Footsteps Of Freemasonry;

porchways . Aulus Gellius , in the reign of Adram , is very critical on these porchways , and says it was through them that all visitors entered , that there they left their equipages , servants , and horses , often very numerous . From this porchway a staircase ^ winding or otherwise , led to the inner chamber , or tablinum , where books were kept and business of importance settled .

THE PILLARS AT THE PORCHWAY ENTRANCE . The pillars placed by King Solomon at the porchway entrance , are supposed to be frequently alluded to in Masonry , as Crabbe assures us . " Boaz and Jachin through theearth . renowned . "

The Romans were , however , singularly fond of adorning their houses with pillars or columns , and from some remarks in Cicero we gather that , like armorial bearings of our own day , they were taxed , for Rome was a place ground down with taxation .

A pil . ar in such cases stood on each side of the doorway , and among the ornaments of their capitals are enumerated " spherical globes . " The temples had each its pillars likewise , and some are enumerated as having had only two , at the entrance .

Both pillars and posts too were indeed of great importance amongst the Romans , and of great resort . The latter " posts , or cartasta , " standing places , or even pillories existed publicly , where fraudulent bankrupts were punished , and slaves attached by their feet for sale . They

existed also in almost every honse , and it is especially alluded to as a favourite punishment by materfamUias when any graceful slave was thought to stand too high in the favour of her master . It was to a post , and not in stocks , that St . Paul's feet were fastened at Lystra .

It was to these Catasta the martyrs were attached , and they are every where spoken of in the narrations of ancient martyrdoms , ( see Prudentius an early Christian poet . ) This institution has been thus handed down almost to our times , by the fostering care of Rome . Of course this is

not Freemasonry , but points out how ancient customs and memories traditionally descend . But to return— - Pillars , or columns , have always , since the time of Lot ' s wife , held a prominent part in history . The Roman pillars of Trajan and Antoninus , erected to commemorate the

exploits ofthose reigns , andcrowned with statues of their respective Emperors , were the models of , and celebrated throughout the world long , long , before that one , copied from them , and hated of Communists , arose , and of which as it may be truly said , as has been said of one nearer home , it

" Like a tall bully , lifts its head and lies . " Certain pillars in the Forum formed the resort of different classes . Prigs , scamps , small brokers , and fraudulent tradesmen lumgaround the Mit' . nian pillar , at once the Bow Street , Old Bailey , and voting place of Rome . At others lawvers ,

patrons , clients , idlers , quidnuncs , and unemployed were mingled indiscriminately together and contempousl y styled Pillarians ( Columnarii ) . Hither also to the Rostrum or pul pit , which was the bow or beak of a ship attached to the same column , came patriots , and harangued the

people in the [ sacred , but oft misused name of liberty . Hither also came the claimant of the day , who pretending to be the son of one of the noble and virtuous Gracchi , was by the sweet voices , and votes of the inferior voters , ( Quirites)—the

mobilis vulgus—then as now ignorant , violent , and credulous , in a craze of delusion elected to the high office of Tribune of Rome . By these also sometimes passed true patriots , of one of whom , Marcus Cato by name , Cicero , lovingly tells us in his oration for Murena that he squared the conduct of his life by the unerring

rule if reason . It was near others that booksellers stood , and where , according to Horace , small poets recited and sold their wares , and which often neither " Gods nor Man , " " nonDii . nonhomines , " could preserve from that end which the great poet of our days tells us is " the goal of ill-conditioned poetry . "

"To bind a book , to line a box ; Or serve to curl a maiden ' s locks . " So at least says Tennyson . Horace expresses their doom in shorter terms and as brevity is the soul of wit , I prefer his .

Footsteps Of Freemasonry;

Of course this is not all Freemasonry , but any chat savouring of its ancient haunts may amuse , even if it does not instruct us . In our next we propose to resume the " Fragments . "

Inauguration Of The Masonic Temple, Hasskeui.

INAUGURATION OF THE MASONIC TEMPLE , HASSKEUI .

The Masonic Temple at Hasskeui was inaugurated on Tuesday evening , the and inst ., by a banquet , followed b y a concert and ball . The building , which has been erected by shares , under the auspices of the Caledonian Lodge ( Scotch rite ) , cost a little over ies'T . 1 , 400 ,

exclusive of the site , and is a neat and substantial edifice , with , however , an exterior totally and singularly devoid of Masonic character , and even of the slightest Masonic emblem . The internal arrangement is excellent . The lodge-room is spacious and lofty , with a handsome chandelier

in the centre , pendant from a waggon-shaped ceiling , studiled with stars , to represent the cerulean vault , which is the figurative roof of a Masonic lodge . This room was on Tuesday night the scene of one of those assemblages which , in this region , are only to be witnessed

in Hasskeui , and which in that place are by no means infrequent . The interest in the event was not confined to members of the Craft ; of the 120 or more persons who attended the banquet a considerable number belonged to the " outer world , " and there were also many ladies—an

innovation all the more commendable as the banquet was to be followed by a ball , at which the presence of the fair sex was indispensable . The chair was occupied by W . Bro . Henderson , ex-Master of the Caledonian Lodge , and Chairman of the Building Committee . On the entrance ,

however , of the R . W . Bro . Brown , District Grand Master of Turkey , who wore the collar and insignia of his office , and was received upstanding by the company , ( but without the usual Masonic honours , owing to the presence of "profane persons " ) Bro . Henderson , though

