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' S

CONTAINING A

DELINEATION OF THE FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES

OF

f r e t i n a s u i t r ,

OPERATIVE AND SPECULATIVE, AS WN;LL IN A RELIGIOUS AS, AMORAL VIEW.WITH EXPLANATIONS AND PLATES

OF ALL THEMRLEMS OF THE DEGREES OF ENTERED APPRENTICE, FELLOW CRAFT, MASTER MASON,'MARK MASTER, PAST MASTER, MOST EXCELLENT MASTER, ROYAL ARCH MASON, .ROYAL MASTER, SELECT MASTER, HIGH PRIESTHOOD, KNIGHTS OF THERED CROSS, KNIGHTS TEMPLAR$, AND KNIGHTS OF MALTA ;

ALSO,CONSTITUTIONS, REGULATIONS, ETC . ,

COMPILED AND ARRANGED FROM TER MOST APPROVED WRITER. ,WITH

ADDITIONS, NOTES, AND REMARKS ; ALSO, CHARGES AND SONGS ;

BY Z. A. DAVIS.f. N e i n B b i t i o n I a t b f z t b a l t o 3 t t I a x g e b .

PHILADELPHIA :CRAWFORD .& CO., PUBLISHERS,47 N. NINTH STREET.

MONITOR :


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O r i g i n o f M a s o n r y3O p i n i o n o f M o d e r n W r i t e r s . . . . 2 1G e n e r a l R e g u l a t i o n s3CONSTITUTIONS

CHAPTER I .

O f t h o s e w h o w o u l d b e f r e e a n d

accepted Masons7BaoT. I . O f G o d a n d R e l i g i o n 4 7IL Of Governmen t a ndt h e C i v i l A u t h o r i ty8- I I I , O f P r i v a t e D u t i e s0IV. O f P r e r e q u i s i t e s3V. I n s t r u c t i o n s f o r t h eC a n d i d a t e s4VI. O f P r o p o s i n g C a n d i -d a t e s4VII. T h e . C an di d a te5

CHAPTER II .

O f a L o d g e a n d i t s G o v e r n m e n t

B a' O T . I . O f a L o d g e7I I . O f O f f i c e r s a n d M e m -b e r s i n g e n e r a l7III. O f - t h e M a s t e r , h i sE l e c t i o n , O f f i c e , a n d D u t y . . . 5 8

LV . O f t h e W a r d e n s o f a

Lodge . . . . :0V. O f t h e S e c r e t a r y o f ad g e0' V I ' . O f t h e T r e a s u r e r o f a1 . " d g e1\ ' T I . O f t h e D e a c o n s o f aLodge2VIII. O f t h e S t e w a r d s , o rM a s t e r s o f C e r e m o n i e s2LIX. Of the Tyler of ao d e . . :6 2~f the Number to be

I n i t u t e d . 8INDEX . P e g s . : .XI . P r i v i l e g e s o f L o d g e s 6 8CHAPTER III .O f t h e B e h a v i o u r o f M a s o n s , a sMembers of a Lodge4SECT . I . O f A t t e n d a n c e4I I . O f W o r k i n g4I I I . O f B e h a v i o u r i n t h e -L o d g e w h i l e o p e n6 6IV. O f , B e h a v i o u r a f t e r t h e -L o d g e i s c l o s e dCHAPTER IV .Concerning the Behaviour ofM a s o n s i n t h e i r P r i v a t e c h a -r a c t e r67SECT . I . W h e n a N um b e r o f -Brethren happen to meet,w i t h o u t a n y s t r a n g e r s , a m o n g, t h e m , a n d n o t i n a f o r m a lLodge7- I I . W h e n i n t h e p r e s e n c eof strangers who are notMas o n s7III. W h e n a t h o m e a n d i ny o u r n e i g h b o u r h o o d8IV. O f B e h a v i o u r t o w a r d sa F o r e i g n B r o t h e r o r s t r a ng e r8V. O f B e h a v i o u r t o w a r d sa B r o t h e r , w h e t h e r p r e s e n to r a bs e n t9 'VI . C o n c e r n i n g D i f f e r -e n c e s a n d L a w s u i t s , i f a n ys u c h - s h o u l d u n h a p p i l y a r i s eamong Brethren69CHAPTER V .SECT-I.f Grand Lodges i nG e n e r a l1k

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10

IL Of the Electio n of Page

G r a n d M a s t e r s3III. O f t h e E l e c t i o n o r A p -

point ment of the DeputyG M3IV . O f t h e G r a n d W a r d e n s 7 4V. O f t h e G r a n d S e c r e t a r y 7 4V I . O f t h e E l e c t i o n a n d O f - -f i e e o f t h e G r a n d T r e a s u r e r 7 5VII. Of -the Grand Tylera n d t h e G r a n d P u r s u i v a n t . . . 7 6VIII. G e n e r a l r u l e s s f o r c o n - -d u c t i n g t h e b u s i n e s s o f t h e

G r a n d L o d g e , i n c a s e o f t h e

a b s e n c e o f a n y o f t h e G r a n d

O f f i c e r s6IX. O f G r a n d V i s i t a t i o n s ,C o m m u n i c a t i o n s , - A n n u a lF e a s t s , & o8-ENTERED APPRENTICE DE-GREE . -E n t e r e d A p p r e n t i c e0C h a r g e a t I n i t i a t i o n8Dalcho's Explan atio n of the

