The "New Atlantis."

At the end a hymn is sung , generally in praise of Adam , Noah , and Abraham , and a thanksgiving for the nativity of our Saviour offered . The tirsan having previousl y given the cluster of grapes to that one of his sons he has chosen to live in his house with him , and who is hence known

as "the son of the vine , " and having banqnetted , retires for the purpose of private prayer , and on re-entering blesses each one of his descendants both male and female , saying , " Son of Bensalem , or daughter of Bensalem , thy father saith it , the man by whom thou hast breath and life

speaketh the word ; the blessing of the everlasting Father , the Prince of Peace , and the Holy Dove be upon thee and make the days of thy pilgrimage good and many . " Then , if there be any—not above two—sons of eminent merit and virtue , the tirsan presents each of them with " ajewel

made in the figure of an ear of wheat , " and , laying his arm over their shoulders says , " Sons , it is well you are born , g ive God the praise , and persevere to the end . " Next the spokesman of the company makes the acquaintance of one Joabin , a Jew , " for they have some few stirps

of Jews yet remaining among them , whom they leave to their own religion . " This Jew is a wise and learned man , and after discoursing on the laws and customs as to marriage among the people of Bensalem , he remarks , " and they ( the people of Bensalem ) say that reverence of

a man ' s self is , next religion , the chiefest bridle of all vices . " But Joabin is suddenly called away in order to prepare to entertain one of the fathers of Solomon ' s House , whose coming is announced , though the cause thereof is kept secret . But he promises to give them a good place

to witness the formal entrance into the city of this important personage , of whom the inhabitants had seen none for a dozen years . A description of the visitor , and the procession that attends him , is given , but , more fortunate still for the strangers , the company are informed , a few clays later that the father is anxious to see them and that ho will

hold private conference with one of them , meaning also to give them his blessing . Accordingly , on the appointed day the father imparts to one of them " a relation of tho true state of Solomon ' s House , " setting forth firstly the end of its foundation—which is tho knowledge of causes and

secret motions of things , aud the enlarging of the bounds of human empire , to the effecting of all things possible ; " secondly , " the preparations and instruments , " the brethren have for their works ; thirdly , " the several employments and functions whereto the follows are assigned ; "

and , fourthly , " the ordinances aud rites' which they observe . For the preparations and instruments we must refer our readers to the work itself , as the description would occupy too much space . The employments and

functions include , first of all , twelve that sail into foreign countries under the names of other nations ( concealing their own ) , in order to bring back books , abstracts , patterns . These are called " merchants of Litrht . " There are

three who collect the experiments in all books—these are " depredators ; " three "that collect the experiments of all mechanical arts , and also of liberal sciences , and also of practices which are not brought into acts . " These are the " mystery men . " Then there

are three " pioneers" or " miners , " who try new experiments ; three " compilers , " who "draw the experiments of the former four into titles and tables , to o-ive the better li ^ ht for the drawing of observations and axioms out of them ; " three " dowery men or "

benefactors , " who look into the experiments of their fellows with the view to extracting from them " things of use and practice for men ' s life and knowledge , as well for works as for plain demonstration of causes , means of natural divinations , and the easy and clear discovery of the virtues

and parts of bodies ; " three " lamps " who take care out of the former labours and collections " to direct new experiments of a higher light , more penetrating into nature than the former ; " three " inoculators " who execute and report the experiments so directed ; " three interpreters of nature

who raise the formerchscov cries by experiments into greater observations , axioms , and aphorisms , " and lastly , "novices and apprentices , that the succession of the former employed men do not fail , " besides attendants and servants , male and female . " And this , " adds the father , " we do also ; Ave

ha \ e consultations which of the inventions and experiences Avhich Ave have discovered shall bo published , and which not ; and take all an oath of sccresy for the concealing of

those which Ave think meet to keep secret , though some of those Ave do reveal sometimes to the State , and some not . " They have galleries for their ordinances and

The "New Atlantis."

rites , and " certain hymns and services , which we say daily , of laud and thanks to God for his marvellous Avorks ; and forms of prayers imploring his aid and blessing for the illumination of our labours , and the turning them into good and holy uses . " The father , then invoking a blessing

on the one to Avhom he had imparted this relation of the state of Soloman ' s House , and giving him permission to publish it to other nations , departs , leaving , however , a bounty of two thousand ducats for the company of the vessel which had found so grand a haven of refuge in the time of their distress .

With this interview the fable of the New Atlantis ends . Whether Lord Bacon may or may not have had Freemasonry in his mind Avhen he wrote this work , of which tlie foregoing is a summary , is a question Ave leave to

other and more inquiring minds to solve . But it cannot be doubted that between the system above propounded and the system of Masonry are many strong points of agreement .

