Classical Freemasonry,

The verses which , according to Bishop AVai-burtou , were sung in the Eleusinian mysteries , contained the following passage : — " Pursue thy path rightly , and contemplate the King of the world : He is one , and of himself alone , ancl to that One all things have owed their being . He encompasses them .

No mortal hath beheld him ; but he sees everything . " Before the initiation commenced , it was customary for the officiating priest to inquire aloud , " AVho is fit to he present at this ceremony ? " The answer given was , " Honest , good , and harmless men . " Pie again ejaculated , " Holy things are for those who are holy ; " and thenwith much solemnity

, , enjoined them to receive the benefit of prayer . Homer thus describes the place of -initiation in Greece :- — "High at the head a branching olive grows , And crowns the pointed cliffs with shady houghs ; Beneath a gloomy grotto ' s cool recess , Delights the Nereids of the nei ghbouring seas ; here bowls and

AA urns were form'd of living stone , Ancl massy beams in native marble shone : On which the labours of the nymphs were roll'd Their webs divine of purple mix'd with gold . Within the cave the clust ' ring bees attend Their waxen works , or from the roof depend . Perpetual waters o ' er the pavement glide ; Two marble doors unfold on either side ; Sacred the south , by which the gods descend ; But mortals enter at the northern end . "

POPE , OD . I . xiii ., v . 122 . The gate of entrance for the aspirant was from the north ; but when purged from his corruptions , he was termed , indifferently new born or immortal , ancl thc sacred south door was accessible to his steps . It is only necessary to observe furtheron this headthat

, , it is not only iu detached parts of those several poets from which wc have quoted that a resemblance to the principles and ceremonies of Freemasonry are plainly seen , but whole cantos contain a full description of the rites then observed .

It has happened , fortunately for the republic of letters , that the higher species of poetry are exempted from the same licentious use of allegory and metaphor from which sprung the fables of the wars of the giants , of the birth and education of Jupiter , of the dethroning of Saturn , and of the provinces assigned by the Supreme to the inferior deities ; ail of which

are subjects said to have been particularly treated by Orpheus . In the loose fragments of the early writers , however , imagination was permitted to take its full career , and sentiment 7 vas rendered at once obscure and agreeable , by being con-Sealed behind a veil of the richest poetical imagery . The love of fable became indeed so remarkably prevalent

in the earliest ages , that it is now a difficult task , in many instances , to distinguish real from apparent truth , and to discriminate the persons who were useful members of society ; the Freemasons of those times , from those who exist only in the works of a poet , whose aim was professedly to excite admiration . Thus several events of importance to the Order were disfigured by the colouring of poetic narration ; so that Ave are often unable to separate truth from a perplexed system of real ancl fictitious incidents .

It is necessary to observe in general , on this subject , that whatever degree of superiority the reasoning faculty ought ultimately to possess in the sphere of composition , we are not to consider this power as acting the same part in the work of a poet which it should always act in that of a philosopher . En the performance of the latter , an appeal to reason is

formally stated , and is carried on by the process of connected argumentation ; but in that of the former , the judgment is principally employed iu the disposition of material ' s . Thus thc philosopher and the poet are equally entitled to thc character of judicious , when the arguments of the one are just and conclusive , and when the images of the other are apposite ancl natural . 'We shall only further observe , in conclusion ,

Classical Freemasonry,

that no one who is familiar with the history of the past , ancl those great and lofty minds associated with it , but must be impressed with the fact , that most of the great philosop hers ancl lawgivers , seers and prophets , ancl men of renown in the ancient world were Freemasons , and identified themselves with that beautiful system of ethics , as were practised

in the very rites and mysteries which are now held in such veneration and sacred regard by every man who claims to be a brother , and adorns that character by every moral ancl social virtue . There is not a holy tradition ; there is not a sublime horism or moral precept ; there is not a sacred character

ap of which the poets have sung , or philosophers written , that does not breathe the spirit of Masonry , ancl associates its princip les with the worship of God and the glory which surrounds his everlasting throne .

Good Advice.

GOOD ADVICE .

AVE copy the following from the address of the M . AV . Bro . AV . P . Mellen , Grand Master of Mississippi , delivered before the Grand Lodge at its annual communication in January last : — By the will of Divine Providence the Grand Lodge of the State of Mississippi is again in G . \ A . * . C . \ Allow me to congratulate around this

you that we have once more been permitted to gather altar with so much cause for thankfulness for the general prosperity ofthe Craft , not only in our own jurisdiction , but throughout the world . AVe hear no discordant sounds from abroad , and in Mississippi , with rare exceptions , the fraternity have cause for rejoicing , in both their individual and associate characters ; for their personal and Masonic interests have alike been blessed .

So long as human nature is frail and man imperfect , occasional disturbances in the world around us may be expected ; nor can we hope that , even in our association , we can be wholly exempt ; though with our machinery , and with competent Masters to preside over thc work , they need scarcely be known nor exist for any lengthened period . Probably at no time iu our history , when numbers are considered , has there been more harmony in

the Craft , greater prosperity , more enlightened zeal in the prosecution of our work , or as profound a knowledge of the duties and mission of Freemasonry . Shall we not add that the good effected in the promotion of the welfare of mankind , has been proportionally great ? All clanger to om * institution is to be found in the interior of the Lodge . It is not thc antimason who places our temple in

jeopard }' . Our walls can stand the assaults of the foe , but not the umlci-mhimg of our own people—those who give a character and a mission to Freemasonry unknown to our ancient brethren , and who ivould introduce with their neiv doctrines , new organizations , and new forms of government . Either would be fatal to the Lodge , how beautiful mid attractive soever it may appear at the momentNothing has preserved Freemasonry for so many

. centuries but its perfect universality of doctrine , with its peculiarity of discipline , while the whole has been completly subjective to thc moral law . It teaches nothing contrary to the unity of both minds and hearts . So long as it maintains this character it lives ; when this censes it dies , and our eyes will never again behold thc glory of this first temple .

There are . in our own country , other secret societies beside the Masonic , of high character , and whose objects are most praiseworthy ; yet I look upon it as exceedingly dangerous for a conscientious man who is a member of one secret society to join another , because he can have no assurance that he is not assuming a conflict of duties , to say nothing about the almost utter impossibility of ono individual being able to bear the burden of Ins

accumulated obligations resulting therefrom . In connexion with the idea of mixing rites unci ceremonies of different societies , . 1 beg to bring to your notice , for a record of your condemnation , that Masonry may not suffer for that for which Masonry is not responsible , but . has been foisted upon it at least in one Lodge , not , however , of this jurisdiction , and without authority in . In all the history of Freemasonrycither

any , written or traditional , alike occurrence has not taken place before in a York Lodge . I know nothing of the fact , but presume from circumstances ancl the character of the ceremony , that it had its origin in Paris , during the so called " Eeign of lleason . " I allude to the ceremonies iu a Lodge in New Orleans , of a Masonic