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ness at this matter being kept a secret from them ( since they had already passed through the usual degrees of probation ) , I cannot help being of opinion that they have no right to any such benefit until they make a proper application , and are received with due formality ; and as it is an organised body of men who passed the chair , and given undeniable proofs of

their skill in architecture , it cannot he treated with too much reverence , and more especially since the character of the present members of that particular Lodge are untainted , and and their behaviour judicious nnd unexceptionable ; so that there cannol be the least hinge to hang a doubt on , but that they are most excellent Masons . '

" This concludes , at present , our researches as to the history of thc Royal Arch Degree ; and the importance of the subject is the only excuse we have to offer for the length of the communication . " WILLIAM JAMES HUGHAN . " Truro , Cornwall , July 18 th , 1868 . "

" My own . Philology , by A . TUBER . London : Triibner & Co ., 60 , Paternoster-row . The object of this clever writer may be briefly gathered from the preface to Ms book , in which he states that " we look on the whole world as a book , the leaves of which may be torn and

scattered hither and thither , but being still in existence , can be collected , joined together , and read ; and perchance from that book we may yet learn to know ourselves and all things even as wo are known . " Upon this basis he has gathered together the various significations given to the same or similar words by different nations .

The following will be interesting to our chiv alric brethren : —

"' True' knights still exist in merry England , faithfully wearing the secret sign of Adam , though yet unknowing why , the Maltese cross , the ' White Cross , ' so often questioned , of earlier date than modern Christianity , therefore unconnected with that ! Shall * we let the cross tell its own tale , for thereby

hangs the tale of the goose . Wc have seen that in the Egyptian the word kee means goose , the pronunciation ofthe Greek letter ^ , hieroglyph for Adam , the white swan , white goose , white x , white cross ; bearing Eve Alias ' s name , Mclitta , or Malta , worn on the * vest' told that the wearer was a good and true

knight , or ken-ite , ken being the Greek word for goose and implicit obedience being a ' military duty , ' when departing on an expedition , the leader gave no further order than ' Take up your cross and follow me , ' and the knight , fastening thc swan-white cross upon his breast , went forth silently with his chief' to fight the

good fight of faith . ' But was the cross silent V Oh no ! every time the knight cast his eyes upon it , it spoke out boldly and , plainly , and the twenty-fourth letter of our own p lain English alphabet can tell what it said , it said , an X , ' annex . ' And on went the wanderer Adam , followed by the created angelic

host , turning the ken sword ' every way , ' till he had gained dominion over the fish of the sea , and over the fowls of the air , and over every creeping thing , these being symbols of different nations , till he became King of kings and Lord of lords , the only ruler ol princes . " Our author deduces as tbo result of his observations

that'' All nature bears the name of Adam , the ocean , Sinus and Oceanus . The billow that kisses the rock y shore bears the name of Unda , or the Egg , the child of earth and ocean , of water , and of the spirit . Un , one ; Dn , Father or God . "All nature bears the name of Adiiui ; if we call to

our aid that unerring science , geology , deep in the rock of ages , hidden from nil mortal eyes , wo shall find the name of Adam ; let us cleave the stony rock then , and lay open the secrets of eternity . We shall fix on tho inetuniovpliiu system for our illustration , the ' clay ' -slate group of' aqueous ' character , fine grained .

argillaceous rock—glistening aspect — containing chiastolite , a mineral occurring iu long slender prisms , which cross and lie over each other in the mass of slate like the Greek letter y —the name and symbol of Adam *• hidden ' in the rock of ages . "

There is much in this little work that will be found interesting to Masons , especiall y to those whe believe that " Speculative Freemasonry comprehends the knowledge of the hidden order of the universe , and the secret things both of heaven and earth . "

" Tlie Masonic Monthly , " April , 18 G 9 . Boston , Massachusetts , U . S . A . This esteemed magazine is replete with articles af interest to the Masonic fraternity . Bro . Rob . Morris contributes to its pages " Pastoral Scenes

in the Holy Land , as the result of that .-iccoii * - plished Mason ' s recent pilgrimago to the Orient . The position of negro brethren in Ihe United States is fairly discussed on the princi p le of awl j alteram partem . Wo may also note that the

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editor alludes to the opinion we expressed in the first number of THE FREEMASON , that the "Masonic Monthly" was " one of the best magazines published in America , " and we feel great pleasure in reiterating that it is a very valuable organ of the Craft in that country .

