James M'Affrey, and Justice Rey- standing committee.

James Taylor, and Thomas Barker, Gair Blanchard, S. D.

Egypt, and educated in Pharoah's court, until he was forty years old, and was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words, and in deeds. Solomon married Pharoah's daughter, and brought her into the city of David. This affinity with the king of Egypt, inclined many of his nobility to visit Jerusalem, and commercial arrangements were made, and carried on amicably between those nations. From this reciprocal connection, we are inclined to infer that masonry was introduced among the Egyptians. Be this, however, as it may, we are informed by several authentic historians, that masonry did flourish in Egypt soon after this period. By this mysterious art existing in our principles, and smiled upon by the Father of lights, ancient Egypt subsisted, covered with

We have published the result of the late Masonic Elections in this city, as they were handed to us, and we presume, as far as they go, they are correct. We much regret how-glory, during a period of fifteen or

sixteen ages. They extended our system of benevolence so far, that he, who refused to relieve the wretched, when he had it in his power to assist him, was himself punished with death: They re

ever, that we are obliged, on account of their not having been correctly furnished, to omit the names of several of the standing committees, both of chapters and lodges, which shall be inserted in our next, if hand-garded justice so impartially, that

ed into the office, or left at St. John's Hall, for the editor. In the mean time, we would take the liberty of referring our readers to Brother John Hardcastle's Masonic Calendar, a neat and useful little Pocket Companion, which he publishes annually, for the convenience of the fraternity. It is now in the press, and we understand will be published in a few

days.

ANCIENT MYSTERIES.

the kings obliged the judges to take an oath, that they would never do any thing against their own consciences, though they, the kings themselves, should command them. They would not confer upon a bad prince the honours of a funeral.

They held a session upon every noted Egyptian who died, for the direct purpose of enquiring, how he had spent his life, so that all the re

spect due to his memory might be

paid. They entertained such just ideas of the vanity of life, as to consider their houses as inns, in which they were to lodge as it were only for a night. They were so labour"During the reign of Solomon, ious, that even their amusements especially, as well as before and af- were adapted to strengthen the body, terwards, a very intimate connec-and improve the mind: They prohibited the borrowing of money, except on condition of pledging a de

tion existed between the Jews and Egyptians. Moses was born in

posit so important, that a man who || Grecian States, which strongly fa deferred the redemption of it, was looked upon with horrour.

vour the idea of the existence of masonry among that people. From the many which might be mentioned, two only can be admitted into this work. At the time when the plague proved so mortal in the city of Athens, Hippocrates, a native of the island of Coss, being eminent as a physician, was invited to Athens. He immediately obeyed, and proved abundantly serviceable in that pestilential disorder. Such was the gratitude of the Athenians, that it was decreed, he should be initiated into the most exalted mysteries of their nation. In turning over the historic pages of Persia, every ma son will behold many of his principles cordially received and cherish

It is well known, that the Egyptian priests have uniformly been considered by ancient historians, as possessing many valuable secrets, and as being the greatest proficients in the arts and sciences of their times. Whether they actually possessed the masonic secrets, or not. we cannot absolutely determine; but we have strong circumstantial reasons to believe they did. It was here that Pythagoras was initiated into their mysteries, and instructed in their art. It was here, that sculp ture and architecture, and all the sciences of the times, were so greatly perfected. And here it has been thought by some of the most curioused, by the first characters who shed observers of antiquity, that masonry has been held in high estimation.

a lustre through every department of government in those distant realms. It was here that the children of the royal family were at 14 years of age, put under the tuition of four of the wisest and most vir

Several Egyptian obelisks still remain, some of which were, in the reign of Augustus, conveyed to Rome. On these obelisks are curiously engraved many hieroglyphi-tuous statesmen. The first taught cal and masonic emblems.

Egypt, by ancient philosophers, was considered as the seat of science. Hence we find, that Homer, Lycurgus, Solon, Pythagoras, Plato, Thales, and many others, of the ancient poets, statesmen, and philosophers, frequently visited Egypt, where many of them were, by the Egyptian priests, initiated into their mysteries. Cecrops, an Egyptian, was the original founder of Athens. Hence, a correspondence would necessarily continue for a considerable time, between those countries. And if this correspondence did not afford a suitable medium for the transfer of those mysteries, yet those philosophers, who were in the habit of visiting Egypt, would, of course, carry back to their native country whatever they deemed valuable for their own citizens.

Many incidental circumstances, however, occur in the history of the

them the worship of the gods; the second trained them up to speak truth and practice equity; the third habituated them to subdue volup tuousness, to enjoy real liberty, to be always princes, and always mas ters of themselves and their own passions; the fourth inspired them with cousage, and by teaching them how to command themselves, taught them how to maintain dominion over others. It was here, that falsehood was considered by every class of people, in the most horrid light, as a vice the meanest and most disgraceful. It was here that they showed a noble generosity, confer ring favours on the nations they conquerred, and leaving them to enjoy all the ensigns of their former grandeur.-BRADLEY.

WILLIAM FLEMING,

PRINTER.