the King appoints upon the recommendation of the Government of Transylvania. The supernumerary assessors have only one vote in council; but in the absence of any of the actual judges, one of them takes his place. In the election of the members of this Court, the four creeds recognised by the State are always equally represented. An attorneygeneral and chancellor complete the "Royal Table," from which tribunal an appeal lies to the Transylvanian Government in Klausenburg, and thence to the King. Cases of high treason are brought before the Diet. The chief town, or rather the only town, of the Haromsek, -a fertile plain which comprises the three southern seats of the Sekler country,-is Kesdi Vasarhely, situated upon the site of the Roman colony of "Prætoria Augusta. The name Vasar-hely signifies market-town. This place has only 4,000 inhabitants, and contains nothing remarkable, except the military school, which was established by Francis II.; it receives a hundred boys, the sons of soldiers, who are maintained and educated free of expense, and are afterwards drafted into the border regiments. The school is well disciplined and supported; the rooms are clean and airy, and there is a library for the children, of Hungarian and German works. History, geography, mathematics, drawing, &c. are taught in these two languages, together with fencing and military training. A The Seklers who dwell in the Haromsek cultivate the land with great industry, and are breeders of horses. They have also large herds, which, during the summer, graze in Transylvania, and at the approach of winter are driven across the Danube upon the Turkish soil. They have possessed this right of pasturage since the peace of Carlowitz. similar practice was formerly in force among the Transylvanian nobles, at times when the country was exposed to the invasions of the Tartars. Their herdsmen left their retired valleys, and drove the herds into Wallachia, returning to Transylvania when the war was ended, and the roads were again safe, and rendering to their masters an account of their gains. Frequently they would be absent for years; but as soon as ever peace was restored, they presented themselves without fail at the castle, and not a single instance of dishonesty is on record. The herdsmen in each valley formed a kind of small republic; the head of each family was at the same time priest and judge; for although belonging to the Reformed Church, they had no stated clergymen. When they married their daughters, they would frequently repair to the castle of their lord, and there celebrate the wedding. Their diet consists chiefly of milk and cheese; they make their own garments of sheepskins, and they dwell in caves. THE AGNOMEN OF " BROTHER JONATHAN" OF MASONIC ORIGIN. GEORGE WASHINGTON, commander-in-chief of the American army in the revolution, was a Mason, as were all the other generals, with the solitary exception of Arnold, the traitor, who attempted to deliver West Point, a most important position, into the hands of the enemy. It was this treasonable act on the part of Arnold which caused the gallant Andre's death, and ultimately placed a monument over his remains in Westminster Abbey. On one occasion, when the American army had met with some serious reverses, General Washington called his brother officers together, to consult in what manner their effects could be best counteracted. fering as they did in opinion, the commander-in-chief postponed any action on the subject, by remarking, "Let us consult Brother Jonathan," referring to Jonathan Trumbull, who was a well-known Mason, and particularly distinguished "for his sound judgment, strict morals, and having the tongue of good report. " Dif George Washington was initiated a Mason in Fredericksburg, Virginia, Lodge No. 4, on the 4th of November, 1752, was passed a Fellow Craft on the 3rd of March, 1753, and raised to the sublime degree of a Master Mason on the 4th day of August, 1753. The hundredth anniversary of this distinguished Mason's initiation is to be celebrated in America throughout the length and breadth of the land. W. W. La Valetta, Malta. 52 THE MASONS OF THE MIDDLE AGES. CHAPTER I. THE CATHEDRAL OF STRASBURG. * THE attention and curiosity of the good people of Strasburg was attracted on the 18th of January, 1318, by a herald, attended by serjeants-at-arms, bearing silver maces, who traversed the narrow and dark streets of that city, about eight o'clock in the evening. As may be supposed, a crowd rapidly collected around him, and the honest burghers leaned out of their casements on their elbows, or hastened to their door-steps. Questions rapidly passed, to which none received a satisfactory reply, while the curious and eager concourse followed the authorities, impatiently awaiting the explanation of the enigma. Unmoved by the sarcasms which reached him, the herald moved on at the slow pace which suits the representative of authority, the serjeants restraining the most pressing among the people, and the trumpeters sounding a flourish at short intervals. Suddenly, all came to a stand-still. They had reached the grand square of Strasburg. The pressure from the crowd, to which every street and lane had now contributed its contingent portion, having been repressed by the serjeants, and the trumpets having once more sounded, a solemn silence succeeded to