Cagliostro.

as . Send us deputies clothed with sufficient powers , and we shall hasten to fulfil the wishes of our Master , in giving them the instruction you need , supported by such real and obvious proofs as he deigns to offer . May we soon see you in our fraternal arms , which

are open to embrace yon ! We shall feel a livelier enjoyment of our happiness if it is permitted as to share it with you . Such are the feelings and wishes , very dear Brethren , of your affectionate Brothers . ( Signed ) St . Costart , Venerable ; Magneval , subtitut du Venerable ; Bessiere , Grand-Inspecteur , & c , & o .

LETTER ADDRESSED BY CAGLIOSTRO AND THE MEMBERS or HIS COUNCIL TO THE CONVENTION , 13 TH APRIL 1785 . In the name and to the glory of tho Eternal . We have offered you the trnth , and you have scorned it . We have offered it of our pure love for it , and you have rejected it from a love for forms . But of

what avail are forms which have no basis to rest upon ? Can you raise yourselves to God and a knowledge of yourselves by the means of a Secretary and a Convention ? Is a Secretary neglectful of his duty—do days and days elqpse , when the heart is filled with a pure and earnest longing after truth ? Justify not yourselves , for we

are not offended . If , for the purpose of raising you up , we have sent you back in the presence of our subjects , then bethink you how—if you will not raise yourselves—will you come to us . We give , and yon would prescribe to us how and to whom we must give . You would guide us in the path in which you have not yet made the first

step . See , too , how your proceedings are embarrassed . You take six weeks to reply to our plain and simple proposals , while we need a single day only to reply to the labour of six weeks . We withdraw , then , our offers , and thus perish all those scruples and doubts which your forms inspire in you . Think of tho slight glimmering of light

which you have seen , and may the Great God , in whose name we work , set straight your labours , and preside over your counsels Given at the Orient of Paris , this 13 th day of the 2 nd month of the

year 5555 . Signed with the hieroglyph of Cagliostro ; Montmorency , Prince de Luxembourg , Grand-Maitre Protecteurj Lalorde , Grand-Inspecteur ; Sainte-James , Grand-Cbancelier ; De Vismes , Grand-Secretaire .

LETTER or CAGLIOSTRO TO THE CONVENTION or PARIS , 28 TH APRIL , 1785 . Why yield to your interpretation of unchangeable words ? We have been willing to give , and in giving we have prescribed conditions . Think you these conditions are mere whims of the moment ?

Have we not made subordinate to their literal execution tho hopes you have latterly received from our lips . Those conditions are the utter destrnction of a vast accumulation of archives . If you have none , then it is not to you wo would exhibit proofs . Know that we labour not for one man , but for all mankind ; that we would root out

error , not from one only , but from all ; and that this alliance is formed , not against one isolated deceit only , but against the whole arsenal of lies . It is a whole body of men which has asked for light . This body has certain archives , which it has made the subject of debate between it and those who have accepted its project . It is

these lying archives we have set a price upon . It is throughout the who \ e of this body that we have excited a desire for truth ; but such has been the fato of the fraternal letter from our children of L yons , accompanied by the expression of our behests , that this packet , addressed in accordance with the directions of tho Philaletheans , in

a doubtful style , has found many to receive it , but no one to reply to it . And that because a subtle difference of opinion exists among you as to the preservation of the archives , so that those who have them in their keeping hesitate over our offers , and those who appear before us hesitate as to the archives . What then ? Those who have collected

around this monument of folly canuot re-unite themselves about the pillar of wisdom . Well ! If there is not among you a bod y which unites the wish to avail itself of our proposals to the power to fulfil the conditions we impose , settle your own differences . We are not come to reconcile yon , and look upon you as Amis-Reunis , of I know

not what class , and as part of I know not what convocation ; and if you separate yourselves , you delegates of a portion of such assembl y , bear in mind that the hopes we have held out to you , aud which wo hold out to all reputable persons , is to be admitted after apprenticeship , according to our ritual and the delays prescribed by it , into the

Mother Lodge , founded by us , aud not a promise to make known without apprenticeship , those proofs we have offered to , and marked out for , the representatives of a body , whose duty it is to offer up , as a sacrifice to truth and humanity , its worthless accumulation of archives . If we are not understood in tho simplicity of onr

conditions , how shall we be understood in the fulfilment of our pledges ? We abandon , then , a work clear to our heart ; and if tbe Great God deigns to pardon a society of men which refuses His light , may He blot out from your memory the recollection of our offers , aud its own folly !

