Masonry—Why It Has Been Upheld.

the importance of the early implanting of religious principles . They traversed vast regions to acquire and to impart knowledge . They risked even their lives to preserve what they regarded as

the pure worship of God . But it is a melancholy fact that most of that pristine purity and zeal is no more . Masonry , in latter days , has taken no especial interest in the propagation of truth ; nor have its votaries been signalised , as a society , for

the attainment of so much good as , from its structure and professions , the Avorld might justly expect . They have been accused of aiding in the diabolical design to overthrow all regular governments—to sap the foundations of social happiness

—and to deprive the afflicted of their last and best consolation—the hope of futurity . This calumny has been ably and fully refuted ; and yet many

will still adduce our indifference to the prevalence and success of that universal religion , on which the Masonic Society is founded , as proof of the fact . In some parts of the world lodges have at times degenerated into little better than convivial

assemblies . Their revenues are perhaps ample enough , but they are dissipated in idle parade and needless expensive ornaments and trappings , or are wasted in useless festivities and carousals . Such lodges have evidently forgotten the great

principles of the institution , and have widely departed from its ancient landmarks . If it is our duty to relieve the wants of the poor , it is certainly our duty to provide the means of such assistance ; and in this view , every sum paid to a

lodge as the fees of initiation , should be regarded as a sacred deposit for the benefit of the needy , and for works of charity and benevolence .

There are other lodges which advance a step further in the discharge of Masonic duty , and distribute something of their funds to relieve the distresses of necessitous brothers . But how little

is the good thus effected in comparison with what more active benevolence might achieve ! Such relief is too often precarious and desultory as vernal brooks . It is afforded upon the impulse of the moment , and ceases with the absence of its object .

Many lodges , however , sensible of the necessity of a permanent and efficient method of discharging this duty , have appointed standing committees , or boards of relief , as in large cities , to receive applications for pecuniary aid ; but few , Ave believe , have , been specially charged to search out the destitute and afflicted—to visit the abodes of

Masonry—Why It Has Been Upheld.

disease and sorrow , and to administer to the wants of that class of the deserving , whose delicacy , or whose patience lead them rather to suffer in secret , than sound the trumpet of their own necessities . If we have truly ascertained and correctly

ascertained the leading principles of the Masonic society , it is manifest that our obligations are not fulfilled by the performance of personal charities alone . These , indeed , are not to be neglected ; but something more' ] remains to be clone . The

great purposes of Heaven , in the singular preservation of our society , are probably not yet accomplished . It cannot be that an institution so honourable , so widely extended over the earth , so strong in the Avealth and number of its

members , and in the secrecy and facility , and vigour of all its operations has been protected by infinite wisdom through the perils of so many ages and revolutions , only that , like some petty fraternities , it might at length steal silently down to the tomb of oblivion . A nobler destiny awaits it .

The Secret Societies Of Ancient Scandinavia.

THE SECRET SOCIETIES OF ANCIENT SCANDINAVIA .

About fifty years before the Christian era , the Roman commonwealth had arrived at the summit of its power ; its last formidable enemy , Mithridates , had fled before the victorious army of Pompey , and sought refuge and saw means of

resistance in the forests of Scyfchia . He succeeded in raising a large force , but the men , been ill armed and without discipline , were forced to yield to the genius of Pompey , and some of them were compelled to serve in the victorious army . Of this

number was one named Siggo , who afterwards became known as Odin , the great Mystagogo of the North . The degrading position he was obliged to occupy stung him to the depth of his soul ; he fled

into the wilderness , the idea of revenge being his supreme thought . He ran from nation to nation , exciting the people by his wondrous eloquence and the indefatigable zest with which he propagated the religion of which he now claimed to be the minister . He assumed the name of Odin , who Avas the supreme god of the Teutonic nation .