Sun And Serpent Worship.

SUN AND SERPENT WORSHIP .

FROM THH HEBREW LEADER . THE treatment of the subject of the worship of the Sun and the Serpent by peoples of far different nationailties , by John S . phene , LL . D ., in the embellished pamphlet by the Victoria Institute ( London ) , is ao complete and interesting that we venture again to allude thereto . While the Sun forms an important and essential

symbol of Light and Truth , in tbe symbolio degrees of Masonry , as having direct reference to the Divine Light , so in the Philosophic degrees of the Brotherhood the Serpent becomes a conspicuous emblem in at least a dozen of the Scottish Rite series , and is the particularly distinguishing badge of an active member of the

highest grade in the northern section of the United States . Professor E . H . Davis , of archaological fame in this city , has led our tbonghts more attentively to the importance of this subject and to its fullest consideration . Our remarks herein are deductions as well as extracts from a number of works .

Sun worship was doubtless , to a measured extent , connected with Mountain worship . In this connection Professor Phene refers to the ever-burning fires on the summits of the pyramidal temple of Mexico , and has no doubt that fires burnt originally on the pyramids of Egypt , as being suggested to the Worshippers by their contemplation of the terrible and sublime in the peaks of burning

mountains . Further that the Egyptians had erected the pyramids to supply the place of mountains near their abodes on the sandy plains of Memphis , as proper spots for worship . This latter view appears to have been accepted by the Rev . Mr . Zinke , ns mentioned thus in his "Egypt of the Pharaohs and of the Khedive . " " We may be absolutely certain that had the Egyptians lived in an Alpine

country , though they might have commanded the requisite materials on easier terms , they would never have built the pyramids , for then an Egyptian pyramid would have been a pigmy monument by the side of Nature ' s pyramids ; but built as they were in Egypt , and seen from the neighbourhood of Memphis and Heliopolis , they were veritable mountains . "

If we will refer to Hargrave Jenning ' s work on the Rosiornoians we find mentioned several interpretations given to the word pyramid , among whioh are the Coptio roots signifying pyr , division , and met , ten . Bro . Jennings insists that the Greek word pyr should be translated by deduotion Fire ( or division produced by fire ) , hence the whole word means , " Ten measures or parts of the fiery ecliptic

or solar wheel , or the original signs of the Zodiac . Therefore , the pyramids are commemorative altars raised to the divinity Fire . " From this it would appear that Jennings and Phene materially agree as to the purposes for which the pyramids were erected . Porphyry imagined that the reason why the most ancient mortals kept up a constant ever-burning fire in honour of the immortal gods

was because fire was most like the gods . He says that the ancients kept an unextinguished fire in their temples to the gods because it was most like them . Fire was not like the gods , bnt it was what they appeared in to mortals . And so the true God always appeared in brightness and glory ; yet no one would say that brightness was most like the true God , but was most like the Shechinah

in which God appeared . The Brahmins , the Mahommedans , the Egyptians , tbe American Indiana , the great nations of the West , and of the East , worshipped fire and . as its embodiment , tbe Sun . The Persian Magi authorised the use of fire and water as the only emblems of their gods . As the powers represented by the Sun and the Serpent-river had to act

in unison , or cease to be efficient , we soon find the Sun and Serpent , combined , and recognised by some worshippers as one and the same ; the Sun representing the head of the Serpent which entwined the world , as symbolised by the circle in whioh the Serpent holds his tail in his mouth , like unto the manner of a hoop snake in mad career . The Phoenician Serpent , which with its three folds sur

rounds the tree ( of knowledge ) , is the origin of the many serpent ornaments of ancient and modern times , worn formerly by women as armlets and modernly as bracelets and finger rings . It is the triune ring , symbol of the activity of life , as expressive of the Serpent of wisdom and the active knowledge of Deity in man . As a prominent Assyrian representation of God , we find a serpent

circle , wheel or winged orb , which forms the body of the God , surmounting which is the breast and head of a man-God , who , instead of a bow , holds a smaller serpent circle in his hand , probably a symbol of the Moon . This Deity is supported on a pedestal representing the mystic emblems of fire and water—that is , by upright and inverted triangles .

The Bhuddistic and Babylonish monuments display many serpent figures in connection chiefly with the Sun , Moon and Stars . American Indians , as late as the last century , have been found tattooed with a serpent and star npon the breast , and bearing sun and serpent emblems . In the Arthurian order of the Garter , and as well in the Order of

the Golden Fleece , we have the centre circle and inclosed cross in exact form with the wheel of Asshur . Repeated national emblems , symbols of religious faith and political crest 3 among the great peoples of the distant East , were not made fanciful nor haphazard , but every stroke , dot , or indentation had some mystical and important truth or idea to convoy , and their coins , medals and

ornaments as well as their god images are relied on by numismatists and students of archaoology as of the highest importance in revealing the cnstoms , habits , history and even the beliefs and thoughts of the nations of the past . The Appollonic Snn and the Egyptian Serpent were worshipped

before the Greeks overcame the Egyptians , yet the fact and national incident gave greater impetus and fresh force to the fable of Apollo destroying the serpent . The sun used for the serpent ' s head was no matter of conjecture , too many symbols bearing evidence . The upright Phoenician serpent deity , with its head surrounded by a nimbus or halo , worshipping in front of an altar of fire , is a pronounced symbol of

fire and serpent worshi p . This became the coat of arms of the Hig h , land Clan Donnachio . On the west coast of Africa is the Kingdom of Whidah , where the serpent was worshipped by two tribes , and human sacrifice deemed acceptable . The name of their Deity is Obion , Ob signifiying the Serpent and On the Sun .

