Magic Symbols In Masonry.

principles which pervade creation . We cannot help suspecting that the Trinity of the heathen mystics consisted of these two principles , and of the Astral Lightthe magic triangle . Of early Christian writers . Treneus says that God is fire ;

Origen a sal lie fire , and the latter expressly states that the Holy Spirit is female . " The soul is maiden to her mistress , the Holy Ghost . " * The tetragrammaton is said to have been a pass-word to

the secret chambers of initiation in ancient Egypt . The modern Jews say that the four lettered name of it was engraved on the rod of Moses , empowering him to work his miracles , and they accuse our Saviour of having stolon it out of the Temple . f

The late Rev . George Oliver D . D ., recorded his conviction that Freemasonry is not a scion of the ancient mysteries , but the original institution from which all mysteries were derived ; that the mysteries of all nations were originally the same , and that onl y local and political variations occasioned their diversity .

Freemasonry bears . inherent evidence of its antiquity , it is a system of LIGHT , it contains a fragmentary system of astronomy , It incites to the exploration of hidden mysteries , and it teaches in unmistakable pantomime the resurrection from the dead . When to these points we add the

possession of certain significant traditions and complex symbols , we think it is evident to a Master Mason that very much of the old system has lapsed into abeyance , which would have linked its severed fragments , and given a connected explanation to the whole . We utterly reject

the accusation that it was invented in the beginning of the eighteenth century . No man of that time , whether lettered or not , would have explained the three Great Lights to mean the Sun , the Moon , and the Master of the Lodge , an

apparent solecism . It is lamentable that symbols of importance are even now in process of lapsing out of our knowledge , their representation falling into disuse ; for instance , the circled serpent , the rainbow , the beehive , the cross and tau .

The astronomical or astrological allegory which must in its perfection have underlain tho ceremonies of Freemasonry at some distant day , is perceptible under other symbols in all religions—our own included . The animals which we always see pictured by the side of the four Evangelists ( as

described in Revelations ) the lion , the ox , the eagle and the man , were symbols of the four cardinal points throughout the ancient world , and there is a strong presumption that the banners of the twelve tribes of Israel were no other than the twelve sip-ns of the zodiac . All ancient

religions had Cabala , or secret doctrines , which were not written but transmitted orally : time and political convulsions altered them . Some were revived under new systems , others died away . The temple of Solomon was a microcosm of the Universe in construction and wealth of

symbolism , of which the like has never been repeated . Parts of tho Jewish Scripture evince the profound wisdom of high Oriental philosophy , whilst other parts betray the crudest scientific doctrines , adapted probably to the limited comprehension of the vulgar . Modern criticism is

separating the dross from the gold , and showing how many writers must have intervened in the authorship of even one book , as it has come down to us . Of the Creation , Genesis contains two distinct accounts ; Deuteronomy records the promulgation of the law in a different manner from Exodus .

In this study , as in all else , we must use our divine gift—Reason . One proof of the comparatively late authorshi p of part of the book of Genesis , or of a later interpolation therein J ; is the list of the kings of Edom ( xxxvi . 9-43 ) wherein the succession is brought down to Hadad—a ruler

of the time of Solomon : an indication as significant as would appear a notice of Queen Victoria in a history of the reign of Hadrian . Learned ancient Fathers—Clemens of Alexandria and Origen—held the book of Genesis to be allegorical , which the learned Jews Philo and Josephus

neld also . The allegory , if there be one , is now inexplicable , except as regards the received doctrines of the Church , The motto of our Order is " Hear , See , Be Silent . " The motto of Magic was " Know , Dare , Will , Be Silent . " The

latter is defined as the traditional knowledge of Nature ' s secrets , transmitted to us from the Magi , i . e ., Hermes , Osiris , Orpheus , Apollonius of Thyana , Julian , Apuleius . Merliu , Cornelius Agrippa , & c . The world is a battle field

Magic Symbols In Masonry.

to the Magician , in which free will contends with inertia forsupremacy , by opposing to it " action " . "Physical laws , " says Eliphaz Levi , " are the mill-stones , of which thon will be grain , if thou art not able to be tho miller . Thou art called to be ruler over air , earth , water and fire , but to

govern these four symbolic beasts , they must be conquered and chained . The initiato must have a human head for speech , eagle ' s wings to soar , the bull's flanks for heavy marching , and the lion ' s claws to clear the space around . "

The foregoing definition would apply equally well , we conceive , to an explorer of any branch of knowledge : powers of rhetoric , ideality , laboriousness and incisiveness are useful in everything . ( To le continued . )

District Grand Lodge, Punjab.

