"A Sprig Of Acacia."

"A SPRIG OF ACACIA . "

THE Vienna Correspondent of the " Daily Chronicle ' telegraphs thafc Francis Pulszky , fche great Hungarian writer and patriot , died at Budapest on the 9 th inst ., aged eightythree . " Pulszky , who was Grand Master of the Hungarian Freemasons , was , next to Louis Kossuth , the most prominent leader in the political and literary life of Hungary for the last

sixty years . He acted in England as journalist during the long period of his exile after the Hungarian revolution . Later he was with Mazzini , Cavour , Garibaldi , preparing the Italian movement . He wrote mauy books on England . His profession was archaeology ; and when pardoned by fche Emperor he became

Chief Inspector of Hungarian Museums and Public Libraries . The following memoir is published by Eeuter ' s Agency : — M . Pulszky , who was well known as an author , was born in 1814 , at Eperies , in the Saros district ; , and studied both there and at Miskolez . After completing his education be travelled

abroad for some time . He was elected corresponding member of the Hungarian Academy , in recognition of a work which he published , entitled " Extracts from fche Diary of a Hungarian Traveller through Great Britain . " After representing his birthplace in the Diet for a period of five years , M . Pulszky

occupied several important positions in the Hungarian Civil Service , and accompanied Kossuth on his tour through America . His observations on this journey were embodied in a work written by himself and his wife , entitled " White , Bed , Black , " which was published in three volumes , both in London and

Germany . In 1852 he was condemned to death in contumaciam by court-martial at Pudapest , on account of his participation in the revolt of 1848 , and in 1860 joined Garibaldi's expedition , and suffered a month ' s imprisonment at Naples . Amnestied in 1866 , he was again elected to the Eeichsfcag , in which he continued to

sit for another period of nine years . In 1869 he was appointed Director of the Hungarian National Museum , and in 1872 General Director of the Public Museums and Libraries in Hungary , which office ' s he held at the time of his death . " In 1884 he again became a member of the Eeichstag . Among some of the deceased writer's works are an historical novel , " The

Jacobins in Hungary , " his own autobiography , entitled " My Life and Times , " and " The Copper Age in Hungary , " the last two works being published both in the Hungarian and German languages .

Masonry's Attractions.

MASONRY'S ATTRACTIONS .

IP traditions are part of history , as some authorities assert , then we have history on our side in fche claim—fche pretension , sometimes put forward—that our Fraternity had its origin at the time , and upon the occasion , of the construction of King Solomon ' s Temple . But I dare nofc venture the assertion thafc we have authentic records fco prove thafc Freemasonry , as ifc

exists in our day , had its origin at the time and upon the occasion which I have mentioned . If it , were true , ifc would be about the only human Institution in existence to-day which has been able to weather successfully the perils and vicissitudes of the centuries which have intervened between that epoch and the present time .

The traditions of the Craft in that respect have influenced us no further than to create a justifiable belief—based upon fair and reasonable presumption—that there must have been a complete and perfect organization of the different classes of workmen engaged in that vast undertaking ; that there must have been a system perfect in every detail ; that there must have

been an absolute authority to . exact and maintain a rigid discipline , and thafc such a discipline must have been exercised by the broad , intelligent and skilled men who originated the system by which a work of such magnitude , and of such a peculiar character , could be successfully carried forward , and by

whom it was successfully carried forward fco completion . We are told that there was no sound of axe , nor hammer , nor gavel , nor tool of iron heard in its construction , and the almost absolute silence of the operations musfc have been of the most solemn and impressive character .

In the history of the Jewish people , anterior to that date , or subsequent fco that date , there is nothing to assure us that wifch one mind , and with one purpose , they could without ; previous preparation and thorough organization , have prosecuted for so long a period of time , so considerable an undertaking with such signal success . It is difficult to believe that a people with such

a record for waywardness and wilfulness could have been , by a common impulse , moved to a submission of will which required the exercise of such long continued patience . It is an easy way to dispose of the possible difficulties to say that those workmen there engaged were acting under divine inspiration and guidance , bufc , on the other hand , one must have studied history superficially , sacred as well as secular history , not fco

Masonry's Attractions.

have observed that that ancient people were not conspicuously consistent in following Divine guidance , or over-submissive to that authority ; and one must be a poor observer indeed not fco have discovered that the Supreme Being largely leaves to man

the direction of affairs , even those more particularly intended for His glory , and for the up-building of His work on earth . The details of His work are left to be arranged and carried out by those into whose hearts He has put His desires , and to whom He has , in His own way , made known His mighty will .

