Anti-Masonry.

to indicate that there is something in their nocturnal rites and ceremonies which they are afraid of having discovered . " For this reason , they not onty lock themselves into the room where they meet , and suffer none to wait on them , except brethren ; but upon all extraordinary occasions a contiuel is placed at the outside of the door with

a drawn sword in his hand , to prevent all discoveries . "This is not the only mark of their being a military order ; for it is very observable that they give their chief officer the title of Grand Master—in imitation , I presume , of the Knights of Malta ; nay , ho hath a sword of State carried before him , almost as large and as richly ornamented as that of his Majesty .

" This sword was presented to them , as I am inform'd , by a great Roman Catholick peer—with what view I shall not take upon myself positively to determine . " There seems likewise to bo something emblematical in their gloves and aprons ; a glove is only another word for a gauntlet , which is a piece of armour for the hand . Au apron is indeed a proper badge of Masonry in its

literal sense ; but it is likewise a term in gunnery for a flat piece of lead to cover the touch-hole of a cannon , when it is loaded ; and I leave it to my superiors to judge whether it may not be made use of by the Ereemasons to typify something like it . "It further deserves notice how artfully they have dispersed themselves , in different lodges , thro' all parts

of the kingdom , and particularly in this great metropolis , as if it were on purpose to beat up for volunteers—in which they not only admit Turks , Jews , and infidels , but even Jacobites , Non-jurors , and Papists themselves . " They keep their proceedings so very private that it is impossible to guess what seal of secrecy they have invented , which is able to tj-c up the mouths of such multitudes , whom the most solemn oaths could not bind

upon any other occasions . " I wish it may not be somewhat like that horrid obligation which Catiline administered to his fellow conspirators . "Upon the whole , this mysterious society hath too much the air of an inquisition , whore everything is transacted in the dark .

" It may be said that a learned and worthy divine of the Church of England hath , long ago , publish'd the "Institution of the Ereemasons , " which contains nothing but what is perfectl y innocent , and proves them to be rather a whimsical than a dangerous and formidable sect . But I mnst observe that this book seems designed rather to amuse than to inform the world ; for it is not

to be supposed that he would reveal those boasted mysteries in which the very essence of the society consists . "But the most material argument is , that there are so many of the nobility , gentry , and oven the clergy , of the most undoubted affection to his Majesty ' s person , family , and government , in this society ; and . that , as it

will be impossible to carry on any wicked designs against him without their knowledge , so it cannot bo supposed that they will concur iu them , or conceal them . Bub , with all dnc deference to these honourable and reverend persons , I beg leave to give my opinion that this argument is very fallacious , and upon which we can have no sure dependence ; for I apprehend that the obligation

which the Freemasons take , to be of such a nature that the blackest conspiracies or machinations will not allow them to break through it . Besides , how can we be sure that those persons , who are known to be well affected , are let into all their mysteries ? They make no scruple to acknowledge that there is a distinction between Prentices and Master Masons ; and who knows whether they

may not have a higher order of cabalists , who keep the grand secret of all entirely to themselves ? "It may be asked , perhaps , in what plots , or ill designs of any sort , they have been engaged since the first foundation of their society ? This question is nob easily answer'd ; their principles and actions are so unfathomable

Anti-Masonry.

that no one can , with certainty , say in what they are concern' A , or not concem'd ; but I cannot help thinking them at the bottom of one affair—I mean the late tumult at Edinburgh , and the murder of Captain Porteus ; which was concerted and executed with so much unanimity and secrecy , that none but a mob of Freemasons could be guilty of it , without the discovery of one person in . so

numerous a multitude as were concerned in the perpetration of that atrocious fact . "I am glad that a law is likely to he pass'd , in the nature of the Black Act , for preventing such riots , for the future , by trying the authors of them in England for , if the Scots will not find one another guilty , there is all the reason in the world they should be try'd by au

impartial jury , who know nothing of them , or their characters ; and I hope to see the Freemasons included in the same Bill , for they may be properly said to go iu disguise . "I know these men are generally looked upon , in England , as a parcel of idle people , who meet together onlv to make merry , and play some ridiculous pranks ;

but it is very plain that the wise Governments of France and Holland look upon them in a very different light ; and I humbly hope to see my own country follow the example of the latter , at least , by suppressing such dangerous assemblies . " But if a botal suppression should be thought inconsistent with our free Constitution , and most incomparable

Government , I have an alternative to offer ; which is , to lay a double' tax upon all Freemasons , as there hath been so many years upon the Papists . " I flatter myself that this scheme will not prove disagreeable , at present , when great sums of money are wanted , and ways and means are so veiy hard to be found . I am sure it will be more acceptable to the

generality of mankind , or , at least , of womankind , than the reduction of interest to 3 percent ., without any redemption of taxes ; for , as the ladies have a very bad opinion of the Freemasons , and are incapable of being admitted into that Order , they will never complain of any tax being laid upon keeping a secret , which they are nob lot into themselves . "lam , Sir , & c , «* # »* '

Ventilation.

VENTILATION .

From a paper by Mr . Oliver , read at the meeting of Northern Architectural Association . Nothing could be more opposed to the ascertained principles of modern science than the arrangement of our ancient Mediasval towns . The good old architects and builders seem to have had

no more idea of levels than they had of nerves 1 Go-ahead men , they planted their cathedrals on a piece of table-land on the summit of a hill , and they drawled their streets up to it , house by house , irrespective of the conformation of the ground . The streets were apparently made for neighbours

from opposite sides to shake hands with each other . Story after story of their houses projected over the other , as if the sun were a nuisance and fresh air a jioison . Steps would not unfrequently go doivn to their dwelling rooms , and it was quite a customary thing for the privileged free burgess to

be able to touch every ceiling in his house . We in Newcastle rejoice in the possession of many of these relics . The Broad Chare—nearly 15 ft . broad on an average—and other chares and courts , we can boast of . But what have we to lament ? In these neighbourhoods—and I refer