It is claimed for Freemasonry that it is the most ancient society in existence; the proof is necessarily traditional. The archives Of the English Government furnish evidences of the existence of a society of Masons in the third century; documents still in existence prove that the institution of Free Masons was well known in 1440, and none can ques tion that since the year 1717 the society of Free and Accepted Masons has attracted considerable attention throughout the world. Tradition carries the masonic association (not under that name) back to a period long anterior to the Deluge. In confirmation of these traditions we have the writings of the ancient sages, which, inde pendent of holy'writ, afford so many coincidences in ceremonies, customs, usages, symbols and allegories, be tween the ancient mystic Or religious associations, and that which is now termed Freemasonry, as cannot fail to be convincing to the candid inquirer that the claim to antiquity is not fallacious.