Ancient And Modern Mysteries.

ANCIENT AND MODERN MYSTERIES .

BY BRO . ROBERT WENTWORTH LITTLE , Pnsidcnt of the London Literary Union , Editor of " The Rosicrucian , " & c . ( Continued from page 10 . )

" It is a common saying that there is a ' white rabbit in the moon pounding out rice ; ' the idea suggested by the white and black spots on the moon ' s surface , which they imagine resembles that little animal engaged in the

occupation of shelling rice . The Chinese suppose that the silvery planet is inhabited by many beautiful women , living amongst rare trees and flowers . They also have a pretty little tradition of the soul of one of the three originators of

theatrical performances straying away to the moon and visiting the Lunar Palace , where the beautiful dramatic representations so impressed him that he remembered them upon his return to earth , and instituted them for the amusement

of the earthly Celestials . " Thankful to the moon for its goodness and smiles during harvesting season ; thankful to the gods for their blessings , thankful for the safe arrival of another Autumn , the Autumnal

Festival in China is a season of great merry-making and rejoicing ; and the sacrifices and ceremonies in its honour could no sooner be dispensed with by this idolatrous people than their quiet home worship of ancestral tablets ,

or deep reverence for Confucius . Many peculiar customs are practised in connection with this festival — mothers worshipping the goddess " mother , " and the goddess "seven-starmother "who dwells among the seven-stars of the Dipper

in the constellation of the Great Bear—with unusual ceremony . These mothers are supposed to give long life and health to children . Merchants during this period present their bills to customers . It is thought very dishonourable for a debtor not to pay at least a portion , or to

promise the payment of his debt at some specified time . "At the end of the five days' rejoicing and sacrificing , the devil who was stationed outside the entrance to the ' spirit ' s house , ' was burned that news might again be carried to the gods ol the extraordinary honours paid them on earth . "

The following account of the sacrifices of the Chinese is condensed from " All Religions and Ceremonies " : — " The first sacrifices of this people were instituted in honour of the Supreme God , and were

offered on the tan , or heap of stones , in the open fields , or upon some mountain . Around the tan was raised a double fence , composed of turf and branches of trees ; and between the fences were erected two . smaller altars , upon

which , after the greater sacrifice , they offered others in honour of superior spirits of every rank , and of their virtuous ancestors , among whom was Confucius . To the sovereign alone it was permitted to sacrifice on the tan ; to the

Supreme Deity they ofler their prayers , but from their ancestors and superior spirits they only seek for protection and mediation . " In the early ages of the empire a single mountain were set apart for . sacrifices ; afterwards

there were four consecrated to those purposes , to which the prince went successively every year . To the first he repaired at the vernal equinox , to intreat heaven to watch over the seed committed to the earth . At the summer solstice lie went

to the second , to ask for warmth and heat necessary to bring forward to crops . He sacrificed on the third at the autumnal equinox , in the hope of averting blights , excessive moisture , winds , and injuries from the air , which might

destroy the rising hopes of the labourer . And on the fourth mountain he sacrificed at the winter solstice , in gratitude for all the mercies of the past year , and lo solicit a continuance of them through that which was about to commence .

"This institution , which subjected the emperor to regular journies , was attended with many inconveniences . Sometimes important deliberations required his attendance in the city when he was performing sacrifices at a distance from

Ancient And Modern Mysteries.

it . At other times old age , severe weather , and bad roads , were great obstacles to the business . Means were therefore devised to obviate these difficulties , by erecting a temple in the city , where these sacrifices might be offered up .

"The principal Chinese temple contained within its circumference five separate halls , appropriated for different purposes . They had neither paintings nor ornaments of any kind ; one of them was the place of sacrifice ; the other four contained all those things which

were necessary for the ceremony . The edifice had four gates covered with fine moss , representing the branches of which the double fence about the tan was made . This fine moss covered also the ridge of the roof , and the whole building was encompassed by a canal , which was filled with water at the time sacrifices were offered .

" Their temples are built all after one form : but , as in other countries , very different in beauty and magnitude . Their josses , or demigods , are some of human shape , some of monstrous figures : but . in the nrovince of Fokien .

they are more devoted to the worship of goddesses than gods . Quanheim has the most votaries . She is placed in state , sitting on a cushion with rich robes , and her little son standing before her , with a charged trident in

his right hand , ready to throw at the offenders of the laws of humanity and nature , and also at those who make no free-will offerings to his mother . The Chinese who have seen the Roman Catholic churches and worship , say that she is the Chinese Virgin Mary .

" There is another goddess , called Matson , who swam from a far country , through many seas , and came in one night to China , and took up her residence there . She sits on a platform , with a cushion laid on it , and her head is covered with blue wool instead of hair . She is the

protectress of navigation ; for which reason none go a voyage , but they first make a sacrifice of boiled hogs' heads , and bread baked in the steam of boiling water . It is set before the

image when reeking hot , and kept before her till it is cold . On their return from a voyage , they compliment her with a play , either acted on board of the ship , or before one of her temples .

" They have another goddess , in the form of a virgin , called Quonin , who has many votaries , but is mostly worshipped in the province of Pekin and Manking , but being a virgin , she has many lovers all over China .

"They have one temple , called The Temple of Apes , in which are numerous ill-shaped images of that animal .

" The goil Fo , lias a human shape , except his head , which has the figure of an eagle . Passa is set cross-legged on a cushion , bespangled with flowers and stars , and she has eight or nine

arms and hands on each side , and two before that she holds in a praying posture . In ever ) one of her hands ( except the two that are dedicated to prayer ) she bears something emblem atical , as an axe , a sword , a flower , ( S : c .

