^IS b\OYAL HIGHNESS

{From the Sentimental Magazine , 1792.

GEORGE PRINCE OF WALES

glontljlrj HJasairic j SiTinimu'ir.

MA.SOUICA.LLY AVO bave but little to noteor to record. English Masonry is, moreor less, in "recess," and though the pro-vinces still give proof of life and work,—Avitness the recent Prov. Grand Lodgemeetings in Somersetshire and Dorset-shire,—as a general rule, English Free-masonry is in a dormant condition.Nearly all the London Lodges are closeduntil October or November, and a goodmany provincial ones. In Spain in olddays at the witching hour of noon Avasthe inevitable '' siesta," and then, as if bygeneral consent, everybody Avent into astate of repose. On one occasion duringthe old Carlist Avar of all, Avbile skirmishingwas going on vigorously, the hour of"siesta" came, and then , as if by somemysterious yet potent cbarm, tbe com-batants on both sides sank into a tran-quillizing slumber, only at the trumpet'scall and the drum 's rattle to resume theirarms, to spring like the classic legendfrom the earth , and continue their unquietemployment. Freemasonry, now in recessor " en ret-raite," will soon revive in tenfoldvigour for the fray, Avhether in lodgeor out, whether at labour or refresh-ment.

Bro. Caubet's report of a year's workof "Les Loges de l'Heliopolis," at Bucharest,is most gratif ying, as showing hoiv 25rac-tically useful Freemasonry can be. Thereport appeared in the " Freemason" ofthe 15th September, and is well Avorthreading. We are inclined to think thatsome of our good brethren at home Avillopen their eyes a little at perusing sucha remarkable evidence of Masonic zealand activity. Of course in Great Britainsuch a condition of affairs could hardlytake

^ place, neither Avould such a system

practically Avork probabl y ivith us ; but ina new country, so far a virgin soil forFreemasonry, one likes to see the genuine" Good Samaritanism" of the Craft so

genuine ancl so living. All honour to the-Roumanian Freemasons.

The material prosperity of Free-masonry is beginning to tell its OAVH tale.For sometime past the rapid increase oflodge members has been a subject of nolittle anxiety to all reflecting Freemasons.It is quite clear that a great many areentering into Freemasonry for what theycan eventually get , and a large numberought not to be admitted at all Avhoannually are received Avithout a questioninto our order . By tbe course Avhich weare pursuing in this respect Ave are givinga premium to pauperism and improvidence.These are hard words, but they are true.Hence come those frequen t ajjpeals forenlarged accommodation in our educa-tional institutions, and increased grantsfrom oar Board of Benevolence. TheGirls' School is now too limited for thecandidates AA-JIO claim admittance, andsome increase in tbe accommodati on willhave to be provided. Whether the presentschool can possibly be enlarged seems morethan doubtful , ancl if so, if its site canhe sold for building land at a large price,the amount so obtained may provide forrebuilding the school elseAvhere. Thismost valuable institution deserves theAvarm and active support of our great andbenevolent order.

The Ultramontane controversy goes onin full "furore. " "The Secret Warfareof Freemasonry against the Church andState," recently published by Burns & Co.,the Roman Catholic booksellers, ancl verysmartly got up, is a translation of aGerman Avork which appeared a feAV yearsback. It is at best but a Aveak perform-ance, though the Avriter of it has contrivedto string together a certain number ofsalient extracts and telling passages, fromits own "point de mire." Freemasons donot seem much to mind all this abuse ; andFreemasonry seems to be extendingrapidly, ancl moving on solidly and in "goodform." As a Wykehamist would say,let us give Avith heartfelt wishes " Omni-bus Latomis !"

K

THE ORIGIN AND REFERENCES OFTHE HBRMESIAN SPURIOUS

FREEMASONRY.

BY REV. GEO. OLIVET., D.D.

CHAPTER I.

" Thammuz came next behind,AVhose annual wound in Lebanon alluredThe Assyrian damsels to lament his fate,In amorous ditties all a summer's day ;"While smooth Adonis from his native rock ,Ran purp le to the sea , suppos'd with bloodOf Thammuz , yearly wounded. The love taleInfected Siou's daughters with like heat,AVh»se wanton passions in the sacred porchEzekiel saw, when by the vision led ,His eye survey 'd the dark idolatriesOf alienated Judah." MIMOX.The resul t of all our researches into the

antiquities of Masonry will , I am persuaded ,substantiate the fact, that although thetrue ancl the spurious Freemasonry areparallel institutions, they cannot by anyprocess of reasoning, be identified with eachother , or prove that the former is an emana-tion from those splendid and imposinginstitutions, Avhich, at a remote period ,pervaded the Avhole world , and still , it isto be feared, are regarded Avith reverenceby some of those Eastern nations wherethey Avere formerly practised in all theirsolemn magnificence, as an appendage to asystem of Avorship Avhich , unfortunately,has never been rescinded.

It may be considered a fruitless attemptto endeavour to point out the origin ofthese remarkable institutions, or the cir-cumstances under which they becam eblinded with the religion of eA'ery nationupon earth ; as the existence of anyauthentic records referring to those earlytimes may be j ustly questioned , and theonly remaining evidence for our guide inthis difficult enquiry is, reason combinedAvith analogy.

It is presumed that they originated inthe world before the flood ; for Ave find itrelated in the sacred writings, that man-kind were divided in two distinct races ;the one proceeding from Seth , called " theSons of God ; " ancl consequently pious,religious, and obedient to the divine com-mands ; the other—the progeny of Cain,were termed " Giants," being full ofAvickedness, violence, and every evil work ;and , like their progenitor , destitute offaith iu the promised Mediator.

Now, from Jewish tradition we learnthat the pious race, who were also de-n. urinated the "Sons of Light," separatedthemselves from the profli gate descendantsof Cain , and took up their residence on thesummit of Mount Moriah , a happy region ,to Avhich the rival race were never sufferedto penetrate. Brom this exalted position ,according to the traditi on before ns theyAvere favoured Avith visions ancl revelationsof the holy angels of God. They lived formany centuries in great privity ancl holi-ness ; observing the utmost regularity inoffering up their devotions to the MostHigh ; or, as Ave are explicitly told byMoses* to •'' the NAME of JehoA\ih." And" while the Cainites totall y disbelieved therevelation touching the Name, or Voice, orWord of Jehovah , about (to become theSeed of the Woman) ; the Sethites, asGod's hereditary witnesses in the place ofAbel , Avere openly to profess their belief init through the standing; use of a regularform of prayer, characterised by a directinvocation of the personal Name ofJehovah ."j They preserved the utmostkindness and brotherl y love towards eachother ; and the onl y assentation or oathwhich they eA^er made, was " hj the Bloodof Abel,"

The question then is, what mysteriousrites were practised by the race of Sethupon this holy mountain '] To solve thisenquiry correctly, it Avill be necessary toconsider whether any great natural eventdistinguished the antediluvian Avorld, Avhichthe inhabitants might think Avorth y ofbeing perpetuated ancl transmitted toposteri ty as a means of stimulating thefaith ancl holiness of their descendantsand preserving them from the contamina-tion of impurities which might be presentedto their notice during occasional intercoursewith the rival race of men who occupiedthe vail ies, and had already made someprogress in the refinements of social life.

The most prominent circumstance Avliichdistinguishes the history of the antediluvianworld , is the marked division of the in-habitants into two separate castes. Andthis separation was so rigidly enforced asto prevent all communication Avith eachother, either by marriage or other per-manent association, during the continuanceof man) ' centuries.

* Gen. iv. 26f Faber. Eight Diss. Vol. ii . p. 333.

The origin of this difference being themurder of Abel, and the expatriation ofhis brother, would doub tless form anhistorical event of sufficient importance tobe perpetuated by significant rites and sym-bols, Avhich Avould ensure its transmissionto a far distant posterity, Avithout under-going any material alteration in the facts,amongs t a people Avhose ignorance of letterswould leave them no alternative but tohave recourse to oral communication. This,therefore, would be the ritual or legend ofthe secret Avhich was to be kept inviolablewith respect to the apostate race of themurderer. The word or token Avould bethe Sacred Name of God , and the pass-word, the " Blood of Abel," which was atype of the Redeemer's promise to Adamas an atonement for the sins of men.

But unhappily, this distinction did notcontinue unimpai red. In process of timesthe sons of Light became contaminated bythe seductive allurements of the Cainites,whose superior ciAdlization, and excellencein the refinements of social life, Avere asnare too tempting to be resisted. Theconsequences proA'ed fatal ; for instead ofthe pure system triump hing over the de-graded Avorship of the inhabitants of thovallies, it became amalgamated Avith thespurious practices which had been in-stituted in imitation of, and as a substitutefor, the legitimate mysteries of their piouscontemporaries, and in the end swallowedup ancl extinguished them. According toMasonic tradition they Avere in danger ofbeing entirel y lost ; and Avere preservedonly by the zeal of a feAv solitary in-dividuals who had sufficient virtue to resistthe progress of contamination. The secretswere at length deposited for safety inthe bowels of the earth.

This appears to receive confirmationfrom the surname given to Tubal, theartificer in brass and iron—the greatGiblite (Heb. Gibal, Freemas on) of theancient Avorld ; else, why should thedegrading appellation of fratricide be affixedto him in particular who conferred morebenefits on mankind by his ingenuity andscientific acquirements than any individnalof _ his race ? He was thus distingui shed,as it appears reasonable to believe, becausehe was the principal agent in the amal-gamation ef the two great divisions ofmankind, and the first of his family whoreceived, or was initated into, a knoAvledge

of the mysteries of the pious race, whichpreserved the correct legend of the defec-tion of Cain from primitive holiness, andthe incidents which accompanied the mur-der of his bro ther.

The Almighty strove by asories of naturalmeans to prevent this universal defection ;for Avhen he said "my Spirit shall notalways strive with man."* it is evident thathe had already used ail the means Avhichhe considered right to Avean the Sethitesfrom their absurd and superstitious apostacy;probably "by signs and wonders, andmighty deeds," such as he used at a sub-sequent period to preserve the Israelitesfrom contamination in the wilderness ; andthese being ineffectual, he at length de-termined not only to shorten the life ofman , but to destroy the sinners from theface of the earth , and purge tbe Avorld ofits corrupti ons by an universal deluge.

If these conjectures have any fovmdationin truth , they will satisfactorily account forthe union of the true ancl spurious Free-masonry, and the means by which the firstidolaters became acquainted with the pureand intellectual system of primitive Light.And it was a knowledge which they con-sidered of too much value to be forgotten .Hence we find that Ham, who had. beeninstructed in these truths before the flood ,by Lamech, as some think,t or more pro-bably by Tubal Cain, communicated themto his descendants : and they formed thegroundwork on Avhich these designing in-novators afterward* instituted and im-proved the diluvian mysteries ; Avhere thedeath of Abel Avas figured by that of Osirisor Bacchus.

It Avill be unnecessary to SIIOAV thatChristanity was intended by the Almightyto be symbolized and transmitted in theJewish religion. It is well knoivn, and can-not be controverted. All its ceremonies andrequisitions were but types and shadoAvs ofa better dispensation. The laAV was merelya schoolmaster to bring us to Christ.^ Itmay, however, be a useful and beneficialemployment to prove that Christainity wasembodied in every system of false religion ;and that the secrets preserved with such careand circumspection in the spurious Free-masonry of these various systems, were no

* Gen. vi. 4.f Nimrod, vol. iii. c. 2.J Gal. iii. 24.

K 2

other than the prominent docirmes whichwere finally revealed in the Gospel. Thetruths indeed Avere so isolated that thehierophant himself very imperfectly un-derstood their ul timate reference. But hisblindness ancl ignorance does not annul thefacts. These lordl y pontiffs Avere instru-ments in the hands of a superior Being,to prevent such important references frombeing lost, and the mysteries Avere theonly vehicles by Avhich they could betransmitted to posterity unimpaired.

The hierophant regarded the ineffablesecrets as bearing a reference to the Deityof which he was the priest, and con-sequently the living representative, andfancied his OAVH dignity was magnified inproportion to the honours Avhich wereawarded to the god. And his identifica-tion Avith the Deity Avas so stringent , thatthe very same garments in Avhich thegods were clothed, his priests Avere strictlyenjoined to use, If the hierophant couldhave been persuaded that the rel igiou sdogmas of Avhich he was so sensitivelytenacious, Avere simply types of a dispensa-tion still in the Avomb of time, but whosedevelopment Avas intended to destroy thesystem Avhich he considered as the veryessence of his order to uphold , there woul dhave been an universal combination tochange the landmark,and alter the tendencyof every symbolical appendage, that areference so much at variance Avith the in-terests of the hierarchy might no longerexist. The aphanism and emesis of theDeity Avould have been expunged. Osirisor Adonis Avould have died no more, tocheer the hearts of the Mystcs by hisrevival, the symbols and doctrines Avouldhave been diverted from the one designfor which they had been instituted , andthe Avhole fabric of the mysterious dramawould have been dissolved.

But this calamity was not suffered tooccur. The hierophant was not permittedby an over-ruling Providence to see any-thing beyond the explanation of themysteries as vehicles for cementing hisown poAver. All the symbolical representa-tion had in his darkened mind, this solereference. He applied them to the god,and he knew that the people Avould applythem to himself. And so tlie mysterieswent on from age to age, embodying themost sublime truths, but grievously mis-applied ; till the period actual ly came when

the typos Avere realised , and the secretdoctrines fulfilled by Jesus Christ bringinglife and immortalit y to light.

The hierophauts of all nations knew, forthe fact was embodied in their mysteries,that id some future period a Great Deliverershould come to teach mankind the loay oftruth , and that his advent should be pro-claimed and attested by some remarkableconfiguration of the heavens. Tho Jewsalso knew it ; but both mistook thecharacter of this divine personage. Theyequal ly looked for a temporal deli veranne andthe enjoyment of worldly prosperity ; andtherefore they appeared to have no interesteither in swamping the traditions, or chang-ing the interpretation of them. But theyembodied the chief truths in a series ofsignificant symbols, whose true meaning wasentrusted to the custody of the hieropbants,and preserved with such care, that thesecret Avas known to feAv besides themselves.

Of this nature is the Anaglyph beforeus. It was composed by some ingeniouspriest—perhaps by Hermes himself—toembod y in one significant emblem, all themysterious references of the institution,the interpretation of which may appeardifficult to accomplish , even according tothe second canon of Bryant. " If anymoans can be found out ," says this learnedwriter , " to obtain the latent purpose ofthe Egyptian hieroglyphics, they mustarise from considering these emblems singly,and observing their particular scope anddestination. When Ave have ascertainedthe meaning of some individuals , Ave maypossibly discoA'er their drift when takencollectively. These, 1 think, are the prin-ciples upon Avhich Ave must proceed , butafter all , it will be a dark research."*

But Ave of the present day possess morecertai n lights to guide an enquiry of thisintricate nature than were enjoyed even bythe erudite writers I have just cited , andby the assistance of modern discoveries inthe interpretation of Egyptian hieroglyphicsAve may hope to throw some light upon it.For this purpose, I have thought it necessaryto divide the dissertation into distinctchapters, because, under such an arrange-ment, I shall be able to proceed moresystematically, and Avith a better hope ofmaking the enquiry clearer and moreintelli gible.

(To be continued.)

* Bryant Anal. Vol, iii. 263, 800—Ed.

THE MINUTE BOOK OF THELODGE OF INDUSTRY, GATES-HEAD.

BY THE EDITOR.

{Continued from page 76.)I PROPOSE now to give the " Fund LaAvs,"which are of various dates, though formingone continuous collection , the earliestbeing of 1732, which I have printed previ-ously, the latest of 1778. I call them" Fund Laws " because tbe three conclud-ing regulations are so headed, of date 1778,Avhich are clearly a continuation of them,though Avritten on another and even earlierpage. The earlier of these date apparentlyfrom 1754. The titl e in the minute bookis as follows : " LaAvs and Orders to beObserv'd By Masons in a Club," referring,as evident, to the monthly meetings.

"1st. Imprimis. That this Society meetevery Quarter Day, (viz) June the 24, anclMichaelmass Day the 29th of September ,St. John's day iu Christmass, and LadyDay the 25th March at the Hours apointed ,ancl every first Munday in the Month, ex-cepting the first Monday after each Quarterday, Ancl not to exceed the hour of Ten atNight. See the Penal Orders. Verse 18,and 25.

2nd That not one shall be Admitted AMember of this Society, under the age of21 years, or above the age of 40, Withoutthe Majority of the Society. See PenalOrder Verse 21, 22- 23.

" 3rd. That if any Member having anyContinued Alement ; on him, when or be-fore he entered into this Society, He shallhave no benefit from tbe Box for the sameDistemper , alement or Infirmity.

"4 . That the Landlord keep a Roomand a good five to be kept every ClubNight from Michaelmas to Lady day dure-ing Club hours or Fin'd Cd.

" 5 That each Member shall Clear theBook evry Quarter day by paying in 2s.2d, for the Quarter, and what fines maystand against them : and to spend 3d. or excluded.

_" 0 That there be one Feast a Year atMidsummer and that ye Stewards shall seethat the Beckoning be made up as soon asthere shall be 2sh spent by each MemberPenalty Is. Cd each.

" 7 That there shall be chosen a Pro-vincial Master and Wardens once a Year ;Also a Master and Wardens for the Reti-cular Lodge.

" And Avhosoever shall refuse to stand ,Fin'd lsh each.

"Sth. The Master ancl Wardens havepower to Demand Silence, when any Noiseor Disturbance is made, by knocking onthe Table Avith a Trunchon. And upoaObstinate Refusal! shall be fined 2d. SeePenal Order 12th 13th ancl 14th.

" 9th . If tbe Societys Recknoing shallexceed the allotted Dividens, the Stewardsshal l pay the overplus. Therefore if anyMember calls for Drink or Tobacco wi thoutthe Master's leave shall pay for it them-selves.

" 10th . If the Master or Wardens ne-glecteth coming on a Quarterl y Day orClub night at ye hour apointed shall forfeitCd. to the Master , and 4d to tbe Wardensancl for the SteAvards 4d. each. Forfeit.[The words 7 oclock, Mtr., Mn., are runthrough Avith a pen].

"11. The Master and Wardens shallreceive all the money, Relating to theFund Box, and att their Resining up oftheir Cash shall give a just Account of thesame to Society Ancl if there be any De-ficiency, they shall be obliged to make itgood.

" 12th . The Clark shall keep aud deUvera Just Account of. the Society's Affairs,and for his care and truble His Allowanceshall l)e 2 lsh to be paid on the 24th ofJune yearly. All tickets to be gratis. IfHe neglects coming on a Meeting night[Quarterl y is interlineated, and Meetingrun through,] Penalty lsh. If sickness orsomething Extrordany does not Prevent, ora bad night or Buisness. Agreed by theMaiaroty the 24 of June, 1754.

"13. No Member shall Receive anybenefit from the box, untill the Revolutionof whole Kalleiidur year, after His En-terance, after Avhich if he falls Sick, Lame,Blind , so that he is Rendered incapable ofWorking he shall receive 5 shillings prWeek dureing the time He labours undersuch Misfortune. N B If He lyeth aboveone whole year, He shall Receive but halfpay 2/6 per week for Life." [The words" for life " are a subsequent additio n, in adifferent hand.]

Rules 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22,and 23, are similar to the rules at presentin use in benefit clubs, and need not bereprinted.

" 24. That no M ember shall presume tospeak in tbe Lodge after it is Regularlyopened by Master ancl Wardens withoutstanding up, and directing their Discourseto the Master,

" 25. That no Brother, upon a QuarterDay, or Summon'd upon any Emergency,shall appear Avithout Apron or Fined fid.[The Avovds *' Avhite gloves " have originallypreceded " apron," but have been struckthrough with a pen.]

" 26. [This rule has also been crossedthrough.] That all Visiting Brethrenshall Pay towards the Beconing the sameas the Members of the Lodge, nor iu ad-mittance to such except they belong to aConstituted Lodge.

