Table Of Contents.

TABLE OF CONTENTS .

PAGE . ROYAL ARCH MASONRY 1 NOTES BY A NOVICE 2

PAPERS ON MASONRYNo . VII . —Masonry and the Number Seven ... 3 CONSECRATION or TUB GOLDEN RULE LODGE ... 3 PRESENTATION TO BRO . WM . COOKE 3

THE SOCIAL BUCKS' PHILANTHROPIC SOCIETY ... 3 REPORTS OV MASONIC MEETINGS 4 INSTALLATION MEETING OP MACDONALD LODGE ... 4 LONDON GUARANTEE AND ACCIDENT COMPANY ... 5 PRESENTATION TO BRO . SPRATT 5 THE PATHS OP VIRTUE AND SCIENCE 6

PAST MASTERS AS PRECEPTORS 6 ANNIVERSARY OF THE ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR GIRLS 6 ORIGINAL

CORRESPONDENCEThe Masonic Charities 7 Thistle Lodge , Glasgow 7 Chair Degree ... 8 Solomon ' s Temple 8 Masonic Rituals ... ... ... ... R

GRAND MASONIO FESTIVAL AT ROCHDALE 9 CONSECRATION OP ACACIA LODGE , LURGAN ... ... 0 PROCEEDINGS OP THE TWO GRAND LODGES OP ENGLAND

IN RATIFICATION OP THE UNION , 1813 10 MASONIC MEETINGS FOR NEXT AVEEK 10 'LIST OF AGENTS 11 ADVEIITISKMENTS 11 & 12

Royal Arch Masonry.

ROYAL ARCH MASONRY .

BY THE SON OP SALATIIIEL . ( Continued . ) [ The rights of translation and reproduction reserved . '] Such were the wonderful manifestations of the Divino Presence with which it pleased the

Almighty to favour the patriarchs of old , and as they were thus assured of the guardianship and protection of Jehovah , so are we taught by a due commemoration and observance of those ancient signs , that thc servants of God in every

age are canopied by celestial mercy and power . In endeavouring to trace the traditional outlines of the history of Royal Arch Masonry , we shall strictl y keep in view its scri ptural character , as •whatever differences of opinion may exist as to

its antiquity as a Masonic degree , few , we apprehend , will deny its claims as a splendid sequel to the historical and legendary associations of the Craft degrees .

Upon the model of King Solomon ' s Temple ¦ were constructed , we are informed , nearly all those wondrous palaces and temples of the ancient world of which such magnificent remains exist ¦ even to the present day , and it is well known that

Royal Arch Masonry.

in every subsequent attempt to rebuild the Temple itself , the architects and masons emp loyed strove to emulate the glories of the former structure . Scarcely had the wise son of David been

gathered to his fathers , when the people of Israel forsook the altars of the true and living God to worship at the unhallowed shrines of the heathen nations—when , as God , by the prophet Isaiah , complains , " They forsook the fountain of living

waters , and hewed out for tlmmselves cisterns , broken cisterns that could hold no water ; " and they were justly punished for their wicked apostacy and blind idolatry . Ifc is very remarkable , and is a strong proof of the depravity of human

nature , that the Hebrews , for whom when in Egypfc God wrought by the hand of Moses a series of the most astonishing miracles — to ¦ whom He displayed from Mount Sinai " the divine majesty of His glory , and thc excellence

of His magnificence "; and who had heard the Almighty speaking with an audible voice oufc of the midst ofthe fire—a people who had the radiant Shechinah , the visible symbol of His presence , constantly before them , and whoso prophets

enjoyed direct communion with Jehovah—that favoured men like theso should have debased themselves by idolatry , almost transcends the power of belief , but for the innumerable instances of their perverse and rebellious spirit which are related in the sacred scriptures .

After trying the patience and long-suffering of God for many ages , during whieh , however , they wero visited afc intervals with divine chastisement —by sword , famine and pestilence—the Most High declared , through the prophet Jeremiah , that He

would give them up into the hands of their enemies ; that their city and temple should be destroyed by fire , and the remnant of their nation carried into captivity by tho King of Babylon for the space of seventy years ; which prediction

was verified in the eleventh year of Zedckiah , king of Judah , when Nebuchadnezzar , king of Babylon , conquered Jerusalem , and after having plundered the Temple of all its holy vessels and utensils , he committed tho sacred edifice to the

flames , and razed the city to the foundations , carrying away as captives nearly the whole population , except a few of the servile race who

were left to till the ground . After the deaths of Jeremiah and Ezckiel , God raised up Daniel to bo tho prophet and instructor of His disobedient bufc now repentant peoplo . Daniel and his

Royal Arch Masonry.

friends , whose faith had been so severely tested in that fiery trial from which they were so signally delivered by the Most High , eventually

became the trusted servants of the King of Babylon , who raised them to the chief offices in his dominions , by which means they were enabled to alleviate the sorrows of their less fortunate

countrymen . Belshazzar , who succeeded to the throne after the death of his father , having profauely used the sacred vessels of the Temple at an impious feast given to his courtiers , had a

supernatural vision which none of the Chaldean seers could interpret , and fear and awe sat upon the brow of the haughty king , who at length sent for tho inspired Daniel to expound the mysterious characters on the wall . Daniel informed the king

that the writing foreboded the loss of his kingdom and life , aud it came to pass that in the very same night he was slain , and Darius , the Mede , accompanied by Cyrus , his nephew , obtained possession of the kingdom .

Daniel continued as high in favour with Darius as under the former dynasty , and when , after the death of Darius , Cyrus succeeded to the sole government of the empire , Daniel having a favourable opportunity showed to the king the

prophecy of Isaiah , wherein Cyrus is described by name moro than 200 years before his birth , aud the circumstances of the taking of Babylon and the restoration of the Jews are foretold wifch marvellous minuteness aud accuracy . The

following is parfc of the prophecy : " Thus saith the Lord to His anointed , to Cyrus , whose right hand I have holden , to subdue nations before him ; and I will loose tho loins of kings , to open beforo him the two-leaved gates ; and THE GATES SHALL NOT

BE SHUT . I will go before thee , and make the crooked places straight ; I will break in pieces the gates of brass , and cut in sunder the bars of iron ; and I will give the treasures of darkness , and hidden riches of secret places , that thou

raayst know that I , the Lord which call thee by thy name , am the God of Israel , for Jacob my servant ' s sake , and Israel mine elect , I have even called time by thy name : I have surnamed thee , though thou hast nofc known me . I am thc Lord ,

andjthcrc is none else , there is no God beside me ; I girded thee , though thou hast not known mo ; that they may know , from the rising of the sun and from thc wesfc , that there is none beside me . I am tho Lord , and there is none else . I form thc light and create darkness . I have raised him