RICHLAND LITERARY INSTITUTE.

THIS is the name that has been given to a new educational institution, which, through the commendable liberality of Eureka Lodge, No. 61, and the enterprise and perseverance of its members, aided by the Grand Lodge of the State, and Lexington Lodge, No. 24, and Lexington R. A. Chapter, No. 9, and perhaps some others, is now being erected in the flourishing town of Richland, in Mississippi. The corner-stone was laid early in October last, with public ceremonies. The address on the occasion was delivered by Walker Brooke, Esq., and is a beautiful and highly finished production. An excellent address was also read from the R. W. Hon. Br. A. Hutchinson, he not being able to be present in person. From the latter we make the following extracts, being all that we can conveniently find room for, and all that would be particularly interesting to our read

ers:

"Trustees of the Masonic College of Mississippi-Brothers and Companions :Being unable to obey your call to deliver in person a discourse on the occasion of laying the foundation of your edifice, you will indulge me, if you please, in allowing me to express by proxy to the auditory, what I have to offer.

I was not only honored but pleased with the invitation-not that it served for display-but that possibly it might enable me in a degree to be useful. In the last Grand Lodge of Mississippi I was deeply impressed with your undertaking; and thus I had opportunity, without intrusion or arrogance, but humbly and hopefully, to encourage you in the glorious work.

It was my good fortune at that session of the Grand Lodge, to aid in procuring its sanction of the scheme. The accomplished Finley, Chaplain of the Grand Lodge of Kentucky and President of the College flourishing under its auspices, was there, and spoke as a reformer in favor of his institution. The report of the educational committee, which was adopted, gave the result of his mission-the full approval of the Kentucky College, and the recommendation of it to our Craft, until the noble example it afforded could be practically emulated here. The committee said: 'When it shall have been in the power of the Fraternity in this State either to establish, or by the application of funds efficiently to aid in the establishment of such a home college, our preference of it and our exclusive patronage of it must be approved. The proposition of Eureka Lodge, No. 61, so ably and persuasively presented by the R. W. Br. Russell, has been concurrently considered by us. There are many reasons in favor of the locality he proposes for the central institution of Masonic patronage; and the laudable spirit exhibited by all engaged in that undertaking, merits unlimited praise.' Four hundred dollars being the utmost that could then be appropriated, was vested in you to be applied to the object so auspicious. That, be it said, was no mean encouragement; nor was it a dubious earnest of future support from the same body. It is not, I trust, impious in me to hope, nay believe, that the Supreme Architect will incline the hearts who may bear into convocation from time to time the honored jewels of our Masonic families, to continue the contribution long beyond the completion of the temple-ay, whilst there shall be an orphan of the Craft to be lifted up, and cherished and educated.

It cannot be expected that I should give explanation of the details of your enterprise. Permit me to defer, on this score, to my Brother Russell, whose superior knowledge, whose sound views and whose philanthropic feelings peculiarly qualify him to do, in all things, a thousand fold more than I could accomplish. I do not speak in empty praise-but from my soul simply. I do look to him with

confidence and joy. He has done much-and I perceive in the distance the blessings that will crown his exertions."

"A word concerning Masonry. To the Richland Lodge are we indebted for the first movement in Mississippi toward a Masonic College. That was very good. But let us bring up in rapid retrospect the account of Ancient Freema

sonry.

It departed from Egypt with Moses and the Hebrews. It was lit up in the tabernacle in the wilderness. It was organised in the first Jewish temple, and has descended to us essentially unimpaired. It is the oldest institution existing on earth but three-the Sabbath-marriage-government. It is a curious establishment, because it is occult. What, then, is the mystic Institution? The old covenant was its great light; and since the suspension of the old, the old and the new, in one volume, is the Great Light. It propagates no creed but belief in Deity and future life. It from the vestibule, enjoins implicit allegiance, and there is scarcely any offence it regards as so flagrant as the introduction, within its penetralia, of a political aim, or controversy or opinion. We profess that it is only an association for the mutual relief of one another, placed on the basis of all religions, conducted upon obedience to the laws, and the enforcement of moral duties. In every period since its introduction, it has been persecuted; but in all times, and amidst its direst trials, it has kept its integrity. If banished from the houses erected by human hands, its votaries have met under the starry canopyevolved the symbols of the virtues-practised charity-and held on to the mysteries of the Cabbala. More need not be said.

