Masonic Persecution.—Witnesses To The Truth.

thereof ? The Deputy Grand Master bears further witness that the matters concerning the Craft referred to by Bro . Melville were beyond the scope of ordinary Masonry . The Deputy Grand Master does not , he it noticeddissent from these mattersbut Avith

remark-, , able naivette observes they were not within that usual routine of Masonry to which he was accustomed . The paper on the Astrolabe affords abundant evidence of Bro . Melville ' s scientific achievements , which alone place him as far above suspicion as they do above the degrading charge of imposition .

Apropos of that paper , your contemporary , The Freemason , of the 17 th ult ., reproaches Bro . Melville for coupling his discoveries respecting the Astrolabe with his intercommunication with the Grand Registrar and the . Deputy Grand Master respecting the ceremonies ancl mvsteries of the Order .

_ It is certainly to be regretted that Bro . Melville did connect the two subjects in the same paper , the twain Avere , in an archaeological sense , one and the same ; but in a purely Masonic one , the author might have treated them separately ; he may , it is presumable , have thought the one vehicle , containing

the two , would announce not only the important discovery in the British Museum , but Avould moreover announce the unsuccessful resu'ts of his application at Masonic head-quarters . The paper , nevertheless , casts no shadow over the fair fame of his lordship , whose courteous letter in the first instance , so Avon the mind as to unprepare it for the disappointment conveyed in his lordship's next letter .

Your same contemporary saith truly , the Craft are proud to fraternize with his lordship , Avhose statesman-like qualities and Masonic beneficence are themes of general laudation , and your correspondent cannot relinquish the belief that his lordship may yet become a zealous patron of the author of the Astrolabe , when lie calmly reads the paper thereon , and reflects at leisure on the extraordinary nature and value of his scientific re-discoveries .

It is not often that men are found to dedicate some thirty or forty years of their lives to the re-discovery of a lost science . Here and there biography tells of some memorable example of the pursuit of knowledge under difficulties , while such example is made more and more impressive by the narrative of

sustained mental energy , of physical endurance , of sufferings , too incident , alas ! to protracted scientific exploration . The sad tale of the recent death , from want , of M . Isidore , the famed painter , at Paris , after completion ot the picture that is to immortalise his name , points its own instructive moral .

Let , then , your contributors , as AA'ell as all brethren of high and low degree , bear in mind the Divine injunction , " The labourer is worthy of his hire . " By so doing , they will respond to the advertised call for contributions to the Palestine Exploration Fund , without which the subterranean researches must be

discontinued , Avhile they will , duly weighing the evidence of the scientific results of Bro . Melville ' s exploration , conclude that they are of the highest order of merit , entitling him not only to the homage , but to the honorariums of brethreu . Yours fraternally , W . CRAWFORD .

Our Cardinal And The Dublin Grand Masonic Assembly.

OUR CARDINAL AND THE DUBLIN GRAND MASONIC ASSEMBLY .

TO THE EDlTOB OP THE FREEMASONS MAGAZINE A > "D 3 TASONIC MIBBOE . Pear Sir and Brother . —I had fondly hoped to have enjoyed the pleasure of being present at the Grand Masonic Bait in Dublin , but I have been most wofully disappointed . His Reverence , the Cardinal , Avho , I suppose , must have been suffering from a most

untimely fit of the gout , and would therefore be unable to attend personally aud watch over us , interdicted our presence there altogether . Now was not that a shame ! here was I all ready and looking forward to meeting the " brethren of the mystic tie , " and Avith them tripping it gayly on the liht fantastic

g toe , and had also my dear old grandmother—who is worth twenty cardinals—engaged to watch over me ; but no , it Avould not do . Then as for my intended partner , Tom , I think he was worse than I . How he did bless the cardinal and his poor feet ! " Sure , Nelly a ctishla , " says he , " we could surely dance

without the ould cardinal beating time ; besides , darling , we might easily have got a basin of holy Avater to Avash our feet with after it was done , which would have effectually counteracted any pollution acquired ; but if I only thought our Holy Father , the Poiie , sanctioned the cardinal's doings , I would turn

Protestant to-morrow , and Avorship as was done in the early ages of the Church , before cardinals were invented . Excommunicated if we go to the Masonic Ball . ' What next ? I suppose a man will haA T e to carry an indulgence continually in his pocket , before he presumes to kiss his sweetheart—just think of

that ! " " No , " added Tom , " I won't be a slave , "_ and I said—Avell , I said , I won't be a nun . Yours fraternally , MASONIOA . P . S . —If I don't got to the next Masonic Ball , I am much mistaken , or L wilt know the reason why . —M .

Bro. Melville And His Discoveries.

BRO . MELVILLE AND HIS DISCOVERIES .

TO THE EDITOlt 01 ' THE EBEEMASONS' HAGAZIXE AMD MASOSIC 2 IIBK 0 B . Dear Sir ancl Brother , —Among the many services which you have rendered the Masonic public , is the printing in the Freemasons' Magazine of the papers of Bro . Melville . These have been rejected on all hands , and Ave have consequently heard a great deal about the wonderful discoveries of Bvo . 3 felvilleand the

, shameful neglect of this great man by Masonic authorities aud men of science . We were consequently in tho unpleasant difficulty of having a grievance of this kind kept up , until at length it would haA'e been generally believed that Bro . Melville ' s discoveries aro of real valueand that he is a persecuted

, individual . However incompatible it would have been for any scientific body to have countenanced in any shape such papers as those of Bro . Melville , ' they r came legitimately within the domain of your public journal . They are matters of public interestpublicly talked

, about ; you were justified iu making them known , ancl in allowing them to be discussed , and Ave see what they are . They are a full justification for every man of education and common sense Avho has rejected pretensions Avithout foundation , and which cast ridi-