LETTER TROM THE LODGE OF TRIUMPHANT WISDOM TO THE CONVENTION or PARIS , 29 TH APRIL 1785 . To the Glory of God , £ o . —Very dear brethren , what , ia the eyes oi

Cagliostro.

wisdom are tho vain formalities of custom ? The Convention hath issued circulars of invitation . The Council of Philaletheans have convoked you . The Philaletheans looked for the aid of divine Providence which is more powerful than the preparations of human power . That confidence did them honour and Providence has crowned their

expectations , for the voice of truth is come among them . Bnt in falling on their ears it hath re-echoed to yours , for they had associated yon with themselves in this happiness . But you have not listened to that voice , and because the truth has not descended into your midst , you have refused to make one single step in order to ascend to

it . You ask us to communicate our light , as if we had not offered to do so . You will have it communicated in your own fashion , as if the true doctrine excluded regulations , good faith , and prudence . Yon ask us preliminary questions , while we have been willing to prove to you by the irrefragable evidence of the senses that we are thoroughly

imbued with knowledge . You call ns back into the porch of the temple , while we have spoken to you of the inmost centre of the sanctuary . Thus , then , youprefer words to deeds , the uncertainty of disputations to the certainty of facts . Unhappy state of human nature ! Our very knowledge misleads us . This Council of the

Philaletheans is only willing to be indebted to its labours for what it could obtain from the first advances of the Philaletheans . Sad and painful feelings will henceforth take the place of those delightful sentiments to which our hearts had already delivered themselves . We shall never pour into tho bosom of our brothers those consoling

rays of light which are the charm and happines of our days . Truth in giving to us the power of enlightening from his torch him who seeks and values it , does not allow us to flash it in the eyes of him who neglects or rejects it . We remain , very dear brethren , your

very affectionate brothers , & o . Orient of Lyons the 29 th day of the second month of the year 5555 . Your letter only reached us on the 24 th .

LETTER FROM CAGLIOSTRO TO THE CONVENTION OF PARIS , THE 30 TH APRIL 1785 . To the glory of the great God . —Why is the lie always on the lips of your deputies , whilst doubt is constantly in your hearts . Excuse not yourselves . I have already written to yon , you have given me no

offence . God alone cau decide between you and me . You say you are in search of truth . I offered it to you , and you have rejected it with scorn . Since you prefer a mass of books and silly manuscripts to the happiness I destined for you , and which it is your duty to share

with the elect ; since you are without faith in the promises of God or his ministers on earth , I abandon yon to yourselves , and I tell you in simple truth it is no longer my mission to instruct you . Miserable Philaletheans , you sow in vain , for you will only reap tares !

Our correspondent adds : — I do not feel myself competent to offer any opinion as to the authenticity of the correspondence of which these letters form part . In the edition I have of Acta Tjatomorum of the year 1815 , it is described as

Une Correspondence inedite de Cagliostro . Some of your readers , perhaps , may have something to say on this question . But undoubtedly they are interesting and , if authentic , contain evidence that Cagliostro was one of the greatest impostors that , to use your own words , " ever left a mark upon the world ' s chronicles . "

Song.

SONG .

ON THE INSTALLATION OF H . R . H . THE PRINCE OF WALES AS M . W . GRAND MASTER OF ENGLAND . BY BRO . DR . J . E . CARPENTER , P . M . 284 AND 1196 .

Yo Brethren of the mystic rite , To greet your Royal Prince prepare , The word is passed , the sign is right , Behold ! he fills the ancient Chair !

The Chair the wisest King of old-Great Solomon—once deigned to fill , Onr grand construction to unfold , Called by the universal will .

u . Again , as in the days of yore , The Widow ' s Son our work designs ; His skill the Temple raised before ,

We follow , working on his lines . True to our old Masonic fame , Long may our lofty columns stand , Graced by onr Albert Edward's name , Made firmer by his ruling baud J