after to M. Alexander Routier, but Routier did not use them. In 1762 he transferred them to his Lodge St. Jean d'Ecosse at Marseilles, which immediately began to work the rite extensively and, according to all testimony, respectably.

Who Mr. George Duvaluon may have been, it is impossible to state, and there is every reason to believe, that he was an impostor, trading on Routier's pockets, and that his powers were not derived from Scotland. One curious feature in connection with the Mother Grand Lodge of Marseilles (then of France), is that the Philosophic Rite derived practically from this source. It appears that in 1774 the Marseilles Mother Lodge constituted at Paris a Lodge under the title of "St. Jean d'Écosse du Contrat social", and of which it lost sight, and in 1776 the Philosophic Rite was started in this Lodge. This Mother Lodge of the Contrat social afterwards fortified itself with a recognition from the Lodge of Avignon in the Papal territories, which again, singularly enough, had emanated from a Marseilles warrant. In 1787 the Grand Mother Lodge of Marseilles applied to the Grand Scotch Mother Lodge of the Contrat social, i. e. to her daughter, for rituals of the Philosophic Rite for its own adoption, such is the term of prescriptive antiquity in Masonry. In 1852 an abortive attempt was made to revive it, but it is now thoroughly extinct.

At Metz was founded the chapter of "St. Theodor", which acknowledged the revised ritual of St. Martin; at Arras there was a Scotch-Jacobite chapter; at Paris the Lodge (A. R., i. e. Amis réunis) had practised since 1773 the ritual of the Philaletheans or seekers after truth, to whose secret chapters no officer of the Grand Orient was admitted; at Montpellier, in 1778, in the Lodge "de la Sincérité des Coeurs", a Rosicrucian chapter was instituted; and the Lodge of Philadelphians at Narbonne practised the so-styled Rite primitif. At Rennes, Masons had united under the title "Sublimes élus

de la vérite", &c.1. Belief in the reality of the high degrees was so firmly rooted in the French Masons, that it dimmed the vision of the most clear-sighted; so that when the idea of knights had been exhausted, they easily fell into other absurdities, such as second-sight, theosophy, &c. Cagliostro. All these exaggerations and profanations, which were the necessary consequence of the abandonment of the ancient landmarks and principles of Freemasonry, were far exceeded by the notorious Cagliostro.

This bold, unscrupulous adventurer, whose real name was Joseph Balsamo, was born at Palermo in 1743. To impetuous eloquence he united the most consummate impudence. Having acquired a certain degree of medical and chemical knowledge, after having married the beautiful Lorenza Feliciani in Rome, he travelled about, from Lisbon to Petersburg, under assumed names, such as the Marquis de Bellegrini, Count Felix, but chiefly that of Count Cagliostro, plundering all the credulous, sometimes calling himself a maker of gold, sometimes a conjuror, or a dealer in miraculous cures, to restore youth, to prolong life, and re-awaken passions which had long died out. His disciples attained to a physical new-birth and lived 5557 years, if according to the directions they had received, they made use once every fifty years of a cure in the country which lasted forty days, and were bled during full moon in the month of May, taking three grains of Materia prima at several times, drinking distilled water, and eating very little solid food.

What he gained elsewhere, was nothing in comparison' to that which he contrived to extract from the Freemasons.

1 See Thory, Histoire de la fondation du Grand Orient. (Monde Mac. III. vol. page 553)

2 Vide amongst others the "Life and Deeds of Jos. Balsamo, &c." From the law-suit carried on against him in Rome in 1790, &c. Frankenthal, 1790. Also the article "Cagliostro" by the Latomia-Society in New York in the Masonic Eclectic, vol. I, No. 3. (1860) New York.

