Original Correspondence.

Chronicles , 11 . 1 4 , where , as he truly says , we find that Hiram " was an able worker in stone , as well as in other works . " It , however , by no means follows that Hiram was a Mason or a builder . The King of Tyre describes him to be " skilful to work in gold , and silver , and brass , and iron , and stone , "

& c , and " also to grave any manner of graving , and to find out every device which shall be put to him with thy cunning men , and with the cunning men of my lord David thy father . " But , surely , the capability to work in stone was the same sort of capability he had to work in gold , and silver , and

brass , and iron , & c . ; that is , not as a Mason or a builder , but as a worker in metals , and a carver or sculptor . As Dr . Mackcy observes ( Lex . art . Hiram ) he was " theworkmantowhomSoIomonwas indebted for all the ornaments of the Temple ; " not for the construction ofthe edifice itself . And with this agrees

the description of the work he accomplished , in 2 Chronicles , iv . 11-16 , and 1 Kings vii . 15-45 , 111 neither of which places is a word said of his being concerned in any other description of work than that I have specified ; namely , the ornamental work

ofthe Temple , and the furniture thereof , which was work of an artistic description , and not such as a builder or a Mason himself undertakes and accomplishes . But what is , as I think , still more conclusive as to the relation of Hiram to the Temple , is that in

1 Kings v . 18 , the builder ' s VH beni , and the stonesquarer ' s fc- ^ 733 Giblim , are distinctly described as those who prepared the stones and the timber to build the house with , i . e ., the builders and the Masons ; and in verse 14 , Adoniram is said to have been over the levy which included these workmen in timber and stone , not a word being

there or elsewhere said about Hiram in connection with such work . In this view of the case , Brother Guedalla appears to agree with me , as also in my belief , that Adoniram was the Master-builder and Mason . May I now say that I think it is made manifest ,

that the widow's son was known as Huram or Hiram simply , and not as Huram or Hiram Abif , that he was an artificer in all decorative work , whatever might be the material ; and that in this he was so renowned and honoured as to be spoken of as a distinguished man ?

How , then , came the German and Swedish translators , and we Masons , to convert the descriptive phrase of 2 Chron . iv . 16 , Abiu , into a proper name— " and all their instruments did Huram , his father ( Abiu ) , make to King Solomon " ? I do not know , unless it be that the phrase , "Did Hiram

his father , make to King Solomon , " perplexed them . Knowing that Hiram was not the father of Solomon , they thought to solve the difficulty by taking the word Abiu as a proper name . It must be admitted that the passage is perplexing , if wc be ignorant or forgetful of the fact , that the designation Ah , or

father , was used as a mark of distinction and honor by the Hebrews ( sec 2 Kin . ii . 12 , vi . 21 , xiii . 14 , & c . ) If we take the writers ofthe book of Chronicles to use the word in this sense , all will , I think , be clear . " All these things did Huram , " who , for his skill and accomplishments , was distinguished as

his father , " make for King Solomon . " Bro . Guedalla says , "I , therefore , agree with Bro . Carpenter , that the assassination of the so-called Hiram Abif is merely an allegory , " to which Bro . Stolz objects , that " on whatever the story is based

there must be a reason , " & c . No doubt ; and I can not do better , perhaps , to show what I , and , probably , Bro . Gucdella , mean in speaking of this as a mere tradition , than quotethe following passage from Dr . Mackey ( art . Traditions , in Lex . ) : "In many instances these traditions have been corrupted by

anachronisms and other errors , which have naturally crept into them during a long series of oral transmission . No one , therefore , can for a moment contend that all the legends and traditions of the Order are to the very letter historical facts . All that can be claimed for them is that in some there is a great

deal of truthful narrative , more or less overlaid with fiction ; in others , simply a substratum of history ; and in others , nothing more than an idea , to which the legends or myth is indebted for its existence , and of which it is , as a symbol , the exponent . The intelligent Mason will always , however , be able

after a little consideration , to separate the substratum of truth from the superstructure of fiction which has been imposed upon it ; and , then , what is presented as a tradition will often be found to be a mere myth or allegory , whose symbolic teaching is of great beauty and importance . It is a part of

the science of Freemasonry to elaborate out of these traditions the truth , symbolic or historical , which they are intended to convey , and to distinguish a tradition founded in fact from one which is based upon a myth ' , so as to assign to the annals and the

poetry of the Order their respective merits . " After all , however , this controversy is of little value , beyond this—that it is always important to ascertain the truth ; and also that it is desirable to be able to attach more definite meaning to any ritual or phrase