Royal Masonic Institution For Boys,

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR BOYS ,

rTIHE second Meeting of the Board of Stewards for the Seventy-- * - seventh Anniversary Festival was held on Wednesday , 12 th May 1875 , at Freemasons' Hall , at 5 o ' clock . Tho chair was taken by Bro . Backer P . G . S ., and the business consisted of receiving a

report from tho sub-Committee appointed to inquire into tho facilities for holding the Festival at the Alexandra Palace ; to consider the arrangements for the Festival ; to appoint Ladies' Stewards ; and cenoral bnsinoss .

At tho former meeting , held on Tuesday , 27 th April , tho following brethren Avere unanimously elected officers of the Board of Stewards : President , Eight Hon . Lord Balfour , of Burleigh , P . G . S . W . ; Acting . President , W . Bro . J . A . Backer P . G . S . D . ; Acting Vice-President , W . Bro . J . M . P . Montagu D . P . G . M . Dorset : "Vice-Presidents , the

Vice-Patrons and Vice-Presidents of tho Institution ; Present and Past Grand Officers ; Present and Past Grand Stewards ; Present and Past Provincial Grand officers ; Hon . Treasurer , W . Bro . B . B . Webster , No . 1320 and P . M . 1-10 ; Hon . Secretary , W . Bro . Frederick Binckes P . G . Steward , Secretary to tho Institution , who read tho

mmntes . It was resolved that tho sum to bo deposited by each Steward to the fand for defraying the expenses of the Festival bo £ 2 2 s ; this to include dinner ticket for Steward ; and 15 s for each lady ' s ticket . That tho musical arrangements of the Festival bo referred to a

subcommittee , consisting of the President , Acting-President and Vice-President , Treasurer , Secretary , Bros . Dubosc , Levy and Bosenthal ; and that they report their proceedings to tho next meeting . That it bo left to the Hon . Sec . to provide badges and wands for tho Stewards , and tho other usual requisites for the Festival . All these

propositions were carried . It was resolved that in the opinion of this meeting , it is desirable that tho ensuing Anniversary Festival bo held at tho Alexandra Palace . That tho following brethren be a committee to enquire as to the facilities and arrangements for giving effect to this resolution ,

and to report to tho next meeting of the Board : —Bros . I . Abrahams , J . Bingemami , H . Dnbosc sen ., AV . R . Marsh , C . J . Morgan , S . Bosenthal , T . J . Sabine , John Sccx , W . Stevens , II . Stewart , G . W . Verry , J . Wordsworth . These brethren having visited the Palace , announced that tho arrangements for the holding of the Festival were satisfactory .

It was then proposed that tho brethren and the ladies should dine together , the dinner to consist of hot fish , soup , and vegetables , supplemented by a cold collation . H . R . H . the M . W . G . M . had expressed himself satisfied with these arrangements , provided the brethren assembled should not , beyond the precincts of tho rooms , shew any display of

Masonic clothing . 13 ro . F . Binckes , Hon . Sec . then announced that it was intended the Festival should take place on tho 30 th of June , but he had been informed by Bros . Bertram and Roberts that the Licensed Victuallers' Dinner had been previously arranged for that day , consequently it was proposed that the Festival shonld take place on the

7 th July , subject to the approval of the M . W . the Pro G . M . the Earl of Carnarvon . It was also moved and carried that the brethren wear Masonic clothing , and also appear in morning dress , and the ladies in bonnets . The foregoing resolutions having been regularly proposed aud agreed to , Bro . II . M . Levy proposed , and Bro . Wilkins seconded

that a vote of thanks bo accorded to Bro . J . R . RuckerP . G . S ., acting President , for the able manner he had filled the chair , not only on this occasion , but at all times . The next meeting is announced for the 2 nd of June . The following brethren wero present , viz .: —R . B . Webster 140 , II . Hasker P . G . J . D . Hants , J . A . Rucker P . G . D ., J .

Bingemann 55 , J . Clever 12 and 171 , J . Compton 55 , J . Waterworth 60 , C . W . Gray 22 , J . H . Harmsworth 1178 , J . J . H . Wilkins 73 , S . Rosen , thai , W . Lane 28 , It . R . Davis 25 G , Win . Stephens 136 ' 5 , Fred . Acl ! ard 7 ,

J . Winkfield P . G . J . W . Berks , F . R . Vine 173 , J . H . Leggett 145 , Henry Venn , C . Barker 831 , W . H . Farnfield U 07 , H . Bramn 706 , C . J . Morgan 8 , W . C . Parsons 180 , E . F . Foord 404 , Watson Surr 91 , andII . M . Levy P . M . 188 .