An Early Masonic Book.

cited , rather for the implied than for the positive statements that they make . In the first place , the writer alludes to hig her degrees of a Hermetic character , to the attainment of which the primitive Masonic degrees were preparatory . Thus he saysaddressing the Freemasons :

, I present you with the following sheets as belonging more properly to you than any else . But what I here say , those of you who are not far illuminated , who stand in the outward place , and are not worthy to look behind the veilmay find

, no disagreeable or unprofitable entertainment : and those who are so happy as to have greater light will discover under these shadows somewhat truly great and noble , and worthy the serious attention of a genhus the most elevated and sublime .

The spiritual celestial Cube , the only true , solid , and immoveable basis and foundation of all knowledge , peace and happiness . ( Page iv . ) This is the first time that we meet in any workwith a reference to a higher and

, more occult system of Masonry , connected with the Hermetic philosophy . And this it must be remembered , was only five years after the " Revival , " and one year anterior to the publication of Anderson ' s ¦ ' Constitutions . ' '

In the next paragraph , the author alludes in distinct terms to the revival of Masonry in the beginning of the eighteenth century . He says : I , therefore , my clearest Brethren , greet you most heartily , and am glad of this opportunity to rejoice with youinasmuch

, as it hath pleased the Almighty One , eternal , unalterable God to send out His Light and His Truth , and His vivifying Spirit , whereby the Brotherhood begins to revive again in this our isle , and Princes seek to be of this sacred Society , which

hath been from the beginning , and always shall be ; the gates of hell shall never prevail against it , but it shall continue while the Sun and Moon endure , and till the general consummation of all things ; for since Godmy dearest Brethrenis for

, , us , who can be against us 1 ( Page iv . ) A few quotations from this early work on Freemasonry—the very earliest now extant—may be deemed of interest . They will show that the writer was fully cognizant of the symbolic , the religious , and the

philosophical character of the Institution , and that he wrote evidently under the impression that at that day others besides himself had connected Freemasonry with Alchemy . Remember that you are the salt of the earth , the light of the world , and the fire

of the universe . Ye are living stones , built up a spiritual house , who believe and rely on the chief Lapis Angula / ris , which the refactory and disobedient builders disallowed ; you are called from darkness to light ; you are a chosen generation , a royal priesthood . ( Page v . ) * * « * * *

Remember then what the great end we all aim at is . Is it not to be happy here and hereafter ? For they both depend on each other . The seeds of that eternal peace and tranquillity and everlasting repose must be sown in this life ; and we that glorify and enjoy Sovereign Good then must learn to do it now , and from contemplating the creation gradually ascend to adore the Creator .

You know , no one is worthy to be of you that does not know , or at least love , one or more of the seven liberal arts , which in some sort depend on each other : Music , Harmony and Proportion run thro ' all ; but the grandest and most sublime of all is Astronomy , by which it has been

given to men from above to do such wonders and has so amply displayed the glories of the Most High . ( Page vi . ) It seems at that early clay , as well as in the present times , adversaries were to be found who charged the Masons with being Atheists . To this accusation , Eugenius Philalethes makes a long reply , concluding in these words :

If to all this [ to reject pagan idolatry and modern superstition ] , and believe only in one God the Father Almi ghty , Maker of Heaven and Earth and of all things visible and invisible , the most grand , essential , the prime , eternal , everlasting , fundamental article of the most holy , catholick ,

universal and Christian faith ( of which we are ) makes one an Atheist , such , my dearest Brethren , are we all , and we glory in it . Let the infidel and pagan world say what they will , we shall have the suffrages of all Christians , under whatever other denomination distinguished , who cannot be so inconsistant with themselves as to take