Working Tools9E n t e r e d A p p r e n t i c e ' s S o n g2FELLOW CRAFT DEGREE .R e m a r k s o n t h e S e c o n d D e g r e e 9 4O f O p e r a t i v e M a s o n r y7O f S p e c u l a t i v e M a s o n r y8O f t h e U s e o f t h e G l o b e s8O f O r d e r i n A r c h i t e c t u r e9O f i t s A n t i q u i t y9The Tuscan9The Doric1 0 0T h e I o n i c0 0The . C o r i n t h i a n0 0T h e C o m p o s i t e0 1T h e F i v e S e n s e s o f H u m a n N a -t u r e0 2Grammar0 6R h e t o r i c0 6L o g i c0 6A r i t h m e t i c . . *0 7Geometry0 7Music0 8Astronomy 08C h a r g e a t p a s s i n g t o t h e S e -cond Degree10MASTER MASON DEGREE .Ms t e r , M a s o n11The P o t o f I n c e n s e . . : 14INDEX -The Be e Hive14T h e B o o k o f C o n s t i t u t i o n15 . -T h e S w o r d p o i n t i n g t o a N a k e d - _ .H e a r t. 115-All-see ing Eye_- 1 1 5The Anc hor and Ark . :1 1 5T h e F o r t y - s e v e n t h P r o b l e m o fE u c l i d14The Hour-Glas s16The Scythe16 . .T h e T h r e e S t e p s1 7-C h a r g e a t R a i s i n g t o t h e S u b - _lime Degree o f a MasterMason . . . 117i l l u s t r a t i o n o f t h e M a s t e r ' s D e -g r e e1 8T h e F i v e P o i n t s o f F e l l o w s h i pf a r t h e r i l l u s t r a t e d2 0The Advan t a g e s wh i ch th etruly worthy Brother mayd e r i v e f r o m a p e r f e c t k n o w -l e d g e o f t h i s s u b l i m e d e g r e e 1 2 1 -MARK MASTER DEGREE .Mark Master :23K i n g S o l o m o n ' s L e t t e r t o H i -ra m29H i r a m ' s R e p l y29C h a r g e R e a d i n t h e L o d g e0Remarks on the Fourth . D e -g r e e . . . . .32C h a r g e o n A d v a n c e m e n t i n t h i sDegree35Mark Maste r's Song3 6-P a r a b l e37P r a y e r38PAST MASTER DEGREEO b s e r v a t i o n s o n t h e D e g r e e o fP a s t M a s t e r1 4 0CHAPTER I .The maner of constitutin g aL o d g e , i n c l u d i n g t h e c e r e -mony of Consecratio n a n dI n s t a l l a t i o n42SECT . I . O n t h e m a n n e r o f c o n - - s t i t u t i n g a L o d g e42 - -F o r m o f a P e t i t i o n f o r a NewLodge . . . . .4 2 ,. .C e r e m o n y o f C o n s t i t u t i o n43S e r v i c e s47C e r e m o n y o f C o n s e c r a t i o n ,48PAST MASTER -Ceremony o f - I n s t a l l a t i o n , . . . 1 6 1

I


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CHAPTER IV .

C e r e m o n y o b s e r v e d a t t h e d e -

d i c a t i o n o r C o n s e c r a t i o n o f

M a s o n s ' H a l l s6 1CHAPTER V.

Ceremony obs erved at Fune-

r a l s , w i t h t h e S e r v i c e t o b e

u s e d o n t h o s e o c c a s i o n s63CHAPTER VI

- P r o c e s s i o n s , N o . 1 .

O r d e r o f P r o c e s s i o n f o r o n e

L o d g e o n c o m m o n o c c a s i o n s 1 7 3

G r a n d P r o c e s s i o n s , N o . 2 .

O r d e r o f P r o c e s s i o n w h e n t h e

ceremony of cons ecrating

a n d " c o n s t i t u t i n g a L o d g e i s

p e r f o r m e d i n p u b l i c , & c1 7 4No . 3 . O r d e r o f P r o c e s s i o na t l a y i n g t h e f o u n d a t i o n

s t o n e s o f P u b l i c B u i l d -

i n g s , & c7 5CHAPTER VII .T h e g o v e r n m e n t o f t h e F r a t e r -

n i t y e x p l a i n e d7 8CHAPTER VIII .

?Gene ral Remarks8 0CHAPTER IX.T h e C e r e m o n y o f O p e n i n g a n dC l o s i n g a Lodge81- . PRAYERS,

Which may b e u s e d o n s e v e r a l

o c c a s i o n s . . .. .8 4A t O p e n i n g a n d I n i t i a t i o n84

= DEX . 11P a g e P a g e

Charge loSenior Warden5 4 U s e d i n a n c i e n t t i m e s a t J e r u -C h a r g e t o J u n i o r W a r d e n5 5 s a l e m8 5C h a r g e t o S e c r e t a r y5 5 A t t h e O p e n i n g o f a L o d g e8 7C h a r g e t o T r e a s u r e r5 5 A t t h e C l o s i n g o f a Lodge : . : . . . 1 8 7Charge t o S e n i o r D e a c o n5 6C h a r g e t o J u n i o r D e a c o n56 MOST EXCELLENT MASTER -C h a r g e t o S t e w a r d s o r M a s t e r s CHAPTER I .o f C e r e m o n i e s5 6 , R e m a r k s o n t h e S i x t h o r M o s tC h a r g e t o ; T y l e r5 7CHAPTER II .Ceremony observed at layi ng

the foundatio n of Public

B u i l d i n g s58CHAPTER III .C e r e m o n y a t t h e o p e n i n g o f aB r i d g e6 0 E x c e l l e n t M a s t e r ' s D e g r e e 1 8 8C h a r g e t o b e d e l i v e r e d t o aB r o t h e r w h o i s a c c e p t e d a n da c k n o w l e d g e d a s a M o s t E x -' c e l l e n t M a s t e r9 3 'ROYAL ARCH MASONCHAPTER LO b s e r v a t i o n s o n t h e S e v e n t h , -or Degree o f Roya l ArchMason9 5P r a y e r s r e h e a r s e d , d u r i n g t h eC e r e m o n y o f e x a l t a t i o n ;03

P r a y e r r e p e a t e d i n t h e R o y a l

A r c h L o d g e a t J e r u s a l e m . . . . 2 0 4

P a r t i c u l a r s r e l a t i v e t o K i n g -

Solomon's Temple1 6C h a r g e t o a n e w l y e x a l t e d C o r n -p a n i o n21ROYAL MASTER23SELECT MASTER2 5C h a r g e t o a S e l e c t M a s t e r27C h a r g e a t c l o s i n g2 9 - -I n s t a l l a t i o n ceremonies for

