On The Custom Of Shaking Hands.

ON THE CUSTOM OF SHAKING HANDS .

WE observe , from a recent issuo of a French journal , that another revolution is about to be inaugurated in that land of change and surprises . The democratic custom of " shaking hands , " or , as the reformers prefer to style it , of " shaking the body by the arm , " is forthwith to be abolished . The Abbe Defourny , of Beaumont , the

ostensible leader in this movement , calls for the reprobation , by ecclesiastical authority , of " a most disrespectful usage , " which , he declares , originated with the Freemasons , and which "consists in shaking by the poignee de main a VAnglaise the body of the person whom it is intended to

salute . " The reverend Abbe suggests , as an improvement upon this mode of salutation , an inclination of the body , coupled with the greeting , " Let Jesus Christ be praised , " Laudetur Jesus Ghristus . In certain cases , as in the salutation of parents and superiors , this may also be accompanied

by the kissing of hands . The Holy Father at Rome , to whom an application on the subject has been addressed , has given a somewhat hesitating approval of the proposed

innovation . The case is now , therefore , fairly before the world , and we may expect to hear of some warm discussions between the advocates respectively of the old system and the new .

We have described the custom of shaking hands as the old mode of salutation , but probably the learned Abbe would join issue with us on this point . It would seem , from his remarks , that he regards this habit as of comparatively modern origin , instituted , in fact , by that wicked sect ,

the Freemasons , to displace the system formerly obtaining in Monarchical France . If the reverend gentleman , however , were not above consulting his Greek history , we think he would discover that the custom of joining right hands , at all events , is as old as the time of Pythagoras

else would not that philosopher have given the advice " me ¦ panti emballein ten dexian , " that the right hand should not be given to all men , meaning , as we would interpret the expression , that one ought not to make friends with everybody . Homer , Aristophanes , and other Greek writers make use of similar expressions .

Whether the Egyptians and other nations of antiquity acknowledged the same custom may well be doubted , although Josephus describes "the giving of the right hand" as an unquestionable pledge of fidelity amongst the Persians . Even from the remarks of this writer , however , it is evident

that the " giving of the right hand " was not their usual mode of greeting . From Herodotus we learn that the form of ordinary salutation amongst them depended upon the respective rank of the individuals . If they were of equal position , they kissed each other on the mouth . If there was a

slight disparity of rank , they only kissed the cheek . But if one was greatly inferior to the other , he prostrated himself on the ground . The modern mode of salutation in the East is somewhat different . The greeting of a Mussulman consists in an inclination of the head , great or little in

accordance with the rank of the person addressed , accompanied by the raising of the tips of the fingers to the forehead . The custom of " shaking the body by the arm" seems never to have commended itself to the grave Orientals . Even the Hebrews , though regarding the right hand as the symbol

of truth and fidelity , do not appear to have , even in their own country , considered the joining of hands as a pledge of faith . St . Paul is the first of the sacred writers to speak of giving " the right hand of fellowship " to his coworkers ; and he , in all probability , derived the expression

On The Custom Of Shaking Hands.

from the Greeks . Amongst the Romans the joining of right hands was unquestionably a very common mode of evincing mutual regard , and of exchanging pledges of good faith . Hence the expression "jungere dextras , " to join

right hands—came to signify to enter into an agreement , to give a mutual pledge . The Roman goddess , Fides , the patroness of fidelity and honesty , was accordingly characterised by two hands clasped together .

various have been the customs of salutation amongst barbarians , prostration on the ground being perhaps the most usual , the rubbing of one another ' s noses the most curious . But we have adduced sufficient evidence to show

that the custom of grasping hands is of greater antiquity than the Abbe Defourney appears to think . If the custom really takes its rise from the " Masonic Grip , " we have here

an additional proof of the ancient origin of Freemasonry . But for our own part , we are inclined to think that , old as Freemasonry undoubtedly is , the pernicious usage complained of is more ancient still .

We believe that Polish peasants have a form of salutation very similar to that which the Abbe proposes to introduce in Western Europe . When one of them meets another he says , "the name of the Lord Jesus be praised , " the other replies , " for ever and ever . " Amongst the earlier

Christians , too , and amongst the Jews in the time of their persecution , some such mode of greeting appears to have prevailed , but notwithstanding these and such like precedents , we cannot hold out much hope of success to the apostles of the new crusade . We think the time is yet far

distant when an Englishman , or even a Frenchman , will be content to greet his fellow with a cold " laudetur Jesus Christus , " or to reply with the still more chilling formula "in seeula seculorum . " The custom of shakinghands once grafted upon the character of a nation is likel y

to be as stable and permanent as the national character itself . When Dutchmen can be converted by a sermon into Frenchmen , and Chinamen in like manner can be changed into Scotchmen , then in all probability the Abbe ' s project may arrive at a successful issue . Until then wo think his prospects are more than doubtful .

How Masonry Saved My Life.

HOW MASONRY SAVED MY LIFE .

I BECAME a Mason before I obtained my majority in the — regiment of foot . I joined a celebrated Lodge in the Metropolis , and although at first I took but a languid interest in the business , I soon became interested , and endeavoured to make myself familiar with the teachino-a

of the Order . My regiment was at this time stationed at Chatham , but I always contrived to run up to town to attend Lodge , and I usually found the Masonic banquets

much more enjoyable than the mess dinners . I had taken two or three degrees in the Order , and was looking forward in due time , to fill some honourable office in the Lodge , when war broke out between Ene-land and Russia . We had

been expecting hostilities , and immediately upon the publication of the Queen ' s proclamation my regiment received orders to hold itself in readiness for active service . I had at once to give up all my dreams of Masonic advancement ,

and prepare myself for the stern duties of the field . My readers will doubtless remember the stirring incidents of the period of which I am writing , and I need not dwell upon

the details connected with our departure for the Crimea . We were among the first troops to embark , and , with our luggage , we were crowded into one of those uncomfortablo