The Sun. — London, England, 1821-12-06 00:00:00

FOREIGN LITERATURE• No. LI. EUVRES COMPLETES tie I'EMPEREUR JULIEN; I i. e. The Works of the Emperor Julian , t r a nsl a ted for the first time into French from the Greek, with Remarks and Notes; to which is prefixed an Historical and Critical NOtie:3 • of his Life, by R. TOURLET, Member of several Acade-, miss and Literary Societies, and Translator of Pindar and Quintus of Smyrna. 3 vols. 8v0.. 7 .--Paris, 1821. [Continued from THE Sex of the 28th ult.] We have seen that Julian, as a writer, marks a memorable epoch, that of the last efforts.of the literary genius of the Greeks. As a Sovereign, manlier attached his name to one of tlyt i mßst important moments of the history of ci.vkliwi9q, at that moment when the ancient re ligions . and political institutions of the Roman empire, after a last effort, for ever ceded its place to victorious Christianity. • After the admirable volume of Gibson, devoted almost entirely to Julian, it would seem, at the first glance, as if nothing new or important re mained to be said concerning this Emperor.— Who indeed would pretend to paint with equal interest the rapid, yet varied, destinies of the • nephew of Constantine the Greattlie perilous situation of this young Prince near the, Emperor Constantine, the assassin of all his family—the art with which .he disguised, during ten years, the secret ties which united him to the pagan party—the ability which the young Julian dis played in the government of the immense pre fecture of the Gauls, of which Spain.and Eng land were dependencies—the military science and valour which, at the commencement of his career, distinguished the pupil of the philoso phers of Athens in his campaigns of Germany— that astonishing march from Paris to Constan tinople, equal to the boldest enterprises of Cwsar—that energy with which the new Emperor, scarcely seated on his throne, repressed abuses and corruptions of all kinds—and lastly, the heroic end of such an active and agitated life ? There remains, however, a point very badly cleared up, and which appears to us very essen tial. What were the real religious sentiments of Julian, and how far did these sentiments influence • -his plari§vatid his destiny ? The 'la' de la Bletterie has maintained that e Julian was sincerely attached to the doctrines of Paganism this opinion evinces the. candour of an honest man and the charity of a Christian ; and we shall find that it comes very near to that which a perusal of the writings of Julian leads us to consider as the truth. . The French philosophers of the last century hail particular reasons for, denying the sincerity of Julian. To believe in no religion was, ac cording to them, the characteristic trait of a great man ; again, the most famous enemy of Christianity must necessarily be a great man ; then, he was a Powerful mind, like those of the eighteenth century ; he inwardly laughed at Jupiter and Apollo, ridiculed auguries and sa crifices, despised the vain terrors of a future life and the fables of another world, but (a Machiavel philosopher) resolved on bringing back his sub jects, by stratagem or force, to a worship devoid of moral ideas, it is true, but which had the es sential merit of being irreconcileably opposed to the Christian religion. On these humiliating conditions did the sect admit Julian to the rank of its sages ary' heroes it placed him by the side of Fretferick 11., and recommended him as a model to the emulation of every Northern King who was desirous of being praised in the saloons of Paris. It is impossibte to regard Julian in this light, if any person has reflected at all on the whole tenor of his writings, and on the sprit of his age. Gibbon felt it; but, influenced by the ideas of his time, he never had a perfect conviction of it, and after having, in several places, proclaimed the re ligious sincerity of this extraordinary man, he makes him, in a few pages further on, the object of a sarcasm. We think that the character of Julian must be considered as a compound of sentiments an opinions which he knew not himself how to re , coricile, and the internal conflict of which he con.. stantly experienced. A classical scholar, he es teemed thegods of Homer ; a severe moraJist, he cletestecl morals of Paganism ; a man of in telligence, he viewed with disgust those obscure mel;physics,the parent of numerous heresies which already disturbed the palace and the schools Under the influence of these conflicting sent meats, he was torn from his beloved studies, and brought in the midst of a perfidious and sat gui- nary court. Soon after his application to the cares of Go .verninent, he meditated on the causes