Councils of Royal and Se-

l e c t M a s t e r s2 9C h a r g e t o t h e R i g h t I l l u s t r i -ous Grand Master . . :32Charge to th e I i l a sf r i o u 3Grand Maste r32C h a r g e t o t h e G r a n d T r e a s u r e r 2 3 3C h a r g e t o t h e G r a n d R e c o r d e r 2 3 4Charge - t o t h e G r a n d C a p t a i n

o f t h e G u a r d s34C h a r g e t o t h e G r a n d C o n d u c t o r 2 3 55

C h a r g e t o t h e G r a n d M a r s h a l 2 3 5

C h a r g e t o t h e G r a n d S t e w a r d 2 3 5

Charge to the Officers a nd-

Members . . . .36HIGH PRIESTHOOD3 7Ceremonie s and Charges upo nt h e I n s t a l l a t i o n o f a R o y a lA r c h C h a p t e r40,P r a y e r4 1A d d r e s s t o t h e H i g h : P r i e s t . . . . 2 4 5A d d r e s s t o t h e K i n g . ' 2 5 0A d d r e s s t o t h e S c r i b e52

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A d d r e s s t o t h e C a p t a i n o f t h e

Host53A d d r e s s t o t h e P r i n c i p a l S o -

j o u r n e r . .. 254Address to the Royal ArchC a p t a i n55A d d r e s s t o t ) i e M a s t e r o f t h eT h i r d V e i l5 6A d d r e s s t o t h e M a s t e r o f t h eS e c o n d V e i l56A d d r e s s t o t h e M a s t e r o f t h eF i r s t V e i l5 6

A d d r e s s t o t h e M a s t e r o f t h r e e

V e i l s a s o v e r s e e r s5 7A d d r e s s t o t h e T r e a s u r e r5 8A d d r e s s t o t h e S e c r e t a r y58A d d r e s s t o t h e C h a p l a i n59A d d r e s s t o t h e S t e w a r d s6 0A d d r e s s t o t h e T y l e r6 0A d d r e s s t o t h e H i g h P r i e s t61A d d r e s s t o t h e O f f i c e r s G e n e r -

a l l y63A d d r e s s t o t h e C h a p t e r a t l a r g e 2 6 3ICONSTITUTION OF THE GEN-ERAL GRAND ROYAL ARCHCHAPTER OF THE U. S . A .

ARTICLE I. Of the" GeneralG r a n d C h a p t e r65ARTICLEI I . O f t h e S t a t e G r a n dRoyal Arch Chapte r68ARTICLE I I I . O f t h e s u b o r d i -n a t e C h a p t e r s a n d L o d g e s . . . 2 7 2ARTICLE IV. O f C o n s t i t ut i n gNew Chapters7 6 P08KEIGHTS OF MALTA0VC h a r g e t o t h e C a n d i d a t e05E x h o r t a t i o n a t c l o s i n g08 -CEREMONIES AND CHARGESUPON CONSTITUTING ANDDEDICATING AN ENCAMP-MENT, AND INSTALLINGITS OFFICERS09CONSTITUTION OF THE GEN-ERAL GRAND ENCAMP-MENT OF KNIGHTS TEMPLARS AND APPENDANTORDERS OF THE U. S . A . ;ARTICLE I . G e n e r a l G r a n d E n -c ampmen t2 4 .ARTICLE II. S t a t e G r a n d E n -c ampmen t s2 7ARTICLE III . S u b o r d i n a t e -Counc ils and Encampment s . 3 2 9Hymns, Songs, and Odes3 2F o r m s o f A p p l i c a t i o n s , P e t i -t i o n s a n d - R e p o r t s t h e r e o n . . . 3 4 2HISTORY OF FREE MASONRY IN AMERICA6 3G r a n d L o d g e o f P e n n s y l v a n i a 3 7 4Grand Lodge of New Hamp - ,s h i r e7 5G r a n d L o d g e o f M a s s a c h u s e t t s 8 7 5G r a n d L o d g e o f R h o d e - I s l a n d 3 7 5G r a n d L o d g e o f C o n n e c t i c u t . . . 3 7 5Grand Lodge o f Vermont7 6 ,Grand Lodge of New Yo rk . . . . 3 7 6G r a n d L o d g e o f N e w J e r s e y . . . 3 7 6Grand Lodge o f Kent ucky . . . . 3 7 6G r a n d L o d g e o f V i r g i n i a7 7Grand Lodge of Delaware7 7Grand Lodge of North Care-l i n a . . .7 7 'Grand Lodge of South Caro-l i n a78G r a n d L o d g e o f O h i o7 8ENCAMPMENT DEGREESK n i g h t s ' o f t h e R e d C r o s s77T i t l e s , S t a t i o n s a n d D e c o r a -t i o n s78P r a y e r a t o p e n i n g , & c . , &e . . . . 278K n i g h t s T e m p l a t e91D e c o r a t i o n s a n d S t a t i o n s o fO f f i c e r s92 Grand Lodge o f Georgia8 78

U n i f o r m92 Grand Lodge o f Maryland7 9P r a y e r a t o p e n i n g93 Grand Lodge of the DistrictC h a r g e a t o p e n i n g , & c . , Ac . . . . 2 9 4 ' , o f C o l u m b i a7 0


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THEFREE MASON'S MONITOR ;

ORIGIN OF MASONRY .T o p r o c l a i m a n d e n c o u r a g e v i r t u e , i n w h a t e v e r f o r m i t -

r . k a y a p p e a r , i s t r u l y l a u d a b l e , a n d w i l l a l w a y s m e e t w i t h ,

f " t e a p p r o ba t i o n o f t h e g o o d i n t h i s , a n d e v e r y o t h e r c o u n t r y .

ouch has been the en deavour of Free Mas on ry f r o m t h e

e a r l i e s t p e r i o d t o t h e p r e s e n t d a y .