" 27. That if any Brother of Lodge hathany work to be done, shall Imploy some ofthe Bre th ren that are capable of performingit and not Foreingers that do not belongto the Lodge, or fined.

" 28. That Avhat Brother soever belong-ing unto the Lodge shall abuse the Sab-bath by being Disguised in Drink orAbsents himself from Church or some otherplace of Divine Worsh ip so that they bringScandle to ye Lodge, shall be Fin'd for thefirst offence lsh And 2nd offence accord-ing to Majori ty of the Lodge.

" 29th That no Cash shall be lent to anyMember out of the Fund , having found itpredeshall-tial to the Lodge.

" 30. If any Brother Avhen Invited byTickett shall fail to attend at the hour ap-pointed shall forfeit 2d NB that all findsto be paid AVOHS a quarter. [A much laterhand.]

" 31. That Avhatever Member belongingto this Lodge shall Fail comin g on Mid-summer Day, the 24th June at ye hourappointed shall forfeit 6d Extraordinary,against 10 oclock, Except Sickness or someLaAvfull Reason satisfactory to the Brethrenshall be giA-en.

"32. Agre'd by Master ancl Wardensand the Majority of the Brethren thenpresent that Whoever of the Brethren hatha Wife dieth after the date hereof Marchthe 25th , 1753, shall be allowed toAvardsher Funerall Charges 40shillings'

"33. Agreed by Master and Wardens

ancl the Majori ty of Brethren then Presmtthat whenever the two SteAvards or anyTAVO of the Brethern shall draAvmoney out ofthe Fund, (or from Mrs Jones on the saidAccot. for any Brother Indisposed , thatthen in such a case, they are to be alloAvedFourpence to bear their Expences, and itany more Expended it shall be placed totheir OAVU particular account. Deer. 26,1761. NB The following Article is toCommence from this clay June 24, 1771.

" 34. It is further this day, as aboveAvritten viz December 26 1761, that fromthis day forward, all NOAV Members to beadmitted into the sd Societys Box shall athis first Entrance be subje ct to Pay at hisfirst Entrance the sum of 15 shillings.[The vest of the rule has been crossedthrough and partially erased , but it thusstood. The original rule Avas] : Sevenshillings, and Six Pence, that is Five shil-lings to be paid into the Box and TAVOShillings and Sixpence to be spent by theMembers then present. And further it isagreed that that all gentlemen Maisonsadmitted that does not Chuse to a Mem-ber of the Box, from this day fonvard shallbe subject to pay Down at Making thesum of 21. shillings that is to say 14 shil-lings to go into the Box, and 7 shillings tobe spent by the Members then present.N B No Maison to be Made but on aMonthly or Quarterly Day, and LawfulWarning to be given to the Members ofthe Society."

As I said before , all this latter and in-teresting part is crossed through , and be-tAveen 1761 and 1771 these fees had prac-tically been twice altered. They stood in1761 at 7s. 6d ; in 1771 they Avere alteredto los., and 12s. and 3s. Avere the propor-tion to the box and to be spent. Thegentlemen Avere originally made for 15s.,Avith tbe proportion , as before, of 10s. ancl5s. See, too, the next laAV :

" 35 It is agreed on this Day 29th Septr1772, that no Member be admitted intothis Lodge Avithout paying £1. Is. onEntrance except any of the subscribingMembers sons and they pay 10/6each 2sh ofAvhichis to be spent ,and Ssh for One Guinea.

"36 It is agreed this 6 of June 1774that any Brother proposing a Candidateshall pay thereon 5sh to be forfeited if heappears not to be made on the first Meet-ing after being offered, unless some satis-

factory reasons be assigned to the Brethrenfor such omission.

" 37 Resolved that each Member byRotation stand Tyler for one night, or finda substitute for the same—or fin'd 6d.

"38 Any of the Brethren, presuming tosit or stand in the presence of the MasterAvith his hat on his head, or in open Lodgeshall be fined 2d."

Fund laAvs continued on an antecedentpage :

"39. At a Lodge held Septr 29th 1778.Resolved that any Member having a Childdead , shal l be paid 20 shillings out of theFund to enable him to bury such Childdecently : This Legacy is only alloAvedthose Children that are between one monthand Fifteen Years of age. It is furtheragreed that each Member belong ing to theFund, shall pay TAVO Pence into the saidFund in consideration of such Child'sLegacy.

" 40. At a Lodge held Septr 29th 1778.Resolved that after the aforesaid date, everyBrother A'isiting the Lodge, and not aMember of the Fund, shall contribute sixpence towards the expences incurred ateach Monthly or Quarterly Meeting whichhe shall be present at, and the two generalMeetings viz at Christinas ancl Midsummerto contribute his equal share of the Ex-penses attending such meeting in propor-tion to the number present.

"41 At a Lodge held Septr 29th 1778.Resolved that Seven Pounds be paid outof the fund to each deceased Member'sHeir, Executor Administrator or Assign ,at the first Meeting after the Funeral ofthe deceased , and at the same time eachMember belonging to the Fund , shall con-tribute one shilling in consideration of thesaid Legacy being paid out of the Fund."

I stop here to-day, and leave for nextMagazine my remarks on the most interest-ing minutes of this most valuable recordof olden Freemasonry, warmly thanking theLodge of Industry for the great privilegeth ey kindl y accorded to me.

TRUE PHILOSOPHY.

Amid desponding hours nowAlong the path of life,

The grieving heart, the broken vow,All through this weary strife ;

When dreams have past and faded,When hope no more sustains,

All travel-toss'd ancl jaded ,Thronging our joys and pains,

How calmly falls upon us here,Beneath our darkening sky,

A peace, amid contending fear,Calmness, mid many a sigh,

For fair Philosophy's controlCan even now dispel

The gloom of many a troubled soul ,The doubts it knows too Avell.

For m this bfe of ours,And iu this passing scene,

How many weary hours,How many trials keen,

Will ever trouble and subdueThe fainting heart of man ,

As one by one they greet our A'iewIn this our little span.

There come the griefs of youth,The crossed matnrer page,

The vanishing of trust and truth ,The morbid fear of age ;

There come in phantom guiseBefore the open door,

The shrouded forms and tearful eyesWhich haunt us evermore !

Come youth ! come strength ! come trust !As hours on hours depart

All wither into dustIn the treacheries of the heart ;

And hope has lost its beaming gaze,And faith its living joy,

As time and Aveakness, sin and age,Tinge all with dark alloy.

Faces we loved so dearlyHave faded out of sight,

The heaven Ave saAv so clearlyHas darkened into night;

The fragrant daAvn of morningHas passed before the day,

When, Avithout Avord or Avarning,Our shadows melt away.

What, then, is left to you or me,Of all Ave loved so Avell .

Of all our eyes could gladly see,Of all our tongues could tell 1

Some dry and Avithered floAvers,A shining lock of hair,

A memory of soft hours,A vision bright and fair.

And yet though time is cruelIn all it takes away,

Though it robs us of each jewelWe fain Avould hoard to-day,

Yet it brings with it its healing,As its circling seasons flow,

It ever is revealingGlad hopes for man below !

Beyond this vale of tears and care,Beyond this land of dreams,

Are pastures ever fresh ancl fairRefreshing crystal streams ;

And in those peaceful borders,Ancl in that land so dear,

Forgotten life's disorders,UnknoAvn its wants or fear.

Stay, then, thy sinking heart.'fired pilgrim of to-day,

Strive on and do th y part,To reach that " far aAvay ;"

For beyond the Vale of Doom,Straight from the Living Tree,

There comes to thee a soft perfumeOf the Land by the Crystal Sea.

A.F . A. W.

THE DUVENGER CURSE.

ELI A B. CLYDE.

(Continued from page 109.)" Poor Louis ! " she whispered ; " Avhat

a Avife ; she must bo ten years the elder ,and so sharp and unhealth y looking."

" What was the reason you IAVO didn 'tmarry," I asked.

She put both hands up over her head , amotion peculiarly her own . "Oh , theparents ; Louis ' Avife had already beenpicked out for him, French fashion, andmy father objected on account of his beinga Catholic. But, pshaw ! Louis himselfhas no more religion than I have."

"Don 't, Nip,'r I said ; "you make mecringe. How came the Duvengers toeducate Louis and Josie at Protestantschools 1"

" I never kneAv exactly," she answered ,"some request of Isabel's father, I believe.He Avanted Louis A mericanized . Louis'sisn't a very strong nature and being withthe boys there, shook his faith. You

wouldn 't think it, knowing IIOAV strongJosie's is. I believe it Avas her earnestnessAvhich made John Fairfax a convert.Don't they make a pretty picture there ?"

" Yes, what an unusually handsome manMr. HathaAvay is. See bim bending totalk Avith Isabel ."

" They are a well matched couple; onlytheir hair ancl eyes are alike and I believein contrasts. Isabel is slow in her motions;she has a Avay of turning languidly towardone, Avith a littl e half smile, and lookingthrough her eyelashes ; for all that, she isAvarm hearted, ancl I guess Mr. HathaAvayknoAvs it. And I've found out somethingelse," Avith an elfin expression of her face :" Mme. LeFevre Avould give up her hopesof the hereafter if something Avould happento mar Isabel's beauty. Let us go backto them."

We joined the group again, Nip seatingherself by Louis's Avife. A slight contrac-tion of eyebrows shoAved how he noticedthe difference betAveen the Avomen. ItAvas impossible for the girl to remain stilllong, and she Avas soon on the sofa chattingAvith James Fairfax.

"Oh, Josie," she called, "Ave haven'tseen the wonderful room, can't Ave go' thereto-night . "

" Of course," answered Josie ; " Ave'llall go together as soon as the moon isup."

"I'll Avatch for the moon, then ," saidNip, and she darted to the windoAv everyten minutes.

" Firefl y," said Mr. Hathaway." That 's Avhat AVO call her ," said Isabel."One feels inclined to ask how long

since she came from elfin land," said thegentleman .

" Careful , sir," Nip flung the Avords backover her shoulder ; "elves punish mortalsAV IIO laugh at them."

" Ah, but the punishment were sAveet,"said Mr. Hathaway.

" Yes," said Louis, in a tone meantonly for Nip; '' from such hands sAveeterthan the caresses of others."

His Avife heard the Avords. "Really,Louis," she said, " did that speech cost yovtmuch effort?"

" The moon is up," exclaimed Nip,quickly; '' can't Ave go now 1"

" Oh , yes," answered Josie, rising ; " andlet no one speak or it will destroy thecharm of the room."

We followed her through halls and upstairs, and around Avinding passages silently;as the great door SAvung open , Ave enteredthe haunted chamber. The moonlight fellthrough the latticed casement in checkeredsquares upon the floor, and in the oak wasa dark spot, it might have been a vein inthe Avood, but they said it was the stain ofblood which Avould never Avash out. ThereAvas something so weird in the sumptuousold chamber that no one felt inclined tospeak loud. Louis and Nip stood off inthe shadoAV softly Avhispering, ancl his Avifewatched thep for a time, uneasily, anclthen proposed a return. We never wentthere for pleasure again.

The days fleAV dreamily by ; the wholeatmosphere seemed saturated Avithromance,and its influence Avas strongly felt by all ofus. One person alone never joine d us ;but often, if Ave happened suddenly toenter the salon, always dark ancl cool inthe hottest weather, the white figure ofArtemise Avould rise from some sofa, andglide silently from the room.

" What is the matter Avith her," I askedonce of Isabel.

" An unhappy marriage, I believe," Avasthe reply. " I don't think she is quite inher right mind."

" Do you believe in the Duvenger curse?"I asked.

" I have some trace of the old familysuperstition ," she ansAvered ; " you knowmy only bi'other was drowned. Louis isthe last of his name, ancl if he never has ason. the curse perishes Avith him."

The old toAvn Avas full, of curiosities, andAve had something to keep us busy con-stantly. Once I found a rcera avis. ItAvas one warm afternoon Avhen Louis andNip had gone out for a drive, and his wifeAvas in a frenzy of rage. I put on my hatand left the house, but finding the streetsunbearable from the heat that came upfrom the flag pavements, I stepped into ashoe-store. While I stood there a crash ofmusic sounded from over head , and aAvonderful voice began to sing. It Avasthe shoemaker's daughter, and he told meI might go up. I did so, and found ayoung girl of fifteen , one AVIIO had beeneducated at the convent , and hardly kneAvof another Avorld than that which lay inSt. Philippe. She knows of it UOAV though ,lor she has since become the protege of a1 rinia Donna and will make her debut in

Europe next year. ¦ I must have stayed anhour, and when I Avent out I met JamesFairfax sauntering gloomily along. Hejo ined me and we turned homewards.

" What Avere they all doing when youleft 1 " I asked.

" I don't knoAV," he answered, " onlythat Hathaway Avas reading poetry to MissDuvenger clown by the fountain ."

Nip or Isabel, Avhich ? I said to myself;then aloud, "We can easily see IIOAV thatwill end."

" The man is playing an unworthy part,"Avas the reply, ancl further than that Mr.Fairfax refused to say.

We found them still by the fountainAvhen Ave returned home. Isabel all inAvhite, Avith a black lace scarf throAvnaround her, sitting in the grass, leaningOA'er the marble basin, with her hand inthe., water. Mr. Hathaway at her feet,stretched out at full length, resting on hiselboAV, his hat off and his Avavy black hairlifted from his forehead by the Avind. Thebook he had been reading lay closed besidehim, ancl his eyes Avere resting on her face.Just behind the fountain, a dark shadoAVin the picture, stood Adrienne LeFevre.What had she to do Avith the destiny ofthose two 1 Louis ancl Nip just then droveup, ancl had to take a round scolding,which he bore in silence, ancl she withlaughing indifference.

One day Ave started off for a picnic on alull six miles distant. Two gentlemenAvho Avere often at our house, were invitedto join us, to make the party even, andwhen Ave came to start Ave found fourvehicles at the door, tAVo barouches, aphaston and a buggy. "ITOAV shall Avearrange it 1 " said Josie. " Louis andHenriette, ancl John and I can go in onebarouche. Isabel I know has a fancy forthe phteton—"

"jAiid I prefer the buggy," spoke upAdrienne ; " and you are the only onewho can drive the horse," smiling atMaurice Hathaway.

" That just does it," said Josie ; " Jameswill, of course, go in the phaeton withIsabel."

So Mr. Fourier ancl Nip, Mr. LeGrandand I stepped into the other barouche ancldrove away in the merriest of spirits.That clay on the hill is one to remember.The sunli ght was so golden, the trees andgrass so green, and we all seemed to reflect

back Nature's joy. Nip flirted indefati-gably Avith Mr. Fourier, and completelyturned his head. Louis tried to speak toher once or twice, but she avoided him.She had been very distant toAvard himsince the day of the ride. She whisperedto me once :

" See Mine. Adrienne cling to Mr.Hathaway ; she hasn't given him a chanceto talk Avith Isabel , once."

" I'm going to manage so that he doeshave a chance," said I, " noAv that Isabeland Mr. Fairfax are at the top of thehill."

Mme. LeFevre Avas seated on the grassunder a tree, and Maurice Hathaway stoodbeside her, when Mr. LeGrand ancl I care-lessly went up and talked with them. Isaid, monchalantly, after a time :

" Mr. HathaAvay, will you Avalk up tothe top of the hill with me ? Mr. LeGrandAvill stay wi th Mme. LeFevre, and Ave canreturn in a few minutes."

He complied Avith my request, of course;I even thought he looked grateful. AsAve reached the top, Isabel turned towardhim, the languid fire burning in her darkeyes. I Avas just turn ing over in my mindIIOAV to take Mr. Fairfax away, when thesilky tones of Adrienne LeFevre Averebeard :

'' You see we have folloAved you. Mr .LeGrand was very uneasy, I could see.He wished to have his own lad y back."

My manoeuvering was for nothing ; butMr. Hathaway bore it with his own grace-ful politeness. The rest Avere ascending.As Nip and Mr . Fourier reached the top,she turned ancl waved her handkerchief tothose below. It fluttered from her hand ,and caught on the rugged branch of a deadtree. She was about to speak , but Louishad seen it ; Avith a quick agility, hesecured and retained it, with a meaninglook at Nip. Apparently she took nonotice, for she Avas chatting busily AvithMr. Fourier.

As Ave returned home that afternoon ,Ave four alighted , and entered the cathedral ,It was dark and dim ; only the still flameof the perpetually burning lamp shone out,a little point of light, before the rich altar.The organist Avas there. A fine thread ofmusic Avas vibrating through the church ,and losing itself high up among the darkarches. Strangely sweet and solemn itseemed, until Nip spoiled all Avith thewords :

" What a handsome priest ! "If Father Antoine heard the Avords his

face gave no sign. He advanced and spoketo the gentlemen and received the in tro-duction to us Avith a bright cordiality. Heivas rather handsome, young, and Avithclearly cut features, and a certain master-ful manner. Nip Avas enthusiastic ov?,rhim for a time, until she received a check.

One afternoon Ave were looking out ofthe AvindoAv, when Mr. HathaAvay anclIsabel came home from a ride.

" Handsome couple," said Nip ; " I be-lieve they'll make a match. I hope so, forMme. LoFevre's benefit. See Mr. Fair-fax going out to hold her bridle. Smallthanks he gets for it, for it is Mr. Hath-aAvay Avho helps her to dismount. Heighho ! they are both in love with her, andLouis is married—there is nothing left forme. I'm going to flirt Avith that priest."

And the little minx actually did put onher hat ancl march off. Isabel came upstairs, bright and flushed , to her room,Avhile I Avent CIOAVU to the dark salon. TheAvhite figure of Artemise glided out as Ientered. I threAv myself in an easy chai rin a dark corner, pondering on all themysteries and concealments of this house ;for I had heard as I came clown, two A'oices,one in angry remonstrance, and one sooth-ing and deprecating. What had AdrienneLeFeA're ancl Maurice Hath aAvay to say toeach other 1 While I sat there Isabel camein, and thinking herself alone Avent to thepiano. While she played, Maurice Hatha-Avay entered , and went and stood besideher, looking doAvn with a smile. And soshe played from her heart to him , untilthe music seemed to take form and colour,ancl float ancl circle iu and out among thedark shadows of the room.

Mr. Hathaway touched her hair ligh tly;" my beautiful Isabel ! " he said.

I slipped softly out, and Avent to myroom , but scarcely had I entered it AvhenNip came bounding in, and threAv herselfon the floor in a paroxysm of laughter.

" Oh, dear ! Oh, clear ! I AA'ent into thechurch an cl met Father A ntoine, ancl be-haved just so sveeet to him as I could , butthe man has no more feeling than a marblestatue ; he just looked CIOAVU and begantalking about my soul. So I told him Ihadn't any soul, I was merely a fairycreature sent here to learn the arts ofmortals, I should dissolve into moonshine

sometime, and that Avas the last folkswould see of me. Do you know he lookedat me in perfect contempt , ancl turned onhis heel and left me. Guess I Avon't try itagain."

The girl was in the wildest spirits therest of the evening. Isabel too wasstrangely exhilarated ! Mme. LeFevrebrought down a quantity of bright fabrics,ancl threAv them in a heap on thefloor.

" These will do for impromptu tableaux,"said she, throwing a long silky scarf ofblue, oA'ershot Avith silver stars, aroundIsabel. It Avas unbecoming, and Nipsnatched it off.

"How can you ? it makes her lookhorrid ; it is more suited to me."

She began to dance—graceful , airything ! Avinding the scarf around her headlike a turban, with the ends streamingback. We all Avatched her with amuse-ment, until she threAv herself on one kneebefore Louis.

"Herodias daughter before King Herod,"said she.

" A very pretty piece of acting," said hiswife ; " only let vis have a little commonsense now."