Original Correspondence.

we may use . I will assume , though not insist upon it dogmatically , that we have succeeded in the former object ; and I think that we , who deny that Hiram was also named Abif , may justify ourselves

in adopting the formula— " Solomon , King of Israel ; Hiram , King of Tyre ; and Hiram Abif , " as signifying— "Solomon , King of Israel ; Hiram , King of Tyre ; and Hiram , the father , " that is the renowned artificer upon whom was conferred that honoring

distinction . I am , vours fraternally , WILLIAM CARPENTER .

TRUE FREEMASONRY AS AN EXAMPLE . ( To the Editor of The Freemason . ) DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —The readers of your excellent journal could not have had a better picture and example of Freemasonry than the words of Bro . W . Carpenter on page 92 .

In reading his able article entitled "Jews and Christians , " I could not help thinking that Bro . Carpenter puts the subject before mc with regard to the Jews , as a Mason , in the same way as St . Paul , by the spirit of God , as a Christian . After telling us what we ought to do when amongst unbelievers ,

and how we ought to deal with them , St . Paul says ( Rom . xiv . 19 ) : "Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace , and things wherewith one may edify another . " That is true Christianity . In Bro . Carpenter ' s letter we find it to be true Freemasonry . O wonderful Masons ! O wonderful

Masonry ! Had such a spirit existed from the beginning of the Christianera , instead of Popery—the enemy of Christianity , the enemy of Freemasonrywe should not have had that picture of the long and unceasing miseries which they have undergone ever since the destruction of their temple . The Church

of Rome ever ranked and treated them as heretics . Had such men as Bro . Carpenter been then in England , who says to the Jew , "You are my brother , and as a brother I love you , " we should not have had such dark pages in our English history as what

did happen in the Castle of York in the time of Henry 11 ., Richard , John , and Henry III ., who often extorted money from them . Edward the First completed their misery , seized on all their property , and banished them the kingdom . The then Christian did not know how

By winning words to conquer human hearts , And make persuasion do the work of fear . After the reformation from Popery , Luther pleads for them thus , " Let us deal brotherly with them , as the apostles , who were Jews , dwelt brotherly with us . " Freemasonry pleads the same for the Jew . A Jew ,

the riddle of philosophers , the dread of infidels , the marvel of history , the wonder of ages , Heaven's great witness on earth ! Empires that have risen and fallen , nations that were and arc not , generation after generation as they appeared , have found themselves confronted with tlie ever-present Hebrew .

These Jews , by means of their learned commentaries , were instrumental in assisting the efforts that were made at the period ofthe Reformation to emancipate the Christian world from Popish thraldom . Nicholas de Lyra , who flourished about A . D . 1300 , after embracing Christianity , wrote a commentary on the

Old and New Testaments , and being deeply versed in the ancient tongues and well read in all the works of the learned Rabbis , he selected their best opinions , and expounded the scriptures . He was indeed a most useful forerunner to Luther , who made use of

his commentaries , in which he frequently reprehended the reigning abuses of the Church , a fact which led the Bishop of Naumburg to say" Si Lyra non Lyrasset , Lulherus non sallusset , "

which has been paraphrased"If Lyra had not harped on profanation , Luther had not planned the reformation . " A Jew seals the pledge of fidelity witli his lips , as a Mason , on the volume of the sacred law , like the Christian ; a Jew believes in the same God as the

Christian , but not " according to knowledge . " The record St . Paul bears for them , " That they have a zeal of God , but not according to knowledge . " To give your readers an idea how the Jew describes his God , I can not do better than quote you a piece of poetry they say on the feast called "Weeks "

( I shall not trouble you with the Hebrew words , but give the translation ) : — " Could I wilh ink the ocean fill ; Were lhe whole earth of parchment made , Were every single stick a quill , And every man a scribe hy

trade—To write the works of Cod above Would drain the ocean dry , Nor would the scroll contain the whole Though stretched from sky to sky . " Such thinks the Jew of his God—the same as the

Mason ofthe G . A . O . T . U . If wc meet the Jew at our Masonic meetings and at our banquets , and we find him still opposed to the Christian faith , let us remember that he has even now the same zeal as St . Paul before his conversion ;

Original Correspondence.

but if a Christian brother is desirous to give that Jew the " knowledge" of God , let him take a lesson from our able Bro . W . Carpenter in his letter on page 92 of your valuable paper . Yours fraternally , D . STOLZ .

