Celestial Mysteries.

CELESTIAL MYSTERIES .

BY BKO . HENRY MELVILLE . We have received a note from Bro . Henry Melville , enclosing a copy of an Astrolabe discovered at Nineveh by A . H . Layard , Esq ., M . P ., from which Bro . Melville deduces certain

facts of an interesting character to the Masonic fraternity , and he desires us to make known the result of his investigations in . the columns of TIIE F REEMASON . This we are quite willing to do , but we cannot help remarking that a little reflection would have convinced Bro . Melville of the

inutility of publishing the letters of the Deputy Grand Master , Earl De Grey , aud the Grand Registrar , Bro . Mclntyre , coupled with the commentaries which Bro . Melville has made upon them . There is not a member of the English Craft who is not proud of Lord De Grey ' s connection

with the Order , but it is manifestl y unfair to expect that a Cabinet Minister , like his Lordship , occupied with the cares of State , can devote the time required to master the details of abstruse symbolism , which Bro . Melville acknowledges entailed upon himself nearly forty years' of labour to

unravel . The following is an extract from Bro . Melville ' s explanation of the celestial mysteries : The undersigned , for many years , has been residing in Australasia , where his attention was first directed to the research after the " long-lost mysteries " of masonry . During a period of nearly forty years he

has been so engaged , under difficulties that few , ho believes , would have had the perseverance to surmount : but the subject itself he found to be so alluring , sofull of startling facts , and those , too , subversive of all preconceived ideas entertained by the modern world of

intelligence , that the pursuit became a pleasure he could not resist ; and now , after almost a life-time of * labour , he can confidently say that he has succeeded in unravelling the deep mysteries of tho ancient sages , both oriental and occidental I

The undersigned traced this celestial figure in Melbourne , from a drawing in Mr . Layard ' s work on Nineveh . He , at first , considered it an ancient Astrolabe , but finding that the points on ( 7 tc circle did not correspond to tho requirements of an Astrolabe , ho laid the tracing aside , thinking that probably light

would be thrown upon it at some future period . The expectation has been realised , for , on his arrival in England , he found in the Assyrian Gallery of the British Museum , in basso relievo , the figure from which Mr . Lay ard obtained his drawing ; but , on comparing the drawing with the slab , he found Mr . Layard's

copy incorrect , and was pleased to find that the Assyrian monument was in reality , as he had first supposed , a perfect Astrolabe . Every reasoning mind will admit , there must be some occult or hidden meaning in these symbolic representations , but the means by which such mysteries

were formerly read arc totally unknown to the present learned . As before observed , the undersigned has recovered the knowledge , and by the scientific use of masonic keys on Jamieson ' s celestial planespheres , the whole of the Egyptian and Assyrian monuments can be easily interpreted . The figures are . all either simple

or compound astronomical symbols , and being pictorial cannot be misinterpreted . Very different it is with tha Cuniform writings engraved upon them , the characters of which are anything but pictures , and hence the difficulty of interpretation . Mr . Layard , in his work , speaking of the Assyrian

marble , says it is " The interior of a castle ( a ground plan ) and pavilion or tent . " What resemblance there is to the ground plan of a castle it is very difficult to determine , nor does the space occupied by the horses look much like a pavilion or tent . Mr . Bonomi gives a wood-cut of the Astrolabe , but it is niost incorrectly drawn .

The cross-bars within the circle tire the cqunioxial and solsticial colures . The circular belt is the ecliptic , and on it are 52 points on the slab , but in Mr . Layard ' s drawing there are only 50 points . The 52 represent thi ! weeks of the solar year . On the outer rim of the ecliptic circle tire thirteen houses , apparently with

cliinmics ; on each of theso projections aro four points , denoting the 52 weeks of the lunar year of thirteen months . The figures interior to the ecliptic are symbolical of the seasons , and when the allegorical reading of the Assyrian mysteries is understood they will be found to be very energetic . The pavilion , as

Mr . Layard calls it , has four horses , the animals havo on their head-stalls or bridles , and aro typical of solis-statio at tho winter solstice in Capricornus . Mythology gives four horses to the sun ; they nre named Aeons , Aethon , Phlegon and Eolus or Lucifer .

I'hlegon means " burning , " and Lucifer " that brings liro or li ght . " There were horses of lire and a chariot of fire when Elijah , meaning " the strong Lord , " went up to heaven in the whirlwind . On the Assyrian slab in question there is not any chariot , but there are many chariots whirling with great speed on the slabs adjoining .

Celestial Mysteries.

