thee, who art a wise man, and endowed with all virtues. As for myself, I rejoice at the condition thou art in, and will be subservient to thee in all that thou sendest to me about; for when by my subjects, I have cut down many, and large trees of cedar, and cypress wood, I will send them to sea, and will order my subjects to make floats of them, and to sail to what place soever of thy country thou shalt desire, and leave them there; after which thy subjects may carry them to Jerusalem: but do thou take care to procure us corn for this timber, which we stand in need of, because we inhabit in an island.”

In A. L. 3130, the Masonic art was introduced into France and Germany, by Ninus, who had assisted in building the temple; and from that time to its introduction into England, through the means of Solomon's masons, and their descendants, it was introduced and flourished in various other parts of the world.

The royal art is supposed to have been introduced into Great Britian

called, to assemble at York; where, from ancient documents, they formed a book of constitutions, from which all the lodges both in England and America, either mediately or immediately derive their charters; and from this assemblage the appellation of Ancient York Masons, is derived. After this, Masonry continued to receive the fostering patronage of various kings and princes, as well as the most exalted statesmen, and men of learning and exemplary piety, not only in England, but in other kingdoms of Europe.

James I. king of Scotland, became a zealous patron of Masonry, and was initiated into the order A. D. 1443. In the year 1731, Francis, then duke of Tuscany, afterwards emperor of Germany, was initiated into the mysteries, by earl Chesterfield, while on an embassy at the Hague; and in 1738, Frederick the Great, king of Prusia, became a Mason. Frederick, was a zealous advocate for the order, and extended it throughout his dominions.

In the year 1779, Omdit-ul Omrah Bahauder, the eldest son of the nabob of Carnatic, was initiated into the

vasion, where it was afterwards patronized by Julius Cæsar, and by his most distinguished generals; but the most zealous patron of the order in those days, was the emperor Caraunus, who granted a charter, and appointed the martyr St. Alban, the first grand mas

ter.

After the departure of the Romans from England, Masonry became much neglected, and thus, in a measure continued, until A. D. 872, when it was revived by Alfred the Great under whese auspices it acquired great splendour and respectability, and continued to flourish until the reign of King Athelstane, in A. D. 926, when it was completely re-established by the institution of a grand lodge at York, of which prince Edwin, king Athelstane's brother, was appointed first grand master. A grand communication of all the Masons in the kingdom was

Masonry to progress with rapid strides in the East Indies. On the receipt of the news of this initiation, by the grand lodge of England, they forwarded him a letter of congratulation, with an elegant apron, and a book of constitutions, to which, in the year 1780, an answer written in the Persian language was received, enveloped in an elegant gold cloth. To such of our readers as have not seen the translation of this letter, it cannot fail to be highly gratifying. It is as follows:

"To the Right Worshipful, his Grace, the

Duke of Manchester, Grand Master of the Illustrious and Benevolent Society of Free and Accepted Masons under the Constitution of England, and the Grand Lodge thereof.

"Most Honoured Sir, and Brethren,

"An early knowledge and participation of the benefits arising to our house, from its intimate union of coun

cils, and interest with the British nation, and a deep veneration for the laws, constitution and manners of the latter, have for many years led me to seize every opportunity of drawing the ties between us still closer and closer.

"By the accounts which have reached me of the principles, and practices of your fraternity, nothing can be more pleasing to the Sovereign Ruler of the universe, (whom we all, though in different ways adore,) or more honourable to his creatures; for they stand upon the broad basis of indiscriminate and universal benevolence:

"Under this conviction, I had long wished to be a member of your fraternity, and now that I am initiated, I consider the title of an English Mason, as one of the most honourable which I possess: for it is, at once, a cement of the friendship between your nation and me, the friend of mankind.

"I have received from the advocate general of Bengal, Sir John Day, the very acceptable mark of attention and esteem, with which you have favoured me. It has been presented with every circumstance of deference and respect, which the situation of things here, and the temper of the times would admit of; and I do assure your grace, and the brethren at large, that he has done ample justice to the commission you have confided to him, and that he has executed it, in such a manner, as to do honour to himself, and to

me.

"I shall avail myself of a proper opportunity, to convince your grace, and the rest of the brethren, that Omdit-ul Omrah is not an unfeeling brother, or heedless of the precepts which he has imbibed; and that while he testifies his love and esteem for his brethren, by strengthening the bonds of humanity, he means to minister to the wants of the distressed.

"May the common father of all, the one omnipotent and merciful God, take you into his holy keeping, and give you health, peace, and length of

years, prays your highly honoured and affectionate brother,

OMDIT-UL OMRAH BAHAUDER.

To this letter a suitable reply was returned, and the original letter, with a translation copied on vellum, elegantly framed and glazed, was hung up in the hall, at all public meetings of the lodge,

A Latin lodge, entitled the Roman Eagle, was instituted at Edinburgh, A. D. 1784, which flourished for several years, but on the government having fallen into the hands of brethren unskilled in the language, the latin was at length discarded.

In 1786, Prince William Henry, was initiated into the order; and the succeeding year, his example was followed by his brothers, the Prince of Wales, now king of England, and the duke of York. In 1790, prince Edward, and prince Augustus Frederick were both made Masons.

In 1793, the king of Sweden became a Mason at Stockholm, while the duke of Sudermania presided as grand master, and in the year 1799,

an intimate connection was formed be

tween the grand lodges of Sweden and England.

To mention all the illustrious characters who have patronized the Masonic art, in the different ages of the world, and to give a minute account of its extent, would far exceed our limits; suffice it then, in closing our sketch of its origin and progress in the old world; to say that it has met the approbation of the wise, and good, in every age, and that its influence has been extended to the four quarters of the globe.

Commencement of Masonry in
America.