of the de cline of this vast empire to which he was the heir; he admired those great and celebrated characters of ancient Rome, Camillus, Brutus, and` Scipio ; he sought the cause of so much greatness, and traced it in the institutions of the Roman republic, of which the worship of gods, if we-are to give credit to-Cicero, wasthe-foun dation-stone. On the other hand, the vices of Constantine. the Great, his effeminacy, his des potism, the murders which imbrued his palace, the tyranny of the eunuchs of the court under the weak Constantius—all this mass of corruption which consumed the empire, presented the most afflicting spectacle to a Roman mind. The man ners of the Christians, in the bosom of riches and prosperity, had lost rapidly that purity and aus tereness which a century earlier would have warmly excited the enthusiasm of Julian. lie forgot that Christianity possessed that moral force which alone could regenerate the world ; he considered it only in the light of an institution contrary„iiohose of ancient Rome, and corn p'rehe,nded,it in the general hatred he vowed againgt the, corruption of his age. Such was, doubtless, ale principal motive for the apostacy of Julian'; -so far his opinion, though sincere, was founded on a sentiment more of a political than a religiops nature. But political motives alone did not influence his mind : he might, as a citizen, as an Emperor, be attached to the party which espoused the ancient religion of Rome without any hypocrisy, since the 'Gods of Paganism, tolerant and even indiffe rent; permitted every person to measure the de gree of faith he n►igl:t he disposed to repose in them, and also to make his choice among the thousand rulers of Olympus. Julian, therefore, was not a greater hypocrite than Cicero or Mar cus Aurelius ; but as an, individual, as a thinking man,lte searched for something which might Occupy the place in his heart of the religious doctrines of Christianity, and he fancied that he had founds it in the mysticism or the Platonic philosophy, as it was revived by lamblicus and Proclus, blended with the theosophical dogmas of the Gnostics. This hermaphrodite system combined the most singular elements : by the side of ab stract principles as subtle as those of Kant, it ad mitted a belief in ge►ii, demons, and , a certain number of select divinities; it.rejected the pro digia of paganism, and attacked the miracles of Christianity, but it had faith in magical opera tions, visions, and the communion of spirits. Less absurd in its morality, it pretended to connect all that was elevated and tender in the doctrines of Plato with all that was austere and temperate in that of the Stoics; the proud leaders of this new sect, not deigning for a single instant to inform themselves that this combination, impossible to be effected by,the sole powers of the human mind, had already been-accomplished by the divine morality of the Gospel. Such was the system, then widely disseminated, in which the strong and original mind of J ulian took refuge, after having lost, with the Christian faith, that tranquillity, the first condition of which is to believe in some religion. Why should not Julian have been sincere in that opi nion ? How can we imagine that, unless he had been perfectly convinced, he could have taken the pains to compose his Discourse on the Sun- King, his Commentary on the Mother of the Gods, and so many other treatises , in theology, full of abstruse research, and which certainly do not contain the slightest indication of incredulity, but, on the contrary, several passages breathing the enthusiasm of superstition ? It seems to us- that we may, without hesita tion, admit that Julian was a sincere protector of Paganism, as the established worship, and a fervent follower of the particular sect which he had adopted, and which in part he had himself created. Hence those singular contrasts of, ability and unskilfulness exhibited in the conduct of this Emperor towards the religious party which he wished to support, and that which he wished to destroy,—contrasts which the historians have re: marked, without assigning any plausible reason for them. how could an Emperor, the worship per of the Gods of Rome, transfer to Constanti nople, a Christian town, one half of the Senate which yet remained entire on the banks of the Tiber ? Why did he not establish the seat of the empire in the midst of the ancient temples of the Capitol ? It was evidently because he wished to introduce into Paganism his particular system of mysticism, allegory, and theosophy ; and that this kind of reform was much more likely to suc ceed in the East, where was the seat of the Gnostics. Another instance of had