Interesting Reminiscence.

matter ol mere imagination , but sober truth and reality . Excuse me while I give you an example , well authenticated and vouched for , as I am assured , by several AA-itnesses UOAV living . It is connected ivith an important and thrilling event in the history of our own country . During the last Avar between this country and England , as most of you no doubt remember , a large detachment of our Northwestern

army , under the command of General Winchester , were attacked and overcome by a combined and superior English and Indian force , at the River Raisin . The last battalion of the gallant , but subdued , American troops , which surrendered , was commanded by the venerable George Madison , afterwards governor of Kentuck y , ancl of ivhom her most illustrious citizen has said , " ivas the most beloved of all her public men . " The surrender made

was after a bloody resistance , and most reluctantly , and not until all hope of succour was gone , their ammunition nearly expended , and assurance given that the vanquished should be humanely treated . The American troops had scarcely laid doivn their arms and yielded all means of defence , before the savage allies of England stripped them of their clothing , insulted and beat all who dared utter a murmur . Finally , many of the Americans AA'ere slaughtered iu cold blood , tomahawked and scalped .

it was in the midst of such an exciting scene , that an Indian chief with a lofty bearing and the expression of gratification and vengeance marked on his countenance , looked on this work of carnage and of blood . Many of bis best warriors had fallen by the sure fire of the Kentucky riflemen . He AA-as chafed and maddened by the recent hot contest . In such a frame of mind he discouraged not the bloody tragedy . But behold noiv this red man of the

forest . What superhuman influence has wrought such a change ? Whither has gone that vengeful , that demon exultation ? It is the cry of a Mason and a brother ivhich has reached him , a cry asking for mercy and speaking in a language which he comprehends and obeys . He springs from the cannon on which he is resting , and ivith the swiftness of the deer of his native forest , he bounds among his followers and his warriors , his tomahawk upliftedand ith look and

^ AA'a gesture , which was never disregarded by his savage soldiers , uttered the life saving command , " Let the slaughter cease , kill no more white men . " This ivas Tecuniseh , a Mason , who with two other distinguished chiefs of Ins tribe , had years before been united to our Order , while on a visit to Philadelphia . Such , my friends and brothers , is the power , the influence of the mystic tie that binds us together by adamantine chains , and such too the ready means , by which AA-C surely make known ourselves and our necessities to each other .

Should chance , necessity or choice , take us from our native land and our friends , we are yet no strangers wherever our Order exists . __Overtaken by misfortune or stricken down b y disease , the ministering hand of a brother will supply our wants or alleviate our sufferings . To be knoivn as of the Craft is to secure confidence and kindness , —to open the doors of hospitality , and admittance to the fireside of all sincere brothers . These , my friends and brothers , do not , however , fill the measure of a Mason ' s duty , or accomplish the great purpose of our organization .

The Origin Of Freemasonry

THE ORIGIN OF FREEMASONRY

Is indeed involved in obscurit y , from which there is no escape * We know it must luivc existed many centuries ago , and AVC believe it AA-as the sanctuary in which reposed in safety every right principle of morality and virtue , and every truth which points out the nobility of man ; in short , that within its sacred chambers there reposed , during many centuries of darkness , the germs of that civilization which IIOAV SO distinguishes this country aud the most enli

ghtened nations of Europe from the rest of the ivoiid . The great principles of our institution have ever remained the same , and in regard to them there is a remarkable degree of unanimity . This is because these principles have ever been inculcated at each initiation . AVe will suppose , in the first place , that they were commuicated to every Apprentice taken into those Bunds or Lodges of Freemasons , which were the authors of so many ivorks

of art during the middle ages , as the rule of their life and conduct towards their fellows and the world . It is safe , think , to presume that all the governmental rules and regulations of the society grew up , were fashioned , as the necessities of these associations required . Hence it is that there exists such an exact similarity in every land in the moral teachings of the Order , being based , as they are , upon the immutable principles of ri ght and wrong . The near approximation , however , in the forms of government can be accounted for , under all the circumstances through which the institution has passed , only by

