Ancient And Modern Masonry.

ANCIENT AND MODERN MASONRY .

LETTER HI . TO THE EDITOR OT THE FREEMASONS irAGAZntE AS'D 3 IAS 0 ITIC JIIEKOE . DEAR SIR ' AND BROTHER . —Alchemy was a favourite pursuit of many of the monks , and the most profound adepts were to be found amongst tbe Ecclesiastical Orders , nor were such studies considered in the times of which I am writing at all derogatory to the sacred character . Sir

Walter Scott's Alasco , and the Jew Yoglan must , not be considered as a fair representative of the Hermetic Student . The Alchemists had two objects in view , the transmutation of the baser metals into pure gold , and the discovery of a universal medicine to restore youth and prolong human life ; all important operations with the furnace and crucible were accompanied with fasting and prayer ; men did nothing

by halves in those days , if their profligacy and violence were enormous , their devotion and austerity when they threw themselves into religion , were in the same proportion . The occult philosophers recognised each other by Cabalistic signs and words , and shrouded their secrets in symbolic characters intelligible only to the initiated ; their writings always bore a doubleinterpretationand the famous thirteen

, propositions inscribed upon the emerald tablet found in the tomb of Hermes Trismegistus concealed a mighty religious mystery as well as secrets of ancient philosophy . 1 . I speak not fiction , but what is certain and most true . 2 . What is below is like that whieh is above , and what is above is like that which is below , for performing the miracle of one thing .

S . And as all things were produced from one , by the meditation of one , so all things were produced from this one thing by adaptation . 4 . Its father is the sun , its mother was the moon , the wind carried it in its belly , its nurse is the earth . 5 . It is the cause of all perfection throughout the whole world .

6 . Its power is perfect if it be changed into the earth . 7 . Separate the earth from tbe fixe , the subtle from the gross , gently and with judgement . 8 . It ascends from earth to heaven , and descends again to earth , thus you will possess the glory of the whole world , and all obscurity will fly away from you . 9 . This thing is the fortitude of all fortitude , because

it overcomes all subtle things , and penetrates every solid thing . 10 . Thus were all things created . 11 . Hence proceeds wonderful adaptations which are produced in this way . 12 . Therefore am I called Hermes Trismegistus , possessing the three parts of the philosophy of the whole world .

13 . What I had to say concerning the operation of the sun is completed . The alchemists were also well read in astronomy and astrology , _ the planets had to them a mysterious language , expressive not only of metallic substances , but of Christian virtues , and were supposed to exercise a mystic influence on human life . The celestial bodies and geometric forms

possessed a hidden meaning , only understood by the Prince , Mason , and Adept . Those also were the days of chivalry , of which Spencer sung and Cervantes ridiculed . The Reel Cross Knight was but the poetic embodiment of tho virtues of faith , fortitude , and perseverance . —faith iu the truth of his ladye love , fortitude under all the trials he was exposed to , and perseverance in overcoming all dangers and difficulties . .

"A gentle knight was pricking on the pilaine , Yeladd in mightie armes and silver shields , Wherein old dints of deepe woundes did remaine , The cruel markes of many a bloody lielde . And on his breast a Hoodie crosse he bore , The deare remembrance of his dying lord , whose sweete sake that

For glorious badge he wore , And dead , as living , ever him ador'd . "—Eairy Queen . The over burning lamp of the Rosicrucians was but a type of tho sacred fire of the Persians , which expired for ever when the magi or wise men followed the star which appeared in the East , ancl led them to the manger in Bethlehem , from whence sprang that all pervading light

Ancient And Modern Masonry.

which will guide all who faithfully follow it to the mansions of eternal bliss and glory . Raymond Lully , pupil of Aruaud de Villeneuve , one ofthe great alchemists ; a man whose immense reputation filled all the age with wonders , visited England iu the reign of ' Edward II ., and formed a strong friendship with John-Cremer , Abbot of Westminster , and the celebrated monk

and philosopher Roger Bacon , and it is very probable that , he communicated many of the rites aud mysteries of the Rose Croix degree to the English Freemasons . Be this as it may , these degress , though deficient in the simple dignity of the Order of the Temple , possess a strange and gorgeous beauty , and bear within themselves unmistakable evidence of an Eastern origin . Yours most fraternally , P . M ., P . Z ., S . P . R . > fc , P . E . C . K . T ., K . D . S . H . Buckhurst Hill , August 18 , 1861 .

The Craft And Private Soldiers.

THE CRAFT AND PRIVATE SOLDIERS .

TO THE EDITOJ 1 OE THE EEEEilASOITS 3 IAGAZUTE AND MASONIC ailEROH . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —In your MAGAZINE for July 13 th , I asked , " What is the reason that lodges are prohibited from initiating common soldiers into the mysteries of the of the Craft ? " There has been but one answer to my query , that of R . E . X . The first part of his reply , contradicting my statement of the law on the point , as he

afterwards withdraws it on being shown his error by Veritas , I need not comment on , further than to remark that the private would [ not be one whit the less a brother to his officers because he was initiated in another lodge to them . R . E . X . says : ¦— " Intimacy must not be between a Colonel and a recruit , which , if privates were to be members of the lodge attached as aforesaid , could hardly be prevented ;

jealousy would be engendered amongst the privates , and all sorts of freedom and familiarities would be attempted , only to he repressed by confinement iu the guard room . ' If R . E . X . be not in error here , either Freemasonry or military diciplhie must have something that needs reforming in it . He himself admits that there may be some privates who would not be a discredit to their proposers ; why then should they alone of all men be ] 3 ariahs to the Craft ? The

agricultural labourer , the factory worker , and the chimneysweeper , may all be initiated , if they can raise the fee , and are deemed worthy ; but the poor private is denied the privilege , though it might save his life on the field of battle . Now , I have known men as jioor as common soldiers meet in lodge with men of wealth and authority , but never heard of any of them taking any liberties on that account ; and ,

if proper precautions were taken to ascertain the character of the candidate , as there always should be , I do not think that any ill effects , but the reverse would result from the repeal of the prohibition . The law certainly is utterl y opposed to our grand Masonic professions , and therefore , in my opinion , a disgrace to the Book of Constitutions . I trust that some brother better fitted than myself to do

justice to the subject will take it into his careful consideration , and move that Grand Lodge repeal the law . It is too bad to toast " The Army " at every Masonic banquet , and yet to deny to the majority of the army aloue the glorious privileges of the Craffc . Unless we repeal the prohibitory law , our toast should be— " The army , ivith the exception of ' any military person below the rank of a corporal . '" I am , dear Sir and Brother , yours fraternally , BROTHER PETER .

JOHN Br / ii ,, THE TAX-PATHI . —The paying power of the British tax-payer seems to be enormous , ancl his patience under financial milking is a lesson to noisy martyrs . He stands like a cow to give forth , and only exhibits the bull disposition when you tell him what has become of the milk . He has a fretful impatience of figures and statistical details , and can always be driven mad by a long sum . Artful members of the small governing family have helped to nourish this dispositionbmaking his fi as dry and

, y gures repulsive as possible . This is one way of choking an efficient audit . Other artful members of the same governing family have persuaded him that details are only fit food for the parochial mind , ancl that the parochial mind is a low , vulgar form of popular intelligence . He has listened to the voice of the charmer until he has come to consider everything of importance except what is under his nose or beneath his feet . —Liclcens ' s " All the Year Pound . "