Ancient Syrian Masonry.

Apocalypse , was undoubtedly an initiate of the Cabiria , and evidently alludes to the mystic stone just noticed , when he says ; "To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna , and will give him a white stone , and in the stone a new name written , which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it . "

The apostle means to say : " As tho initiate in the Cabirian rites who , with a brave heart and an unfaltering step , passes boldly through the terrible ordeals appointed to try his patience receives a white stone , with a new name and a mysterious inscription upon it , whicb is a powerful resource against

misfortune , ' and gives him immunity from many dangers—so shall be given to the triumphant Christian that which , like the mystic stone , will secure him also from numberless dangers . It will raise him . to a divine companionship , to membership in a celestial Fraternity , and to a full participation in the most mysterious enjoyments of the Secret Pavilion above . "

These rites were spread through all the cities of Syria . Hiram , the King of Tyre , was undoubtedly a High Priest of these Mysteries . This institution existed in Judea at the time of Christ . And it is a notable fact that while Christ denounced , in the severest terms , the two sects Pharisees and Sadducees—He said not a word in condemnation of the Essenes , who were the Freemasons , if we may so say , of that age—the faithful depositories of the ancient Cabirian rite . That our Saviour was

familiar with this Order is certain ; because it cannot be supposed that a mind like that of Christ could pass over , without due consideration , a society like that of the Essenes , admired for the amiability and , gentleness of its manners , and dignified with so many virtues . Besides , the moral sentiments , the social maxims , the ideas of liberty , fraternity and equality , which distinguished the Essenian Order , differ in no respect from the Christian teachings regarding the same things , —Augustus C . L . Arnold , LL . D ., in ' Voice of Masonry . "

Buncombe In Masonry.

BUNCOMBE IN MASONRY .

WE have often wondered why there were so many stories told of the wonderful " preservative" character of Masonry . Our friend the " Tyler " gives a number of apocryphal incidents that have been told with great parade and show , published time and again , until some Brethren have almost come to the point of believing that they are true . There is a power in Masonry that is potent . There is a regard for obligation and respect for

signs that is commendable . No doubt many thrilling incidents have occurred to prove the value of the fraternal bond that binds the Fraternity together , and those that are actually true are sufficiently stirring and powerful to carry conviction to every heart , so there is no necessity to manufacture blood-curdling " road-agent" stories . Here are a few samples as served up by Bro . Brownell :

" Of late years there has been a vast amount of apocryphal incident added to Masonic literature , upon which the " Tyler " would like to see an injunction placed . Setting aside the years of research spent in labouring to reach the primal origin of Freemasonry , and with such we have no special contention , we are favoured with incidents of blood-curdling interest in which Freemasonry has been beheld stepping forward as a saviour .

Sometimes a ' road-agent' on the plains holds up a stage , filled with passengers , and ' goes through ' the crowd . But he comes to one who gives him a sign , and that settles it . He finds the road-agent is a Free and Accepted , and the latter , plunged into remorse at the terrible act of robbing a stage coach with a Brother Mason in it , immediately restores all the ' loot' and mounts his horse , and , with a wave of his hand , bids them Godspeed on their journey . So much for being a Mason . "

" Or again , on the high seas a vessel is boarded by a remorseless pirate , who hoarsely demands ' sur-r-render or bl-ud . ' The passengers are terrified , and the crew are told to walk the plank . The pirate captain stands giving his remorseless orders , leaning on his unsheathed sword , when the supercargo , Ralph Rackstraw , or some humble Dick Deadeye among the crew

gives the sign of a Master Mason , and , presto , all changes . The pirate captain rushes up , and in token of the continuance of his Brotherly love and regard , extends his hand and with body erect returns the sign and advances the token . Hurrah I the ship is saved 1 the plank business adjourned and the cutthroats ordered back to the pirate bark , while the captain descends to

the cabin and partakes of a glass of grog . He then tells the thankful crowd how he was made a Mason in dear old String Beans Lodge , and his obligation still holds him . He then bursts into torrents of tears , blows his nose on a red bandana , shakes hands with all hands and the cook , and sighs a fond adieu as he passes over the side . ' Hail , Masonry divine , ' sing the saved ones . "

" Lately we noticed in a Masonic exchange how a captain of a British ship which had run out of water on the bleak coast of Africa , hoisted a Masonic flag at the fore peak . It was not long before a canoe load of the natives came off , and the chief went through the signs to the full satisfaction of the waterless captain . The chief then came on board , and hot and perspiring as he was , passed the word on the fourteen points of heel and

toe . The captain then passed the word for a jug of rum , which he and the chief ' raised' hy the strong grip and the dry lip . The chief then passed the word to his dusky subordinates to go ashore and bring a running spring on board the ship , which was quickly done , and the spring was planted in the hold and made to run in the ship ' s run . So much for Masonry in a dry and barren land . "

Buncombe In Masonry.