Masonry, I have said, forever disclaims the least possible interference with religious or political sects; but under the eye of Omniscience, it has prevailed since Israel erected the tabernacle. It has had a silent, unseen, but not unfelt beneficiency; and although I may not go further, there is one fact that beams on its eternal history, that perhaps may the most indicate the Divine favor it has experienced. I refer to the Masonic Convention at York, at which our truly illustrious Grand Master, Alfred, presided. The Masonic families cast their occult votes for delegates to that Convention, and the Constitution of the Grand Lodge of Albion resulted. That was not only a good idea, but one of transcendent example to patriots; and the patriots of after ages have applied it. This, here again, is enough to say; for to say more would involve a vast range of history. Masonry has nothing serious to regret-nothing to fear but the displeasure of the Supreme Grand Master.

Wherefore, it may be asked or imagined, this recurrence to the past? If experience is not to give us wisdom, whence are we to obtain it? Even this sweeping glance at the past, may serve to show that the equal rights of man are impressed on his soul; and that every spark that descends from Jehovah's altar must and will kindle and burn, and cannot be quenched.

Brothers and Companions: Persevere in the work before you. As Masons, you have not the right to call upon the world around you. As trustees of a college located favorably in regard to centrality, health and population, you may speak as the great interests of education may seem to prompt. The more external patronage you may receive, the greater will be your power to do good. To the ancient Freemasons of this prosperous and truly renowned commonwealth, however, you are to look for the most certain, most substantial, and least varying .support. Follow Kentucky in her well imagined scheme. If the Craft, in any quarter, reply to your appeals in the negative, say only to them that they have forgotten the token that was sent up to Alfred and Washington, Clinton and Jackson, when they presided. They will reflect and relent. They will look around them for the members of the mystic tie that have passed from time-possibly to be truly raised-who have left in this pilgrimage sons and daughters. On what, they will say, are these orphans to depend? Where is the charity fund? Where are the bold men and the noble college that lift up these orphans and instruct them on the most favorable terms? Away, then, with all temporary and pitiful

expedients. Proceed constantly in the great spirit of Masonry, and you cannot fail."

We are indebted to Br. Dory, of Richland, (whose entire energies seem to be devoted to the success of this important and altogether commendable enterprise,) for some additional facts in relation to it; from which we learn that the Grand Lodge of Mississippi, at its last annual communication, appropriated $400 towards the object; since which time, Lexington Lodge, No. 24, and Lexington R. A. Chapter, No. 9, have given $1500, which, added to the sum originally appropriated by Eureka Lodge, make the present amount of the fund $3400. About three thousand dollars of this sum, it is estimated, will be exhausted in the erection of the building now began. It is to be a handsome brick edifice, 60 by 30 feet, and two stories high. It is thought that it will be ready for occupation in February next; in which case the school will, probably, go into immediate operation. Of its success we cannot entertain a doubt. It is an undertaking eminently worthy of the support of our Brethren in Mississippi, and we are certain there are enterprise, and liberality, and Masonic pride enough among them to sustain it, in a manner that shall make it one of the most useful and popular institutions in their State.

ON THE STUDY OF MASONIC ANTIQUITIES.

BY BRO. THOMAS PRYER.

With regard to LETTERS

Conclusion of Chapter IV.

