Papers On Masonry.

PAPERS ON MASONRY .

JiY A LiEWlS . V . —MASONRY AND WOMAN . The ladies claim right to come into our light ,

Since tbe apron , they say , is their bearing ; Can they subject their will , can they keep their tongues still , And let talking be changed into hearing ? E . A . P . Song .

In ancient Rome one Clodius dared to intrude himself into an assemblage of ladies , and thereby profaned the mysteries in course of celebration , at great risk and personal disadvantage to himself . One modern instance of retaliation has taken place in the person of the Honorable Elizabeth St . Leger ,

Lord Doneraile ' s daughter , afterwards the Hon . Mrs . Aldworth . It is not my intention to enter into the particulars of that remarkable train of circumstances . Unless we accept the French system of the Rite of Adoption and the " Mopses" lodges , no

woman except Mrs . Aldworth has , to the best of my knowledge , ever participated in those ceremonies peculiar to Masons . But by placing these two facts in juxtaposition we can scarcely be doing wrong . Courage , we thus learn , is one thing ; temerity is another .

Clodius was wrong . The other case was probably , if the history of the affair be rightly recounted , an unavoidable necessity . There is , however , a moral to be deduced at the present time , when women ' s social rights have become a prominent matter of argument and illustration , in practice as well as

theory . In the varied scenes of human life we see at work feminine influences of the most diverse character . We see the highest type of a Florence Ni ghtingale in grim contrast with the misguided wretchedness of drunken Biddy , the Basketwomau , AVe behold

the cultured gentleness of a Lady Jane Grey side by side with the outspoken and brazen independence of a Girl of the Period . But is there nothing in between ? I am disposed to think so . There exist women amongst ns who , without the fortune of a Coutts or

the infatuation of a Sanrin , minister both wisely and well in the cause of charity . These ladies are not heard of in the gayer haunts of life , nor do they ostentatiously parade their deeds . Like Howard and Elizabeth Fry , their sphere is one of simple action , in places repugnant to their pleasure-loving

contemporaries . And verily thoy receive their reward—they act on the principles of Masonry instilled , not by obligation , but example . It is a great thing to be assured that this class of intellect is neither on the wane nor is likely to prove so . Intelligence guides their actions , and without undue

curiosity they pursue their unwearied way , doing the right and shunning no exertion to promote the good and the real . To them , therefore , also apply the words— "AVell done , thou good and faithful servant ; enter thou into the joy of thy Lord . "

At the same time , any one who has studied the nature of the feminine mind cannot but recognise the justice—irrespective of other considerationsof their exclusion from participation in Masonic secrets ami ceremonies . The female mind works

upon laws of its own ; it has a kind of orbitual eccentricity , ill adapted for sameness or system . To take a parallel case—that of inventors—it cannot follow a beaten path , a Roman street , but seeks to penetrate by new and diflicult ways . As in cookery , so in benevolence or in action—there is always

"another way . " The absorbed male mind seeks to steady itself by pursuing beaten paths ; it seeks the repose of the Indian , and clings with tenacity to the established order of things . The ratio is that of the telescope to the kaleidoscope , and yet the objectgiving pleasure to the contented , amusement to the

weary , and instruction to the thoughtful—is the same . The philosophical toy has the same solemn signification as the philosophical implement Both exist iu the nature of things , and perform , when rightly estimated , their uses for tho general good . Hence the good Freemason , from the influence

exercised upon himself by the duties imposed upon him in his solemn promise on initiation , as a rule , finds himself placed in an orderly home with truly enjoyable surroundings . A silent influence permeates tho dwelling of those whom , under Heaven , he loves the best ; and sheds over everything the brightest

and best of hues . Many a man—otherwise at unrest , and hence in "the gates of bitterness and the bondage of unbelief "—has been solaced and reclaimed by an association with the solemn lessons of Freemasonry . When all seemed weary , the oasis was found , and the fata morgana of mere outward life lost its enticing terrors ; the haven had been gained , and

wrow , without losing its chastening effect , had been turuod into peace . The ladies of the present day havo learned to respect the Craft , instead of to laugh at it ; and they supplement its own noble spirit of charity by ten thousand graceful and well-timed works of forbearance and human kindness . Although it is not to be denied that these noble

Papers On Masonry.

qualities may exist outside of any influences of Freemasonry , it must be evident that the institution tends to stimulate the exercise of the virtues to which I have referred , and hence to raise the standard of morality and truth . There is an unquestionable benefit to be derived from the system which has soothed to rest so many angry passions ,

and relieved so many of the ills to which flesh is heir ; and while ladies cannot themselves be Masons , no one can doubt that they are gradually arriving at a consciousness of the utility and excellence of a system of morality which places its main strength in its catholicity , and proceeds fearlessly forward in the task of the alleviation of suffering and the

removal of ignorance . This is also proved by the many subscriptions paid , and works of goodness rendered , by ladies associated , by bh-th or marriage , with members of the Fraternity . To such the warmest thanks of every lover of mankind are due , and they are cheerfully paid on every occasion of a lodge meeting .

