Freemasonry & Israelitism.

numerous as those of many other traits in their character , which I have already produced , and which we have found to be the characteristics of the descendants of the Getse , of which the Anglo-Saxons constitute

the chief branch , and which characteristics are not to be found in any other people on the face of the earth . The prophet Hosea , after exhorting Israel , in the midst of the calamities into which she had fallen through

her iniquities , to return to the Lord in prayer and supplication that He might take away her iniquity and receive her graciously , pronounces the Divine promise thereon , not only of spiritual blessings , but of abundant

and diversified temporal ones , also : " I will be as the dew unto Israel ; he shall grow as the lily , and cast forth his roots as Lebanon ; his branches shall spread ; his beauty shall be as the olive tree , and his smell as

Lebanon ( Hosea xiv . 1-6 ) . This imagery was familiar to the people , who could not mistake its meaning , but who would interpret it as a sure prophecy of their secular as well as of their spiritual prosperity ; and no selection

or accumulation of Oriental metaphors could more vividly describe the future flourishing condition of the people of whom the words were spoken . But it is to the great prophet of the restoration and future of Israel that

we must turn for an amplification of these prophetic promises . In Isaiah lx ., we find a long and beautiful description of Israel's future prosperity and final restoration , uttered while she was yet in captivity

" The riches of the sea shall be poured in upon thee ; the wealth of the nations shall come unto thee all of them from Saba shall come : gold and frankincense shall they bear thy gates shall be

open continually ; by day or by night they shall not be shut Thou shalt suck the milk of nations ; even by the breast of kings shalt thou be fostered . Instead of copper I will bring gold ; and instead of

iron I will bring silver ; and instead of wood brass ; and instead of stones iron The little one shall become a thousand ; and the small one a strong nation . " The chapter in which these extraordinary

promises are made , has , no doubt , to receive a much more comprehensive and glorious fulfilment , in the progress of time , for it stretches onward until the restoration of the tribes , and their rc-cstablishmcnt in their

own land , where they are to become the praise , or admiration , or wonder , of the whole earth . The history of the world , which records the fulfilment of the roll of prophecy , so far , shows that all things are

brought about by the employment of human agency , and therefore in a gradual , and , sometimes , in an almost imperceptible manner . We read of few sudden and apparently miraculous changes in the history of nations ,

They rise and fall by degrees—by gradually advancing or retrogressing steps . And this gradual advance appears to be destined for the chosen people . Their growth in numbers , in power , and in wealth will furnish

the means for consummating the Divine purpose , in their final and unparalleled exaltation . No one can read the history of the Gothic race , and take note of its wonderful progress , its mighty achievements , and

its present and advancing position in the world , without a conviction , if the subject be duly reflected upon , that it is destined for some great purpose in the order of the Divine economy . How well the passages

I have quoted from the prophet Isaiah describe awcalthyinercautiiepcopic—a people trading largely with foreign countries , exchanging their metals and olhcrcommodities for silver and gold , and gi owing wealthy thereby—must be obvious to ail who read

Freemasonry & Israelitism.

them . The nations and their kings are to pour their wealth into their lap , so that "the little one shall become a thousand , and the small one a strong nation ; " the sons of strangers building up their walls , and

thenkings ministering unto them . But what was Israel to do with her wealth ? As we have seen , she was to unloose the bonds of oppression ; to give slaves their

freedom ; to clothe , feed , and house the destitute poor : in a word , to help all who were cast down , and comfort all who were distressed . And what was she to do with

her superfluous wealth ? She was to lend it to others . One of the rewards of obedience , especially of consideration for and bounty to the poor , promised to the collective descendants

of Jacob , was that they should be so largely blessed—blessed in their storehouses , and in all that they set their hands to ; so plenteous in goods , in the fruit of their body , in the fruit of their cattle , and in the fruit of

their ground , that they should lend to many nations , and borrow of none ( Deut . xv . 6 , xxviii . 12 ) . This , it must be admitted , is a most extraordinary prophetic blessing—a thingso unlikely to cometopass in the history

ofa people not yet formed into a nation , whose views of territorial occupation were confined within very narrow limits , and who , as a nation , were to have but little intercourse with other people , that no impostor would have ventured to utter it But there

it stands recorded , in two several places , amongst the especial blessings that were predicted of his people by the great and inspired lawgiver . It obviously implies that the people of whom it was spoken , though

then just escaping from slavery , poor , despised , and conspired against by all the nations whose path they crossed , should exceed all others in accumulated wealth . Other nations would require monetary

assistance from without , but these , never . On the contrary , they were to lend to all others . They were not only to possess abundance , but of their superfluity they were to lend to all others . That this was

said of them as a nation , and not as individuals , is clear , for all the blessings and curses pronounced in these two chapters , were addressed to them in their collective or national character : as is also clear from

the terms in which the borrowers are spoken of— "nations ; " and what I have already said as to the amount of foreign debts , the greater portion of which is owing to

England , shows the literal fulfilment , in a most remarkable manner , of this most remarkable prophecy , and identifies the Anglo-Saxons with the people of whom it was spoken .