Results are arrived at no less important and interesting. The word Hieroglyphic, in its correct sense, means strictly "sacred writing," but regarding it in its popular meaning as "picture-writing," we have evidently the mode adopted by the earliest nations of the world for the communication and perpetuation of ideas-a mode which unquestionably preceded all other written characters. The earliest records of each nation would thus be recorded in pictures or hieroglyphical characters, long before the invention of letters; and it is not improbable that as language and customs gradually varied, many simple primeval alphabets may have been invented, at first consisting of a few letters, but gradually receiving additions as necessity required. It is evident that alphabetical characters were not invented by one individual, or at one period, but each nation would possess traditionary notions of some mythical personage to whose inventive genius they were indebted for the rudiments of their alphabet, which in each case would probably be formed or derived from some combinations of the pre-existing hieroglyphics. As each tribe or nation possessed its original picture-history, it is manifest that in some the original ideas would be either lost or perverted in the event of their retrograding in knowledge, whilst in other countries, as in Ancient Egypt, the art of picture-writing would be carried to a high state of perfection. Thus, in Egypt, the important discovery of phonetic characters was made, at a period so remote as to be lost in the mists of antiquity; and, as observed by Dr. Lamb in

his work on Hebrew Hieroglyphics, "when once this important discovery was made, these characters would shortly be reduced to the same, or nearly the same, as we now find them. The number of consonants does not depend upon the genius of each particular language, but upon certain organs of the animal man, and as these are uniform throughout the whole race, the same alphabet would be applicable to every language. This discovery would soon be known by the neighboring nations, and in no very long time would be generally adopted. Each separate people would not repeat the process by which the first inventor had arrived at so happy a result, but each would (if I may be allowed the expression) translate their own pictures into the two-and-twenty sounds already provided for them; and hence it is that we find almost every nation claiming to itself the discovery of letters. Each one no doubt may put in a claim for this honor, as far as it consists in having reduced pictures to a phonetic language, after the first discoverers had given them the key."

Dr. Lamb's work goes to show, and that in most instances very satisfactorily, that each Hebrew character was derived from an hieroglyphical original; and, as the sacred books of the Jews were undoubtedly first represented in hierogly- • phics, before their transition to alphabetic characters, this part of the inquiry becomes of more than ordinary importance, by enabling us to ascertain the correct meaning of many expressions, of which, for want of the original pictures, we are now entirely ignorant; whereas the exhibition of those original pictures may lead to the explanation of many difficult passages in the Bible, and to the confirmation of those important truths in which the whole human race are so deeply interested.

I may here take occasion to observe, that the immediate reference of many of my remarks to Freemasonry, as generally understood, cannot at once be comprehended by every Brother, inasmuch as it requires a full acquaintance with the sublime and ineffable degrees to arrive at their ultimate meaning-but those who have passed the Holy Royal Arch will be enabled to apprehend their referenceand one of the principal objects of the present investigation is to lead the inquiring Brother to the consideration of subjects so intimately interwoven with the subline mysteries of Freemasonry, and of themselves so essentially important to his present and eternal welfare. Our Reverend Brother, Dr. WOLFF, states that he entered our venerable Fraternity for two reasons

1. In order to increase his usefulness for the benefit of his fellow-creatures. 2. To be enabled to enter more fully into the depths of sacred antiquity.

These are rational inducements, and in precise accordance with the objects of the present inquiry. But to proceed.

In reference to the volume of the Sacred Law, it will be perceived, on careful perusal, that the book of Genesis contains two histories, which are perfectly distinct. One, the account of the creation and the general history of mankind, up to the dispersion, terminating in the ninth verse of the eleventh chapter,-and the other, comprising the history of Abraham, from the call of the patriarch in the Land of Ur, to the death of Joseph. Between these two histories, a long period intervenes, during which the Scriptures are silent as to the history of mankind,and the interval can only be supplied by deeply pursuing such investigations as those in which we are now engaged.

