Footsteps Of Freemasonry;

It is in evidence that the Craft Lodges of Publicans in the provinces obeyed the commands of the Grand Master at Rome . I would now hereby emphatically call the

attention of Freemasons to the fact , that up to a certain point all the three degrees resemble each other , and each sign seems but the analogue or continuation of the preceding one . Beyond this

certain point however , viz ., the middle portion of the third degree , a new system begins , the signs change in kind , and the ideas developed are entirely different . Upon this subject we shall speak in our next .

The Romans seem to have had an idea that the umbel , or navel , formed the completion of the human body . In like manner when a book was finished , the button , or bulla , with which it . was

sealed , was also called the umbel , or navel of a book , to mark that it was finished . Therefore , when they desired to express strongly and forcibly that anything was finished ,

they pointed to that part of their person and said , according to Horace and many other writers , " ad umbilicum ducitur , " that is to say we ha \ -e conic to the navel or boss ( end ) of the

affair , emphatically to say , it is finished , it is finished , and so do we desire emphatically to express that at this same point , Ancient Roman

Freemasonry ends . In our next we propose to illustrate the second , or p hilosophical portion . '

Bro. Lessing And His Masonic Conversations.

BRO . LESSING AND HIS MASONIC CONVERSATIONS .

Bv WAX OF Co . MME . VT . lRY . —P . IRT III ) . FlKST . BY BRO . CRYFTOKYMUS . It has been a question of some doubt whether Bro . Lessing , the erudite student , and noble scholar , designedly or accidentally left these

papers as they exist . I am disposed to incline to the latter opinion . Yet as a magnificent fragment , a broken column , they claim the attention of thoughtful minds . Indirectly , likewise , they illustrate a period of Masonic history very useful to

be borne in mind in our days . The slow growth of human institutions are depicted by Lessing in the interlocutory part of Falk in such vivid characters , that although we . are nearly a century from the author , the picture is as perfect as when it

left the master s hand . The polity is in a similar state at the present time . It is not , as a Freemason , necessary to speak of the great events of the last years , yet a passing allusion may be permitted , in order to account for the republication of Lessing ' s Conversations .

The world has ever been prone to apotheosise its representative men—these men—when fairl y examined in the biographical , or auto-biographical way , have generally been found to be affiliated

to the Masonic Fraternity . In the rare instances where they have not been so affiliated , they have usually exhibited virtues and qualities rendering them xx'orthy of affiliation . But how rare are these instances !

One instance will surely suffice . Ihe late noble-minded Prince Consort was never absolutel y a member of the Order , but no Freemason would dispute the fact that his life and deeds , his

motives and their results , were eminently Masonic , iu the sense that our illustrious Brother Lessing desires to convey to the minds of others . And a further illustration of the truth of the slow

growth of really enduring institutions is to be seen in all that the late Prince cither mediatel y or immediately inaugurated . The fruits of years

of patient thought , and of continual perseverance now bless a later generation . And thus it is with the works of the Freemasons . Taking not th political aspect of life , but the purely human

Bro. Lessing And His Masonic Conversations.

and social side , they have been labouring to elevate a true Temple of Humanity—in emulation—and no unworthy emulation of the Great Giver of Life ; as the G . A . O . T . U . gave the whole of his blessings to man , so the Freemasons only ask that those associated with them should

be pure and true—no man is excluded . " You arc already half a Freemason , " exclaims Falk to Ernest , nor is it an idle phrase . Taken in this li ght , every man of lofty aspirations , every man whose heart bids him look beyond class and nature , is already half a

Freemason . Hence also arises the fact of the enduring nature of the Institution itself ; hence exist its deep roots in all social existences . It is not in ceremonial Masonry , in elegant delivery , or in accurate memory that the true sources of Masonic enthusiasm are to be found , but really in the

practice of the three Grand Principles , rendered more immediate and impressive by the constant practice of the rituals . In this sense , Freemasonry becomes a reli gion—in the true acceptation of the word—and though it may be that some put

it aside as an empty piece of mummery , the real Freemason must perceive it in a truer light . Kingdoms may rise and fall , dynasties may be overturned , all the political machinery of the world may get out of gear , but it is finally true , that to the Masonic Fraternity and certain other

bodies , we must turn for real aid . No Mason , as such , would interfere with the State and its Institutions , and here we have the key note of Bro . Lessing ' s theme . Yet—in another way- — a Mason may truly be interested in the State . As a member of the body politic , he has an

interest at stake , and may properly exercise his political ri ghts ; but , if a true Mason , he will never resort to violent or frixolous means . There cannot be with him dark conspiracies , or planting of banners on city walls . Freemasonry , to my my mind , is instinct with the doctrine of

Forbearance . It is not the first time that I hax-e had occasion to treat of this most obvious of all purposes , this mutual succour . Prepared in Masonic Lodges , this binds us , and vet we have rights as individuals , and by individualism alone can mutual security be secured .

