History Of Freemasonry In" Cornwall.

building for the purposes of the Craft , but on a ballot it was negatived by six balls against , and five for the change . Some would think any connection with the Friends , however distant , would be most unlikely , as respects Freemasonry , but

such a fancy is wholly unwarrantable , as some of the most active and useful members of the Fraternity are to be found in connection with that self-denying and most benevolent sect . ( To be continued . )

Reasons For Haying Become A Freemason, Contained In A Letter To A Lady.

REASONS FOR HAYING BECOME A FREEMASON , CONTAINED IN A LETTER TO A LADY .

By BARON BIELEIEID , Secretary of Legation , to one of the late Kings of Prussia , Preceptor to Prince Perclinand , Chancellor of the Universities of Prussia , § "c . "Bo you are quite alarmed , Madam , very seriously angry ! My reason tells me you are wrong , but my passion tells me you can never do

wrong ; for it makes me perceive that I love you more , if it be possible , since I have been a Freemason , and since you have been angry with me for so being , than I ever did before . Permit me , therefore , by this opportunity to employ my

rhetoric to dissipate your discontent ; that yon may approve the motives which have induced me to take this step , that you may restore me to your favour , and that I may be enabled to reconcile my reason with , my passion .

" You know I am naturally curious , and that I have made great efforts to discover the secrets of Freemasonry , but without the least effect . I have found men that have been the most indiscreet in

other respects , the most impenetrable m this matter . There was , therefore , no other way for me to take but to get admission into their society ; and I do solemnly assure you . Madam , that I do not in the least repent it .

" That a man may be very honest and very happy without being a Freemason . I readily allow ; but this argument is equally applicable to every object that excites our curiosity , and even to many of the most pleasing parts of learning .

If we banish curiosity ( the desire of increasing our knowledge ) from the world , there is at once an end of all improvement in science ; the most ingenious , the most pleasing inventions and discoveries , would be lost in darkness . And who can say how far the knowledge of those objects , of' whose essence , whose principles , we are

Reasons For Haying Become A Freemason, Contained In A Letter To A Lady.

absolutely ignorant , may lead us ? That which at first appears frivolous , frequently becomes , in the hands of a skilful man , highly useful . I do not pride myself in being of the number of these , but I am fully satisfied that I shall have a better claim

to it by being- a Freemason . " You will not require , I am persuaded , that I should explain to you our mysteries ; you are much too prudent . You would entertain a passion for a man of honour , and not for a traitor , a monster *

It is my interest to convince you of my discretion , and to make you sensible that a man who can keep a secret from the woman he adores ought to be esteemed by her as worthy to have other secrets to keep . You must , therefore , commend

my discretion , and nourish my virtue . I shall not , at the same time , keep from you any information concerning our society that it is in my power to give ; but for its myteries they are sacred ! " One reflection that dissipated my scruples , and

hastened my reception , was that I knew this Order to be composed of a great number of very worthy men ; men who I was sure would never have twice entered a lodge if anything had passed there that was in the least incompatable with a character of the strictest virtue . It is true that in this

sanctuary of virtue there sometimes steal unworthy brethren , men whose morals and conduct are not such as could be wished ; but such is the condition , of things in this world , that the good and the bad are inevitably mixed with each other ; for even the

small number of twelve Apostles was not exempt from one unworthy member . I did not expect , by becoming a Freemason , to be introduced to a society of angels , but of worthy men ; and I have not been disappointed .

" 1 readily confess that what is called Freemasonry may be made a disgrace as well as an ornament to society . If a company of young fellows , destitute of sense and merit , assemble in . the form of a lodge , and , after performing certain

ridiculous mummeries , proceed to scenes of disorder , certainly nothing can be more detestable than such an assembly . But if you consider our society as the most solemn and perfect fraternity that ever existed upon the earth , in which there

is no distinction of men by the language they speak , by the dress they wear , by the rank to which they were born , or the dignities they possess , who regard the whole world but as one commonwealth , of which each nation forms a family , and each individual a member ! Who