A Lecture On The Antiquity Of Laying Corner Stones With Religious And Mystical Ceremonies.*

In this chest were found one little golden tablet , one of silver , one of lead , one of copper , one of tin ; the seventh was written on the chest itself , the sixth was of alabaster . The inscriptions on four of the tablets are given . He describes himself as Sargon , the mighty king , etc ., " who reigned from the two beginnings to the two ends of the four celestial points . " In the course of the inscriptions he

mentions an eclipse wdiich fixes the date as prior to 721 B . C . This is a later date than the Egyptian inscriptions , and probably later than the date of Job or the Temple at Jerusalem . The similarity in the usage of the Architects , ancl in the reverential feeling , suggest a common centre of origin in some earlier civilization whence this masonic Craft spread , carrying its traditions into the nations which grew wealthy and ambitions enough to

welcome the reverential ancl scientific art . There is a further resemblance , in the same volume , p . 21 . It appears that there was a ceremony attending the laying of the corner-stone , which had a highly relig ious as well as artistic character , in which the king himself bore a part of the practical masonic labours of the craftsmen . Sargon , in the inscription says , "In the month of Ab , the month of the God who lays the

foundationstones of towns and of houses , all the people assembled , ancl performed the ceremony of Sulal [ of the handbells ] on gold , on silver , on copper , on metals , on stones , on the trees of Amanus , ancl , according the rule , distributed the various employments , J laid the foundations , and placed . the bricks , " etc . These are all the important Assyrian inscriptions on this subject which have come to my hand . I am bound to say that I do not consider my researches are at all exhaustive investigations of what has been discovered and

published . They sufficiently establish the fact of the great antiquity and wide-spread Masonic usage on laying corner stones , as well as the mystic and reverential character of the ceremonial with which it was performed . A thorough examination of all that has been brought to light within the past half-century , and the progress of discoveries still ardently pursued by eminent scholars of Europe , will doubtless add much to what is here collated , that will

illustrate the habits of the masonic craft in early times . There was a perfection in the practical skill of the ancient craft which has not been equalled since . The contributions of beauty , harmony , and grace which the masters of Greek , Saracenic , and Gothic art have made to architecture cannot be overlooked , but still , these old craftsmen wdio preceded them thousands of years , and piously worshipped the Holy Architect of the Universe , in many practical points remain unapproachable by any of their successors . ( To be continued . )

Rights And Tenets Of The Essenes.

RIGHTS AND TENETS OF THE ESSENES .

PROBABLY no one will affirm that there is any historic connection between the Essenic system ancl that of Masonry , ancl yet the two systems show a marked correspondence in several important particulars . The ori g in of the name " Essenes , " is uncertain , but the best authoritiessome of them ' at least—make it to be derived from a term signifying " the select ones , " which would seem to be a most appropriate designation for such a brotherhood as they constituted . The Essenes were never very strong in numbers , nor do they appear to have extended their Order over any wide limit of territory . Their ranks included but a few thousands , even at the period-of greatest growth ; they dwelt for the most part in communities