Royal Arch Masonry.

Coelum Empyrcum , the second , Primuin Mobile , the third , Firmaiuentum , that is , the three heavens , while to- the seven inferior , according to the order of thieir enumeration , are assigned the names of the seven planets , or the Sun , Venus , Mercury , the Moon ,

Saturn , Jupiter , and Mars . Consonant to the ancient idea , mentioned before , of the stars being animated intelligences , the Hebrews appointed to these seven planets , as they did to all the stars , presiding- angels , whose names are , Raphael ,

Haniel , Michael , Gabriel , ZaphkicI , Zadkiel , Gamaliel , and these , probably , are the same with the seven ministering angels that , in the Revelations , are said to stand before the throne of God ( i ) . This

circumstance alone , if duly considered , exhibits the most direct corroborative testimony of the inferior point of view in which the Jews regarded the seven last Sephiroth .

An Essay

AN ESSAY

Concerning the most productive and most useful method of Masonic activity most in accordance withthe ideas oj Freemasonry . By Bro . B . A . CRAMER , at Eicheii-¦ barleben , Member of the Lodge at Aschersleben .

[ CROWNED PRIZE ESSAY . ] MOTTO . —The Masonic forms are only of value in so far as every Mason infuses into them moral and spiritual good , and according to how he turns them to protit . It requires no further proof that the practice of the Royal Art is at present in decay . The judgment of

the most respected Masons ; the experience of every individually-criticising observing Brother ; finally , the ignoring of the lodges by the majority of the educated public , sufficiently , confirm this . Hence , every Brother , who in his truthfulness and good faith in the service of Masonic ideas , is not unmindful of his vow , must needs

consider it his sacred duty to remove this degrading state of stagnation , by paving the way to sound progress , such as would be most suitable to the idea of Masonry , ami at the same time must satisf ying to the just , claims of the present times . We are all agreed that it is tho vocation of

Freemasonry to foster a fellow-feeling amongst mankind . The noblest product , however—the most beautiful disfilay—of such feelin ' : is the moral character in which iberty has become the essence of mind—and life a work of science . Hence Masonry is for awakening and strengthening moral power , not only in individuals ,

but in just appreciation of the dependency of the individual upon the whole—likewise in larger spheres , so that life may grow more and more into a cosmos , and thus become a beautiful and regulated whole . Such is the the set idea of Masonry , and the permanent ono to be realised in and through Masonry .

At the beginning of the last century , when in troubled times Speculative Masonry arose out of the Assemblies of Operative Masons , the Royal Art dwelt in the most intimate circle of Brotherhood . The cement that kept together the old Fraternity was brotherly love , help and sincerity . It crumbled

together , as soon as heterogeneous elements were received into Masonry . In the course of time , the Brotherhood took to the follies of alchemy , mysticism , Templarism , & c ., until at length the French Revolution , with its consecutive wars , partly curtailed those worthless excrescences , partly made an end of them altogether .

Meanwhile there had sprung up in Germany , a silent spirit of intellectual labour , which above all things , preached self-knowledge , calculated the better to comprehend the vocation of man , and to regulate life accordingly , and which was the first to bring home to man that it was only with tho assistance of his

fellowmen that he could really unfold himself according to his true nature , and that , when left to himself , he would not be able to rise to his proper level . Thus arose the possibility of a purer conception of Freemasonry , and to us the En-tyovot of that philosophical epoch was left the lofty task of realising that ideal and of freeing it from all disfiguring buffooneries .

But we only understood to dream of such an ideal , until at last the contrast of the shallowness of the itate of our lodges with the genius of the limes startles us . Our present state of civilization , which lays bare in all its hideousuess so much of that which separates and makes men enemies , imperatively demands

fortlieiiiteiveutiou of a healing and reconciling element . Those who havu and who enjoy the goods of life , are for everseparated from those who have not , andwhobyhard toil earn only the barest necessities . Selfishness triumphs everywhere , and thereignof morality appears continually losing ground . With the insufficient means of the State

against this constantly growing evil , a regulated private activity must be productive of blessing ; that is a hearty labour of men closely connected , who strive to attain thut harmony of education and that moral perfection which renders them willing aud capable to undertake the duties of life on behalf of the whole .