When the w ild savage leap ed from his de n, i n a l l t h e

h o r r o r s o f b a r b a r i a n f e r o c i t y , a n d m e n k n e w n o r i g h t s b u t

t h o s e o f t h e s t r o n g e s t , Free Maso nry, s h a c k l e d , b u t n o t

d e s t r o y e d , e x e r t e d i t s e l f i n f i l i a l t e n d e r n e s s , p a t e r n a l r e -

g a r d , a n ~ a d o r at i o n of t h e d e i t y , a n d g r a t i t u d e f o r b e n e v o l e n t

a c t i o n s .

I n t h e d a r k t i m e s o f p r i m e v a l h i s t o r y , w h e n m a d a n & b i i - ,

tion r a s h l y o v e r r u n t h e b o u n d s o f p r o p e r t y , t r o d u n c o n -

t r o l l e d t h e b a r r e n w i l d s o f s a v a g e f r e e d o m , i t w a s t h e n t h a t

t h e o r i g i n a l s o f o u r p r e s e n t o r d e r f r a m e d t h e r u d e b u t g l o -

r i o u s s u p e r s t r u c t u r e o f t h e m o r a l w o r l d : and we plainly ,

p e r c e i v e t h a t Ma s o n r y h a s i n a l l a g e s be e n i n s t r u m e n t a l i n

a m e l i o r a t i n g t h e c o n d i t i o n o f t h e h u m a n r a c e .

T h e d i s c i p l e s o f R e l i g i o n a n d R e a s o n , h a v e i n a l l a g e s

gone' hand in band : and we see the moral and divine

precep ts of the Scriptures have, from time immemorial,

b e e n i n t r o d u c e d u n d e r t h e s y m b o l i c e x p r e s s i o n s o f m a s o n i c

a r t .

2


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L ~ ORIGIN OF MASONRYFree Mason ry (or Virtue , i t s t r u e n a m e ) v e n t u r e d t o

c o r r e c t t h e f e r o c i o u s m a n n e r s o f m e n , t o t a m e t h e i r s a v a g e

c r u e l t y , , c o n v o k e t h e i r s y n o d , f r a m e t h e i r ' l a w s , a n d , w i t h.

a s o r t o f m a g i c p o w e r , c o n v e r t t h e l a w l e s s rbber i n t o t h ep e a c e f u l c i t i z e n : i t w a s t h e o r d e r o f P h i l a n t h r o p y , o r , t o

s p e a k i n m o r e e x p l i n i t l a n g u a g e , o f Free Maso nry .

T h e - t t i u t t i e o f h u m a n i t y w e r e o f t e n e r a s e d b y t h e i n -

r o a d s o f b a r b a r i a n f u r y , m u t i l a t e d b y t h e i g n o r a n t s i n a n -

c i e n t t i m e s o f t e n p r o st i t u t e d t o th e s e r v i c e o f a n e c c l e s i a s t i c

c o u n c i l ; w h e r e d e b a t e , r a n c o u r , a n d a n i m o s i t y , w i t h d a r i n g

p r o j e c t s w e r e t o o o f t e n s e e n t h r o u g h t h e g i l d e d v e i l , o f c l e r i

c a l d i g n i t y . T h e r e l i g i o u s , i t i s w e l l k n o w n , e n g r o s s e d i n

t h e e a r l y a g e s o f C h r i s t i a n i t y t h e w h o l e s t o c k o f g e n e r a l

k n o w l e d g e , t o g e t h e r w i t h C h r i s t i a n l e a r n i n g ; a n d w h a t e v e r

m a n k i n d m i g h t b e ' p o s s e s s e d o f , f l o w e d t h r o u g h t h e c h a n n e l s ,

o f i n t o l e r a n t z e a l a n d r e l i g i o u s p r e j u d i c e . T h e i g n o r a n c e o f

s o m e o f t h e a n c i e n t t r a n s c r i b e r s h a s b e e n a l r e a d y v e r y jud i

c i o u s l y d e t e c t e d i n a f o r m e r m a s o n i c t r e a t i s e , * a n d I f e a t

t h e y h a v e b e e n l e s s m e r c i f u l , r e s p e c t i n g t h e c a r d i n a l e x -

p r e s s i o n P h i l a n t h r o p y , e r a s i n g t h e f i r s t f o u r l e t t e r s , a n d

s u b s t i t u t i n g Mis, e x p o s e d t o t h e w o r l d t h a t h o r r i d c o l l e c t i o n ,

o f l e t t e r s Misan thropy .,

F r o m t h i s m i s t a k e a l o n e r e l i g i o u s p e r s e c u t i o n r a g e d , c a r -

nage strewed the plains with the mangled bodies of our

n o b l e a n c e s t o r s , l a i d w a s t e t h e r i p e n i n g f i e l d s o f g o l d e n

h a r v e s t , a n d d e v a s t a t i o n r a g e d , _, u n t i l t h e m a s o n i c s p i r i t e n -

l i g h t e n e d t h e r e a s o n . -

F r o m t h a t p e r i o d t h e c l o u d s o f d a r k n e s s ' b e g a n t o d i s a p -

p e a r . V i r t u e t r a v e l l e d w e s t e r l y , a n d m e e t i n g w i t h p a t r o n s , -

h a s n o w f i x e d h e r s e a t w i t h i m p e r i a l g r e a t n e s s i n t h e Grand

a n d S u b o r d i n a t e L o d g e s o f t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s o f A m e r i c a , -

I t i s a p u b l i c m i s f o r t u n e , t h a t t h e p u r i t y o f m a n n e r s o f ,

S e e a n n o t a t i o n s o f Mr. L o c k e , u n d e r t h e name o f P e t e r G o w e r i n

P r e s t o n ' s I l l u s t r a t i o n s - o f M a s o n r y , p a g e 1 3 6 .


