will venture to set his foot on the unknown regions which lie beyond that forbidden barrier.

It is really a pity that any person of talent should place himself so completely under the dominion of prejudice, as to decry an institution which, at least, does no injury, even supposing that it does no good, which, however, I can by no means admit; for I consider it-and ever have considered it-the very first of human institutions; the dispenser of earthly blessings; because, as a masonic writer of the last century properly remarks-" It comprehends within its circle every branch of useful knowledge and learning, and stamps an indelible mark of preeminence on its genuine professors, which neither chance, power, nor fortune can bestow. When its rules are strictly observed, it is a sure foundation of tranquillity amid the various disappointments of life; a friend that will not deceive, but will comfort and assist, in prosperity and adversity; a blessing that will remain with all times, circumstances, and places; and to which recourse may be had, when other earthly comforts sink into disregard. And more than this, it gives real and intrinsic excellency to man, and renders him fit for the duties of society. It strengthens the mind against the storms of life, paves the way to peace, and promotes domestic happiness. It meliorates the temper and improves the understanding; it is company in solitude, and gives vivacity, variety, and energy, to social conversation. In youth it governs the passions, and employs usefully our most active faculties; and in age when sickness, imbecility, and disease, have benumbed the corporeal frame, and rendered the union of soul and body almost intolerable, it yields an ample fund of comfort and satisfaction."*

Under these circumstances I may be asked, as I frequently have been, why I give myself the trouble to enlighten the understanding of men who have eyes, but will not see; who have ears, but will not hear; and who have comprehension, but will not understand? It is a posing question, and can only be answered, by saying with the indifferent sportsman, that when he shoots into the midst of a flock of gulls, he sometimes, by chance, brings down a bird. So by these strictures I may succeed in opening the eyes of an occasional gainsayer to the truth, and show him what a gull he has been by giving implicit credit to crude assertions unaccompanied by proof. Besides, there is always a suspicion on the slanderer, which frequently turns his defamation against himself; and a very few words of vindication will often be sufficient to neutralize whole volumes of abuse. I once knew a schoolmaster who bestowed great pains to persuade his pupils of the moral turpitude of Freemasonry. And his denunciations of the institution were pompous and incessant. But the pedagogue overshot his mark; the suspicions of the boys were aroused, and when they were emancipated from fears of the birch, and became men, most of them sought initiation that they might ascertain the correctness of the hypothesis, and be enabled practically to refute the malicious insinuations which they had heard. And they entered with greater zeal into the practice of the Order, because they found good where they were instructed to expect evil.

All mankind are inclined to be captious, and to doubt the genial operation of what they do not perfectly understand. How else are we to account for the existence of all the absurd opinions which are afloat respecting the means of salvation, and particularly for infidelity and

VOL. VI.

*From Preston's Eulogium. See Oliver's edition, p. 38.

D

atheism. The infidel will object as strongly against Christianity as the caviller does against Masonry. Yet they both continue their walk of benevolence and charity, undisturbed by the passing slander, which makes no more impression on either than the waft of an insect's wing would make on the gigantic oak. Persecution has always strengthened the cause it would destroy; and new attacks are but the harbingers of renewed prosperity. Freemasonry, the handmaiden of religion, is, in our own times, menaced by religious professors, which will prove an effectual antidote to lukewarmness on the one hand, and neglect on the other; and the Order is sure to derive essential benefits from every attack.

I hope, however, before I conclude the series which I have now the pleasure of offering for your acceptance, to force conviction, even on our opponents, and compel them to entertain a favourable opinion of Freemasonry, if their hearts be not unnaturally closed against conviction; and if I should succeed in opening their eyes to some of its inestimable advantages, I shall not have laboured in vain.

THE FREEMASONS' LEXICON.

(Continued from page 421 vol. v.)

Russland. Russia.-Under the reign of the Czaress Catherine the Great, and even before that time, lodges flourished in all parts of Russia. As early as the year 1731, the then Grand Master, Lord Lovell, in London, nominated Captain John Phillips Provincial Grand Master of Russia. In the year 1799, under Czar Paul, the lodges, of their own accord, closed their labours, but preserved the sacred fire in secret until more settled times, that it might be able to accomplish its benevolent intentions in peace. This time arrived in the year 1804, when the Czar Alexander permitted several ancient brethren to establish a lodge in St. Petersburg, called Alexander at the Crowned Pelican; and since then several lodges have been formed there; also at Riga, Revel, and other towns. There are two Grand Lodges in St. Petersburg, whose constitutions are sanctioned by the state.

Sachsen das Kônigreich. Kingdom of Saxony.-We find lodges in this kingdom which have been allowed to work, undisturbed by the government, from the first extention of Freemasonry in Germany; especially in Leipzig, Dresden, Bauzen, Freyberg, Schneeberg, and Zittau. Those lodges, particularly those in Dresden, distinguished themselves by their benevolence in the years 1770 and 1771, and are still of importance by maintaining a free-school in Dresden, which was openly acknowledged by the king, in 1778, as a useful institution, so that the brethren have the royal approbation of the work. In 1812 a Grand Lodge was founded in Dresden.

