him, which we see by its effects, regarded the Christians. Both he and the emperor then were acquainted with the persons against whom they were legislating, before Pliny came into Bithynia. This, Sir, I think will be the conclusion of your readers, unless you adduce the aforenamed "confession." In pointing out the words of the letter, which contain this "confession," you will oblige us by extending your kindness so far as to inform us in what part of the letter you discovered that "there were then no books among these Christians."

But we have yet if possible, a more weighty matter to settle with you "All the information that Pliny could get of them, was, that they were a FEW SLAVES," &c. How could you write this and not blush? Read, Sir, the clearest conviction of this base falsehood, in the letter above quoted. "For many of all ages, of every rank, of both sexes, are accused, and will be accused. Nor has the contagion seized cities only, but the lesser towns also and the open country.”

I have only time to enter my solemn protest against your attempt to enlist Origen, under your infidel standard. The only question is, did Origen represent Jesus Christ as “a hero of fable." You are challenged to the proof of it. One more topic and I have finished this most disagreeable

task.

"The close similarity between the fable of Jesus and that of Prometheus, is another proof, that the former contains no literal truth." I reply. by another reductio ad absurdum. The close similarity between the fable of Prometheus and that of Carlile, the material "principle of reason," persecuted "by the power of pre-existing error,” is another proof that the former never had any real existence. But, now, pray Sir, where do you find this close similarity? This you should have exhibited before you drew your inference. Every school-boy might confute you from his classical dictionary. Lempriere among other things, says of Prometheus: "He surpassed all mankind in cunning and fraud. He ridiculed the Gods and deceived Jupiter himself. To punish him, he ordered Mercury or Vulcan to carry this artful mortal to Mount Caucasus, and there tie him to a rock, where for thirty thousand years a vulture was to feed upon his liver." If there be close similarity between this fable and the history of Jesus, then there may be similarity between Atheism and Christianity, Virtue and Vice, and whatever else is most opposed.

J. R. BEARD.

NOTE. I have not had space or time to make an answer in full to this article; nor even to make notes on the latter part of it. I shall, therefore, devote as early a number of "The Republican" as possible to it. For the present, I have been deprived of the use of my small stock of books, they being locked up, and I having no where to put them when unlocked, and reference, to reply to such an article, is essential. This, therefore, must not be considered as my reply. R. C.

IRVING AND THE DOCTORS.

INTRODUCTORY LECTURES.

THE assertion of Mr. Irving, that all the literary and scientific men of the day are infidels, has frightened the surgical lecturers, at least, out of their common sense or honesty. When I attended lectures, infidel opinions were freely uttered by lecturers, and, as they bore the stamp of truth, were as freely acquiesced in by pupils. But, now, alas! the scene is changed. Neither the conventicle, nor the Inquisition could require more cant, false logic, and humbug. The first symptom of this that met my eye, was a report in a medical journal, edited by a Dr. Johnson, of the speech of Sir H. Halford (well and justly ridiculed by The John Bull") on the opening of the new College of Physicians, in which the sapient baronet praised Dr. Bailey for his religious principles, and which the worthy editor, par nobile fratrum! reports, because it rescues the profession from the horrible charge of scepticism! This pretty piece of humbug or folly, I find by "The Lancet," is well followed by the Anatomical Lecturers of London in general.

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Not to trouble your readers with the similar nonsense of many, I will take one of the ablest surgeons and best anatomists, my late master, Mr. Charles Bell.

He says, "For it (Anatomy) not only furnishes you with a knowledge of a human art-an art more or less connected with many others, but it brings home to you the perfections of the Great Author of your existence; it gives you the most striking instances of his power and wisdom, and it furnishes you with the just conclusion that the same power which formed continues to watch over and protect"!! again, "From a careful examination of the body, we are led naturally to consider the being dwelling in a body, otherwise INSIGNIFICANT!!" How are the mighty fallen! How is science degraded when it stoops to support the superstitions of barbarism! I did not mean a pun; but such observations are more worthy our professional progenitors, the barbers, than an enlightened philosopher like Mr. Bell. Even in so bad a cause, I did not think him capable of uttering so much absurdity in so short a space. The first part of the first sentence is a false and illogical assumption, that the lesser wonder, man, could not be self existent, but the greater wonder, God, could. This is making the minor include the major. Mr. B. might as well tell us St. Paul's Church is larger than the globe of which it forms a part. Then comes the " power and wisdom;" when Mr. B.'s life is devoted to remedy the weakness of omnipotence, the blunders of wisdom, and the imperfections made by a PERFECT BEING! If Mr. B. were capable of acting, or thinking, as he speaks, he ought, for his own credit and the safety of his patients, to convert his scalpel