UKO . ( he Rev . (' ,. R . Portal and the Rev . L . () . Bigg have each been presented with a massive silver inkstand by a deputation from the tradesmen and cottagers of A ) bury ; and Mrs . Portal has received an elegant casket for biscuits , in glass and silver , from the teachers and scholars of the Allniry schools .

LORD UVKON—himself a confirmed smoker — expressed ; i decided preference : for ( lie cigar as weighed against a pipe , and says in bis invocation lo tobacco in the wurld-renowned and willy poem to Don Juan : — "Thy true lovers more admire by far

1 by nnked beauties—give me n cigar !" There are thousands of smokers who entertain the same predilection , but are unable to gratify it , and are obliged In be contented with a pipe of good tobacco , preferring thai to a weed of infeiior quality , such as , alas ! they know by . < -ad experience they will generally obtain , whether

they pay a moderate or a high price for the luxury . The extensive and daily increasing business of Mr . Gruncbaum , of . Sackville-slreet , Piccadilly , one of the largest importers if ! Jifi / d . ir . d , and Jii . s Jilxrr . il . system oi selling retail at wholesale prices , enables him lo furnish cigars of

every brand at moderate and reasonable prices , and his customers have the satisfaction of knowing that they can always depend upon getting what they ask for , which is rarely ihc case elsewhere , as we know by bitter experience .

Obituary.

Obituary .

A BROTHER WILLIAM THOMPSON , P . P . S . G . IV . Oxfordshire , &* c . From the Oxford Chronicle and from other sources we gather the following records of a highly-esteemed member of the Craft , Mr . Justice

William Thompson , whose death took place on the 8 th of August , at his residence , Thornbury Lodge , Park Town , Oxford . Bro . Thompson ' s death was not unexpected , as he had been ill for many months , and for some weeks past his

recovery was known to be hopeless . It will be satisfactory for his numerous friends to know that he submitted to his fate with patient resignation and Christian fortitude . The deceased had for many years taken an

active part in the public affairs of the city of Oxford . His strong sense of public duty , his active , energetic character , and large heart y led him to be a promoter of various institutions which were likely to contribute to the present or

future happiness of his fellows ; and although he was , of late years , the representative of an unpopular political party , his genial disposition and kindness of heart secured for him a large circle of friends . He was first elected a member of

the Town Council , for the East Ward , in 1 S 47 I he was elected Sheriff in i 860 , and Mayor in 1862 . At the same time he was elected Alderman , which office he held until 1868 , when , under the excitement and party feeling created

by the general election which was then pending , he failed in securing his re-election . He was absent from the Town Council , however , for only a short time , for in the following year he was elected one of the Councillors for the East

Ward , with which he had been so long connected . The deceased gentleman took a great interest in the proceedings of the Board of Guardians , over which he for some time presided , and in all the offices which he filled , whether as a Town

Councillor , a member of the Local Board , or as a Charity Trustee , he was zealous and unremitting in the discharge of his duties . In March , 1870 , he had the honour of being appointed one of the new Justices of the Peace for the city of Oxford .

During Bro . Thompson's shrievalty , in 1862 , the foundation-stone of the new Corn Exchange was laid with Masonic honours , and he entertained a large party to a grand banquet in the Town Hall on the occasion . During his mayoralty he

projected , and successfully carried out , a bazaar in St . John's College gardens , for the benefit of the Radcliffe Infirmary , which , through his energetic

and liberal conduct , resulted in the munificent sum of ^ 2240 being netted and presented to that excellent institution . In acknowledgement of this service he was made a Life Governor .

Bro . Thompson was initiated into Freemasonry in the Alfred Lodge ( 340 ) in 1 S 31 , was W . M . in 1846 , and S . G . W . of the province in 1849 . He was elected a joining member of the Apollo University Lodae ( 357 ) in 1841 , and succeeded

his father as Treasurer . In the fulfilment of that office the carrying out of the details and the arrangements of Masonic fetes and balls devolved upon " him , and it was chiefly through his instrumentality and business tact that they were

successfully carried on , year after year , to the advantage of the citizens as well as to the gratification of the visitors who were attracted to Oxford during the great annual academic festival . In the various other branches of Freemasonry ,

viz ., those of the Royal Arch and the Knights Templar Order , as well as that of the Mark Masters' Degree , he filled the highest offices in each , also in the Grand Conclave that of Grand Constable , and in the Grand Mark Lodge , of

Grand Deacons . Those members of the University who have been admitted into Freemasonry during their academical career , and those who have been accustomed to visit Oxford on the

occasion of the Masonic festivals , will have most agreeable recollections of his urbanity and of his anxiety to administer to their pleasure and their comfort .

He leaves a large family , of a widow , of five daughters , and of four sons , three of whom are Freemasons , and are members respectively of