The Royal Masonic Institution For Girls.

above the average . A little extra enthusiasm on the part of the Craft would enable the Secretary to greet the Chairman with such pleasing news on the occasion of his visit to the Schools , and we trust it may yet be possible for him to do so .

We feel there is little to be added to what we have already said as to the way iu which the children are cared for and educated in the School . The result of the Cambridge Local Examination , in December last , is ample testimony as to the latter . Fourteen girls were entered

for examination , and all of them passed ; while the appearance of the girls themselves amply demonstrates the former . We hope the Craft will give the Institution as

much support as is possible , and that this year's Festival may be no exception to the many successes which have occurred in the past .

Freemasonry's Inception.

FREEMASONRY'S INCEPTION .

THE origin of Freemasonry is lost in the unexplored past . The principles , however , upon which it is founded have existed in active exercise ever since the creation of man , and so perfectly is it adapted to the

necessities—intellectual moral , and social—of his nature that it must have taken shape and body at an early period in the history of organised society . Of course it is not claimed that Masonry , exactly as we now see it , took its

origin in thafc early period and continued unchanged until the present time . But what is meant is this : Masonry , or something analogous to ifc , being a necessity of man ' s nature and of the circumstances of a primeval age , must

have originated in the earliest stages of social organisation . And as man's necessities demanded its creation , so it has been kept in existence by his wants , social , moral and

intellectual , until it has reached its present perfect and universal character ; and , doubtless , it will continue his companion , instructor and purifier as long as time shall last .

Whilst the institutions of antiquity and all history appear to confirm this view , yefc ifc must be acknowledged that even among well informed brethren there are wide differences of opinion as to the origin of our Institution .

Some , seeing only the fact , which all are bound to admit , that the rituals of Masonry , as they now exist , were systematised and crystallised into their present forms by the revival of 1717 , in London , will have it that then

and there Masonry had its origin , calling that movement not a revival of a living institution by an infusion into it of young blood , and life , and enthusiasm , but a renaissance—a resurrection of a defunct system of pagan

antiquity , by breathing into its nostrils the breath of genuine life—the knowledge of the true God and the practice of divine charity . Their position , however , and arguments are generally regarded as untenable , as

inconsistent with the well known facts of the 1717 movement , with its consequences , and with , indeed , many antecedent facts . Others attribute its introduction into western Europe to the returning Crusaders of the middle ages , supposing that

they became acquainted with it in Palestine . This theory , whilst many cling to it , adds nothing directly to the solution of the question of origin , but only postpones it and so tends to corroborate another view of the matter .

A third party to the discussion claims that Masonry was known in England as early as the time of Alfred the Great , and suppose it a Christian modification of Druidism or some other pagan initiation , but they do not attempt to locate its origin in time and place .

Others , with great probability , antedate the Christian era , and ascribe , not the origin proper of Masonry , but its purification and consecration , to Solomon , during the erection of the magnificent temple of the true God , in

Jerusalem . The drama , the traditions of the Institution , its systems of words , grips , signs , and much of its symbolism , point to this origin , and , what is remarkable , recent discoveries , on the site of the ancient temple go , they claim , to confirm our legends .

Some ascribe it to Noah , some to Enoch , and some to Adam , our great forefather himself , who , in order to perpetuate the knowledge of the true God , to teach good will to

men , and to inculcate a horror of all bloody violence , and especially of murder , based the first drama of the world upon its first tragedy and made it the vehicle of moral Detraction for all time .

Such are some of the conflicting views of even well informed brethren . As for myself , having reflected somewhat on this subject , and examined the evidence , both

external and internal , I have no hesitation in saying , that to my mind it is clear , either that Masonry antedates the Christian era , or tint it is , at least , not Christian in its inception . Were it of Christian origin , then its drama

would be based upon the passion of Christ , and the

doctrine of the resurrection , now faintly perceived by the general mind woiild be unequivocally enunciated , inculcated and insisted upon as a cardinal article of belief . The whole ritual of Masonry—Blue Masonry as we technically call it—in its system of words , grips and signs ,

as well as its traditions , points to a non-Christian origin ,

and most unequivocally is Judaistic in its conception . Its hieroglyphic and mnemonic records , its oral transmission , its impressive manner of imparting instruction and fixing

valuable lessons , and its thorough consecration to law and

order , all go to show that it is nofc modern in origin and conception . Indeed , it seems to be impossible that Masonry , as we now know it , could have been devised in

its general outlines since the era of printing , or in a Christian country , or among any other people than orientals , or in any other age than that of remote antiquity .

To suppose that this broad and comprehensive system , requiring knowledge of the most rare , abstruse ancl recondite character , could have been devised ancl put at once into successful operation by a few unknown and

illiterate men , in 1717 , either is absurd or calls for the direct agency of Deity . But whilst Masons believe that their Supreme Grand Master smiles upon their Institution

and blesses their work , and whilst they claim that , like everything else that is good , Freemasonry is au inspiration of the Divine goodness , or an emanation therefrom , they do not feel authorized to claim a miraculous origin .

To suppose , on the other hand , thafc the most learned men of any particular age or country could , in addition to their learning , have had the necessary practical and minute knowledge of the handicraft interested and of

human nature ; could , without the largest experience , have conceived the broad philanthropy upon which the Institution is founded ; could have imbibed the spirit of antiquity which it breathes ; could so have translated

themselves into the past as to originate and develop into instant maturitv this giant Institution , with all the odour ancl sanctity of hoary age , is no less impossible , or calls no less for the direct interposition of Deity .

I feel constrained , therefore , to give Masonry an origin in the unknown depths of the misty past , and to ascribe it as we now have it , not to any particular man or set of men , nor to any particular age or country , but to regard

it as the result of the combined wisdom and philanthropy of the race working harmoniously together through untold ages , now advancing , now retrograding , now innovating , now pruning . And . as it must have its vicissitudes , now

in prosperity , now in adversity , courted at one time and persecuted at another , zealously cultivated in one age and country , and neglected if not disavowed in another , we naturally expect to find in its ritual , its work , its traditions , evidence of these fluctuations .

Accordingly we do find upon examining this mysterious structure , proceeding very much as does the geologist whilst exploring the crust of the earth , that the upper story , its roof and battlements , its ornaments , and furniture

and general appointments , are largely modern ancl especially Anglo-Saxon in their character , showing that it is now the heritage of that great branch of the human family ;

going lower down , everything is of a medieval age ; pushing our way still farther toward the foundation , the misty , glimmering light enables us to discover relics of a

character undoubtedly Judaical , perhaps of the age of Solomon

groping our way still downward , as far as the fitful light will allow us to go , we come to unquestioned Egyptian remains . Beyond that all is impenetrable gloom , a

darkness which can be felt , and we are compelled to give up the farther search , but with a curiosity , a zeal , an interest , all the more whetted as it is impossible to gratify it .

I believe , then , in the antiquity of Masonry ; that it was once specially Egyptian in its character ; that subsequently it was purified , by Solomon , perhaps , and by him consecrated to the noblest purposes ; that becoming then the heritage of the Israelites it assumed its undoubted Hebraic character ; that it has been largely modified by