Masonic Notes And Queries.

was a general confession of his past life , which was exacted of him by the priest . In " return for this implicit confidence , the hici-ophanfc conferred upon the initiated a sacred character , and promised them a peculiar place of happiness in the Elysian iieV . ls , whilst tho souls of the profane ( however virtuous they had boon ) were wallowing in the mire . Nor did the priests of the mysteries neglect to recommend to the brethren a spirit of friendship , and the love of virtue ; so pleasing even to the most

corrupt minds , and so requisite to render any society respectable in its own eyes . Of all these religious societies , that of Elensis was the most illustrious . From being peculiar to tho inhabitants of Attica , it became at last common to tho whole pagan world . Indeed , I should suspect that it was much indebted to the genius of tho Athenian writer . ? , who bestowed fame and dignity on whatever had the least connection with their country ; nor am I surprised that Cicero and Atticus , who wero both initiated , should express themselves with enthusiasm , when they speak ol sacred rites of their beloved Athens . " *

The inference to be drawn from these and many other searches I made on this subject , is that the question '" 'Was Virgil a Freemason ? " is decidedly to be answered in the negative . The ancient mysteries were not Freemasonry , and had they been , there is nothing to show that Virgil had been initiated in them . Dixi . I shall not return to this subject , bein convinced that the view set forth in my first communication is incontrovertible . A

THE NIHILISTS . "Kappa" writes , expressing much curiosity respecting the religions tenets of certain individuals called "Nihilists , " some of whom , he states , are Freemasons . All the information possessed by me on the subject is comprised in the definition of Nihilism occurring in a work recently published at

Paris , which happened to come under my ' notice a few days ago : " rTihilisme—Terme de Philosophie—Se dit quelquefois d'un Scepticisme absolu . " " Kappa " will , if I am not mistaken , find it useful to refer to my communication entitled " Scepticism and Freemasonry , " FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE , vol . siii . p . 8 . —CHARLES PURTON COOPER .

THE SPINOZISTS . A brother at Oxford is far from being right . In Germany I have known Spinozists who repudiated both Atheism and Pantheism . My brother should turn to the notice of Herder in the " Dictionnaire des Sciences Philosophiques . " In it he will find the short passage here subjoined : — "Selon Herder , il

suffit d'adoucir le langagc de Spinoza , do degager ses idees de la fausse terminologie qui ne les exprini qu' imparfaitement , pour absoudre ce philosophe clu reproehe d ' athoisme , et meme de celui de pantheisme . " My brother should read the two pages which follow this passage . He may also look at my communication " Spinozisvn and Freemasonry , " FREEMASONS ' MAGAZINE , vol . xi ., page 3 S 8 . —CHARLES PURTON COOLER .

WHAT DOSS IX ATEAN ? Preferring to the query in your last issue under this head , it is nothing in my opinion of any importance to Masonry . 'When Bro . Melville was in London , some twelve or fifteen years since , he was introduced to me by the late Bro . E . L . Wilson , and , as we understood , his great discovery was communi-

Masonic Notes And Queries.

cated to us , but , inasmuch as all it would tend to prove was the astronomical origin of the Institution , of which there is other evidence , we thought nothing of it ; besides , the symbol here referred to is , I think , not wholly peculiar to Masonry . Bro . Melville afterwards wrote some papers on Masonry for a

defunct weekly paper , which I did not see . Some two or three years ago I was invited by a gentleman to receive a communication ( as he said ) of vasfe import to Masonry , aud , after much mystification , lo , and behold , 'twas to ask me to assist in raising subscriptions . —J . H .

JlA SONET AND DERVISHISU . Pro . the Hon . J . P . Brown ( U . S . Legation ) , S . G . I . G . 83 P , P . Prov . J . G . W . Turkey , P . M . Bulwer Lodge , Constantinople , has now in , the press in London his " History of Dervishism . " In this work the learned Orientalist embraces the whole subject ,

and expands the lecture he gave before the P . G . M . of Turkey , Sir Henry Bulwer , and the lodges _ of Constantinople at the British Palace , and of which a full report appeared in the FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE . The Hon . Bro . Brown is now engaged in another remarkable work " The Life of Alithe

, , Fourth Caliph , " who may be regarded as the effective originator of Dervishism . The labours of Bro . Brown do equal honour to American and English Masonry , to both of which he is a distinguished honour . I am led likewise to note these facts because they refer to what be called a new branch of Masonic

may research—the connection between speculative and symbolic Islam Masonry , hitherto chiefly studied by Bro . Brown , biit which may be advantageously pursued by some ol our Indian brethren , it is much to be regretted that Masonic literary researches are not more encouraged by our authorities . Bro .

John Havers has always been a consistent advocate for their prosecution . Your columns may communicate this hint to your Indian contemporaries , who are much better placed for Oriental studies . —A MASONIC STUDENT .

Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

The Editor is not responsible for the opinions expressed by Correspondents .

PEOVINCIAL GEATCD MASTEES .

TO THE EDIIOB Or THE MIEJIASOXS' 3 IAGAZIXE A > 'D 31 ASOSIO UlltliOl ! . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER . —At a recent audit meeting of a lodge previous to a change of officers , in examining the balance sheet for the past year , two remarkable entries were noticed , one of £ 39 4 s , 4 d . for dues to Grand Lodge , and the

other of £ 23 17 s . for dues to Provincial Grand Lodge ; total £ 63 Is . 4 d . Weil might the W . M . elect express his surprise , ask what benefit had been received in exchange for so large a payment , and state his opinion that such a change is necessary as shall enable provincial lodges to obtain more advantages than they

at present possess , especially more controul over the appointments of Prov . G . M . ' s . In the district alluded to , there are eight lodges under English registry , so that if all paid the same sum as the one mentioned , £ 500 per annum would be literally thrown away so far as the interests of these lodges are concerned . It