St Germain, Graf. Graf St. Germain was despised as an adventurer and professor of the black art; his parentage is unknown; he sometimes called himself Aymar, and at other times the Marquis de Betmar-he was probably a Portuguese by birth. On his first journey into Germany Cagliostro formed his acquaintance, in Holstein, and profited by his instructions in carrying on his first schemes of imposition. St. Germain really possessed a knowledge of chemistry and other sciences, but his unconquerable desire to shine as an adept prevented him from pursuing

the common road to fame. He was continually travelling, and by his importunity, ostentation, and the gift of perceiving and taking the advantage of the weak side of those to whom he was introduced, he forced his way into the company of royalty. According to his own account, he was three hundred and fifty years of age; a water of life, as he said, kept him in good health, and was so strong that, by its means, he could transform an old dame into a young woman. That puzzling problem to all adepts, the making of precious stones, he was fortunate enough to discover, in the year 1753, in his second journey to India; and in the year 1773, he pounded a very valuable diamond, as he said of his own manufacturing, at the French ambassador's at the Hague, after he had sold a similar one for 5500 Louis d'or. The secrets of futurity were also unveiled before his eyes, and he foretold the death of Louis XV. He subjected serpents to the power of music. Among the qualifications he did possess, belonged the rare gift of writing with both hands upon two sheets of paper anything which was dictated to him, in such a manner that it was impossible to find any difference in the two writings. He played the violin in such a masterly manner as to make the audience think they heard several instruments. Generally speaking, he was neither deficient in talent nor in learning, and would have been a celebrated man had he not preferred being a despised one.

Saint Nicaisse.-This hero, like the hero of the Gabalis, owes his existence to a book which is frequently mentioned in Freemasonry. The full title of the work is: "St. Nicaise; or, a Collection of Remarkable Masonic Letters, from the French. Frankfort (Leipzic), 1786." As a false place of publication is printed, so is it also false that it is a translation from the French: it is of German origin, and the author, probably, was the chief court chaplain, Stark. Br. Kessler, of Sprengeissen, wrote in answer, an Anti-Saint Nicaise. The book professes to contain the letters of a French Freemason, who was travelling on account of Freemasonry at the time of the Strict Observance, the Rosicrucians, and the Clerikers. He learnt the manner of working in London and in Germany, but was everywhere dissatisfied, and finally found content in a cloister in France; but where situated, and in what it consisted, he does not say. He praises the Holy Macarius and Thomas à Kempis, as good mystics, from which we may judge from whence he derived his information.

Salomo.-Solomon, son of David, by Bathsheba, at whose request he was declared by his father to be heir to the throne of the Hebrews, thereby setting aside his elder brother: he enjoyed during a long and peaceful reign, from 1015 to 975 before Christ, the fruits of the deeds of his father. To establish his throne, he caused his brother Adonai, and some discontented noblemen of his kingdom, to be murdered. But the wisdom of his judicial decisions, as also the improvement and perfection of the system of government he introduced, gained him the love and admiration of the people; and his fame is immortalized by the building of the Temple, which, for size, magnificence, and beauty, far exceeded all the works of architecture ever before seen. This Temple is one of the most sublime symbols in the Order of Freemasonry, for which reason Solomon's name has been introduced here. The forty year's reign of King Solomon, which he ended weaker and less gloriously it is true than he began, are, on account of their splendour and their happy peacefulness, still prized by the Israelites as the brightest portion of their history; and the whole eastern nations behold in it a golden age, in the pictures of which, drawn by oriental poetry, the wisdom of this king is

drawn as supernaturally great. In the writings the Bible contains under his name, there speaks a philosophical spirit which has raised itself far above the exclusiveness of Hebrew nationality. His proverbs are rich in spirit and strength, and his preaching reminds us of the philosophy with which the rich and intellectual portion of mankind speak of the lassitude of a long life spent in the enjoyment of every luxury which wealth and power can procure: his wisdom and happiness have become a proverb among his successors. He died 975 years before Christ, in the 58th year of his age.

