An Ancient People—Past And Present.*

proved himself equal to the occasion , and who set the clock going again . He was kept at Court some time , teaching the subjects of the Emperor the art of repairing watches . He was the recipient of many favours , and on

his return to Surat was promoted to offices of trust and importance . A grandson of Sorabji , named Dhanjisha Beheremandkhan who , in gallantly assisting to put down a false Mahdi , lost his life . His services were recognised ,

and his widow was rewarded with a pension . In 1692 a plague broke out in Bombay , and taking advantage of what was considered an opportunity the Sidis of Janjira , a

powerful and independent people , organised a band of pirates along the Malabar coast . There were few English left to cope with the enemy , bnt Rastamji Dorabji came to the rescue . He formed a militia of the fishermen of the

coast , and succeeded in repelling the enemy . Kamaji Kuvarji was the pioneer of ship-building at Bombay , and the founder of the Kama family . His two sons Maucherji and Edalji opened up trade with China , which their

descendants continue to maintain to this day . The family honour is well upheld , and by no one better than by Bro . D . P . Cama , so long resident amongst us . We may here say that the Parsis in Bombay take kindly to Freemasonry .

Then there was Jamshedji Jijibhai , born of poor parents , who became wealthy , and never wearied in well-doing . He was knighted for his charitable acts in 1842 , he received the freedom of the City of London in 1855 ,

and just before his death , which took place in 1859 , he was made a baronet . He was open-handed , and gave without reference to " caste , colour , or creed . " We might go on multiplying instances of enterprise , loyalty , and

generosity , but we have said enough to show the character of the Parsi people in India . They were first in trade and commerce . Their ship-building achievements , both at Surat and at Bombay , were highly appreciated by the

Government . In the English rulers and people the Parsis found a race they could esteem and serve , and Her Majesty has no more loyal and devoted subjects in the whole of her dominions . Their charity is almost unbounded , and is not

confined to their own people . In this respect they show their confidence in the teaching of their prophet . " Good deeds" are the watchwords of the Parsi faith , and truly do the followers of Zoroaster honour them .

In one respect the Parsis seemed to fail . Up to within the last fifty years little attention was paid to the subject of education . Once alive , however , to the necessity , they set to work with si will , and now schools and colleges do

for the mind what their numerous charitable institutions do for the body . Female education has made great strides , and no one is accounted educated who does not possess a practical knowledge of English . Indeed , it may be said

that the Parsis are more English than the English themselves . They readily learn our language , and speak it with singular fluency . They follow us in our love for athletic

sports , and a Parsi Eleven in the cricket field cannot be despised with impunity . This remarkable people seem to have recovered much of their ancient character before it

became corrupted by the spoils of war and enervated b y luxurious indulgence . For centuries the Parsis in India were content to live a peaceful , semi-nomadic kind of life . It is true that every now and then they displayed courage

and resource in times of difficulty ; they even indicated their peculiar fitness for handicraft trades and for enter prising commerce . But whether the field of operations was too limited , or whether the Parsis were not inspired by

the people by whom they were surrounded , or whether they felt that in mind and body they were a superior race , but so vastly inferior in numbers as to be unable to cope with the other castes in India : whatever may have been

the governing cause , it is certain that the Parsis did not put forth their strength until the English established themselves in Bombay , and continued to make the progress that showed that they were the dominant race . Then the

Parsis seized their opportunity . They had confidence in the English , and they put out their strength . The result is seen in Parsi superiority over every other caste . They have been successful in every department of commerce ;

they have assisted in government , and enjoy the respect and esteem of the rulers of India because of their loyalty , their enterprise , and their benevolence . The contact between the English nnd the Parsis was like the appearance

of the sun after a dreary winter . Life and light stirred up the latent powers , and once more the Parsis , emerging from the rust of ages , displayed their native genius . What they have accomplished is written on every page of Indian

An Ancient People—Past And Present.*

history during the last two hundred years . When we consider their number the result is astounding . According to the census of 1881 the Parsis in India numbered about 100 , 000—43 , 598 males , and 41 , 799 females . There were

6 , 618 male and 2 , 966 female mendicants in Bombay , and out of that number five and one respectively were Parsis . We have already alluded to their ideas of sanitation and purity of the body , and it says much for their system that

they have the lowest death rate in the city where they most do congregate . But another fact is even of more importance , as illustrating their theory of morals . There is not a single Parsi woman living in shame in the whole of

the city of Bombay . This is a welcome truth , and once more illustrates the force of the moral teaching of the faith of Zoroaster . Perhaps the singular equality in number of the sexes may have something to do with the absence

of the social evil among the Parsis . It is not often that the males predominate in a community , but in this case they do so . The contrast is generally so great the other way that it is pointed at as an explanation of much of

the social corruption that prevails in nearly all civilised countries . Still , when every allowance is made , tho Parsi stands out with a bright record , and if his religion falls short of the genius of Christianity in its spiritual sense , it at least holds its own as it affects the conduct of life on

earth . We take leave of these volumes with regret . They are something more than a history . The writer is proud of his race , and while he rejoices in their material achievements , he is not unmindful of the moral claims the religion

of Zoroaster has upon his brethren . He has no word of disparagement for other castes , while he cheerfully recognises the good that his people havo derived from all . We should add that the volumes are handsomely printed and

illustrated , and form a fitting memento of a people who claim descent from kings who flourished thousands of years ago , and who are now living again the life of activity and progress that marked their ancestors in the golden days .

First Events In Masonry In America.

FIRST EVENTS IN MASONRY IN AMERICA .

THE first Charter , or Deputation , granted by the Grand Lodge of England for America ( duly and eotemporaneousl y registered in London ) was that of June 5 , 1730 , to Bro . Daniel Coxe , Provincial Grand Master of New York , New Jersey , Pennsylvania . The first Masonic Lodsre in America was St . John ' s

Lodge , Philadelphia , organized in 1730 , which met at " The Hoop Water street , first Monday . " This Lodge appeared on the printed register of 1735 , Dublin ( "Freemasons' Pocket Companion " ) as Lodge No . 116 ( or No . 79 , English Register ) .

The first W . M . of a Masonic Lodge in America was Bro . William Button , W . M . of St . John ' s , Philadelphia , from St . John ' s Day , December 27 , 1730 , to St . John ' s Day , June 24 , 1731 .

The first Provincial Grand Master of any single English province in America was Bro . William Allen ( afterwards Chief Justice ) , Provincial Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania in 1731 .

The oldest original Masonic record in America is the Secretary ' s Ledger ( Liber B ) of St . John ' s Lodge , Philadel p hia , containing the records of this Lodge from February 1731 to June 1738 , complete , giving the

Masonic records of fifty Freemasons of that era , members of St . John ' s Lodge , including Brothers William Allen , William Button , Benjamin Franklin , Henry Pratt , James Bingham , Thos . Hopkinson , Joseoh Shippen , Thomas

Bond , Philip Syng , Dr . Thos . Cadwallader , Henry Lewis , and other menbers of what were then , and are still , the " first families oi ; Philadelphia . " This earliest orig inal

Masonic record ( part of which is in the handwriting of Bro . Benjamin Franklin , Secretary in 1736-8 ) is now in the archives of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania , at Philadel phia .

The first reference to Freemasonry in any American newspaper , was that contained in Benjamin Franklin ' s Pennsylvania Gazette , of December 23 , 1730 , of which the

following is the opening paragraph : —As there are several Lodges of Freemasons erected in this province , and peop le have lately been much amused with conjectures concerning