Correspondence.

Scripture , but to the demonstration of their truth according to laws prescribed and immutable . However distasteful and worldly it may be to speak of money in connexion with things sacred , yet the two seem inseparably blended . In the early ages of Christianity it was not so , but civilization has

¦ changed all that , for in these latter days churches and money have intermarried ; some are poor , others rich . Even the Masonic Temples are not entered without money , and so convinced was Bro . Oliver that a mercenary spirit profaned the Temple , that he did not hesitate , in a letter to Bro . Melville , to accuse

Bro . Whyte of such profanation . Indeed , it is not uncommon to hear brethren say that they have paid fee after fee into the Masonic treasury for degrees which only conferred empty badges and titles without knowledge of any kind ; while some have even vainly regretted the money thus spent because they w ere all the poorer and none the wiser .

There are , however , many gratifying proofs that brethren do here and there glean sheaves of knowledge by devoting attention to studies appertaining to the Craft—the contributions to Magazine of Bro . Haye being more than ordinaril y interesting and instructive . It is brethren of his acquirements who must be attracted by Bro . Melville ' s re-discoveries

, seeing that they lead to important consequences , namely , the revival of the ancient reli gion of Breemasonry . As churches are everywhere made sources of emolument , the rehabilitation of the Masomc church would fill her exchequer to overflowing .

The readers of the Magazine are indebted to it for publishing the papers on " Masonic Celestial Mysteries , " which , so far as they have gone , appear intended to show the extent , the variety , the nature of the knowledge embraced b y the science of the ancient mysteries .

A correspondent of the Magazine complains that the papers are beyond his comprehension , when he might so easily satisfy himself that the mysteries are inexplicable . caligraphically , and are alone made comprehensible by the use of the symbols . Another correspondent sneeringly pre-supposes that the

rediscoveries are the high road to knowledge . He , however , is nearer the truth than he unwittingly imagines , for the science of the mysteries is not only fractionally minute , but most comprehensive , reaching from earth to heaven , and , therefore , requires , both patience and earnest meditation to learn and

properly digest . It is thinking , rather than reading men who , in most instances , bear off the palm . It is they who mould the opinions of the unthinking masses . Tell me , says the sage , " what your profoundest thinkers , in this generation , are doing or writing , and I will tell you what will be the character of the next generation . "

Lord Maeaulay would not have ventured to sketch the picture of the New Zealander contemplating the ruins _ of London , at some period in the womb of futurit y , without more scientific meditation than meets the eye . It is the varied nature of the mystic science that enabled _ Bro . Melville to discover that the Assyrian marble in the British Museum did not represent " the

interior of a castle , " as the author of Nineveh erroneously supposed , but an " astrolabe " of great value ; thus has he rendered essential service to astronomy and Breemasonry ; and that has also enabled him to discover that the Mosaic chronology of the world is not earthly , but heavenly ; thus has he again not only

rendered good service to the science of geology but to the civilized world . Yet , in the face of these facts , testifying to Bro . Melville ' s extensive and valuable researches , there are writers in the Magazine who pooh—pooh his Masonic papersbecause they do not reveal the

mean-, ing of the " points , " which , by-the-bye , the Craft are forbidden to do , and because the sash comparison between the Royal Arch Companions and Knights of the Bath is not faultless .

The opponents of these papers seem altogether to ignore that their author has re-discovered the ancient science of the Craft—a science that is demonstrable like any inferior science—and that he moreover , in an open , strightforward manner has offered , through the Magazineto demonstrate its truth to any who

, may earnestly desire to witness the modus operandi . Let those , therefore , among his opponents either accept his offer , or else proceed to prove the falsity of the Grand Registrar ' s certificate , published in the Magazine , and then let them disprove , if they can , the facts before mentioned ; when these feats are

performed they will be entitled to the congratulations of all who prefer the " interior of a castle " to an " astrolabe , " who prefer that the " ceremonies " should be earthly rather than heavenly , and who will not believe that the savant Moses was an astronomer and viewed creation by the light of that science .

When one writer abuses another , it is either from poverty of intellect or of incapability of valid argument . Thus it is with a correspondent in the Magazine , who , writing from Dublin , abuses Bro . Melville ' s papers and those of another brother , instead of endeavouring to refute their contents by conclusive reasoning . The letter revives the recollection of the

circulars issued , some three or four years ago , by the Grand Lodge , Dublin , to branch lodges in Australia , forbidding ! their members to fraternize with Bro . Melville on the subject of his re-discoveries . Thus did the Grand Lodge , magnanimously essay , not only to stifle inquiry into the truth of the re-discoveries ,

but absolutely repudiated them without first testing their merits ! Oh , most righteous circular ! Oh , most just and equitable Grand Lodge ! To ' revert to the Assyrian marble : —its history is not unlike that of many clief d ' ceuvres of painters and sculptors which chance to fall into the hands of mere

collectors , who , ignorant of their value , part with them for some comparative trifle to the connoisseur , whose superior knowledge has its reward in the scientific or art treasure of which he has thus become

the fortunate possessor . Bro . M elville stands in the position of the connoisseur , for he has not only taught the nation the value of the Assyrian relique , but has taught it that the Mosaic chronology of creation is of celestial derivation . These discoveries are alone the passport to immortal honour , and it is to be hoped they will have their reward . Bor the nation , to her glory be it said , annually confers rewards on the learned for literary or scientific services rendered to society , and