Salomonischer Tempel. Solomon's Temple.-This is most important as a symbol to a Freemason, for in its time it was considered as the most regular and most magnificent building. Solomon built this temple at Jerusalem, and it was not only a place for the worship of God, but also a dwelling for the priesthood and a depository for the ark. David provided a great quantity of building materials, and left an enormous sum of money to pay the expenses of the building, which was carried on in perfect quietness. All the stone and wood were prepared without the city, and then brought to Jerusalem. The foundation was laid in the year of the world 2993, and at that time the Phoenicians possessed the best artists of every description, and in architecture they took the lead of all other nations: in order, therefore, to build his temple according to the best rules of architecture then known, Solomon requested Hirain, King of Tyre, to furnish him with an architect; and he sent him one who was also called Hiram. In the Holy Scriptures we find this architect twice mentioned; in one place he is described as the son of a widow of the tribe of Napthali, and in the other as the son of a woman of the tribe of Dan. Hiram not only possessed scientific knowledge, but also sufficient practical skill in his art to enable him to make everything according to the wish of King Solomon, as well in the building of the temple with regard to magnificence, as also in originality of formation, and in the appropriateness of the sacred vessels which were necessary in the sacrifices and burnt offerings, and which were all formed in strict proportion, according to the rules of geometry. The walls that surrounded the temple were 7700 feet in circumference. The large and noble hall stood towards the west, and the Holy of Holies in the east ; here was placed the Ark of the Covenant, and a wrought curtain, which the high priest durst only open one day in the year, separated it from the other part of the temple. The rest of the temple was formed into convenient chambers for the kings and princes, for the high council, and for the priests and Levites, with a large court for the members of other religions; for Solomon's object in building this temple was not limited to his own nation, who honoured God according to the laws of Moses, but he appropriated it as an universal house of prayer for all those who would visit it in order to worship God. At its building, not only the Israelites, but several of the neighbouring princes and noblemen willingly and richly contributed towards defraying the expenses. This court was so large that it would contain 300,000 men. The pillars of the temple, of which there were about 1500, were made of the finest marble-and the Sacred Scriptures especially distinguish two of them, which are thence called Jachin and Boaz ; Jachin signifies "to be established,” and Boaz, "in thee is strength." Besides these there were twice as many pillars which supported the altar, the choir, and the vail. For light and sanctity there were about 1500 windows, in addition to those which were upon the plaster pavement (Estrich). When the building was finished,

the king caused it to be overlaid on the inside with gold, and adorned with an innumerable quantity of diamonds and other precious stones. The whole number of people who were employed in the building of this temple was 183,600. We are compelled to wonder at the short time in which this temple was built, but when we take into consideration the fact that nearly 200,000 men were engaged in the work, we cease to be surprised at the rapidity of execution. It was completed in seven years and six months, viz., in the year 3000 from the creation. Solomon dedicated it with many costly offerings and with fervent prayers; after which, upon the happy conclusion of the work, the whole of the workpeople had a festival. The Sacred Writings inform us of the destruction of this magnificent building.

Samothratische Geheimnisse. Samothratical Mysteries.-This is the principal name which antiquity gave to the mysteries of Bacchus ; they were likewise called Kabarical Orgies, Dionysian, and, according to their ramifications and branches, also Taurobolian Bacchanalian, and all this in only a limited sense, for in its more comprehensive meaning it included the whole of the mysteries of classical antiquity. They originated in Creta and Phyrgia, and came into the island of Samothratia, from whence they extended themselves over the whole of Greece. They stood in the closest connection with those of Ceres, and in many of their ceremonies they were quite alike. Ceres was the mother of Bacchus, and Plutarch assures us that Ceres was the Egyptian Isis. Bacchus, Osiris, and the Grecian Dionysians, were only other names for the Egyptian Paraites. In the degenerated age of the Grecians, these Dionysians were more celebrated for their gluttony and debauchery than for their promotion of virtue and the sciences; and Bacchus, who was first worshipped as the god of science, afterwards became the god of wine and nocturnal revels. Two hundred years before the birth of Christ, the Dionysians came to Tuscany, and from thence to Rome, where they were afterwards prohibited by a decree of the senate. The mysteries of Ceres and of Bacchus were founded about 400 years before the reign of Solomon; and Josephus maintains that the societies of the Dionysian and Ionian architects existed before the building of Solomon's temple, and that both Dionysian and Ionian architects assisted at that great work, which places the architectural skill of the Dionysian artists of that period beyond doubt. The opinion expressed by some masonic writers, who date the origin of the Order from the building of Solomon's temple, may in some measure be thus proved, for if the identity of the two societies can be proved by the similarity of their outward forms, we are justified in concluding the brotherhood of the Ionian and Dionysian architects and Freemasonry to be one and the same society.

Sarsena. This name caused a great sensation among young Masons and those who had not been initiated, about the year 1816-17. It is the name of a book whose full title is, “Sarsena, or the perfect architect; containing the history of the origin of the Order of Freemasonry, and the various opinions upon what it should be in our days, &c. &c. Truly and faithfully described by a true and perfect Brother Mason. Extracted from the papers he left behind him, and given to the press without alteration." This was advertised in all the public papers by the anonymous publisher, (Kuntze in Baumberg) as the genuine secrets of Freemasonry, and every advertisement was followed by the fire triangle, ▲. Through this mystical announcement he obtained the desired object, namely, purchasers of the work. Who the great Sarsena was the book does not