Memoirs Of The Freemasons Of Naples.

received them with loud cheers , mingling the sounds of their names and deeds . The Queen , the ladies of the Court , and the nobility wore jewels , or jewelled girdles , with the inscription " Long live Nelson . " The victorious ships of Nelson and the captured vessels dropped their anchors in the Bay of Naples , contrary

to the terms of a treaty previously signed , with the French . This roused the ire of the latter , and they made a complaint which was not satisfactorily answered ; neither was any apology made for the public manifestations of joy at the success of the enemy , and thus warlike sentiments were exchanged with France . The Queen , who

at all times was restlessly impatient , seeing she had the protection of England and Austria , proposed at once to invade the Roman territory , in which she was supported by the English ; but Ferdinand , who always preferred peace to war , called a council to decide which part they should take , and if war , the time and the means .

O pinions differed . The Marquis del Gallo , the Minister de Marco , the Generals Pignatelli , Colli , and Parisi , were for peace ; but the influence of the Queen , and the opinions of Acton , General Mack , and Castelcicala carried the point , and war was instantly decided upon , to be eondtictecl b y General Mack , but not declared until the troops began to move . In writing these memoirs , we have purposely abstained

from making any comment on the government and laws of the country , except so far as they affected the Freemasons ; but the landing of Nelson , and the general war that followed , so materially contributed to the disunion of this society , that we could not avoid relating some circumstances attending them , which would more

properly become the history of Naples . The Freemasons desired jieace if it could be honourably maintained ; and all members of that body who had influence used every means in their power to preserve it , but to no purpose . We are not going to relate the history of this war , or the flight of the royal family , or

the victory obtained by Napoleon . War was the absorbing subject of the nation , ancl , as Freemasonry never flourishes in troublous times , the lodges at first met but seldom , and at last failed to meet at all ; for , as the French occupied the city , Jacobin clubs were established every-Avhere , and spurious lodges of Masons were established

that had no particular head . As no reports were sent to Germany by the lodges formerly under their superintendence , the Grand Lodge erased them from their books . The members of the "Lod ge that had existed under the Grand Lodge of England for so many years ceased to meet , and the Grand Lodge no longer acknowledged them . Of the spurious lodges we shall speak hereafter . ( To be continued . )

Earnestness In Freemasonry.

EARNESTNESS IN FREEMASONRY .

The following address was delivered to the brethren of Lodge Hope and Perseverance ( No . 108-1 ) , at Lahore , on tho 18 th February last , by AVorshipful Bro . Thomas Wood , Past Master of Lodge " Triune Brotherhood . " Subathoo . Enthusiasm or zeal , which springs from the excitement of novelty , is nob only less ennobling , but far loss enduring than the same sentiment resulting from a principle which

has for its object the glory of the G-. A . O . T . IT ., ancl tho welfare of our fellow creatures . Freemasonry presents both these elements to its members , and our aim in addressing you this evening , is to warn you against the clangers of the former , and to draw your attention to a consideration of the obligations by which wo are bound to fulfil the duties of the latter . The uninitiated world views Masonry from many points . To some it is an institution of convivial suppers ; to others it

is a mere distributor of funds to its aged and distressed members ; whilst to all it is a mystery , associated with hot irons , secrets , and dreadful oaths . Tho young aspirant for initiation , tho enquiring " cowan , " approaches the threshold of our Order -with , a mixture of feelings similar to those wo have described . Prompted though he maybe " by a desire for knowledge , and a wish to render himself more extensively

useful to his fellow creatures , " still , there is a latent longing to become acquainted with our secrets ; aud his miud , thus excited , as he enters the sacred porch , is prepared for novelty . The dreaded ordeal passed , ho is in possession of the desired secrets , and he goes out into the world knowing what the majority of his neighbours do not know : there is novelty in that . He may be a man moving in a subordinate position

in society , his attendance at loclge throws him into close contact with his superiors ; he is enabled to chat familiarly with a lord , and to drink wine with a duke or a prince of the royal blood ; there is novelty in that . He may be a man moving in the upper classes ; his attendance at loclge brings him into close proximity with those , who , in social position ancl worldly possessionsarc beneath himhe may be

, ; amused with their unrefined maimers , and blunt though honest expression of their sentiments ; ho is enabled to bo urbane and condescending , and to exercise by his position an influence over a large number of his brethren ; there is

novelty in that . The symbolic and somewhat dramatic form of working tho lodge is interesting to all , ancl the young Mason in this also finds novelty . The progressive degrees , with peculiar and distinct secrets to each , —the desire to obtain them all , ancl to lie looked up to as a " high Mason , " a " prince Mason , " —have , to young Masons , tho charm of novelty .

We do not wish , by our remarks , to depreciate these exciting external points in Masonry ; but wc do earnestly desire to inculcate in tho minds of young Masons the great clanger that exists if they are allowed to become the ¦ altt ' nudum , instead of the 'medium , through which Masonry leads us to a contemplation and a practical fulfilment of great and sublime moral and social virtues-.

We may point to the Churches of Christianity , and by allusion to their forms , symbols , and ceremonies , illustrate the evils which we are anxious to warn you against in connection with tho externals of Masonry . All classes of Christians join iu one accord , in praising the sublimity of language used in the book of Common Prayer of our churchand yetalas ! how devoid of soul tho ritual becomes

, , in the mouths of tho majority . Who can fail to admire , as a symbol , the crucifix of the Roman Church ! what tangible illustration more calculated to lead our thoughts to that hour when heaven stooped to earth ? and yet , how often is the type , instead of the typified , the obicct of worship !

The admission into the church by baptism , the symbolic eating and drinking of the body and blood of Christ , ancl tho public worship of tho Creator , are ceremonies unequalled for imprcssiveness and solemnity ; but arc we not forced to admit that , with too many who join in thorn , if . cy arc as nothing as regards their true import ? If , then , wc find that the majority of mankind rest satisfied

with tho exciting externals of religion , and that there doing so is fatally dangerous to their souls' salvation , arc wc not justified in fearing that many of us act in a similar manner with reference to ifasonry , and warranted in exhorting you to a closer study of tho principles of our institution ? Deists and Infidels draw their greatest strength , from the insincerity of professing Christians ; Cowansand opponents

, to Masonry , —their only arguments against us from those Masons who view Masonry as nobbing more than a pleasant kind of club , whoso zeal is based upon its mere external attractions , and who , as soon as the novciy of excitement wears away , become indifferent to their attendance at lodge , and finally abandon it altogether , because , like Sir Charles Coldstreamthey find " nothing in it . "

, What , then , arc tho features in Masonry to which wo should turn our attention , and upon which our attachment and zeal should bo based ? As it would carry us beyond the limits of a single lecture to go deeply into this part of our subject , we shall confine ourselves to a brief consideration of three of the leading characteristics , " Brotherly Love , " " Relief , " and "Truth . "