Masonic Adventure.

be none so fresh ; ancl I calculate their ride will haA ' e made ' em sharp set , and they are not the boys to leaA e a good fire and p lenty of venison for a long ride through the woods ; besides , haA'e ' nt they got the Major , if he is still alive , poor fellow ? " Charles sighed as he thought of his friend , but said

nothing , when Hickory resumed ( but Ave -will not write in his language ) . " Well , I don't know but that , all things considered , it is a lucky thing that the Tories did come and catch the Major . " "Wherefore ? " said Charles .

" Why , in the first place , it will keep them from following close on us ; not that I would not strike in to rescue him , for he has as kind a heart , and is as good a soldier as I ever knew ; but it is better for him as it is ; he could not have kept up with us , and now they will doctor himand g ive him a fair chance of life . By the

, way , Cap , is he any relation of vours ? " " No f why do you ask ?" " Why , you see , I could not help hearing a bit of what you were saying at the camp fire . Tou were always very thick ; and , when I heard him leave his sister to your care , I thought he must be some kin . "

" No , he is no relation , or even connection ; we are old friends , and brother Freemasons ; that is why he confided his sister to me . " " Well , I have often heard a lot about the Freemasons , but never ri ghtly understood AA'hat they AA'ere , and AA'hat they did . Is it because you AA'ere both Freemasons that he left his sister in your care ? "

" Tes , principally so , I fancy , as he probably Avould not othenvise have put so serious a trust in the hands of so young a man as myself . " The badness of the trade , for road it could not be called , AA'hich was only lighted by occasional gleams of the moon through tlie trees , stayed further conversation .

After some half hour ' s floundering , Hickory , AA'ho was the guide , called a halt , ancl proposed camping for the night . A fire Avas soon kindled , and the wearied horses cropping the cool , deAA' -spangleil herbage , while the little party of fugitives proceeded to solace themselves AA'ith a pipe . "Cap , " said Hickory , "I AVISII you Avould tell us something about the Freemasons , as I am pretty considerably anxious to hear about them . "

"Willingly , " said Charles ; " and in order that you may the better understand the subject , I ivill give a short historical sketch of Freemasonry . Tlie science or Craft of Freemasonry has existed from the earliest ages . Of this the vestiges found in the ruins of Thebes , the ancient temples in India , and the various remains of

ancient sculpture and architecture AA'hich , like tombstones of ages long since passed , are scattered throughout Europe , and in the now almost inaccessible forests of this Continent , afford abundant proofs . Amongst them are to be found many signs ancl hieroglyphics Avhich are still used hy the Freemasons of the present

day . The light of Freemasonry first shone in America iu the year 1783 , in Boston , from AA'hence it soon spread in all directions . Warren , Breary , Washington , Burr , Benjamin Franklin , and a host of others eminent for their virtues and abilities , AA'ere Masons . It is a science confined to no particular country , but diffused OA er the

whole globe . Wherever arts flourish , there flourishes Masonry also . Moreover , by secret ancl inviolable signs carefully preserved among the fraternity , it becomes an universal language amongst them throughout the Avorld . its principles are eternal . Charity and brotherly love are strongly inculcated and maintained ;

Masonic Adventure.

for though to relieve the distressed is a dut y incumbent on all men , yet charity is more particularly so upon Masons , who ought to be linked together with an Indissoluble chain of sincere affection . To soothe calamity , to alleviate misery , to compassionate misfortune , and to restore peace to the troubled mind , is the great aim of

the true Mason . On this basis he establishes his friendship , and forms his connections . " " Then this , " said Hickory , " is the reason you and the Major are such friends ? " " Certainly , it is the chief reason . " "Ay , but you knew each other as boys . Would

Masonry help a man among strangers ? " " Without doubt it Avould . Did it not save my life at Q . ueenstown ? " " Well , then , " said Joe Brown , who had hitherto been a silent listener , " mj' brother spoke the truth when he tolcl me that being a Mason had saved his lifeand that

, of all on board his shin . " "Indeed !" "Tes , I will teH you the story . " ( To he continued . )

Architecture And Archeology.

ARCHITECTURE AND ARCHEOLOGY .

Afc the last meeting of this Association , Mr . Jos . Shaw read a paper on " Gothic Architecture . " Tho essay opened Avith a review of the peculiar beauties of the various periods of Gothic art , and the causes which led to the gradual transition from each style to that which succeeded MANCHESTER ARCHITECTURAL ASSOCIATION

it ; ifc being urged that such changes did nofc result from the eager loA'e of novelty Avhich characterizes the present age , but from a sincere and earnest love of artistic truth and beauty ; and that , until we have attained an intimate knoAvledge of the works of our forefathers and masters in the art ( not only in general effect ,. but in the refinement of their detail ) Ave can never hope to excel their productions

, . The vieAvs AA'hich had been brought foi-Avard were discussed by the members ; and in connection ivith the present position oi art workmen , it was suggested , and the idea generally approved , that a drawing class be formed for them , under the direction of fche Association .

ST . ALBAN'S ARCHITECTUBAL SOCIETY . Tho annual meeting of the St . Alban ' s Architectural and Archasologieal Society has just been hold in the Assemblyroom of the ToAA'n Hall . The Avails of the room were hung Avith rubbings of monumental brasses , Ac . ; and in tlie room Avas a collection , of coins , casts , impressions of seals , and other anti

quities . The attendance Avas both large and fashionable . The Earl of Verulam presided . The secretary read the minutes of tho last mooting , AvhictiAvere confirmed ancl signed by the chairman ; and also the annual report , which alluded to the operations of tho society for the past year , ancl the interesting papers AA-hich had been read on subjects of local interest , of Avhich " College Architecture "

had been one . The Bei r . Dr . Nicholson , in alluding to the gradual accumulation of earth on the north transept of the Abbey , said the workmen had brought to him from time to time coins ivhich they had dug out . They first brought to him a coin of George III ., then of George I ., then of Charles II ., and then they got to a St . Alban ' s token prior to that day . They afterwards found coins of Henry VI . and

Edward I . Lastly , they discovered at the basis a seal whicli he now produced , ivhich represented our Saviour in nimbus , Avifch a Latin inscription . Tho discovery of these proved fchafc there had been an accumulation of earth for many centuries . The officers of the society were then re-elected . Tho Bev . B . Gee , M . A ., then read a paper " On the Needle-Avork of tho Earlier Ages . " Mr . A . Ashpitel , F . S . A ., explained the new invention in the art of Tapestry , by which a great saving of time ancl labour is effected .