Precept And Practice.

usages , of society . To bd always snapping and snarling at people who differ with us is not the likeliest way to secure their respect , or , if thoy be nan-Masons , io impress ( hem very favourably with the creed and articles of Masonry . Still worse is it to do nil or any of these tilings , and at the

same timo to protest they are done in a purely Masonic spirit . If thero is ono vice a brofher should hold in the greatest abhorrence it is the vice of Humbug . This has no place in our profession of faith , and should have none iu the practice of that profession , if by anv chance wo think

it undesirable to adopt a particular line of policy , if we are inclined to believe that other men than those occupying them may he found to hold certain offices ; if we imagine a new idea is well-timed , and calculated to make the good we are doing moro complete ; if , or , rather whether we

hold these views or the opposite , let us at least show proper respect for our principles , and agree to differ amicably . If it is impossible for the world to go on without squabbling , let us at all events strive to keep as much as we can of the squabbling outside tho pale of Freemasonry .

The Antiquity Of Laying Corner Stones With Religious And Mystical Ceremonies.

THE ANTIQUITY OF LAYING CORNER STONES WITH RELIGIOUS AND MYSTICAL CEREMONIES .

By E . W . CHARLES LEVI WOODBURY . REPRINTED FROM THE LIBERAL FREEMASON . ( Continued from page 387 ) . - Assuu . —It appears from many of the inscriptions that both at Nine , veh ancl at Babylon tho custom was to place under or at tho foui

cornei-s of pnblic buildings a bnrnt clay tablet or cylinder , with inscriptions . This was called a "Timin , " and it was regarded with peculiar reverence , as the Hebrews regarded tho corner stone . It was intended to remain for ever , and terrible imprecations were invoked on any succeeding King who , finding it by any casual tv , or exposing it , should

not restore it to its former place . Thus in Vol . I . of tho Records of tho Past , is translated an inscription of Sennacherib ( page 30 ) , in which ho states , " The Timin of old times had not been forgotten , owing to the veneration of tho people . " Again at p 21 ) , " The ancient Timin of its palace , those of old timo

had stamped its clay with sacred writing and repeated it in the companion tablets . " To these latter tablets I shall again recur . The inscription at Birs-Nimrod , iu tho timo of Nebuchadnezzar , who rebuilt tho Templo of the Sun , ruinous from ago , states : " Its site had not been disturbed , its Timin had not . been destroyed . " ( Seo

Vol . VII . p 77 . ) When an Assyrian king captured a town and destroyed it , he always seems to have taken special pains to destroy its Timin . Thus in an inscription of Sargon ( about 720 is . c ) , at Khorsabad , is found , "I reduced Dnr IaVm , the town of his power , to ashes , I undermined and destroyed its ancient forts , I dug up tho foundation stone , I made it like a thunder-stricken ruin . "

Tho valley of tho Euphrates was overflowed by freshets , and it was the custom of architects to erect a mound of considerable height and large surface , on which thoir imposing Temples and Palaces wero erected , and protected from the consequences of freshets . There are some reasons to think that a Timin may sometimes havo been placed in the protecting foot-walls of such mounds . Fortunatel y ,

however , there is no doubt of its relation to the foundation and dedication of public buildings . Discovery Las been mado in tho rains of tho Temple of tho Sun at Mugheir ( the Ur of the Chaldees ) of four cylinders inscribed with the sacred writing , one at each corner of the Temple . Theso are translated , Vol . VIII . p 143 of the Records oftho Past .

They are oftho time of Nabonidns , king of Babylon . Ho states that ho rebuilt this Temple on its old Timin . The king makes this invocation , also : " Liko heaven , may its foundation stand fast . " Tho " companion tablets " heretofore referred to wero built into the foundations , probably much as is now practised .

A regular foundation-stone h ; is been discovered at Khorsabad , in the very interior part of tho construction ; a large stone chest , which enclosed several inscribed plates , was Aug np by M . Place in 1853 . This is the only extant specimen of the Assyrian foundation-stone . It is described in the Records of the Past , Vol . XI . p 31 . In this chest were found one little golden tablet , ono of silver , ono

of lead , one of copper , one of tin ; the seventh was written on the chest itself , the sixth was of alabaster . The inscrip tions on four of the tablets are given . He describes himself as Sargon , tho mighty king , & c , " who reigned from tho two beginnings to the two ends of the four celestial points / ' In the course of the inscriptions ho mentions an eclipse , which fixes the dato as prior to 721 ti . c .

This is a later dato than the Egyptian inscriptions , and probably later than tho date of Job , or the Templo of Jerusalem . Tho similarity in tho usage cf the Architects , and iu the reverential feeling , suggests a common centre of origin in some earlier civilization whence this masonic Craft spread , carrying its traditions into tho nations , which grow wealthy and ambitions enough to welcome tho reverential and scientific art . There is a further resemblance , in the same Vol ., p 21 . It appears

The Antiquity Of Laying Corner Stones With Religious And Mystical Ceremonies.

