The Origin And References Of The Hermesian Spurious Freemasonry.

hymns * , as being at the same time visible and invisible , light and darkness ; alluding to her phases , Avhich made her visible to one portion of the inhabitants of the earth , while she was invisible to those of another , and also to the confinement of Noah or Deus Lunus to the darkness of the Ark ,

and bis subsequent enlightment , or delivery thence . Semel was feigned to have a son called Muth , who Avas tbe same as the Grecian Pluto or Death , " Sometimes he was called Adonis or Aidoneusancl sometimes Osiris

, or Isiris . In short he was no other than the great deluvian god of the lunar ark , Avhich floated upon the infernal waters of Styx , which was deemed the coffin of an extinct Avorld , and out of the darkness of Avhich the god and his companions Avere in

due time born again or restored to life . Hence , in Egyptian theology , the floating moon into Avhich Osiris entered Avas styled the Mother of the World , and hence Rhe , the allegorical mother of Muth , is styled the common parent both of gods and

men , the mysterious being from Avhose womb the whole world proceeded * . " And she is at the one time called the wife of Noah , and at another the Avife of Adam . And the coincidence is remarkable , for Eve as well as Rhe brought death , or Muth into the Avorld .

The crescent is still used by the Mahometans as a sacred symbol , and v / as doubtless derived from their idolatrous predecessors , but changed by their great prophet from its original purpose . And in the Hig hlands of Scotland an inextinguishable

superstition respecting the influence of the moon , derived from their remote Gaelic ancestors , still exists in all its force . The minister of Kirkmiehael says , that amongst his parishioners fear and ignorance have produced a great prevalence of superstition

respecting the moon , Avhich in ber increase , full groAvth , ancl in her Avane , are with them the emblems of a rising , flourishing , and declining fortune . At the last period of her revolution they carefully avoid engaging in any business of importance ;

but the first and middle they seize with avidity , presaging the most auspicious issue to their undertakings . Poor Martinus Scriblerus never more anxiously

The Origin And References Of The Hermesian Spurious Freemasonry.

watched the blowing of the west wind to secure an heir to his genius than the lovesick swain and his nymph for the coming of the New Moon to be noosed together in matrimony . Should the planet happen to be at the height of her splendour when the

ceremoiijr is performed their future life Avill be a scene of festivity , ancl all its paths streAved over with the rosebuds of deli ght . But when her tapering horns are turned towards the north , passion becomes frost bound , and seldom thaws till the genial

season again approaches . From the moon they not only draAv prognostications of the weather , but also discover future events , * ( To be continued . )

Catherine Of Arragon,

CATHERINE OF ARRAGON ,

In her retirement at Ampthill , to an ancient Oak in the Parle . MONARCH of trees , whose scarred , yet noble form

Has braved the dangers . both of Avind and storm For many ages , great has been thy lot , To see , to know , to outlive Avhat ' s forgot . Princes and potentates , masters and

slaves , — All great betimes—men know not ev ' n their graves , When I , my short life past , am dead and gone ,

My very name forgotten , though I ve shone ; My p lace is lost , my mother-earth rejoined , All ending Avisely by my God enjoined—I ' m past ! I ' m gone ! A shadoAv at the best ! A race forgetful wanders where I rest .

' Not so , great tree , uplifting still thy head , Waxing the mig htier o ' er the fallen dead ; Hoary with age , ' though nations rise and fall , Thou , still by nature great , sarviv'st them all . W . T .