management in this reformer. The best chance in favour of Paganism was incoutestibly the attraction of its popular and licentious festivals; Julian, an un believing philosopher, would not have failed to employ this easy means of captivating the multi tude; but Julian, a reflecting and a superstitious man, censures the people of Antioch for ap proaching with their usual levity the Pagan altars with dancing and boisterous mirth. " The Gods," he exclaims, " like a sober and decorous wor ship." This was not the language of a skilful impostor. _ . . The private views of Julian, his personal faith, his attachment to a particular sect, were cer tainly so many obstacles to the success of his en terprizes against Christianity. All the skill of man would undoubtedly have failed in a project opposed to the designs of Providence ; but we may be allowed to discover those secondary causes, which, by the will of the Ruler of our destinies, tend to hasten the triumph of the cause which he protects. Amongst these causes we must assuredly reckon the political errors of Julian, which arose out of his very sincerity.— A Machiavel, an atheist and hypocrite, would have been a more formidable antagonist to the Christians. Julian not only sided with the weakest party and the most deficient in talents and energy, but also, in this party even, he at tached himself particularly to a small fraction, to a society of metaphysicians incapable of influenc ing powerfully public opinion. His faith evidently gained the mastery over his prudence and genius ; he died probably very seasonably for his glory ; for ten or twelve years later, this Emperor of Neo-Platonists and of Gnostics, surrounded, im portuned, and perhaps in the end governed by the sophis,ts of his sect, flocking from all quarters to. engross pensions and favours, might have perhaps found himself at enmity with the Pagans as well as the Christians. The true political opinions of Julian are still less known than his religious opinions. We fear that-in-examining those passages of his wrltingt in which he touches on politics, we shall find no sufficient reason to ascribe to him the generous project of restoring, or rather of creating, the Constitutional. Government, of which the Roman empire was no longer worthy. He loved, it is true, to adorn his discourses with the great name of the republic ; he condescended to harangue a Senate, always ready to applaud his imperial eloquence, and who, for centuries past, had learned to use discreetly the liberty of speech ; , and he expresses himself even very nobly on the duties of Sovereigns, whose only glory, he says, consists in imitating the gods, in administering justice, and in rewarding virtue. But Marcus Aurelius had said as much, and this crowned Philosopher did not on that account diminish the absolute power vested in his person, which soon afterwards,' in the hands of a Commodus and a Heliogabalus, dishonoured the throne and the empire. Philosophers are very subject to sad errors in politics, and the immortal Marcus Au relius was perhaps. a Monarch more respectable for his character than his genius and plans : he had it in his power to give to the Roman empire those regular forms of a moderate Monarchy, which alone could prolong the national existence of the Romans, and the first basis of which 1$ as already prepared by the administrative organiza tion introduced by Adrian. It is to be re gretted that Montesquieu; in his La Grandeur et la DlTadence des Romanis, had ndt dis cussed the state of the Empire during the eighty one years when Nerva, Trajan, and the two Antonines reigned. low came such a fine age (according at least to the received opinion) to be immediately -followed by an uni versal decline ? With respect to Julian be is quite excusable : he could only rule as a despot a people already sunk tp the lowest degree of servility. Thi.4 complete translation of the Works of Julian is a well conceived undertaking, a' pleasing and necessary book, and one that was wanting in our libraries. The first appearance in French of several very considerable pieces, is a meritorious performance; and M. Tourlet seems to us to have rendered happily the sober prose of Julian, which, on account of the ab struseness of the matters it discusses, too often presents many difficulties. The printing of the Greek text of several letters of Julian, which have hitherto existed only in manuscript, must, in the estimation of Hellenists, add to the bibliographical value of these volumes which are moreover printed with great care, and their acquisition will render un necessary the purchase of the former translations of this author. We think that the value of this Work would