" Proceedings of the Grand Lodge of Canada . " We have been favoured by the Rev . Brother Bartlett , Graud Orator of Canada , -with a copy

or this interesting volume , and intend to cull from its pages statistical information of a very valuable nature in reference to the progress of the Royal Art in the new Dominion .

Interesting Masonic Narrative,

INTERESTING MASONIC NARRATIVE ,

"B y a Member of the Royal College of Surgeons , Edinburgh , and a Master Mason , of Tynan Lodge , No . 601 , Armagh , & c . In the year 18 lo , when I was studying medicine in the University of Edinburgh , I was invited by a gentleman of that city to spend an evening at a

Masonic meeting , of -which he was the Master . He added , " that he expected we weuld have the pleasure of Mr . O'C . ' s company , " an Irish gentleman , to whom he appeared to be particularly attached . Mr . O'C arrived , and was received by the brethren with every manifestation of joy , Thc night

was spent with all the happiness , festivity , and fraternal affection which so peculiarly characterize our ancient , honourable , and loyal body . No party feelings or petty animosities were there , but mutual and reciprocal love beaming on every countenance , and ennobling every sentiment and expression .

Mr . O'C , an amiable minded , facetious man , about forty-nine years of age , was justly beloved and admired ; he paid peculiar and marked attention to me , and before we parted , requested and received my promise , to dine the next day witbb ' nn , at his lodgings ,

Princes-street . I went accordingly , and passed with him one of the happiest evenings of my life . He was quite an enthusiast in his love for'Masonry ; and in an ecstacy of delight , related to me the following history of his life : —

" I was born in the south of Ireland , and was from my earliest rememberanee fond of Masonry , and consequently was initiated , at the prescribed age , into the sublime mysteries of the most exalted Orders of the Craft . I then prepared to emigrate to America , and received from my lodge documents and certificates

necessary for my departure . About this tune the Irish rebellion was spreading its baneful poison over the island , and I with thousands of my countrymen , was swept into the votcx of phrenzied enthusiasm which then prevailed , and stimulated to madness its unfortunate and deluded votaries . I was a few nights

with a senseless multitude , who , like myself , knew nothing whatever ofthe cause , end . meaning , or nature of such meeting . Some papers were read , which I am certain the few who heard them did not understand . All was confusion , without order or regularity . " Not many weeks elapsed , when , in the dead of

the night , my father ' s house was surrounded by a troop of dragoons . I was made a prisoner , and conducted to the gaol of . In eight days I was tried . It was sufficient I was a United-Man , und had attended their meetings . This was proved ; aud hence it was inferred I had been aiding and abetting some burnings

and outrages that had been recently committed in the neighbourhood . I did not deny I was present at their meetings , but of the latter charges was innocent . I was sentenced to death , and ordered for execution in three days . On my return from the court-house to

the prison , I begged lo speak a word to the captain of the guard who conducted me ; I saw something in him I liked , I told him I was a Freemason ; I showed him my papers , and stated to him the whole truth in a law sentences .

" He was touched with my misfortune , but remained silent . However , at our parting he cordially grasped my hand , and whispered iu my ear , * Brother , keep U |> your spirits ; I have some Interest ami Imluciivu , I will do my best . I will visit you to-morrow . ' " Morningcame , the . day passed , andnightconiingon ,

but no appearance of him whom I now considered my only friend , my heart began to sink within ine ; however , nt ' a lat e hour he arrived , having posted upwards ol fifty miles from thu time of our parting ; but thosettlcd calm of joy was on his countenance , as he announced to me tl . c lumpy news Unit my sentence was commuted

to seven years' transportation . lie ordered mo to make ready , as the guards were then preparing , and iu a lew hours I would be on my way to Dublin . Wc parted lite brothers indeed ; my heart was bursting with gratitude .

" I was a week sailing on my passage to Now South Wales before I came to a serious reflection of my situation , or wa ¦¦ * awake to the sad reality of my state ; the I . i . st few weeks appeared to ine like a disturbed dream .

