Oration On Freemasonry, Its Mystery And History, What It Is And What It Is Not.

ORATION ON FREEMASONRY , ITS MYSTERY AND HISTORY , WHAT IT IS AND WHAT IT IS NOT .

BY J . II . GRAHAM , LL . D ., FIRST PRINCIPAL OP THE GRAND CHAPTER OF ROYAL ARCH MASONS OF THE PROVINCE OF QUEBEC . " | V [ 0 intelligent person needs to be reminded that we are surrounded with mysteries . JLi However great our knowledge ; however profound our researches ; however reverent our meditations on any subjectfrom the smallest grain of sand on this earth

, of ours to the unnumbered worlds that ceaselessly revolve in the immensity of space , from the tiniest blade of grass to the mighty cedar of Lebanon , from the humblest forms of theproto-zoa embedded in tho primeval rocks through all the grades of animal life to man ( made but a little lower than the angels ) , and to Him who created all things , ancl who dwelleth in light unapproachable and full of glory , —all , all is mystery ! In dispassionately considering our present themeit is not necessary that we should linger on

, the mysteries of man , nor dwell on the pleasing and important problem of whence he came—what he is—or whither he is going—but briefly to consider historic man in bis natural aggregations of kindred and society , bearing in mind that amongst men " some arc , and must be , greater than the rest ; " that some must rule and some obey ; that it is given to some to teach and others to receive instruction ; and that from the clawnings of history , and more especially iu the farthest East—the cradle of our race—the sages

of that remote antiquity , and many of the wisest men of a more modern clay , the guides and teachers of the world , in their communication of their vast stores of human ancl divine wisdom , carefully separated their instructions into esoteric and exoteric—the former being preserved ancl guarded with the strictest vi gilance , and alone communicated , under the most solemn circumstances , to the select few who were deemed worthy and well qualified to receive and profit thereby , aud the latter being communicated to

tho mass of the people as that which was adjudged to be best fitted for their instruction and guidance . From these esoteric communities of early sages and philosophers arose , in India , Persia , Chaldea , Egypt , Phoenicia , and other countries , the wondrous MYSTERIES or Tin * EAST , those schools of reli gion , philosophy , government , literature , ancl the arts , which did so much to enlightenupbuildancl maintain these great nations of antiquity .

, , Shall we therefore wonder when we see such illustrious men as Solon , Plato , Herodotus , Lycurgus , and other great philosophers of Greece , " binding their stoutest sandals upon their feet , and taking the pilgrim ' s staff in their hands , " and going forth to visit the vast sanctuaries of E gypt , to be initiated into the hidden mysteries of wisdom ancl worship ?

From the general connection that exists between these ancient mysteries ancl Freemasonry , some have been erroneously led to believe that the latter is a continuation of the former , while it is only , in some respects , an imitation or similarity . Much of the instruction and all the principal traditions of ancient Craft Freemasonry are derived from ancl associated with the magnificent temple of King . Solomon , which was erected about one thousand years before the Christian eraon the thrice holmountand

, y , according to the Divine plan , by the wisdom of Solomon , King of Israel—by the strength and co-operation of Hiram , lung of Tyre—ancl exquisitely adorned by Hiram , the widoVs son , the Prince of Architects , these three being considered the first Grand Masters of our Order .

Ibis temple was dedicated to the honour and glory of the one only living ancl true God , as the first national manifestation of an only God ever erected . That division of our ancient and honourable fraternity denominated the Hol y Royal Arch derives most of its symbolism and traditions from the second temple , " rebuilt" about five hundred