into a pruning hook. Dr. Johnson, not the sapient editor, but the literary colossus, said, that lord Monboddo wrote nonsense without knowing it, but Rousseau knew he was writing nonsense. The latter, I must think, is the case with Mr. Bell, and with most, if not all the lecturers. It is cant, disgraceful cant. Science basely crawling with fear, while the Promethean vulture, priestcraft, finds new food in every bound of Genius towards its kindred skies.

But to resume. The conclusion of the first sentence," that the same power which formed continues to watch over," &c. is worthy the logic of the rest. It is a complete non sequitur, and if God watched, what need of Mr. Bell's surgery? What use are his discoveries in the nervous system? Why devote our acknowledged IMPERFECT faculties of mind (another specimen of wis dom and power!) to mitigate the evils of our PERFECT! bodily structure? Then the second sentence finishes the absurdity. This fine body, which proves so much for the "wisdom and power," is otherwise INSIGNIFICANT! except that we are "naturally" led to consider the being dwelling therein. Mr. Laurence, thanks to lord Eldon, has proved to all the world that we are naturally led to no such thing. He has stated truly that the soul (he should have said the thinking faculty, or principle of vitality, for it is not certain whether they be identical) could not be discovered amidst the blood and filth of a dissecting. room! On the contrary, anatomy would lead us to deny altogether the independent existence of the being dwelling in the body, (what knife is fine enough to cut it, or discover its seat?) though physiology may, perhaps, lead us to a somewhat different conclusion."

I must observe, that I have taken Mr. Bell, because I highly respect his great and various talents, and regret their perversion, and because, as the greatest beauties sometimes have a mole," they can better afford to have it noticed.

10, Goodge street, Middlesex Hospital.

R. T. WEBB.

P. S. I believe I have intimated on the immaculate conception that there is no better evidence of design in health than in disease. An eye we can see with and a blind eye are equally the result of certain principles acting on certain structures, and we merely adapt the use to the structure. My shoulder was not designed to enable my arm to move in every direction; but I adapt the motion to the structure. The proof of this is, (without noticing the absurdity of a perfect designer making cripples), the variety of operations persons can perform, who are born without the organs, Deists say, were designed to perform them: a savage might suppose glass was designed for windows but we know it is only adapted.

FURTHER EXPOSURE OF THE "ODD FELLOWS."

To Mr. R. Carlile, 135, Fleet Street, London.

SIR, Kensington, Nov. 20, 1825. THE following is a correct account of the King's Lodge of Odd Fellows, Kensington. There is no higher lodge than this of Kensington, of which I am a member. The following is a list of the officers of the Kensington lodge: a noble grand, with his two supporters, a vice-grand, with his two supporters, a secretary, a warden, a tiler or guardian, and a treasurer. The noble grand wears a scarlet robe, trimmed with fur, and faced with velvet, and yellow epaulettes on the shoulders, a round scarlet hat, turned up in front, and a black velvet regalia, trimmed with gold lace. The vicegrand wears the same, and all other officers wear the same, excepting the warden and guardian. During an initiation, the warden wears a cocked hat similar to an officer's of the army. The guardian wears a black robe, and a mask representing a merry devil's head with two horns standing up. The noble grand's mask resembles a very old man's face, with a long beard and nose. The warden is the same. The vice-grand's resembles an ugly old man's face, without a beard, and a tremendous nose. The brothers wear all sorts and sizes. There is an election every quarter for a new noble and vice-grand, and a secretary. The noble grand receives a medal of silver the value of one guinea. This medal represents a blazing star; in the centre is a representation of Noodle the Fourth's head. The vice-grand receives one of the value of ten shillings. And the secretary receives seven shillings per quarter.

