Classical Theology.-Xviii.

acknoAvledged a more ancient and celestial divinity under the name of Venus Urania , the daughter of Uranus ( Cselus ) and Lucibilis , ( lig ht itself ); as well as Astarte , her half sister , the daughter of Tyc , the earth . These goddesses were greatly reverenced , particularly in the east . Astarte , the Venus of the Tyrians , was saicl to have rendered their cit y

saered , by depositing a fallen meteor , or as they affirmed a star from heaven within it . This consecration is said to have g iven rise to the annual solemnity , in homage of Venus , performedonthemountof the sacredLibanus . Shewas invoked and worshipped as a star , or lambent flame , that appeared to arise out of the summit ofthe mountainwhere it remained

, as a large ancl brilliant luminary for a little while in the air , and then descended , or fell as it were into the river Thammuz , or rather Tamniuz , the Phoenician name of Adonis . Indeed Adonis , the sun , Astarte , the moon , or Dea Syria , ancl Hercules , as the application of their united tivelve labours ( that is the passage of the sun through the

twelve signs of the zodiac ) , were adorned , as divinities , above all other in Phoenicia . The exploits attributed to Hercules , likeAvise , correspond AA'ith the hieroglyphical figures unci astronomical occurrences , which served in ancient times to parcel the stars into constellations , under various types of animals or human actions , iuvolved in mythological confusion .

The sacerdotal hieroglyphics represent Osiris ancl Isis by an infinity of figures ; sometimes the former was drawn as a mitred king , sometimes as a man wifch a tivo horned head , leaning on a pastoral staff ! Isis was l ^ resented as a , crescent crowned queen , or else as a handsome woman , but not of Egyptian countenancebearing in one hand either

, a sistrum or a globe . Sometimes the goddess ivas drawn with the head of a cow—these being all symbols ofthe earth , agriculture , heaven ancl astronomy , of which Isis and Osiris were the representatives ; but the most common living emblems , under ivhich these deities were revered , wero the sacred Apis or Mnevis , ancl Anubis .

According to the Greeks , Jupiter aud Niobe wore the parents of Osiris , king of the Argives , ivho , through the desire of glory , sailed into Egypt to acquire by force another kingdom and a neAV name . The Egyptians were not so much overcome by his arms as by the strength of his wisdom aud urbanity . He aftei'Avards married the daughter of Inachus ,

Io , ivhom Jupiter had formerly turned into a cow- and , furthermore , they say he taught the E gyptians letters . We are not unwilling to agree ivith the supposition which maintains Serapis to be tlie same with Saturn ; Osiris Avith Jupiter ( Pluvius ) ; ancl Orus with Apollo ; for the history and actions of these gods we find both in the Grecian and E -

gyp tian mythologies to bear a close resemblance . Again , Apollo is represented as the conqueror of Python , or the serpent Titan overthrew Saturn , ancl confined him in Tartarus ; Jupiter went there , and set his father at liberty by defeating Titan . The Egyptian fables , or hieroglyphic representations , reveal Typhon , the brother of Serapis , from whom Osiris

obtained his kingdom , overpowering , or attempting to overpower Osiris , by a deeply planned piece of treachery . Orus , the son of Osiris , after repeated combats ivith Typhon , the princip le of evil and darkness , triumphs over him , ancl , with his father , Osiris becomes all resplendent ivith light ancl < dory . The celestial sign of the Bull , in which astronomers b y Biibasfcic date more than four thousand six hundred and

seventy years ago , had discovered or kneiv the sun ' s exaltation , or passage ofthe vernal equinox , when the day beolns to extend a greater empire over the night , ivas signified by these typical triumphs , as sung by the poets , while the more mythical imagined that Serapis , Osiris , Isis , ancl Orus comprehended ancl comprised all nature , and all the heathen deities .

Tire DF . ATU of a young American poet of great promise is mentioned in the South Carolinian of February 2 . "> rcl—Pro . Howard IT . Caldwell , author of a volume oi' poems published not long since ,

Freemasonry And Its Institutes.—Vi.

FREEMASONRY AND ITS INSTITUTES . —VI .

( Continued from , page 220 ) . TUB Mosaic dispensation being only preparative was superseded by Christianity , and at length we contemplate a glorious dawn—the rich lustre ofthe coming sun gilding the morning clouds with , splendid hues ; then the Sun of Piigbteousness himself comes forth with healing on his wings ,

bringing peace ancl salvation to the faithful of the human race . The object of religion has been the same through all ages ; its perfection is wisdom , its end the discovery of the Redeemer . The great principles of religion and moral duty , as faith , fear ancl love of Gocl , justice , brotherly love ancl charity towards men , prudence , fortitude ancl temperance Avith respect to ourselves as individuals , run like silver threads of light throughout the g lorious dispensation of Gocl as sheAvn in the volume of the Sacred LHAV .

Having shown that all laws , human ancl divine , proceed from one common source—ivhich source is Gocl—ive ivill proceed to investigate how those laws and those of Freemasonry agree together . The result of laAvs is civilization ; civilization does not eradicate the natural love of Avar ancl rapine from mankind , but it docs conduce to render it undesirable , ancl often impossible Avithout tbe nation or person engaging in it

being serious losers . As the progress of civilization has put a stop to the blood y feuds of families and tribes , so civilization , based on high moral principle , must curb national ambition by its restraints , dissipate the prejudices of caste , race ancl nation by its intelligence , and assuage animosities by its charity . Security is what mankind seeks under the name

of liberty , ancl when the distinction is properly understood , it is not a more relaxed state of laAv and government that will satisfy them , but the contrary . In Germany , says Mr . Palgrave , in his learned work on the Rise ancl Progress of the English Commonwealth , there existed a singular jurisdiction , which claimed a direct descent

from the pagan policy and mystic ritual of the earliest Teutons . AVe learn from the historians of Saxony that the Frey Felcl Gericht , or Free Field Court of Corbay , Avas in pagan times under the supremacy of the priests of the Eresburgh , the temple ivhich contained the Irminsule or pillar of Irmin . After the conversion of the people , the possessions of the temple were conferred b y Louis the Pious upon the abbey which rose upon its site . The court was composed of sixteen jiersons who held their offices for life . It was the very

essence of the court that it should be held beneath the sky aud by the light of the sun ; all the ancient Teutonic judicial assemblies ivere held in the open air ; but some relics of solar Avorship may perhaps be traced in the usage ancl language of this tribunal . The forms adopted in the Free Field Court also betray a singular affinity to the doctrines of the British bards respecting their gorseclclan or

conventions which were " ahvays helcl in the open air , in the eye of the light , and in face of the sun . " The court itself Avas composed of Freysclwpjjfen , Saabini , or Echevins , nominated by the Graf , ancl divided into tAvo classes , tlie ordinary , and the toissenden or witan , AVIIO were admitted under a strict and singular bond of secrecy . The initiation

of these , the participators in all the mysteries of the tribunal , coulcl only take place upon the " red earth , " or within the limits of the ancient Duch y of Westphalia . Bareheaded ancl ungirfc , the candidate is conducted before the dread tribunal . He is interrogated as to his qualifications , or rather as to the absence of any disqualification . He must be free born , a

Teuton , ancl clear of any accusation cognizable by the tribunal of which he is to become a member . If the ansivers are satisfactory , he then takes the oath , sivearing by the Holy LaAv that he will conceal the secrets of the Holy Vehme from Avife and child , from father and mother , from sister and brother , from fire ancl Avater , from every creature upon Avhich the sun shines or upon which the rain falls , from every thing betAveen earth and heaven . Another clause refers to his active duties . He further sivoars that lie will say forth