An Essay

In a word , if Freemasonry was ever fully justified to exist , or ever necessary , it is undoubtedly so at the present time . Now , if with resyect to those duties , we look at the actual state of our lodges , we find it to be a highly unsatisfactory one ; a state that can bo summed up in these few words , that the highest is aimed

at , and the least realized , and that the forms , which are to be but a means , are taken for the object . The labours in the lodges are badly visited , some Brethren keep always aloof from entirely un-Masonic motives , others seldom attend , or only at the Banquet . The ritual ceremonies , often not executed with the proper

precision , cause tediousness ; the interpretation of the symbols is pedanticand forced ; ouredifyingandinstruetive discourses are often laden with mere verbiage , which leave the mind and heart empty . The banquets are those of Lucullus . The conversational tone in the lodge is an affected brotherly one , with kisses and

embraces . Ihe shghest criticism of a Brother , however , causes , the most sensitive and lasting disharmonies ; and out of the lodge , the brethren are not wont to consider themselves as such . Finally , as to the dispensation of charity , it is true , there are here and there , some benevolent institutions , and by means of

collections in the lodges some casual cases of momentary distress are relieved , but no Brother can but admit that this mode of giving arms at random is onl y the poorest form in which Masonic benevolence can show itself to the profane . Now , what benefit does the individual Brotlmr derive from our institution , and the world from the

Brotherhood ? And if none , why this expenditure of time and money ; why ribbons , distinctions and formalities ? Why speeches and banquets ? There is no doubt that many ofour lodges are nothing but substitutes for clubs , and their condemnation on the part of the public is but just , for the Order in its present state has lost every claim to civilizing influence , notwithstanding the assertion of some individual members to the contrary .

But the idea lives imperishably , and its aspirations remain unimpared . It was therefore necesssary that the sensibly growing number of brethren , who wish to see ourMasonic forms filled with moral treasures , and these treasures to be made productive even beyond the Masonic walls , should have thought to pave the

way to progress on Masonic ground . This can be brought about on the one hand through liberal constitutions of Grand Lodges , whereby the individual development of each subordinate lodge would be stimulated and advanced ; and , ou the other hand , by a true Masonic activity . Both are only different means to

attain the same object , anil if the reservedness hitherto kept by the Grand Lodges forces us towards the latter path , then will a successful progress on this path be a much hi gher gain for Masonic liberty . Now the question is , how can such activity be brought about and kept lasting ? We consider it meritorious

on the part of the Association of German Freemasons , to have offered a Prize to the best Essay on this subject , because should this question not be satisfactorily solved by a single individual , yet from the views of several , there must undoubtedly result some practical solution of the question . However , the St . John ' s Day's Essay for the coming better state of

things was already commenced by our Brethren Henna and Von Selchow , and while , after having giving a sketch of the situation , we set ourselves to the solution of the Prize Essay , we readily admit that the propositions to bo made by us , may be said to be identical with those made by the abovementioned Brethren , with the difference only , that we have endeavoured to establish a more intimate

connection with existing circumstances , taking as much as possible into account the present materials , and by not endeavouring to obtain anything iupracticable , and particularly nothing belonging to or that ought to belong to the competency of Grand Lodges . Now , if we were to be called upon to explain in a few

lines our plan , we would say : " We start from the premises that there are everywhere true Freemasons , with whom as leading Brethren , the work of reforming the subordinate lodges should etnai . ate . " The lodges are , as hitherto , to remain " Schools of Wisdom" closed against the outer world . However ,

as the conduct of most of the Brethren in open lodge , can only be passive , we would establish in connection with each lodge , a voluntary association of Brethren , a sort of vestibule to the temple , or whatsoever you may be pleased to term it , where Masonic knowledge may be gained , where differences among the Brethren

may be settled , and where the valuable existing powers of the individual brethren may be developed to the advantage of the Order . Through this association there would be created another organization amongst educated Non-Masons , who , led and kept together by the Brethren , would have for their task the stimulating of all men to participate iu the good works of freeing

the lower classes from want and misery . In these propositions there would bo nothing contradictory to the idea of Freemasonry ; on the contrary , by strengthening a brotherly feeling among Masons , we bring the royal law of love home to the people . Wc would then satisfy those who consider a direct influence of the lodges upon the profane world as entirely improper , and likewise those who wish the

An Essay

Brethren to enter on a path of wise activity , where , by the touchstone of actions , they would exhibit their Masonic sentiments . ( To be continued . )

Masonic Exhortations.

