An Ancient People—Past And Present.*

Parsis , called Yazashne . " The " kusti is passed round the waist three times , and tied in four knots , two in front and two behind , during the chanting of a hymn . At the tying of the knot the following confession and exhortation are made , first knot : " There is only one God , and no

other is to be compared with Him ; " second : " The religion given by Zoroaster is true ; " third : " Zoroaster is the true Prophet , who derived his mission from God ; " fourth " Perform good actions , and abstain from evil ones . "

Perhaps no event in the life of a Parsi is regarded with more importance than his marriage , and some curious customs used to prevail . For instance , it is said " that less than twenty years ago it was the custom in Bombay , and

in some other cities of the Gujarat , to arrange or negotiate for the marriage of children who had not even seen the light of this world ; that is to say , if two lady friends were enceinte ^ they would conclude an arrangement that if one

should bcnrasonand the other a daughter , the infants would be united in marriage . " The general practice was in favour of early marriages , but now there is a disposition to follow the example of the Zoroastvians in Persia , where a boy is

not married before he is twenty years of age , nor a girl before the age of fifteen . Match-making amounts almost to a science , the professors of which are found amongst priests . These favoured visitors make all necessary inquiries , and if they see a couple likely to suit each other

they recommend the alliance to tbe parents . The latter satisfy themselves of the respectability in each case , the most important personage , perhaps , being the young man ' s mother . Sons usually live with their parents even when married , so that tbe mother-in-law becomes a very important person indeed . When the parties are satisfied of each others character and position , the girl ' s parents are asked to send her horoscope , cast by the " Joshi , " in order

" that the astrologer may be consulted as to the eligibility or otherwise of the match . " The "Joshi" receives both horoscopes , and upon his report depends the success or failure of the match . If the decision be favourable

the astrologer fixes the day for the celebration of the betrothal , the ceremony consisting of an exchange of presents , which renders the " pucka" or contract complete . Certain days of the year are considered propitious

for the marriage ceremony , and when the day is fixed , then commence a succession of dinners or " natches" and exchanges of gifts . The rich can afford this kind of thing , but the poor often cripple their resources for years

in order to vie with their richer neighbours in the show , glitter and eclat attendant upon the marriage of their offspring . The wedding takes place in the evening , after the custom of the Hindus , and is sometimes witnessed by

over a thousand persons . To meet the requirements of those who dwell in small houses , a building known as the " Albless Bag , " has been erected , " where many marriages and other festivities are celebrated without payment . " Of course , the visitors are dressed in their gayest attire , and

the sight is both rich and imposing . Presents of dress , jewellery , & c , are made , and at " about sunset bouquets of roses or other beautiful and fragrant flowers and small

triangular packets of ' pan-sopari , ' i . e . betel-leaf and nut wrapped in gold leaf , are distributed to each member of the assembly , upon whom also rose water is sprinkled from a gold or silver jar . " Then comes

the procession to the bride ' s house , accompanied by a band of music , and after a further distribution of nosegays and " biddas , " the nuptial ceremony is proceeded with . It gonern / ly takes place in a hall or spacious room on the

groun & floor , where a " galicha , " or carpet is spread . Seated opposite to each other , the happy couple grasp each other ' s right hand . A piece of cloth divides them , another piece encircles them , tied at the ends by a double

knot . Eaw twist is wound round the pair seven times by the officiating priests , who during this performance repeat short prayers . On completing the seventh round , the twist is tied seven times over the joined hands of the

couple , as well as round the double knot of the end of the cloth previously put about them . Incense is burnt , and the cloth curtain is suddenly dropped , when the bride and bridegroom are seen throwing rice at each other . The first

to succeed in aiming the rice is accounted the most earnest lover . Clapping of hands gr . et the bridal pair within , while without the men take up the applause . Two

" dasturs , one before the bride and the other before the bridegroom , recite the " ashirwad , " or blessing , and then proceed with the ceremony , which is of a most elaborate character . The senior " dastur " opens with the following

An Ancient People—Past And Present.*

blessing : " May the Omniscient Lord bless you with many sons and grandsons , with good livelihood , heart ravishing

friendships , long life , and an existence or one hundred and fifty years . '" Questions are here put and answered relative to the assent of all parties concerned , followed by an address containing advice of the purest and noblest kind . We are sorry that want of space will not permit of its reproduction here . An earnest supplication is made to the Almighty "to bestow upon the newly-married pair

s ? ood moral and social qualities . In this prayer are recited the names of the thirty angels after whom the thirty days of a Parsi month are called . " As this supplication is instructive as well as interesting , we quote it fully } : —

" May Ahura Mazda bestow upon you Good thoughts through Behman , Good words through Ardibebeshfc , Good actions through Shehrivar , Perfect thought through Spendarmad ,

Sweetness through Khordad , Fruitfulnesa through Amerdad . May God ( Depadar ) bestow upon yon Increasing lustre through Adar , Purity through Abau , or Avan ,

Exalted position through Khurshed , Increase through the cow-like Mohor , Liberality through Tir , Temperate habits through Gosh . May God Depmehr bestow upon you

Pure justice through Mehr , Obedience through Srosh , Fruitfulnesa through Eashnu , Increase of strength through Fravardin , Victory through Bebram ,

Constant delight through . Ram , Strong power through Goad . May God Dipdin bestow upon you Knowledge through Din , Collection of wealth through Arshisaug ,

A number of good talents through Ashtad , Great activity through Astnan , Firmness of place through Jamyad , Good sight through Marespand , and Nourishment of body through Aneran . "

Blessings in the languages of the Avesta of the Pazand , and Sanscrit follow , the whole ending with the " Tandarusti , " a blessing invoking the bestowal of physical strength , energy , and health on the newly-married pair . The marriage certificate having been signed , all invited to the marriage feast sit down to a banquet , consisting " of fish , vegetables , fruits , sweetmeats , preserves , and similar

articles . " Parsis refrain " from eating meat on the day of marriage to avoid giving offence to the feelings of the Hindus , as a number of sheep would reqinre to be killed for so large a party . " Toasts are drank , always including the health of Her Most Gracious Majesty the Queen of

England and Empress of India , and the Eoyal family . No toast is more heartily received than this , which affords evidence of the thorough spirit of loyalty to this country that pervades the Parsis . A much simpler form of marriage service is observed among the Zoroastrians in Persia , and even in Bombay the tendency is toward greater simplicity in the ceremony . Parsi widows are permitted to marry again , but they seldom avail , themselves of this liberty , denied to the Hindus . ( To be continued ) .

The Prosperity Of Masonry.

THE PROSPERITY OF MASONRY .

WE often speak of the prosperity of Freemasonry , or of the prosperity of this or that Masonic body , but do we always have a clear idea of wherein prosperity consists ? Words sometimes misrepresent facts , and that which we term prosperity may be , at times , a delusion and

a snare . Indeed , it not infrequently happens that popular notions are wrong—the voice of the people being anything but the voice of God . In what , then , does prosperity consist ?

Does it consist in great numbers ? If it does , there can be no doubt of the prosperity of Masonry to-day . It never was so popular . The Craft was never so crowded . Both Lodges and Grand Lodges are multiplying , and year by year the

number of Freemasons in the world is steadily and largely increasing . But , remember this , in great size there is always great danger . Grossness is disease . It is the thin

man that has length of days , while the stout man goes lumbering along , and falls before his time . So , great nations are always unwieldy , and their unmanageable size often is their ruin . We should not expect Freemasonry to