Antiquity Of Masonic Degrees.

Delta , having begun himself with the eighteenth century , asks me to give him proof of the Craft degrees , in the 12 th century , rather a wide jump . It would be a very long and very tedious disquisition , and , to go into all the process I should seek to adduce , and hope one day to do so in extcnso ,

of the lasting connection between the old operative and our present speculative Masonry . But this I "will further add , that I trust the time is not far distant when , by a collection of historical authorities and undoubted facts , by the witness of coins and

monuments , inscriptions and fabric rolls , marks and maralli , Masonic and unmasonic evidence , I shall be able to convince Delta himself of the truth of

what I have thus sought imperfectly to uphold . I cannot conclude this letter without objecting to Delta ' s statement , " that the author of the MS . edited by Bro . Matthew Cooke , makes speculative Masonry or the ceremonies of the ancient priests and geometricians , entirely distinct from those of the

operatives . " All that is said by him , as Bro . Matthew Cooke well puts it , in the notes , is " that the youngest son of Athelstan learned practical Masonry , in addition to speculative Masonry , and that he was a Master . "

Not only was he a speculative Mason , but a practical Mason also , a working Mason , in fact , a skilful architect , as many great brothers before him and after him . If "Delta" relies on the operative constitutions , they always combine Masonry and geometry , though

I do not deny that , in the early time , operative Masonry was the rule , speculative the exception . I think if "Delta" will read that ancient prose constitution carefully and then the poetic constitution edited by Mr . Halliwell , and then compare with them

the constitutions as now existing in the British Museum , and remember what our present Craft Masonry is , and what it teaches and sets . forth , he will be struck with the wonderful similarity , the extraordinary agreement , still existing between those

older documents and our present ceremonies , ritual , and lectures . "Delta" adds , "that the operative Masons had not then commenced to trace their establishment from that city , as they did at a later period . " It is true that in the published prose constitution , the name of York does not occur , but the

mention of Athelstan ' s youngest son , ( though historically incorrect , ) connects that assembly with that Edwin , be he who he may , who held an assembly of Masons at York .

Neither in . the poetic constitutions is the name York to be found , but Adelstonus or Athelstane , whose metropolis was York , connects that assembly also with York . Indeed , Dr . Oliver maintains that those poetic

Antiquity Of Masonic Degrees.

constitutions , are the very constitutions agreed to at that grand assembly at York . "Whether he be correct or no , York has ever been the point to which all English Masonry has turned , as the " needle to the pole . " I can only then repeat what these remarks seek

to convey to others , that I am perfectly convinced that the more we study the matter historically , carefully , critically , sifting hasty assertions , and rejecting unauthenticated authorities , we shall be able to prove incontestably , the real aud superior antiquity

of original Masonry in the three Craft degrees , and that our Speculative Grand Lodge now , and speculative Masonry , are the legitimate and direct successors of operative Masonry . EBOE .

Chronology Viewed Through The Medium Of Astronomy And Freemasonry. Masonry.

CHRONOLOGY VIEWED THROUGH THE MEDIUM OF ASTRONOMY AND FREEMASONRY . MASONRY .

— BY I-L _ . j 5 . Jtr MELVILLE ,

rediscoverer of the Esoteric Keys and Laws of Ancient Knowledge . —Nil Nisi Clavis Dcesl . [ In laying the following essay on the properties of numbers as applied to chronology before our readers , we wish distinctly to guard ourselves against any supposed endorsement ot the theory of Bro . Melville ,

or concurrence in his views . ] " Tlaj Kingdom is an everlasting Kingdom , and iliy dominion enditreth throughout all ages . " * The Easterns reverence certain mystic figures . With the Budhists these sacred numbers are 4 , 3 , 2 , and these people wishing to denote great numerical quantity ,

sometimes add upwards of sixty zeros thereto . The Hindoo , who it is recorded , pirated their knowledge from the Budhists , add only four zeros , thus , 4 , 320 , 000 . The Masonic reader will , perhaps , ask what has Masonry to do with these sacred numbers ? And in replying to the questionit will be necessary to border

, very closely on some of the hidden mysteries . The Preeniasons have among them certain symbols or tools ; thus a compass is a token of the lowest grade , and the compass has two points ; the next is a triangle ,

and it gives us three points , and under the seal on every Master Mason ' s certificate is , or ought to be , engraved the square or emblem in four points ; thus combined they give in their order , 4 , 3 , 2 . And these are depicted in the heavens . Under Scorpio there is Circinus , Triangulum , and Ara . The compass and triangle are upon the squarewhich is

, p ictured as an altar . " I will wash mine hands in innocency , so will I compass thine altar , 0 Lord . "t " The fire shall ever be burning upon the altar ; it shall never go out . "f And on that altar has hitherto burnt an eternal fire of the Vestal Virgin Virgo , and it is to be hoped the enlightened brotherhood will

never allow that fire to be extinguished . It is known to astronomers that there is an annual tardy motion of the sun , or rather a somewhat gentle advancing motion of our earth on arriving at the equinox ; some call this precession of the equinox , but let us avoid differing as to terms , suffice that " The