Israelitish Origin Of The Anglo-Saxon Race.

present instance . In corroboration of the truth of the Phenician origin of the Irish people , we find several remarkable traces in the ancient Irish language , as well as remains of tombs , buildings , cromlechs , & c

which , there is every reason to believe , were of Phenician origin . The Rev . F . Glover , M . A ., in a remarkable and deeply-interesting work , "England the remnant of Judah and the Israel of

Ep hraim , " has entered very fully into this question , and undertakes to show , not only that there was an extensive emigration from Palestine to Ireland , but that , among others , the prophet Jeremiah went to that country ,

accompanied by some oi the seed royal of Judah ; and that from these immigrants are descended some of the ancient kings of Ireland ( Meath ) , also the royal line of Scotland , and , consequently , the present royal

family of Great Britain and Ireland . If , then , Bro . Carpenter and Mr . Glover arc right ( and I must confess that , so far as I have investigated the question , I see no

reason to doubt it ) , we are in presence of the astounding facts : ( i ) that we , the English people , are the descendants of Ephraim , the possessors of the birthright , and ( 2 ) that we are under the sceptre of Judah .

In a future article , I will show how and why England , Scotland , and Ireland form one United Kingdom , and how all these nations are deeply interested in these matters .

The Philosophy Of Freemasonry.

THE PHILOSOPHY OF FREEMASONRY .

INTRODUCTION . Too much importance has been attached to the question of antiquity by writers upon Freemasonry ; too little to its philosophy

and teachings . Age cannot improve what is radically bad ; youth cannot impair or diminish what is good . For many years I have wondered at the amount of wasted

talent displayed in the columns of the Masonic press ; wasted , because all the special pleading in the world cannot supply the absence of authentic documents or admitted facts . When , however , a question

doesarise regarding the antiquity of a lodge or order , certainly , there is every reason why the same should be thoroughly discussed , and a definite result obtained ; but to occupy page after page of a paper with

vain recriminations , assertions unsupported by credible authority , seems to be alike useless and to be deprecated . Moreover , does it not give a handle to our enemies , of whom the numbers are legion , to twit us

with a pretence of glory which is vain , with a conduct-epistolary which is unfraternal , and with a history which some of us hold to be as false as it is absurd ? There is truth in the words , " By your fruits are

you known . " That there is no want of talent among the contributors to the Masonic press , especially in Britain , any one may perceive from a glance at the columns of THE FREE

MASON . But is it utilized ? Have tlie writers taken up subjects more germain to the feelings of the Craft at large than they could have done ? Are there no other questions than antiquity , no other subjects

than charters , to be discussed ? To the present writer it seems that , instead of •bread , we have been receiving stones ;

instead of a nsh , a scorpion . Impatience of contradiction has hurried many estimable brethren into an unguardedness of expression , a warmth of language , much

The Philosophy Of Freemasonry.

to be deplored , and doubtless deeply regretted by the authors themselves . Knowing personally what it is to wage a paper warfare , to fight a Voutrance with skilful opponents , I have much to pardon in

my antagonists , and still more pardon to ask from them . My motto henceforward will be , " to afford as much instruction to those brethren who may condescend to accompany me in my task as I am capable

of giving ; but to give offence to no one . The very title of my present series of papers declares my intention , for , to write upon philosophy philosophically , one must

be cool ; and to deal faithfully with a subject , one must bridle the temper , and curb the imagination . It has , furthermore , been a subject of consideration whether I should append my name to these papers , but ,

considering that they would derive little advantage from the same , if bad , and cannot receive any more force , if good , I sink it , and assume the anonymous . Should

controversy arise , I shall adopt the line of conduct which I have indicated , certain that it will be followed by those who may enter the lists .

To write properly upon the philosophy of Freemasonry requires special qualities of mind , and a widely-extended knowledge of human nature . It properly ought to be the

work of a Mason who , after serving the Craft faithfully during his best years , leaves his experience as a legacy to coming generations . Massinger writes :

" 'Tis proved m me , the curse of human frailty , Adding to our afflictions , makes us know What ' s good , and yet our violent passions force us To follow what is ill . "

