The Craft And Its Criticisers.—I.

for distinguishing friends from foes ; the favoured of God from those Avhom lie designed to keep separate from them , the latter of whom lie employed as means of inflicting punishment in token of his anger , AYhen the former neglected his special commands , and thus committed sin . The remarkable difference from all others in features , as indelibly stamped on the Jews now as it was in ancient times , of Avhich the ancient Egyptian and other monuments and cai-A'ings recently brought to light afford us ' clear and irrefragable

proof , may be regarded as a seal set hy Divine omnipotence . Scripture furnishes us AA'ith further evidence in test Avords which were appointed Avith the same object , and our own traditions , whatei'cr value may he set upon them , are quite in accordance with the certain knowledge Avhich AA-C thus possess . It has sometimes been said that our traditions have no separate existence , but that they are of recent invention , being founded on the information given in the sacred Avritings . That this cannot he entirely true is shown by the fact that many of them arc not to be found there , nevertheless arc illustrative of their records . The distinct existence therefore of

the one , Avhich cannot be disputed , may be fajrly accorded to the other . The object of all these arrangements , it is presumed , cannot be doubtednamely , the adoption and conservation of that form of religious worship ivhich it pleased the Almighty to exact from his creatures , among a people so peculiarly set apart , that no hesitation could possibly arise in future ages as to Avhich of the nations of the earth , as they increased and spread abroad over its surface , ivas that one intended hereafter to be a type and model for

the guidance of mankind . This point having been fixed by its continuance during a long period of time , the danger of losing the impressions thus created was removed , and it is natural to suppose that other people , Avith Avhom the Jew's came in contact , witnesses ofthe especial faA'our , and ofthe protection which they enjoyed from a higher power , might be anxious to emulate them , and to introduce many of their forms and ceremonies , ivith AA'hich they perceived such privileges to be connectedthough they

-, compre hended not their purport ; but that not being under the same guidance and instruction , the essence AVOUM soon be lost , and symbols , as objects of jrorship , ivould take the place of the original institution . Moreover , the introduction ofmysteries restricted to a particular class ivas so conducive to the maintenance and extension of poAver in the hands of those AVIIO AVCTC

privileged , and it AIMS so ready an instrument of tyranny , exaction , and the desire to excite superstitious aire , among the multitude , that it is easy fo conceive such as were in authority anxious to avail themselves of so powerful an auxiliary , and so ready a means of keeping in subjection those AVIIO were under their rule . Thus , AVC may fairly infer , arose false systems of religion , containing only a portion of truth , still sufficient in many cases to enable future ages to determine their ori gin , and to mark a connexion AA-itli the

primitiA'c institutions of ivhich they ivere perversions . Hence Ave find the Druids Aim-shipping the sun , moon , and stars—well known Masonic symbols ; the Egyptians paying divine honours to certain mathematical forms , and to animals ; the Persians , followers of Zoroaster , adoring the sun , light , and fire ; the Hindoos and others worshipping rivers , animals , and many gods , at the head of Avhom is the triad of the Creator , ihe Saviourand the Destroyeror BrahmaVishnuand SivaPerhap ' s'the

, , , , . least objectionable of all these are the followers of Confucius , w'ho seems to have instituted a pure theism , and a most strict moral code ; among these it is recorded that seventy-two were distinguished above the rest for superior attainments ; an allusion to this fact ivill not fail to attract the attention of the Eoyal Arch Mason . In process of time changes , Avhich may at first have been slight , extended still farther in a course of departure from the