. " Oh, but Avouldn't it make a goodtableau ?" said Nip, standing up, " withyou as Herod's Avife _ "

Before a reply could be made, she hadsprung from the window and flashed clownthe terrace to the fountain . There shestood, with her hands over her head, look-ing really like a sprite in the moonlight.When she came back , there Avere traces oftears in her eyes—the first time I everthought Nip had any deeper feeling thanenjoyment for the moment. But shegravely took out from the heap a piece ofgauze, and before Ave AA'ere aAvare of herintention, had taken Isabel's hair clown,and over the long, curly black mass, hadfastened the gauze.

"There," she said, "now stand up. Youare the Queen of Sheba, ancl I yourserf."'

"Theatre,' said Mine. LeFevre." Well, what isn't," said Nip ; " what

we do every day is theatre ; all the artsyou use to conceal your age are theatre ;we couldn 't get along Avithout theatre."

" And we all like theatre pretty Avell,"said Louis.

" It would be better for some if theyliked it less," rejoined his sister curtly.

" Is that meant for Hathaway or me 1"asked Louis coolly.

There Avas a dead silence.(To be continued. )

OLD UNDATED MASONIC MSS.

BY BRO. JACOB JfORTOU.

MY communication , viz., " Difficulty ofAscertaining the Age of Undated OldMasonic MSS.," in the September number ofthe " Masonic Magazine," elicited severalarticles fro m the editor, directly and indi-rectly bearin g upon the subject . In someof these I Avas sharply rapped for presumingto form opinions about MSS., the originalsof Avhich I never saw. I confess, hoAvever,that the arguments of my worthy opponentnever for a moment changed my opinion,and as I have since then made further in-vestigation, I shall venture to offer a feAvadditional hints.

First : Upon re-reading the Old Chargesby Bro. Hughan I noticed that Avhile thelegendary portion s abound more or lesswith archaisms, the language of the lawsand charges is most decidedly of the 17thcentury.

And, second : While the presence of thesheriff in a lodge is mentioned in the poemand in Bro. Cooke's MS., Bro. Hughan'sOld Charges, including DoAvland's, makeno mention of the sheriff , hence these MSS.must have been used in lodges Avhen thesheriffs ceased to interfere Avith Mason'ssquabbles, and that Avas in the 17th cen-tury. But I. have even gone a little fur-ther, I have examined the Old Statutes ofEngland , and I think that I can shew theconnection between those statutes and ourearliest Masonic laws.

The earliest statute enacted regardinglabourers, Avages, etc., Avas in the 23rd yearof Edward HI., 1349, as follows :

" Echvard, by grace of God, &c. To theRev. Father in Christ, William, by thesame grace, Archbishop of Canterbury,Primate of all England, greeting : Becausea great part of the people, especially Avork-men and servants late died of the pesti-

lence,* many seeing the necessity ofmasters, and great scarcity of servants,will not serve unless they receive excessiveAvages, and some rather Avilling to beg inidleness, than by labor to get their living.We, considering the grievious discomodityAvhich of the lack, especially of ploughmenand such laborers may hereafter come, haveupon deliberation and treaty Avith thePrelates ancl the Nobles, ancl learned menassisting Us, of their mutual counselordained."

The gist of the statutes Avere, old Avagesancl no more shall be given, ancl offendersshall be punished by imp risonment. In1350, the folloAviug preamble ushers in aneAV badge of laws :

"Whereas, late against the malice ofservants which Avere idle, and not Avillingto serve after the pestilence Avithout takingexcessive wages. It Avas ordained by ourLord the King, and by the assent of thePrelates, Earls, Barons, ancl other of hiscouncil, that such manner of servants, aswell as men as Avomen, should be boundto serve, receiving salary and Avagesaccustomed in the places where they oughtto serve, in the 20th year of the reignof the King that UOAV is, or five or sixyears before, and that the same servantsrefusing to SCITC in such manner shouldbe punished by imprisonment of theirbodies as in the said statute is more p lainl ycontained ; whereupon commissions weremade to clivers people to every county toenquire and punish all them which offendagainst the same, And now , forasmuch asit is given the King to understand in thispresent parliament, by the petition of thecommonalty, that the said servants havingno regard for the said Ordinance, but totheir ease and singular covetise, do with-draAV themselves to serve great men andoth er, unless they have livery and Avagesto the double or treble of that they AvereAvont to take the said 20th year before,to the great damage of the great men,and impoverishment of all the said com-monalty, Avhereof the said commonaltyprayeth remedy. Wherefore in the sameParliament , by the assent of the said Pre-lates, Earls, Barons, and other great men

of the same commonalty there assembledto restrain the malice of the said servants,be ordained and established the thingsunderwritten ."

Cap. I. The year and day's Avages ofservants and labourers in husbandry.

Cap. II. HOAV much shall be given forthreshing all sorts of corn by the quarter.None shall depart from the toAvn in sum-mer Avhere they chvell in Avinter.

Cap. III. The Avages of the severalsorts of artizens and labourers.

Cap. IV. Shoes, etc., shall be sold as inthe 20th year of King Edward III.Artificers sworn to use their crafts as theydid in the 20th year of the said king.

Cap. V. The several punishments of per-sons offending against this statute.

Cap. VI. Sheriffs, constables, bailiffs ,j ailors, etc., shall exact nothing from thesaid seiwants, but the forfeitures- of ser-vants shall be employed to the aid of theclismes ancl quinzaine granted to the kingby the Commons.

Cap. VII. The justices shall hold theirsessions four times a year, and at all timesneedful. Servants Avhich flee from onecounty to another shall be committed toprison.

As Cap. III. concerns our ancientbrethren , I shall cave it in full.

" Item. That carpenters, masons, tilers,and other Avorkmen of houses shall nottake by tbe day for their Avork, but inmanner as they Avere wont , that is to say,a master carpenter 3d. and another 2d., amaster Freemason'* 4cl, ancl other masons3d., ancl their servants Id., tilers, 3d., ancltheir knaves Id., and other coverers offern ancl straw, 3d., and thei r knaves lcb,plasterers and other workers in mud-Availsand their knaves, by the same mannerwithout meat or drink Is., from Easter toSt. Michael, ancl from that time less,according to the rate and discretion of thej ustices which should be there assigned.''

In 1360 the following laAV Avas enacted :"Punishment of refractory laborers

should be by imprisonment only. And thatthey as well as carpenters ancl masons be

' A plague raged throughout Europe, causingextensive mortality. Britain ancl Ireland Buf-fered grievousl y. In London alone 200 personswere buried daily in Charterhouse-yard. —13-18.(Hoyden's Dictionary of Dates. I

* The words " Mason de franche peer," in theoriginal Norman french statute , means simply,a mason of frees tone, and this may have beenshortened iu English into Freemason. Any how,the translator himself of that statute must havehad some doubt about it, as he put the word Free -mason between brackets.

comprised in the ordinance, as all otherservants ancl artificers, and that carpentersand masons take from henceforth Avages bythe clay, and not by the week nor in othermanner, ancl that the chief masters car-penters and masons take four pence a day,and the other three pence , or two penceaccording as they are Avorth, and that allalliances and cavins of masons and car-penters, and congregations, chapters,ordinances , and oaths betwixed them made,or to be made, shall be fro m henceforthvoid and Avholly annulled , so that everymason and carpenter, of what condition liehe, shall be compelled by his master towhom he serve.h to do every Avork that tohim appertain to do, or of free stone, or ofrough stone, and also every carpenter ofhis degree ; but it shall be kvwful to everylord, or other, to make bargain or cove-nant of their Avork in gross, with suchlaborers and artificers when it please them ,so that they perform such Avork well ancllawfull y according to the bargain or cove-nant with them thereof made."

In 1362 ancl 13(33 more tinkering of thelaAvs of wages took place. In 1378 thestatutes of Echvard III. Avere confirmed bya Parliament of Richard II., when it wasordained to have the laws openly pro-claimed in all notable places. In 1385 thefolloAving laAV Avas enacted :

" Item. Whereas, divers villains anclneiss, as Avell of great lords as of otherpeople, as well Spiritual as Temporal , do[fly Avithin ] cities, toAvns, and places enfran-chised, as the city of London , and otherlike, and feign divers suits against theirlords, to the intent to make them free byanswer of their lords, it is accorded andassented, that the Lords nor other , shallbe forebarred of their villains, because oftheir answer in laAV."

In 1388 Parliament agai n Avhined aboutthe naughty labourers. The ordinancesays, tbat servants and labourers wouldnot Avork '' Avithout outrageous ancl exces-sive hire, ancl much more than has beengiven to such servants and laborers in anytime past." And because the Avages hadnot sufficientl y been defined , it Avas ordainedthat bailiffs of husbandry shall havel°s. 4d. and one suit of clothes a year,carters and shepherds 10s. per annum , cowand ox herds Gs. 8d., dairy maids 6s. etc.

In 1389 Parliament found out thatthere was something Avrong in its previous

legislation onSgfl>_htgjXThe great LordsAvere indeed Avilling to fix the price oflabour as it was in the 20th year of EdwardIII., but they were not inclined to fix tbeprice of corn as it Avas on the above date ;the result Avas, in years of scarcity, " thegreat men," did not scruple to double ortreble the price of corn , and the poorlabourer had consequently to >eep himselfand family on short allowance, ancl this nodoubt tended to breed more pestilenceamong the poor, and caused further dimi-nution of the labouring classes. The riotsof the Kentish men, Wat Tylers, etc.,though unsuccessful , must have forcedsome reason into the heads of the thenlegislators, consequently tho laAV Avas thusmodified.

"Item, It is ordained ancl assented,that the statutes and ordinances made inthe last Parliament holden at Canterbury,as Avell of servants, laborers, artificers , andvictualers, as tfell as of all other things, sav-ing the exception of the next article beforetouching Justices of Peace, and also allother statutes and ordinances made beforethis time, ancl not repealed , shall be firmlykept, and duly executed. But forasmuchas man cannot put the price of corn andother victuals in certain, it is accorded andassented, that Justices of the Peace inevery county, in tAvo of their sessionsto be holden betwixed Easter and St.Michael, shall make proclamation by theirdiscretion according to the dearth ofvictuals, how much every mason, car-penter , tyler, ancl other craftsmen , Avork-men, ancl oth er labourers by the clay, aswell as in harvest as in other times of theyear, after their degree shall take by theclay Avith meat and drink, or Avithout meatand drink , betAveen the two sessions before-said, notwithstanding the statutes thereofheretofore made, and that every man obeysuch proclamation fro m time to time as athing done by statute."

In. the 7th Henry IV. it Avas ordainedthat "once a year laborers ancl artizensshall be sworn to serve and take for theirservice after the said statute."

It Avould be too tedious to enumerateall the statutes passed from the time ofEdward III. to the Reformation , and thenumerous alterations in the punishments,thus, at first the offender could commutehis punishment with a fine, afterwardsnothing but imprisonment, stocks, etc.,

Avere inflicted. Again, subsequent statutesordained punishment to tho giver of higherwages as Avell as to the receiver. And,still again , at first masons, carpenters, etc ,were to receive Avages by the Aveek, but asthey claimed pay for holidays, then the lawcompelled them to receive pay by the clay,with punishment to these AVIIO received orAvho paid the mason for bis holiday. Atlast the laAvs became so numerous and con-flicting as to have puzzled a Philadel phialawjjer to make head or tail of them,consequently they Avere repealed in the5 th of Elizabeth, as the following SIIOAVS :

" A great number of Acts ancl Statutesconcerning' the retaining, departing, Avages,ancl orders of apprentices , servants, andlaborers, as well in husbandry as in diversother arts, mysteries, ancl occupations ; yetpartly for the imperfection ancl contrarietythat is found ancl for thevariety and number of them , ancl chieflyfor that the wages and allowances limitedancl rated in many of the said statutes,and are in clivers places too small , and notanswerable to this time, respecting theadvancement of prices of all thingsbelonging to the said servants and laborers ,the said law cannot conveniently, Avithoutthe great grief and burden of the poorlaborer and hired men be put in good ancldue execution," etc.

The Parliament, therefore, repealed allprevious statutes, but justices of the peaceAvere still empowered to fix annually theprice of labor, and continued to punishboth giver and receiver of higher wagesthan they stipulated , but my present pur-pose is not to criticize the laws of Eliza-beth , but to demonstrate from the statutesof Edward III., Richard IL, and HenryIV., the origin of some of the early Ma-sonic laws, and deduce these from the ageof the Halliwell poem.

But I must premise a theory of my own,though I cannot support it Avith quotationsfrom learned authors, viz., that whoever,oi- whenever, or by whomsoever, the laivagainst stealing, Avith penalties attachedthereto, Avas first enacted, that the said lawAvas not made before somebody indul ged inpilfering ; and the same theory may beapplied to the origin of all other laws.Well, then , a laAV Avas made in 1385 toenable a lord to recover his villain Avhen hefound him in a city. On the continent ,and in Scotland , if a bondman remained

in a town tAvelve month s and a day, he be-came free. Whether the same usage ex-isted in England I knoAv not. The law of1385, however, rei'eals that bondmen fledinto cities, ancl their owners used to bebaffled by laAvyers Avith quibbles and ques-tions, and used to entangle them so as toextort some unfavourable answer, ancl pro-cured the liberty of the bondman. Thesame method Ave Avitnessed in Boston erethe abolition of slavery, Avhen a slave-holder came here to reclaim his slave, andthe United States government thereforepassed a fug itive slave laAv. For the same-reason the 1385 laAV Avas made, viz., toenable the lord to recover his bondman ,notwithstanding an unguarded answer thatmay have been extorted from him in court.

We find a Mason's laAV was also made toprevent taking a bondman as an apprentice.It is evident , therefore, before the adop-tion of that law that Masons used toapprentice bondmen , that is as long as theycould do so with impunity. Be it remem-bered that in 1385 English Avorking peopledid not believe in the right of the rich toenslave the poor, and they used to tauntthe pretensions of the rulin g classes with

When Adam delved ancl Eve span,Where was then the gentleman ?

Our oldest Masonic MSS. clearly evincethat the free bom law Avas forced upon theMasons by outside pressu re. Both MSS.give substan tially the same reason for theadoption of the free born JaAv, but as theMattheAv Cook MS. is less vague, I quotethe reason from it, which is as follows :

" For, because of his lord to whom he isbond , will take him as he Avell may frombis art and lead him with him. out of tbelodge, or out the place he Avorketh in, forhis felloAvs per adventure would help him,ancl debate for him, and thereof man-slaughter might arise, it is forbidden."

Or, in plain English, if the OAvner of thebondman should attempt to capture hisslave in the midst of the Masons' quarters,the brethren Avould first assail him Avithremonstrances , and end Avith breaking theslave hunter 's skull ; such a catastropheAvould have brought the fraternity into asnarl with the government, it was there-fore forbidden to teach a bondman , allwhich shows that the brethren were opposedto slavery, and had no prejudice against abondman , but on the contrary they wouldhave freed him if they could. True, both

MSS. give another reason also, viz , onaccount of llkiclid's pupils AVIIO Avere ofoentl e blood. That Euclid legend, how-ever, was a discovery of a later date ; theMasons who were first forced to adopt thefree-born law, kneAv nothing about Euclid'sMasonry, and that law must have beenforced on the Mason by the 1385 statute,when the lord Avas empoAvered to take hisbondman " as he well may ;" the poem,therefore, could not have been written be-fore 1385; but that is not all, for the samefurther says :—

" The tAvelfth point is of great royalty,There as the assembly holden shall be,There shall be Masons and fellows also,And other great lords many more.There shall be the sheriff of that county,And also the mayor of that city;Knights and squires there shall be,And other aldermen as you shall see.Such ordinances as they make there,They shall maintain it Avhole together."

The laws of labourers, artizaus, etc.,enacted during the reign of Ed ward III.,and his successors, must satisfy any manthat neither kings, nobles, or other "greatmen," temporal or spiritual, would hcTvepatronised in those days the Masonicbrotherhood by mixing ancl taking partwith them in their deliberations in Masonicassemblies, but on the contrary, the Avholetenour ancl spirit of those laws demonstratethat the then great men abhored theAvorking men's associations as not betterthan nests of rebellion. The assemblyabove referred to could not therefore haveconsisted of titled dignitaries, who havelearned how to ride the goat , or to squatupon a gridiron ; but it simply refers tothe annual assembly of the toAvn or countyofficers , in accordance Avith the law enactedin 1389. They met for the purpose of fix-ing the price of labour for the ensuingyear, consequently our poem could notliave been written before 1389. And thatis not all, for our MS. further says :Hie fourteenth point is full of good law¦Co him that Avould be under awe,A good ancl true oath he must there swear.

* * * #And all these points here beforelo them thou must need be sworn,And all shall swear the same oathu* Masons, be they Avilling, be they loth.

The fifteenth point is full of good lore,For them that shal l be sworn there,Such ordinance at th' assembly was layd ,Of great lords and masters before said.Having already demonstrated that thepoem does not allude to a Masonic assem-bly ; the oath it administered could , there-fore, not have been for Masonic purposes,ancl it must refer to the statute of the6th year of Henry IV. requiring labourersand artizans to swear annuall y to keep theordinance, and to charge and receive nomore wages that the assembly ordai ned.The oath they took there Avas not of theirOAvn free will ancl accord, but , " be theyAvilling, or be they loth." As the saidstatute was not ordained before 1405, thepoem could not have been Avritten beforethat year.

But CA'en that is not all , for the fifteenarticles and fifteen points must haA'e beencopied (exce2At the allusions to the Euclidand Athelstan legends) by tbe poet froman old prose constitution , the age and his-tory of Avhich was already forgotten andunknown. We knoAv IIOAV that the saidconstitution Avas Avritten after 1405, butconstant handling for a number of yearsprobabl y made it look, older than it was.The time intervenincr between the com-pilation of the original constitution , andthe composition of the poem must havebeen sufficientl y long to have obliteratedall knowledge of the origin of tiie former,and to have enabled a then Masonicluminary to palm off on the brotherhoodits Athelstan origin. That such was thebelief of the author of the poem is evi-dent from the following lines :

Fifteen articles there they sought ,And fifteen points there they Avrought .

NOAV, assuming that the said constitution,with fifteen articles, etc., was compiled in1405, and that thirty or forty years wassufficient to obliterate all knoAvledge of itsorigin, so that the Athelstan legend couldbecome crystalized among the brethren ;the poem then could not have been writtenbefore 1435 or 1445.

Bro. Closs dated the poem between 1427and 1445, by what method of reasoning hearrived at that conclusion 1 know not. IfBro. Findel is in possession of Bro. Closs'reason for tbe same, he Avould confer agreat favour, by submitting those reasonsthrough the pages of the " Ma°onic Maga-zine."

Since I mailed the article on the OldMS., 1 dived further into the Statutes ,and found the following in the 33rd HenryVI., or 1445 :

" And also that the salaries ancl wagesof servants and artificers that shall notexceed the assessiue that folloAvs."

After stating the Avages of servants,shepherds, etc., the ordinance continuesthus :

"The same form shall be observed ofAvages of servants being with hostlers,victualers, and artificers in city, borough,ancl elscAvhere ; and such as deserve less,shall receive loss ; and also the placeswhere less is used to be given , less shall begiven from henceforth. And from tbeFeast of Easter to the Feast of St. Michael,the wages of any Freemason or mastercarpenter shal l not exceed 4d. a clay Avithmeat ancl drink , ancl Avithout meat anddrink 5d. ; from St. Michael to Easter aFreemason and carpenter 3d. with mea tancl drink , without meat and drink 4d."

The above SIIOAVS that the statute of1385 which ordained for the authorities oftowns and counties to regulate annuallythe price of labour, in accordance ivith theprice of corn or Adctuals, though notrepealed, Avas put into abeyance by theabove statute. Wages, thenceforth, Averemade stationary, ancl "Knights, Squires,many more," must have ceased to holdtheir annual assemblies after 1445, Avhenthe above statute was passed. The ITalli-Avell poem, must, therefore, have been com-posed before the passage of the abovestatute, or before 1445.

APPENDIX .

NOTES Otf LITERAT U RE, SCIENCEAND ART.