He , then , who , knowing what is good , has yet succumbed to thc fatal black drop in our humanity ; who has struggled for the world ' s honoursand found them after all

bitterness and dead sea fruit , or who has stood calmly on the bank , and watched with an observing eye the surging tide of frail humanity speed past him , is the fit one to undertake the task . That I am

fitted for the post I do not pretend—fitted , if from this pen a comprehensive view of the philosophy is to flow ; but having sinned and suffered , having fallen and regained my feet , having seen something more of life

than is gathered in the gardens of prosperity , then I may claim a lefthand right to initiate a new course of Masonic study ,

and if I succeed in drawing to thc front pens more capable , I may qlaim , in the last words of the Roman plays , " clap your hands . "

In the following papers , I shall deal neither with historical nor religious questions . I am perfectly content to take Freemasonry as I find it , and do not think that its teachings can be more pertinent ,

although its descent be proved from Adam , Noah , or Solomon . I shall take the broad principle of the Order , which admits of a belief in a Supreme Being and a future state , and which is antagonistic to that of Palladas , when he

writes' ' Naked to earth I came , and to the earth naked shall I go ; Why vainly do I labour , when my naked end I know . " To labour is the lot of man , as much a

pleasure as it is a toil . The man who conscientiously performs an allotted task on earth , who keeps the golden rule of " doing to others as he would be done by , " who acts up to the dictates of reason , and who lias

faith in the Great Creator , cannot have a " naked " end , in the Greek ' s sense of the word . Whether Jew , Mahommedan , Christian , or Deist , the faith that is in him must have its reward in thc hereafter . Free-

The Philosophy Of Freemasonry.

masonry teaches this , and we have to view the subject as Freemasons . Now , when Freemasonry has attained a position in the eyes of the world so prominent as to invite the thinking to solicit its

advantages , and to call from the bigot abuse , it becomes the Craft in earnest to proceed to eradicate from amongst us those weeds of self-indulgence which have sprung up ; to cultivate the true Masonic crop , and

systematically work out a reform in our rendering of the ritual and ceremonies . Masons are wont to say that the genuine secrets are lost . Lost they are , but not irrecoverably . Nothing which is for the

benefit of man ever becomes lost ; a noble sentiment , like a fruitful plant , bears , in time , its fruit . Our secrets are still to be found in the lodges , still in the ritual , if we conduct the first in true Masonic fashion and

study the latter by the full radiance of a Master Mason ' s light . Our lodges should be schools of learning , not- banqueting halls , and our ceremonials something more than an introduction to a circle of good

fellows . How often do we hear of some unfortunate wreck of humanity spoken of as being a victim to Freemasonry . The charge is false . Fremasonry can ruin no one , * butthe " adjournments" of Freemasonry

may . I do not advocate total abstinence , nor am I in favour of driving conviviality from our midst ; yet so long as conviviality is tlie sole chief end of Masons , I denounce it , and call upon the brethren at large to

awake from this dream , and turn like men to the work in hand . It is absurd to suppose that our rituals were framed , our Society instituted , only to imitate the convivial societies of the last and ks preceding

century . Let us have our convivial meetings by all means , but let them be fewer in number , and secondary to the business of the lodge . Let our rituals be properly

rendered , and our teachings receive more attention at the hands of the brethren , then we will find the members crowding to the lodges as to a welcome home . It will interest the old , while instructing thc young .

Taking the second degree as a case in point , we find almost all important questions affecting the human race embraced . The liberal arts and sciences are wide enough subjects , surely , yet how little

attention do Masons pay to them . Either Freemasonry is a gigantic farce , and Masons dupes to nonsensical forms , or it is a reality , which we arc too careless or indifferent to pursue . Are our obligations of no effect to

us as men of honour ? Yet do wc act up to them as we ought ? No one of us docs . I speak for myself—as yet I have looked upon the obligations as mere forms . Doubtless , I have kept them to the letter , but I

have sadly failed in the spirit . Considering their solemnity , they deserve our most earnest attention , and we shall never view them as they ought to be viewed , till we give an ecclesiastical character to our lodges ,

and infuse a better spirit into our ceremonial . Dr . Oliver writes that some of his happiest hours were spent alone in the lodge room , and I feel convinced that all of us could say the same , were we to look upon

our meetings in a more sacred light . " Where the holy name of God is invoked , no danger can ensue , " and surely peace , fruition , and complete gain shelter under that powerful name . Let us , then , give

earnest heed in the future that our present prospcritydoesnot completely sap the foundations of the Masonic edifice , and , as with

the mighty kingdoms of the past , end in ruin and a shameful fall . ERROL . ( To de continued . )