" Or the story takes another turn round the windlass , and we have the persecuted orphan , whose father forty years ago died a Mason ; The Lodge takes her under its protection , and finally the enthusiastic young Worshipful Master marries the friendless maiden because her father was a Mason . O rodents I Or is it the aged widow with the mortgage on her wash tub about

to he foreclosed , and she shows the cruel , heartless ' money leader the certificate of her husband ' s Masonry . He starts baok , turns pale , smites his brow and relents . Never , no never—well , hardly ever— will he disturb the widow of a Brother ; and pressing a roll of bills into the astonished' woman ' s hands , he tears the mortgage to pieces and departs , submerged in tears , and Masonry saves the washtub . "

Many other as ridiculous stories find their way into print , and with each repetition they are more highly coloured , until they become transparent nonsense . Such is buncombe in Masonry . The teachings of the Fraternity are foreign to any such parade . We are taught that " Truth is a divine attribute , " but the telling of such tales of miraculous escape from instant

death do not savor of the " divine attribute . " We think there is entirely too much of the " buncombe " talk about the greatness of Masonry , and the power of its obligations . As we said before , the truth is sufficient , without the hideous paintings of " road agents , " " pirates , " and " swarthy savages . " An institution worthy of the consideration of thinking men does hot need

any such false representations of its strength . And the more such stories are told the less good people will think of the Fraternity . Tell the truth about Masonry , it needs nothing more . Its grand doctrines are elevating and worthy of consideration , but the " buncombe " stories have no place in it . — " Sunday Dispatch . "

Bulls.

BULLS .

n . THE Irish bull is not peculiar and patent to the corduroys . A writer in the Dublin University Magazine , speaking of the poor of Ireland , said : — " Many thousands of them were often destitute of the only food they possessed . "

A Panegyric—The best bulls have been perpetrated when the author has been most in earnest . " Anglo-Hibernian , " in concluding a perfervid panegyric on the late Baron Dowse , writes in the " Times " of 15 th March 1890 : — "A great Irishman has passed away . God grant that many as great , and who as wisely shall love their country , may follow himl "

Bull by the "Times . "—The great English "Thunderer" perpetrated the following bull . In a review of Tennyson ' s " Enoch Arden , " this remarkable sentence occurs relative to the self-denial of Enoch , who keeps his existence a secret from his wife , whom he finds married again , and happy : — " He died , but not until he died did he mention to those around him who he was . "

Irish Reporting . —As if in imitation of its monstre contemporary , an Irish newspaper once announced the death of a poor deaf man called Gaff . He had been run over by a locomotive , and , added the paper , " he received a similar injury this time last year . "

A Newspaper Report . —The following is from an old Kilkenny newspaper , and is redolent of the soil . " Yesterday morning a farmer near this place got up out of his bed and , going through the window , accidentally fell down with his head upon'the stones fast asleep , by which his heck was broken , and he died before he awoke . "

The Principal Republics . —A Cork almanac-maker once informed the public that the principal republics in Europe were , Venice , Holland , and America . Bull on Robespierre . — -An Irish newspaper once said of Robespierre that " he left no children behind him , except a Brother , who was killed at the same time . "

Long Hours . —In a paragraph which gave an account of a ball held in connection with the County Limerick Club , it was stated that " dancing commenced at eleven o ' clock , and continued until one o ' clock , when the company retired for supper , after which it was resumed and kept lip till ah early hour next morning . "

Tempus Fugit . —Southey , when in Dublin , exported a famous bull . " Rickman ( said the poet , in a letter to a friend ) was in company , when a gentleman looked at his watch and cried , ' It is to-morrow morning 1 I must bid you good night . ' " A Bull from " The Rivals . "—In that delightful comedy " The Rivals , " a charming bull occurs . " I will make her Lady O'Trigger , and a good husband into the bargain , " says Sir Lucius O'Trigger of his mistress .

Walpoliana . —Horace Walpole records m his " Walpoliana , " an Irish bull , which he pronounces to be the best he ever met with : — " I hate that woman , " said a gentleman , looking at a person who had been his nurse . " I hate her , for when I was a child , she changed me at nurse . " This was indeed a perplexing assertion , but we have a similar instance recorded in the autobiography of an Irishman , who gravely informs us that he " ran away from home early in life , upon discovering the fact that his father was only his uncle . "

Badly Used . —A poor Irish lad , complaining of the harsh behaviour of his father , declared as follows : — " He just treats me as if I was his son by another father and mother . " Arranging an Elopement . — " Will you run away with me to-morrow night , Kate , dear ? " said Phil to his charming rustic belle , who had just

arrived at the years of in-discretion . "Ah , no , my dear Phil , " replied the young lady , with great sense of prudence and decorum ; " I will do no such an action as that , but I'll tell you what I'll do—I'll run away without you , and you . can run after me , and so we will meet at my aunt ' s that same evening . "

A Postscript . —There is a delightful naivete in that young Irish lady who , like many others of the lovely maids of Erin , was more richly endowed with personal attractions than with personal property , and who , being compelled to write to her affianced for money to pay for part of her