Memoirs Of The Freemasons Of Naples.

hair . There were some touching incidents , too , of maternal affection , where mothers , indifferent to their own sufferings , had made an arch of their OAVU body over their children to protect them from the falling ruins . The power of human endurance was singularly exemplified in many instances . A girl of eleven years of age

was released from her living tomb on the sixth day , and survived . Another girl , aged sixteen , named Eloisa-Basili , remained buried eleven days , holding in her arms a little boy , who died on the fourth day , so that his body , when taken out , was corrupt and putrid ; she had not been able to rid herself of the corpse , they being so closely confined by the rubbish , and she counted the days by the dim light ivhieli penetrated even to this tomb .

When the lew lmng ones were brought into the light of day after their long imprisonment , they exhibited a dull apathy and indifference to food , but had an unquenchable thirst , and were nearly blind — the usual effects of a very long fast . Of those that were saved , some recovered their health and spirits , and others / were always suffering and melancholy . This difference was attributed

to the space of time that passed before succour reached them , or whether it arrived before or after they had lost all hope . The adventures of the servant girl , Basili , were so well known , that her society was sought by even the great and noble , yet she never relapsed into a smile during the remainder of her lifein shortall who had been rescuedwhen asked their

, , thoughts while underneath the ground , answered that they waited , and waited in hope for a long time , then they despaired , and then they went to sleep , and remembered no more . None of them lived long ; the unhappy Basili died } 'oung , before she had completed her twenty-fifth year ; she liked to be alone , and to sit under a tree , apparently in sad reflection , at a spot

where she could see neither cities nor houses , and always turned away her eyes at the sight of a child . But faithful history has recorded all these calamities far better than we can describe them in our limited smee ; and we have no doubt our readers are fully conversant with the facts , nor should we have dwelt so long upon them , had the historian " rendered to Caesar

the things which are Caesar ' s , " but wc see nowhere recorded the kindness , charity , and benevolence of the Freemasons in this disastrous time , who left their homes and families to render assistance to those who were in need and distress . The Freemasons who had rendered such opportune assistance to the poor sufferers in Calabria were

principally brethren who had been initiated in Naples . A Neapolitan merchant , of the name of Yincenzo , had a large silk manufactory in the neighbourhood of Reggie , and resided there when not in Naples . Through his influence a Lodge ivas established in the former cit } -, and it was tho members of this fraternity that displayed so much heroic virtueunder trying

circumstances—for-, getting their own losses and misfortunes in their laudable endeavours to assist their less fortunate neighbours . Thousands were deprived of their homes in the most severe month of winter , exposed to violent rain , storms , and wind ; their cellars destroyed , their stores of corn wasted , aud the people of tho neighbourhood afraid to

bring provisions to a place where death was so constant and near . It was now that the Freemasons were actively employing both time and money for tlie construction of rude , temporary huts , and the purchase of food for a starving population . But while we record the kind mid charitable acts of thc feiv , we mig ht multiply instances of man ' s avarice and selfishness in the many . A very wealthy man caused excavations to

be made m the rubbish of his house until he had found and recovered his valuables ; he then stopped the search , although he left his mother , brother , sister , and wife , perhaps still alive , beneath the ruins . The first tidings of this sad catastrophe reached Naples so speedily that , from its very suddenness , and because truths which exceed the common belief look

like fictions , it was not credited . Flying rumours first , afterwards messengers and letters , informed the government that it was only too true , and . immediate assistance was sent to the sufferers . Clothes , food , money , physicians , artificers , academicians , archaeologists , and painters , all hastened to Calabria . First and foremost was Field Marshal Francisco Pignatelli ; with his aid a

junta of magistrates was p laced at the head of the administration , and the public revenue and that of the church was collected , and preserved in chests , said to be consecrated . Handsome grants were given in aid of the sufferers , and order was maintained in the state . Field Marshal Pignatelli , himself a Freemason , ordered the thanks of the committee to be given to those who had

voluntarily come forward to render assistance in time of need ; " but a better recompense , " he remarked , " would be the feeling in each Freemason ' s mind that he had been enabled to perforin a good and charitable act . " *

Tlie summer succeeding this awful calamity brought further troubles to this suffering country . The horrible stench caused by the dead bodies , together with stagnant waters , unhealthy meteors , penury , and distress , brought an epidemic , which spread through the two Calabrias to such an extent , that death or mourning was in every house . Thus the year passed miserably away , and it was

not till the commencement of the year 1784 that the land had regained its consistency . When the epidemic was spent , and the calamity forgotten , or men had become resigned to their misfortunes , then only could they look back and coolly calculate their losses . In the course of ten months 200 cities and villages had been destroyedand 60000 Calabrese had perished

, , by one calamity or other ; while it was impossible to calculate the amount of damage done to property , and the losses sustained from want of labour . This might truly be said to be incalculable , yet , strange to say , the people went on marrying and giving in marriage . The births equalled those of preceding and no thought

years , was given that these were warnings sent by Providence to lead them to prepare for eternity . The most atrocious crimes were committed—theft , murder , and the grossest immorality prevailed to an alarming extent , while affliction and mourning were everywhere . We have no record of how tlie Freemasons conducted themseli-es at this

time , but ha \ 'e no doubt that they would endeavour in their limited sphere , by good example and kind advice , to cause a reformation . In the early part of the year 1784 , the Emperor Joseph II ., of Austria , came to Naples , under a private name . Refusing the honour due to his rank , and the reception prepared for him in the palacehe asked

, for a guide and instructor , to point out all that was remarkable in the city . The Queen sent Luigi Serio , a man of good education , and of agreeable manners and conversation . The Emperor wished to visit tlie scenes of the recent devastations in Calabria , and to be made acquainted with those persons who had acted so noblin

y the cause of humanity ; but he was deterred by the difficulty of access , the winter season , and the want of good roads . While he remained at Naples , he had around him those Neapolitans who bore the hi ghest reputation