The Nemesis: A Tale Of The Days Of Trajan.

though his teeth chattered with the cold , and his strength threatened to fail him , and plunge him in the vortex of the howling abyss . To acid to the horrors of the scene , a lightning bolt flashed close by him , followed by the roar of thunder . Still

Adrian held unflinchingly by the rings , and soon the tumult of the elements ceased , the Avheels stopped , and the door opened . Lemo stood on the threshold .

" Thrice welcome , Adrian , to earth once more . Welcome , brave youth , conqueror of earthly passion and of earthly fear . Purified by fire , water and air , the gods smile upon thee , and place earth ' s choicest secrets in your grasp . "

He led him into a large apartment , where the priests and priestesses of Isis , knelt before a shrine . Adrian Avas here robed in the purple garment of the highest grade , and those of a meaner did him reverence . Three weeks more he spent

with Lemo , Avho poured out to him the treasures of his lore , and confided to him the secret mysteries knoAvn only to himself . When they parted at last , Lemo cast his horoscope , and told him , that great danger awaited him in Rome , that a message

should be delivered to him from the gods , a trust which would be alike perilous to accept or to refuse , and he bade him in all times of difficulty never to forget that he belonged to the society of Isis , Avhose members scattered over the earth , were

SAVorn to support and protect each other . BestoAVing upon him his blessing , Lemo took a fond farewell of Adrian , Avho departed at once for Rome . The Hi gh Priest went back to the Sublimity of his studies , Avith a sad heart , for the young

pMlosopher had made himself a part of the old man ' s life . ( To be continued ) .

Freemasonry.

FREEMASONRY .

The following article appeared in a recent number of "Chambers' Journal . " Although we cannot subscribe to all the statements that it contains , yet Ave consider it right to give it insertion in our pages , inasmuch as this MAGA - ZINE should garner up everything relating to the Craft . —ED . F . M .

The popular notion with respect to the Masonic brotherhood is somewhat vague and uncertain . It * s principally associated with curious ceremonies , terrible oaths and ordeals , a very close acquaintance wtth a red-hot poker and an incandescent gridiron , lamb-skin aprons like a toll collector ' s bag , mysterious prefixes and affixes to the mem .

ber's names , and frightful punishments to intruders , AVIIO are kept off by a dreadful officer called the Tyler . It is generally supposed that Freemasons arc a band of brothers , fond of social intercourse , sirloins , and champagne ; and thafc they are a set of jolly good felloAvs , is a fact wliich

nobody can deny . NOAV , a recent papal allocution having excited public attention to the Masonic body , Ave take this opportunity of giving onr . readers . a little information concerning that secret institution . The freemasons boast thafc their fraternity is one

of the oldest institutions in existence , and has existed from a time whereof the memory of man runneth not to the contrary . Some say that King Solomon was the founder of the science ; others , that it existed among the Egyptians AA ho built the pyramids ; while othersbolder still

, , pretend to trace it back as far as the time of Noah . We do not , however , intend to dive so deeply into the troubled Avaters of history , and shall content ourselves Avith stating that Freemasonry such as exists at the present day is of a very modern origin , although founded upon pretty nearly the same

principles as ancient Freemasonry . In the Middle Ages , bands of skilled workmen wandered all over Europe , building those magnificent cathedrals and other edifices which have been the admiration of

every succeeding age . No one was admitted into the Craft unless properly qualified , and Avas duly examined as to whether he possessed a competent skill as an operative workman ; and as Masons , from the very nature of their business , were wanderers upon the earth , each person , on his

obtaining admission into the Craft , was intrusted Avith certain secrets , by which he ivas enabled to show that he Avas a skilled Craftsmen , and to obtain employment from his brethren Avherever he went , Avithout being obliged to undergo a further examination as to his Masonic qualifications .

Certain laws were promulgated for the regulation of the Order , and for preserving good conduct and social harmony among its members . Each band of Avorkmen formed a lodge , Avhich Avas presided over by some eminent brother , who saw

that the members of his lodge properly performed their allotted task , and received their just due . It is some some sixteen hundred years since the first lodge Avas formed in England , under the auspices of Carausius , who collected a number of ingenious Masons from different countries , and

appointed his steward , St . Alban or Albanus , to be the principal superintendent , or Grand Master , of their assemblies . From that time until the seventeenth century , Freemasonry flourished with varied success ; the fraternity being employed in building cathedralschurchesand the like ; their

, , last important work being the building of St . Paul's Cathedral , under the management of Sir Christopher Wren , who Avas the Grand Master of the lodge of Masons connected with the building , which , lodge held its assemblies at a tavern in St .