FREE MASONRY was first introduced into America, by the establishment of a lodge at Savannah, in the province of Georgia, under a warrant from lord Weymoth, then grand mas

rant from the grand lodge of England.

In 5769, an ancient grand lodge was established in the province of Massachusetts, in consequence of a petition to the worshipful earl of Dal

In the year following, orders having been received by this grand lodge, from the grand lodge of England, to establish lodges in all parts of NorthAmerica, a lodge was constituted in Philadelphia, of which Benjamin Franklin was appointed first master. A warrant was granted at the same time for holding a lodge in Portsmouth, New-Hampshire.

Masonry was first introduced in the West-Indies in 5738, when a lodge was formed at Antigua, by the grand master of New-England, when on his way to the mother country, into which he initiated the governor of that island, and several other distinguished characters.

From St. John's grand lodge, emenated the first subordinate lodges, in various parts of the British dominions in America, and the West-Indies, as well as those of Massachusetts, Connecticut, New-Hampshire, RhodeIsland, New-York, New-Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and North-Carolina.

In 5752, a dispensation was granted by the grand lodge of Scotland, of which Sholto Charles Douglass, lord || Aberdour, was then grand master, to a number of brethren who had been initiated into the order in foreign lodges, to hold a lodge in Boston, under the appellation of St. Andrew's, No. 82. St. John's grand lodge, considering their jurisdiction infringed, refused, for a number of years, any communications from St. Andrew's lodge, or visits from such of its members as had not formerly sat in lodges under their jurisdiction.

In 5764, a grand lodge was estab

Masons in Scotland, who appointed Joseph Warren, grand master of Masons in Boston, and within one hundred miles of the same; and on the festival of St. John the Baptist, June 24th, 5769, he was installed, and in 5772, he received a commission, constituting him grand master of the whole continent of America.

In 5771, the grand bdge of NorthCarolina was established under a warrant from the grand bdge of Scotland.

On the 17th of June 5775, a very heavy loss was sustained by the grand lodge, and Masonry in general, in the death of major general WARREN, who fell in the ever memorable battle of Bunker's hill, on the heights of Charlestown, whilst galantly fighting in defence of his country's rights.

This melancholy event, which threw the whole Masonic family into mourning, and drew forth tears from the whole American community, together with other political events of that period, caused a short suspension of Masonic labours. The commission of the grand master, having with him expired, and his deputy having no power independent of that derived from him, caused some embarrassment as it respected the future proceedings of the craft, being left destitute of a head, or a single grand officer to regulate their work. However, after various communications, in which the subject was candidly considered, on the 8th of March 5777, the brethren came to a conclusion. to form an independent grand lodge, "on principles consistent with, and subordinate to the regulations pointed out in the constitutions of ancient Masonry." The lodge was accordingly organized, and the worshipful Joseph Webb, in

stalled grand master. This grand lodge continued to exercise its prerogatives independently of any other, till the year 5791, when overtures were made to the officers of St. John's grand lodge, to form an union, which were accepted, and on the 5th of March, the two lodges were organized into one body, under the name of "The grand lodge of the ancient and honourable society of free and accepted Masons, for the commonwealth of Massachusetts."

Previous to the revolution, which dissolved all allegiance of the then American Provinces to the British crown, the grand lodge of England had appointed Provincial grand masters in several of the provinces, from which emanated a number of subordinate lodges; but the same revolution which separated the states from all foreign government, exhonerated all Masons in the United States, from allegiance to foreign lodges: means were therefore taken for the establishment of independent grand lodges in the respective states. A friendly correspondence, however, has been carefully preserved, among the fraternity in all parts of the world.

FROM MAINE.

The following interesting article is copied from the EASTERN ARGUS, published in the state of Maine. With a high degree of pleasure we observe the lights of Masonry extending their benign influences in this new state. We most heartily congratulate our brethren and companions of Maine, on the "recent consecration of their grand lodge, and of three royal arch chapters within so short a period." May unanimity prevail among them, and may their work be always such, as to pass the inspection of the Grand Overseer. We regret that it is out of our power to give a complete list of the officers of the several new chapters, together with that of the new grand lodge, owing to the paper

which was politely handed us by a friend, having been mutilated.

"On Tuesday the 18th inst. agreeably to notice, the grand royal arch chapter of Massachusetts was duly organized at Bath, by M. E. D. G. H. P. HENRY FOWLE, Esq. who then and there publicly consecrated Montgomery chapter of royal arch Masons; and on the 19th, New Jerusalem chapter at Wiscasset; and on the 21st, Jerusalem chapter at Hallowell, and their several officers were installed in due form. An address was delivered at Bath by ROBERT P. DUNLAP, Esqon the social and benevolent principles of Masonry; at Wiscasset, by NATHANIEL COFFIN, Esq. on it moral and religious influence; and at Hallowel, by Dr. LAWRENCE SPRague, on the origin and importance of the royal arch degree. The character of this institution, in these several points of view, was delineated and enforced in an elegant and impressive manner.

"The ceremonies on each occasion were peculiarly gratifying, and were rendered more interesting by the performance of several pieces of sacred music, in an admirable style, reflecting honour on those who so politely volunteered their assistance. The grand officers and respective chapters at each place, were preceded by a large procession of the fraternity, and the exercises performed to crowded auditories. At Bath and Wiscasset, governor KING, as grand master of Masons in Maine, accompanied by several officers of the grand lodge, participated in the solemnities, and expressed his regret that his public avocations prevented his accepting the invitation to attend the consecration at Hallowell. At Bath, the grand chapter, and the officers of the respective chapters, were in the evening received by the governor at his house, with his usual politeness and hospitality; and at Wiscasset and Hallowell, they experienced those attentions which are peculiar to royal arch Masons.