have been considerably enhanced if the , translator had annexed to it It Memoir and two geographical maps, explaining and describing the celebrated march of Julian from Paris to Constantinople, and his operations beyond the Euphrates and the Tigris. JAMES PERRY, EsQ. This Gentleman, who has long been well known to the Public as the Editor and chief, and for many latter years, we believe, sole Proprietor of The Morning Chronicle, closed his earthly career on Tuesday last at Brighton. He had suffered for a long time under a severe bodily complaint, which admitted of no final cure. He bore it, we understand, with patience 'and forti tude. He was peculiarly well qualified for the situation of Conductor of a public Journal, by a shrewd penetrating mind, great political expe rience, and facility of composition. He must have nearly reached the seventieth year of his age, but his mental faculties, we are assured, re-. mained unimpaired to the last, though it is understood that he had long been incapable of literary exertions for the support of his Journal. The necessity, therefore, of sub mitting the conduct of his Paper to other hands will account for any deviation from the strict principles of WitiGuism, which he pro fessed in early life, and uniformly maintained, and for its tendency towards doctrines which have been rendered too prevalent by the French Re volution. In his private character he was intel ligent, social, and benevolent. His intimacy with the leading men of his Party enabled him to obtain an extensive correspondence from many men of wit and learning, which rendered his paper altogether one of the most amusing Journals of the time. His Party, therefore, will suffer much by the loss of a man in whose judgment, honour, and fidelity, they could securely confide. We cannot conclude this brief tribute to a Gentle man, whose taste and independence placed him fa; above that conduct which has too often been imputed to the literary adjuncts of a Public Jour nal, better than by inserting the character which Sir JAMES MAGICITsiTOSII gave of him in the House of Commons, in the progress of the Blasphemous and Seditious Libel Bill.—Sir JAMES expressed himself in the following manner : " lie knew a Gentleman who had had the conducting of one of the Journals of this country for more than forty years. He wished the House to consider for a moment the power this Gen tleman derived from the situation in which he was placed—to consider the hurry in which - he was obliged to write—the warmth which he could not fail frequently to feel, and which he ought to feel—the number of persons to whom he was ne cessarily accessible—that he was exercising a power almost despotic over the feelings and characters of innumerable indi viduals—and yet that with all these temptations to abuse—(and here he would suppose him secured always from greater temp tations by his well known integrity, and the incorruptibility of ins character—he would suppose it impossible that he could be ever charged with venality, indecency, or improper motives of any description)—:,wet, notwithstanding all these temptations, he had never been even subject to an accusation for private slander, and never been convicted of a public libel. The House might suppose that he had been - favoured by the ruling poiver but so far from this being the case, he had seen the men whom he had always supported only 3 years in office. He would ask, whether there were many men in Europe who could have come through a period of such length, under the influence of so ' many trying circumstances, with so much credit to themselves ? He would ask, if there were many men in Europe exposed to so many temptations as this Gentleman, who, for more than 37 years, had been the Conductor of the principal Opposition Paper—he meant the Proprietor of " THE Mons's° Cum) NICLE?" This liberal and just panegyric, Mr. CANNING, then on the Treasury Bench,. supported in the following - terms : " He should say, with respect to the individual to whom he (Sir J. 31 Ac o an) had "mite particularly alluded—that from some circumstances he happened to be acquainted with—in his own mind he was convinced he deserved that character which had been given of him by his Hon. and Learned Friend." Mr. 'l'tutt.t . trianate'rviiith prtidence the large fortune which he had acquired by his talents and assiduity. lie had collected a Library which in many respects might bear a comparison with the best private collections in this country. In his domestic relations he was affectionate and liberal and to his friends in general kind, attentive, and hospitable. JAMES PERRY, ESQ.