Freemasonry: Its History, Principles, And Objects.

In 1824 , a law was promulgated commanding all Masons to declare themselves , and deliver up all their papers and documents , or to be declared traitors . The Minister of War , in the same year ( Oct . 16 ) , by proclamation outlawed every member of the Craft , and in 1827 , seven members of a lodge iu Granada were executed .

The history of the Freemasonry of Central Italy during the last century , is a mere repitition of sufferings , persecutions , and misfortunes , tbe members of the Craft being continually under punishment , through the intolerance of the priesthood and interference of the civil power . Even in Switzerland , the Masons at one time were

persecuted . The Council of Berne , in 1745 , passed a law with certain degrees of punishment , for members of lodges , which was law was renewed in 1782 . It was , however * , never very strictly observed , and is now abrogated . Frederick I ., King of Sweden , a very few years after its introduction ( 1736 ) into that country , forbade it ,

under penalty of death . At present the king is at the head of the craft . Iu 1738 Charles VI . issued a proclamation prohibiting the continuation of Masonic assemblies in his Netherland dominions , or any pait of Flanders . The king , Augustus IL , of Poland , caused , iu 1839 , enactments to be publishedforbidding , under pain of

, his severe- displeasure and punishment , the practice of Freemasoury in his kingdom , into which it had been introduced in 1736 . The recent denunciations of Freemasonry from the Papal Chair are no doubt in the recollection ofthe Order ,

as well as the fact that Freemasons were included , in combination with Bible Societies , as especial subjects for censure at the GScumenical Council . But in spite of these persecutions and this opposition , temporary or permanent , Freemasons , as already stated , are now to be found in every part of the globe ; the Order is widely spread in Europe , America , Asia , Africa ,

and on the most remote islands of the Pacific and Southern Oceans . 20 . Loyalty of Freemasonry . —The Masonic Charges abundantly testify to the practical morality and devoted loyalty of the Freemasons ; for instance : — The first Charge is , —That ye shall bo trje men to God . Secondly , —That ye shall be true liegemen to the

king , without treason or any falsehood , and that ye know no reason or treachery , but that ye shall give knowledge thereof to the king or his council ( directions that abundantly disprove the charge brought against Masons by the see of Rome of their bein g instigators and abettors of sedition and rebellion ) , and ye shall be true to one another—that is to say , every Mason of the Craftye

, shall do to him that is a Mason allowed as ye would be done unto yourselves Also that ye shall be no thief ; that ye shall be true to the king , lord , or master that ye serve , and truly to see and work for his advantage . Also , ye shall do no villainy , whereby the Craft or science may be hindered , & c . [ We here close our extracts from this interesting

article , for the further perusal of which we refer our readers to the pages of the Rectangular Review , although we cannot endorse many of the principles therein enimciaatecl , which , indeed , in some instances , are contradictory in themselves . They , notwithstanding , comprise much to interest the Masonic aud general reader . ]

INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION or 1871—We are requested by Her Majesty ' s Commissioners to state , that there is no foundation for the rumour that the International Exhibition appointed for 1871 is to be postponed byreason of the war . The first of tbe series of Annual International Exhibitions of Selected Works of Fine and Industrial Art and Scientific Inventions will take place next year , as already announced-

Masonic Festivities.

MASONIC FESTIVITIES .

DEVONSHIRE .

Ton QUAY . —St . John ' s Lodge ( No . 328 ) . At the last meeting of this lodge it was decided to carry out the suggestion of the W . M ., at a previous meeting by holding a picnic in connection with the Craft ; and a good working committee having been appointed , and the day fixed , nothing but fair weather remained to make it enjoyable . Accordinglyon Monday the 8 th , we

, started per rail , between hopes and fears , for Mother Nature had put on a gloomy mood ; and after passing through some eighteen miles of the most charming scenery in Devonshire , arrive at Moreton Hampstead , an ancient town bordering on Dartmoor , about nine a . m . By this time Sol ' s rays had dispersed the misty clouds , and to all appearance a lovely summer ' s day was in

store for us . Taking our places in breaks which were awaiting our arrival , we proceeded to the hostelry of our Bro . Pollard , where some who had breakfasted early partook of refreshments . Leaving JVIoroton , we push on for Gran brook Castle , the site of an old British entrenchment , which would seem " to have been one of a chain

of forts on the Teign ; " and here on the green sward , overlooking the valley below and the towering tors at a distance , we spread out our viands and prepare for our rural dinner , for which the invigorating breezes of the moors had rnade us ready , for , as a inoormati would say , '" tis a terrible place is the moors for to maik ' ee ait . " After refreshing wearied nature and toasting her f

Most Gracious Majesty iu truly British ashion , not forgetting the ladies of our party , for which our " smart young bachelor" returned thanks , we amused ourselves iu various ways till time warned us to quit this enchanting spot and proceed . . Our course lay through a rough and devious path till we arrive at Fingfe Bridge , a very icturesque old ivy-clad structure overspauning the

p Teign , and a favourite object for artists , of whom there were several sketching tbe romantic points of beauty around . Here we tarry to feast our eyes on the magnificent scenery of the mountainous heights aud sylvan depths , the former glowing with purple heather , the latter thick with forests of ferns , and which alfords a

trest , the like of which few of us ever experienced before . Driving on we come to Drewsteigntoti , or "the Druid ' s town on the Teign , " where we were received by a welcome peal from tho village bellsr On , on wo go , leaving to the right the celebrated " Cromlech , " or spinster rock , as it is called , and said to be upwards oi' 2 . 000 years old , till Chagford is reached , an old stannary town , and

" if thee wants to see Chaggiford , go to Perroct tho guide , and ax en to show ee round . " However , time would not permit us to tarry , so we hastened on to Holy Street , or , as IIOAV called , Holies Street , about a mile and a half from Chagford , where we partake of tea . Here remaius of the " via sacra , " or processional road of the Druidsare to be found , and iu the iui ~ acdiate

, vicinity are Longstone Pillar and the sacred stone circle , said to be "the finest- sample of the rude but venerable shrines of Druidical worship iu Devonshire . " Hero also is to be found a tolmeii , or religious stone of the Druids , which is thus described by iion-e : — " It is a granite mass approaching to an irregular rectangulas form . It is imbedded in tbe channel of the Teign , and

rests on two adjacent rocks at an angle of about twentyfive degrees . The outline of the stone above tho surface measures about thirty feet , and near the southern edge is a large and deep perforation of a form so regular that at the first view it would scarcely fail to convey tho idea of artificial preparation . But a closer inspection will probabllead to the conclusion that art perfected

y the operations of Nature ; and this remarkable cavity had thus been adapted to the rites of Druidism for lustration or purgation by water . By ardent prayer and clear lustration Purge the contagious spots of human weakness .