Having in 1770 been initiated into a Lodge in London, into which he was admitted with the hope of learning something from him of the Rosicrucian tenets, he passed through the three degrees in one day, initiating his wife at the same time, that she might hereafter be of use to him. He then went to Germany, where he became acquainted with the Strict Observance, and received instruc tion from Christ. Nic. von Schroeder in Theosophy and the secret sciences. Armed with all this information, and having in his possession a manuscript he had bought in England, written by a certain George Cofton, he set about founding a new system of Masonry, which was called by him the Egyptian1 Masonry, and was afterwards celebrated, especially in France. He was the head, under the title of Grand Cophta2 (Grandkopt) and his wife Grandkophtin. The members were styled, simply, Kopten and Koptinnen; for the order was for both sexes, he initiating the men, she the women. In the Woman's Lodge, the presiding female was called the "Queen of Sheba." The advantages held out to the initiated were, the prolongation of life, a new-birth both physically and morally (the latter consisting in the attainment of original purity), dominion over the world of spirits, and the possession of the philosopher's stone. Longevity was secured by the use of strengthening medicines, and by drinking Egyptian wines, into which stimulants had been previously infused by him, and by ointments for the skin for the "Koptinnen." The science of Theurgy was practically exemplified on children, who, having been properly trained for the purpose, were introduced into the assemblies, and there, after innumerable incantations, were favoured with visions. The philosopher's stone he kindly prepared for his friends, charging

1 This extravagant order continued to exist from about the year 1782-88. The Misraimic system in France (99 degrees) likewise styles its ritual, Egyptian.

2 See the Grandkophta. Comedy in five acts. By Goethe.

them ten times more than the gold, which he had put in it, was worth. In 1779, Cagliostro introduced his ritual into Mitau in Courland, founding several Lodges there, and so far ingratiating himself into the favour of Countess Elise von der Recke, that she recommanded him to the Empress Katharine of Russia. However, when she discovered that he was an impostor, she unmasked him in a pamphlet, which was translated into the Russian language: "Information concerning the sojourn of the notorious Cagliostro in Mitau in 1779, and of the magic arts practised by him. Berlin 1787." He then wandered to France, where he for the first time felt himself completely at home. He became there the hero of the day; he was designated the great or the "divine" Cagliostro. Persons of rank wore his portrait and that of his wife in rings, snuff-boxes, and fans. The nobility pointed to his bust of marble or bronze which adorned their state rooms.

In 1782, he appeared in Lyons, where he established. a "Mother Lodge of the Egyptian Rite", under the title "the triumph of wisdom." From this one a numerous family of daughter lodges were rapidly developed. He gained very considerable sums by conferring constitutions on these Lodges, besides being well paid by all those who were admitted members. The Parisians burned with impatience to receive the hero within their walls. At length he made his appearance, and every one was filled with wonder and delight. After such a reception, he presumed it would be an easy thing to place himself at the head of all the Lodges. But in this he deceived himself. By degrees his fraud became manifest; in the affair of the necklace the police gave him a great deal of trouble, so that he deemed it advisable to quit France before the breaking out of the Revolution. He went to London, and thence to Rome, where he hoped to find a new field for his operations. But the Inquisition put a stop to his career; December 27th, 1789, he was thrown into prison. After a trial, which lasted many years, the Inquisition condemned him.

to death, which sentence the Pope changed into one of imprisonment for life. He died in 1795.

The Mot de Semestre. Of the further proceedings of the Grand Orient we will mention: 1. the resolution of February 21st, 1777, which forbids the Lodges and Masons to have anything printed until they have produced their Manuscript; 2. that the lawful age for the initiation of an Apprentice was 21, of a Fellow 23, and of a Master 25. July 3d, 1777, the Grand Master appeared for the first time since his installation in the solemnly adorned hall of the Grand Orient, and for the last time too as it would seem. "Convinced, by long experience, of the insufficiency of the means hitherto employed to keep away spurious masons, we do not think we can do wrong to ask the Grand Master to communicate to the regular masons a word once in six months, which will make them known as such to the Lodges which they may respectively visit." This the Grand Master1 immediately did, and since then this Mot de Semestre has been communicated every half year.

Voltaire's Initiation. In the following year, 1778, the Lodge of "Nine Sisters", which had been established by Lalande, and had been quickly joined by members of superior intellectual attainments, was distinguished by the initiation of Voltaire among their number. Franklin and Count de Gebelin introduced him into the Temple; the examination related to mere moral questions, and the usual forms were dispensed with. "His initiation was a triumph for himself, and of incalculable benefit to those present." Immediately after his initiation he was transferred to the Orient, where the presiding master, Lalande, welcomed him. Many persons of distinction, amongst whom we may mention George Forster, adorned this Lodge, each in his sphere actively endeavouring to spread the knowledge of the arts and sciences. No meeting was held without some exposition

1 Thory erroneously fixes the date of the communication of this Parole to October 22d, 1773.