BY BRO. GEORGE MAtUttlAM TWEDDELL ,Fellmo of the Royal Society of Northern Antiquaries,

Copenhagen ; Correspon ding Member of theKoyal Historical Society, London; HonoraryMember of the Manchester Literary Club, and ofthe Whitby Literary and Philosophical Society,(Ire , &c.

THE following sensible sonnet, by EMMARHODES, appears in the Argosy, ancl con-tains more rhyme and reason than much of

the namby-pamby stuff published forpoetry in magazines generally. The senti-ments may be said to be Masonic :—

" Who is tbe greatest ? Is it he AvhoseSAVord

Cuts straight a road to glory ? HeAvhose feet

Are swiftest in the race for fame :Avhose seat

Is aye above his fellows at tbe board %He AVIIO has heap'd up countless golden

hoard ?Or even he whose life is most repleteWith richer stores than oil, and wine,

ancl Avheat—With love, best good that this world can

afford ?No : be Avho folloAvs where bis Master

led ,Through loAvly wavs ; Avho strives but

to fulfil ,By humblest service, all that Master 's

will.He is the greatest ; so our Lord hath said ;

He falls who strains up hi gh to reachrenown;

Who stoops shall find the kingdom andthe crown."

Mr. Martin Simpson, a careful laboriousauthor, Avhose geological and other publica-tions are highly and deservedly esteemed,has now finished the Histories of the Livesancl Times of King William the Third andQueen Anno, on which he has been formany years engaged. The tAvo Avorkswould, I believe, fill a volume ofabout 700 pages. As Mr. Simpson is nomere bookmaker, it is to be hoped that thelabour of so many years will not be alloAvedto lie idle on the shelf. I have not perusedthe manuscripts, but jud ging from theauthor's other writings, and knowing, frompersonal observation , his conscientious care-fulness to ascertain and express the truthin his books, I feel confiden t that this, hislargest Avork of all, will be Avell worthy ofpublication, and I hope it will soon besent to the press.

I am sorry to record the death of Bro.Samuel Gordon , F.S.A. Scot., of Stockton-on-Tees, Avhich took place unexpectedly onMonday, July 25th, at his residence inSydney-street, of that borough. He wasborn at Longton, in Staffordshire, Novem-ber 25th , 1832 ; and consequently at thethe time of his death Avas in his forty-third

year. He was the son of a poor clock-maker, a man of unusual intelligence forhis position in life, Avho Avas said to bea distant relative of the aristocraticalfamily of the same name. The rudimentsof learning he picked up at the SundaySchool, and afterwards at the Mechanics'Institute ; for his parents Avere too poor topay for his schooling, and he had , at anearly age, to win his own bread in thePotteries, many of tbe workshops in Avhich,as he tells us. in his prize essay on Public andPopular Amusements, were " of the worstpossible description , being badly lighted ,and Avithout even an attempt at ventila-tion." And he adds, Avriting in 1858," Little regard is paid to the health or com-fort of the inmates ; year after year theyare deprived of air and light , ancl compelledto breathe a poisoned atmosp here, Avhosefearful ravages are seen in the Aveak,attenuated forms of its victims." I neverlooked upon " the attenuated form " of Bro.Gordon, Avithout thinking that he himselfAvas a living proof of this sentence ; and Ihave no hesitation in saying, that to hisslavery in childhood , more than to the hardliterary labours of his manhood , do Ave owehis premature death. In 1859, he enteredon his professional career as a reporter , onthe Staffordshire Sentinel, at Hanley. InNovember, 1861, he bscarne sub-editor anclreporter of the Stockton Gazette and Middles-boroug h Times, which two papers had thenbecome amalgamated. The duties of thisposition he discharged for nearly five years,with great industry and fidelity. I becamepersonally acquainted Avith him on hisfirst going to Middlesborough, and had un-usual opportunities of ivitn essing his un-ceasing industry during his residence there.He was afterwards connected with variousother local papers, up to the time of hisdeath . Bro. Gordon had published severalsmall books, tbe most interesting of whichwas, Rambles along the Cliffs—Sa-ltbum toWhitb y, giving an accoun t of a pedestriantour along the Cleveland coast , made inAugust , 1864, in company with the Avriterof these Notes. In 1869, he publishedbis Watering Places of Cleveland, on anew edition of which lie was engaged atthe time of bis death. Though by nomeans a man of great genius, Bro. GordonAvas one of those useful and praise-worthy'"en , who, remembering the fable of thehare and the tortoise, make up by pati ent

perseverance in cultivating the talents Godhas given them, for the want of greatergifts. At the time of his death he wasD.G.M. of tbe Free Gardeners, as well asa Brother of the Craft. He has left aAvidoAV and five children , I fear, in-adequately provided for. Bro . Gordonwas a credit to the Avorking classes fromAvhom he sprung, only to change hardbodil y labour for that Avhich is equally astrain on the brain ; for as FLORENCECLEVELAND sings :-—

" A vast o' fooaks can't understandThat sum's hard at Avork AVIV ther

heeads,Whahle udders is Avorking Avi' t' hand."It Avas but proper that the biographer

of James M ontgomery, Chautrey and others,should have his own life fully ancl lovinglywritten , and this has been ably done bythe Rev. William Hudson, in his Life ofJohn Holland , a neatlyj.rinted, Avell-boundoctavo volume of 576 pages, Avhich deserves,ancl indeed must have, a fuller notice atmy hands than present space permits. Histhirty-six years of friendshi p Avith Mont-gomery, his long connection Avith theSheffield papers, his many books and fugi-tive pieces on almost every conceivablesubject , in both prose and poetry, his finesympathies Avith humanity, and his stronglove of nature, joined to the purest practiceof piety, made Joh n Holland really a greatman , though never over-burdened withAvealth, rank, or title ; and for those wholike mysel f, only knew him through a com-paratively small portion of his writings,this Life by Mr. Hudson is of great value ;whilst those Avho, like my dear literaryfriend , Eta Mawr, had the pleasure of hispersonal acquaintance, AV'I II value Mr.Hudsons's graphic representation of theman, body and mind, as almost reproduc-ing him again livingly before them. Manyof the short poems quoted by Mr. Hudsonare new to me, and give me a higher con-ception of Mr. Holland than I had before,for several of them are gems in their Avay,and are likely to be often epioted by me, inthe " Masonic Magazin e " and elsewhere.Not the least interesting part of the bookto me, is the poet's correspondence Avithour mutual friend Miss E. Colling, whosehospitality I, too, have repeatedly enjoyedat Hurworth ; whose literary corres-pondence I, too , have benefited by ; andwhose beautiful poems, like those of her

L

old friend , John Holland,- are not a titheso Avell-knoAvn as they deserve to be.Though just such a man as ought to beinitiated into the mysteries of Masonry—¦being already prepared in his heart forinitiation , ancl without that preparation noceremonies, hoAveArer beautiful , can evermake any man a Mason—Mr. Hollanddoes not appear ever to have joined theCraft ; at least I find no mention of it inMr. Hudson's exhaustive Life of him, andI think he is too careful a biographer tohave omitted statins, the fact had it beenso. lo my brother Freemasons, AVIIO prizehonour ancl virtue above all the externaladvantages of rank and fortune , and whorespect every one AVIIO endeavours to studytbe liberal arts, that valuable branch ofeducation which tends so effectual ly topolish and adorn the mind , I hope iu afuture number to give some further accountof good John Holland , aided by Mr.Hudson's valuable Life of that indomitableman of letters, from Avh ich I believe bothpleasure and profit may ensue ; in themeantime I cordially commend Mr.Hudson's well-Avritten and evidently care-fully correct volume to till AVIIO care to studythe life of a good man ancl an able author ,whose name is a honour to his nativeSheffield , worthy to rank with that of hisfriend , James Montgomery, and of myfriend, Ebenezer Elliott, and our mutualfriend, Eta Mawr.

Bro. Kenning has done Avell in reproduc-ing from the " Masonic Magazine," in aneatly-printed, and well bound, though thinvolume (but then , the price is onl y six-pence), Mentor's stirring poem, The NewMorality. The sentiments are so trulyMasonic, that the brethren should not only"read , mark , learn, ancl inwardly digest "its friendl y satire ancl undoubted verities,but should circulate it Avell among theirneighbours. The Avorship of the goldencalf, which it so nervously denounces, isreally a much vulgarer thing with us inEngland than was the idolatry of theancient Babylonians ; for their golden calfwas meant to personify the Great Architectof the Universe, however much it mightfai l to accomplish its object ; but ourgolden calf is neither more nor less than" the almighty dollar." Tho man Avhoseheart is corrupted by the love of gold , asheartil y denounced by Bro. Mentor , cannever become a true Mason, and whether

rich or poor, and whatever his social posi-tion may be, should be black-balled in even-lodge where he may seek for membersh ip,I once heard of a commercial travellercalling upon a customer whom he knew tobe a brother of the Craft , lo inquire Avhichof the lod ges in the town Avas the gentle-men's lodge ? He very properly remindedhim of the ceremony of his initiation . Thoman evidently was a snob, probably sprungfrom the dunghill , AVIIO had sought andsucceeded in creeping like some loathsomereptile where his presence ought never fora moment to have been tolerated. I wouldhave liked to have given that " incompetentbroth er " a f ew days solitary confinementin the ante-room of a lodge, Avith cur Bro.Mentor's truthful poem to peruse until holearnt it all by heart ; then to have turnedhim adrift, warning him (by all tho p.'s ofhis ob.s') never again to seek admissioninto any lodge until he had first reducedits excellent precepts to practice.

Mr . J. Tom Burgess, of Leamington , Iam glad to see, has published , in a sixpennypamphlet , his Arery able lecture on theFortifications of Warwick , which was readto the members of the WanvickshireNaturalists' and Arch aeologists' Field Clubon tbe 2nd of March in the present year,ancl Avhich throAvs considerable new li ghton the history and remains of that fine oldcity. " If Warwick Avas ever a Romangarrison," says he, " their Campus MartinsAvould be probably placed on the slope ofthe Priory, and not on the edge of theprecipitous rock on which the presentCastle is built. " And having giA'en reasonsfor this conjecture , he adds :—"Let us tryto realise the condition of Warwickshirem the early part of the tenth century . Ithad formed , nominally, part of the Merciankingdom for some three or four centu ries.The broad trackways of the Watling-strectand the Fosse Avere the highways of con-tending and savage foemen. WarwickshireAvas the very centre of Englan d, and be-came one battle field. Between Warwickand the Watling Street Road , a distancevary ing from seventeen to twenty-one miles,I can point to four , if not more , battlefields on which Saxon weapons of war havebeen found , or the signs of ravaged villages.There are mounds which may point to otherscenes of slaughter , but Avhose true char-acter is as yet unascertained ." To theanti quary, Mr. Burgess's able little pamph-let is a choice morsel.

That cruel disgrace to medical science'vivisectio n—which ,according to the highesttestimony, is totally unnecessary for thehealing art—is about to be systematicallypractised in the University of Edinburgh,unless a healthy public opinion at oncecrushes the unholy proposal. "I have placedphysiology at the south-Avest corner ," saysthe architect, " because it is desirable toplace this department in such a positionthat it cannot be overlooked," and " thatthere is good space for keeping animals, andplenty of south light to keep them in health.Good accommodation can also bo had forkeeping animals belonging to the pathol-ogical dej>artment." We trust Britishsurgeons will never be allowed to degeneratein to such monsters as Ma] civdie. Vivisectionought at once to be made felony, and thelaw carried out Avith Rhadamanthus-likevigour, until higher morality renders itunnecessary.

I am glad to see that Mr. GeorgeCameron has completed the ]oublication ofhis Charlie Lufton, an autobiographicalnovel, Avhich has been issued, like most ofDickens' ivorks, in monthly parts. I havenot had time to read the printed copy yet,but having perused the manuscript andadvised its publication , I am glad to see itfavourably reviewed in the " Athenaeum "and other papers. Some clay Ave may glanceat it more fully.

By the death of Bishop Thirwal l (thoughat what some would call the ripe old ageof seventy-five), England has lost one ofher greatest men. As Freemasons, wecannot discuss his theological or politicalop inions ; but we are equally called uponto reverence his useful labours as a man otletters, ancl to "put him to Avorshi p " forthe great amount of knoAvledge be hadaccumulated, and his holy life. Born atStepney, February 11th, 1797 , ancl educatedfirst at the Charterhouse, and then atCambridge, Avhere he became a fellow ofTrinit y College, he Avas called to the barat Lincoln 's Inn , in 1S25, and all areagreed would have made an excellent judgebad he continued in the profession. HeAvas ordained in 1828, and became Bishopof St. David's in 1840, and allowed to re-main there, both by Liberals and Conserva-tives, until his resignation , about a yearbefore his death , although the "Times "regards htm as " the greatest of those AVIIOhave adorned the English episcopate of this

century," and the " Athenaeum " declareshim to be "the greatest Bishop whom theEnglish Church has seen since Warburton. "I regret to state, that for many monthsbefore his decease he Avas almost, if notentirely, blind. His History of Greecealone Avas sufficient to give him a highplace in the literary pantheon.

Rose Cottage, Stokesley.

MASONIC SONG,For the Constitution of a New Chapter.

Companions, Ave meet on this altar of thine,Mingling the gifts Ave have gathered for

thee,Sweet with the odours of myrtle and pine,Breeze of the prairie and breath of the sea,Meadow and mountain ancl forest and sea ;Sweet is the fragrance of myrtle and pine,SAveeter tbe incense we offer to thee, '¦

Companions once more round this altar ofthine.

Angel of Peace, thou bast wandered toolong !

Spread thy white Avings to the sunshine oflove !

Come Avhile our voices are blended in song—Fly to our ark like the storm-beaten dove !Fly to our ark on the wings of the dove,Speed o'er the far-sounding billoAvsofsong,Crowned with thine olive-leaf garland of

love,Angel of Peace, thou hast Avaited too long !

Angels of heaven quick answer tne strain 1Hark ! a new birth-song is filling the sky !Loud as the storm Avind that tumbles the

main,Bid the full breath of the organ reply.Let the loud tempest of voices reply ,Roll its long surge like the earth-shaking

main ;Swell the vast song till it mounts to the sky;Angels of heaven all echo the strain.

¦—-Phila. Keystone.

AN OLD MAID'S MISTAKE.

Miss Sophia Prim was one AVIIO had ad-vanced far enou gh in years to be entitledto that dreadful appellation , an old maid.Her a<*e WAS. about thirty-five, as near asany one could jud ge, for she Avas no excep-

ii 2

tion to her class m telling her age. Sheowned a neat little cottage ancl severalacres of land, situated iu the thrivingvillage of B. It was a great mystery toher how it happened that she, Avith quitea large fortune tempting the opposite sex,should remain single so long, but to othersit Avas no intricate case to solve ; for who-eA'er caught a glimpse of that sharp-pointednose and little grey eyes peering out fromunder their Avhite eyebroAvs, would berather inclined to keep at a respectabledistance.

The owner and occupier of the lot ad-joining Miss Prim's, was a Mr. Pray, avery quiet and diffident person , AVIIO keptbachelor 's hall.

His visits to Miss Prim's Avere likeangels' visits, few ancl far between. Hehad lived a neighbour to Miss Prim nearlya year, all of Avhich time she had spent invain endeavours to draAv him into an inti-mate acquaintance. He was bullet-proofto all her great personal and real attractions,and she declared he would die an oldbachelor, and she would not pity him if hedid.

One day, Avhen she Avas sitting in herparlour en gaged in sewing, to her greatdelight she saw Mr. Pray emerge from hisdAvelling ancl make his Avay toward herown. She flew to the door to let him in ,took his hat, ancl gave him a seat ; thenthere Avas an irksome silence. Soon , IIOAV-ever, our hero mustered up courage tosay :

" Miss Prim, I hope you won't beoffended at Avhat I am going to askyou—"

" Oh, no," interrupted Miss Prim, " youcan say Avhat you please and not offendme."

" Well," continued Mr. Pray, " trustingto our friendship—"

" Yes, we Avere always great friends, Mr.Pray, ancl I hope," continued she, " weshall over remain so."

" I came to see if you AVOUIC! do me thefavour—"'¦' Yes, yes," replied Mis Prim , " any-

thing that is in my power I Avill gladlydo."

"It came rather hard for me to askyou."

"It needn't, Mr. Fray, for you kn ow Ihave ahvays entertained a great regard foryou."

" If it would not be too much trouble— "" Oh, no trouble at all, Pray ; I'll be

ready any time."'¦' You would not have to leave the house,

for I could bring them over here — "" Yes, you can come ri ght iu here ; or

if you had rather, I will go over into yourhouse."

" I thought it Avould be just as Avel l asto Avai t longer."

" Yes, just as well," said Miss Prim,encouragingly.

" But I thought if you Avould help mea little— "

" Yes, Mr. Pray— I Avould Avork all thetime, and Ave Avould get along sonicely."

" You do not understand me," said he,as the perspiration began to pour CIOAVU hisface.

" Yes I do," replied she ; "you Avant meto be—"

"No, no, I don't," replied he. " All Iwant of you is to help me make my plumsinto preserves."

The disappointment and rage of MissPrim can better be imagined than described.All the sAveet visions of married life Avhichflitted through her mind for the half-hourpast, vanished. The air-castles Avhich shehad so fondly cherished , with hopes of theirbeing realized , were ruthlessly assailed bythat cruel declaration—" All I Avant ofyou is to help me make my plums intopreserves."

She stopped a moment to let the stormthicken , and then it burst forth Avith allthe fury that she was master of.

" You insult me, Mr . Pray, I expectedbetter things than this of you. I took youto be a gen tleman, but you are nothingmore than a low, good-for-nothing brute.Mercy knoAvs I wouldn't have marriedyou if you had asked me. When I stoopso IOAV as to marry an old bachelor fortyyears old, ivhom no decent Avoman wouldhave anything to say to, you may tell meof it. Me make your preserves!" continuedshe, as she shook her long bony fingersdisdainfully, in close connection with hisface. " When I degrade myself so muchas to become your servant, my name Avillnot be Miss Sophia Prim. Me make yourpreserves ! There is no enduring your im- -pudence. So leave my house this instant ,and don 't let your hateful trunk darkenmy door again, you—"

He waited not for a second bidding, butseized his hat and rushed out amid theanathemas breathed out upon him fromanything but loving lips. * *

" Why, aunt , Avhat is the matter ?"cried out Anne Bell , as she came into theroom and saw her aunt 's angry looks andflushed countenance a few minutes afterour friend's sudden exit.

Annie Avas niece of Miss Prim, and Avasthen on a visit to her aunt.

" That gawkey clown of a Pray," repliedMiss Prim, " had the effrontery to • ask meto hel p him make his preserves."

" Didn't you tell him you would!" askedAnnie.

"No, indeed , I didn 't," replied MissPrim , tartly.

" I Avill then ," said Annie, as she Avith-dreiv to find Mr . Pray.

Annie fulfilled her promise. But theremust have been other business going on,for in a few Aveeks the village ministerreceived a handsome fee for his services inmaking Mr. Pray and Annie husband andivife.

GENERAL GRAND CHAPTER OFROYAL ARCH MASONS, U.S.A., 1874,

AVILLIAM JAMES HUGHAN .

THE tAventy-second Triennial Collocationof the " General Grand Chapter of RoyalArch Masons for the United States ofAmerica ," Avas held in the Freemasons'Hall , Nashville, Tennessee, on Tuesday the24th November, 1874, ancl tAvo followingdays. The G.G.H.P., Josiah II. Drummond,presided throughout the meetings, and wassupported by several Avell-known breth renincluding our good friends Parvin andBower of Iowa , Brown of Kansas, Fellowsof New Hampshire, Caldwell of Ohio,lb B. Porter of Minnesota , Earner ofDistrict of Columbia, and many otherworthies, whom though Ave have not seenni the flesh we love as Craftsmen and Com-panions. Twenty-four Gran d Chapterswere represented out of thirty-four con-nected with the society. Including thoseGrand Chapters which declined joinin g theG.G-. Chapter , there are now some 2,000subordinate chapters in the United States,

with a membership of more than 120,000Companions, and in which some 10,000 wereexalted during the past year. The fi guresafford us an insight into the character andextent of Royal Arch Masonry iu theUnited States , ancl what interest is takenin the degree for so many Breth ren tomuster in Nashville from such distances.The north , the south, the east ancl thewest, all contributed their quota to swelltbe sum total.