The following is the form of an initiation :-" Lodge night, Nov. 1825; Past Grand Taylor proposes Mr. Robert Wellford, of Kensington, to become a brother noodle of this order, seconded by Past Grand Silverthorn." The noble noodle gives it out, "That all you who are brothers of this lodge, that are of opinion, that the said Robert Wellford shall become a brother noodle of this our order, being every way qualified, that is to say, is no bailiff, or bailiff's follower, no common informer, no apprentice, and has obtained the age of twenty-one years, signify the same by holding up your right hand." This being done, two past grands are sent down stairs to inspect the new noodle, to see that he is every way qualified. The warden prepares for the initiation. The brother who has proposed the new noodle goes and brings him to the door of the lodge, and gives three knocks. The guardian answers, and asks, "Who comes there?" The answer is, "A gentleman regularly proposed, who wishes to be initiated into our most honourable order." The guardian reports to the noble grand, and he receives an order to admit him. In opening the door be makes as much noise as possible with the chain that crosses it, as the new noodle enters, all the brothers make a great noise with scraping their feet on the floor. The guardian takes noodle by the collar and says, "In whom do you put your trust?" Noodle answers, "In God." The guardian leads him to the warden, and tells him to observe that venerable character sitting before him. Noodle is told to place his hands under the guardian's arms and lift him up; but he must he very careful, for he is very old and infirm. As soon as noodle has lifted him up, the warden seizes him by the collar of the shirt with a violence that often breaks cloth, or stitches, or buttons, and says, in a fierce tone, "Stand, thou presumptuous mortal, and know, that the best and wisest of men have been Odd Fellows in all ages.

Are you come here with an evil eye, or wrangling disposition, to peep and pry into the secrets of our order, and go make them to the open world? If you have, we will brand you with such a mark of infamy, that death itself shall not erase: answer me." Noodle says, "No." "If, on the contrary, you prove a true and faithful brother, we will nourish you to the brink of the grave. Give me your right hand, and follow me—take care you do not look back." Noodle is told to give his Christian and surname, and to speak with a voice like thunder, for he is very deaf. This Noodle does, the warden leads him to the vice-grand, where he is told to make a bow: then to the right and left hand supporters. He is addressed by the vice-grand in the following manner: "Stranger, stranger, stranger, can you keep a secret?" Noodle answers, "I can." "I have to inform you, that what you are about to undertake is more serious than you may expect, not deviating from the laws of this realm. I have nothing more to say to you but to recommend you to our most noble grand and his right hand supporter; take particular notice of what he shall say to you. I will thank you to make me a low bow, and depart." Noodle is led to the noble grand's right hand supporter, and the following dialogue passes ::-"Stranger and intended brother, is it by your own desire that you wish to become a brother of this our order?" Noodle-" Yes." "Then I will thank you to place your right hand on your left breast, and your left hand on this instrument of death, and emblem of justice, and repeat after me our most solemn and binding obligation-I do most faithfully promise to pay all due respect to our most noble grand Odd Fellow, to promote mirth, and relieve a brother in distress, without injury to myself, wife, family, or friends. I will not betray, nor cause to betray, the secrets of this order. All this I do most faithfully promise, upon my honour, upon my honour, upon my honour.'” This is considered as binding as an oath taken before a magistrate. A brother near the canopy sings a song, which begins thus:

"Brothers attentive stand,
While our most noble grand

Gives you the charge," &c. &c. &c.

This song is sung while the noble grand's two supporters undraw the cur

tains of the canopy, for the noble grand is in secret during the whole time of the initiation until now; he is pretending to be asleep. The right hand supporter tells Noodle he has come at a very bad time, for the noble grand is taking his slumber. Noodle is asked if he will come another night, or have it over now. He says, "I will have it over now." The right hand supporter gives the noble grand a shake, and tells him a stranger stands before him. The noble grand says, "How gained he admittance within these close and strong walls?" He is told, by the recommendation of a worthy brother. The noble grand says, "Where is he?" "Here he is, quiz him, most noble grand, why he looks like an Odd Fellow already, and no doubt, under our present disguise, he takes us for such. But learn, stranger, learn, not to judge persons by their outward appearance alone; for sorry am I to say, that mankind oftentimes prove deceitful, and I think here is a proof of it." Noodle is told to make a very low bow. While he is doing this, all the brothers slip off their masks. Noodle is then shewn the signs; the first is the entering sign, which is three separate knocks on the door. The guardian reports to the noble grand, and he reports again. Then the door is opened. The next is the pass-word, which is, to place the fore finger of your right hand up to the right side of your nose, and let it fall carelessly on your left breast. This is to denote the word, should