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- OMOIN:OF MASONS,(.1 5a s o c i e t y , w h i c h e x c e e d s e v e r y o t h e r , s h o u l d n o t b e more

g e n e r a l l y known among all ranks . T h e p e o p l e h a v e , t o o

_ l o n g b e e n i g n o r a n t o f o u r m a s o n i c p r i n c i p l e s . Virtue , when

h u n t e d f r o m h e r a b o d e o n t h e c o n t i n e n t o f E u r o p e , s e e m s

t o h a v e f o r m e d h e r o n l y p h a l a n x i n t h i s S o c i e t y , t o w i p e

t h e t e a r f r om t h e e ye o f d i s tr e s s, t o c h e e r t h e h e a r t o f t h e '

u n f o rt u n a t e , c l o t h e t h e n a k e d , f e e d t h e h u n g r y ; a n d p r e v e n t ,by a n t i c i p a t i o n , t h e w a n t s o f t h e u n f o r t u n a t e , h a s a l w a y sb e e n t h e p r a c t i c e o f m a s o n s .

We may equal, but canno t surpass such act ions : i t i s -

n o t h e r e t h e y c a n b e e x c e l l e d ; a n d i t i s o u r f e r v e n t w i s h

t h a t p e o p l e m a y no l o n g e r b e i g n o r a n t o f t h e t r u e p r i n c i -

p l e s o f o u r i n s t i t u t i o n . S u c h a c o n f e s s i o n , i n d e e d , r e f l e c t s

o n t h e m s e l v e s a s m e n : n o r s h o u l d t h e y p e r p l e x t h e m i n d '

- i n t h e m i n u t e i n v e s t i g a t i o n o f t h e s e c r e t s i g n s , w h e n t h e y

- e f l e c t t h a t t h e b a s e o f t h i s o r d e r i s Charity, t h e f i g u r a t i v e

a n d t y p i c a l e m b l e m s a r e i l l u s t r a t i o n s o f a n o b l e r s u b j e c t .

B u i l d i n g s , h o w e v e r s t r o n g o r n o b l e , w i l l d e c a y ; b u t V i r tu e ,

i m m o r t a l V i r t u e ! t a k e s i t s f l i g h t f r om t h e s e t o t h e c e l e s t i a l

a b o d e s , a n d i s a t l a s t r e c e i v e d i n t o t h e b o s o m o f i t s G o d .

F a r d i f f e r e n t f r o m t h e d e s i g n s o f m a n y m e e t i n g s o f t h e

d a y ; whose features are exc ess, the Free Masons are a

s t a n d i n g e x c e p t i o n , t h e y r e v e l i n Charit y a n d r i o t i n n o -

bleness o f heart .

F r e e M a s o n s a r e a p u b l i c b e n e f i t t o t h e w o r l d , u n i t i n g i n

t h e s t r o n g e s t t i e s p e o p l e o f a l l c o u n t r i e s , a n d a l l . l r e l i g i o u s

c r e e d s ; t h e i r l a n g u a g e i s a s g e n e r a l a s t h a t o f t h e e y e s ,

a n d i n a l l p a r t ss o f t h e g l o b e i t i s u n d e r s t o o d . B y c o m mu

n i c a t i v e s i g n s i t h a s b e c o m e p e c u l i a r l y v a l u a b l e , a n d F r e e

, M a s o n s p o s s e s s , w h a t t h e l e a r n e d h a v e s o u g h t i n v a i n , a n -

i n v a r i a b l e c y p h e r f o r u n i v e r s a l c o m m u n i c a t i o n ; t h e i r s i s a

s o r t o f p e r s o n a l s h o r t h a n d .

We now come to the operative p a r t , c a l l e d Maso nry,

w h i c h i s - d i s t i n c t f r o m t h e s o c i a l a i m - o f t h e i n s t i t u ti o n ,

a l t h o u g h t h e o r i g i n a l c a u s e o f i t .

a


10/397

ORIGIN OF MASONRYT h i s c o n s i s t s i n r e a r i n g s t a t e l y f ab r i c s t o t h e h o n o u r p r 1

G o d , t h e g l o r y o f o u r c o u n t r y , a n d t h e w e l f a r e o f t h e p u b ,

l i e : and as we i n t h a t m u s t o b s e r v e t h e s t r i c t e s t o r d e r a n A

r e g u l a r i t y i n - t h e c o u r s e o f t h e w o r k , s o w e m u s t i n t h e

o t l } e r a c t u p o n t h e s q u a r e , a n d f r a m e o u r b e h a v i o u r t o t h e

g o o d o f s o c i e t y , t h e h o n o u r o f o u r o r d e r , a n d t h e c r e d i t o f

e v e r y i n d i v i d u a l ; a s t h e m o r e a b u i l d i n g i s o r n a m e n t e d w i t h

i n g e n i o u s d e v i c e s , t h e m o r e i t r e d o u n d s t o t h e h o n o u r o f

the wo rkman, so here, the more acc omplishments - men

p o s s e s s , t h e h i g h e r t h e y w i l l r i s e i n t h e e s t i m a t i o n o f t h e i r

b r e t h r e n . A m o n g t h e m e v e r y a r t a n d s c i e n c e i s a l t e r n a t e l y

t r e a t e d ; i t f o r m s w i t h i n i t s e l f a l i v i n g e n c y c l o pa e d i a , w h e r e

every one a dorns his subject with the most i nstructive

l e s s o n s . I t i s t o - b e h o p e d t h a t t h e M a s o n i c w i l l i n t i m e

t h o r o u g h l y a g r e e w i t h t h e s o c i a l p a r t . We already behold

t h e l i v i n g g r a v e s o f s o c i e t y ( c o n v e n t s ) i n a g r e a t d e g r e e

a b o l i s h e d; and may they ever cont inue s o! I a m s u r e ,

n o F r e e M a s o n w i s h e s t h e c r a f t - t o e r e c t a n o t h e r , u n d e r t h e -

m a s k o f r e l i g i o u s r e t i r e m e n t , f o r e v e r t o e x c l u d e a h u m a n

b e i n g f r o m t h e s o c i a l i n t e r c o u r s e o f c i v i l i z e d l i f e . In r e -

c o u n t i n g t h e m a n y s t a t e l y e d i f i c e s r a i s e d b y a r c h i t e c t u r a l

s k i l l , w e a d m i r e , w e s t a n d a s t o n i s h e d a t t h e a r t , b u t W h e n

r e f l e c t i o n w e i g h s i n t h e s c a l e s o f r e a s o n t h e v a r i o u s e n d s

- f o r w h i c h t h e y w e r e f o u n d e d , w e a d m i r e t h e w o r k , b u t d e

t e s t t h e p u r p o s e s o f i t . The temples, which locke d up-th6

v e s t a l v i r g i n s , h a v e n o w f e w v o t a r i e s , a n d we i n d u l g e t h ep l e a s i n g h o p e t h a t i n f u t u r e a g e s , t h e r e w i l l b e n o s u c h a n

o r d e r a s t h e i n q u i s i t i o n e v e r r e - e s t a b l i s h e d .