Hint thero \\ n - a ceremony attending tho laving of tho corner-stone vl-icli hid a hi'rhlv religious : nt well as artistic character , in which i ho king hbnsdf li ye a part of Hie practical masonic labors of tho ¦ y ;> . fisunn . ' - ' argun , in nt'i inscription say .- ; , "In llu > month of Ab , Hi" month of the God who lavs tho foundation . st . mes : of towns anil

of houses' , all tne people it . . somblod , and performed tho ceremony of Sulal f < if tin handbells ] on gold , on silver , on copper , on metals , on stones , on tho trcx of A'nanus , and , according to tho rule , distributed the various employments , /" laid the foundations , aud placed the bricks . " & e .

Thoso are nil tho important Assyrian inscriptions on this subject which have como to my hand . I am bound to say , that I do not consider my researches are at all exhaustive investigations of what has been discovered and published . Thoy sufficiently establish tho fact , of the great antiquity and wide-spread Masonic nsagoof laying corner stones , as well as the mystic and reverential character of the

ceremonial with which it was performed . A thorough examination of all that has been brought to light within tho past half century , and the "Progress of discoveries still ardently pursued by eminent scholars of Europe , will doubtless add much to what ia here collated , that will illustrate tho habits of the Masonic craft in early times . Thero was a perfection in the practical skill of tho ancient craft which has not

been equalled since . The contributions of beauty , harmony and grace which the masters of Greek , Saracenic and Gothic art have mado to architecture , cannot be overlooked , bnt still , these old craftsmen , who preceded them thousands of years , and piously worshipped tho Holy Architect of the Universe , in many practical points remain nnap pronchablo by any of thoir successors .

ARCHITECTS . —Thero is something very striking to mo in tho social distinction in which tho Masonio craft was held in Egypt . Brngsch , in his history of tho Pharaohs , Vol . I . p 47 , says , that tho architects of the Pharoahs ( tho mur-ket ) wero often the king ' s sons and grandsons , and often tho kings gave them his daughters for wives .

In the following page ho gives a list of those of the first dynasty ; three appear to have married daughters or descendants of the blood royal . One is stated as a man of low extraction , but married to the lady Noferhotep , from the house of tlio king ; one was a king ' s son , and of three no details are given . Theso lived more than 4000

years a . c . Tho priestly caste was moro inclusive of learning and art in thoso days than in modern times . While the highest God-Patah ( the father of Heir other Gods ) was hailed by his title as Holy Architect of tbe Universe , ancl the high priest under the kings was called tho Poreman , it must be admitted that the art and architecture of tho atone masons was in the closest and most natural relation to tho

religion of the country . In tho fourth dynasty , a king , Semchis , is said to have invented notable improvements in constructing edifices of carved stone , and some also in painting tho hieroglyphic writings . It is not singular that wo find the names of the architects who were the masters oftho particular works inscribed thereon , and preserved , for these highly educated master masons held no grovelling position in

tho state . Thoy woro eligible to tho highest civil and priestly offices , and frequently one moro distinguished for practical abilities was entrusted with such . Nor is this a fanciful conception . Such persons holding double offices , have inscribed their pride in their practical skill nt tho handicraft they possessed . Mentu-hotep , the chief Architect of Usnrtasen I ., the inscription on his tombstone , now at Bologna , is thus described by Brngsch

I . p 140 . "Ho prides himself on having been ' a man learned in tho law , a legislator , ' ono who apportioned the duties , and ordered tho works in tho district , who kept order in the whole land , who carried out all the behests of tho king , who , as judge , decided and restored his property to the owner . " —Seo p 19 . " As chief architect of tho king , ho promoted the worship of the

Gods , and instructed the inhabitants of tho country according to the best' of his knowledge , as God orders to be done . He protected the poor , and freed him who was in want of freedom . Peace was in the words which came from his mouth , and the book of the wise That was on his tongue . Very skilled iu artistic work , vsith his own hand he carried out his designs as they ought to be carried out . Ho knew the

hidden thoughts of men , and he appreciated a man according to his value , " & e ., & c . He also was governor of the town of Aut , and the land of Tesher . His panegyric finished by some remarks about a Templo of Osiris : " I it was who arranged the work for the building of the Temple , and sunk the well according t : i the order of the holiness of the royal

lord . " Righteous and generous wero tho speculative duties of his office of Architect . Proud of his craft was this Grand Master ; and no other official rank of his was so high or so noble that in his mind it obscured the skill of his own hands , or the fertility and grace of his powers of artistic masonic design . The Craft , now fonr thousand years after yon have laid down the

chisel and the mallet , dropped the crayon and the line , and put off your regalia , O Mentn-hotep , will hail yon as a fellow , and not forget , you when they drink to the health of the living masons throughout the world , and the memory of the dead . Brngsch , I . p 180 , says , tho artist was the most honoured man in tho Empire , and stood close to Pharoah , who pourrd his favours in a

full stream on tho man " of enlightened spirit and skilful hand . " The old master Martisen , who lived forty-four centuries ago—calls himself " a master among those who understand art , and a plastic artist , " who " was a wise artist in his art . " He relates in succession his knowledge in tlie making of " statues , in every position , according to prescribed use and measure ; " also lie describes as his particular

invention an etching with colours that resist tiro aud water ; and states " no man has arisen who is ablo to do this except himself alone and tho oldest , son of his race , whom God ' s will has created . He has arisen able to do thifl , and the exercise of his hand has been admired in masterly works in all sorts of precious stones , from gold and silver to ivory and ebony . " His son was named Usurtasen . These two