Footsteps Of Freemasonry;

first codified the Roman laws ( an object not yet attained in England ) under the title of the "Edictum perpetuum , " ' and Schlegel adds that no longer bent upon conquest , the better

Romans solely and exclusively devoted themselves to the regeneration of public morals , according to those ideal conceptions formed of old Rome in her earlier and happier days .

" When none was for a party , but all were for the state , Then the great man helped the poor , and the

poor man loved the great Then lands were fairly portioned , then spoils were fairly sold . The Romans were like brothers in the brave

days of old . This same condition of things , as above defined , existed even up to the time of Constantine

the great , and the removal of the seat of empire to Constantinople in the fourth century of the Christian era , may be looked upon as a midpoint in history between ancient and modern

times . Our system bears the strongest evidence of the peculiar teachings of tin ' s period , and it may

confidently be said that at this same epoch Masonry proper plumed its wings for its flight through time .

Up to this period it is most certain that no trace of our traditional history was to be found , that no vestige of Hebraism could have mingled with the brotherhoods of those days . It is only

necessary to glance at the writers of those timesat Horace , with his cutting ribaldry on the " curtailed Jew , " or at Juvenal ' s smooth satires on their" sabbaths " and their " pigs , "—to show in

what mockery they were held . Further , and as if to prove that no Israelite of those days would have entered into any institution embracing gentiies , and that certainly no Jewish masonic

institutions existed , Tacitus expressly says , " they will neither eat with , associate with , nor assist and comfort any person whatever , save those of their own faith ; to all others they show hostility and

hate . Juvenal , in another place adds , "they will neither direct the lost and wandering wayfarer into the right road , ' nor the traveller , fainting with heat and thirst , to the fountain , unless of their own sect . "

We know very well that this feeling did not diminish , but rather increased , when Christian domination had produced Christian fanaticism ( for the old Romans were not intolerant ) , and I

believe , speaking critically , that the Jews never possessed even the mental power of forming any masonic institution whatever ; there is no trace of it among ilie ancient Jews , and it had been a

moral impossibility . Even if we consult their great writer of thuse days , Philo-fudeus , who , like St . Paul , his contemporary , was a Pharisee and a platcmist , he makes no sign .

"Sure naught masonic lodges in that breast And with no rapture moves the vocal air To testisfy its hidden residence . This also brings us to an important crisis in

the history of the world , a crisis big with the fate of masonry and of Rome , when Rome itself , the proud mistress of the world , gorged with lust

and crime , and blood , was to see her empire pass away , and give place to a hated rival . 1 refer to the removal of the Roman capital to Constantinople in the 4 th century , the very threshold ol

Footsteps Of Freemasonry;

modern times , and the era of the council of Nice , by which in relig ious matters we are all more or less still bound . It is not my object to describe the condition of

affairs at this time , the policy of the state , or its effect upon the world at large . It is sufficient for us to say that all Roman institutions , naturally , necessarily , and as history proves , were

carried there also . But history likewise bears witness that the philosophy and literature , although declined from its high state of Augustan perfection , spread abroad among the Roman

colonies , which under now Christianized Rome , assumed a degree of wealth and cultivation , which the remains of towns , temples , roads , bridges , and aqueducts , spread over half of

Europe , attest to this day . Rome ' s loss turned , therefore , to the advantage of other cities , and in the wake of commerce and cultivation flocked all the institutions which

distinguished Rome , as now , in our days , do British institutions . This is not a matier of inference , but capable of the clearest proof , and that the masonic

institutions of those days still flourished , even for ages , we may be certain from the fact wc have already noticed , viz ., that the sodality or brotherhood of the Lupercalii , was still nourishing in the 6 th

century , when it was actually strong enough to require for suppression an imperial edict of the Emperor Anastatius , it is presumed from savouring too strongly of heathen traditions , and for the

present we leave it . In stating this , I consider it ¦ full and efficient proof that those brotherhoods of which Cicero gives so beautiful a description existed also , and with the renewed love of the

better and wiser Romans , for all which being ancient was also good and virtuous , it cannot be doubted that their masonic philosophy was cultiwith that love which , rightly understood , it ought

ever to inspire . Masonry , in fact , is either a philosophy , or it is nothing , but as a philosophy , and as such alone ,

do I exhort my brethren to guard its secrets , bj practising them , and proclaim its mysteries b ) their lives , thus

provinglhat some there be that by due steps aspire To lay their right hands on that glorious key That ope ' s the portal . In our next we propose to continue the refer ence to the Hebraic tradition .