—Died, on Tuesday, at his house at Brighton, JAMES PERRY, Esq., Edi tor and Proprietor of The Morning Chronicle. — This event will be deeply regretted in the lite rary and political world, in which he possessed an extensive acquaintance. As the Editor of a Newspaper, the public Press is greatly indebted to him for the support «•rich it derived, in cha racter and respectability, from hilf liberal, uni form, and independent conduct. Early in life he attached himself to the Whig Party, and, steady and consistent, he maintained their prin ciples to his death. lie was a man of a strong, discriminating mind, and in the private relations of life highly esteemed as a father and a friend. Although far advanced in years, his constitution promised a much greater length of (lays ; but it had been for some time gradually yielding to a severe infernal disease, which baffled all human skill.—( British Press.) it • WIF7. MASONIC NOTICES FOR NEXT WEEK. ENGLAND. Monday, December 10, LONDON. - Nos. 40, 100; 143, 241, 319, 333. COUNTRY. Nos. 97, 131, 243, 320, 360, 378, 433, 437, 473, 517, 524, 536, 546, 538, 570, 574, 578, 597, 643, 701, 710. - 11, LONDON. Nos. 23, 62, 290, 300, 316, 367, 479. COUNTRY. Nos. 24, 67, 87, 130, 138, 145, 211, 263, 285, 292, 340, 427, 477, 537, 592, 604, 626, 640, 649, 668, 714. Wednesday, - 12, LONDON. Nos. 3, 11, 16, 19, 29, 47, 79, 92, 96, 237, 257, 334, 353, 435. COUNTRY. Nos. 54,121, 159, 164,.213, 215, 232, 291, 314, 344, 440, 442, 447, 472, 473, 543, 563, 647, 661. 13, LONDON. Nos. 6, 18, 194, 271, 299, 301326, 338, 499. COUNTRY. Nos. 31, [lO,lll, 115,153, 172, 178, 269, 278, 354, 397, 506, 531, 540, 591, • 637, 670. - 14, LONDON. Nos. 128, 161, 275. COUNTRY. Nos. 53, 282, 283. - 15, LONDON. * * • COUNTRY. No. 64. IRELAND. Monday; December 10, DUBLIN. No. 100. Tuesday, 11, DUBLIN. No. 930. C6ux. No. 71. Wednesday, - 12, DU BLIN. 'Nos, 137, 141. Thursday, - 13, DUBLIN. Nos. 6, 55. It is proper to add, that though we have been favoured with very copious information respecting the state of the Craft in Ireland, it does not enable us to extend our Masonic Notices to all the Lodges in Ireland, but that we expect soon to receive from the same friendly sources such fitrther documents as will put us in possession of the necessary information for this purpose. Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, ENGLAND. It is our pleasing duty this week to announce to our Masonic Readers, that it appears by the list of Lodges holding under the Grand Lodge of England, inserted in the Freemasons' Calen dar for next year, which has just been published, that twenty two new Lodges have been added to the list published last year. Of these, eleven are in the kingdom of Hanover, one at Frank fort, and One at Nurnberg; one in the Bay of Honduras, and two in the West Indies ; three in England, two in Wales, and one Regimental Lodge. They are as follows :- 723, British Constitutional Lodge, Bay of Honduras. 724, Lodge of Fortitude and Perseverance, in the 80th R. Foot. 725, Lodge of Sympathy, Star lnn, Wotton-under-Edge. 728, Cambrian Lodge, White Hart, Neath, Glamorganshire. 727, Good Hope Lodge, Cape of Good Hope. 728, St. David's Lodge, Milford, Pembrokeshire. 729, Lodge of Unanimity, King's Head, Rochester. 730, Royal Sussex Lodge, Island St. Vincent. 731, St. George's Lodge f Unanimity and Fidelity, Red Lion, Petersfield, Hants. 732, St. George's Lodge, St. George's, Grenada. 733, Lodge of Probity and Freedom, Threadneedle-st., Burnley. 734, Lodge Socrates zur Standhaftigkeit, Frankfort. 735, Lodge Joseph zur Einigkeit, Nurnberg. 936, Lodge of the Brilliant Star, Celle, Hanover. 737, Lodge George of the Three Columns, Einbeck, Hanover. 738, Lodge Augusta of the Golden Compass, Gottingen, Ha nover. 739, Lodge at the Cedar, City of Hanover. 740, Lodge St. Alban, of the True Fire, Hags, Hanover. 741, Lodge Selena, of the Three Tovfers, Luneberg, Hanover. 742, Lodge Pythagoras, of the Three Streams, Munden, Ha nover. 743, Lodge George of the Silver Unicorn, Nienberg, Hanover. 744, Lodge of the Temple of Harmony, Osterode, Hanover. Gratifying as this increase of numbers is, it is still more gratifying to observe the general activity which pervades the Craft in England, and the attention which is now universally paid to the qualification of candidates for admission to a participation in the privileges of the Order, a matter of more real importance to the Institution than any accesion of numbers, or the greatest in crease in our funds that could take place. Although it is true that few societies are exempted from censure, and that the oc casional irregularities of Masons have exposed the fraternity to a full share of unmerited reproach, yet it is certain that by per severance in a prudent and