A Few Words On Freemasonry.

and definite conclusions , beyond the accounts relating to the Templars , and the societies of masters and workmen , or guilds of the builders in the Middle Ages . But the study of the religions of the east has led us to the opinion , that the

pretensions of the Freemasons to an origin far more ancient may be readily and clearly justified . Certain it is , that their essential formulary proceeds from a class of ideas far anterior to the temple of Solo ^" mon . The Freemasons consider themselves

symbolically as workmen freely associated for the erection of a temple , Avhose author and builder is no other than the Great Architect of the Universe .

They are therefore fellow workmen with the Supreme Architect in the pursuits of universal life . If we penetrate the symbolic mysteries of the most ancient forms of religion , we learn thence ,

that God , before having commenced his work as Creator , had laid the foundation thereof , or entered on the design , as the Artizan , the Arranger , the Architect , of the world , an idea less abstract , less deep , and Avhich naturally preceded the other .

This was the original idea of the Cabiric societies , the most ancient associations , at once industrial and religious , of which a knowledge has been handed doAvn to us ; and the ritual and ceremonial observances of the Freemasons are as it

Avere an echo of their primitive traditions . Although it is only derived from this ancient symbolism , not identical Nvith it , Freemasonry hence obtains its essential and distinctive character .

Freemasonry is a theistical society , receiving into its fold men of every religion , on the condition that they profess the principle of religious liberty , its object is the welfare of mankind and the promotion of the spirit of progress in the

world ; its members are the Avorkmen of God in this labour . The Freemason is either that or he is nothing ; to efface from the Masonic scheme the Great Architect of the Universe , is to destroy Freemasonry itself ; take away the Architect , and

there no longer exist either temple or Masons . Doubtless a philanthropic society may be constituted , in Avhich there shall be no consideration as to the relation between God and man , neither under any symbol , and should such a society be

formed , Ave desire full liberty for it as for every other , but it can have nothing in common with Freemasonry . Here lies the mistake committed by the dissentients , who desire to destroy the peculiar nature

A Few Words On Freemasonry.

and aim of the Freemason , while they retain possession of his title . It - would not be correct to compare the position of such dissentients from true Freemasonry with that of the more advanced Protestants in their warfare against orthodoxy .

The orthodox and the heterodox Protestants are alike disciples of Jesus Christ , who hold discussions with each other on his nature , but who both equally recognise him none the less as their Master and Spiritual Father . Serious as may be

their difference , there yet remains between them something in common , and it is only by one arbitrary definition that the orthodox refuse to the liberals the name of Christians , since the latter donot reject Jesus Christ . The orthodox

Masonsare on the contrary quite in the right to refuse the title of Freemason to those Avho reject the Architect and destroy the Temple . —Translated from Le Siecle .

Classical Theology.—Lxxxiv.

CLASSICAL THEOLOGY . —LXXXIV .

XII . —NEPTUNE AND FEBRUARY . Neptune , by the Greeks called Poseidon , who Avas one of those three sons of Saturn so curiously saved by their mother , Ops , or Rhea from the inviolable oath and unsparing jaAVS of their

father , Ave all know , in sharing the divisions of the earth with his brothers Jupiter and Pluto , obtained the sovereignty of the vacant title of the God of the sea . It Avill be perhaps well to remember here that Saturn Avas the son Terra

or Vesta , and Calum or Ca _ lins , who Avas the son of _ 3 _ ther and Dies , the most ancient of all the deities , and that he had among divers of his brethren , the Cyclops , the Titan , the hundred handed giants , and , to come to Avhat we would

point out , Oceanus , the very subject , which , as forefiguring of the Avaters of the raging delude , he Avas to subdue and reign over . This Oceanus , his parents , and his kindred were antediluvians personated in idols as deities , whereas Neptune

became commemorated as a postdiluvian creatnce of Avorship , and in element a God . Of course , by course of time , they represented him in wood and stone , and at length arrived at such conclusions as having been some mortal potentate . Then ,

Avhere Ave can only see an assumption of names , very learnedly it has been made out , as has been by us in our third chapter shown that he Avas Japheth . Let that be determined as it may by the rendering of Mythology