Masonic Curiosities, No. 1.

that such stupendous works mig ht at the same time , pen the mind fco vast conceptions , ancl fit ii to converse with the divinity of fche place . " This from our author ; ( and I am persuaded you have not thought me tedious in giving you so

much of the works of that great man instead of my own . ) From what he has said , the great antiquity of the art of building * or Masonry may be easily deduced . For without running up to Sefch ' s Pillars or fche Tower of Babel for proof ;

the temple of Belus alone , or the walls of Babylon ¦ of both which the learned Dr . Prideaux has given ample accounts , which were built 4000 years ago , and above 1000 before the building of Solomon's Temple , are sufficient testimonies , or at least g-ive

great reason to conjecture thafc three in parts of four ofthe whole earth , might then be divided into

Now ifc is morally impossible , but Geometrythat useful and noble science—must have gone hand-in-hand with Masonry , for without it those stupendous and enormous structures could never have been erected . And tho' we have nofc the

names of any great proficients so early as Babylon yet we have a Pythagoras , an Euclid , an Archimides , flourishing in very remote ages , whose works have ever since been—and are at present —fche basis on which the learned have built afc

different times so many noble superstructures . ( To le Continued . )

Notes On American Freemasonry.

NOTES ON AMERICAN FREEMASONRY .

( Continued from page 65 ) . " Another matter which creates some interest in Masonic circles , is the fact that several religious

denominations are opposing the progress of the institution , and have resolved that no members of the Order shall be in communion with their churches . Why this should be we cannot say , unless ifc is from mistaken views of fche object of

Freemasonry . Almost nineteen centuries ago the shepherds who watched by night their flocks on the plains of Judea , heard angelic choirs shout " Glory to God in the highest , aud on earth peace and good will toward men , " and the spirit of that

Notes On American Freemasonry.

song Masonry has ever sought to realize inaction . Her teachings have ever been " Give glory to God , " and " confess his holy name , " and peace , fraternity ancl good will toward all mankind have always been inculcated in all her lessons . Sfc . James wrote : " Pure religion ancl undefiled before God and the Father is this : to visit fche

fatherless and widows m their affliction , and to keep himself unspotted from the world / What institution assumes the care of the widow ancl the orphan with more unceasing effort than the Masonic Order , or does ifc more effectually ?

What institution inculcates purer lessons of morality , fco aid in keeping * fche members unspotted from the vices that afflict our race ? But religion is not the object of the association , although it inculcates its precepts . Any one who

supposes it to be an enemy of religion knows nothing * of the Order—nor are those who think that Masons consider it a substitute for the Church

any better informed . It has no heavenly origin , but is ofthe earth , and of human invention . Ifc seeks to improve the condition of mankind without regard to the religion they profess . The Atbeisfc can never enter its portals , or be received into its

brotherhood . Masonry makes no pretensions fco be able to save a soul by its teachings , but it does profess to be able to make the rude more refined in feeling and sentiment , to make the avaricious more charitable and less fond of self ; to humanize

the heart and induce all within its influences to feel that as men they owe duties to their fellowmen which no human law teaches , and which nothing but the development of the principle of universal fraternity can stimulate to action . Why

then should Churches war against our institution ? Simply because as a body they are ignorant of its aims and its obligations . We request those who do so , to inform themselves on the subject before they deny their ordinances fco the Masonic Order ,

or deprive them of Church privileges . If they allege many bad men are Masons , we answer they are members of the Order , nofc Masons . They in this respect resemble many who name the name of Ohz * isfc , when fchey possess none of his spirit , and

do nofc follow his teachings . We say to our opponents , live in charity with all , and speak nofc evil of those who do good in a way you will no learn from them ancl cannot comprehend . To Masons we say that , as we are thus misunderstood and misrepresented , ifc is our duty so to walk , thafc