enlightened conduct, the character of an institution, having pure principles for its basis, may be moulded to so great excellence, and be so durably established, that it shall be hardly possible for prejudice or detraction to de fame it, or even for the occasional misconduct of some of its own members to inflict upon it any permanent injury. One im portant step in the course of improvement, is the increased at tention which is now paid to the qualifications of the brethren who preside at our meetings. When they are properly instruct ed, previous to entering upon the discharge of their offices, and are duly impressed with the weight and responsibility of the solemn trust reposed in them, a general reformation, we may be assured, is not far distant. The propriety of our government will then be universally acknowledged ; and all men will be constrained to admit, that our honours are deservedly conferred. The ancient consequence of the Order will be restored, and its high reputation be preserved in perpetuity. Prudent actions and moral virtue shall distinguish and justify our title to the honours of Masonry, and our regular deportment display the influence and utility of our rules, and of the beneficent prin ciples in which those excellent rules have originated. We are sorry to admit (though indeed it is an obvious truth) that many have enrolled their names in our records for the mere purposes of conviviality, without inquiring into the nature of the particular engagements to which they are subjected by be coming Masons ; and that several have been induced by motives of interest, or by a desire to gratify an idle curiosity, while some have been induced to join us for the mere purpose of having opportunities to display their own powers of pleasing as jolly companions. A general indifference and careless ness to Masonic duties, and the danger of the Institution falling into contempt, or incurring odium, have been the necessary results of such conduct, and of the ignorance or supineness of too many of the Lodges, by which such irregular conduct was permitted. Improper persons, thus improperly admitted into the fraternity, being ignorant of the true nature of the In stitution, were induced to recommend others of the same cast with themselves ; and hence, till lately, the true knowledge of our sublime art decreased with the increase of its members ; the most valuable parts and intentions of Masonry, were too fre quently abandoned or turned into ridicule ; and principles were buried in oblivion which arc calculated to dignify the most exalt ed characters. The society has consisted of a vast variety of mem , bers, a very small number of whom werez eally conversant with the tenets. of the Institution ; and-therefore we cannot wonder that ' few should have been distinguished for exemplary lives. Per- sons who were precipitately introduced into the mysteries of the Art, without the necessary qualifications, could not be ex peeled to pay much regard to the observance of duties which were openly violated by their own initiation. By such indiscre tions, the best of Institutions was, in some measure, brought into contempt, and the more deserving part of the community justly, conceived a prejudice against the Society, of which it was difficult afterwards to wipe off the impression.— But it may be averred in favour of Masonry, that whatever im perfections may have been found among its professors, the In stitution countenances no deviation from the rules of right rea son. While our laws are properly supported, they will be proof against every attack of our most inveterate enemies. Fiiendship and social delights can never be the object of re proach ; nor can that wisdom which time has sanctified be sub ject to ridicule. Men are not always aware, that by decrying any laudable system, they derogate from the dignity of human nature itself, and from that good order and wise disposition of things, which the Almighty Author of the world has framed for the government of mankind, and established as the basis of the moral system. Whoever attempts to censure what he does not comprehend, degrades himself ; and the generous heart will always be led to pity the mistakes of such .ignorant pre sumption. To soothe the unhappy by sympathizing with their misfortunes, and to restore peace and tranquillity to agitated spirits, constitute the general and great ends of the Masonic Institution. Masons are shocked at misery under every fonn and appearance. When they behold an object pining under the afflictions of a distressed body or mind, they strive with healing accents to mitigate the pain of the un happy sufferer. When their pity is excited, they labour to assuage grief, and cheerfully exert themselves to re lieve distress. If a, brother be in want, every heart is moved. 