'The Legend of our Order touches much upon the building of a Temple . 'There is the legend . Those who have honoured me by reading the Conxx-rsations may be likely fo come to the conclusion that this is not all . The work to be done must be substantial , as

well as accurate . We now , having cleared a portion of the ground , should look to the reality and truth of the transaction . No consolidation of the Jews occured until the election of Saul . He was defeated by David , as we are told , and after a period

ol" degradation on the part of the latter , a son was born to him , who , we are again told , was possessed of the greatest wisdom in the world . Nor is it untrue . The father in the legend had erred ; the son . King Solomon , had to expiate ; the wisdom conveyed was that of contrition .

Here we begin to arrive at the key ol much connected with Freemasonry . To Freemasons there exists a Temple , but it is raised—where not ? Not confined to one spot , not amidst the mazy hazes cf theology . Is it not instinct in the hearts of humanity collectively and indivi dually ?

The true Temple is the Conscience of Man , and directly connected with his reciprocal rights with his fellow-men . How readily do men assert their individual rig hts ! How readily do they combine against any form of social wrong 1 But in the calm of their passions , Freemasonry

comes in , with its silent voice , and bids all this strife of classes and of races , cease . And although it is certain that the Order exists , and has existed , in the emphatic words of Bro . Lessing , " at all times , " yet I may be permitted to say , that in his day , and following out his own argument , it was not , and cannot be universal . There

appears lo be , not only an ORDER OI Exri \ TIOX , but an ORDER OF RECONCILIATION . These two united , as was the meeting of the wily Jacob with the honest Jisau , would perfect society . Reconciliation between individuals is the true stability of the State . In the contributions I have before been kindly permitted to make in these pages , I have spoken

Bro. Lessing And His Masonic Conversations.

of such an Order of Reconciliation . It exists , but only in Holy Russia , where our Masonic Order does not run as it might . The reason is plain , the pages of Herodotus illustrate it . Wherever the Scythians arc , they are moveable ; they were

cast out and can not return . They seize therefore a vast continent to move in . It has been presumed that their aim is Constantinople . Kluf and rest . This is not so , it is the everlasting collision occuring between the Occident and the Orient .

God ' s is the Orient , God ' s is the Occident ; True that your countenance In common Ordinance Might turn it here or there ,

For God is everywhere . But that no precept fail , And that no doubter rail , And that mild peace prex-ail . With humble pious bow Turn to the Kaaba now .

And what is the Kaaba , but the Conscience : what is Freemasonry , but an adequate outward expression of the Divine powers given us , untramnieled by other adventitious aids ? May 1 again add a few lines ? Surely ,

What is that , being just to God .-Not that you turn you east , Xol lhat you turn you west , It is the Faith in Him , the only One : And in his messengers who leave

His throne for every world , and in his prophets , 'Through whose mild voice he speaks , and in his Holy Book : The doom- —and in the great and final dav Of sreneral judgment , ending all .

'This general judgment , what is it , save the verdict of the conscience ? and when we speak of the Grand Lodge above—may not the concluding lines I have to offer best describe tinhopes and belief of the races .

I It is a love unto the God ol Grace , j The God that ever upon all of his ! Pours out Eternal Mercy . J The love that ' s still so kindly active , i Thai willingly unbinds the precious bonds . ;

Sharing betwixt the need y wanting . Giving the lonely and the parentless , The pilgrim , and the poor , all His possessions :

It is the true and good fulfilment , Of compact , treaty , ami engagement-Patient endurance in misfortune Ami courage always in the sacred cause .

I have sincere hopes that my brethren either born Unitarians—in the sense of Parsees or Mohammedans—will give me the credit ' of sincerity . If Freemasonry does not include a

belief m the unity of the G . A . O . T . U . where , can if be ? We have observed Falk running after a butterfly . There is a profound meaning in that .

What is man ' s mission here ? Say , spirit , say : Tell me the reason of this strife below , Wh y should eternal souls each day Str . ve without hope in pity and in woe ? Is it then meant we should for ever thus :

Labour in vain to stay last-fleeting joy ? Nay , rather , by the power Heaven derived Be our ' s the task to make each man long lived And independent , and his homely cot A little palace—though it ' s all he ' s got .

And Falk got no butterfly . But he caught a firmer principle , in which his friend Ernest assisted him—that of associative force . It is idle for communities to be formed without a real nnderstandincr : hence Flrnest draws Falk ' s attention

to the ants . How strange was that butterfly , and stranger still the non-capture . " He enticed me from bush to bush down to the rivulet , and suddenl y he fluttered over it ? " Such , sadly to be said , is much

ol human life : there is no dependence to be placed upon anything , in consequence , of a wrong state of society . The bees , the tints , under

1 . G . A . O . T . U . are well placed . They are not dependent upon factitious aids . Why should not men , honourably associated , violating no right statutorily accepted , do as the bees and ants do ?