" Pekin contains two principal temples , in the construction of which the Chinese have displayed all the elegance of tlieir architecture . These are dedicated to the deity under different titles ; in the one he is adored as the Eternal Spirit ; in the other , as the Spirit that created and

preserves the world . The ceremonies with which modern sacrifices are accompanied are greatly multiplied , and nothing can exceed the splendour and magnificence with which the emperor is . surrounded when lie performs this solemn part of his duty , which he does in the name of

all his people . Some time before the day fixed for this important business , the monarch , and all persons qualified to assist , prepare themselves by retirement , fasting , and continence . During this period the emperor gives no audience ; the tribunals are all shut ; marriages , funerals , and festival of all kinds arc then prohibited . On the

day appointed for sacrifice , the emperor appears with all the pomp and magnificence of power , to which everything in the temple corresponds . All the vessels are of gold , and never used in any other place . Notwithstanding this grandeur the monarch appears to the last degree humble and dejected . He rolls in the dust , and applies

Ancient And Modern Mysteries.

to himself terms of the most abject submission , thereby exhibiting , in the most striking manner , the infinite distance that there is betweeen the Supreme Being and man . "Another religious ceremony performed by

the emperor , is that of ploughing the earth with his own hands . By some writers this act has been thought merely political , for the sake of encouraging agriculture . But in one of the canonical books it is asserted , that he tills the

earth to the Deity , that he may have it in his power to present a part of the grain to him in sacrifice . The empress and princesses manage silk worms , in order to make vestments for

sacrificing in . Therefore , if the emperor and princes till the ground , or die empress breeds silk worms , it is to show that respect and veneration which they entertain for the spirit who rules the universe . " ( To be continued . )

Annual Provincial Festival At Glasgow.

ANNUAL PROVINCIAL FESTIVAL AT GLASGOW .

The ninth annual festival of all the lodges in the Province of Glasgow was recently held , under the patronage of the Grand Lodge of Scotland and auspices of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Glasgow , in the City Hall , which was well filled . Bro . Walter Montgomery Neilson , P . G . M .,

presided , and amongst those on the platform were Bros . F . A . Barron , D . P . G . M . ; J . Wallace , Acting S . P . G . M . ; A . M'Taggart , Acting P . G . S . W . ; Fraser , Acting P . G . J . W . ; J . M . Rowan , P . G . S . ; B . Conner , P . G . S . ; W . Smith , P . G . Sec ; R . Robb , P . G . Marshal ; W . Alexander , P . G . Jeweller ; D .

Kinghorn , P . M . ( 437 ); Robt . Craig , P . G . B . B . ; James Lcith , P . G . Director of Ceremonies ; James Gillies , P . G . S . B . ; James Balfor , P . G . J . G . ; James Pollock , P . G . T . ; D . M'Geachy , Acting P . G . S . D . ; T . Granger , Acting P . G . J . W . ; M'Murdo , P . G . Sec . Middle Ward ; James Thomson , P . G . B . T . ; J . D . Porteous ,

R . W . M . ( 360 ); J . Singleton , R . W . M . ( 178 ); G . Thai ion , R . W . M . ( 362 ); John Miller , R . W . M . ( 413 ); W R . Thomson , P . M . ( 354 ) ; M . Wilson , R . W . M . ( 441 ) W . Phillip ( 275 ); George Smith , R . W . M . ( 219 ); J Buchanan , R . W . M . ( 408 ); A . M'Intyre , R . W . M ( 333 ) . While the company was assembling Mr . Lam

beth presided at the organ . After tea , the CHAIRMAN said : It is now my duty to address to you a few words , and it must be a few words , as our time is limited , and wc have a large programme before us . I take this the earliest opportunity of acknowledging the honour the

brethren have conferred upon me in my election to this exalted position . That I should have been chosen unanimously Grand Master of Glasgow without my having sought for the dignity—I might say against my own desire—is indeed an honour that 1 have some reason to be proud of ( applause ) . But I must

candidly tell my brethren that 1 do regret that some one more worthy than myself , and more able to fulfill the duties of the office , had not been elected to my place—a more worthy successor to our late lamented P . G . M ., Captain Spcirs—lamented as a brother , lamented as a nobleman , lamented as a

statesman , and lamented as a husband . 1 hrowmg myself upon your indulgence , and trusting to your aid and support , I have accepted the honour , and will to the best of my abilities discharge my duties ( applause ) . We have to regret to-night the absence of our venerable Grand Master , the Earl of

Dalhousie , who is obliged to go to a warmer climate during our severe winter months . We also regret that our Grand Hereditary Master , the Earl of Roslin , is at this moment in London presiding over another assembly , and could not of course be with us . 1 must now take this opportunity of addressing

a few words to the brethren on a subject of much interest to the Freemasons of Glasgow . Some time ago the Craft in Glasgow resolved on the erection of a suitable hall in which the various lodges in the province might meet , and at a meeting presided over bv my predecessor in office ( the late Captain

Speirs ) it was resolved that a suitable hall should be erected in Glasgow , and with a view to accomplish this object a company was formed , and a secretary and law agent appointed . A considerable number of shares were taken up by noblemen and gentlemen taking an interest in the prosperity of

the Craft in Glasgow , and among others , the Grand Master , the Karl of Dalhousie , who is honorary president of the company and a shareholder . This is an object which ought to require no recommendation to be taken up by the Masons of Glasgow . At

the present time the various lodges meet in small and inconvenient halls throughout the city , and there is not that compactness nor unanimity of arrangements among the respective office-bearers which is a distinctive feature of the Craft