A General Grand Lodge for such a A'astcountry has often been advocated, but hasas often fallen through ; but a similar bodyfor the Royal Arch Grand Chapter has sofar been fairly successful , and from itsestablishment on the 9th of January,1806,has done much to introduce the degreeon virgin soil. Its origin may be said todate from 1797, but only in a partial sense,as Dr. Mackay states in his excellent"Masonic Encyclopedia." In 1826¦ itsseptennial meetings Avere abolished for thetriennial assemblies, Avhich have since beencontinued. A few Grand Chapters—notably that of Pennsylvania—have refusedto recognise this authority, but into thereasons pro or con Ave do not intend todelve at present. The latter meeting appearto have been most successful , and therecent resolution to constitute all Past-Grand High Priests (Past First GrandPrincipals) of Grand Chapters life membersof the G.G.O., Avill doubtless add much toto its prosperity in the future.

The supreme bead is M. E. Comp.Josiah H. Drummond of Maine, who iswithout doubt one of the uncrowned kingsof the Masonic World, and Avho is knoAvn ,respected ancl beloved throughout theUnited States ; his chief officers also aremost enthusiastic ancl able Masons AvhohaA'e earned a right to participate in thehonours of Freemasonry by long and con-tinuous service in th eir respective States,and deep sympathies with the Avelfare ofthe Craft universal .

M. E. Comp. Dru'mniond delivered avigorous address, alluding to the progress anclvicissitudes of Royal Arch Masonry in theUnited States, describing the condition ofseveral chapters, and Grand Chapters, ex-plaining the action of some of the latterin forming IIOAV Grand Chapters , ancl gen -erally presenting to his hearers a masterlysketch of the present state of tho degree,not forgetting to glance at the origin, con-

stitution ancl history of the G.G. Chapteritself. It appears from the facts thereinnarrated that " all the Grand Chapters iuthe United States except Florida., Pennsy l-vania and Virginia , Avere either createdby the G.G. Chapter or formed by Chapterschartered by it, and authorised to form aGrand Chapter solely upon the conditionof obedience to the constitution and lawsof G.G. Chapter." On the foregoing beingadu.itted , Ave cannot see but that Bro.Drummond is justified in stating that a con-stituent of G.G. Chapter "has no moreright, legal or moral, to throAv oft' its allegi-ance, than any subordinate Chapter has tothrow off its allegiance to its Gran dChapter." The G.G.H.P. alluded to the"Grand Mark Lodge of England" asfollows :—

" You are aware that the degree ofMark Master Mason is not under theauthority of the Grand Chapter of England ,ancl is not required by it to be conferredbefore the Royal Arch ; and indeed is notrecognised by it as a Masonic degree. Thisdifference in the number and order of thedegrees has caused serious difficulty inrelation to the admission of English RoyalArch Masons into our Chapters. * * *The Mark Grand Lodge has UOAV 186 lodgeson its roll,and 7,645 members on its register.I understand that the Grand Chapter ofIreland and Canada have recognised thisGrand Lodge as the supreme authority inEngland, for the Mark degree."*

" Formal application has been made bya communication hereAvith submitted forrecognition by this General Grand Chapter,so that Royal Arch Masons of England ,AVIIO have received the Mark degree underthe authority of this Grand Lodge, may lieallowed to be received in Chapters in thisCJim try without receiving that degree here.I have very fully investigated the matter,ancl have no doubt that this Grand Lodgewas formed in accordance with Masonicprecedents and Masonic laAV as establishedby long usage, and I earnestly recommendthat the General Grand Chapter recognisethe ' Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masonsof Englan d ancl Wales ancl the Colonies

and Dependencies of the British CroAvn,'as the supreme Masonic authority over thedegree of Mark Master Masons in thatjurisdiction , and all Mark Master Masonsmade under its authority as regular, andentitled to all the rights and privileges ofthe degree."

The letter referred to was from GrandMark Secretary, Bro. Frederick Binckes,the constant abainpion of the degree,but it is not necessary to insert it afterthe accurate sketch of its character by Bro.Drummond. We quite agree Avith Bro.Binckes that though the " Mark degree iuthis country is ignored altogether by ourGrand Lodge and Grand Chapter, betweenthese bodies and this Grand Lodge thereis no feeling of antagonism " neither willthere ever be, so long as each other mindtheir OAVH business. It is Avell that allinterested m the subject should know thatthe Craft Grand Lodge and Grand Chapterare prohibited—even if ever so inclined-—•from recognising Mark Masonry, or indeedany degrees save their own, in accordancewith the " Articles of Union " signed andagreed to, A.D. 1813, ancl it is idle toattempt to alter such a necessary condition.

The " Committee on Foreign Cor-respondence " reported to the G.G. Chapteras follows :—

"In tbe matter of the application ofthe G rand Lodge of Mark Master Masonsof England and Wales, and the Coloniesand Dependencies of the British Crown ,for recognition by this G.G. Chapter, yourCommittee, while disapproving in generalthe multiplication of Grand Masonicbodies, titles ancl dignitaries, beyond theaccepted system of organization , are ofopinion that the peculiar circumstances ofthe case, and especial ly the status ofEnglish Mark Master Masons , emigratingto and applying for advancement in thiscountry, Avarrants exceptional legislation ,and therefore recommend the adoption ofthe following :

" Resolved.—That the General GrandChapter of Royal Arch Masons for theUnited States of America, hereby recognisesthe Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masonsof England and Wales, &c., as the rightfulancl supreme authority over the degree ofMark Master Masons in England andthose Colonies and Dependencies of theBritish CroAvn in Avhich no existing GrandBody claims jurisdiction over the degree."

* So also have the Grand Chap ters of Pennsy lvaniaand Iowa, and what is still more important theseveral supreme authoritie s in England over thedegrees of Kni ghts Templar, ];od Cross of Koine andConstantine , and the "Ancient and Accepted Kite "likewise recognise tho Mark Grand Lodge.

The report Avas duly received and re-solutions adopted ! but alas the action ofG.G. Chapter Avas immediately after re-considered , ancl the " further considerationof the matter was postponed until thenext triennial convocation ."

Companions in the United States ! theMark Grand Lodge asks your fraternalsupport , it does not trouble about re-presentation, but it does seek to have itscertificates recognised wherever a GrandChapter is situated which works the degree.Will you not respond to the cal l . 1-It.lp itto promote unity in deed as well as in word ,and you Avill never regret the action.

The proposition that the next assemblyof the General Grand Chapter be hel d atBuffalo (New York), in 1877 , wan met byan amendment that it should be held "atthe time and place of the Conclave of theGrand Encampment of Kni ghts Templarin 187 7," but the original proposition wascarried , and it Avas agreed that the con-vocation should commence its duties on thefi rst Tuesday in August .

The action of the G.C.G. as to theritual of the R. A. in 1871, was rescindedaccording to the recommendation of thespecial committee appointed to consider thesubject ; and we think advisedly.

The election of officers Avas as follows :—Elbert H. Bnglish (Little Rock , Arkansas),G.G.H.P. ; John Frizzcll, Nashville ,Tennessee), .D.G.G.H.P. ; Robert FarmerBower (Keokuk , Iowa), G.G.K. ; Alfred F.Chapman (Boston , Massachusetts), G.G.S. ;John McClellan (Boston , Massachusetts),G.G.T.; Christopher G. Fox (Buffalo, NewYork), G.G.S. ; Noble D. Earner (Wash-ington , D.C), G.G.C. of the H.;Henry Bostwick (Covington , Kentucky),G.G.R.A.C.

On motion duly made it was resolved:"That inasmuch as the 26th day of

November has been set apart by thePresident of the United States as a day ofThanksgiving and Prayer,this G.G. Chapterwill attend Divine Service in a bod y, atthe time appointed for such service."_ R was likewise resolved on tbe proceed-ings being concluded " unaniinonslv , anclby a rising vote : "

" That the thanks of this G.G. Chapterbe and the same are hereby tendered tobro . M. E. Josiah H. Drummond , for thevery able and faithful discharge of theduties devolving upon him as G.G.H. P.

THE FREEMASONS AND ARCHI-TECTURE IN ENGLAND.

BY BRO E1IRA HOLMES.Past Provincial Grand Registrcvr of Suffolk,

Fast Grand Inspector of Works (Mark),&c, l&C.

UNDER the auspices of Henry VII. thefraternity once more revived their assem-blies, and Masonry resumed its pristinesplendour.

On the 24th June, 1502, a Lodge* ofMaster Masons was formed in the Palace,at which the King presided as Grand

* Of this meeting there is a little doubt, as it isonly a tradition Ed.

during his official term, and for the im-partial and fraternal manner in Avhich hehas presided over its deliberations at thisTriennial Convocation."

In conclusion, Ave have pleasure in stat -ing that a capital port rait of this dis-tinguished Brother adorns the publishedproceedings of the G.G. Chapter for 1874,and doubtless the value of the interestingA'olume will thus be considerab ly enhancediuthe estimation of all Royal Arch MasonsAVIIO are privileged to possess copiesthereof.

M. E. Comp. Frizzell on behalf of theCompanions of Nashville tendered theG.G. Chapter a formal reception, anclaccordingly that body was escorted to theState Capital by the .N ashville Uonimancleryof Knights Templars, accompanied by the16th United States Infantry Band. Thehall in Avhich the reception took place wasfilled with ladies ancl gentlemen, residentsof Nashville and vicinity invited to. bepresent, and the Hon. Morton B. Howel l,Mayor of the City presided , so that theperiod for refreshment in brilliancy surpassedthat for labour , ancl certainly in attractionthe concluding ceremonies Avere far in ad-vance of the quiet meetings of G. G. Chapter;for the presence of so many ladies andgentlemen, headed by the Mayor, couldnot fail to lend additional enchantment tothe scene, and in splendid style completeanother Triennial Convocation of theG.G. Chapter of the United States ofAmerica. So mote it be.

Master, Avho, having appointed John IslipAbbot of Westminster, ancl Sir ReginaldBray, K.G., his Senior and Junior Wardensfor the occasion , proceeded in ample formto the east end of Westminster Abbey,where he laid the foundation-stoue of thatmaster-piece of Gothic architecture knownby the name of Henry VIII.'s Chapel. *-* *

¦?; & * * *The great fire of London afforded a

singular ancl aAvful occasion for the exertionof Masonic abilities. It burnt down 1300houses, 89 parish churches, besides chapels,leaving only 11 parishes standing. Thedamage Avas computed at £1.0,000,000.The King and the Grand Master nppoiutedDepu ty Wren to draw up a plan for a newcity . Dr. Wren's model and plan Averelaid before the king and House of Commons,and would have been adopted , but thegreater part of the citizen s chose to havetheir old city again with all its dis-advantages rather than a IIOAV one, anclthus an opportunity AVU S lost of makingthe new city the most magnificent inEurope. The architect, cramped in theexecution of hisplan , Avas obliged to abrid gehis scheme, and to order the city in themanner in Avhich it has since appeared.

In 1673 the foundation stone of St.Paul's, designed by D.G.M. Wren, waslaid in solemn form by the king, attendedby Gran d Master Rivers, his architects anclcraftsmen. The mallet Avith Avhich thekirigt levelled this foundation stone Avasdelivered by Sir 0. Wren to the old Lodgeof St. Paul's, now the Lodge of Anti quity,Avhere it is still preserved as a greatcuriosity.

The Freemasons Avere now fully employed ,and during this reign rebuilt or repairedno less than 54 churches in London alone.Whilst all these were going forward underthe direction of Sir C. Wren . King Charlescommanded Sir Wm. Bruce, Bart.. GrandMaster of Scotland , to rebuild the palace ofHolyrood , which Avas done.

In 1674, Geo. Villiers,Duke of Bticking-ham,succeeded to the Grand Master's chair.In 1679 the Duke resigned in favour ofHenry Bennet, Earl of Arlington , one ofthe members of the celebrated Cabal. SirC. Wren was elected in 1G85, on the death

of the Earl of Arlington. The FraternityAvas now much neglected at the Revolution;onl y seven lodges UOAV met in London anclof these tAvo only Avere of any account—the old Lodge of St. Paul's over which SirC. Wren had presided during the buildingof the cathedral, and a lodge at St. Thomas'Hospital , Southwark.

King William* having been privatelyinitiated into Masonry in 1695, I think atKensington Palace, approved the choice ofSir C. Wren as Grand Master, honouredthe lodges with his royal sanction , ancl itis said presided over one at HamptonCourt and Kensington Palace. Chelseaand Greenwich Hospitals Avere finished inthis reign under Sir C. Wren. In 1698Charles Duke of Richmond ancl LennoxAvas elected ' Grand Master , ancl Avassucceeded 1 y Sir C. Wren, who con-tinued at the head of the Fraternity till1702.

He Avas now getting old and could notpay attentio n to the Craft , which Avas nowat a very low ebb. The old Lodge of St.Paul's and a few others continued to meetregularly, but consisted of but a fewmembers. To increase their numbers aproposition Avas made and afterwardsagreed to " that the privileges of Masonryshould no longer be restricted to OperativeMasons, but extend to men of Ararious pro -fessions provided they Avere regularlyapproved ancl initiated into the Order." Inconsequence of this resolution the societyonce more rose into notice and esteem." In1717, the only four lodges that remainedin being in the south of England , and a fewold masons met in London and constitutedthemselves a Grand Lodge "pro tempore " indue form. Previous to this time a sufficientnumber of masons met together Avithin acertain district, with the consent of thesheriff or chief magistrate of the place,Avere empowered to make masons andpractise the rites of Masonry Avithoutwarrant of constitution. The priA'ilege Avasinherent in themselves as individuals, andthis privilege is still enjoyed by the twoold lodges noiv extant which act by im-memorial constitution.

It Avas now required that hereafter everylodge convened should be legally auth or-ised to act by a warrant from tho GrandMaster with the consent of Grand Lodge.

* At Islip's funeral we Bud no trace of the Masonicguild s .

t AVe fear that we must give up the lloyal pre-sence. Sir C. Wren laid the first stone him.elf * Of this no evidence is forthcoming of any kind.

The four old lodges required of the newGrand Lodge a conditional clause to beinserted in the code of laws Avhich Averethen formed for the future government ofthe society, admitting that every GrandLodge had an inherent power ancl authorityto make neAV regulations for the realbenefit of the ancient Fraternity, providedalways that the old landmarks be carefullypreserved.

This clause Avith 31 regulations preced-ing it, Avas confirmed ancl approved by 150brethren at an annual assembly held onSt, John the Baptist's Day, 1721, and intheir presence subscribed by the Masterand Wardens of the four old lodges on thefirst part and by Philip Duke of Wharton ,G.M., Theo. Desaguliers , M.D., F.R.S.,D.G.M., the Grand Wardens and Mastersand Wardens of 16 lodges constituted be-tween 1717 and 1721 on the other part.

To commemorate this circumstance ithas been customary since that time for themaster of the oldest lodge to attend everygrand installation , and taking precedenceof all present, the G.M. only excepted ,to deliver the book of the original consti-tutions to the newly installed GrandMaster on Ins engaging to support theancient charges and general regulations.

Geo. Payn e Avas G.M. in 1718. Heearnestly desired that the brethren Avouldbring to the Grand Lodge any old recordsor Avritings concerning the Fraternity,shovring the usages of ancient times. Inconsequence of this general intimationsevera l old cop ies of the Gothic constitu-tions were produced, arranged and digested.This year at some of the private lodges tothe irreparabl e loss of the Fraternity severalvaluable MSS,, concerning the lodges,regulations, charges, secrets, usages ofmasons, particularly one Avritten by Mr.Nicholas Stone, the Warden under InigoJones, Avere too hastily burnt by somescrupulous brethren AVIIO Avere alarmed atthe intended publication of the MasonicConstitutions. In 1721 John Duke ofMontague Avas made Grand Master.

During this period the General A ssemblyor Grand Lodge of York continuedregularly to meet as heretofore.| In 1705, Sir Geo. Tempest, Bart ,, was

G ran d Master ; being succeeded by theBt. Hon . Robert Benson, Lord Mayor ofYork ; Sir Wm. Robinson, "Bart.,succeeded to him. Sir Walter Hawkes-

Avorth , Bart., next succeeded to the GrandMastership. Masonry appeared to flourishin the north , and the utmost harmonyexisted between the two Grand Lodges.The only distinction between them Avasthat the grand lodge in the south Avasstyled the Grand Lodge of England , thatin the north the Grand Lodge of allEng land , a distinction with a differencesimilar to that of the titles of the twoarchbishops. Every Mason always heldthe Grand Lodge of all England in thehi ghest veneration ; its authority Avas neA'erchallenged. To be ranked as descendantsof the original York Masons Avas the gloryand boast of the brethren in almost everycountry Avhere Masonry has been regularlyestablished, and from the prevalence anduniversality of the idea that in the city ofYork Masonry Avas first authorised bycharter, the masons of England havereceived tribute from the first states inEurope. The Knights Templar Avererecognised about 17 70 by this Grand Lodge.*Grand Master Payne Avas succeeded by theDuke of Montague, on the 24th June, 1721,on Avhich occasion Philip Lord Stanhope,afterwards Earl of Chester field, was initiatedinto Masonry. At this time Dr. Desagu-liers and James Anderson , M.A., men ofgenius and education, Avere appointed torevise and digest the otherconstitutions, oldcharges, ancl regulations. A committee of14 learned brothers Avas appointed toexamine the MSS. ,and at Grand Lodge 1722reported their approval of the same, and in1723 the book of constitutions Avas pub-lished . The eccentric Duke of Wharton suc-ceeded as Grand Master, and after him fol-lowed the Duke of Buccleugh, Avho wassucceeded by the Duke of Richmond. TheLord Paisley, afterwards Earl of Abercorn.next filled the office of Grand Master, andit Avas at this period that the brethren ofWales first united under the banner of theGrand Lodge of England. The office ofP.G.M. was now instituted.

Among the noble edifices which werefinished during the presidency of LordInchiquin Avho followed, Avas the church ofSt. Martin in the Fields. In 1727 LordColerainc Avas elected Gran d Master , ancl in1728 Lord Kingston followed , and theDuke of Norfolk Avas saluted as GrandMaster, installed in 1730.

* A\r e do not quite know ivliat recognition isalluded to.

The Duke amongst other rich gifts pre-sented to the Grand Lodge a sword ofstate for the Grand Master, being the oldtrusty sword of Gustavus Adolphus, Kingof Sweden , afterwards Avorn by BernardDuke of Saxfi-Wnimei' .

His grace appointed a P.G.M. over thelodges in the circle of LoAver Saxony, andestablished a P.G. Lodge at New Jerseyin America , and another for Bengal .Lord Lovel , afterwards Earl of Leicester ,Avas next installed. During his adminis-tration , Francis, Duke of Tuscany, after-Avards Emperor of Germany, was initiatedat a lodge held at the Hague. At thislodge Phil ip Earl of Chesterfield presided.He Avas advanced to the 3rd degree atHoughton Hall in Norfolk , the seat of SirRobert Walpole, as Avas also Thomas Pel-ham, Duke of NeAvcastle.

Lodges were now established in Russiaancl Spain.

Lord Visct. Montague Avas installedGrand Master in 1732, where the Dukesof Montague and Richmond , the Earl ofStrathmore, the Lords Coleraine/feynbain,and Carpenter, Sir Franci s Drake and SirWm. Keith, Barts., and about 400 brethrenAvcro present. At this time a Avarrantwas granted by Lord Montague appointingthe R.W. Henry Price, Grand Master inNorth America.

