Royal Arch Masonry.

Again , one ! preceptor will not speak at all times of Hiram as Hiram Abif , because the name does not appear in the Bible . This is an instance , in the writers ' opinion , where to be half ri ght is to be altogether wrong ; for we read , 2 Chron . iv . 16 , The pots , also , and tbe shovels aud the flesh hooks , and all the instruments did Hiram"his father" make to King

Solo-, , mon , for the house of the Lord , of bright brass . Now as Solomon was David ' s son , how could Hiram be his father ? Hiram is called father by the King of Tyre , 2 Chron . ii . 13 , hut according to the common acceptation of the word , Hiram was neither father to the one nor the other .

Here , then , we require a Biblical dictionary ; aud on referring to Calmit ' s , we find the word , " Hiram " signifies "high intelligence ; " and on referring to the word "Father , '' we find A B is the Hebrew root of the word " father , " and that the termination of the word alters its meaning from natural father to father , or head , or chief of a people , a place , a profession , a society , & c . Hiram was called father by the King of Tyre and even by King Solomon , because he was the

principal of his workmen , and the chief director of their undertakings . But if we say , Hiram , the widow ' s son , we deprive the words of their symbolic meaning , and of all logical connection with our " system of morality veiled in allegory and illustrated by symbols . " Butworse than allwe are told " Jehovah ' is the

, , incomprehensible name of God ; it signifies , " I am that I am , " & c . But I ask how we know it is the name of God , or what it signifies if it is incomprehensible ? The very language we use in connection with the word is taken from our most eminent divines and commentators to show it is the most comprehensive name of

God . ( See Calmit ' s " Dictionary , ' ' or " Patrick's Commentary , " or "D'Oyly and Maut ' s Bible , with Practical Notes . " Tbe writer could adduce other instances that require correction , but prefers to ask our acknowledged leaders to meet and agree of their own accord , and not continue to lay themselves or their workings open to reasonable objection . Yours fraternally , ' S . G-. F .

Bro. Elias Ashmole.

BRO . ELIAS ASHMOLE .

TO THE EDlTnn OP HIE FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE AND MASONIC MIRROR . Dear Sir and Brother , —Our Bro . Heury Melville has been allowed the privilege of publishing in this "Magazine" his so-termed "Masonic Celestial Mysteries , but he cannot be allowed with impunity to deprive ( at page 404 ) au ancient brother of his best winding sheet " a good name "

, . Elias Ashmole was not " a quack astrologer , " but an eminent aud learned antiquary , to be judged of by the standard of the period in which he lived ; and as m these columns one good authorit y is worth a hundred loose assertions , I refer your readers to all our biographies containing his name . Our Bro . Ashmole and his

diary are so often referred to by Preston and other writers on the history of the Craft that I think an abridgment of the article in the " Penny Magazine , " vol . n . page 452 , which I enclose herewith , will prove acceptable to all lovers of pure Masonic arclu-cology . Yours fraternally , P . M . No . S .

Bro. Elias Ashmole.

From the PENNY CYCLOPEDIA , vol . ii ., page 452 . Ashmole ( Elias ) , an eminent antiquary and herald , the founder of the museum , which still hears his name , at Oxford , was the only sou of Simon Ashmole , a saddler , of Lichfield , by Aniie , daughter of Anthony Boyer , of Coventry . He was born May 23 , 1617 , and was placed at an early age as chorister in the cathedral of Lichfield .

He was taken into the family of James Paget , Esq ., one of the puisne Barons of the Exchequer , who had married his mother ' s sister , under whose roof he studied law , spending his leisure hours iu acquiring music and other accomplishments . Iu 1638 he married Eleanor , daughter of Peter Main waring , of Smallwood , in Cheshire , and in Michaelmas Term he became a Solicitor in Chancery .

He lost his wife on the Sth of December in the same year . In 1615 he became a captain in Lord Ashley ' s regiment and Comptroller of the Ordnance . In the midst of these employments he entered himself of Brasenose College , and applied with great vigour to the study of Natural Philosophy , Mathematics , and Astronomy . In 1646 he came to London , and became acquainted

Sir John Wharton , Sir Jonas Moore , William Luly , and John Booker , esteemed the greatest astrologers of j & eir time , and was admitted into their fraternity . In 1650 he published , in 12 mo , Dr . Arthur Dees' treatise upon the philosopher ' s stone under the title of " Fasciculus Ohemicus . " In 16-52 , believing that a knowledge of Hebrew was forunderstanding the writers upon hermetic

necessary , science , he studied that language under Rabbi Simon Frank . At the end of 1652 he published his " Theatram Chemicum Britannicum , " in Ito , containing many pieces of our old hermetic philosophers , which gained him a high reputation , and , among other scholars , the celebrated John Selden . In 1658 he published another treatise on

the philosopher ' s stone ; "The Way to Bliss , " in 3 books , 4 to . In 1653 he began collecting materials for his "History of the Order of the Garter . " Upon the Restoration , he was early introduced to the favour of King Charles II ., who , on June 18 i . li , 1660 , made him Windsor Herald , and appointed him to make a catalogue of tho royal collection of coins and medals . In September he was made a

Commissioner of Excise ; on November 2 , ho was called to tho Bar ; in January , 1661 , admitted TT . U . S-, and had several new preferments bestowed upon him ; on the 12 th July he received the degree of M . D . from the University of Oxford . He was now courted and esteemed by tho greatest persons iu the kingdom , and in May , 1672 , he presented his " History of the Order of the Garter" to the King

, who , as a mark of approbation for his toil and research , presented him with a privy seal for £ 400 . In 1675 he resigned his office of Windsor Herald , and in 1677 declined that of Garter King of Arms in favour of his father-inlaw , Sir William Dugdale . On . tho 25 th January , 1679 , a fire broke out in the Middle Temple , by which he lost the greater part of his librarya collection of 9000

an-, , cient and modern coins , and a great collection of seals , charters , and other antiquities ; his manuscripts and gold medals were fortunately at his house in Lambeth . In 1682 he presented to tho University of Oxford his collection of rarities , including tho tradescompts , and afterwards his manuscripts and library ; this is still called the Ashmoleon MuseumIn 16 ' 86 ho a second time declined

. the office of Garter . Tho remainder of his hie v . as spent in an honourable retirement to his death , May IS , 1692 , in his 76 'fch year . His body was interred in Lambeth , and a black marble slab laid upon his grave , with a Latin inscription . See also "Wood ' s "Athena ) Oxoniensis" and Appi's "Biographia Brit . "

FieEEJLisoys . —It is esiiiii .-i-. d that tho Masonic- Order at present contains about 1 , 300 , 000 members . Of this number , 150 , 000 are in England , 1 . 00 , 000 in Scotland , and 50 , 000 in Ireland . There arc about G 00 , 000 on the Continent of Europe , mid 300 , 000 in the United States ; the number in India will probably reach 50 , 000 , and , in other parts of the world , about 50 , 000 more .