The Origin And References Of The Hermesian Spurious Freemasonry.

spot where the city of Pompeii was overwhelmed . At the depth of 54 feet 7 inches , Avas a bed of vitrified stone 13 feet 4 inches thick , which had been deposited by a volcanic eruption . Upon this was 20 feet 10 inches of stiff earth . A second

eruption produced a layer of vitrified stone 3 feet 4 inches thick , upon which was laid C feet 8 inches of earth . A third eruption deposited 2 feet 1 inch of vitrified stone , on Avhich Avas a thickness of 8 feet 4 inches of solid earth ; and here were found the remains of Pompeii . Thus three

eruptions at the least had been sustained before the city was built , and it is said to have been founded by Hercules , who is supposed to have been cotemporaiy with Abraham .

If the whole earth Avas reduced to a pulp , how could the mountains of Armenia in so short a period haA'e become sufficiently solid to sustain the Ark on their surface , burdened as it was with all the living creatures Avhich the earth contained 1 There is nothing in the Mosaic account to

sanction such a hypothesis , nor does the record contain any hint about the destruction of A'cgetable life . It is simply stated that " all flesh died that moved upon the earth , both of fowl , and of cattle , and of beast , ancl of every creeping thing that creepeth

upon the earth , and every man . All in Avhose nostrils was the breath of life and all that was in the dry land died . " * There can be no doubt but certain parts of the earth's surface underwent a violent

disruption and sustained organic changes , although some modern theorists have contended that the inequalities of surface , together Avith the formation of minerals , etc ., were produced at a much earlier period , because geological discoveries have proved that " the earth has existed as a

planet for an immense series of ages , Avhose number is beyond conjecture ; that it has been continually modified by successive changes upon and within it , and that it has been inhabited by numerous races of animals and plants during successive

periods before the creation of man , each race fitted for its peculiar period ancl confined to it . " There is , however , a dangerous latitude

in this opinion , and it ought to be received with great caution , lest it should lead to the Aristotelian doctrine of the eternity of matter or the older and more universal belief in an endless succession of worlds—a doctrine which makes a near approach to atheismaud actually Avas the basis of the

, atomical principle of Anaxiinander ancl his followers , Avhich produced the absurdities of Spinoza , Vanini , and others of their heretical sect . The breaking up of the fountains of the great deep must have been attended with

tremendous consequences , but it does not follow that this disruption of the internal reservoirs of water should have produced a general dissolution of matter , although it will be readily admitted that great changes were effected in the appearance of the

globe . Faber says : " I cannot think it probable that the flood was only a still and tranquil increase of the ocean ; on the contrary , the whole process of that catastrophe appears to have exhibited a most terrific scene of uproar and confusion . The atmospherical air , forced by a supernatural

pressure into the cavity of the great abyss , would compel it to disgorge its contents in violent cataracts , Avhich , being driven to an immense height in the air , and thence filling back in torrents , Avould agitate the ocean Avith a tempest of which we perhajis can scarcely form an idea . In short

, humanly speaking , it seems necessary that some such disorder should have taken place , in the midst of which the Ark was miraculously preserved , while every attempt of the Avicked inhabitants of the earth to save themselves was frustrated ,

and their vessels either dashed to pieces or overwhelmed by the violence of the storm . " * This awful event reads a lesson to man that the day is rapidly approaching when the Creator , in accordance with the voice

of prophecy , will totally destroy his work , that ho may reward or punish those whom he has placed on this speck in the universe as probationers and pilgrims , according as they have used or abused , in the exorcise of their free agency , the several talents committed to their charge . ( To be continued . )