Freemasons lodges date their origin inAmerica fro m this period. Lord Tcynhan:next held the reins of government; he con-stituted a lodge at Valenciennes in FrenchFlanders , and another at the Hotel deBnssy in Paris, (1733 ?).

The Earl of Strathmore succeeded 1734.His Officers were the Earl of Crawford andSir Robert Manse) . A new lodge Avasopened at Hamburg , and several otherlodges were constituted in Holland underthe English banner.

The Earl of Crawford was next installed ,and during his presidency the Dukes ofRichmond and Buccleugh, Earl of Balcarre,.,Lord Weymouth and other eminentpersons attended Grand Lod ge. LordWeymouth next filled tho chair of K.S.,the Dukes of Richmond , Athol , EarlsCraAvford, Loudon , Winchclsea , Balcarres ,Weniys, the Marquis of Beaumont , LordC.'itlicart , and Verc Bertie , Sir Cecil Wrsiy ,and Sir Edwd. Marcel , Barts., attendedlodge. A lodge was opened at A ubignyiu France, and warrants were issued to

open lodges in Lisbon and SaA'annah inGeorgia, and provincial patents Avere madeout for South America , and Gantay inWest Africa. Lord Dudley and WardAvas then D.G.M. The Earl of Loudonsucceeded Lord Weymouth , and wasinstalled Grand Master in 1736, the Earlof Albemarle, Lords H arcourt, Erskine,and Southwell , Garter King at Arms,Lion King :it Arms, and great lumbers ofother brethren were pi esent. Lodges Averegranted for N OAV England , South Carolina ,and Cape Coast Castle in Africa. TheEarl of Darnley followed ; Lord Gray Avaspresent amongst other noblemen at bis 'installation. Frederick Prince of WalesAvas initiated , ancl at this time deputationsAvere granted for Montserrat , Geneva, thecircle of Upper Saxony, the Coast of Africa ,New York, and the Islands of America.The Pope issued a Bull against Free-masonry in 1738. The Duke of ChandosAvas then Grand Master. P G. Masterswere appointed for North Riding of York-shire, and Caribbee Islands. The GrandLod ge of York took umbrage at the firstappointment, and from thencefoi'Avard allcorrespondence ceased between the twoGrand Lodges. On the loth August , 1738Frederi ck the Great Avas initiated at Bruiis-Avick under the Scots constitution , and it issaid subsequentl y became the head of the33° Autiont and Accepted Jiito. Manyof tho German Princes wore initiated , anclMasonry Avas established in Prussia. TbeEarl of Rintore was G.M. in 1741 : heappointed P.G.M. s for Russia (AvhereMasonry has since been suppressed),Barbadoes, <fcc . Then came the Earl ofMorton, 1741 ; then Lord Ward , 1742 ;then Lord Cranstoun , 1743, P.GM. wasconstitutedfor Cape BretonandLouisbourg.Lord Byron next came, 1744 ; Lord Carys-fort , 1745 followed , and during hispresidency, Provincial Patents Avere issuedfor Gibraltar , the Bahamas, _Ne w York,Guernsey, Alderney, Sark and Maud,Jersey, also Cornwall, Worcester, Glo'ster ,Salop, Monmouth and Hereford. TheMarquis of Carnarvon was the next G.M. ;he appointed a P.G.M. for Durham in 1755,and a lod ge at Sunderland was soon opened.Patents were made out for Anti gua, South"W ales, Cuba , Chester. Germany, &c.

The Duke of Beaufort , Avas G.M. in 17G!;provincial deputations Avere granted inJamacia, Barbadoes , Naples and Sicily, theAustrian Netherlands, Empire of Russia.

Masonry continued to flourish till1782 , Avhen H.R.H. the Duke of Cumber-land Avas elected G.M. At this time theDuke of Kent was initiated iu Geneva ,and the Duke of Sussex in Berlin. H.R.H.the Prince of Wales next became G.M.,the Marquis of Hastings A.G.M. In 1793,the Durham Lodges laid the foundationstone of a bridge over the Wear at Sunder-land , in the presence of Prince AVilliam ofGlo'ster. Covent Garden Theatre founda-tion stone was laid by the Prince of Wales,G.M. in 1813. The two Grand Lodges ofEngland were united in 1813, the mo_tmomentous year in modem Masonry. Thehistory of Masonry is IIOAV the history ofto-day. Little has happened to the Craftsince the union of its two Grand Lodges,except such evidences of prosperity as theiniti ation of the Prince of Wales, and hissubsequent installation this year as G.M.—a never to be forgotten sight by those AvhoAvere fortunate enough to Avitness it, ancllisten to the admirable address of LordCarnarvon , P.G.M.—and quite recently theinitiation of Prince Arthur and PrinceLeopold. Nothing but tranquility hasreigned , ancl that tranquility has meantprosperity and peace. There are now1,550 lodges under the banner of theGrand Lodge of England , and between7,000 and 8,000 are initiated annually.Some 75,000 are subscribing members,though strange to say, only 17,000 areRoyal Arch Masons. NotAvithstandingPapal bulls and edicts, notwithstanding thelukewarmness of its friends, and theopposition of its enemies, Freemasonry hascontinued to progress, and is now perhapsthe widest spread and most powerful in-stitution in the Avorld. It is said thatthere are 3,000,000* Freemasons on thecontinent j something like 2,000,000 inFrance,'|' ;vuc^ iu ^his country its numberscannot be less than 150,000, includingbrethren under the Irish and Scotch GrandLodges. There are half a millionsubscribing members in the United States.It is a universal brotherhood , extend-ing its ramifications over the Avholeknown world. England was the centrefrom which all other Grand Lodges havediverged. To England the Freemasons of

the old continent ancl the HCAV owe theirorigin, their Arery existence. It i._ foundedon the practice of every social ancl moralvirtue. Its character is charity in themost extended sense, ancl brotherly love,relief and truth, are inculcated in it. Likeevery other society of any magnitude ithas been the subject of hyperbolical en-conium by its friends , and obloquy fromits enemies. Like every other societyfounded on general princi ples, and at thesame time Avell organised , it has at par-ticular times been subservient to tbe pro-duction of much good , ancl at others ofmuch evil, according to the different pur-poses for Avhich it has been employed, andlike every other society Avhich ever flourishednot of divine orgin it must sink Avith thelapse of years, and the changes of society.Freemasonry is a grand, a noble science, butthere are such things as exoteric and esotericmysteries, ancl 1 cannot but say to' mybrethren of the mystic tie—search deeper—look not to outward signs alone; and to theuninitiated I say, if any such there be AVIIOread this paper , yon Avant to knoAv whoand what Ave are, j oin our antieut Craft ,ancl Ave Avill instruct you in the Boyal Artof Masonry.

I have but Avritten of the Craft or BlueMasonry, of the Antient and AcceptedRite of 33 degrees , I have said but little.I have said nothing of the SovereignPrinces of the Rose Croix , descendantsas some assert of the Rosicrucians ofthe 16th century. Of the Knights Templarand their connection Avith Masonry I haveAvritten but little in this paper. Perhaps onsome future occasion 1 may Avrite somescraps of their history, for the benefit ofthe younger readers of the " MasonicMagazine," but time will not now permitrne even to enter upon it.

The subject of higher degrees anclchivalric orders and their connection Aviththe Craft is full of interest, ancl will Avellrepay the attention of the Masonicstudent.

For the present, however, I Avill onlysay in concluding this paper that I amthankful to see the increased interest takenby Masons in restoration of Churches, anclsuch trul y Masonic works. The Masons ofWorcester, Gloucester, Bristol and Bath ,have honoured themselves and their grandold Craft by the Avay in which they havehelped to restore their noble Cathedrals—¦

More likel y one million in the world,t The number of lodges in France is 200, and 3..

chapters , 11 councils. 2,000,000 is much in excess;Ave should say about 100,00.—Ed.

but what are our brethren in London , andin the North of England (where they areso rich and numerous) doing 1

Nothing, absolutely nothing.The Dean ancl Chapter of St. Paul's are

asking for money to complete that nobleedifice, built by our Grand Master—yet nobrother dares to stan d up in Grand Lodgeand propose that .£500 be granted to assistso Masonic an object—the like sum wasgranted and generously granted for theIndian Famine Relief Fund—but not onepenny can be spared for St. Paul'sCathedral , the glory of London.

Masonry has prospered , greatly pros-pered under the beneficent reign of LordZetlan d, who sat in the chair of Solomonfor a quarter of a century—and of hissuccessor the Marquis of Ri pon , Avhosesecession we must all lament, for he wasan admirable Grand Master.

Yet no one seems to think that a GrandMemorial Window in the Great Minster atYork Avould be a fitting tribute to theglory of the Groat Architect of theUniverse, and to the memory of thevenerated Grand Master AVIIO ruled so long,so Avisely and so Avell.

What is the Lodge of Antiquity doingi\_ London, and Avhat are our wealthybrethren doing in the North 1 *

A gain I ask the question , and likeBrutus, I pause for a rep ly.

GOOD NIGHT.

(To be sung at closing of Lodge.)Good-nigh t ) the spirits of the blest and

good,From Masons Avails go with you and

abideIn hours of SOITOAV, hours of solitude ;Or, Avhen the hosts of melancholy brood

And cloud your mind, may angel-spiritsglide

From the White Throne, and give yougreat del ight,—

Dear Friends, Good Night 1Good-nigh t ! good ni ght! and joy be with

you all !May sickness never bli ght , nor poverty ;

May slanderous breath your spirits ne'erappal ;

* The Lod ge of Anti quity not long ago voted £o0to the repairs of St. Paul' s.—Ed.

May no untoward accident befall—But all things prosperous and happy

be;May morning's sun rise on you fresh and ¦

bright,—•Dear Friends, Good Night J

Good-night! and when, the shadoAvs of thegrave

Close in around you; Avlien the labouringbreath

DraAvs heavily ; and unto Him Avho gave,You yield the spirit ; be lie strong to

save,Who is our Guide and Master unto

death !Then may dear friends and heavenly

hopes uniteTo say Good-night ,

Canadian Masonic ] \Tevj s .

WAS IT A WARNING?

BY HOSS BHOWNELL.

It happened a matter of fifteen yearsago, in 185—. I was an engineer on theV. C. railroad , ancl running the " Amo-skeag," on tbe night line from N. to St. A.It was a good ten hours' ti'ip, leaving N.at seven p.m ., and getting into St. A. atfive a.m. or just about day break. BrooksVane ivas fireman . A young fellow, onlyabout two years married to as sweet a littl ewoman as you'll very often see. They hadone child—a baby, three months old. Mrs.Vane had been delicate and feeble eversince its birth , and just at this time Avasconfined to her bed , Avith a sort of SIOAVfever. Brooks, as Avas natural , fretted agood deal about her, ancl laid off a day ortAvo as often as he could find a substitute.

The 25th clay of September—I cannever forget that date—betAveen three anclfour o'clock in the morning, Ave were run-ning on a doAvn grade about forty milesfrom St. A., Avhen I noticed , some fiftyrod in fron t of ns, ivhat looked like a lire,built exactly on tho tract, straight ahead.Brooks saw it as plainly as I did. WeAvere not running at full speed, so to re-verse the engine and stop the train was

not an affair of many minutes. Brooksand I jumped out together , ancl Avent roundin front of the engine, where Ave foundnothing.

The fire, Avhich I saw as plainly as ever[ saAv anything in my life, and whichJ3rooks saw too, bad disappeared utterlyancl entirely. We Avent up the track halfa mile or more, but found no vestige ofanything to denote that any fire had beenbuilt upon the tract, or anywhere near.

Brooks turned to me Avith a Avhite face." My God, sir, Avhat was it ?""I wish I knew," I said. " Fifteen

minutes ago I Avould have taken my oaththere Avas a fire , built by some stup id idiotor designing villain, on the track . Now —I can't understand it."

"Nor I—nor I," said Brooks, slowly;" you don't suppose, sir—"

He stopped, confusedly." Suppose Avhat ." I said, as Ave stepped

on board the " Amoskeag " again." That it's a Avarning, or omen of danger,

sir—This more firmly spoken." Pshaw 1"But for all my affectation of contemp t,

I Avas puzzled and confounded. Yet Itried to convince myself tha t it was merelyan optical delusion and nothing more.But my success was doubtful.

The next morning I could see thatBrooks Avas growing nervous and anxious.I, too, was not Avithout a little flutter ofexcitement at my hear t, thoug h I shouldhardly have cared to own it. It is, per-haps, needless to state that this night's ex-perience corresponded in every particularto that of the one preceding. The sameseeming fire had blazed and glittered onthe track in front of us. The train Avasstopped again. Again Ave searched aroundand upon the track for a long Avay ahead ;again Ave found simply nothing !

I don't deny that the lepetition of thismysterious occurrence impressed me with astrange feeling of commingled dread andterror. And Brooks—the man's set facefairly frightened me. There Avas littl econversation passed between us that night.I think we both felt too deeply forspeech.

The third night, Brooks Vane ancl Istepped on board the "Amoskeag " withmuch tlie same feelings, I think , as menwho go knowingly to their own death. As

we passed out of the station at B., withina mile or two of the fatal place, Brooksturned to me.

" Mr. Deane—" he stopped." Go on. "" It may seem foolish to you, but I think

something will happen to the train to-night.If I should be killed—"

" Pshaw ! Brooks, don't get such ideasinto you head. I—"

"I know all you Avould say, Mr. Deane,but I'd rather you heard Avhat I've got tosay.

" Well, I am listening."" I want, if you survive me, that you

should promise to lend my wife a helpinghand if she should need one. Her folksare well off, and will be good to her, Ithink; but they are out in Kansas, and itAvill be pretty hard lines for her at first,before she can hear from them, and she'llneed friends , poor girl." He stopped,brushing his hand across his eyes.

" If she ever needs help," I said, im-pressed , in spite of myself; by his earnest-ness, and sharing besides, much of hisapprehension, " my wife and I will standby her. She shan't want for a friend whilewe live. But don't get ' blue,' Brooks.All this may amount to nothing," tryingto speak cheerfully, but with partial successonly.

He shook his head moodily, but did notspeak. We neared the mysterious place.I turned my eyes for one moment from theroad iu front to attend to some slight duty.I looked back ju st in time to catch oneglimpse of a light—not the seeming fire forAvhich Ave Avatched—but the headlight of acoming train ! The next instant a terribleshock—a deafening crash—-and I knew nomore.

I recovered my senses to find myselflying 011 a bed, in a low-ceiled room of afarmhouse, standing not far from the sceneof« disaster. Stunned ancl bruised I was,but had sustained no serious inj ury. InansAver to my eager inquiries , I learnedthat tbe train colliding Avitb mine was aheavy express, which I should have passedat M , the next station beyond.

Liquor did it all. Tom Jones, the engi-neer, who, though known to be a " regular "drinker, Avas still considered trustworth y,had taken the train out of St. A. all rightas far as any body knew, but Avhether hehad drank an extra glass, or got crazy

drunk , or whether he had a touch of deli-rium tremens that ni ght, nobod y couldever tell. He ancl his fireman Avere bothdead poor fellows. It was only knownthat he bad rushed the train through at

fill' speed) disregarding all signals from theconductor , and stopping at no station.But as for the thirty odd miles , from St. A.to J.I., there were none but small stationswhere the express stopped only when sig-naled , I think no one suspected any harmuntil they reached M., Avhcre they shouldhave stopped , and from there to destructionhad onl y been a brief ten minutes 'ride.

There were belf a dozen killed andAvounded on the express ; on mine, one ofthe brakemen was badly hurt , and BrooksVane could not be found.

" Can't be found , man ," I said to myinformant—"Avhat do you mean?"

"That 's what I mean , sir. The men onyour train have searched everywhere, anclthey can't find a trace of him , even."

It was odd, to say the least. It wasnow broad daylight, and I could not con-ceive how any search should have failed tofind him. I got up, lame and sore, butstill able to move about, and went out.

The house Avas only a little way from thescene of the accident. The dead andwounded had been moved away, and menAvere busy moving the debris and clearingthe track. The express train was a veryheavy one , and mine, thoug h frei ght, com-parativel y light , since I. had but few cars.My engine had been tbroAvn completelyfrom the track, over the low bank , into aAvet marshy meadow ly ing alongside theroad. The smokestack was half buried inthe mud. I walked around it, searchingcarefully, but there Avas no sign of my un-fortunate fireman. I looked for him aslong as I Avas able, and then dragged my-self back to the house., from Avhence I dis-patched the far m er's son to B., with a tele-graphic message, to be sent to my wife,apprising her of my safety, and beggingher to see that all knowled ge of the acci-dent was kept from poor Vane's Avife , ancldirected him to Avait for a reply.

He returned in the afternoon Avith amessage from my Avife :

" Viola says Brooks' body is buried iuthe marsh , under the smokestack of theAmoskeag. Search for it there.

"EMMA DEANE ."

Viola Avas Brooks' Avife. I Avas con-founded. I had not intimated to my wif 'uthat the body was missing, though, otcourse, she knew from the wording ot mydispatch that he must be dead or badlyhurt. I knew that an account of the acci-dent had been telegraphed to N., but Idoubted if this fact had been mentioned .However , it Avas evident they knew it, butIIOAV Mrs. Vane should know more thanthat I could not understand.

I walked out again to the 2'lace Avherethe engine lay. Men were already at AvorkAvith a derrick try ing to raise it. It wasmany hours before their efforts were suc-cessful. When at last they accomplishedtheir task, under the smokestack was foundthe body of Brooks Vane !

There is little more to tell. You Avereat his funeral , and you. know ho ov hard hispoor wife took his loss, and how she fadedand pined , and ere long followed him withher babe to the " farther shore. "

The little I have to tell you is the reasonni)' Avife sent that mysterious telegram.All that night on which the accident hap-pened , Mrs. Vane lay in a half stupor—my wife Avas sitting up Avith her—rousingbut once between three and four in themorning—just about the time her husbandmust have been killed, when she startedup with a shriek that rang through thehouse cry ing :

"0 Brooks ! Brooks ! don't go ; " andthen she fell back moaning "dead , dead ,"and seemed to realize nothing more.

No one then knew anything of the acci-dent ; but Avhen the news came, not longafter , every precaution Avas used to keep itfrom her. It Avas not until just before mytelegram had been received , that sheseemed to evince any consciousness of AvhatAvas passing around her. At that time sheopened her eyes calmly, looking steadil yinto the face of my wife, who sat besideher, and speaking in low even tones :

" They can 't find my husband , Mrs.Deane. Telegraph to Mr. Deane to havethem look in the marsh, under the smoke-stack of the ' Amoskeag ;' they will findhim there."

She didn 't speak again all day. Howshe knew her husband was dead or wherehe Avas, I cannot tell."There are stranger things in heaven and

earth , Horatio ,Than are dreamed of in your philosophy."

CONTEMPORARY LETTERS ONTHE FRENCH REVOLUTION.

Tins following letters, which I propose topublish " de mense iu mensem," giving alucid account of a very remarkable epoch,were Avritten by an English officer then iuthe public service, and on leave in Paris.He was an eye-witness clay by day of theevents he so well describes, and the letterswere sent as they were written to a relativein England. I take them from theoriginals, jus t as they were transmittedhome. For some family reasons of suffi-cient weight, the name of the writer issuppressed, but the letters are perfectly" bona fide," and if any of our readerswould like to see the originals, they will ,by writing to the Editor of the "Magazine ,li)8, bTcet Street , be put in the Avay ofdoing so. I do not print the lettersbecause they afford us any new view ofstirring times, of great events, and oflamentable crimes, because such they donot. They are the production of anEnglish officer and gentleman, and one,too, of the old school, AVIIOSO princi pleswould not be in accord either with theprofessions or passions of the hour. Still,as a contemporary witness of. events ofmuch importance , alike in the history ofmankind ancl of France, they are not with-out some interest to every historical asAvell as every Masonic student. They aremade more interesting, I think, by severaloriginal documents now in themselvesscarce, Avhat the French term "pieces jus-tificatives," and which are carefully printedas they were sent with the letters. Many ofthem are somewhat rare, one or two almostunknown . Ed.

