Stray Thoughts On The Origin And Progress Of The Fine Arts.

of the origin and mA ention of tne style to AA-hieh it is appropriated ; yet , howeA-er ill-chosen the epithet may be , or hoAA-ever contemptuous the sense in which it Avas originally applied , the usage of it has become so confirmed through a succession of ages that it woidd be useless to attempt to explode it . Perhaps POINTED ARCIHTECTXJRE miht be a more suitable term for this

g style . Concerning the origin of the " Gothic , " there are many and conflicting opinions . Sir C . Wren was of opinion that it ought to have beeu named " Saracento" Architecture , refined by the Christians , Avho , during the Holy War , had ample opportunities of inspecting Saracen worksAA-hich they afterwards imitated

, and improved upon . Lord Aberdeen supports Wren in this opinion ; and says that in Asia Minor , Syria , Arabia , Persia , throughout the Avhole extent of India , and even to the furthest limits of China , the slender proportions of the Gothic architecture are everywhere

met with . The opinion of others , amongst Ai-liom were Horace Walpole and Barry , the painter , was that the Gothic was a mere corruption of the Grecian st yle . It would occupy too much time to state all the various conflicting opinions as to the ori gin and formation of the Gothic style . One of the most probable conjectures respecting the ori gin of the pointed archis that which

, supposes the idea to have been suggested by the intersection of circular blank arches coping each other , and employed for decoration on the faces of walls . The Italians made a division of the pointed style , in accordance with the distinguishing character it assumed iu various countries . Thus they called the stle which

y piwailed iu the North of Ital y Lombard- Gofliic ; that on the North ofthe Alps , German Goldiic ; and that in Spain and other countries , Arabic or Moorish Gothic . In England , the different features of the style are termed Saxon and lYorman Gothic , Full or Simple Gothic , and Florid Gothic .

The Influence Of Freemasonry.

THE INFLUENCE OF FREEMASONRY .

The Western Morning JS ' ea-s , published at Plymouth , in introducing some notices of Masonic meetings iii Cornwall and Devon , Avhich Ave have transferred to our columns under their proper headings , says—To the casual reader these meetings can but be suggestive of the immense though secret power of tho Masonic bod ) -. That the Freemasons are as numerousif not more so ' than other society in

, , any the world , can hardly be doubted , especially when AVC consider that in the provinces of the United Kingdom of Great Britain alone there are enrolled no less than 2560 lodges ; and Freemasonry , we must beaware , is not confined to any kingdom or people , but ranges under its banner men of all nations in every part of the habitable globe . An idea of the power that this fraternal Order possesses for

promoting goodwill amongst mankind can only be fully appreciated by those who are cognizant of its hidden tenets and mysterious action . That Freemasonry is ever disseminating the purest doctrines of morality amongst its members cannot but be apparent Avb . cn it is recollected that every rule of tho society is based upon the three great Christian principles of Faith , Hope , and Charity ; Faith in God , Hope in immortalitand to all mankind

y , Charity . The objections Avlvich are sometimes raised by those ignorant of its working ureas easil y removedas the transient breath glides from a polished mirror . What , for instance , can be more trivial or absurd than the oft-quoted question , " If Masonry be good , Avhy keep it secret ? " Surely , and with reverence be it spokenthere of oivn

, arc many our religious mysteries Avhich only the eye of Faith can fathom . Are they then useless because man in his i gnorance does not fully comprehend them ? Must the reason of every ceremony wo perform , ivliether A he of a religions , moral , or asocial nature , be adjudged wrong or its performance of no utility to our lellow-

The Influence Of Freemasonry.

creatures unless it be tested by the harsh , shallow , —alas hoiv shalloiv , —and oft-erring logic of the self-exalted , but self-blinded modern reasoner ; and to loAver the argument to an every-day custom , can it be for one instant maintained that the productions of an intricate machine , of irhich we daily see the benefits , are to be despised or counted valueless because the ivorld knows not the secret by Avhich

such Avonders are brought into existence P It is even so Avith Freemasonry . We need not travel beyond the sphere of these our two Avesteru countries to observe the bond of fraternity Avhich exists in almost every town and village throughout the length and breadth of the land . And when Ave consider that this same feeling is recognised and par * ticipated in by thousands and tens of thousands throughout

the civilised Avorlcl , Ave may well ponder Avith admiration on the existence of such a society , whose principles are based on _ such firm foundations as those of true charity and universal benevolence . Instances of its beneficial Avorking might be given Avithout number , but let one suffice , which occurred but a short time since : —

three natives of Siveden Avere landed at one of our AA-estern seaports in great distress ; they had been rescued from a watery grave by a homeward-bound A essel , when their OAVII had foundered . Not a syllable of English could they utter , but Avere fortunately discoA'ered hy a Mason to be members of the Order . By Masonic signs and tokens they made knoAvn their AA-a-nts to the brethren of a Western

Lodge . And what was the conduct of the Masonic brethren on such an occasion ? Simply this : —These shipAvrecked and poverty-stricken mariners were at once relieved , and , free of all expense , Avere fonvarded from England to their distant homes . And AA-IIO could notice . Avithout interest that curious fact Aidiich AVe so lately laid before our readers , namel—that Mr . M'Dougall StuartAvhen loring the

y , , exp interior of Australia , was Avelcomed by an aged chief on giving and receiving the secret but fraternal signs of a brother Mason . It AVOUICI be interesting to know hoAV this chief obtained the knowledge of these signs , Avhether from former intercourse Avith Europeans , or " from his OAVU ancestors or countrymen . It is to be hoped that Mr . Stuart Avill tlu-OAV some light on this most interesting inquiry . '

These , and such like instances , only shoAvthe universal bond by Avhich the brethren are united . And does not this mystic chain of fraternity , extending as it does from pole to pole , raise in our breast a fond desire to see that far-off day , when man to every man shall hail him " Brother . ' " Must Ave for oA-er sigh ivifch . our poet laureate—¦

" Ah ! when shall all men ' s good Be each man ' s rule , and universal peace Lie like a shaft of light across the laud ?" Or may Ave not hope for a- speedy advent of that happy time , that golden year , Avhen the nations' battle-flags shall cease to be unfurled , and " Avar shall be no more !"

Brazil.

BRAZIL .

Brazil has only one Grand Lodge , Avhich is in Rio , although until the present month ( September ) there did exist another circle , Avhich has become extinct by a decree of September 30 , 1860 , A . L . 5860 . l There exists at present in the Empire 0-5 Lodges of the Scotch and French rite , many of them having Chapters , They average between forty and fifty members , although there great ivho do not to

are a many belong any Lodge . A correspondent at Rio de Janeiro to a gentleman iu Philadelphia furnishes the above items in regard to Freemasonry in Brazil ; and also the folloAving hi regard to tho Masonic Temple at Eio de Janeiro : — The Masonic Temple Avas originally commenced for a theatreduring the stay of the Royal familin Riobut

, y ; on their return to Portugal in 1821 , the shareholders became dispersed , and the building Avas discontinued , It remained in an unfinished state until 1810 , when it was bought by tho Grand Lodge from the proprietor , to Avhom it had reverted , on account ofthe ground-rent not having been paid , for the sum of eleven thousand mil reis ( five thousand fh-e