belonging to a rite which doe-s not owe allegiance to the chiefs of the English Order , still , in deference to so distinguished a member of the Craft , offered him the gavel , the possession of which confers authority over all assemblies of Masons . This formal compliment was , of

course , politely declined by the R . W . D . G . M . ; who thereupon took his seat at the left of the Chairman , having near him his late Deputy , Bros . Laurie , Smythe , P . M . Bulwer , and P . G . D . G . Treasurer ; and Wetherilt , W . M . of the Leinster Lodge , ( Irish rite ) , which holds

its meetings in the Temple . On the right of the Chairman were two leading " profanes "—as non-masons are called by the initiated—Sir Phili p Francis , II . M . Consul-General and Judge ol the Supreme Consular Court , and Shanks liey , Superintendent Engineer at the Imperial Arsenal

at Hasskeui . Among the representatives ol local lodges present were W . Bros . Temple and Hanly , the Present and Immediate Past Masters of the Oriental Lodge . The banquet consisted of an excellent and well served cold collation , provided b y Mr . Rowe , of Hasskeui , assisted by

Mr . Nunn of Galata , and accompanied b y a liberal flow of choice wines . Grace was sung before and after the repast by the " Hasskeui chorus" and at intervals music was played by a band stationed in the gallery at the west end of the lodge-room . At the conclusion of the banquet ,

The Chairman said they had met together for the purpose of congratulating each other on the completion of their work , and he , as Chairman of the Building Committee , took this opportunity of thanking the shareholders for the manner in which they had come forward in their department , which had made the Committee ' s labours

light . He was sure it must be a source of satisfaction to them and all there assembled to know that not onl y had this building been a boon to them as men and Masons , but that it had been a financial success —( hear , hear , )—and that was something in this hard world , multiplied and divided by pounds , shillings , and pence . It was something , he knew , to the Committee , who felt

Inauguration Of The Masonic Temple, Hasskeui.

11 Y the completion of the work , pleased with themselves and with everybody else . It was not onl y something to have been able to raise a considerable amount of money , but it was important in regard of the great amount of good that would result to them , not merely as men and Masons , but

as Englishmen in the land of strangers . ( Cheers . ) It was great , also , as illustrating that " be up and doing " spirit of our race which brooked no obstacles , which we had carried with us through time and space , and had made our land and name famous throughout the world . ( Cheers . )

We Englishmen did not readily assimilate with strangers , however long we resided with them . We still loved to retain our peculiar characteristics whether good or bad , and nothing was so pre-eminent in our thoughts as carrying with us our own sources of instruction and our own arts

whether physical or intellectual . This was to be seen every day illustrated among the British colony of Constantinople , and more especially in the village in which they were now assembled . Today , for instance , they saw a few Foresters who wished to have their Society transplanted to the

land of their adoption . On the other hand , they had seen Mechanic ' s Institutes , struggling , tit first , it was true , amidst difficulties and neglect , rising ultimately to a condition of more harmonious efficiency . It was pleasing at times , and more especially at gatherings such as this , to

reflect that the native spirit of yawash-yaiensh of this land did not wash out the energies and determination of the Englishmen resident here . ( Cheers and laughter . ) It was about three years ago that a few Masons met at Hasskeui , wishing to see the society brought into their midst , and

they all knew how many had since gathered within the magic circle , in which we were taught to act more truly , and to think more kindly , and exert greater influence for our mutual good . ( Applause . ) How successful had been the project of having a temple of their own they had

evidenced before them in the building which they had met to inaugurate . They must all of them hope that the edifice would remain a monument of what men could do who had confidence in each other and in the principles they professed . He felt hi ghly gratified and honoured

at the presence of their invited guests to-night . More especiall y did he feel hi ghly pleased with the presence in their midst of the ladies—( cheers ) —whose influence was always hallowing . Indeed , he felt he mi ght be easily tempted to communicate to them all the secrets he was in

possession of . ( Laughter . ) One thing he could tell them , that if Freemasonry failed to make their sweethearts more faithful , their husbands more kind , and their sons more dutiful , they mi ght be sure that with those on whom it did produce such an effect , Freemasonry was

onlyskin-deep . ( Applause . ) But he hoped that every Mason would watch his daily conduct and life in his family and outside , so that no such reproach could ever be made against any one belonging to their Order , but that many happy laces would be seen around them and see their

work , it was their wish that each and all should thoroughly enjoy themselves , and carr ) ' away with them pleasing reminiscences of the opening of the Hasskeui Masonic Temple . ( Cheers . ) ^ Mr . W . Dorrell , Secretary to the Building Committee , then read the report , from which it

appeared that there had been an excess of ^ 260 in the expendituroover the receipts . The number of shareholders was 67 , and they held 295 shares , or an average of 5 ^ each . If every share - holder took an additional share the capital

account would be balanced with a surplus . After what is the first toast at all festive assemblages of British Masons , " the Queen and the Craft , " the Chairman proposed " the health of the K . W . Bro . Brown , " District Grand Master , which was drunk admid loud cheers .

Bro . Brown briefly expressed his thanks for the compliment paid to him . Lie had always felt very great interest in this undertaking . He had assisted at its birth , and again when it cut its

teeth , and he concluded from what he saw and had just heard in the report , it had now passed through all the dangerous crises of infancy . He wished every prosperity to the Temple and the Lodges assembling therein . The Chairman , in proposing the next toast , observed that it always gave them great pleasure to