Rosicrucian Society.

hidden mysteries of nature awl science . It mot bnt seldom . It was said to liavo drawn its members from every quart **!* of tho globo-, and its ostensible objects were tho amelioration of the condition of mankind and tbe judicious communication of knowledge . Thus ifc lias

como to pass that wo are met hero as one amotion of the Ro-ucrucuui Society of England , for the pnrpose of the intercommunication of knowledge , the sharing of any information wo may possess , the pro . pounding of any Masonio , archaeological , or scientific problems , and mutual assistance in tho solution of the numerous " crnces " that

beset the Masonic investigator on every hand . I should , perhaps , be almost justified in the assertion that we resemble tho ancient Roai . crucians in another special and peculiar point . We know that in the later days , at any rate , of that renowned Society its members became tbe subject of mncli derision , in consennenco of the common

statement that they wero in search of the Philosopher's Stone—a material wbich when found wonld , it was believed , prove the source of enormous wealth and power . Now , wo are in search of our Philosopher ' s Stone ; but we do not expect if we discover it to be rewarded by either the mines of Golconda or tho power of a Xerxes . Tlie grand

secret of which we aro in search is the true origin and history ot Freemasonry , a mystery that has so far rebuked tho wisdom of some of * the most learned and talented men of tho past centnry , and which is even now apparently a very long distance from disclosure . Masonic libraries teem with histories of Freemasonry . Nearly two centuries

ago brethren began to publish so-called histories , and for a * , cs before that period thero existed MS . accounts of the descent of the ancient Craft from the earliest periods of antiquity , even from the father ol the human race himself . Theso writings , known as tbe "Old Charges aud Constitutions , " are most curious and interesting , and may be

read by anybody , thanks to the published collection of them , edited by our learned Bro . Hughan , himself a member of our Eosicrucian Order . Before the formation of the Grand Lodge in London in 1717 nothing more seems to havo existed in tho way of written acknowledgruent than theso ancient parchment rolls , which themselves bear

abundant internal evidence of having been copied by more or les ? learned scribes from still more ancient documents . After the organisation in London at this date numerous printed works began to make their appearance , some issued by authority , and others purporting to be betrayals and exposures of the mysteries of tbe Order , and so ,

right through the years until this present year of grace 1886 , we have a series of histories of Freemasonry , most of them closely resembling one another , until we arrive at the climax of Masonic literary activity , aud have before ns the noble work of Bro . R . F . Gonld , the fifth volume of whose magnificent history is in the hands of most of tis .

Bro . Gould ' s history is , as far as actual information is concerned absolutely exhaustive . It is in itself an entire Masonic library , and is by far the most able work on the Craft that has yet made its ap . pcarance . But Bro . Gould has dealt with his whole subject , I think , somewhat too much from his own professional standpoint . It is the

business of the legal mind to reduce to its lowest ebb of j credibility every statement that is arrayed before it , and to reject as unworthy of credence everything that cannot bo absolutely or irrefragably proved by facts or figures . Now , although this is a very proper frame of mind in which to approach a more question of right and

wrong , or to regard the positive details of contemporary occurrences , aud circumstances , yot I scarcely think it is tho best spirit in which fco attack the problem of the early aud unwritten history of Freemasonry . Somo sceptics would reply to this suggestion that Freemasonry has no history , that , it was manufactured in London in tho

second decade of tho eighteenth centnry , aud that there was nothing of tho kind before that date . This assertion is frequently made ; but it will not hold good , for many reasons . In the first placo , thero is the diary of Ashmole taking us nearly a century further back , wheu the Warrington Lodge of Speculative Masons was in working

existence . I hen wo have tho minute books of tbe early Scotch Lodges , whose story has been so well told by Bro . Lyon , the Grand Secretary of Scotland ; and , lastly , we have the early minntes of the Lodge at York , where it is plain that our brethren wero at work before the year 1700 . The suggestion that the year 1717 saw the first

establishment of Freemasonry is clearly wrong , and yot before that time wo bave little to show in this country but the most scattered and fragmentary evidence . To my mind this is in itself ample proof that it is not to written testimony that we must look for traces of our early history . Whore , then , ifc will be asked , are we to seek ? I

know of nowhere more likely than in the monuments of antiquity , and the symbolic forms of them that are found in great abundance over the world ' s surface . Bat before wo look to these wo must divest ourselves of any notion that we shall find many of the symbols that are now so commonly used by ns , and aro so well known to

creiy well-instructed member of our Craft . lam satisfied that Freemasonry as it now exists resembles in only a very small degree , and in a few leading principles , tho Freemasonry of bye-gone ages . I am quite prepared to grant that the Revival of 1717 saw a complete remodelling of tho Order . I believe , with Bro . Carson , of Ohio , that

up to that period Freemasonry had been essentially Christian iu its teachings , and that what was known of it iu England had been received from the Guilds of continental builders , which bad previously died out through a process of natural decay an 1 lack of useful objects for existence . It was , I suspect , these Guilds who learned a

certain portion of tbe ancient Christian mysteries from their employers of tho Benedictine Older , and adapted them to their own purposes , lb was they who added to those mysteiies tho Hiramio Legend and the symbolism of fche Solomonic Temple , and converted into a stone-worker ' s allegory what had previously been an exposition

of tho story of tho fall of mankind , the sacrificial redemption of the human race , aud fche doctrine of the Resurrection . The true mysteries had been handed down to the Benedictines , and preserved by them , from tho early Christians , and before that date had been

kept secret and inviolate from tho foundation of the world by suecessivo patriarchs and prophets , -whose " schools . " as they aro termed in the old Testament writings , were merely what wo should term in our owu phraseology Lodges or Colleges , for tlie imtruction of chosen

Rosicrucian Society.

