udy this very interesting subject of "Gnosticism"
from which the most detrimental system in the Christian era was
originated, "The Monasticism." In this ecclesiastical order the writer
had been distinguished with the rank of "Archimandrites."

[Illustration: H. R. H. PRINCE ARTHUR, DUKE OF CONNAUGHT AND STRATHEARN,
K. G., ETC.]

To what extent the celibacy of monks and nuns debased the fundamental
principles of Christianity there are a number of publications whose
authors are eye-witnesses of the orgies practised in their own
monasteries, and the writer in his superior office in two of the leading
monasteries had had the opportunity to acquire all the necessary
evidence to demolish every one of these hell-pits, to many a young man
and young woman innocent, otherwise, before entering there, and drive
away all these parasites that have no consideration to any civil or
moral law and live upon the sweat of the brow of the long-suffering
Church slaves.

Within the bounds of philosophy, at this stage of our progress it will
be useful to recapitulate the conclusions at which we have arrived, and
thus make a point of rest from which to extend our observations further
into the plan of God for redeeming the world, for "I am not sent but
unto the lost sheep of the House of Israel." This view is the more
appropriate as we have known in the history of God's providence with
Israel, which presents them as a people prepared (so far as imperfect
material could be prepared) to receive the model which God might desire
to impress upon the nation. They were bound to each other by all the
ties of which human nature is susceptible, and thus rendered compact and
united, so that every thing national, whether in sentiment or practise
would be received and cherished with unanimous, and fervent, and lasting
attachment; and, furthermore, by a long and rigorous bondage, they had
been rendered, for the time being at least, humble and dependant. Thus
they were disciplined by a curse of providence, adopted to fit them to
receive instruction from their Benefactor with a teachable and grateful
spirit.

Their minds were shaken off from idols; and Jehovah, by a revelation
made to them, setting forth his name and nature, had revealed himself as
Divine Being, and by his works had manifested his Almighty power: so
that when their minds were disabused of wrong views of the Godhead, an
idea of the first, true, and essential nature of God was revealed to
th