Leaves From My Library.

LEAVES FROM MY LIBRARY .

BY MARMADUKE MAKEPEACE . ( Continued from page 17 . 2 .. ) Affected by her truly maternal reception , the Orphan pressed her to his bosom , and expressed not less warmly his devotion and affection . After a few moments Ipsiboe " , disengaging herself from his

arms , stepped back , and standing before him , gazed on him with a tender and melancholy delight . " There , " said she , uttering aloud the thoughts which the sight of him had conjured up— " there is his brow , his figure , his eyes ! I could think I beheld him once more ! Just as handsome did he appear when 1 first saw him . "

A tear glistened in her eye , and her head fell sadly upon her bosom . Raising it again , with a mournful expression , she continued , "And you , too , shall be loved some day ! The brilliant stream of love shall shed its magic illusions over the sweet and joyful spring-tide of your life ; the cup of pleasure

shall be raised to your lips ; you will believe in the delightsofearth , and you wili trust to the fascinations of humanity . Ah ; even if fate itself were favourable to you , the prism will lose its colours , age will dispel the enchantment , and all around you will wither . Weak mortals , thus it is with us all ! The same

errors ; the same waking from them ; the same journey ; and the same termination . " The striking contrast of her disordered manner with her eloquent speech ; the sudden transition from austerity and sterncss to the most affecting sensibility , and from an apparent distraction to

the coolest wisdom , had a powerful effect upon Alamcde . Yielding to the irresistible charm , the youth listened in silence . She approached the torch which was burning opposite the grate of her mysteries retreat . " Alamdde , " she cried , " observe by this night-light my

haggard visage , my hollow eyes , my faded complexion . They were once so many potent charms ; once they were adored . Can you believe , seeing me as I am now , that once I was beautiful , that I was beloved—that Love's wreaths were , twined around this brow ? This form , frail and decayed

as it is , and now a mere ruin , formerly received the worship of men . In my hours of innocence , borne upon the ocean of pleasure , my youthful bark sailed beneath pure skies , decked with blooming roses . Afterwards , in sumptuous palaces , clothed in pomp

and splendour , I experienced alternatel y the gratifications of power and the delights of love . Then burst the tempest , and then came the shipwreck of my happiness and of my hopes . Where is my beauty lied ? whither have the treasures and the palaces vanished ?"

The light of the flaming torch fell upon her pale face and her uncovered shoulders , Trimming the expiring flame with a branch of cypress , and leaning against the wall of hcrdisnial dwelling , she might have been taken for the Cuma ; an sybil , but for the pious and melancholy expression of her face . It was not the Druidess , inured to bloody sacrifices

it was not the enchantress , initiated in Satanic sorceries ; it was not an inspired person called to the performance of a sacred work ; it was a compound of these three different beings—an inexplicable mixture of wildness and reason , of force and weakness ; a mysterious vase containing wild plants and delicious fruits . "

"Oh , my benefactress ! " cried Alamcde , " your life has been exposed to storms , and that of your adopted child is destined to a similar fate . The thunder already roars above me . Without a protectoratthis moment , to-morrow perhaps the Orphan of Aigucmar will be without a home . "

At these words Ipsiboe raised her dejected brow ; a disdainful and angry look succeeded to the sad but benevolent expression of her face . "Timid boy , " she replied , " what matters it that one orphan more should be houseless ? You see the storm at a distance ; you tremble and bewail your fate before

il approaches you ! You dread , then , adversity ? Shame alone is to be dreaded . You desire protectors ; you choose the lot of slavery ? Poor destitute ! be tranquil . Prepared , as you are , to crouch , you will find many a noble ready to pity your weak youth . There are few creeping plants which do not ,

by dint of efforts , find a support . " The irritable youth cast an angry glance upon the Lady of . St . Chrisogone . Indignant pride mantled in his face ; and little wont to constrain himself , he displayed the independence , the freedom , and the loftiness of his temper , in his reply . ( To be continued ) .

IT IS now definitely announced by the German papers that "Janus" is not the work of Dr . Dollinger but of Prof . Hiiber , who has been long known in Munich as a strong opponent of Papal claims .