the tumult which had prevailed the instant before. The herald then slowly unfolded a parchment, to which the seals of the magistracy were appended; and after casting a dignified look on the bystanders, he commenced reading what proved to be a decree of the Council of Strasburg, in the following terms: "In the name and by the will of the mighty and powerful Prince Rodolph, emperor of Germany, the Council of Strasburg, considering that, by the death of Erwin Steinbach, *From the French. Master of the Works, the post he so worthily filled is vacant, and that it concerns the dignity of our city without delay to appoint a successor capable of directing the works of our holy cathedral,—that, in addition, it is impossible to exercise too much care in the selection of a person, to whom to intrust the same: It is therefore made known to the masters, fellowcrafts, and apprentices of the association of Freemasons, that it (the council) has come to the following resolutions : 1st. That after this said 18th of January, a competition shall take place in our good city of Strasburg, in which all masters, fellow-crafts, and apprentices, are invited to take part. "2nd. That all works of art which they intend to exhibit, shall be deposited at the Town Hall, within a month, for the inspection and examination of the council. "3rd. That he whose work shall be adjudged the best shall be constituted Master of the Works, the continuation of which shall be confided to his direction. Farewell." Among the eager crowd who pressed around the herald, two individuals appeared to listen most attentively to the reading of the proclamation. One, of slender figure, with long black hair, cast an absent look around, and seemed rather to be absorbed in the sweet but sad emotions of his own soul, than in the various resolutions of the council. This young man, who might have been thought a mere child, but for a small black moustache which turned gracefully on his upper lip, was about 22 years old, and was habited in a brown velvet dress, which gave expression to a form, vigorous but slight; and indeed, his attitude bespoke a decision and energy by no means common. His features were regular; and, without being precisely handsome, his countenance possessed the charm of youth and great intelligence. This young man was a native of Silesia, named Bernhard Saunder. The other person was tall, robust, and his capacious shoulders supported a well-formed head; but nature had set the seal of audacity and insolent haughtiness upon his countenance in a manner not to be mistaken; the man was called Polydore, and was born at Boulogne-sur-Mer. Both these persons belonged to the craft of artisans attached to the works of the cathedral. Bernhard was yet but an apprentice, and had but recently been initiated in the lodge of Freemasons at Strasburg; but Polydore had long been a Craftsman, and was on the point of being raised to the degree of Master. It was curious to observe the different effects of the proclamation upon the two men; for while each had eagerly made himself acquainted with the steps about to be taken by the council, the communication caused Bernhard to turn deadly pale, while Polydore's countenance beamed with joy and pride, and haughty and impious words escaped from his disdainful lips. The reason of this was, that Bernhard, still little skilled in the science of architecture, could not conceal from himself his want of power; whilst Polydore, who was the best workman of the body, knew well that none would dare to dispute the prize with him; and he accordingly tasted by anticipation the joy of becoming Master of the Works. The crowd now dispersed, and noise and tumult straightway ceased. But few remained, save Polydore, surrounded by a small group of craftsmen and apprentices, and Bernhard, alone, pale, and still absorbed by the painful feelings caused by the reading of the resolutions. For a moment the eyes of Bernhard and Polydore met, and a glance of hatred flashed forth from the encounter. "Oh!" murmured the younger, "if he triumph, woe to him!-woe to me!" Thus saying, he withdrew in despair, not daring to cast a second glance in the same direction, where the craftsmen were standing, and who were staring at him; while Polydore, shrugging his shoulders, and observing his retreating steps, thus addressed himself to his companions: "I know not, my masters, if success may be reserved for me; but assuredly, if not, I shall lose the pleasure of chastising that young puppy, whose looks by no means please me." This derisive speech aroused shouts of laughter from his companions, and, with Polydore at their head, they directed their steps towards a neighbouring tavern, singing a chorus then in vogue amongst the Masons. In the mean time Bernhard had gone towards the cathedral; his eyes bent upon the ground, and his heart full of sad misgivings, for Polydore and old Erwin Steinbach, and even the cathedral of Strasburg, were not everything to him; his whole soul was concentrated upon Sabina. But we must explain Erwin de Steinbach had left two children behind him; each, doubtless, worthy of the interest of the city, but unequal, at least so it was thought,-to continue the work so gloriously begun by their father. : The elder had taken an active part in the works of the cathedral, and was already a distinguished Freemason. As |