MASONIC EXHORTATIONS .

FROM THE GERMAN . I . Duty towards God and Religion . Thy first homage thou owest to the Deity . Adore the Being of all beings , of wbicli thv heart is full

which , however , thy confined intellects cau neither conceive nor describe . Look down with pity upon the deplorable madness of those that turn their eyes from the light , and wander about iu . the darkness of accidental events .

Deeply sensible of the parental benefactions of thy God , aud with a heart full of gratitude , reject , with contempt , those shallow inferences , that prove nothing but how much human reason degrades itself when it wanders from its ori ginal source . Oft elevate thy heart above sublunary things ,

and east thy eye with ardour towards those hi gher spheres which are thy inheritance . Offer up in sacrifice to the Most High thy will and thy wishes , strive to deserve his animating influence , and obey the commands he has prescribed for thy terrestial career .

Let it be thy Only happiness to please thy God let it be thy incessant endeavour , the excitement to all thy actions , to effect an eternal union with him . The sacred code is the foundation of all thy duties : if thou didst not believe iu it , thou would cease to be a Freemason .

Let every action be distinguished by an enlightened and active piety , without bigotry or enthusiasm . Ueligiou does not consist of speculative truths ; exert thyself iu fulfilling all those moral duties it prescribes , and then only thou shaft be happy ; thy contemporaries will bless thee , and with sereuity

thou mayst appear before the throne of the'Eternal . Particularly thou shouldst be penetrated by the feeling of benevolence nud brotherly love , tho fundamental pillar of this holy religion . Pity him in error , without hating or persecuting him . Leave the judgment to God , but— " do thou love - and tolerate . "

Masous ! Children of the same God ! ye who are already brethren through the universal faith , bind closer the ties of brotherly love , and banish for ever all prejudices that might disturb our brotherly union .

FREEMASONRY . —The Masmic fraternity is a powerful and influential , as weil as wealthy and benevolent organisation . It is so in all countries , and is especially so in this eity , as its large membership of distinguished citizens , its abounding charities and the magnificent Temple it is now erecting all attest . The traditions of the Order trace it back to

remote antiquity . Some of these legends are thought by ' •outside " critics to be rather imaginative than real , having no substantial " foundations" to rest upon . But the explorations now going on in the Holy Land , and especially those about Jerasalem , are bringing forward evidences of the antiquity of

the Order that rest on the deep ' •foundations" of the Temples of the Holy City itself . Captain Anderson and Lieutenant Warren , two officers of the British Boyal Engineers , have recently brought to light the deeply buried foundation-stones of the old Jewish Temples , and ou nearly every one of them

have discovered the " Craft" marks of the Masons . This is not only on record now , but was affirmed to us personally iu a recent interview b y Captain Anderson himself , who indulges in no fancy or imagination iu the matter , as he is not a Mason , and has therefore no such "Craft" prejudice as would lead an

over-zealous Mason to magnify the antiquity ot the Order at the expense of historical truth . Butwlielher the origin of the Order be more or less ancient , it is an important aud highly honorable organization , whose primary object is one that is sufficient to commend it to the best consideration

of our p ople . It is their highest object to promote fraternity , good-will , kind fellowship and the broadest charity among all men . It is to their just credit that through their organizition '' all mankind are kin . " Their recognition of human fraternity is perfect wherever the membership of the Order is found

all around the globe . No Mason can be a '' stranger " ( iu tho desolate sense of that term ) , anywhero in the world , if there be a ' •Lodge" within his reach ; for no distinctions of country are known when the assistance , the encouragement , or the benevolence of the oi \ 'auiz , ition is appealed to . It is sufficient to

know that the applicant is a " brother'' and in distress . Even under the most tryingcircumstauces tbe feeling of fraternity ami the nilices of good fellowship are kept alive . It is well known that during the recent rebellion , when a portion of tho

Southern estates wero separated from the rest of the country by a wall of lire , tbe Masons kept up a constunt interchange of such kindly anil fraternal-icts as were not i-iconsistent with their higher duties as citizens . —Philadelphia Public ledger .