Kabbalism, Secret Societies, And Masonry.

different stages , from its earliest appearance to its 2 _ resent p hases : we are quite aware that the sketch we have given is a very imperfect one , but this is entirely owing to the great mass of materials which collected round us in our investigations , the difficulty being on all occasions to make a proper selection ; for while on

the one side the subject is often abstruse , and requires explanations and illustrations ; on the other , we could only have given those explanations at the expense of more important matter . The subject has never , as far as ive know , been treated as a ivhole , nor its connection with modern p hilosophy and theologynor its

in-, fluence on modern thought , adequately considered . A work treating the subject in this manner would be of great value at the present day , and would be of considerable assistance to the student of philosophy .

Extracts From Bro. Frederick Dalcho's Works.

EXTRACTS FROM BRO . FREDERICK DALCHO'S WORKS .

SELECTED BY BKO . J . T . AUCHEH , P . M ., 108 AXD 183 . Without distinction of country or nation , without regard to riches or poverty , a Mason should view the great _ mystic family as united to him b y the bonds of affection . He should sympathise with them in all their distresses , and offer to their necessities such relief as the

bounteous hand of Providence has enabled him to bestow . The honest peasant , nursed in the lowly cot , and by hard labour procuring his scanty meal , should be viewed with as much interest as he who . proudly boasts a long line of illustrious predecessors , and who , pampered in the lap of fortune , has all his wants and all his wishes anticipated by a crowd of flattering

. AVhat sight can be more acceptable in the eyes of the God whom we adore , what object more gratifying to the feelings of humanity , than an extensive society of benevolent men , established for the great purpose of relieving the distresses of their fellow-creatures , of softening the sorrows of the widowed heart , ancl of offerin

g protection and support to the helpless orphan , rocking in the cradle of poverty and woe , of breaking asunder the iron bands of the prisoner , and cheering his sight with the blaze of the noon-tide sun , of exchanging the cell of his loathsome dungeon for the possession of liberty , that choicest blessing " in heaven ' s giftandin shortestablished for the of

, , , purpose confirming man in his worship of the Deity , and of offering to the ripening youth of . our country , a living example of virtue , science , and benevolence . Such , my brethren , are the purposes for which tho societies of Freemasons were formed , and such are the principles which should govern the professors of the mystic science .

It is highly flattering to our order to see the avidity with which the youth of our country , seek for initiation into our mysteries . The name of ' Freemason engages the attention of all , but the mysteries with which our actions are enveloped , procure for ns , from the invidious and the ignorant , ridicule and calumny . It is Dhe conduct and character of the members of our which

society stamp impressions on the public mind . Of the particulars of our tenets they are ignorant , but Irom our intercourse with society they judge of the advantages which we derive from our association . If ii J 6 - 6 tlie Doisterious passions of the human heart quelledintotranquility ; if they see the rude austerity of an neadstrong man softened into urbanity ; if they see the votaries of vice and debauchery reclaimed to the paths

Extracts From Bro. Frederick Dalcho's Works.

of virtue ; if they see the heart of the miser melt at the tale of woe , and the libertine shocked at the recital of the distresses which he has heaped on his victims , and the coxcomb forsake the adornment of his person to improve the faculties of his mind , they will rejoice in the establishment , and the name of Freemason will be hallowed among men . It will then be reviewed as the

school of virtue , and those who are unaquainted with the mysteries of our profession will be viewed as deficient in an important branch of education . Where is the Mason whose heart is not alive to that exquisite satisfaction which may be derived from our institution . ]_ To societies , that ever did or ever will existcan be of such unbounded advantage to the

com-, munity as those of Freemasons spread over the surface of both hemispheres , they could diffuse virtue and science through all the world like the glorious orb of day , whose benign influence enlivens every part oj . animated nature .

Flattering , my brethren , as this picture is , it nevertheless combines a just view of the principles of our society . That our associations are not attended with the happy advantages I have here described , is attributable not to the profession , but to the professors . A listless indifference about principles , is as criminal as depravity . We have it in our power to become everything that is great

and good , but unfortunately , many I fear , when their curiosity is gratified by initiation , think everything is attained , and give themselves no further concern , than that of procuring the decoration of the Order . Pleased with the sounding title of Free and Accepted Mason , they neglect to study those sublime and important truths which form its basis , and remain as ignorant of the

principles of the Order , and the derivation of the symbols , as if they had never been initiated . Too many of the Masons of thc present day , I fear , are subject to this remark , for no one can with more truth be called a Freemason , merely by passing through a few unimportant ceremonies , than ho can be ' called a mathematicianwho is ignorant of tho science of numbers and

, magnitude , or than that man who is unacquainted with tactics , can be termed a general , merely because he wears the uniform of the army . Unremitted study and application to the arcs and sciences must qualify a man to become a good Mason . The great truths of nature are open to all , but the ignorant pass them by without improvement or satisfaction .

I have no doubt that our society was originally formed by the votaries of religion and science , for the purpose of concentrating the wisdom of the times , and of' securing and perpetuating to future ages , the fruits of their ingenuity ancl labour . In the rude age in which they lived , the rays of science were few and imperfect , and the gloom of barbarism overspread most of the nations of the earth .

The few individuals whose minds were illumined by the first emanations of science , were viewed by the ignorant multitude with an eye of jealousy and distrust , and who conferred on them the epithets of magicians and conjurors , and ascribed those works to witchcraft , which were the natural results of just reasoning , deduced from the operation of the laws of nature .

The ignorant multitude , in every age and clime , are always ready to ascribe to supernatural agency , every phenomenon of nature and art , which is placed beyond the reach of their understanding . In the thunder they hear the voice of God , and bow their heads with terror and dismay . In the lightning they see the glittering of his spear , and shrink from the electric flame . AYhen the

troubled earth shakes with convulsive action from central fires , or the sun is eclipsed by the intervention of the resplendent orb of night , they fall on their faces ivith the belief that the organisation of nature is about to be dissolved . But the philosopher , accustomed to trace effects to their causes , stands firm and collected amidst the crash of contending elements , and views the angry storm which bursts over his head and enwraps as it were the world in