LETTER [.ASSEMB LED RATIONALE PERM ANENTE .

Seance Roy ale du kfewier.LA seance ouverte , - M. Despilly a fait

lecture du proccs:verbal de la veille. Lesdocrets sur la division des departemens ontessuye quelques reclamations. Cette gran tieoperation ne pent se faire sans loser Ieslnterot. particuliers de quelques villes, <fcJes deputes respectifs croient qu 'il est deleur devoir do reclamor jusqu au dernierinstant ; mais mal gre cela, l assombleoavance a grands pas au tonne do la divi-sion du royaitme.

M. le president a amioncc qu 'il avoitpreseutc a la sanction Ies deux docretsd'hier ; l'un rehitif a Chinou , l'autre auremplacement de la chambre ties vacationsdu parlenient de Rennes.

M. Gossin a continue ses rapports sur ladivision du roj'aume ; mais hi seanced'aujourd 'hui ne nous permot pas dedonner Ies docrets qui out passe.

M. le president a fait part it 1'assembleed'une lettre qu'il venoit de recevoir de samajeste ; elle etoit concue en ces termes :" Je previous M. le president que j e conipteme rendre a inidi a l'asscmblce nationale.Je souhaite y etre sans cercmonie. '

Ici a commence la scene la plus atten-drissante; l'oeil humain nepout voir qu'unefois un spectacle aussi ¦f rappant.* Heu-reux , mille fois heureux l'homme qui en eetc temoiii , qui a pu voir ce dclire , catransport de joio eclater de toutes parts,rayonner sur tons Ies fronts 1 Vous e'ussiezvu ces sentiments d'uu peup le idolatre dela personne de ses rois, se maui fester danstout son jour . Vous eussiez vu cet amourgrave dans tons Ies eceurs Francois, maistrop long-terns concentre par la crainte,mais avili par Facbilation, mais geinissantclans Ies fers, rompre tout-a-coup ses en-traves, briser le cliar du despotisme,paroitre lumiueux & brillant it 1'approch ed'un roi citoyeu , causer cette explosion dojoie, de delire, d'allegresse, dont Ies Fran-cois, seuls sont capables, faire resonner Iesvoutes du temp le de la liberie , d'acclama-tions, d'appiaudissemens, de mille & milleoris de vive le roi. !

Les installs s'ecouloient trop lenteinentau gro de l'impatience francoise ; on eutvoulu hater le moment oil le premier cito-yeu du monde alloit entrcr dans 1c sanc-tnaire augnste de la liberie , oil cette dcessol'attendoit , pour atfermir sur son front lediademe , & pour lo parer du plus riche dotons les diamans , I' anmur immortel de se_penp les.

Que dirois-tu, 6 iJYederic , si tu vivoisencore 1 Enivro de ta grandeur supreme,eindronne de ton despotisme philosop hi que,jaloux de l'cclat ife de la puissance du trone,francpis, tu t'ecriois autrefois : le p lus beaureve que p>uisse faire un roi , c est de reverqu'il est roi de France. Que dirois-tu it la

* (Writer). —I coul d only perceive on n .;o sale theinsolence of success; ami on the other , ivijret andanger to he sacrificed hy a king they would die tosupport.

vue d'un si beau spectacle ? tu prendroisdone Louis XVI pour un dieu ! Secouestes ceudres & tu le verras ce dieu. II n'estqu 'uii homme aux yeux des Francois, maise'est le premier de tons les citoyens fait pourcommander aux maitres du monde. Qu'ilsviennent apprendre a sou ecole, ces tyransenvironnes de la pourpre & du diademe,qu'ils sont nes pour lebonheur des peuples;&¦ toi, Frederic, toi qui , par ton genie, etoisfait pour donner le ton a. ton siecle, regrettede n'avoir employe tes facultes qu'ii batir1'edifice de ta frele gfandeur , sans pensera la felicitc de tes sujots. Viens, si tu peux,"entendre encore, & tu verras que tu aslaisse echapper la realito pour courir apresl'ombre de I'immortalite ; viens, & tu verrasque Ton ne reeonnoit plus en Europe quedeux rois, Louis XVI & Georges II ; tonsdeux rois d'un people libre , & les seulsdignes de l'otre.*

II fallu long-tems pour ramener le silencedans l'assemblee ; mais, plein des fonctionssacrees qu'il remplissoit, M. Bureau d'Epusya sir rapeller momentanemont l'assembleeit la. gravit6 d'une assemblee delibcrante.II a propose de discontinue:- de deliberer.Cette proposition , conforme aux princi pesd'un peuple libre, a etc adoptee, & de suiteou a decrcte que mil, excepte le president,

ne prendroit la parole quand le roi seroitdans l'assemblee.

On s'est mis a faire les apprets pour re-cevoir le roi ; un fautetiil, convert d'unvelours cramoisi, parscme de fleurs de lis,a etc mis a la place du fauteuil ordinairedu president ; un tapis de pied, jette surles gradins, etoit tout ce qu'il y avoitd'extraordinaire ; le fauteuil du presidentde l'assemblee nationale etoit place ala droitede celui du roi.

On a propose d'envoyer one deputation ;il s'est eleve quelques oppositions, mais cpiin 'avoient d'autre source que la volente de seconformer aux intentions de sa majeste, quivouloit fitre recue sanscer6monie : cependan tla deputa tion a ete nommce, & Ton a vupartir sur la meme ligne le cardinal de laPiochefoucault, & dom Gerbe, chartreux,MM. de Liaucourt , de Moutesquiou , ot-nesde leur cordon-bleu , marcher a, cote dupere Gerard, deput6 de Bretagne, convert del'liabit rayonnant, tissu de la main de safemme, pour figurer aux etats-geueraux ,image frappante de 1'egalite qui doit regnereutre tons les Francois qui ne reconnoitrontdesormais d'autre distinction que le inerite& la vet'tu .

Cependan t on a continue l'ordre du jour .M. Gossin a propose un decret conceruantle Berri , qui a etc adopte. Mais je laisseen arriere les decrets sur les departemens ,pour arriver plus promptement au plus belinstant de cette revolution.

On a annoncc le roi. Cue douce emotions'est emparee de tons les speetateurs. Untressaillement d'allegresse, plus facile iisentir qua depeindre , un saisissementagreable , ont enfantfi un silence respectueux ,mais que des oris de vive le roi ont rompubrusquemeut a son arrivee. Le roi, arrivea la place qui lui etoit desfinee, le gardedes sceaux a lu, an no in de sa majeste, lediscours suivant , dont nous donnerons lesnurceaux qui nous out parti les plus frap-pans :*

"Vous savez, Messieurs , qu'il y a plu-de dix ans, & dans un temps oil le vceu dela nation ne s'ctoit pas encore exp li que snr

* (A\rriter).—Mistake. George III. Cotemp.Several motions were here made by the President ,which are suppressed , as they' are not much to theHono r of the Uemocrates , to which party the Presi-dent belongs. The most remarkable was the following:That as some contestations relative to Precedencemight arise entre le Sol et le President: That thePresident should be on the right of the King ; andleast anything done that clay might be construed intoa precedent against the dignity of the Assembly: Thata protest should be entered that nothing done that dayshould be looked upon as a Bnle for the future. 'DieTable at which the Secretaries set, which is imme-diately under the Seat of the President was taken away,two steps were placed , the center part of which wascovered with velvet passeme de flenrs de Lys, a cover-ing of the same was put over the Chair , on the rightof which another was put for the President on thesame steps. The President then asked if he shouldreceive the King sitting or standing, to which noAnswer was given.

I was so placed as to look thro' a large windowdirectl y over the Terrace in the Gardens of the Timit-idies by which the King arrived . He was laug hingand talking, and looked very guy. The Commandantof the District of national Militia affected to do theDuties of Captain of the Guard ; but I observed tha«the King looked on the Captain des cent Suisse in thatlight. When he entered the national Assembly everyone got up ; he was followed by all his ministers. Itiv;n necessary to order the Deputies to take oil theirHats.

He read himself His speech, and I thoug ht verywell ; but you will he astonished to hea r it was oftennecessary to command silence as HisM. was fre quent lyinterrupted by applause. I have marked with au *those passages which did not succeed .

For the speech (as given here it is full of falsehoods)1 refer you to a correct copy I send "with this.

'j. (Writer.)—The Presidents speech is alsofalsilied.

les assemblies pro vinciales, j 'avois commenceii substituer ce genre d'administration iicelui qu 'une ancienne & longue habitudeavoit consacre. L'expcrience m'ayant faitfait conn oitre que je ne m'otois pointtronipe dans l'opiniou que j 'avois congue del'utilite de ces etablisseniens, j 'ai cherchea faire j ouir du m(.me bienfait toutes lesprovinces de mon royanme; &, pour assureraux nouvelles administrations la confiancegeucrale, j ai vouln que les membres dontellesdoivent etre composoes,fussent nommcslibrem ent par ton s les citoyens. Vousavez amcliore ces vues de plusieurs nianieres ,& la plus essentielle, sans clotite, est cettesubdivision cgale & sagement motivce, qui ,en affoiblissant les anciennes separations deproArince ;i province, & en etablissant unsysteme general & complet d'equilibre , re-unit davantage a un meme esprit & a unmeme interet toutes les parties du royaume.Cette grande idee, ce salutaire dessein voussont enticremen t dus; il ne falloit pas moinsqu'une reunion de volontcs de la part desrepresentans de la nation, il ne falloit pasmoins que leur juste ascendant sur l'opiniougcnerale, pour entreprendre avec confianceun changement d'une si grande importance ,& pour vaincre, au nom de la raison , lesresistances de 1'habitude & des interets par-ticuliers.

" II faut que tout cede au nouvel ordredes choses ; il faut epie tons les interets seconfondent en un seal. Nous ne devonsavoir, vous & moi, d'autre but que le bon-heur & la fclicitc de la France. Touteentreprise cpii tendroit a cbranler la nou-A'elle constitution , a remetfcre les choses surl'aucien pied, ne pourroit qu'enfanter desmalheu rs. L'entreprise meme d'une cen-tre-revolution , quand elle seroit conronneedu succcs, ne produiroit jamais l'effet qu'onen auroit attendu Livrons-nous done a cette unite de sentimens quidoit assurer le bonheur de tous ; epie Tonsache par-tout que ie monarque & les re-presentans sont d'accord; qu'ils n'ontd'autrebut que d'amener le bonheur & la fclicitcpublique Nous ne devons pas nous dis-simuler qu'il nous reste encore beaucoup afaire: travaillons aA-ec Constance pour arriveran ternie de nos travaux. Vous, Messieurs,dont 1'influence est si puissante aupre s despeuples, faites leur connoitre que la libertepubbcpie sera fixee invariablement ; maisemployez sur-tout votre ascendant pourtaire cesser les defiances , sources intarissa-

bles de niaux. Un j our, j 'aime a le croire,tous les frangois reconnoitront le bonheurqui doit nai tre de l'egalitd. lis naitront cestemps heureux oil chacun n'aura d'autreambition epie de participer au bonheur detous, que de sacrifier au bonheur & it latranquillite de la patrie, qui interesseraegalement tons les citoyens, oil un chacunverra sans peine que , pour etre appelcdorenaA'ant a, servir l'etat de quelque ma-niere, il sufSra de s'etre rendu remarquablepar ses talens ou par ses vertus.

" En meme-tems neanmoins, tout ce quirappelle it line nation l'anciennete <fc lacontinuite des services d'une race honoree,est une distinction que rien ne pent de-truire; & comme elle s'unit aux devoirs dela reconnoissance, ceux qui, dans toutes lesclasses de la societe, aspirent it servir effi-cacement leur patrie , & ceux qui out eudeja le bonheu r d'y retissit, ont un interetit respecter cette transmission de titres onde souvenirs, le plus beau de tous les heri-tages qu'on puisse faire passer a seseiifans.

Le respect du aux niinistres de la religionne pourra non plus s'effacer; & lorsqtie leurconsideration sera principalement unie auxsaintes vcritos cpii sont la sauve-garde del'ordre & de la morale, tons les citoyenshonnetes &, eclaires auront un egal interetit la niaintenir & a la defendre.

" Sans doute ceux qui ont abandonne degrands privileges pecuniaires, ceux qui neformeront plus, comme autrefois, un ordrepolitique dans l'etat, se trouvent soumis itdes sacrifices dont je connois toute Timpor-tance; mais j'en ai la persuasion, ils aurontassez de geuerosite pour chercher un de-dommagement clans tons les avantagespublics dont Tetablissement des assombleesnationales presente l'esplrarwe.

" J'aurois bien aussi des pertes il comp-ter , si, au milieu des plus grands interetsde l'etat, je m'arrctois a des calculs per-sonnels ; mais je trouve une compensationqui me snffit , une compensation pleine &eutiere dans l'accroissement du bonheur dela nation , cfc e'est du fond de mon cceur quej 'exprime ici ce sentiment.

" Je defendrai done, je maintiencbai lalibert6 cotistitutionnelle, dont le vceugeneral d'accord avec le mien' a consacreles principes. Je ferai davantage, &, deconcert avec la reine qui partage tons messentimens, je preparerai de bonne heure1'esprit & le cceur de mon Ills {iu nouvel

M

ordre de choses que les circonstances ontamene. Je 1'habituerai , des ses premiersans, st etre heureux du bonheur des Fran-cois, & a reconnoltte toujours , malgre lelangage des fiatteurs, qu'une sage constitu-tion 16 preservera des clangors de 1'in-expcrience, ifc qu'une juste liberie ajoute unnonveau prix aux sentimens d'amour & defidelite dont la nation, depuis taut de siecles,donne it ses rois des preuves si touchantes.

" Je ne dois point le mettre en doute ;en achevant Arotre ouvrage, vous vous occu-perez siirement avec sagesse & avec candeurde I'aflerinissement du pouveir exccuetif,cette condition, sans laquelle il ne sauroitexister aucun ordre durable au-dedan's, niaucune consideration auclehors. N olledefiance ne pent raissonnablement vousrester ; ainsi il est de votre devoir , commecitoyens & comme lideles representans dola nation , d'assurer au bicn de l'etat & a lalibertc publique, cette stabilite cpii ne pentdeliver que d'une autorite active & tutelaire.Vous aurez surement present it lYsp irit quesans une telle autorite , toutes les parties dovotre systcme de constitution resteroien t ala fois sans lien & sans stabilite. Ce n 'estpas pour moi que je la sollicito, cetteautorite, mais pour le bonheur de la patrie.II faut quo je puisse proteger la libertcpublique, faire respecter les proprictcs.

'"'Pa r quelle fatalite se livre-t-on aujourd'hui a de nouveaux execs '? . . . Helas !que lien ne souuTe dosormais la constitu-tion, epie la source du bonheur public nesoit pout ensanglantce. Vous qui pouvcztaut sur l'opiniou publi que, 6claircz lespeoples sur leurs vrais interets ; eelairez lebon people qu 'on egare, ce bon peuple quim'aime & quo j;'aimo siucerement. C'estFexpression pure de mon cceur Travaillez a retablir les finances , mcttcz laderniere main a la constitution ; mettezun nouvel ordre dans le pouvoir judiciaire.Vous aurez assez fait pour la patrie pourmeriter une reconnoissancc ctornelle et dansla continuation successive des assembliesnationales, continuation fondee dor.navantsur cette constitution meme, il n'y auraplus qu'il ajo uter, d'amiee en annce, denouveaux moyens de prosperity a tous ceuxque vous avez deja prepares. Puisse cettej ournee oil votre monarque vient s'uuir avous, de lamanicre la plusfranch e & la plusintime, etre une cpoque memorable clans1'histoire de cet empire ! Elle la sera, jel'espore, si mes vcoux ardens, si mes instan-

tes exhortations peuvent etre un signal depaix and de rapprochement entre vous.Que ceux qui s'eloigneroieut encore d'unesprit de Concorde, devenu si necessaire, mefassent le sacrifice de tous les souvenirs quiles affligent, je les paierai par me reconnois-sauce and mon affection. Ne professonstons, a, compter de ce jou r, ne professonstous, je vous en donne l'exemple, qu'uneseule opinion, qu'un seul interet , qu'uneseulc volonte, l'attachement a la constitu-tion nouvelle, & le desir ardent de la paix,clu bonheur & de la prosperite de laFrance."

Response du President.L'assemblee nationale voi, avec la plus

vive reconnoissance, mais sans etonnement ,la conconduite confiante k paternalle devotre majeste.

Dcdai gnant l'appareil & le faste clu trone,vous avez seuti , Sire, que pour convaiucretous les esprits, pour entrainer tous lesoccurs, il suffisoit de vous montrer dans lasimplicitc de vos vertus; ci lorsque votremajeste vient au milieu des representansde la nation contractor avec eux l'engage-ment d'aiuier, de maintenir & de defeudrela constitution, je ne risquerai pas, Sire,d'affoiblir , en voulant les peindre, ces te-moignages. de gratitude, de respect &d'amour que la France doit an patriotismede son roi ; mais j'en abandonne Fexpres-sion au sentiment pur , cpii, dans cette cir-coustance, saura bicn lui seul inspirer lesFrancois.

Tie roi s'est retire au bruit des acclama-tions.

M. le baron de Menou a fait une motiontendante a faire voter une adresse de re-morcimens au roi M. de Clermont-Tonnerreetoit a la tribun e pour proposer la mememotion. Chacun sembloit s'en disputerl'lionneur. M. le president, pour finir cesdebats, a propose qu elle fut faite au nomde l'asseuibloe, & clictce par acclamationgeucrale. Ce. parti a- satisf'ait tout lemonde. Cependant M. de Clermont-Ton-nerre s'est represente a la tribune pourprogoser que M. le president se retiratpar-devers le lioi , pour l'assurer a t'il ditque nous sommes rcellement reunis decceur, de sentimens St d'affection. Ce sen-timent de fraternite a plu a toutel'assemblee, dont tous les membres se sontloves pour tomoi gner leur satisfaction.

*. (Writer.)—It was, however, not executed.

. . . M. l abile Goutes, apres avoirfait un tableau pittoresque de la miserequi regne dans Paris, proposoit de rappellerclans la capitale ees hommes puissans quifaisoient circuler l'abondance, ifc que lescirconstances en ont eloigncs. Cette pro-position n'a pas fait la meme sensationdans l'assemblee.*

M. de Foucault a propose de nommersur le champ un comite pour faire uneadresse aux provinces oil scroient ren-fernies les details de cette journee, quiseroit signee do chaque mcmbrc de l'assem-blee, & enuoyee aux provinces pour ra-mener la paix & la tranquillity parmi lespeuples. Cette proposition etoit faite pourplaire il tout le monde, assi l'a-t-on agreegeneralement. Toutes les motions, plusagreables les lines que les autres, se succe-doient rapidement pendant qu'on redigeoitla formule du serment, dont chacun de ceshonorable., membres vonloit se lier. M.Bureau de Pusy a prie l'assemblee de per-mettre a, celui qui avoit l'lioiineur de pr6-sider ses travaux, d'etre lo premier a pro-noncer le serment sacrc. II a quitte sonfauteuil, est monte a la tribune, & a a dit :je jure en mon nom d' etre fidele it la na-tion, a la hi eh au roi, & de mainlenirde tout mon p ouvoir la constitution de-cretee par I' aseemblee nationcde, & accepteepen - le roi,

M. de la Borde de Merville a fait l'appelnominal, & chacun a son tour est monte illa tribune, & a dit : J e jure, &c.

Cette ceromonie interessante a ete in-terrompue agreablement par le compte epieM. Target a rendu de la deputation quiavoit reconduit le roi. La famille royale& la reine est venue au-devant de sa ma-jeste, & nous a adresse les paroles siUA'antes,que j'ai recueillies :

Discours de la Seine.Je partage tons les sentimens clu roi ,

& je m'unis de ccour & d'esprit il la demarcheque son amour, pour son peuple, vient delui dieter. Voici mon fils, je l'entretieiid-rai, sans cesse, des vertus du meilleur desperes, & je lui apprendrai de bonne heure11 respecter la liberie publique , & il main-tenir le loix dont j 'espere qu'il sera le plusferine soutien .

