Masonic Reminiscences.

cians , faintly imitated by the Pagans m their Eleusinian mysteries , by the HebreAVS in their traditional cabala , by the Chinese in their jugglery , by the Brahmins in their chants and incantations , the Eosciraucians in their affectation of preternatural power and knowledge , and whicli dwindles into utter insignificance in the puerilities of Freemasonry . " Modern Freemasonry , we believe , lays no pretensions to the power

of enchantment practised by the old Egyptian magicians ; nor are the silly candidates for admission into its cabalistic Order subjected to the ancient ordeals of fire , air , and water ; yet it would seem they still indulge in some silly mimicry of those preliminaries so graphically described by the justly admired poet Moore , in the ' Epicurean . ' " Masonry seems to me to be no more than an empty form pretending

to some occult mystery , without object and without profit . If the Freemasons have any knowledge tending to benefit mankind , why conceal it ? If they have any secret calculated to make their fellow men better , why not openly reveal it ? But they have no such thing ; ancl it would be an insult to morality and religion to suppose that what they fail to accom-• pHsh can be effected by the stupid mysticism of Freemasonry . "

The wrath and argument of the cynic having been both exhausted , all eyes were turned towards a gentle , smiling face , that for some time bad been fixed upon the speaker with evident sensations of pity and sorrow , untinged by the slightest shade of anger—the curate of the parish , chaplain to a neighbouring Lodge , happened to be present (¦ ' A man he was to all the country clear " ) , in whom was united learning without

ostentation , and piety without pride . In the mild accents of Ms persuasive eloquence , ancl which we can but faintly imitate , be thus replied to the objections of the cynic .-

—" I shall take leave to pass over the ingenious witticism at the expense of Scripture truth , which ivould concede to us the privilege of tracing our origin from the Man of Sin : we profess no peculiar knowledge of the arcana practised at Meusis ; we affect not the miraculous powers of the Eoscicrucians ; we are not skilled in Chinese jugglery ; nor deeply read in the Vedas or Zendavesta . Freemasonry lias nothing to do ivith these obsolete absurdities .

" Its foundation was laid when that noble structure , man , was formed bythe glorious founder of our Order— ' theDivine Architect of the Universe ;' its principles flow from the study and knowledge of God ' s most perfect and exalted works ; its essence is ' Peace on earth , and goodwill towards men . ' Stainless must be the character of him who aspfres to the honours of Masonry .

" Look around , and see wlio are its patrons and supporters . In every age men the most illustrious in station , the most eminent in learning , wisdom , and virtue , have felt proud to be ranked among its members . Behold at the bead of the Order in our own land , Ireland ' s only duke , * the gentle Geraldine , rich in every social virtue , and all the ' graceful amenities of life . In England , a royal duke , the pious and amiable