The Origin Of The Names Of The Masonic Fraternity. *

jinSQj mazzaroth , is supposed to denote certain constellations of the zodiac , as ib is derived from V"m j planet , Avhichis in its turn derived from , - ^ -, to pour from the stars , an allusion to the influence the stars are supposed to exercise on the fortunes

of man . But I would rather adhere to this opinion , that the Avoid signifies the name " zodiac , " from nH " , broadsword belt , or , perhaps ; solne more obsolete radix which means " to turn in a circumference , " . which may , indeed , denote the

revolutions of the stars . It is very easy to connect this etymology of our name with the character of the Order , as the study of astronomy is recommended to neophytes , not , indeed , on account of the nature of the Institution , but of the

social position of its members , as Ave shall see presently . Our learned Bro . Albert G . Mackey marks in his Lexicon , as a curious coincidence , that the HebreAV phrase i ? aa , Avhich he pronounces , masang , mason , means a quarry . With due deference to

his opinion , I beg to observe that , in this case , he has overshot the mark by au erroneous , though , perhaps , authorised translation . In Genesis xiii . 3 , this Avord occurs Avhere it is . said that Abraham " AA ent on his jonrney" ( " ¦ s - $ fc < . l ); also in Exodus

xl . 38 , " For the cloud of the Lord Avas upon the tabernacle by day , and fire was on it by night , in the sight of all the House of Israel , throughout all their journeys " ( -S ^ yor ) . The original meaning of this Avord is to remove , change places ,

castra movere , from yoj , " to be motioned aAvay from one ' s place , " to change , and from thence " to travel . " My distinguished friend seems to take its meaning from 1 Kings vi . 7 , Avhere it is used in speaking of the stones that served to build the

Temple . The phrase saw ? 5 a ? 6 < 2 X is translated in our version by " stone made ready before it was brought thither . " Its literal meaning , hoAVever , is not " stone from the quarry , " but " stone extracted entire , " that is to say , that it had not to be worked a-fterAvards .

Though very striking analogies maybe found in the original meaning of some of the phrases cited , Avhich may represent parts o f the word " Masonry " according to the point of view of the etymologist , still it is necessary to go somewhat deeper into

the dark recesses of the past to find the ori gin of the names used to designate our Fraternity . I cannot help thinking that such names must have been used for that purpose centuries before the Hellenic tongue attained its classical rank and

prior to the exodus of the Israelites from the land , of bondage . Pythagoras , to whom Ave are indebted for the phrase p-eo-ovpaviw , in its connection Avith the mysteries , drew from a still more ancient source the exalted idea contained in that word : I think

it is going much too far to aver that its real meaning explains the hidden meaning of all that relates to what many consider as a fabulous myth of our history , viz ., the building of the temple of King Solomon . I speak of those words in the

plural , as , in my opinion , the names Mason and Freemason , though indiscriminately used amongst brethren , are neither identical nor synonymous ; they only OAve their -very different meaning to distinct and peculiar reasons .

We find on the present day , in our own language , many Avoids Avhich are doubtless identical , in sound and meaning , to some Hebrew words , and from this Ave may infer the existence of similar Avords derived from other tongues . The

grammatical construction of the Semitic languages offers a remarkable similarity ; and though Egyptian is not technically comprised in that category , it is incontestable that many of its roots are identical to those of Hebrew . Klaproth

believes to have proved the universal affinity of languages , but for this assumption he could only account by the supposition that fragments of a certain primitive tongue Avere in existence in all idioms of the NeAV and Old Worlds . Professor

Lepsius says that one of the chief points that engrossed his attention with reference to the ancient Egyptian tongue , is the " undeniable connection existing- between the Semitic alphabets and the demofics , and consequently the hieroglyphic

alphabets of the Egyptians . " In Hebrew Ave have n y . ) KNE , cane ; -1113 NTHE , nitre ; "oV OBE , over ; i $ Z PEG , fig ; all similar in sound and meaning to the corresponding words in our language ; besides "J'f ; D PUDS , paradise , derived from Persian . * The names of the Order which I have

just quoted seem to belong to the class of words Avhich preserve the sound of their primitive language , so to speak , Avhen transferred to our OAVH . On page 352 of his Egyptian grammar , Champollion gives a table of active participles that are used in the hieroglyphic inscriptions as nouns adjective . Amongst these there is the participle