Consecration Of A Rose Croix Chapter At Southampton.

CONSECRATION OF A ROSE CROIX CHAPTER AT SOUTHAMPTON .

On the 29 th July , at the Masonic Hall in Southampton , the ceremony of constituting and consecrating the Canute Rose Croix Chapter took place . The following members of the Order were present : —III us . Bros . C . J . Vigne ,

33 ° , G . Com . ; Gen . H . Clerk , 33 ° , G . Chan . ; J . M . P . Montagu , 33 G . Sec ; Hyde Pullen , 0 . 3 ; Gen . Doherty , 31 ; C . A . Newnham , 31 .

Capt . Thayre , A' . A ' ., , 30 ° ; Rev . P . H . Newnham , . 30 ° ; Willet Adye , 30 ; W . Hickman , . 30 ° ; J . F . Starkey , 30 ; J . Read , 30 ; Montague Guest , M . P ., i 8 ° ; Rev . Basil Wilberforce , 18 ; J . R .

Stebbing , iS ' ; W . H . Ford , 18 ° , M . W . S . Royal Naval Chapter ; T . G . I . [ order , i 8 , M . W . S . Vigne Chapter ; J . K . Le [•' euvre , 18 ° ; J . N . Pocoek , 18 ° ; George Lungley , i 8 ° ; and other brethren .

Consecration Of A Rose Croix Chapter At Southampton.

A Rose Croix Chapter having been opened , the following candidates were introduced and regularly admitted into the Order , viz .: —Bros . Dr . Robert Welch , George T . Harper , Henry W .

Bull , and Robert Sharpe , and under dispensation Bro . J . Biggs was obligated as Equerry . The Supreme Council then retired , and shortly afterwards re-entered in procession , and were

received by the Brethren in the usual manner . The ceremony of Constitution and Consecration then took place , it being performed most solemnly by the Supreme Council , assisted by

Bro . Hyde Pullen , and evidentl y made very great impression on the brethren assembled . The new Chapter was then proclaimed under the title of the " Canute" Chapter Rose Croix .

The M . W . S . designate , Bro . William Hickman , , 30 ° ( Past A . D . C . of the Grand Lodge of England ) was then installed by Bro . Hyde Pullen , and the following brethren were

appointed to fill the various offices 111 the Chapter by the M . W . S ., viz .. —Bros . Rev . Basil Wilberforce , Le Feuvrc , Pocoek , Harper , Stebbing , Welch , Bull , Sharpe , and others .

A vote of thanks was then proposed and carried with acclamation to the Supreme Council for their having so kindly attended and conducted the proceedings on this interesting occasion . A similar vote was also most heartily awarded

to Bro . Hyde Pullen , and in proposing it the M . W . Sovereign referred to the many pleasurable recollections of former meetings with him in masonic work in the neighbourhood .

Bro . Stebbing having also added a few eloquent remarks in recognition of the high appreciation of Bro . Pullen by Hampshire Masons , the votes were very heartily responded to , and the chapter was closed with the usual ceremonies .

A very sumptuous banquet was provided in an adjoining room of the Hall , and the Brethren celebrated the opening of the new Chapter by spending a most enjoyable evening together round

the festive board , exchanging mutual congratulations on the success of the meeting , and anticipating that the new Chapter will soon become a very important and influential addition to the

Masonic body in this neighbourhood . Many other candidates are desirous of joining the Order , but from other engagements were not able to attend for admission on this day of

meeting . The banquet was provided by Bro . Dartnail ( No . 130 Craft Lodge ) in his usual excellent manner , and gave entire satisfaction to all present . The room was covered with flags and

banners , and the table ornamented in the most beautiful manner with ruby-coloured fruit and flower-stands , decorated with roses and other flowers , and massive candelabra , making a most elegant and appropriate appearance .

Letters of regret for non-attendance through other engagements were received from the members of the Supreme Council who were not present , and from Bro . Beach , ALP ., the Prov . Grand

Master ( who was abroad ) , Bro . J . Hervey ( the Grand Sec . of England ) , Bro . J . Coombs , 32 ° ; Bro . R . Spiers , 32 ° ; Capt . Burgess , 30 ( M . W . S . St . George ' s Chapter , London ) ; Bro . F . -C .

M'Calmont , 30 ° ; Bro . C . F . Arden , 30 , AI . W . S . Weymouth ; Rev . Bro . Pettat , 18 ; Prov . G . Chaplain ; Bro . George Kenning , 30 ; and others .