Sometimes , however , to use a homely phrase , "the boot is on the other leg ; " sometimes the discretion of ladies is greater than that of the male sex . Hence my allusion to Clodius . As Laurette exclaims to Champagne , in Quinault's comedy of "La mere Coquette " : — Tu ne saurois rien taire , et tu veux savoir ;

Crois-tu que , qiiand je garde avec toi le silence , Je ne me fasse pas beauxcoup de violence ? Translated , freely : — No silenco canst thou keep , and yet would still be knowing Dost not believe , in keeping silence with thee , Much and sore trouble I endure ? Without desiring to slander the ladies , it is perhaps

as well—other reasons apart—that they have no participation in Masonry . The virtuous Cato wassligbtly put out on the occasion of his visit to the Floral Games . Verbum sap . " That the exclusion of the fair sex from the Order , " observes a thoughtful writer on Masonry [ "Introduction to Freemasonry . " Loudon , 1820 :

p . 97 J , " is so far from a bar to their happinessyea , rather heightens it — innumerable instances might be adduced ; for , however harsh on a transient view it may appear , it vanishes when we reflect that this exclusion is far from being peculiar to our Order ; for , in tenderness , also , they are excluded from legislation , from war , from the arduous cares

of the State , and the dangers of the field ; as , likewise , from various other functions iu civil life . —indeed , from all but domestic cares . For so greatly favourable to the fair sex are the laws and institutions of man , that their very disabilities are their safest and best , guardians , and that often against the undue influence of their lords . "

Since the first portion of this paper was written , I find the Editor of THE FREEMASON has alluded to " Female Freemasonry " in a leader . To what has been stated I may , perhaps , add a few words in conclusion . Of the peculiar Rite of Adoptive Masonry , the Duchess of Bourbon was the installed Grand Mistress in 1775 , and among subsequent

Grand Mistresses we find recorded the names of the unfortunate Princess do Lamballe , and the illustrious consort of the first Napoleon— the Empress Josephine . A snatch , freely translated , from the E . A . P . song used in these lodges , may amuse , and fitly terminate these remarks . 'Tis said that in r ' liglanil that Goddam doth make

The best of all language without a mistake ; Hut here , in true France , we another employ , To enable us all life and health to enjoy ; And wc take our stand , And join lieart with hand , And ejaculate Eva ! Eva ! Kva !

Ljaculatc I ' . va ! Or juttiat demand ! No ! The work that women can perform is of a character better adapted for their physical and mental constitutions : and while tliev ore welnmiie

guests at the festivals with which Masons enliven their more serious pursuits , they never can or ought to be associated with the latter . CRYPTONYMUS .

Celestial Mysteries.

CELESTIAL MYSTERIES .

BY BKO . IIKNRY MELVILLE . ( Concluded . ) In the same Assyrian gallery is a compound astronomical figure , the interpretation of which cannot be misunderstood . It is that of a sedate-looking man , with wings on his shoulders , in like manner as Virgo

is pictured , he has an car of corn in his hand , and Isis , Virgo , is never p ictured without an car of corn in her hand . Ptolemy , whose picture constellations are said to be of Anno Domini 138 , has Auriga with a " scourge of small cords" in his right hand , and a goat on his lclt arm , so has the Assyrian figure . A strange fancy

carrying a goat on tho arm , and still more strange that no celestial figure of Auriga was ever represented without a goat on the arm . In Ptolemy , and in all modern atlases , there aro two kids or lambs on the arm or bosom with tho goat— " He shall feed his flock like a shepherd ; he shall gather the lambs with hia arm ,

Celestial Mysteries.