Solomon had horses out of Egypt , " they fetched up a chariot and a horse out of Egypt for the kings of Syria , " but Josiah , which means " fire of the Lord , " took away the horses that the kings of Judah had given to the sun , and burned the chariots with fire . " In the sacred writings , Astro-mythological horses are

notunfrcquently mentioned . In Zechanah there are four chariots with horses referred to—in the first chariot , the horses are red ; in the second , black horses ; in the third , white ; and in the fourth , grisled or spotted black and white . In Revelations there are likewise four horses ; white , red , black , and pale " He that

sat on the white horse had a bow , and a crown was given unto him . " Death sat upon the fourth and last —the pale horse . These four horses are registered in the heavens , and can be seen in any celestial atlas or on any celestial globe . The first , Sagittarius , the man invariably has a bow in his hand , and in Jamieson ' s

coloured atlas the horse is represented white , —a worthless crown of victory is given to the constellation , it is Corona australis , and the Budhists place this crown upon the head of the horseman ; the second horse is Pegasus , pictured red ; the third horse is now called Monoceros , and is pictured black ; and tho fourth and

last , Centaurus , is pale or grisled . Centaurus was formerly known as Jacchus , or Bacchus , orDionysius ; and the common Christian era , as settled by Dionysius , began on the first of January , —the Savour ' s birthtime exceeding that of the Dionysian era by four years . This is astronomically recorded , and can be

mathematically demonstrated . The masonic astronomical keys are still religiously preserved by the Royal Arch Companions , they are now know as the triple tau and double triangle . . . . The double triangle " scratched , stained or engraved " on a tracing board and placed upon a southern celestial

planesphere , when moved in accordance with the laws governed by the Assyrian Astrolabe , will prove the demise of Dionysius to be on the last day of the year , the 31 st cf the tenth month , or December . As the white horse is symbolical of the opening of the year

on the 1 st January , so is Centaurus , or Dionysius , the emblem of the death of the year—or rather the alpha and omega , a point between the 31 December and the 1 st of January . Then , in Egyptian theology Osiris is entombed , and the infant Ilorus arises , four years older than the common Dionysian era . ( To be continued . )

Proceedings Of The Two Grand Lodges Of England In Ratification Of The Union, 1813.

PROCEEDINGS OF THE TWO GRAND LODGES OF ENGLAND IN RATIFICATION OF THE UNION , 1813 .

( Continued from last week . ) England—a proof of the disinterested spirit by which His Royal Highness has been actuated through the whole of this concern , so important to the cause and interests of Masonry throughout the world . And further to beseech His Royal Highness to be graciously

pleased to sit for his picture in quality of their Grand Master , that the same may be placed in the Hall of the United Fraternity . " Upon motion made and seconded , it was also resolved unanimously" That the cordial thanks of this Grand Lodge be

Riven to the Right Worshipful Brother Thomas Harper , Deputy Grand Master , for his indefatigable , zealous and honourable conduct during a period of more than twenty-eight years that he has been an Officer in this Grand Lodge ; but more especially for his constant and unwearied attention for the last

thirteen years , in the discharge of the arduous and important duties of Deputy Grand Master . " " That the especial thanks of this Grand Lodge be given to our Right Worshipful Brother , Past Deputy Grand Master Perry , for tho very distinguished services which he has at various times and for a scries of years rendered to the Craft .

" 1 hat the members of this Grand Lodge are led to the performance of this duty , peculiarly gratifying to them , from the high sense they entertain of the purity of the principles from which he has acted , from their unqualified admiration of the talents and eloquence which he has constantly displayed in their behalfand

, from the pleasing anticipation of thoso happy and glorious consequences which his exertions have so eminently contributed to produce . " _ The Grand Lodge was then closed with holy prayer till St . John ' s Day next , to meet at Freemasons' Hall , at eleven o ' clock m the forenoon .

THE ABBOT ' WAY . —Whether the so-called "Abbot ' s Way , " in the turbaries of Somersetshire , belongs to Ancient British times , as some suppose , or was constructed , as its name implies , by some abbot of the neighbouring monastery of Glastonbury , I am in no position to determine . It is now buried about two yards beneath the Turf Moor , and is composed of

birchen poles , each a yard long , split , and pegged close together . Pity but some antiquarian society would undertake to once more lay it open to dayli g ht , and use every exertion to ascertain whether it belongs to Celtic or to mediaeval times . —The History of the Stockton and Darlinqton Railway , by Bro . George MarkhamTwcddcll , " F . R . S . N . A ., Copen .

