Cumberland occupied the place
from 1882 to 1890; the Prince of Wales unit
1913; the Duke of Sussex until 1913, and the
Earl of Zetland to the present
THE ODDITY OF HOLLAND. D.-Everything il
Holland is interesting, and almost everythin:
is queer. There is piquant oddity in the ar
tificial nature of the whole country; the sandy
soil, which is a triumph of patient ingenuit!
and creative skill; the wind pitted against tn
water to keep the land from flooding; the ca
;, nails instead of roads; the bitches instead o
hedges; and the unvarying level Of the broa
flats, there being no such thing as a risin
7 ground fifty feet high from one end of Hollan
to the other. Perhaps nothing strikes tn
, English in Holland so much as the want @
l stones. You cannot as much as find pebbl
to throw at dog-if, indeed, the Dutch dog
1 were not far too well behaved (which they are
e ever to suggest such an outrage. You do, it
!, true, see in their proper places vast masses c
n granite and large blocks of basalt but all thes
G came from Norway, and are brought here a
e great expense and are economical as else
where people economise porphyry and marble
n In fact, stones in Holland are as much a
n article of import, of foreign merchandise,
e purchase, as wine is in England. Counties
e vessels arrive, or have arrived here, laden wit
9 no other cargo.