The Pope And Freemasonry.

Thrace by Orpheus , into Italy by the Pelasgi ( "Marsh , " Hor . Pelasg . p . 9 ) , into Gaul and Britain by Gomer , into Scandinavia by Odin , into Mexico by Vitzliputzli ( "Purch" viii . 10 ) , and into Peru by Manco Capac . Y / kerever

established—in countries however far apart , even though they kept up no intercourse with each otherthey Avere everyAAdiere the same in substance , as I hope to SIIOAV in another letter , and must therefore have had one common parentage . At first they

Avere all more or less pure , according as they preserved the right interpretation of all the symbols ; but iu course of time they fell aAvay , and degenerated most frightfully , perverting the truth and allying themselves with the prevailing polytheism

of their times . Here and there they Avere occasionally restored almost to their pristine purity . Various philosophers travelled all over the Avorld , and , in order to gain knowledge , made it their business to obtain admission into the mysteries of

different countries by undergoing the necessary rite of initiation . Pythagoras and Plato brought them to great perfection , as may easily be imagined Avhen it is knoAvn that they Avere initiated into a JeAvish lodge . iSTazartus the Assyrian , Avho

Avas one ofthe Masters of Pythagoras , has been identified AAath Ezekiel the Prophet ( " Stanley , Life of Pythag . " , p , 7 ) . Thenceforth in the mysteries of Eleusis aud other lodges the unity of the Deity and the immortality of the soul Avere taught to the initiated .

I may give my opinion , by Avay of parenthesis , that if our missionaries Avould desire to make an impression upon Bhuddists and Brahmins , they would do Avell to study the history of initiation into the old nwsteries , so as thereby to be enabled to

give them the true key to their elaborate systems of theology . I hnoAv of no other method so likely to succeed .

Whilst the mysteries Avere gradually degenerating in most of the countries of the inhabited world , the Essenes among the JBAVS kept the true light of Masonry Avith the strictest care from being either dimmed or extinguished . Josephus , in

several parts of his Avritings , has given an account of Avhat he supposed Avere their tenets and customs . He Avas not a Mason himself , and he has of course made some ludicrous mistakes : still his account of those ancient Freemasons is A'ery interesting .

And UOAV , ladies , there is a chance for you to find out something- about them , if you can only manage to interpret Josephus aright . He says : — "The

The Pope And Freemasonry.

doctrine ofthe Essenes is this , that all things are best ascribed to God . They teach the immortality of souls and esteem that the rewards of righteousness ar 9 to be earnestly striven for their course of life is better than that of other

men . . . . They will not suffer anything to hinder them from having all things in common . They minister to one another , " & c . " Antig . " xviii . 1 . 5 . Again , "They carry nothing with them when they travel into remote parts . There is in every

city one appointed to take care of strangers , and provide garments a ? ad other necessaries for them . Everyone of them gives what he hath to him that wanteth it . If anyone hath a mind to come over to their secret , he is not immediately admitted ,

but he is prescribed the same method of living which they use for a year , and they gave him . . , the white garment . He is required to show fidelity to all men , and especially to those in authority . He is not to discover any of their

doctrines to others—no , not though anyone should compel him to do so at the hazard of his life ; he swears to communicate their doctrines to no one

any otherwise than as he received them himself . " —Wars , ii . viii . The whole account ofthe Essenes is extremely interesting , and Avell worth reading by those AVIIO are initiated , and take an interest in the

society . Shonld you deem this worthy of insertion , I shall be most happy to continue the subject by comparing the doctrines of the old mysteries Avith one another , and finally shoAving , from the

acknowledged tenets of modern Masons , that they are necessarily loyal subjects and respectable members of society . —I have the honour to be , yours faithfully . JOHN MILNER , B . A ., Chap ., E . JT . Queenstown , Gth Jan , 1866

New Masonic Rooms, Smyrna.

NEW MASONIC ROOMS , SMYRNA .

The consecration of the neAV Masonic rooms at Smyrna was performed on St . John ' s day , the 27 th December , by the acting D . G . M ., Bro . Hyde Clarke , in the absence of the D . G . M ., Bro . Sir Henry Bulwer . Bro . Clarke was assisted by Bros . Edwin Jolly , P . D . J . G . W ., as D . S . G . W . ; Stab , P . D . J . G / W ., as

D . J . G . W . ; Bro . Carren , as D . G . Eeg . ; Shepherd , A . D . G . Sec . ; Charlton , D . G . S . W . ; Janson , D . G . Org . ; aud a large body of officials of the district of Turkey . The ceremonial was conducted with great effect and solemnity , the instrumental and vocal music adding much to the impressiveness . On account of the pro-