'When he is hungry, we feed him ; when he is naked, we clothe him ; when he is in trouble, we fly to his relief. Thus we con firm the propriety of the title we bear, and convince thq world, that the endearing appellation of " Bzother," amongst `Masons, is something more than a film!. Our charitable establishments, oui-quarterly contributions, and our private subscriptions and donations, prove that we arc ever ready with cheerfulness to alleviate the misfortunes of our fel• low creatures. But our charity is discriminating ; for though our benevolence, like our laws, be unlimited, yet our hearbe glow principally with affection toward the more deserving past of mankind. The greatest danger to which this admirable Institution W 55 ever, perhaps, subjected, was the excessive desire which lately actuated the general body, of rapidly enlarging the number of members. While it is desirable that Masonry should univer sally flourish, it is by no means NECESSARY to itS versality, that the fraternity should embrace; not only all climes and all countries, but all mankind., Wheie must be a Moral fitness in the candidates for, admission,. or we shall find that we have deceived ourselves in thinking that Masonry has been.extended by the mere increase of nominal Masons. Tlic administrators of those mysterious secrets which Kings and the best of men have delighted to exercise themselves in, are at length attentive to the most difficult and dclicate 'part of their ditty; . and endeavour to admit none into theloijge whose desire to become Masons is inconsistent with that chanes.ohriety which Masonry inculcates. Becoming and. ncv.;ssatiEdifficulties now impede the entrance into the Masonic Temple., It begins again to be manifest, as in the days of our glory, -that. withoutthe grace of moral accomplishment, a firm and virtuous industry, and the desire of knowledge, there is no way,of obtaining asso ciation among the sons of peace. The depraved rrimd.will shrink back from the attempt; while thetrulygstimable of man kind will press forward with respectful ardour. fbr admission, and labour afterwards, with an enriching industry, for the sup port and embellishment of the Ordrr. The same vigilance which is used at initiations, we rejoice to learn, also superintends the elevation of apprentiees to the higher degrees. No one is now set to form or perfect a plan, before he has been well instructed how to handle a chisel. •• . • _ - This renewed attention to the qualification of. Candidates, and to the regulations respecting the advancement of Brethren to the higher degrees, and to the examinations which are neces sary to prove their qualifications, is. to be attributed, we be lieve, chiefly to the happy union which took.place in 1 13, under the auspices of the . present Royal and Most Worshipful Grand Master, of which it may be said to be the first fruits. Its beneficial (:.frects are beginning alleady to appear ; but there is the greatest necessity for perseverance, and even for increased strictness in examining the qualification.: of - persons proposed as Candidates for admission, as well as for elevation to the su perior degrees, and to the higher honours of Masonry. • It might be attended with • the best effects, if the several Provincial Grand Masters were required, either personally or by their deputies, once at least in every year, to visit each Lodge in th eir respective provinces, and at such visitation to require front the Master a list of all the new Membt....s, and to exarniae him as to their qualification ; and, if he found any inad vertence to have occurred, to admonish him 'aCeordingly., At such visitations, also, the new Members shiuld he ir.li:i dually introduced to their Provincial Grand 31a.::tc..:s. or their Deputies respectively ; and the Pmvincialoid l',lastcrs should, through their Provincial Grand Secrehttic.-o,.tonsniit ace a year to the Grand Lodge, Reports as to the State.4sf the (.; - raft in their Provinces respectively,. founded on ttseoations Made by them at their Provincial. visits. The conAuence of suca an arrangement would be, that- zeal and activity' would be generally diffused and kept alive, and the fraternity would become a body at once respectable and powerful';''and th:y would be able, from their circumstances, to reduce to practice the principles which arc inculcated by the systeth, and to main tain that character for hospitality and kindness to Brethren who may happen to visit them, which originally gained for the In stitution the reputation it now enjoys, and the protection an 4 patronage of so many