Apres le discours de la reine, on a voteaussi 'pour une adresse de remerclmens. Ona continue l'appel.t

Faisant l appel des representans de lanation , MM. les secretaires (chose qui n'apas paru indifferente), ont employe des de-nominations aristocratiqnes & ineonstitu-tionnelles, comme do due, baron , comte,marquis, &c. titres que la journee d'aujourd'hui devoit avoir aneantis, _J qui ne presen-tent que I'idee cle l'ancienne servitude. M.le president a fait la meme fante, en nom-mant les membres charges de la deputationvers le roi. M. Lanjuinais a ere quee'etoit le moment d'avertir l'assemblee del'inconsequence d'une pareille erreur ; il adomande que, pour etre fidele il la constitu-tion, & au sermant qu'on venoit de -prober ,les noms cle baron, comte, marquis & autres,ne soient jamais employes dans l'assem-blee.

Les applaudissemens ont fait connoitreque l'opinaut n'avoit pas perdu du vueI'idee d'un si beau jour. Quelques fegersmurmures cependant se sont elves il ladroite cle M. le president.

Sans doute, & nous avons tout lieu dele croire, qu'une motion aussi courageuse,& meme aussi sage clans la circonstancepresente, ne manquera pas d'avoir son eff'ot,& nous sommes persuades qu'il ne serapas necessaire de la rappeller.

Depuis six mois le regime feodal estdetruit, 1'egalite des droits est prononcee, &l'on pourroit meme dire aujourd'hui q'uelleest confirmee. II s'en suit done qu 'il n'ya pas cle dignite feodale en France. Lesseigneurs eux-memes sont devenus simplesproprietairos de domaine des droits pure-nient fonciers, &c.

LE HODEY DE SAULTCHEVEEDIL .

* (Writer.)—Very much the reverse forhe washootedT (Writer.)—-It was proposed, but scarcely listened

* (Writer. ")—When the Oath was first proposed ,the consternation amongst the Aristocrates is not tobe conceived , especially as the AVords King, Law*and nation were omitted ; and the Motion made inthe following terms : That eveiy Member shouldswear to abide by the present form of Constitutionwithout distinction of orders, ancl that those who wouldnot take the oath should be excluded the Assembly.I expecte d to see all the Aristocrats retire at oncethey were alarmed, uncertain when the Amendmentwas made and carried as opposite. The Condition ofexclusion was, however, annexed. In vain did someof the Aristocra tes urge that they could not swear toobserve what Uiey were not acquainted with. Allthey could obtain was that the oath should be con-sidered only as binding to each member personally,and not to affect those they represented.

I also saw the King on his return to the Palace.His countenance was not quite so gay as when heAvent , I believe. The President's Cliaiv had hadsome effect,

LIGHT.

The night has a thousand eyes,The day has one ;

Yet the light of the bright world dies"With the dying sun.

The mind has a thousand eyes,And the heart but one ;

Vet the light of a whole life diesWhen day is done.

Masonic Jewel.

WE give the following curious letter ofa Knight Templar, from the Paston Letters,as there seems to be running through it,as Ave read it to-day, occult allusions tosome common bond of union and specialfellowship. It may allude only to theknown custom of Templars of admittingfriendly and Avealthy associates, but Avehave deemed it well to call attention to it,as it is certainly very striking alike intone and in expression. We take it fromKnight's portable edition of 1840, editedby A. Ramsay, ancl have not had time tocollate it Avith Fenn's original edition of1787, The letter cannot be later, thoughit has no date, than the middle of the 17thcentury. Probably before 14G0.

Ed.LETTER CLVL—(CV. vol. iii. p. 427.)

We have here a most curious letter froma brother of the Order of the Temple ofSyon to J. Paston, earnestly persuadinghim to a temporary residence amongstthem, according to the rules of the order,ancl dissuading him from improper almsgiving to the hurt of his private affairs.The choosing of a place to do his penancein during Advent, reminds us of theestablishment for the secret house of theEarl of Northumberland, in the reign ofHenry the Vlllth, Avho at certain seasonsof the year retired from his principalmansion to some small retreat, Avhere helived privately, ancl most probably per-formed offices of devotion and charity, asatonements for his sins of omission anclcommission. See the "NorthumberlandBook," p. 361, and notes at p. 442. Wemay from this letter suppose that personsof inferior rank at certain times likewise

left their houses, ancl retired for the samepurposes of jn-aying and alms-doing, andthat the season of Adven t Avas the timeset apart by J. Paston for those religiousduties . [From all other parts of thecorrespondence , liOAvever, not Avithstandingthe Avriters p'fite knowlich of yo1' freell andnat'all disposiseou ," J. Pasbon Avould seemto have been among the last of men whoruin themselves through their liberality.The threat of a sharp ancl hasty process incase of disobedience, seems to confirm thesubsequent passage, Avhere he is invited tocome and be jocund , " as ze sholde be yntho place of yo1' p'fossion amounggis yo1'holy bvyy 'yn ," that Paston Avas himselfprofessed of the order, Avhich we thinkhowever is hardly probable.]

To my right Worshipful master and brother ,John Fusion , this letter be taken.

Right Worshipful and reverent masterand broth er, with all my service I recom-mend me unto you. Please it unto yourgreat wisdom to have in your discreet re-membrance the strait order on which Avebe professed , and on Avhich ye are boundento keep your residence, ancl especially onthis time of Christmas amongst your con-freres of this holy order, the Temple ofSyon ; for unless that ye keep duly thepoints of your hol y religion, our MasterThomas Babyngton master and sovereignof our order, by the assent of his brethren ,be advised to award against you right sharpand hasty process to do call you to do yourobservance, ancl to obey the points of yourreligion, which were unto me greatheaviness. Wherefore I, as he that hathmost greatest cause, and is most boundenunto your great gentleness, and also Avhoninature and kin most special ly before everyof all our brethren binden me to owe andwill you good Avill and true heart, con-sidering the great time of penance that yehave been in from soon upon Michaelmashitherto, that is to say in relieving andsustenance of your even Cristen,* and alsoin this charitable and meritory {meri-torious) deed of alms-doing, that is to say,in plenteous ancl liberal gifts, Avhich ismore preciouser than gold or silver, Avhichhath not been at all times to your greatease, neither heart's pleasauuce [p leasur e),

©iu- swchttoloat'cul Covncr.

* Even Cristen. I wish for an explanation of this.(Even is equal or fellmi) . Fellow Christians. )

but rather to your great disease and in-tolerable pain, and where * God's law anclman's law accord that it shall not be lawfulto none earthly man to be so liberal anclplenteous of that that God sendeth him,that he should so dispose it so that heshould nought have to five by ; ancl foras-much as I have perfect knowledge of yourfreell (f ree ivill) and natural disposition soset unto them that be needy and hungry,that of yourself ye have no might, neitherpower to abstain and rule yourself, but allso long as God sendeth ancl giA^eth youAvhereof to dispose ancl help your evenCristen, ye must needs dispose it forthamongst your oven Cristen, I. counsel youthat in all so hasty ancl goodly time as yecan, to come unto your holy brethren thatbe of this devout and close coversation,"|" tothe intent that ye might be advertised andancl learned by them the good rule andmeasure that ye ought and should have inthe disposition and dealing of your alms.

And also sitheu (since) ye have chosenyou a place in this season of Advent, inwhich ye have had a reasonable lesiure andspace to do your penance, which drawethfast to an end, Avhich hath been a con-venient place as for the season of the year,ancl now it draAveth fast unto Christmas,on Avhich time every true Christian manshould be merry, jocund , and glad ; anclsitheu there is no place AVhich by likeli-hood of reason ye shall find in your heart-to be so glad ancl jocund in , as yo shouldbe in the place of your profession amongstyour holy brethren , in which place in thisseason of the year it is accustomed to be(have) all manner of disport,:,1: like as it isnot unknown to your wise discretion ;wherefore as my simple reason leadeth me,your great discretion should rule you, thatye should approach nigh the place of yourholy religion in all so hasty time as yecould or might , of Avhose coining all yoursaid brethren Avould be glad and fain(pleased), and in special I your servant andbrother, like as I am most singular boundento the increase of your prosperity andAvelfare, Avhich I shall ever desire with

* [Whereas."t [Original, " coversation ," Fenn translates " coun-sel."]t The jovial manner of living at Christmas in thesesocieties is here likewise pointed out , and makes us

7 te I C°Uld haV C take " a l0°k Ut tUeh' Pastimes >

God's mercy, Avhich have you under hisblessed and favourable protection. Writtenin the Temple of Syon, the 3d day ofDecember, in great haste.

By your servant and brother, T.*

Temple of Syon, 3rd December,Date uncertain.

MASONIC PROGRESS.

Working onward , climbing upward,Such the Mason's mystic art ;

Proudly feeling, as advancing,Those great promptings of the heart.

HOAV he learns Avith satisfaction ,As be mounts each higher round ;

That " fraternal" love and JusticeThrough our Order must be found.

That humanity, in all her forms,Has nothing more to give,

If in an " ever-faithful breast"Masonic teachings live.

That deeds of human kindnessAre the ends toward Avhich we strive,

Hence that pride and grand devotionWhich will all time survive.

" Nevv light," too, greets his visionAt each succeeding grade,

That fro m a true Masonic heart,Is destined ne'er to fade.

With hope and faith inspired,He gains the " inner door,"

Where "armed with good instruction,"He'll "pass on" as before.

Until within the " sanctum,"The croAvning labour clone ;

He knows his Avork of mercyIs only now begun .

J. CD. Holt, in Masonic Herald .

* The writer of this singular letter was from hisown account a relation of J. Paston , and his signatureis like what in heraldry often represents a fountain ;it is therefore possible that his name might be ThomasFountaine, as a family of that name resided at Sallein the county of Norfolk, about the time that thisletter was written.

JERUSALEM, HER RUINS.

\V. S. HOOPER .

IN all the antiquities of Masonry, there arenone more closely allied to the interest ofmasonic hearts than those of the city andtemple of Jerusalem.

This is not peculiarly true in the fact ofher antiquity, but because of the sacredposition ancl relation she occup ied towardGod ; because of the relation she sustainedtowards other nations, and because of themoral influence she exerted at thattime, ancl continues to exert at thepresent.

If there be any moral virtue in a nationor individual it Avill not cease to exist atthe death of the one, or the destruction ofthe other. It was this princi p le in the cityof Jerusalem that tended to her perpetuityin the memory of man as much as therelation she sustained to God. It may be,ancl, perhaps is, true that this fact growsout of that relation ; but certain it is thatthere Avas a great influence that clings toher memory as much in this age, as in thatof her existence.

It really matters very little in MasonryAvhether the history of Avhat is calledlegendary, is real or not, enough is truethat the location of all the prominen tinterests of Masonry is centred in thatcity. This fact adds to the interestin 'every article or address upon thathistory.

Jerusalem and her temple being thecentre of masonic interest, her influence isvery great ; indeed , there is not any men-tion of her name Avithout calling to mindpleasant memories ancl thoughts concern-ing her.

Though hundreds of years have passedsince the sad tale of her woes were firstrepeated and her destruction complete, yetmany call to mind the history of thoseAvoes Avith a feeling of very deep interest.These memories of historic interest havegenerally had a tendency to make menbetter, and should lead men into a hi'dierplane of action ancl usefulness.

The teachings of those historic incidents,Avhether brought to masonic early historyor by masonic tradition , are full of thereal elements of human life. Indeed in

some of the formulas of M asonry, therecould be no better or more thorough in-struction in human life. We have neitherdisposition nor desire to advance tbe Orderabove the Church, but there is one querythat it might be Avell for us to examine, toAvit : Why does the one give so much moreprominence to this than the other ? Ma-sonry, Avbile she does not extol , yet teachesthe grand principles there taught, Avhilethe Church many times pays her but littleattention. It may be argued that in thelatter there are higher ancl grander prin-ciples than much of Masonry inculcates,but tbe very one Avho taught these to thegrandest effect, emanated from that city,and by a master stroke cleansed the entiretemple, and it certainly Avould not be outof place that the place Avhere the veryfoundation princi ples were inauguratedshould be held up to the attention andhonour of the world.

In ancient times this city was one ofgreat commercial power, much as themetropolis of any country, having Avithinher borders representatives from all nationsof the Avorld. In her ruins there aremany evidences of her having a commercewith nations from every adjacent countryand some far distant lands.

It may be a matter of interest that Avetrace some of the points connected withboth the ancient and modern Jerusalem.There is a very great contrast betAveenthem ; the present city being of a IOAV,clingy and uninviting aspect, having fewobje cts of interest except in the one factof the hallowed incidents ancl history ofancient times. The old city, which Avith-out doubt , lies buried far beneath thepresent surface, Avas, doubtless, a city ofmuch magnificence, especially if we areallowed to jud ge any of her character fromthe temple or palace. It v. ill not be pre-sumed that there Avere any other suchedifices, but there must have been somecertain characteristics of correspondence,as in all cities and of all ages. In theancient city there must have been a greatprofusion of Avealth, if the spoil taken byher various conquerors in any way approxi-mated to an estimate of her financialpoAver.

In her architectu-e Avas a grand displayof perhaps the finest skill in that direction.Her private homes Avere many times of a

royal splendour hardly realized by moderns.Her palace and temple, in all their ar-rangements, were beyond the pen ofdescription.

The city commanded a prominent posi-tion, and had, from her Avails, a grandvieAv of the entire land, ancl Avas the centreof a group of small mountains, Avhichhave become Avoven in the history of thatage. _

This grand ancl beautiful city AVUS sevensteen times destroyed during a period offifteen centuries.

At one time her people Avere put to theedge of tbe sword, and tbe city consignedto the flames.

TAvice she Avas completely razed to theground. Twice her walls wore battered tothe earth. Her people became the captivesof the adjoining nations.

Feuds, quarrels, dissensions and civilwars Avere her lot, and revolutions becam ean important part of her lamentable his-tory.

By some strange fact or phenomenon,the mins became covered as an heap, anda new people built their homes above them,and the places of interest became the homeof the reptiles of the field.

Her urst siege Avas fourteen hundredyears B.C., a very memorable event in herhistory. She Avas a long time in the pos-session of the Jebusites, and though thepowers of Benjamin and Judah Avereexerted for their overthrow, it was Avithouteffect. At one time David advancedagainst her with tAvo hundred and eightythousand warriors, but it Avas only after along and tedious fight that he made aconquest of it.

During all of fifteen centuries she Avascontinually engaged in war , a series ofconflicts and struggles, ancl it would seemthat after so many disasters ancl conflictsthat she would have succumbed, and heroverthroAv been complete ; but each timeshe repletes her army, rebuilds her des-troyed walls, and rising from the ruins ofher former glory, starts again upon hermarch of progress ; again her busy martof commerce is all astir with life andactivity. Her people Avere the captives ofBabylonian tyrants, but though twogenerations nearly passed before theyenjoyed a restored liberty, yet again theymade the city to rejoice, and again restored

the temple and all the vessels for the Avor-ship of God.

These many vicissitudes of that devotedcity furnish to the mind of the lover ofMasonry the great thoughts and valuablelessons of human life. We have in hernational and individual history the con-flicts and triumphs of life thoroughlyexemplified.

NOAV when the sacred and national his-tory of that great people, Avith so manyother items of interest are brought beforeour mind in their solemn and impressiveform, is there any Avonder that Ave forman attachment for these objects olinterest.

The court and cloisters of the last templewere finished about nine years B.C., thecity at that time being under the power ofthe Roman government.

After the destruction of this temple thecity Avas doomed never to re-invest herselfAvith the splendour of the past. Her gloryhad faded. It mattered not how manyfuture conquests she might have, she wasnever to have her former glory again.What fearful disaster came upon her afterthat ancl covered her in heaps of ruins,history does not tell. But AVhen Ave assertthat this city IIOAV lies numbered amongthe buried cities, we enter upon the thres-hold of dispute. Nevertheless, discoveriesof late date give conclusive evidence ofthe fact that the ancient city lies to a con-siderable depth beneath the present city ;ancl many queer inquiries are made as tothe manner of that accumulation that hasso enveloped her, but no authoritativeanswer can be given, some supposing thatother homes Avere builded upon her ruins,while it is not an unreasonable assertionthat the Avinds have carried the sands ofthe desert , and these combined have madethe earth that is now above the city.Suffice it only to say that the present citylies above the ruins of the past.

At Avhat time this accumulation beganno one can tell. At Avhat time the presentcity began its existence may also be veryhard to determine ; but enough has beendeveloped to bring to light indubitableevidence of the former city.

The conquests of the Crusades, ancl theruins, as discovered, furnish a theme ofthemselves.

Voice of Masonry, America.

LITERARY CURIOSITY.

To the Editor of the " Masonic Magazine.Dear Sir and Brother,—On looking over some old numbers of " Chambers'

Edinburgh Journal'' I found the folloAving " Literary Curiosity," in canine Latin, Avithan English translation . The number Avas dated September 23rd, 1840. I venture tosuggest that you re-produce it in your columns, for it may interest others as much as—

Yours, cfcc."YAMA."

TONIS AD RESTO MARE.

0 Mare, cava si forme,Forme ure tonitru,

Jambecum as amandum,Olet Hymen promptu 1

Mihi his vetas au ne se,As humano erebi ;

Olet mecum marito te,Or Eta, Beta, Pi.

Alas ! piano more meretrix,Mi ardor Arel uno ;

Inferiam ure arte is base ;Tolerat me urebo.

Ah me ! ve ara scilicet,To landu vimen tuus ;

Hiatu as arandum sex,Illuc Jonicus.

Heu 1 seel heu ! vexen imago,Mi mises, mare sta ;

0 cantu red it in mihi !Hibernus arida.

A veri vafer beri si,Mihi resolves indti

Totius olet Hymen cum,Accepta tonitru.

PAT MURPHY'S DILEMMA

One day, in attending to the applicationsfor situations on the police force, themayor of a certain toAvn, it was supposed,Avas about to invest Patrick Murphy witha star, ivhen some of his Irish competitorsoutside the railings cried out :

" Are you goin' to 'p'int Pat, yer honour?He can't write his name, yer honour ! "

"I am only receiving applications to-day ; iu a fortnight we make appointments,"said the mayor.

And Pat was told to call that day tAvoAveeks.

" Can you Avrite _ " said that excellentfunctionary.

"Troth, an' it's meself that jest kin,'snswered Pat.

" Take that pen ," said the mayor, " andlet us see you Avrite. Write your name."

"Howly Paul 1 D'ye mind that, Mike ?Pat's a-Avritin'—-he's got a quil l in his fist !"

But Pat did Avrite ; he had recorded hisname in a bold round hand.

That'll do," said the mayor." Ask him to write somebody else's

name, yer honour," said two of them in abreath.

"That 's Avell thought of," remarked themayor. " Pat, write my name."

"Me Avrite yer honour's name!" exclaimedhe, Avith Avell-dissembled horror . " Mecommit forgery, and a goin' on the pelisse !I can't do it, yer honour."

TONY'S ADDRESS TO MARY,

Oh, Mary, heave a sigh for me,For me, your Tony true ;

I am become as a man dumb,0 let Hymen prompt you !

My eye is vet as any sea,As you may knoAv hereby ;

0 let me come, Mary, to tea,Or eat a bit o' pie.

A las ! play no more merry tricks,My ardour veil you knoAv ;

In fear I am your heart is base ;Tolerate me your beau.

Ah me 1 ve are a silly set,To laud you viemen thus ;

1 hate you as a ratndon sex,111 luck I only curse.

You said, you vixen, I may go,My missus Mary, stay;

0, can't you read it in my eye 11 burn as arid bay.

A very vafer, here I sigh,My eye resolves in dew,

To tie us , oh let Hymen come !Accept a Tony true.