Freemasonry And The New Year.

"We have only just commenced the New Tear , and earnestly call upon every true-hearted brother and gentleman to do his best to allay the temper and tone , which have marked the close of the past and the beginning of the present year , amongst the great family of universal Freemasons .

Mysteries Of The Northmen.

MYSTERIES OF THE NORTHMEN .

( From the Boston ( U . S . ) Masonic Monthly . ) Early in the century preceding the commencement of the Christian era , the extensive forests of Germany , and the whole of the country north and east of the Danube , became the theatre of a gigantic movement among populations , tho like of which has not been Avitnessed in any other age or clime . The aboriginal Celtic and Cimbrian

tribes occupying that region , unceasingly at Avar with each other , were suddenly alarmed by the presence on their borders of new aud unexpected foes . The races ¦ dwelling beyond the Ural Mountains and the waters of the Don and the Volga—those tribes ivhich had made their homes on the limitless steppes of ancient Scyfchia —Goths , Vandals , Huns , or by whatever other name

known—had become generally affected by some unaccountable colossal commotions at work among the teeming population of Central Asia . They found themselves unable to resist the invasion of their native

plains by the hordes of Avarhke tribes which poured m upon them from the farther East . With an unanimity , which in any age Avould be wonderful , entire nations , resolving to quit the localities where their ancestors had dwelled for generations , came westAvard into Europe , under the lead of their chosen chieftains , in search of new settlements . Fording bhe waters of the Volga and

the Don , they made their way through the forests of Germany to the borders of the Baltic and the banks of the Rhine , and threw themselves hostilely among the inhabitants of the countries they traversed . They , in their turn , were followed by other similar invasions , before which they gave way , driving before them to the southward and westward the Cimbrians and Gauls , who again

pressed upon the peoples bordering on the ocean and the Mediterranean , and came in conflict Avith the Roman power . Thus originated that long and fierce struggle which ended in the light of Grecian and Roman culture going out iu the Dark Ages . At the head of one of these invasions stood a Scythian prince , previously known as Sigge , but who , on entering Europe , assumed the name of "Wod or Odin , chief among the gods of tho Scandinavians . The career of this leader

was irresistable . He founded numerous empires ; aud if Ave are to believe the Sagas , Avrought such prodigies of valour as now to be considered fabulous . Much , no doubt , written concerning him partakes of the mythical , yet io is a part of veritable-history that , about the time of which we treat , a chief of this name fought his Avay to empire over the entire north of Europe . Towering

high above the greatest of his contemporaries iu intellect and acquirements , he conceived a project which , it was calculated , Avould secure to him an empire as complete over the minds as he had conquered over the bodies of his subjects . Like many other conquerors , before aud since , he assumed to be the spiritual , as well as the political , head over the races he had subjugated . One of

his maxims , as we learn from an Ancient Runic Poem , was , " whatever is known only to one ' s self is always of ihe greatest value , " —a saying which proved him well versed in the theory of king-craft and priest-craft ; and of these royal and priestly arts his success shoAved him to be no mean adept . In his younger days , having probably become acquainted Avith the systems of Buddha and Brahma , he may have received from them the leading ideas which he embodied in the mysteries he

subsequently introduced among the hardy warrior tribes of Northern Europe . The ' East has been the fruitful mother of religions , as well as the mother-land of the human race . The Odin mysteries , in many prominent features , manifest their Oriental parentage . They were , undoubtedly , modifications of the primal mystery , of which the great Indian systems Avere corruptions .

Departing in many details from their models , they unquestionably transmitted , through symbolisms , more or less ambiguous , portions of primary truth . It will not , therefore , be surprising to Masonic students Avere they , in the course of their travels over this interesting field of inquiry , to alight upon some most striking parallels with the Rites and Doctrines of their own Ancient Order .

The initiations into the mysteries of the Northmen were celebrated in the most extensive of the caverns and grottoes , in Avhich the country abounded ; in this respect , following the example of all tho primitive peoples in the performance of their secret and sacred rites . As in the initiations of Eleusis , of Osiris , and Isis , the candidate Avas introduced through scenes of

darkness and exhibitions of sorrow by degrees to the full revelation Avhich awaited him in the inner temple of light , and to the joys Avhich Avere prospective to the novitiate . After undergoing a preparatory course of fastings , mortifications , and sacrificiary services , followed by preliminary processions and circular dances , he was led , shoeless and in bonds , by a Avinding descent into the

shades of darkness . He was startled at every step by horrid shades , and terrified by the fearful bowlings of dogs , AA'hich exhibited their bloody fangs to him at every turn . His conductor hurried him through the symbolical gates of death , guarded by its terrible canine sentinels , into the sacred vault , where , seated in the East , he is made aware of the dread presence of the Vala , oracle , or

prophetess , who added greatly to the mystery which involved him by the ambiguity of her replies to his questionings . Again he Avas led onward amid bewailings for the death of " Balder the Beautiful , " whom the gods had unintentionally left open to destruction . Representing in his person the mythic search for Balder ' s murdered body , he was made to descend through nine dark , damp , aud clismal cavernous passages , in each of Avhich strange ,

mysterious sounds greeted his ears . At length , approaching the end of his typical Avanderings , he arrived on the banks of the " waters of purification , " into which he was instructed to plunge . On the other side of this allegorical stream , his further advance was intercepted by the sacred door of expurgation , through which , after due examination , he was permitted to pass . He found

himself standing on the threshold of the illuminated sacellum , while before his astonished eyes , enthroned in highest distinction , he beheld the once murdered , now risen , Balder—the object of his Aveary , symbolic search —surrounded by the twelve Drottes or Hierophants , on as many thrones , resembling in their splendours the twelve Deities they personified . Herein the " abode of

, joy , " —the " hall of the gods , "—the closing and not least impressive ceremonies Avere administered . Here the most solemn oaths knoAvn Avere submitted to the acceptance of the candidate . " By the steed ' s neck And the sword's edge ; By the light Avaters

Of Leiptur's stream , * And by the cold stones Beneath the sea . By the sun southward bearing ; By Sigtyr ' sf strong mountain ; By the sanctity of the couch ; And by tiller ' s ring , " he was made to sAvear to full and implicit obedience to the civil and religious chiefs of the state ; devotion to