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

endeavour by these means to revive the primitive maxims of mankind iii the greatest perfection ; to unite , under their banner , men of knowledge , virtue , and urbanity ; whose members mutually defend each other by their authority , and

enlighten , each other by their knowledge ; who sacrifice all personal resentment ; who banish from their lodges all that can disturb the tranquillity of mind on the jjurity nf manners ; and who , in the intervals of their delightful labours , enjoy the

innocent pleasures of life ; if , I say , you regard Masonry in this light , you must agree that the Interest of this society must be that of the whole race of mankind , and that it must operate on the haman heart in a manner that religion itself

cannot effect without great difficulty . " It is not , therefore , wonderful that this order lias been sometimes persecuted by the rulingpowers in a State ; they who commend , and they who blame , may have their reasons ; but nothing ean be more unjust or ridiculous than to imagine that the secret assemblies of the Freemasons can

tend to disturb the security or tranquillity of a State ; for though our doors are shut against the profane vulgar , they are at all times open to sovereigns and magistrates ; and how many illustrious princes and statesmen do we count

among our brethren ? If aught passed in our lodges that was dangerous or criminal , must they act have been long siuce abolished ? But the experience of many ages , during which this order has never been known to perform any actions but

those of morality and munificence , is a stronger argument in its favour than any I can produce . I shall , therefore , say no more on this matter ; and I should not have said so much if I did not know that you are capable of feeling the force of these

arguments ; for you have too much discernment to 3 nffer yourself to be directed by that prejudice and caprice which has so much dominion over the common rank of women . If , with a pleasing figure and a graceful manner , you possessed only

a common way of thinking , I should love you only as women are commonly loved ; that is to say , for the gratification of desire and for self interest . But my affection is founded on a sense of your real aierit , on the dignity of your mind , and the

simplicity of your heart . If this affection is of any value with you preserve it , Madam , by returning to your reason , and by dissipating those transient clouds which have eclipsed , for a moment , that favourable opinion you have hitherto entertained

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

of me ; and permit me to assure you , by the faith of a Mason , that my love shall endure as long as my life . "

The Nemesis: A Tale Of The Days Of Trajan.

THE NEMESIS : A TALE OF THE DAYS OF TRAJAN .

By BRO . A . OXEAL HATE , JOf ., K . Gal ., Corresponding Member of the German Society , Leipzig ; Knight Templar , Scot . ; Author of " The History of the Knights Templars ;" " Vara Queer ; " " Gatherings in Wanderings ; " " Songs and Ballads ; " " Pocmata ; " " Legends of Edinburgh . ' " Sfc , 8 , 'c ., 8 fc ; Pod Laureate of the Ganongate , Kilwinning ; P . M . St . Stephens ; P . P . Z . of St . Andrews , B . A . Chap . ; Sec . ; 8 , 'C .

I { Continued , from page 146 . ) CHAPTER XXIII . THE VULTURE OF PROMETHEUS . " Trembling heart , ah , dost thou falter , In thy deep desponding

mood—Leave the wine cup , seek the altar , Spurn the lewd and clasp the good . Hush ! dost hear that passing bell ; Choose—this moment—heaven or hell . " Murtius led the way into a gallery , lofty and long , filled with exquisite statuary , the

productions of some of the greatest chisels of Greece . Adrian , who was a keen admirer of the beautiful , was loud in his praises of the collection , and forgot for a time the doubts he entertained alike regarding the characters of his entertainer and his

family . It was seldom that Murtius had a visitor - so much to his mind . Balbus loved better to look at the wine than the finest work of Apelles . Murtius had soon taken the gauge of the Jew , naturally greedy and grasping , fond of fame , a

hanger on of literature and art , glib enough in their phraseologies , but empty as a drank goblet in their realities . Caius was too much in love , but Adrian was always roused by the beautiful , and the collection before him was one of the finest he had ever seen .

" Great men were indeed my countrymen , " said Murtius , " philosophers , poets , and sculptors . Their works will go down to the end of time , when poor Greece is remembered no more . " " These sculptures are indeed most exquisite , "

said Adrian ; " fire seems to flash from out those stoney eyes , and a might and a majesty , well befitting the king and the god of heaven , sits upon the thunderer's lofty brow . " " There stands the Venus , " said Murtius ,

pointing to a statue placed in a niche . " What think you of it ?" "Most beautiful , " replied Adrian , after a pause .