In such an important undertaking as that of fche building of the first Temple the instinct of association , common to the human race—the uncivilized as well as tha

civilizedmusfc have led to the formation of different organizations among the workmen there employed , as well those organizations connected with particular lines of work , as of those more directly affecting their comfort or pleasure . It would be quite in the natural course of things that those workmen

should become bound together by no common tie ; should be led fco consider the advantages of union for social fellowship , or for mutual assistance in time of need ; and should , when they separated after the completion of their work upon the Temple , be unable to forget the lesson of their organization , and be unwilling to forego the advantages to be derived from its continuance .

From that time the work of constructing magnificent edifices has been steadily pursued through all ages . It is a fair presumption thab the organizations which , in some form or another , musfc have been made during the work of the Temple , were carried into all lands by those skilled workmen , when freed from labour on its completion ; were continued by them elsewhere in

some form , and were handed down fco their successors for all time to come . There is in man not only an instinct for association , but deny ifc as we will , a passion for mystery , and that instinct ; that passion , strong in the oriental mind , would quite naturally lead to combinations in which systems and mysteries would be strong , would be powerful factors . It is from the analogies thus drawn , as well as from our immemorial customs and Craffc

traditions , that the claim I have mentioned , as to fche origin of Freemasonry , has been urged with some show of reason . Bufc fche Craft has other and higher claims than traditions for fair consideration . For it is not alone its antiquity , nor the beauty of its ritual , that so favourably impresses and captivates its votaries in this busy , practical , work-a-day age of fche world in

which our several lots are cast . Masonry , as a development of the principle of association , seeks to raise its votaries beyond the narrow limits of the individual , beyond the narrow limits of particular institutions , whether civil or religious , and' to view in every son of Adam a frail brother of the dust . Powerful , as it is , in the vast number of its adheranfcs ; scattered ,

as it is , over a large portion of the globe ; large as are its resourses , if its objects were not humane , if its unity was not the result of individual satisfaction wifch those objects , it would not have existed for so long a period of time , nor retained so considerable a number of intelligent men in its ranks . It is in fche best sense a mystic brotherhood , having a social and religious aspect ,

bringing together the good and true men of the community on a broad basis of social equality , devoting its funds to relieve needy Brethren in fche manner peculiar to fche Institution , and inculcating tbe doctrine that individual fraternal sympathy and assistance is far more beneficial than a cut and dried , tabulated

assessment , which robs the dole of all claim fco the sacred name of charity . It is our pride and boast ; thafc Freemasonry is not an almsgiving organization—yet its wide ramifications over the surface of the earth enable it to accomplish great things in the way of fraternal assistance in the application of its principles to individual cases , under its time-honoured rules .

To the upright man , zealous in good works , responsive to the calls of fraternal charity and social fellowship , Masonry has many attractions ; and affords considerable scope for the display of intelligent activity . It is not alone in the world in its aims and aspirations , and ifc cordially welcomes all men of good will ,

moved with the same noble purpose and actuated with the same high motives . Above all , it recognizes at every step , and in every point and letter of its ineffable mysteries , the Great Architect of the Universe , as our Creator and Judge , and implores His blessing upon its work . —John P . Noyes , of Quebec , in " Voice of Masonry . "

Freemasonry, A Rock.

FREEMASONRY , A ROCK .

NO institution in existence to-day has been assailed by its enemies for so long a period of time as has fche institution of Freemasonry . There has never been a time when the power of the Catholic Church has not been directed against it . Calumnies have been heaped on it , fanatics have attacked its portals in a vain effort fco penetrate its mysteries ; it has been threatened with dissolution when unscrupulous politicians