persons distinguished for their virtues, their talents, and their rank. To reform is at all times honourable ; and in the concerns of a large community every member should give his own exertions; as if the whole work -- depended upon his labours alone. Most heartily do we congratulate the Ancient Craft on the spirit by which they are now animated ; and on the victory which they have already obtained over the prejudices formerly entertained against the Institution. OFFICERS OF THE UNITED GRAYf LODGE OF ENGLAND FOR THE YEARS 1821, 1822. PATRON. The Icing's Most Excellent MAJESTY. GRAND MASTER. L. R• 11. Prince AUGUSTUS FREDERICK Dukc of SurssE:r, Earl of Inverness, Baron of Arklow, Colonel of the Honour able Artillery Company of London, Knight of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, &c. &c. &c. PAST GRAND DIASTERS. His Grace. John Duke of ATISO L, K.T., &c. 81e. The Most Noble the Marquis of HASTINGS, K.G. e( c .&c. &C. DEPUTY GRAND MASTER. Right Hon. Lawrence Lord DUNDAS. Sir-Fred. G. Fowke, Bart. Sen. : Grand Warden. Valentine Jones, Esq. - Jun. Grand Warden. John Dent, En. M. P. 1 _ Grand Treasurer. Cockburne, LL, B. - - Grand Chaplains. Rev. S. S. Colman William Meyrick, Esq. - Grand Registrar. Mr. W. H. White Mr. E. Harper - } Grand Secretaries. Mr. J. G. H. Burmester G. S. for Germ. Correspondence. Boughey Burgess, Esq. , Seni& Grand Deacon. W. 1). Cummins, Esq. - Junior Grand Deacon. John Soane,_Esq. - - Grand Superintendent of Works . Sir George Nayler - - G. Director of the Ceremonies. James R. Hayward, Esq. Grand Sword Bearer. Sir George Smart - Grand Organist. GENERAL FUND Or CITARITY.—Among the many most excellent establishments which have been instituted a men.; Masons to relieve Brethren who have been visited by calamities to which we arc all alike exposed, there is none that has been pro' ductive of more real good "than this fund, which, in addition to the contributions which are annually made_.tO it from every Lodge, is maintained by the profits arising from,t4e sale of the Freemasons' Calendar and Pocket Book. We are, induccd,to notice this circumstance at the present moiiient,.."becatua; have found that it is no; so generally knowri'in'tTla Craft as it ought to be, for we are persuaded that every Brother who NaP-. pened to be acquainted with it, would wish to he in possession, in preference to all Others, of a book of a convenient and porta ble size, which contains, besides the usual matter, a variety of interesting and useful masonic information, and the profits bf which are dclicated to the relief of distressed Brethren. GRAND LODGE OF SCOTLAND. EDINBURGH, DEC. 3.—Agreeably to ancient usage the Masons of Scotland assembled in Freemasons' Hall on Friday, 30th November, being the anniv in ersaryof St. Andrew, the tute lar Saint of Scotland, order to elect their Officers for the en suing year. His Majesty the KING, on his accession to the throne, having graciously condescended to continue Patron of the ancient order of St. John's Masonry for Scotland, the following Officers were unanimously elected : His Owe the Duke of Hamilton and Brandon, Most Wor shipful Grand Master .Mason of the ancient order of St. John's Masonry for Scotland. His Grace the Duke of Argyll, Right Worshipful Grand Master Elect. . William Inglis of Middleton, Esq. Right Worshipful Grand Master Substitute. . . The Most Noble the Marquess of Tweeddale, Right . Wor shipful Past Gritnd Muster. James Allan Maconochic, Esq. Advocate, Right Worship- T.D. ful Senior Grand Warden. - Miles Angus Fletcher, Esq. •Advocate, Right WorAhipful Junior Grand Warden. Sir John Hay, of Sinitllfidd• and Haystoun, Tait. Right Worshipful Grand Treasurer. Alexander Lawrie, Esq. Right Worshipful Grind Secretary 1 James Bartram, sq. Right Worshipful Grand Clerk. John Maitland, Esq. Right Worshipful Assistant Grand Clerk. • The Rev. Dr. Lee, Professor of Moral Philosophy, King S College, Aberdeen, Grand Chaplain. . William Cunningham, Esq. Grand Jeweller. • Archibald Paterson, Esq. Grand Bible Bearer. After the election • the Brethren proceeded to the convivial celebration of the festival of their tutelar Saint, and, in conse quence of the unkvoidable absence of his Grace the Duke a Hamilton and Brandon, the chair was taken by the Right Worshipful the Substitute Grand Master, assisted by the Right Worshipful • Jiines Joseph Hope-Vere, Esq., of Craigehall and Blackwood, and Samuel Anderson, Esq. Past Grand-WV dens. There was a numerous assemblage of the Brethrell, , and the evening was spent with that sociality and harmony wh ich has ever characterised the meetings of the ancient order eSaitit John's Masonry. Besides the proxy masters and their wardeP