DISTRICT GRAND LODGE , PUNJAB .

THE Quarterly Communication of this District Grand Lodge was held on Friday , the 14 th of January last , at Freemasons' Hall , Lahore . There were present R . W . B . Major M . Ramsay D . G . M ., W . Bros . Walter Adlard as

D . G . S . W ., Col . J . Campbell as D . G . J . W ., J . Brown Brunesson B . A . D . G . Chaplain , Major W . H . Mackesy D . G . Treasurer , Major Hadow D . G . Registrar , George Davies D . G . Secretary , Henry T . Tanner ' C . E . D . G . S . of W ., Bros . William Bull D . G . Pursuivant , and George Read Tyler , and representatives of the following Lodges ,

viz . -. —Charity 563 , Hope and Perseverance 782 , Ravee 1215 , Mayo 1413 , Light in the Himalayahs 1448 , St . John the Evangelist 1483 , and Industry 1485 . District Grand

Lodge having been opened at 7 p . m ., and the routine business concluded , the R . W . D . G . Master stated that the first business was the appointment of officers for 1876 , when the following were selected : —

Wor . Bro . Major W . H . Mackosy 782 as Depy . D . G . M . „ Captain John Chalmers 1394 as D . G . S . W . „ Colonel J . Campbell 1413 as D . G . J . W . | „ H . T . Tanner . C . K , 1418 as D . G . Reg .

„ George Davies 121 o as D . G . Sec . „ J . B . Brunesson 1483 as D . G . Chaplain . „ J . H . Hunt , M . D . 582 , ns D . G . S . D . „ Captain Bpetllo 988 as D . G . J . D . Colonel A . P . B . Dnnbar 1307 as D . G . D . C .

„ Thomas Cooko 3314 as D . G . Assist . Ditto . A . B . Phelan , C . E ., 782 D . G . S . of Wks . „ Colonel Robert Crutehly 1463 as D . G . Standard Bearer . Bro . W . J . Lemarchand 782 as Ore .

Wor . Bro . II . W . Warmington 1215 as Pnrsnivant . Bros . Sirdar Bikramah Singh 782 , H . L . Jones 782 , W . Rosamond 1483 , C . Carrol 1483 , W . Donaghoy 1215 , Hyat Khan , C . S . I ., 782 , Stewards .

In the above list 12 out of the 17 Lodges in the district are represented . The D . G . M . then referred to his visit to England , and stated that it would give him the greatest pleasure to appear among them on his return . During the absence of

the D . G . M . W . Bro . Mackesy will be invested with full powers ; and in announcing this the D . G . M . congratulated the brethren on having at hand one so able and willing . Referring to the visit of our M . W . G . M . H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , the D . G . M . said : —

"It had boon finally arranged that an address bo presented to H . R . H ., enclosed in a model of the left hand pillar of King Solomon ' s Temple , of koftgaroe work . This will bo a handsome as well as a Masonio Casket . As regards tho presentation , I deeply regret H . R . H . is unable to receive it except at the hands of a deputation , in like manner

as he received the addresses at Madras , Calcutta . On receipt of this news , I mado an attempt through Sir Henry Davies , to induce H . R . H . to reconsider his decision , and permit the whole body of Masons to be present ; but I am excessively sorry to say the attempt failed . The deputation will therefore consist of myself , the D . D . G . M . and the

two Wardens . I know this will be felt as a great and grievous disappointment by all the brethren who prize loyalty aa one of our watch , words , and who looked forward to being present at the presentation ;

md nobody can be more grieved than I am at their hopes being dashed to the ground . However , it is onr duty as good and trno Masons to bow to tho wishes of onr M . W . G . M ., and to be believe that he has good grounds for acting as he does . "

From the report of the Board of General Purposes , we find that the warrant of the Morning Star Lodge , which . vas returned from Dera Ghnzi Khan , in consequence of here not being sufficient brethren to work the Lodge , has

been transferred to Dharmsalla . The accounts of the (•' und of Benevolence where then submitted , after which lie D . G . M . expressed his thanks to those officers who had worked under him while in charge of the District ( over 3