The Alleged Discovery Of Masonic Emblems.

THE ALLEGED DISCOVERY OF MASONIC EMBLEMS .

SINCE our last remarks on this subject , we have received copy of an American contemporary , in which are stated the opinions of two distinguished American Masons , one of whom is editor of a well-known Masonic periodical , while the second is none other than Bro . Kobert Morris , LL . D ., Past Grand Master of Kentucky , and a literary craftsman who is known almost as well in this as ho is in his own

country . It will be seen that on one point these learned Doctors of the Craft differ widely from each other . Bro . Thomas J . Melish , editor Masonic Review , very wisely refrains from expressing a decided opinion as to the value of these alleged discoveries , " until they have been

duly examined by critical and competent authority . " " If , " ssays he , " they are merely Masonic emblems , without any other descriptions , they may only have allusion to operative Masonry , and so would have no archaeological value . But if they be accompanied by any other mystic or cabalistic

characters , it would go to show that they have some connection with speculative Masonry , " of which he considers the meaning to be that " man is engaged in erecting a spiritual temple to tho glory of the Great Architect of heaven and earth . " He holds it very probable that the emblems in

question have some mystic or spiritual significance , and has no doubt that " the science of Freemasonry came originally from Egypt , tho cradle of ancient civilization . " He suggests that Craft Masonry has a resemblance to that " primitive religion which mankind possessed and practised

in tho age before the patriarchs . " This religion " was corrupted into heathen idolatries by some nations , " but "blossomed and flowered out into the Hebrew reli gion under the designation of Moses . " Bro . Melish thinks there are to be great discoveries in Egypt in a religions

and archjeological point of view . The investigation into the principles on which the Pyramids were constructed has already given us some wonderful revelations bearing alike upon science , religion , and Freemasonry , and probably Commander Gorringe ' s discoveries have " important

bearings" upon tho same subjects . So far Bro . Melish who , without committing himself , seems to regard these discoveries somewhat favourably , in the event , at least , of their being accompanied by " other mystic or cabalistic characters . "

Bro . Morris also avoids anything like a thoughtful discussion "until he can see the objects or accurate drawings of them . " Taking the emblems as they have been thus far described , he remarks that the square and trowel are among the necessary tools of architecture , and are " no more Freemasonic than the bread ate or the

wine drank during the erection of an edifice . " Such objects would be found in the crevices of a great platform as " a matter of course . " The idea of a pure white stone representing a Masonic apron , he dismisses as " absurd , " and thinks the emblem of a "pair of suspenders " would be as

suggestive . Nor does he think much of the altars , there being " no regular form of a Freemason ' s altar , " but perhaps for the word " altar " should be substituted " ashlar , " so at least it occurred to us when we first read the description of the emblems . Bro . Morris then goes on to express his

regret that the discoverers did not consult Bro . Oddi , Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of Egypt , who is " a most learned antiquary . " Bros . Dr . Fanlon and Commander Gorringe are , he says , described as learned Freemasons , but the Telegram " fairly reeks with nonsensical statements , "

such as that " tho Hiram version of Masonry is disproved by these revelations , " and that " the ancients were familiar with the' higher degrees of Masonry , " and so forth , our worthy "brother remarking that the hi gher degrees are certainly not more than a century and a half old , and that

the base of the obelisk is not older than the time of Julius Ca > sar , who lived a thousand years later than the illustrious Solomon . Bro . Morris then writes very sarcasticall y of so called Masonic discoveries . An Indian mound is opened , and in it is found a " stone which has a right angle or two

and behold ! all through the press the news circulates the mound-builders were Freemasons . " Or a traveller np Lake Superior " observes upon the Painted Rocks some drawings faintly resembling Masonic emblems , and the

builders of Solomon s Temple journeyed through America and here are the evidences . " As to Masonic symbols few of them are ancient , the " Pentagon used by King Solomon for his signet , the Hebrew letter suggesting tho early names