The Origin Of Freemasonry

regarding the force of the grand principles so often inculcated iii the moral teachings of the Order , of the dignity of labour , the supremacy of moral worth over all adventitious circumstances , and the common brotherhood and common destiny of the human race —the carrying out of these principles necessitating a similar form of government . What these teachings wore in the earlier ages of our existence ,

as an Order , we only knoiv from the intrinsic evidence of our secret ceremonies as unfolded in the i- 'arious emblems and symbols of our Order . In only a few instances have we on record the rules —a feiv general ones—and regulations of Freemasons . These , Avhere they have been authenticated , as collected from the antient charges and regulations , are , by universal consent , taken and deemed landmarks of the Orderas much as a belief in God is a

, landmark , and in which no change can take place without destroying the universality of the institution . The most noted of these are the " old charges , " as collected and published by the Grand Lodge of England , in 1723 , ancl ivhich are contained in what has been called "the first Masonic book ever published . " These " charges , " which Ave regard as landmarks , contain tbe principles of our Order as above enunciated , and though there may exist

manuscripts of an older date , they enunciate the same doctrines , and even if authentic , but add to the authority of the " old charges" of 1723 , and confirm them as the chief authority , beyond ivhich it is not safe to go . The compilers of these had undoubtedly before them all the documents we have recently found of an older date , and many more quite as authentic , These more ancient ones are therefore valuable only as relics of the past , and as confirming , by their similarity , the correctness and reliability of the latter . —Hep . on Cor . G . L . Louisiana .

Archæology.

ARCH ? OLOGY .

BRITISH ARGTIiEOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION . AT the recent meeting ofthe association , T . J . Pettigreiv , Esq ., A . P ., presided . The Rev . J . C . Macdona ivas elected an associate . Mr . Syer Cuming read some notes in reference to an ancient shrine discovered in Lanarkshire , exhibited by Mr . Sim . Mr . G . AVright exhibited a fine specimen of silver lace ( entirely metal ) , AA'hich had formed part of a baptismal mantleor bearing cloth

, , AA'hich , from 1659 , had been in the possession of the Veseys of Hintlesham Priory , Suffolk . Mr . Elliott exhibited a posy ring , of the time of Elizabeth , found in Fiilham fields . He also produced a sili-er etui in the form of a fish , very elastic , and with eyes of garnets . Also , a Chinese chatelain of silver , analogous to toilet instruments found in Teutonic barrows . Mr . AA ills

exhibited a small but powerful pair of iron nutcrackers and a brass watch seal , with a profile of Queen Anne , found in tbe Thames . Mr . E . Roberts exhibited a coin from the Calle at Hanover , found at Boulogne , ofthe date 1634 . Mr . Wentivorth sent some ancient documents for exhibition , among AA'hich ivere tivo letters from the Duke of Buckingham , from Wallingford House and London , dated 1608 and 1672 , and an order in council against Papists and Robert Southivcll

Sectaries , dated Fell . 3 , 1674-5 , signed . Dr . Palmer sent a rector of Newbury ' s token—Joseph Sayer , 1666—1074 . It represents a Bible in the field . Mr . Winkley sent a Nuremburg jetton , lately found at Pinner , Middlesex . It bore the name of Hans Krauw ' inkel , and had a motto ; " Gottes Gaben sol Man Lob . " Mr . Vere Irving exhibited further antiquities from Lanarkshire—a bronze head of a very small javelin , found ,

Avith calcined bones , in an cart-hern urn ; tbe sih'er pommel of a dagger , decorated with a shield , charged with a lion rampant—it is of the fourteenth century ; a cascabel , engraved with eight arches and tbe initials R . W . Mr . Pettigreiv presented a Phoenician inscription , found among the papers of the late Mr . Frere , at Malta , Mr . T . AVright produced two letters from the Rev . Mr . Kgrcmont , and Dr . TI . Johnson , of Shropshire , detailing some AVroxeterThe anti consisted of hair

recent discoveries at . quities pins , sonic of ivhich arc elegantly worked ; a portion of a large and rough fibula , the head of a bird , a quantity of highly ornamented Samian ware , a beautiful bowl of the same , Aiith inscriptions , and the representation of a stag hunt ; many coins , among AA'hich there ivas one of Alcctus ; some specimens of mural painting ; impression of a dog ' s foot upon a tile ; another of a sandal , & c . There has also been found a chamber thirty-two feet in length of masonry , a pillar with well formed base , a furnace lined with vitrified clay , & c .

EXHIBITION OF ANCIENT PLATE . Tin-: Society of Antiquaries will , we hear , extend its meetings for the present session , in order to hold on the 21 st instant an