Freemasonry & Israelitism

are now taking a leading part in the civilizin ' on and evangelization of the rest of the world . In the preface or introduction to " Lecture - on Ancient Israel and the fullness of

the Gentiles , ' by John Wilson , to whom I , and all who write upon this interesting subject , must be indebted for many valuable suggestions , are found the following queries

on the Is-raelitish origin of the British nation , and I feel that I cannot do better than conclude these papers by laying them before my readers : —

" I . Is not the House of Israel , and especially the tribe of Ephraim , clearly distinguished from that of Judah in the historical and prophetic parts of Scripture ? ( i Chron . v . 2 ; Jer . iii . 2 ) . Were not of Ephraim ,

especially , to come the many heirs of the promises made unto the fathers , just as of Judah was to come the One Heir from whom the blessing was immediately to descend ? ( Gen . xlviii . 15-20 , xlix , S-12 . )

" 2 . Were not the lost tribes of Israel to

be found in these , the latter days , as a seed whom the Lord h tth blessed ? ( Hos . ii . 14-23 ; Is . xxix . 17-23 ; lxi . 9 , 10 ; lxvi . S-14 ; Jer . xxxi . I-IO ; Eaek . xi . 15-20 ; Hos . i . IO , II . )

" 3 . Have not all pr ^ vrous attempts to find the lost tribes of Israel proved abortive , especially as to the accounting for Ephraim , the heir of the promises , and of which was to come the promised ' fullness of ihe

Gentiles , ' or ' multitude of nations ' ? ( Rom . xi . 25 ; Gen . xlviii . 19 ; Is . xli . 25-29 . ) Does not the Scripture declare that the previous non-discovery of Israel has been occasioned by its blindness , and not by Clod ' s having

failed to fulfil His word ? ( Is . xlii . 18-25 xliii . . 1-13 ; x ! v . 17-21 . ) Do not the Scriptures expressly recognise our present condition as being that in which Israel would be found ? And do th -y not predict

matters which can be fulfilled only in these nati' ns ? ( Is . xxvii . 6-10 ; Jer . xxxi . 10 , 11 ; Mic . vii . 16 ; Jer . iii . 18 ; Ezck . xi . 16 ; & c . ) "< . ; . Loc ; history ( which traces our Sascon ancestry hack to the verv countries

into which Israel was carried captive by the Assyrians ) presont anything opposed to this view ? ( Turner ' s Anglo-Saxons , vol . 1 . pp . 94-102 . ) Is it likely th . it the God of truth would utterly cast away the people unto

whom the promises were made ; and out 0 / the same place bring forth a people to have fulfilled in them the promises freely made to Israel , and so solemnly confirmed to them bv oath ? ( Mic . vii . 18-20 ; Is . xxv .

1-7 ; Ps . cv . 10 . ) Could it be said , in such case , that ' the gifts and calling of God are without repentance ' ? ( Is . xli . S , 9 . ) " 5 . Arc not the intellectual , moral , and physical characteristics of the Anglo-Saxons

exactly those that were to be expected of the nations that were to come of Ephraim ? Can our ancient religious rites , political institutions , at quircmerits , and manners better be accounted for than as having been

derived from ancient Israel ? Do not the favours bestowed upon these nations in the north-west , anel the whole course of God ' s dealing with the English nation , clearly

indicate that they arc under the kindness and care of the Good Shepherd of Israel ? ( Gen xlix . 22-2 G ; P .-:. lxxx . 1-3 ; cxlvii . IQ , 20 . )"

Let me add one question to these : — Do wc not seem to recognise our Israclitish origin in our Masonic Constitution and Ritual ? It matters not , in tin ' s respect , to

what : period in history our origin may be carried back . One of our brethren is endeavouring to show that we take our rise in ancient Roman times , Numa Pompilius

Freemasonry & Israelitism

being our founder ; that would be , probably , thirty or forty years after Israel , was carried captive into Assyria . Another is carrying back our birth to a period long antecedent to that . Well , guilds and architecture may

have nourished , as I believe they did , at the times respectively referred to ; but I venture to say that the Jewish tradiiions and ceremonial rites which are to be found in Masonry , show , at least , that if we do not

derive our origin from the early times to which some of our historians would carry us back , there is something still more striking than guilds and buildings , which links us

with that extraordinary race that , in God's mysterious but beneficent dealing with mankind , has been destined to be the salvation of the world , and the glory of its Creator and Governor .

In conclusion , let " me observe , that , if the reasons that have been assigned show that the Saxons arc identical with the people who , in the Divine councils , have been selected as the instruments to bring about

this blessed state of things , it should , surely , stimulate us to further investigation and study . The truth , if it be one , is of no sh ' ght importance . The race is made up of its units ; and if the high mission and the

glorious privilege to enlighten , civilize , and exalt in righteousness the human familyif the uniting of Israel and Judah , and the preparing of the way for the return of the chosen people to the : ir own land , where they

are to form the centre of attraction to all n . itio'is , which , through them , shall be brought to the knowledge and worship of the title God—if this be our mission , then , we cannot trifle with it and be guiltless .