In Mexico , serpent worship has abundance of evidence , the emblems assimilating to the Egyptian , the ringed serpent being more striking . There we have two entwined serpents , the heads meeting face to face . One is old and bearded , the other young and vigorous , indicating the new day about to drive away the old night , or the new vear the old .

The serpent issuing from , or born of the egg , has an allusion to the creation , and as it rears its head to the sun , is a symbol of the birth of wisdom warmed by the Snn of Truth . The ring serpent is a forcible emblem of eternity , the head ever pursuing the tail 3 endless and renewing through time and eternity .

Portsmouth Freemasons' Hall And Club Company, Limited.

PORTSMOUTH FREEMASONS' HALL AND CLUB COMPANY , LIMITED .

THE annual meeting was held in the Lodge-room of the Company ' s premises on Monday last . Mr . G . T . Cunningham ( the chair , man ) presided , and there was a very large and influential gathering of the shareholders , all of whom are members of the Masonio Craft . The report of the directors , and the audited balance sheets of both Club and Company , " which were of a very assuring character , and

provided for the payment of the customary dividend of 5 per cent ., and the writing ofl" of £ 228 from the capital account , after adding a small balance to the sustentation and maintenance fund , " were unanimously adopted . Tho retiring directors were Messrs . G . T . Cunningham , G . Mason and R . J . Rastrick ; and the retiring auditors were Messrs . T . Pratt Wills and T . H . Casey , A . C . A . The

whole of these were unanimously re-elected ; and the customary votes of thanks for their services were passed . The thanks of the shareholders , for his courtesy and very efficient services , were aooorded to the Seoretary ( Mr . E . S . Main ) , who made a suitable acknowledgment . After tbe disposal of the remaining busines 8 | on the agenda paper , the shareholders adjourned to the spacious dining

hall , where a most recherche banquet was served by the club staff , under the able superintendence of one of the directors ( Mr . Thomas Mares ) . The chairman of the oompany presided , and gave the loyal and patriotic toasts . Lieutenant Johnson , A . A . C ., proposed "Success to the Borough of Portsmouth Freemasons' Club , " and enlarged upon the great advantages to the members of the Craft offered by an

institution of this charaoter , more especially to Masons coming from India and onr Colonies , who were thus enabled to meet their brethren on arrival . He referred particularly to the fact that many of the Volunteer Masonio brethren last year made it their home on the occasion of the Volunteer Review . Mr . George Mason , the vice-chairman , responded . Mr . George Rake , in a happy speech , gave The

Direotors . The chairman , in reply , gave a lengthened history of the undertaking from its origin , he thanked the members for the unanimity which had characterised the whole of the proceedings of that day . Mr . S . Richards Ellis , in highly eulogistic terms , gave the health of tbe Secretary ( Mr . E . S . Main ) , who responded . Mr . Thomas

Good , T . C ., submitted the toast of the Auditors , and this was responded to by Mr . T . H . Casey , A . C . A ., on behalf of himself and Mr . Pratt Wills . The toast list was interspersed with some vocal and instrumental selections by Messrs . George Sylvester , W . Miles , J . Bechervaise , J . W . Willmott , R . W . Beale , and F . Murphy . — Portsmouth Times .

The monthly meeting of the Lodge of Benevolence was held on Wednesday , at Freemasons' Hall . Bro . Joshua Nunn , President of the Lodge , occupied the President ' s chair ; while Bros . James Brett Senior Vice-President , and Charles Atkins Junior Vice-President , occupied their

respective chairs . The grants recommended at the February meeting were confirmed , and the President stated that the Lodge had received letters from several of the brethren relieved at former meetings , thanking the Lodge for the

assistance afforded . He was happy to make this announcement , as he believed this was the first year he could remember that brethren relieved had acknowledged the aid which had been extended to them . The brethren

then proceeded to deal with the now cases , of : which there was the large number of 34 on the list . The sitting adjudicating on this list was a prolonged one , and the total amount granted was £ 680 .

Brother H . A . Isaacs , P . M . 185 and 208 , P . P . G . O . Herts , CO ., was , on the 21 st instant , elected Alderman of the Ward of Porfcsoken , in . the place of the late Brother Alderman Sir Thomas White . Brother Deputy Winfield Hora was his opponent . A show of hands was taken , and the Right Hon . the Lord Mayor , Brother E . H . Knight ,

declared in favour of Brother Isaacs . A poll was demanded , and the result was 398 in favour of Bro . Isaacs against 188 for Brother Hora ( London Lodge ) . The announcement was received with great cheering . At the same meeting , a unanimous vote of condolence was accorded to the family of the late Sir Thomas White .