The Greek Lodge Arete At Constantinople.

we should place our lodgo under the protection of a foreign Grand Lodge . And here lies one of our principal objects for inquiry , although rather a formal one . We are aware that representatives of several foreign lodges have already begun to counteract our own , or have endeavoured , at least , to make ours dependent upon theirs . It would be really unadvisable for us safely to

handle a - point whereon some strangers wish to create a sore . Persuaded , however , that the body of our Greek brotherhood is nowhere vulnerable , and counting on the sound-mindeduess and prevailing concord of the brethren here present , we can point out distinctly , and invite all foreigners to see , that the Greek Masoii is in . the enjoyment of full healthand that he is strong both

, in mind and heart . Three protections are extant for our choice , the Italian , tbe French , and the English—all of them are excellent . All these three Easts profess Masonic virtues , and we might be disposed to accept any one of them indiscriminately , respecting them as we do alike , did theinterests of our lodge not require , firstly , to enjoy as much

independence as possible , while under tutelage ; and , secondly , a powerful protection before the local government . To these two requisites we now wish to draw the attention of the brethren , so as to vote for the one we may deem auost able to grant them the desired protection . This is the interest of the Greek lodge , and none else . The object of the Greek Masons is not to meddle with

political factions and be divided into ministerial organs , or for an opposition , as is just now somewhere the case , nor subject themselves , as it happens elsewhere , to the anxious inspection of a military government , which

allows sometimes the free action of the legs of the compass while it holds it by the head . Such is by no means our purpose ; it is only the instilling of virtuous principles , the enlightenment of those that are in darkness , and the alleviation of suffering that they are looking after . These aro , we repeat , our main objects . They

are so beyond doubt , I am happy to say . Now , without any reference to governments , the Masons in Europe , although they form one particular class , they form , nevertheless , part of the uninitiated community among whicli they live . It is from such they draw their inspirations , and reflect its necessities , and by partaking of its sympathies and antipathies forget bow their work

follows , ever and anon , the tendencies of that very corncommunity by which they are surrounded . From among the European Masons there are those who are dreaming of revolutions , others consorting bright theories , and thus each is working according to the bent of the community to which he belongs , and no doubt imposes tbe same course to those under bim ; but as for

ourselves , we feel bound to work for tbe wants of our nation , which are not those of the European communities . We by no means intend to meddle with political enterprises . It may be that some of our brethren here present disapprove our speaking so frankly about Masonry as practised now-a-days in Europe . They may have a reason ,

but we beg to assure them that on no other occasion would our remarks have been allowed to overstep the bounds of our private circle . In view , however , of what we are witnessing about us , we are bound not to forget

the maxim— Amicus Plato , sed magis arnica Veritas . And here we repeat , for the third time , that our object is purely Masonic ; it is only the propagation and enforcement of virtuous manners and saving knowledge . To effect this , we must exercise our powers of action as independentlas possibleand equalluninfluenced

y , y by foreign interests . Ton are now , brethren , requested to pronounce under what East we are likely to find protection , free of political or governing influence , and such as will give us the independence required . This question once settled ,

The Greek Lodge Arete At Constantinople.

there remains the financial part to be discussed . At the first outset but few expenses are required . Should we become attached to the French , we are required to pay about £ 20 for the warrant ; if to the English , £ 7 are sufficient ; and by adding £ 20 more for other extras ( which , by the bye , are not inevitable ) , we may , by a capital of £ 40 , meet all the first necessary expenses of

our lodge . The house , furniture , and the like will not force upon us an immediate outlay , since the European lodges in tbis place , on hearing of the contemplated opening of the Greek , have already offered us very kindly their fraternal hospitality . We see no reason why we should not accept their kind offer for the time being , until , by the

increase of our funds , we may be able to have a temple and furniture of our own . We have shown to you , brethren , that in order to begin our work the funds required are only £ 30 or £ 40 , and these , we feel confident , the Greek Masons will unhesitatingly contribute on considering the moral good to be effected by their so doing . The third point will be the election of the Worshipful

Master , whose duty , besides that of the opening of the lodgo , will be to cause it to be recognised by the adopted East , and obtain its requisite licence . ' The fourth , and last , question is the formation of the by-laws of tbe lodge , which are to be very elaborate , and adequate to the spirit of the brotherhood , so as to avoid every unforeseen omission that might at some future

period impede its internal progress . In conc \ nsion , we \ ieg to say that what ¦ wela & ve so ? av advanced has not been with a view of imposing our own ideas , aware , as we are , that there are many brethren here at present able to give many profound and clever suggestions on the subject of this our present meeting . Begging to be excused for the length of this statement ,

we submit to your decision the following propositions , by way of recapitulation : — 1 st . To establish a Greek Lodge in Constantinople . 2 nd . To place it under the English Constitution , as the best adapted to onr purposes . 3 rd . To elect the Worshipful Master by ballot . 4 th . To appoint a committee of three members , for the purpose of compiling the by-laws of the lodge , aud submit them to the final approval of a future meeting .

The Sepulchre Of Christ.

THE SEPULCHRE Of CHRIST .

Mr . Fergusson has delivered a lecture at the Royal Instituiton , with a view to show that the building in the sacred enclosure at Jerusalem , called by Europeans , the " Mosque of Oma ) r " ( but by the Mussulmans the "Dome of the Rock " ) , and supposed b y some to have been built by Omar

over the site of the altar of the Jewish Temple , is really the Church of the Resurrection , " built b y Constantine over the rock which he believed to contain the sepulchre of Christ . In his former lecture , in March , 1862 , on the same subject , he had argued the Christian and Constantinian origin

of the "Dome of the Rock" mainly from the architecture of that building . No refutation of his arguments having been put forward , he said , and his own recent visit to the spot having confirmed him in his former views , he took this oportunit y of re-enforcing them . This he did by the reverse

process of argument to that formerl y employed , viz ., by describing the dimensions of the successive temples of the Jews . "If I can convince you that the rock which is situated in . the centre of the