The woik will be accomplished , though we should he indifferent to it , or even turn our b tcks upon it , for it is God ' s purpose , and His purpose shall stand . There will be a " n mn-uit , " as there ever has been , and

through them God will do his own work ; for , " Thus saith the Lord Jehovah : I myself will take from the shoot of the lofty cedar ; even a tender scion from the top of his scions will I pluck , and I myself will

plant it on a mountain high and eminent . On the lofty mount n ' n of Israel will 1 plant it , and it shall exalt its branch and bringforth fruit ; and it shall become a majestic cedar : and under it shall dwell all fowl ol

every wing ; in the shadow of its branches shall they dwell ; and all the trees of the field shall know that I , Jehovah , have brought low the high tree ; have exalted the low tree ; have dried up the green tree ;

and have made tne dry tree to flourish : I , Jehovah , have spoken it , and will do it " ( llz . xvii . 22-24 ) . "Thus , saith the Lord , Sing with gladness for Jacob , and shout among the chief of the nations : Publish ye ,

praise ye , and say , O Lord , save thy people , the remnant of Israel . Behold , I will bring them from the north country , and gather them from the coasts of the earth , and with them the blind and the lame , the woman

with child , and her that travaileth with child together : a great company shall return thither . They shall come with weeping , and with supplications will I lead them : I will cause them to walk bv the rivers of

waters in a straight way , wherein they shall not stumble ; for I am a Father to Israel , and Ephraim is my first-born . Hear the word of the Lord , O ye nations , and declare it in the isles afar off , and sav , He that

scaitereth Israel will gather him , and keep him as a shepherd doth his flock . . . . Behold , the day is come , saith the Lord ,

that I will sow the house of Israel and the house of Judah with the seed of man and with the seed of beasts . And it shall come to pass that like as I have watched over

Freemasonry & Israelitism

them , to pluck up , and to break down , and to throw down , and to destroy , and to afflict , so will I watch over them to build and to plant , saith the Lord . . . . Thus , saith the Lord which giveth the sun for a light ty

day , and the ordinances of the moon and of the stars for a light by night , which dividcth the sea when the waves thereof roar ; the Lord of Hosts is his name : If those ordinances depart from before me ,

saith the Lord , then the seed of Israel also shall cease from being a nation before me for ever " ( Jer . xxx . ) " Behold , I will gather them [ the children of Israel and the children of Judah ] out of all countries whither I have

driven them m mine anger , and in my fun * , and in great wrath ; and I will bring them again unto this place , and I will canse them to dwell safely : and they shall be my

people , and I will be their God ; and I will give them one heart and one way , that they may fear me all days , for the good of them and of their children after them : and I will

make an everlasting covenant with them , that I will not turn away from them to do them good ; but I will put my fear in their hearts , that they shall not depart from me .

Yea , I will rejoice over them to do them good , and I will plant them in this land assuredly with my whole heart and with my whole soul" ( chap . xxxi . 37-41 ) .

Grand Masonic Ball In Rochdale.

GRAND MASONIC BALL IN ROCHDALE .

On Friday night , Dec . 29 th , the Rochdale Town-hall presented a scene of unusual gaiety on the occasion of the holding of the Masonic ball . The assembly-room was brilliantly lighted , and when it was fully occupied by magnificently attired ladies and the members of the Craft , who wore all the emblems of their Order and of their

respective degrees , it was exceedingly picturesque and imposing in appearance . The entertainment was attt ; nde-d by about 300 persons , and was characterised hy great eclat . The arrangements which had been made by the committee give great satisfaction : and it was evident that

the . Secretary , Bro . Wm . Ashworth , P . M , Prov . J . G . I . ) ., P . D . C , and K . T ., had neither ' spared time , attention , nor effort in that respect . The Sie-vards alsti proved themselves lo be efficient in ihe ceremonies of the evening . The prom ds were to he devoted to the aid of the Royal

Masonic Institution for Tioys , and it is believed that a substantial sum will he realized . The orchestra was occupied hy the band , under the Mastership cf Mr . Goodwin , of Manchester , and the programme comprised the most fashionable raises , quadrilles , and galops . The Mayer

( Mr . Shawcross ) personally entertained some of the brethren , and led off the hall in a quadrille with Miss Win ward ; the opposite partners being Bro . AVike , Grand Deacon of England , anel Mrs . Shawcross ( the Mayorcs-i ); and the side couples were Mr . Clement Royd ( C . Royd and

Co ., Bankers ) and Mrs . Pears , and Mr . Eckers ' ey and Mrs . AVike . There was an interval about midnight for supper , which , with the refreshments , was provided by Messrs . Smethurst and Buttenvorth . of the Golden Fleece Floiel . The second part of die ball was novel , and splendidlv

characteristic of-the Order . fhe brethren , who appeared at first in Craft clothing , changed at eleven o ' clock , some to Mark , Royal Arch , and thirtieth , thirty-second , and thirty . third degrees ; after the adjournment for supper , the Knit Its Templar quadrille was danced , the Sir Kirghs being in the Knights Templar clothing , the

< tlurs in those cf the Rose Croix , Red Cioss Priestly Order , and other degrees . The Y , \ 11 was kept up with t nihusiasm until a late hcr . r next morning . The names of the pniiors are subjoined . We may remark that the Secretary hael the pleamre of receiving leplies to Irs invitations from all the pa lions , and mm y cf them were accompanied bv good donations .

The following brethren acted as Stcwr . rds of the ball , each being di .-tingtu ' shed by a ver \ neat badge made for the occasion by Pro . Ueorje ,