Antiquity Of Masonry.

returned from thence , and was restored again to life ; and the rejoicings which ensued constituted the second part oi the mysteries . The analogy between this and the legend of Freemasonry must be at once apparent . Now , just such a legend , everywhere differing in particulars , but

everywhere coinciding in general character , is to be found in all the old reli g ions—in sun worship , in tree worship , in animal worship . Ifc was often perverted , it is true , from the original design . Sometimes it was applied to the death

of winter and the birth of spring , sometimes to the setting and the subsequent rising of the sun , but always indicating a loss and a recovery , as referred to by Bro . C . S . Mott , in his lecture before Delta Chapter , No . 628 .

Especially do we find this legend , and in a purer form , in the Ancient Mysteries . At Samothrace , at Eleusis , at Byblos—in all places where these ancient religions ancl mystical rites were celebrated—we find the same

teachings of eternal life inculcated by the representation of an imaginary death and apotheosis . And it is this legend , aud this legend alone , thafc connects Speculative Freemasonry with the Ancient Mysteries of Greece , of Syria , and of Egypt . Says Bro . Mackey :

The theory , then , that I advance on the subject of the antiquity of Freemasonry is this : I maintain that , in its present peculiar organisation , it is the successor , with certainty , of the Building Corporations of the Middle Ages , and through them , with less certainty , bnt wifch great probability , of the Roman Colleges of Artificers , [ i s

connection with the Temple of Solomon , as its birthplace , may have bean accidental—a mere arbitrary selection by its inventors—and bears , therefore , only an allegorical meaning ; or ifc may be historical , and to be explained by the frequent communications that at one time took place between the Jews and the Greeks and fche Romans .

This is a point still open for discussion . On it I express no fixed opinion . The historical materials npon which fco base an opinion are as yet too scanty . Bufc I am inclined , I confess , to view the Temple of Jerusalem and the Masonic traditions connected with ifc as a part of the great allegory of Masonry .

" Bufc in the other aspect in which Freemasonry presents itself to our view , and to which I have already adverted , the question of its antiquity is more easily settled . As a brotherhood , composed of symbolic Masters and Fellows and Apprentices , derived from au association of Operative Masters , Fellows and

Apprenticesthose bnilding spiritual temples as these built material ones—its age may not exceed five or six hundred years ; but as a secret association , containing within itself the symbolic expression of a reli gions idea , it connects itself with all the Ancient Mysteries , which , with similar secrecy , gave the same symbolic expression to the same

religious idea . These mysteries wero nofc the cradles of Freemasonry ; they were only its analogues . But I have no doubt that all the Mysteries had one common source—perhaps , as ifc has been suggested , some ancient body of priests ; and I have no doubt that Freemasonry has derived its legend , its symbolic mode of instruction , aud the

lesson for which thafc instruction was intended , either directly or indirectly , from fche same source . In this view the Mysteries become interesting to the Mason as a study , aud in this view only .

And so , when I speak of the antiquity of Masonry , I must say , If I would respect the axioms of historical science , that its body came out of the Middle Ages , bufc thafc its spirit is to be traced to a far remoter period . "

Thus we agree , and assert our former opinion thafc Masonry was at first a speculative , scientific , ancl quasi religious institution , having its origin in the mysteries . In courso of time it was made tbe nucleus or foundation of religious creeds among the churches and the operative

parfc assumed or adopted by the travelling architects , cathedral builders and guilds . But that a system of speculative Masonry has always existed , and the formation of the present system of Masom * y was merely the uniting of the old system with the operative or guild Masons , and

the evidence seems conclusive to us from the fact that the speculative branch was , to a certain extent , represented b y architectural implements , yet its officers and chief points were represented by astronomical ancl reli gious nomenclature . Thus , tbe Master , King Solomon—Wisdom :

Sen . Warden , Hiram of Tyre—Strength . ; Jun . Warden , Hiram Abif—Beauty ; the three Lig ht ; ' arc represented b y the Sun , Moon , and Master of the Lodge ; while the Holy Bible , square aud compasses represent the other three Li ghts ; Master in the East , Sun rising ; Junior Warden

m South , Sun at meridian ; Senior Warden in the West , Sun at close of day ; East , the place of li ght—journeying around the Lodgo Room with the course of the Sun . North , darkness , " where the sun ab noonday darted no ray of light ; " together with many other like astronomical

aud Biblical expressions well known to Masons . On the other hand , had there been but one branch of fche Order , and that Operative Masonry , tbe stations and allusions would have been to subjects more modern or more clearly architectural , ancl named after the many celebrated works of architecture , such as tho Tower of Babel , tho Pyramids

Antiquity Of Masonry.

of Egypt , tho Lean-ng Tower of Pisa , the Cathedral of Como , St .. Paul ' s of London , and many other names of which they were justly proud , and which would have been eminently more proper for a society emanating solely from

an operative association of Builders aud Architects , who were totally ignorant of the scientific teachings of Astronomy , Geometry , and kindred sciences of fche ancient languages , especially the secret mysteries of Greece , Syria ,

Lgypfc , & c , from which the nomenclature of speculative Masonry has been largely taken , and from which the secret Ritual of even the present day has been largely copied . — Masonio Review .