The Israelites thus, before the Exodus, would possess two books-one Genesis, properly so called, and the other the History of Abraham. In addition to these they had another, entitled "Milchamoth-Jehovah," the wars of Jehovah, from which a quotation is given in Numbers xxi., v. 23,-and probably another, being a collection of national songs, entitled "Sepher-Hajashar." At all events, the two sacred books before alluded to, were preserved to us by Moses; and Dr. Lamb remarks, "I am inclined to think that Moses, when, under the inspiration of God, he indited the books of the law, prefixed to them the history of Abraham and his posterity, as preserved by the children of Israel, and, at the same time,

rendered their sacred records of the creation and history of man up to the dispersion at Babel, into the Hebrew language as we now have them. And as the Israelites, no doubt, like all other nations, held their ancient records in the highest veneration, their lawgiver would preserve as much of the original as he consistently could; and hence it is that we have the early part of the book of Genesis so concise, and evidently partaking of the nature of an hieroglyphic narrative. And it may here be remarked, that passages which now appear obscure to us, were probably perfectly intelligible to those who, with the Hebrew text, had before them the ancient pictures from which it was derived. Upon the books of Moses becoming the sacred writings of the nation, the ancient hieroglyphics would be discarded, and, in the course of a few generations, be totally forgotten."

In thus tracing the origin of written characters, and particularly of those comprising the Ancient Hebrew Alphabet, we can appreciate the great importance of hieroglyphical knowledge, as connected with sacred history; and before quitting the subject, I will give one or two illustrations of the mode in which such knowledge is susceptible of practical illustration. These I have selected from Dr Lamb's work before alluded to.

Let us now take the word

(ELOHIM) and see how each letter compri

sing that word would be compounded from the hieroglyphics.

"In the beginning ELOHIM created the heavens and the earth."

The word is here written in full, with the, as it ought to be written. In rendering this word into the corresponding pictures from whence the letters of which it is composed were derived, it will be found, according to Dr. Lamb, that we shall have nothing less than "a translation into phonetic characters of the image by which our first parent communicated his knowledge of the Creator to his descendants."

But to proceed with the illustration. It has been shown in the previous chapter, that

in ancient Hebrew would be represented in hieroglyphics by the figure of

*The reader's attention is directed to the following sensible remarks in Faber's Origin of Pagan Idolatry, pp. 202, 203:

These observations necessarily lead us to adopt the opinion which Dr. Allix, though from a different train of reasoning, was induced with so much sound judgment to advance; namely, that in writing the Book of Genesis, Moses declared nothing but what was generally known. It is impossible that man should have known nothing of the deluge till Moses gave an account of it; and it is utterly incredible that all the early patriarchs, from Adam to the Hebrew legislator, should have been profoundly ignorant of the history of the creation. Moses, therefore, did not now for the first time reveal the origination of the world and its inhabitants, neither did he now for the first time declare that the whole race of mankind, except a single family, had been swept away by the waters of a flood. He simply rectified the mythological errors which had been superinduced over the primitive account of those great events, as possessed by Adam and Noah; and while others had disfigured the truth by the wildness of philosophical and idolatrous fiction, he was taught by the Holy Spirit of God to give a clear and perfectly unerring recital of early history. In fact, had Moses been the first who asserted a cosmogony, and a deluge, and had such events never been heard of until he, in the full sense of the word, revealed them, it is easy to perceive that he must have been immediately rejected as an impostor, even by the Israelites themselves."

Mr. Gliddon thus sums up the result of his investigations on this subject-"That to suppose Hebrew to be the most ancient language, and the one spoken by Adam and Noah, is a matter of opinion-contrary to evidence-immaterial in itself, as regards Christian beliefand non-essential to any view of the case; but to suppose that, within a comparatively few years after Noah, the Jewish annals were the only written chronicles, and that Hebrew was the only language in which histories of antediluvian events were, by the immediate descendants of Noah, preserved, is at the present time an untenable fallacy.

That to suppose Moses to be the inventor of letters, is an illusion; though he may have modified the Hebrew alphabet; and there are some inferences, to be drawn from similarity of alphabetic characters, that he may have adopted some Egyptian phonetic improvements in the primitive Hebrew method of symbolic writings-like the engravings of a signet'-inasmuch as the Egyptians, for more than one thousand years before his time, had used the same symbolic. figurative, and phonetic signs, that were in popular use in his day; for, according to Acts vii. 22, Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians.'"