- initiate- * , it I am asked how all this is to bo proved , I frankly admit thafc it cannot be demonstrated by any possible means ; but , iu default of any bi * tter or tune prob dilo thesis , I offer ifc for your consideration , feeling myself that , tho theory contains all oho gecttn of possibility , aud even probability . As [ havo sail , in these days

people wish to see everything reduced to an equation , and unless a statement will stand tho test of an algebraical demonstration , it is rejected as unworthy of examination . This is all very well where actual facts and records are available ; but iu onr case we stand on different ground . We look back , straining our eyes into tho dim

mists of antiquity , ami we seo nothing but faint shadows looming and flitting indistinctly in the twilight of the past . Oat of this material wo must form our theories at present . We have yefc the existing monuments of the past to refer to ; but I shall nofc venture ou that ground to-day , but reserve some remarks on their symbolism

for a future occasion . In tho meantime I should like yon to think over what I have said . In the space of the few remarks I have made it has been impossible to do more than put the theory to you iu the barest outline ; bufc you will see that the gist of the idea is that " Free and Accepted Masonry" is nothing more nor less than

an adaptation , to meet modern cosmopolitan ideas , of tbe ancient Christian mysteries , and that these in their turn were a continuation of the first revealed religion of mankind . Many of yon will probably not agree with me , will seo impossibilities and

insurmonntablo objections to such a theory ; bufc , at all events , you will all give me credit for an honest nnd earnest desire to arouse a genuine inxioty to probe every imaginable crevice whence we may extract some ray of light to illumine the present clouded condition of the sources of our ancient history .

Notices Of Meetings.

NOTICES OF MEETINGS .

— : o : — NEPTUNE LODGE , No . 22 .

npiIE first meeting of this old and popular Lodge , since tho " - installation of Bro . J . Oorbett as Worshipful Master , was held at tho Guildhall Tavern , Gresham-street , on Thursday evening , 25 th ultimo , when there was a largo attendance of brethren and visitors . The W . M . was supported by Bros . W . D . Cook I . P . M . L . V . Walker S . W ., E . Y . Jolliffe J . W ., E . F . Storr P . M . Treasnrer ,

1 \ P . Codings P . M . Secretary , VV . R . Brookes S . D ., H . Savidga J . D ., W . J . Charles I . G ., H . H . Knill Org ., II . Povey P . M . D . C , J . B . Taylor and IT . B : u'Iey Stewards , J . Parkinson Tyler , andofchers . The Lodgo having been opened in form , und the business on tbe agenda paper having been transacted , a handsome Pasfc Master '*) jewel was

presented to tho Immediate Past Master , as a mark of esteem and iu recognition of the valuable services rendered to the Lodgo during his year of office . The gift was suitably acknowledged , and some routine business having beon disposed of , tho brethren adjourned to banquet , where the customary Loyal and Masonic toasts wex * e duly honoured .

In proposing the Queen aud the Craft the W . M . observed that in the course of a few mouths hor Majesty wonld attain the jubilee of her reign . Sho was one of the most constitutional Sovereigns who had overruled over tho destinies of this great empire , and she had never deviated from her prerogative . Whether iu the capacity of a

daughter , wife , or mother , sho had set an example that reflected the utmost credit on herself , and which he was pleased to see copied by many of her subjects , throughout the length and breadth of the land . He then gave the toasts of tho Most Woi * shipftil Grand Master His Royal Highnesi the Princo of Wales , fche Most Worshipful

Pro Grand Master , the Deputy Graud Master , and the rest of the Grand Officers Present and Pasfc , which were cordially received . The I . P . M . then assumed the gavel , aud said he had a very pleasing dny to perform , namely , to propose the health of their excellent Worshipful Master . He had known many Masters of Lodges in his time .

and men of various degrees of excellence , but Bro . Corbett quite equalled , even if he did not surpass , any who had gone before hiin . His working in the Lodge waa nofc only excellent , but tho mauner in

which he presided at the banquet table was especially gratifying . The Worshipful Master , in responding , said there was always a certain amount of gratification in endeavouring to do one ' s duty , and it had been his maxim ever since be had been connected with

Masonry to do his beat to promote its interest in whatever capacity he had been called upon to fill . It might be that he had nofc always snecceded , bufc ho trusted tbey would take tho will for the deed . To him it was a source of sincere pleasure to bo associated with friends who strove to do their duty . Although

he did not lay claim to the abilities displayed by many of tho Past Masters , or to the qualifications whicb Bro . Cook had attributed to him , yet ho assured them he would do all he possibly could to promote the happiness and enjoyment of tho brethren , and fco sustain the prestige wbich hacl been held by the good old Neptune Lodgo

for many years . In giving fcho Past Masters ^ he said ib was always gratifying to the comparatively young members of tho Lodgo to be honoured with the presence of the Pasfc Masters , fco whom they wero vastly indebted for their conusel and assistance . Thoy hod borno the heat and burden of the day , and were looked upon as the sages

of tho Lodgo . The younger members were , perhaps , sometimes impulsivo and rash , so to speak ; and it was therefore a groat source of satisfaction to see the veterans of the Lodge present to check whatever they might see partaking of that tendency , and to keep them in tho right path . After a c . ipital violin solo by Bro . Savidgo

S . D ., Bro . Cook replied , and iu the course of bis observations said the Fast Masters wero ever ready to do all they could for tho benefit of the Lodge . Thoy were ail auimiu . ed by that spirit , and be thanked them for the cordial manner iu wiii ' v-h foe toast had been proposed , ancl received by the brctlneu picseut . The W . M . than proposed