The Alleged Discovery Of Masonic Emblems.

of the Deity , the forms of the more familiar working-tools of the stonomason and carpenter , " well nigh exhausting the list . The great mistake mado by writers is , in tho opinion of our learned brother , that they imagine " that every ancient secret society was Freemasonic or allied to Freemasonry . "

As to the Egyptian forms of secretism they " were in theory exactly opposite to Freemasonry , and their emblems and ceremonies cannot bo used in any way to illustrate Freemasonry , " —in this respect differing apparently from Bro . Melish . The samo holds good of " tho Eleusinian and

other mysteries of the ancients , " tho only secret society of Avhich mention is mado in history , which is analogous to Freemasonry , being that of "the Essenes described by

Josephus . " The evidence , however , in favour of "the Solomonic theory of Freemasonry , " is to be found , according to Bro . Morris , in " tho traditions and ceromonies preserved amono * the Oriental descendants of Esau and Jacob , the

Bedouins and tho Jews . " Tho Arab races claim also to have preserved their " secretism communicated to them by theemissaries of King Solomon twenty-nine centuries since , " and as the result of his journey to tho East twelve years

ago , he was able to demonstrate tho existence among them of Freemasonry as " communicated by their fathers . " Bro . Morris closes his remarks by saying that while he should be glad to find something upon a " platform erected by order of Julius Caesar " to assist him in the work to which he has

devoted his life , he is yet of opinion that , as far as the statements respecting these emblems have reached him , he " cannot find in them a discovery of the least importance . " Truly may it be said , as in the mis-translated version of the proverb , "in the multitude of counsellors there is wisdom " enough to puzzle the philosopher into his grave .

Traces Of Craft Masonry In The Ancient Religion Of China.

TRACES OF CRAFT MASONRY IN THE ANCIENT RELIGION OF CHINA .

THANKS to the courtesy of R . W . Bro . C . Thome , District Grand Master of Northern China , we have received copy of tho minutes of the regular Communication of that District , held at the Masonic Hall , Shanghai , on the 7 th January last . The proceedings were such as

usually take place on these occasions . Minutes were read and confirmed , reports submitted and received , the District Grand Officers for the year were appointed . But when the regular business had been transacted , the District Grand Master mentioned that at an installation meeting

he had attended some time previously , he met for the first time a " brother Chinaman , " who , though he had received his degrees in America , took great interest in his work , and fully appreciated the benefits of Freemasonry . He did not know if any Chinaman had been initiated in

Shanghai , but ho had received two letters from Bro . Chaloner Alabaster , Her Majesty ' s Consul at Hankow , in which that brother pointed out clearly enough that something very like Craft Masonry must have existed in the Chinese Empire some three or four thousand years

before our present era . What makes these letters more valuable is , that Bro . Alabaster has devoted himself to Chinese literature , and has dived deeply into their ancient literature and manners and customs . And certainly what ho states affords ground for his belief as to the existence of a kind of Freemasonry in China in the earliest times .

In the first letter , dated " British Consulate , Hankow , 30 th November 1879 , " the writer speaks of the many coincidences he has discovered , in the course of his studies , in the ancient religion of China with Masonry . Among others , he mentions the fact that " the oldest , or one of

the oldest , words m the language for Right Conduct means literally The Square and Compasses , which we may assume , therefore , was then , as now , the symbol of the perfect man , and the reason for the adoption of the symbol is given by the explanation that these two symbols

hieroglyph ically express the sum of Chinese Philosophy . " Another is found in the fact that the "four-square altar" —tho ashlar of our Lodges—still exists "in the State Religion of tho country as tho symbol of nature . " Another is " the use of the Square in their religious

ceremonies , " a fourth " the use of aprons , with various badges thereon , to denote tho rank and offices of the various officers of religion ; " and , last , that " the Deity , in the sense of the end wo seek to reach , is spoken of as the S . W . Corner . " And , " not only , " adds the writer-