how widely soever they might be separated, the ardor of their love suffered no diminution; and forgetting every other distinction in that of being the followers and friends of the Saviour, they sympathized in each other's joys and sorrows. Whatever blessing one of their number had received, was a subject of lively gratitude to all; and whatever calamity had befallen a single member, spread a gloom over the whole community. Bound to each other by ties infinitely holier and dearer than any that belong to the world, they looked upon themselves as members of the same common family. Every time that they met, either in their own houses or in their public assemblies, they interchanged the kiss as a badge of fellowship and token of the warmest affection. Though totally unconnected by ties of consanguinity, they addressed each other according to their respective age and sex, by the name of father, mother, brother, sister. Though naturally separated by distinction of rank and diversity of color, nothing could cool the ardor or prevent the reciprocities of their mutual love. The knowledge of the simple fact that any one was a follower of Jesus, changed him at once from a stranger into a friend; creating a union between them not to be described by the cold selfish friendship of the world; and to them belongs the peculiar distinction of realizing a state of society which many philosophers had often delighted to picture to

94 MASONIC FORM OF THE FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH.

their fancy, and wished for in vain-the idea of a community united by no other bond than the golden chain of universal love.

By the foregoing, it appears to be demonstrated beyond a doubt that Christianity at its birth enveloped itself in secrecy and mystery. Divine and unspeakably important as its idea was, it did not disdain these human agencies which, in all the institutions of antiquity, were found so useful in winning the attachment and training the thoughts of the people. While Christianity was unquestionably the highest and divinest revelation of eternal truth, and brought to man the means of solicitation from sin, it sought in its material organism to provide for many of the wants and to alleviate many of the distresses of the outward life, which all human institutions had overlooked. The Christian Brotherhood was based on a new social idea, and the only one that can ever renovate society, and that idea could in no way be so well illustrated as in that secret order in which it was first enshrined. Protected by its mysterious veils from the assaults of its enemies, the gospel worked its way in the world, and finally gained the material dominion thereof, and promises in the end to subdue all things to itself.

CHAPTER VIII.

Essenean Freemasonry.

WHEN Solomon had matured his magnificent design of a Temple to be consecrated to the Most High, he found it impossible to carry that design into execution without foreign assistance. The Hebrew nation, constantly struggling for its material existence, and just rising to the condition of a civilized people, had made little proficiency in science and architecture, and especially the ornamental arts. There were few artificers, and probably no architects in Judea.

Impelled, we know not by what motives, Hiram, king of Tyre and Sidon, sent to Solomon a society of architects, under the presidency of Hiram, the Sidonian, to assist him in building the Temple, or rather to superintend the construction of that magnificent edifice.* These builders, like the Collegia Fabrorum of ancient Rome and the Grecian orders, were without doubt a secret society; and it is very reasonable to suppose, that after the Temple was completed, a branch of so useful a society would be

2 Chron. ii. 3-15.

planted permanently in Judea. This conjecture is confirmed by the fact, that many years afterward some of the Hebrew Prophets condemn the secret Mysteries of the Sidonians, probably through a misapprehension of their real import, or because they had really degenerated, and been perverted to evil

uses.

The secret principle thus introduced among the Jews would not be likely soon to die out. But in the absence of all historical records regarding the particular forms it might have assumed, it would be presumption to propose any theory thereon. All that is certainly known is, that the secret Mysteries of the Cabiri were celebrated in Syria from the remotest times, and were carried to Jerusalem by Hiram, the chief of the Sidonian architects, who built the Temple of Solomon. After this period, through the long lapse of centuries, although secret societies must have existed in Judea, we have no account of them, only in a few remote allusions by some of the Hebrew writers.

In the time of the Maccabees, when Philosophy came to be cultivated by the Jews, and a taste for learning began to manifest itself, schools and sects were undoubtedly formed, modeled after the Grecian societies. To this epoch some writers refer the rise of the SOCIETY OF THE ESSEN,* or the Essenes.

* Essen is the name of the jeweled plate containing twelve precious stones which the High Priest wore upon his breast.

What is true, how

This may or may not be true. ever, is, that very early in the beginning of the Christian era such a society did exist, and was a well known order among the Jews. It is much to be regretted that more ample materials have not been preserved out of which to construct the history of this extraordinary association. All our information is derived from Josephus and Philo, the former claiming to have been a member of the brotherhood; although, if this be true, it is certain he never advanced beyond the first degree. As his account is important, and comprises everything that can be known, we give it entire in his own words.*

"And now Archelaus's part of Judea was reduced into a province; and Coponius, one of the equestrian order among the Romans, was sent as a procurator, having the power [of life and death] put into his hands by Cæsar. Under his administration it was that a certain Galilean, whose name was Judas, prevailed with his countrymen to revolt, and said they were cowards if they would endure to pay a tax to the Romans, and would, after God, submit to mortal men as their lords. This man was a teacher of a peculiar sect of his own, and was not at all like the rest of those their leaders.

"For there are three philosophical sects among the Jews: the followers of the first of which are * Vide Josph. Antiq., b. ii. c. viii.