Ancient Libraries.

Now we might prolong these extracts , but we think it better to drop the pen fop to-day , as we may he tempted to refer to another branch of the subject in our next number . Let it suffice us to bear in mind what we too often forget—that we owe the preservation of all learning amongst us to these very libraries—of darker days , if you will . We should not , then , in our estimate of the advance of literature ancl the preservation of hooks , ever forget these ancient collections , in which literature was alike preserved and advanced , and which constitute a most material element alike in the history of civilisation and the progress of the human race .

The Origin And References Of The Hermesian Spurious Freemasonry.

THE ORIGIN AND REFERENCES OF THE HERMESIAN SPURIOUS FREEMASONRY .

BY KEY . ^ GEO . OLIVER , D . D . ( Continued frontpage 340 . )

BHT an actual Messiah , according to his own profession , appeared in the world above a century after Christ , in whom it was believed by many of the Jews that the ancient prophecies were fulfilled . This was the famous impostor named Bar-Cochebas , whose rapid success and sanguinary devastations through all Palestine and Syria filled Rome itself with alarm and astonishment . In this barbarian , so well calculated by his cruelty to be the Messiah , according to the perverted conceptions of the Jews , Akiba

declared that prophecy of Balaam , "A Star shall rise out of Jacob , " was accomplished . Hence the impostor took his name of Bar-Oochebas , which means the Son of the Star ; and Akiba not only publicly anointed him King of the Jews and placed an imperial diadem upon his head , but followed him to the field at the head of four ancl twenty thousand of his disciples , and acted in the capacity of master of his horse . To crush this dangerous insurrection , which happened in the reign of the Emperor Adrian , Julius Severus , Prefect of Britain , one of the greatest commanders of the age , was recalled and despatched from Rome , who retook Jerusalem , burnt it to the ground , and sowed the ruins with salt . *

A star , in the prophetical writings , denoted a prince or priest , both of which titles agree perfectly with the antetype ; and the above prophets * describe the regal dignity by the symbol of a Sceptre , as well as a Star .-j- Hence the Star mentioned by Balaam , and the Law-giver bearing the kingly Sceptre as an emblem of dominion , mentioned by Jacob , evidently refer to one and the same person . If this reasoning have any foundation in truth , there can be no wonder at the

anxiety displayed by mankind , in the first ages of the world , to become acquainted with the celestial appearances , that they might ascertain , with some degree of accuracy , the expected sign of the Redeemer ' s advent ; for each patriarch cherished the hope of witnessing that great event . It is well known that the science of astronomy was practised by the posterity of Sethand they soon found the studof the laws aud motions of the heavenlbodies to

, y y be a pursuit which expanded the mind , and led it from the contemplation of the most magnificent objects of the creation up to the Almighty Creator . The sun , moon , and planets were regarded as so many manifestations of the unbounded power and goodness of God in constructing the vast machine for the service of man .