Masterpieces Of The Architecture Of Different Nations.

the open gallery , was one of the most agreeable and best distributed of antiquity ; and it ought to appear such to us , especially , because very few changes would be required to make it applicable to our usages and procure us the advantage of a magnificent disposition , without obliging us to sacrifice tho enjoyments of conventionalism and etiquette to which wo are accustomed , Choice has been made of this

theatre in preference to many others of antiquity , because it is so happy in its disposition , and because also it is little known . The Choragic Monument of Lysicrates in Alliens . —This building is vulgarly and erroneously called by the name of the Lanthorn of Demosthenes , from a false tradition that the celebrated orator Demosthenes was accustomed to retire

thither iu order to exercise himself without interruption in the art of declamation . Its real name , however , is , as written above , the Choragic Monument of Lysicrates . It is placed upon a raised surface , built of large freestones , to which the ascent is by four steps . Above this surface rises a circular building composed of six Corinthian columns , the intercolumniations being filled up by a partition formed by pieces of marble ;

above the columns is placed a cupola-, iu the middle of which is raised a flower , the leaves spreading three different ways ; aud no doubt the tripod was placed upon this which Lysicrates received when ho was ehoragus . The columns project more than half their diameter from the marble facing which forms the partition between them . The bases are Attic , the

capitals beautifully composed , and wrought with extreme elegance , differing in many particulars of detail from any other known ancient specimen . The slabs of marble which occupy the intercolumniations are plain , with the exception of a tripod in relief , which ornaments the upper part . The architrave , divided into three facke , bears a Greek inscription in

three lines to tho following purport : — " Lysicrates Kykyna , the son of Lysitheides , was ehoragus . The tribe of Akamautis obtained the victory in the chorus of boys . Theon was the performer on tho flute . Lycides , an Athenian , was the teacher of the chorus . Evametus Archon . " The frieze of this exquisite monument of Attic taste is enriched with bas-reliefs , beautifully sculptured . They represent the adventures of Bacchus with the Tyrrhenian pirates . ( To be continued ) .

Cursory Remarks On Freemasonry. —V.

CURSORY REMARKS ON FREEMASONRY . —V .

\ V E arc anxious for every brother of our Order to become thoroughly acquainted with our signs and tokens , because , as an illustrious American brother of the last century ( Dr . Benjamin Franklin ) beautifully observes :- — " These arc of no small value ; thoy speak a universal language , and act as a passport to the attention and support of tho initiated in all parts of the world . They cannot be lost so long as

memory retains its power . Let the possessor of them be expatriated , shipwrecked , or imprisoned , let him be stri pped of everything he has got in the world , still these credentials remain , and are available for use as circumstances require . The good effects which they have produced arc established b y tho most incontestable facts of history . They have stayed the

uplifted hand of the destroyer , thoy have softened the asperities of the tyrant , they have mitigated tho horrors of captivit y , they have subdued the rancour of malevolence , and broken down the barrier of political animosity and sectarian alienation . On the field of battle , in the solitudes of the uncultivated forest , or iu tho busy haunts of the crowded cit

y , they have made men of the most hostile feelings , the most distant regions , aud the most diversified conditions rush to the aid of each other , aud feel special joy and satisfaction that they have been able to afford relief to a brother Mason . " We are also anxious that those signs and tokens which serve as testimonials of character and qualification , should , in the language of Franklin , be " only conferred after a due course of instruction and , examination . '' For , even the mere Entered Apprentice ought to know that

Cursory Remarks On Freemasonry. —V.

these arc not to be communicated indiscriminately , but are to be conferred on candidates according to merit and abilities . Our signs aud tokens are highly valued by all true Freemasons , as safeguards of their privileges , and it is to securethose to worthy men , and to worthy men alone , that vows of

fidelity are required of every candidate for our mysteries . We do not for a moment imagine that the most worthless member in our ranks would ever allow any uninitiated person , however much he might bo beloved for his virtues or admired tor his abilities , to attend one of our tyled assemblies . Yet , when we come to look at it , it is a much more

heinous offence to entrust to unworthy men the means of admittance not only to our own but to every other Lodge of the Craft around the habitable globe , to enable such men to figure before the public as Masons , and thus open the door for other unworthy persons to be admitted , and pervert our meetings from their hig h and holy object . The very fact of

a man beiug a Freemason ought to be indeed a testimonial of character and abilities , and would be so regarded by all , whether initiated or not , if we were strictly faithful iu admitting amongst us none but just and upright men , of mature age , sound judgment , aud strict morals ; men who are likely to make the liberal arts and sciences their future study , that they may be the better enabled to discover their duty as Masons , and estimate the wonderful works of the Almighty

Creator , men upon whom our striking lessons of natural equality and mutual dejiendance will not be thrown away . Men like these are capable of being taught in the active princi p les of universal beneficence aud charity to seek the solace of their own distress , and to extend relief aud consolation to their fellow-creatures in the hour of affliction ;

these are men whose souls are freed from the dominion of pride and prejudice , who look beyond the narrow limits of particular institutions , whether civil or religious , and view in every son of Adam a brother of the dust ; men who will bend , with , humility and resignation , to the Great Architect of the universeand dedicate their heartsthus purified from

, , every malignant passion , to prepare for tho reception of truth and wisdom , to His glory aud the good of their fellow creatures . It is , indeed , absolutely necessary for the safety of the Craft that we should unhesitatingly proclaim to the world that none other but such men as we have specified can , without perjuring their souls , take our high and holy

obligations upon them . It was well observed by our late M . W . Grand Master , His Royal Highness the Duke of Sussex , that , "If brethren , when they enter into this society , do not reflect upon the principles upon which it is founded ; if thoy do not act upon the obligations which ( hey have taken upon themselves to discharge , all I can say is , that the sooner any such individuals retire from the Order , the better it will be for tho society , and the move creditable to themselves . "

What should we think of any one of "the outer world who should ffivc a testimonial of sood character to a worthless member of society 1 If a merchant recommended a man whom he know to be dishonest , would he not be looked at askance when bo presented himself on 'Change 1 If a lady introduced to her female friends a woman whom she

know to have forfeited the distinguishing virtue of her sexno matter whether she caused her to be received as a companion or as a domestic servant—would she not be considered as dead to all sense of shame , and unfit to associate with the wives and daughters of reputable citizens 1 What , then , are wc to think of those Lodges "who , for a consideration ,

actually sell those important signs and tokens which , as Bro . Dr . Franklin well expresses it , are to " serve as testimonials of character and ability" 1 Of course the Lodges who act in this way generally contribute . no more to any of our noble charities than what the Book of Constitutions very properly renders binding upon them : their notion of model Freemasons might have been taken from Drunken Barnab y : — ,