T h e s e s e n t i m e n t s , w e p r e s u m e , a r e n o t h o s t i l e t o F r e e ,

Masons, who glow with the love as we ll as the peace of

mankind . T h e i r i n f l u e n c e b y t h e a i d o f a n h o n o u r a b l e b r o -

t h e r , * h a s a l r e a d y w r e s t e d t h e f e t t e r s f r o m t h e a n c l e s o f t h e

g a l l e d A f r i c a n , a f t e r $ h e t o i l s o f a t e d i o u s b u t w e a k o p p o -

W i l b e r f o r c e , M . P .


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ORIGIN OF MASONRY 7of i n . We - f e e l t h e m o s t g l o w i n g p l e a s u r e , a t t h u s a d d r e s s -i n k - t h e s e s e n t i m e n t s t o o u r b r e t h r e n , a s w e d a i l y f e e l the

t r u t h o f t h e o b s e r v a t i o n : 1 1 That i n e v e r y n a t i o t r a M a s o n

ma y f i n d a f r i e n d , i n e v e r y c l i m a t e h e m a y f i n d a home,"

I t i s p r o p e r h e r e t o p r e m i s e , t h a t M a s o n r y , i n i t s a n c i e n t

t l i s t o ry , i s u s e d i n a s e n s e e q u i v a l e n t t o t h e l i b e r a l s c i e n c e s ,

b u t p a r t i c u l a r l y g e o m e t r y ; u p o n t h i s a s s u m p t i o n t h e e a r l y

Masonic history dates the commencement of the Masonic

i n s t i t u t i o n w i t h t h e b e g i n n i n g o f ti m e , a n d , b e g i n s i t s h i s t o r y

w i t h t h e w o r k o f c r e a t i o n .

A l l t h i n g s n e c e s s a r y f o r , m a n ' s f e l i c i t y w e r e p e r f e c t e d b y

t h e Grand. . , g r c h i t e c t o f t h e u n i v e r s e a c c o r d i n g t o g e o m e t r y : *T h a t A d a m , o u r g r e a t p r o g e n i t o r , w a s i g n o r a n t o f t h e

p r i n c i p l e s o f g e o m e t r y c a n h a r d l y b e s u p p o s e d , f o r ' a f t e r ,

h i s e x p u l s i o n f r o m t h e g a r d e n o f E d e n , h e b u i l t a n h a b i t s - -

t i o n f o r h i m s e l f a n d f a m i l y , a n d n o d o u b t i n s t r u c t e d h i s

d e s c e n d a n t s i n t h a t n o b l e s c i e n c e , a n d i t s a p p l i c a t i o n t o ,

w h a t s o e v e r c r a f t s w e r e c o n v e n i e n t f o r t h o s e e a r l y t i m e s . ,

C a i n w i t h h i s f a m i l y a n d a d h e r e n t s b e i n g p r e - i n s t r u c t e d

i n t h e p r i n c i p l e s o f g e o m e t r y a n d a r c h i t e c t u r e , b u i l t a s t r o n g '

c i t y a n d c a l l e d i t , D e d i c a t e o r C o n s e c r a t e , a f t e r t h e n a m e

o f h i s e l d e s t s o n E n o c h , w h o s e r a c e f o l l o w i n g h i s e x a m p l e

; mproved themselves, not on ly in geometry and mason ry,

b u t m a d e d i s c o v e r i e s o f s e v e r a l o t h e r u s e f u l a r t s .

The descen dants of Seth came nothing behind those o f , , ,

C a i n , i n t h e c u l t i v a t i o n o f g e o m e t r y a n d m a s o n r y . This

p a t r i a r c h g r e a t l y p r o f i t e d i n t h o s e n o b l e s c i e n c e s , u n d e r t h e

t u i t i o n o f A d a m , w i t h w h o m h e l i v e d t i l l t h e y e a r o f t h e

w o r l d 9 3 0 , a n d s u c c e e d e d h i m i n t h e d i r e c t i o n o f t h e c r a f t ;

w h o , a s a m o n u m e n t o f h i s s u p e r i o r a b i l i t i e s , a n d l o v e t o

p o s t e r i t y , f o r e s e e i n g t h e u n i v e r s a l d e s o l a t i o n w h i c h w o u l d -

h a p p e n b y f i r e o r w a t e r , a n d d e p r i v e m a n k i n d o f t h o s e a r t s

' S e e J o h n E n t i c k ' s w o r k , p u b l i s h e d u n d e r t h e s a n c t i o n o f t h e G r a n d

L o d ge i n L o n d o n , E n g l a n d , i n 1 7 5 6 , a n d A n d e r s on , 1 7 2 3 .

2*

Vg


12/397

i s 0 1 k I G I N OF - MASONRY .

a n d s c i e n c e s a t t h a t t i m e e x i s t i n g , r a i s e d t w o p i l l a r s o f s t o n e , .

a n d i n s c r i b e d t h e r e o n a n a b r i d g m e n t o f h e a r t s a n d s c i e n c e s ,

p a r t i c u l a r l y g e o m e t r y o r m a s o n r y , i n o r d e r t o w i t h s t a n d - t h e

o v e r t h r o w o f t h e f l o o d , w h i c h J o s e p h u s t h e h i s t o r i a n i n -

f o r m s u s w a s t o b e s e e n i n h i s t i m e , i n t h e l a n d o f S i r i a d ,

b y t h e n a m e o f S e t h ' s o r E n o c h ' s p i l l a r s .

