Masonry In France.

expression ( transmitted from olden time ) for the designation of the Supreme Being , and adhered to by men of all persuasions ; the Oriental Delta denotes him in all lodges throughout the surface of the globe ; the religions celebration of St .

John ' s Day , or the summer solstice by all our predecessors , and even in our days by the Masons of all countries , embodies the acknowledgment of all the boons he has not ceased bestowing upon the ear ; while the celebration of the winter solstice , in commemoration of deceased brethren who have

passed to the celestial Orient ( according to the usual expression ) , is meant for the consecration of the belief in the immortality of the soul . The three first symbols ( the three great luminaries ) represent the love of God , love of your neighbour , and

love of virtue ; the locality appointed for the meeting of Masons is called a temple erected to the Great Architect of the Universe . In fine , Masonry is essentially based upon the acknowledgment of the Divinity of God ; and should tho doing away

with the notion of God iu the proposed preamble bo accepted , the ceremonies and symbolism , as well as the whole nature of Freemasonry , ought to be changed , and the latter would become , by this means , a mere

philanthropic association . 3 rd . Although it cannot be contended that everybody has tho right of constituting any philosophic

society ho likes , laying down its platform at his own will and pleasure , giving it any appellation { e . g . Pythagoriaus , Philalethicians , & c ) , no man is allowed to do so with respect to an ancient institution that did not ori ginate in his own country ,

and which he has accepted with the basis on which it rests . Consequently , the bases of Freemasonry cannot be changed , unless it be by the acquiescence of all fractions of the Craft thoughout the universe . 4 th . Irrespective of these bases , a new

Constitution may certainly be drawn up in accordance with the wants of the country ; bat changing arbitrarily , and in contradiction to the en ° 'ao ; ements entered into by our predecessors , the very bases of Masonry , would entail our exclusion from

universal Masonry and deprive the French Masons of the rights and privileges connected with -the Order .

-5 th . In face of such a danger , the writer protests , in his own namo and that of all Deists ( believers in the divinity of God ) , against the suppression of the hdicf in Qocl and the immortality of the soul , proposed , and already admitted , bya cer-

Masonry In France.

tain number of Paris lodges in the preamble to the new Constitution of the Grand Orient . The writer concludes by saying : —While protesting against the doctrine that is sought to be introduced into Freemasonry , let us not

forget that , if modern philosophy has blinded a number of our brethren to such an extent as to see in the immensity of the universe , in the sublime creations of the planet we inhabit , nothing but the game of hazard , and the

action of the fors viva of nature , -we must endeavour , if possible , to remove the band from theneyes which they believe to cover ours . We must bestow upon them all the brotherly love at our command , aud thus prove that we are really

Freemasons and brethren , the children of one and the same God , recognised by all persuasions and adored under various names , by all nations of the earth , and which Freemasonry proposes to combine into one unique family of brethren , united by love , science , and labour .

The Petroglyphs In Argyllshire.

THE PETROGLYPHS IN ARGYLLSHIRE .

( From the Builder . ) There have recently appeared in your journal two highly interesting communications on the subject of the petroglyphs , or concentric circles , incised on rocks , which have excited so much attention among archaeologists of late .

They were first observed in Northumbei-land a few years ago , and were then thought to be confined almost exclusively to the North of England . They have since , however , been found in various localities and countries ; among others ( as is mentioned in the Builder , p . 642 ) , in Argyllshire . I

have lately had an opportunity of examining these latter , in company with much better archaeologists than myself . You may therefore , perhaps , think that even such a brief and imperfect description of them as I am able to supply may have an interest for some of your readers ; for I believe it is only

by bringing and comparing together as many examples as possible of these mysterious records of an ancient people that a reasonable hope may be indulged of forming some probable opinion of their true character , purpose , and signification . There are two localities in which they have as

yet been discovered in Argyllshire . These are situate about six miles from each other , in a district which is eminently rich in so-called Celtic remains , such as standing stones , single and combined ( including a perforated , or "Odin ' s stone * " );