" On my arrival at Port Jackson I was allotted to a rich landed propiietor . After I had remained upwards of five years with lii . n in his home-farm , he sent me

Interesting Masonic Narrative,

with eleven others , about twenty leagues into the country , with horses laden -with the necessary implements , to mark out and ditch , where practicable , a large tract of land which he had purchased . We erected a hut , formed beds , and proceeded well , stretching far and wide , according to the map given us for

our guide . We had crossed a river , and were cutting the boundary moorings over the most beautiful sloping hills I ever beheld , when a number of the Aboriginal inhabitants came forward , and used very threatening gestures towards us . They walked back to the river , and beckoned us to come also . They put down stakes .

of wood on the banks , and by their threats we understood plainly that they would attack us if we attempted to cut , or dig , or even go over the river . One of the servants , a free man , and our superintendant there , rode off to his master to know what should be done , and the next day returned with orders

to proceed over the river to the very extent of th © maps and plans . The next day , while we were engaged in marking forward , a whole host of then * attacked us with clubs and stones , and would liar * murdered us , only one of our men snatched a fowling piece and shot the ringleader dead on the spot . "W r

retired to our little hut , which was so far remove * from the river on our own side , that we thought ourselves secure ; but in the dead of night we were alarmed by the hut being on fire , and one of our men running out , was killed by a blow ; a second and a third rushing from the flames met the same fate . I .

stood in the door like a stal . ue , my mmd for a minute gliding over the past , present , and future ; and petrified with horror , in an agony of despair , while the flames . wero . raging on every side , and the roof falling in masses of burning ruins , I accidentally , as if by instinct , madethe last solemn appeal , ' thc dernier resort of a

Freemason , when a tall figure sprang forward , and clasping me in his arms , pulled me from the spot where I stood , and which was that moment falling down and would have destroyed me , exclaiming in good English , ' Fear nothing . Brother , you are safe , ' and he cried out * U » save all the lives they could . Five only of us were

living . The next morning , after erecting a hut for the four , the }* took me with them . " I rode on a quiet horse for many a long mile , through the most lovely and fertile country that the sun iu his course ever shone on . I could relate to you , my dear friend , many entertaining and interesting

stories of the l ' uneral of the chief who was shot by one of our party , of their manner of living ; and as I stayed a whole year with them , I was present at their marriages , and many other amusing ceremonies . In the course of our private conversations , my deliverer aud Brother told me he was a native of Scotland .

that he had been mate of a merchant ship , which was wrecked about a year before that ; he and two of tho crew were cast on thc shore about fifty leagues from where we were ; that the others had died ; and by his behaviour towards the Aborigines , and by teaching them many useful arts , he had gained their confidence , and even aflection . <

3 | " However , as my time was now almost expired , my * friend , my dear friend , who is still living , advised me to go and claim my freedom , and a free passage home to the . mother country , and also to have him released , if possible . " I went to Port Jackson , and claimed my freedom ; and nt the same time mentioned that a native of

Scotland , who had been shipwrecked , wns a prisoner where I had been detained so long , and if 1 had a guard I would release him . This was granted ; but I thought better to go alone . Ho and I concerted measures , and set offat night , and arrived at the city before the fleet had sailed . The governor kindly

ordered him a passage ; and in a few weeks we were landed safely in Liverpool . " I came to the home of my fathers , my friend accompanying me . The scenes of my youth presented themselves to my mind ; every hill and valley appeared in idea loaded with charms ;—but , when I arrived ,

alas I how altered ; my father aud mother dead—my brothers and sisters cither dead , or gone to other countries . Scarcely a friend there ; it was an afflicting scene : it was to m .. ¦• . i . iiii , in . m » ' * r ,. r .. ; .. « . > perceived my distress , and hurried me away . Wo then visited his country , in the town where I now

have my establishment . My friend was well connected . * We bccameacqiiaintcd with a relat . iouofhis , ainerchant , who had two daughters , and in a short time they became our wives ; and thanks be to the great Disposer of all things , we enjoy , I may say , _ every comfort and happiness which this world can give . My friend and I often , when we talk over the past together ,

regret that Masonry is not more general over the earth , as it would be a bond of affection and love to mankind . It brings to my recollection u stanza from the pen , and from the heart , of that Bard who was to ' Masonry and Scotia dear , ' 'If in the vale of tavnye life , The victim sad of fo tune ' s strife ,

I through the tender gushing tear Should recognize a Mas'cr ( . ' ear ; If friendless low , we meet together , Then , Sir , your hand , my l ' riond and Brother . '" E . L . — Frelimuon ' s Quarterly Itevkw .