Methuselah, with his s on Lamech and grandson Noah,

r e t i r e d f r o m t h e c o r r u p t w o r l d , a n d i n t h e i r o w n p e c u l i a r

f a m i l y p r e s e r v e d t h e r e l i g i o n o f t h e p r o m i s e d M e s s i a h p u r e ,

a n d a l s o t h e a r t o f m a s o n r y t i l l t h e f l o o d .

T h e a r k w a s b u i l t o n p r i n c i p l e s o f g e o m e t r y . Noah an d

h i s - f a m i l y , b e s i d e s a n u m b e r o f a l l c r e a t e d b e i n g s , w e r e

s a v e d f r o m t h e g e n e r a l , d e l u g e ; h e a n d h i s f o u r s o n s a r e ,

t h e r e f o r e , t h e p r o g e n i t o r s o f t h e p r e s e n t r a c e o f m a n k i n d .

F r o m t h e S a c r e d W r i t i n g s w e l e a r n , t h a t N o a h a n d h i s

s o n s , b e i n g a l l o f o n e l a n g u a g e a n d s p e e c h , i t c a m e t o p a s s

a s t h e y j o u r n e y e d f r o m t h e East t o t h e West, t h e y f o u n da p l a i n i n t h e l a n d o f S h i n a r , a n d d w e l t t h e r e t o g e t h e r a s

. Noachid ae or s o n s o f N o a h , t h e f i r s t - n a m e o f M a s o n s , a n d

u n d e r which na me many brethren are known in France up

t o t h e p r e s e n t d a y .

I n f o l l o w i n g t h a t g r e a t l u m i n a r y o f t h e c r a f t , t h e H o l y

B i b l e , w e f i n d t h e t o w e r o f B a b e l i s b u i l t , a n d b e f o r e i t s

e n t i r e c o m p l e t i o n , b y t h e w i l l o f t h e D i v i n e A r c h i t e c t , t h e

l a n g u a g e o f - t h e b u i l d e r s i s c o n f o u n d e d a n d t h e p e o p l e d i s

p e r s e d , a l l w h i c h s h o w s t h a t , a f t e r t h e d i s p e r s i o n , t h e y s t i l l

c a r r i e d w i t h t h e m t h e k n o w l e d g e o f m a s o n r y , a n d i m p r o v e d

i t t o a g r e a t d e g r e e o f p e r f e c t i o n .

Nimrod or Belus, the so n of Cush, the eldes t son of

H a m , a n d f o u n d e r o f t h e B a b y l o n i a n M o n a r c h y , k e p t p o s .

_ s e s s i o n o f t h e p l a i n , a n d f o u n d e d t h e f i r s t g r e a t e m p i r e a t

B a b }l o n .

F r o m S h i n a r t h e s c i e n c e a n d t h e a r t w e r e c a r r i e d t o d t s .

t a n t p a r t s o f t h e w o r l d , n o t w i t h s t a n d i n g t h e c o n f u s i o n o f

t h e d i a l e c t s , a n d w h i c h i s p r e s u m e d t o h a v i n g g i v e n r i s e t o

a


13/397

OkiGIN OF MASONRY.t h e u n i v e r s a l p r a c t i c e o f c o n v e r s i n g w i t h o u t s p e a k i n g , a n d

c o m m u n i c a t i o n s b e t w e e n M a s o n s b y t o k e n s o r s i g n s .

' M i z r a i m , t h e s e c o n d s o n o f H a m , c a r r i e d t o , a n d p r e - -

s e r v e d i n - E g y p t t h e o r i g i n a l , s k i l l , a n d c u l t i v a t e d t h e a r t s ,

m o n u m e n t s o f w h i c h a r e s t i l l e x t a n t i n t h a t c o u n t r y u n d e t

t h e n a m e o f P y r a m i d s , w h i c h a r e , a n d h a v e b e e n , t h e u n i -

v e r s a l a d m i r a t i o n o f s u c c e e d i n g a g e s . T h e s u c c e s s o r s o f

Mizraim, w h o w e r e s t l e d t h e s o n s o f a n c i e n t k i n g s , e n -

c o u r ag e d t h e a r t , d o w n ' t o t h e l a s t o f th e i r r a c e , t h e l e a r n e d

King .Dmas is .

I t i s p r e s u m e d t h a t t h e o f f s p r i n g o f S h e m p r o p a g a t e d t h e

S c i e n c e a s f a r a s C h i n a a n d J a p a n .

A b r a h a m , b o r n t w o y e a r s a f t e r t h e d e a t h o f N o a h , h a d

l e a r n e d t h e s c i e n c e , b e f o r e t h e G r a n d A r c h i t e c t o f t h e u n i -

v e r s e c a l l e d h i m t o t r a v e l f r o m U r o f t h e C h a l d e e s . Hec o m m u n i c a t e d i t t o t h e C a n a a n i t e s , f o r w h i c h t h e y h o n o u r e d

h i m a s a p r i n c e . -

Isaac, Ishmael, and Jacob no do ubt we re taught the

s c i e n c e b y t h e i r p r o g e n i t o r . Joseph was also well in-

s t r u c t e d b y h i s f a t h e r , f o r S c r i p t u r e i n f o r m s u s h e e x c e l l e d

t h e E g y p t i a n s i n k n o w l e d g e , a n d w a s i n s t a l l e d b y P h a r a o h

h i m s e l f a s a r u l e r o v e r t h e p e o p l e .

I t i s w e l l k n o w n , a n d n e e d s n o c o m m e n t h e r e , t h a t Mc l

chizedeck is recognised amongst us as one of the m o s t

v e n e r a b l e p a t r o n s o f t h e o r d e r .

T h a t t h e I s r a e l i t e s p r a c t i s e d m a s o n r y - i n E g y p t i s a w e L

a u t h e n t i c a t e d f a c t f r o m t h e B i b l e . We read " they were,t r a i n e d u p t o t h e b u i l d i n g o f t w o c i t i e s w i t h s t o n e . a n d

b r i c k f o r t h e E g y p t i a n s , a n d u n d o u b t e d l y w a s t h e d e s i g n

of the Most High, to make t hem expert maso ns be fore

t h e y s h o u l d p o s s e s s t h e p r o m i s e d l a n d .