Agents.

Agents .

LONDON : Bro . C . L . PHILPOTT , 65 , KingWilliara-st ., E . C . Bro . F . FARRAII , 282 , Strand . Bro . BORN , 115 , London Wall .

Bro . POTTLE & SON , 14 & 15 , Royal Exchange . Bro . GILBERT , IS , Cracechurch-street .

BAYSWATER : Bro . J . LAMBERT , 4 , Royal Oak Terrace . Bro . A . MOREAU , 98 , Queen ' s-road . CHELSEA : Bro . JAS . WILLIS , 173 , Church-st .

CLAPHAM : Bro . EDMONDS , Brommel-road . NOTTING HILL : Spalding ' s Library , High .-st . POPLAR : Bro . SAMUEL CHIVERS , 269 , High-st .

BANGOR : Bro . NIXON . BIRMINGHAM : Bro . J . WILLEY , Union Passage & Union-st . BRECHIN : Bros . BLACK & JOHNSTON , 40 , High-street .

BRISTOL : Bro . E . B . PENNY , 16 , Clare-street . CANTERBURY : Br . DAVEY , St . Margaret ' s-st . CARDIFF : Bro . THOMAS HAYNES , 6 , James Street . COCKERMOUTH :

Bro . E . THWAITES , 29 & 30 , Market-place . COLCHESTER : Bro . GEORGE H . HAY . CORK : Bro . SAMUEL WOOD , 40 , Patrick-street ; Agent for the South of Ireland .

DEVONPORT : Bro . J . R . H . SPRY , 100 , Fore-street . DUDLEY : Bro . JAS . FOSTER , 102 , Hall-street . DUNDEE :

Bro . C . D . CHALMERS , 10 , Castle-street . DURHAM : Bro . R . COOKE , 1 , Silver-street . GLASGOW : Bro . JOHN DAVIDSON & Co ., 170 , Buchanan-street . GREENWICH : 2 , London-street , Opposite Orchard's Dining Rooms ; and Bro . J . L . WINN , 8 Greenwich-road .

GUERNSEY : Bvo . J . MILIANGTON , Bookseller . HALIFAX : Bro . WM . COOKE , Courier Office . HARTLEPOOL , WEST :

Bro . JOHN PROCTER , Bookseller . HULL : Bro . B . S . OATES , 6 , Market-place . IPSWICH : Bro . C . T . TOWNSEND , Masonic Hall . „ C . DAVY , 8 , Upper Brook-street . ISLE OF MAN :

Bro . W . KNEALE , 38 , Duko-strect , Douglas . KILMARNOCK : Bro . JAMES MCKIE . LANARKSHIRE : Bro . W . CRAY , Coalbridge . LEOMINSTER : Bro . S . PARTRIDGE .

LIVERPOOL : Bro . JOSEPH WOOD , 18 , Norton-street . Bro . EDWARD HOWELL , 26 , Church-street . LUDLOW : Bro . E . J . PARTRIDGE , 58 , Broad-st . MANCHESTER : Bros . J . & E . \ V . JACKSON , 62 , Corporation-st . MARGATE : Bro . W . C . BRASIER , 37 , High-st .

NEWCASTLE-ON-TYNE , SHIELDS , and ALNWICK : Bro . W . E . FRANKLIN . NORWICH : Bro . R . J EAKT , 70 , St . Stephcn ' s-strcot . PAISLEY : Bro . REID , Hig h-street . PEMBROKE DOCK :

Bro . W . G . PHILLIPS , " Gazette Office . " PLYMOUTH : Bro . J . THOMAS , Cornwall-street , REDRUTH : Bro . WM . TRKGASKIS . RICHMOND , Surrey : Bro . RICHARD GURNEY , Royal Assembly Rooms .

SCARBOROUGH : Bro . H . C . MARTIN , 9 , Oxford-street . STAFFORDSHIRE : Bro . F . S . W RIGHT , Bookseller , Longton . STOKESLEY : Bros . TWEDDELL & SONS , Cleveland Printing and Publishing Office .

STOCKPORT : Bro . W . O . FLEMING . STOKE-ON-TRENT : Bro . C HARLES HEAD . TRURO : Bro . W . LAKE . WARWICK : Bros . II . T . COOKE & SON , High-street . WESTON-SUPER-MARE : Br . G . R . PowELr , WHITEHAVEN :

Bros . PAC-EN & GILL , 1 & 2 , Market-place . YORK : Bro . M . J . S IMPSON , Bookseller .