and carry them in his bosom . " Moses was learned inall the wisdom of the Egyptians , but the wisdom of the Egyptians could not always arrange to have brilliants to govern their astronomical points , therefore , of necessity , they had to select small stars by which they could govern their calculations . Capella

means " a little goat . Capella of the goat is a brilliant of the first magnitude , and in the year 1820 was at AR 75 ° 51 , then one of the' lambs , the little star lambda was at AR 76 ° 36 . At some time or other this little Iamb must have been extinguished or allegorieall y burnt , by the sun rising at the vernal

equinox in " Aries , " but the Jews were commanded by Moses to reckon their festivals from Tishree , " Libra , '' and that would be evening with them . Early in the morning Isaac said , "Behold the fire and the wood ; but where is the lamb for a holocaust ? " and his father replied , thoElohim ( GODS ) will provide the lamb , and

Abraham took " Aries , " and " offered him up as a burnt offering . " This was on the equinoxial morning , which would be sacrificing the paschal lamb in Tishree at the passovev of the sun in the evening " Your lamb ye shall keep until the 14 th day of the month : and the whole assembly of the congregation

shall kill it in the evening . " The 14 th day ( evening ) of the lunar month is the full moon , and Spica , the ear of corn of Virgo , is called Azamech , meaning " the station of tho moon . " Our Easter Sunday is yet dependent on the full moon at the paschal equinox , as may be seen in any orthodox prayer-book . The

Jews are one day or one degree on the circlo in arrear of Christians , thus their MOON day is our sabbath or SUN day . The lamb , therefore , instead of being at 76-36 , as with us , was with them at 77 - 36 , year 1820 . The processional cycle of the Egyptians is 25 , 920 years , or 72 years for each day or degree of the solar circle .

77 ° 36 years multiplied b y 72 years gives 5580 or Anno Muntli of the Jews , for the Christian Anno Domini 1820 . " The lamb slain from the foundation of the world . " The inscription on this stately Assyrian figure , according to Mr . Daniel Smith ' sreadingof the Cuniform

characters , is an invocation to the rising sun on Easter day . It thus commences " Proclamation Palace" * * * « Oh that thou wouldst cry aloud , and scatter the multitude of stone gods , and show me the extreme beauty of the true God and the manifestations of his glory . Hasten my desires . Light shine forth

and spread around the eternal and unchangeable supreme . And thine Altar shall be covered with the glory of him that is above all , " & c , & c Elul means " cry aloud , " and is the month of Virgo of the Jews , and Spica , the ear of corn , and the wings of Virgo , arecombined with the Assyrian figure of Auriga . " So the wall was finished on the 25 th of Elul in fifty

and two days , " and Spica is the ( say ) 25 th of Elul Virgo , when the circular wall would bo finished in 52 " weeks of days , " when the sun would rise at the equinox as described . Cannai is the Budhist name of Virgo . The stone gods are the constellations formed of precious stones , heavenly gems , and these disappear

at sun-rise , when all the inhabitants of Cannai or Cannan melt away . The Assyrian inscription continues , " the Eternal cometh quickly , and will assuredly * * * * destroy the Rock my God , ""tho rock of ages . " "And the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin looked : and behold , the multitude

melted away and they went on beating down one another . " At the moment " lambda , " the lamb of God , sets , the centre of Ara the altar rises ; this is the masonic pedestal , for above it are the compasses , the level , and tho square . The Light of the eternal and unchangeable Supreme is above the altar on the roof

of the choir in Saint Paul ' s cathedral . Tho sun rising —and as tho sun rises in the cast to enli ghten the world , so docs the AV . M . rise in the east to enlighten his lodge . The Assyrians , or whoever the people were that constructed the monuments now known as Assyrian , must

have been masons , that is "SPECULATIVE or Astral " free masons . Adjoining the pavilion or dwelling whercunder arc the horses resting , is a remarkable strong man generally considered as a eunuch or chamberlain ; he is standing between two pillars or posts , and as these have on their summits the goat Capricornus ,

they may as well be considered as the pillars of Freemasonry , one of which signifies in the strength , or in the goat . The strong man then ia Samson or Hercules ; Samson means " his sun " and his posts are otherwise the pillars of Hercules or Hiram , who constructed Jachin and Boaz . The Assyrian lliram is

between the entrance of tho Lodge of tho house of sun where the horses are , and this outer porch or entrance . In his left hand and over his shoulder ia the cable tau , and in his right the rod or twenty-four inch gauge , AVithout the porch aro four miserable

sojourners in tribulation desiring to be released from Misriam Sirius or Egyptus . The figure in charge of them is tho bow-man Sagittarius , who holds in his right hand a mystic cross-bow bolt , it is now known as Sagitta , it is " the arrow of the Lord ' s deliverance and . the arrow of deliverance from Syria . " IIKNRY MKLVILLE , 3 , Chapcl-road , Blenheim-crescent , Notting-liill .