Very Great Luminaries.

VERY GREAT LUMINARIES .

MASONRY'S ORIGIN , PRINCIPLES , EMBLEMS AND DESIGN . A Saint John the Evangelist ' s Day Oration , by Bro . James G . Ilaswell .

( Continued from page 107 . ) fllHE peculiar tenets , forms and ceremonies of our Institu-JL tion have never been committed to writing , but have been handed down from generation to generation , and henoe it has been said tbat our origin is derived from all those sects to which we bear any resemblance . Some of

these are the Eleusinian Mysteries , Essenes , and Druids , together with the different sects which have existed under the direction of the philosophers of ancient times . We are willing to admit that some of these sects bad so striking resemblance to the Fraternity in many of its parts as to

convince us that Masonry had its origin in high antiquity . The Eleusynian Mysteries were introduced at Athens , by Enmolpus , three hundred and fifty-two years before the dedication of Solomon ' s Temple . This festival was the most celebrated of all the religious ceremonies of Greece ,

. and was held sacred to Ceres and Proserpine . These mysteries , or this sect , together with the Essenes , a society which existed amongst the Jews and Druids of ancient Gaul and Britain , are aaid , by some writers , to bear a resemblance to the Fraternity .

Masonry , in the varying shapes in which it has appeared in the world , has suffered , like the doctrines taught by Moses and the Prophets , by an intermixture with the refined speculations of later times , and this haa only been removed by the enlightening influences and general

reception of a further revelation . For , however pure Masonry may have been in every age and nation , and however firm the establishment of its principles , yet , like other human institutions , it has been subject to numerous variations in

its forms and ceremonies . The different aspects under which it has appeared , and the principles by which it has been regulated , depended in somo degree on the progress of civilisation and the nature of the government by which it was protected .

In examining the history of the past , we find that the philosophers of ancient times " were ever ready to sieze upon every nation which could aid them in their speculations . They borrowed from the prophets , but were unwilling to acknowledge tho obligation ; adopting that which was the

most conducive to tbe aplendonr of their systems and the interest of their sect . " And that which they learned from the prophets , and from the society of Freemasons , in their journeyings to the east , was converted by them into a kind of speculative theory , the knowledge of which was confined

to a few , " and by them carefully concealed from vulgar curiosity , under the veil of mystery , into which none were initiated until they had tried their intellectual capacity and the firmness of their characters . " And the very foundation of all that was pure and correct in their syitems

emanated from the Masouic repository , from whence , no doubt , they received their knowledge of the primitive tradition . We shall have no controversy with religious

people when we assert that Solomon was well acquainted with the true fountain from whence proceeded all correct tradition , by reading the books of the law . And he must have understood the nature of Jewish traditions as

they existed in their purity during the prophetic ages , " which consisted in a simple explanation of those divine truths which the prophets delivered , or their law exhibited , under the veil of emblems , " and which existed in their purity before foreign tenets wore borrowed

from the Egyptians aud Greeks aud blended with the oriental philosophy . And if it be the fact , as is supposed by some , " that thc speculative ot religious principle of Freemasonry was unknown previous to the building of the Temple , and was then infused into the fraternity of

Operative Masons by Solomon , we would ask them to examine tbe Bible account of the building of that edifice , and there thoy will find a great probability that the builders witnessed its awful dedication to tbe Most High !"

and that the workmen at the Temple from other countries must have been benefited by correct religious views . " Tyre must have derived an accession of religions information from its intercourse with the Israelites in the time of Solomon , for we find Hiram the King blessing the Lord God of Israel , as the maker of heaven and earth , "

In addition to the few scattered ideas which havo been advanced , wo would beg leave to add that a writer of considerable research , in " A History of Freemasonry , " compiled for the Amaranth and Masonio Garland , " traces the Order from the earliest ages of antiquity , through the

Eleusynian and Dionysian mysteries , to the building of the Temple , and from thence through the Essenes and Kadeans to the fraternity of builders during the middle ages , aud until the establishmunt of the Grand Lodge of York in England . The reasoning of this writer is good ,

aud will no doubt throw great light upon the oingin aud growth of the Institution . All Masons , however , are certain that Masonry is not of modern origin , though from it ' s character of secrecy , and being confined to a favoured few , it is difficult to trace its history . And to trace

it through all its varying shapes would require a long and laboured investigation , far exceeding ray ability or the limits of this address . With this consideration , we shall leave this part of the snbject to the investigation of the antiquarian , and conclude by saying , that to

revelation we are indebted for all the purity and correctness of principle which belongs to oar institution . Aud although the writings of Moses and the prophets may have been

obscured in their mixture with th-s fables of later times , yefc before the reception of a further revelation , they taught to men all of correct and pure morals , enabling tho

Craft" To view that hieroglyphic bright , Whioh none bnt Craftsmen evor saw I " Also enabling us to look through the long dark vista of three thousand years and behold the faint glimmerings of a light which has now burst upon the world , shining as

the splendour of the meridian sun . This light is tho Christian Religion , enabling us to see in all its brilliancy the bright Star of Masonry , which like the glorious

sunlight brilliancy that emanated from Moses and the prophets , was somewhat obscured for ages , only to break forth with that transcendent effulgence which has enlightened the world and made mankind happy ?

We come next to our principles , and ask if they are not correct ? We have had lisrht from revelation and the book

of nature , in the first building up of our institution ; and the light of science , with tho more sure and safe guide of Christianity , to guide us in modern times—strengthening our ties and securing our perpetuity . As an Order wo have outlived the stormt and tempests of ages , the

fluctuations and changes of governments ; we have lived to see the triumph of Christianity over paganism and false philosophy , and now behold its banners of white displayed o ' er all the civilized world—evidencing the truth of the promises of God , firm as His throne , and lasting as the joy

they unfold , and showing to the world the safety and permanency of institutions which had for their object the bettering of the condition of fallen man , and for their principle tbe golden rule of doing to other " as we would they should do to us . " In accordance with this principle ,

all nations , kindreds , tongues and people , can worship under the same broad canopy which overspreads the Masonic Temple , and in the words of our great Grand Master Solomon we cau say , " The rich and poor meet together ; the Lord is the maker of them all . " Acting up

to and carrying out this principle , Freemasonry receives men of all religious creeds into her Temple , if they bring with them the true principles of virtue and honesty , having proved themselves by tbe doing of virtuous deeds . She asks not the applicant for h « r mysteries the amount of his

wealth , the extent of his influence , nor whether he has descended from a long line of illustrious ancestry . But she asks , Is he in possession of moral worth ? Is he likely to learn and retain the principles of the Order ? Will he promote brotherly love aud charity , aud be altogether a

worthy member of the institution ? But it is said that many of our members do not sustain such characters grant it , do all the members of every religious denomination sustain the character of true Christians ? We answer no ,

and let it be recollected that the mere act of joining the church never made men Christians , neither does the joining of the Fraternity make men good Masons ; tbey can only be snch by living in strict accordance with the principles of the Order . And let those who denounce us recollect

that the conduct of a part of the members of a society cannot be a sure test of the principles of a whole community . The principles of the Order forbid a system of persecution or proscription . And for proof that good principles are inculcated in onr Lodges , let me ask those