The Theatres, &C.

THE THEATRES , & c .

Haymarket . —" Jim the Penman , " a new four-aofc play , by Sir Charles Young , firsfc produced at a matinee about a fortnight since , has been put ; in the evening bill at this theatre . The play is a romance of modern society , and tells a story rich in dramatic interest , effective incidents , and powerful situations . James

Ralston , holding a high position in society as a financier , lives in luxuriant style in an elegant house in town . He has also a country residence . This James Ralston is no other than a notorious forger—Jim the Penman , who in years gone by has perpetrated several forgeries , whereby he has managed fco accumulate an immense

fortune . His wife , previous to her marriage , was engaged to an old friend of Rilston ' s , Louis Pereival , who , prior fco claiming his bride , went to seek his fortune in America . In Perci ^ al ' s absence , Ralston has managed to imitate tho lovers' handwriting , and haa sent each a letter , purporting fco come from the other , and thereby

breaks off the engagement . Ralston then persuades the woman he has wronged to become his wife . After the lapse of a year , Pereival , who has realised a fortune during his sojourn abroad , returns to England to prosecute the search for those who have robbed him of fcbis same fortune , and pays a visit to Ralsfcon ' s house

where he and his old love , now Mrs . Ralston , discover how fchey have been deceived , bufc withont suspecting who is the culprit ; . In fche course of the play , it is shown how the gang with which Ralston is associated manages to secure the diamonds of a certain Lord Drelincourfc . Ifc happens that on the night this fraud is

proposed to Ralston by his partner in crime , Baron Hartfeld , Lord Drelincourt offers his hand to Ralston ' s daughter , and is accepted by her . The next day , on repairing to his bankers for some diamonds which he proposes fco give to his intended wife , he finds that , by a forged order , tho diamonds have been given over . But , before the

thieves havo been ablo to get rid of tbe plunder , tbe robbery is thus discovered . How tho forgeries are brought home to Ralston by a detective who has bean a frequent ; visitor afc his house ; how his wife finds out the inj xry she has sustained , which she does by comparing the letter supposed to have been sent by her to Pereival with a

cheque she authorised her husband to write in her name , and how , when the denouncement is made , Ralston suddenly dies of heart disease—by which means his wife and children are spared the shame and publicity of hia conviefcion as a felon—are all shown in tho play . We can bufc give a mere outline of the story , space not permitting

our going into ifc moro fully . In describing the acting , we caa only say thafc the artistes engaged gavo as much satisfaction as the piny , and thafc is saying a groat deal . Mr . Arthur D-icre , as Jim the Penman , plays the parfc in a highly sensational fashion . He has grasped tho idea of the author , but his want of command

sometimes makes him ineffective wheu he should bo strong . Mr . Beerbohm-Treo gives a clever impersonation of the swindling Baron Hirtfolt , his bearing throughout being mosfc natural , and he never overacts fche parfc . Mr . Barrymoro was earnest as Louis Pereival , but this gentleman would be suited better wifch tho character of Ralston . The

Captain Redwood of Mr . Charles Brookfield was a capital study of character . Lady Monckton played wich power and discretion aj tha suffering wife . Iu the third act where she compares fcho cheque and the forged letter , before accusing her husband , few actresses could havo exhibited such variety of expression by dumb

show as did Lady Monckton . If she could rise to the situation in the last act her impersonation would be perfect . The other parts were well filled by Mr . Edmund Maurice ( Lord Drelincourt ) , Mr . Frank Rodney ( Gaorgo Ralston ) , Mr . Forbes Dawson ( Mr . Chvpstons , Q . C ) , Mr . Ulick Winter ( Mr . Netherby , AI . P . ) , Mr . P . Bun Greet ( Dr . Petty wise ) , Miss Helen Leyton ( Agnes

Ralston ) , Miss Henrietta Liudley ( Lady Dnnscombe ) , ancl Mrs . E . H . Brooke ( Mra . Chapsfcouo ) . Tbo play , which may lie said to rivet the attention of the audience from beginning to end , is a work thafc has long beeu wanted iu London , arid from tho hearty reception given to both author aud artistes , wo may predict for " Jim , tho Penman , " a most successful rim .

Novelty . —Mr . William Greet , the courteous manager of this theatre , announces his benefit for Thursday , the 15 fch inst ., whou ho will present an attractive programme .

Tho Revised Book of Constitutions ; Critically Considered and Compared with the Old Edition . London : Simpkin , Marshall & Co . 4 Stationers' Hall Court , B . C . Sent on receipt of stamps , One Shilliiig , by W W . Morgan , "Freemason ' s Chronicle Office , Belvidere Works , Heriuca Hill , Pentonville .