In t h e i r p e r e g r i n a t i o n s t h r o u gh t h e w i l d e r n e s s a f t e r t h e i r

s i n g u l a r d e l i v e r y o f E g y p t i a n b o n d a g e , - a n t h e i r v o y a g e t o

t h e land which was promised t hey should possess for a n -

i n h e r i t a n c e f o r e v e r , G o d w a s p l e a s e d t o i n s p i r e M o s e s , a n d

g a v e , h i m t h e d e c e l o g u e w h i c h c a n b e s u m m e d u p i n t h o s e


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$ o O R I G I N O F M A S O N R Y .

t w o d o c t r i n e s , H o n o u r G o d a n d l o v e t h y n e i g h b o u r , ( a n d

i n w h a t s o c i e t y a r e t h o s e t w o p r e c e p t s b e t t e r e x e m p l i f i e d

than among Mason s . ) W h e n M o s e s , a f t e r a s o j o u r n o f

f o r t y d a y s o n M o u n t S i n a i , c a m e d o w n w i t h t h e l a w s , h e

e n t e r e d i n t o h i s t e n t . A a r o n h i s b r o t h e r , w h o a f t e r w a r d s

b e c a m e h i g h p r i e s t , c a m e t o v i s i t h i m , a n d M o s e s a c q u a i n t e d

h i m w i t h t h e l a w s h e h a d r e c e i v e d f r o m G o d w i t h t h e e x -

p l a n a t i o n o f t h e m. A f t e r t h i s A a r o n p l a c e d h i m s e l f a t t h e

r i g h t h a n d o f M o s e s , a n d E l e a z a r a n d I t h a m a r ( s o n s o f

A a r o n w e r e a d m i t t e d , t o w h o m M o s e s r e p e a t e d w h a t h e h a d

s a i d t o A a r o n . M o s e s a f t e r w a r d s d e c l a r e d t h e s a m e o v e r

t o t h e E l d e r s o f th e S a n h e d r i m c o m p o s e d o f s e v e n t y m e m -

b e r s , a f t e r w h i c h i n s t r u c t i o n h e r e d u c e d t h e l a w t o w r i t i n g ,

e x c e p t t h e e x p l a n a t i o n s ; t h e s e h e t h o u g h t s u f f i c i e n t t o

c o m m i t a n d e n t r u s t t o t h e i r m e m o r i e s , w i t h i n s t r u c t i o n s t o

t e a c h t h e m t o t h e i r c h i l d r e n a n d t h e i r o f f s p r i n g . H e a l s o

o r d e r e d t h e m o r e s k i l f u l t o m e e t h i m a s i n a l o d g e o r

t a b e r n a c l e , a n d g a v e t h e m w i s e c h a r g e s a n d r e g u l a t i o n s ,

f r o m w h i c h t h e y s h o u l d n o t d e v i a t e .

J o s h u a , t h e f a i t h f u l f o l l o w e r o f M o s e s , s u c c e e d e d h i m , w i t h

C a l e b a n d E l e a z e r t h e h i g h p r i e s t , - a n d P h i n e a s h i s d e p u t y .

A f t e r t h e c o n q u e s t a n d s e t t l e m e n t o f t h e p r o m i s e d l a n d ,

t h e I s r a e l i t e s m a d e f u r t h e r p r o g r e s s i n t h e s t u d y o f g e o m e -

t r y a n d a r c h i t e c t u r e; h a v i n g m a n y e x p e r t a r t i s t s

.

T h e c i t y o f ' P y r e o r T s o r w a s b u i l t b y a g r e a t b o d y o f

S i d o n i a n m a s o n s f r o m G a b a l a , u n d e r a g r a n d m a s t e r a n d a

n u m b e r o f p r i n c e s .

I n a f t e r t i m e s , A h i b a l , k i n g o f T y r e , r e p a i r e d a n d b e a u -

t i f i e d t h a t c i t y , a n d s o d i d h i s s o n H i r a m , b e i n g a l s o a

m a s o n . H e b e c a m e o n e o f t h e p r i n c i p a l a r c h i t e c t s o f t h a t

s t u p e n d o u s e d i f i c e w h i c h h a s b e e n a n d a l w a y s w i l l r e m a i n

t h e , a d m i r a t i o n o f t h e w o r l d , v i z . S o l o m o n ' s t e m p l e .

H a v i n g t r a c e d M a s o n r y t h u s f a r , I w i l l r e s e r v e t o i t s

p r op e r p l a c e t h e c o m m e n c e m e n t , b u i l di n g , a n d c o m p l e t i o n

o f t h a t e d i f i c e , f r o m w h i c h , w i t h m o r e a c c u r a c y . . w - t r a c e

o u r o r i g i n .

r


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. e

(PINION OF MODERN WRITERSFREE MASONRY d e n o t e s a sy s t em of myst eri e s an d s e .

' rets peculiar to free and a ccepted Masons . The origin of

its history is no doubt ancient, as I have attempted, and 1

trust succes sfully, to show in the foregoing pa ges, although

I have no authenti c source from which to d ate it s com-

me n c eme n t, or wha t coul d have be e n t h e rea s o n for the

formation of a soci ety under the tit le of Mason s, in prefer-

ence to an y other mechanical profession ; from the fore-

going p ages, and also from Dr. Henry's his tory, we find

t h e o r i g i n o f t h e o r d e r a t t r i b u t e d t o t h e d i f f i c u l t y i n a n c i e n t

times of procuring a su fficien t number of expert workmen

to build t he multitude of churches, aabeys and other religi-

o u s e d i f i c e s . Henc e, the Maso ns we re greatly favoured by

the Popes, who granted t hem many privileges, in'o rder to,

encourage the arts a nd augment t heir numbers . In t h o s e

t ime s it is ne e dl e s s to say, th a t such en c o urag emen t from

the heads o f the church must have been of great benefit to

t h e f r a t e r n i t y . In co nfirmation of which, Dr . Henry quot es ;

the followin g : 'The Italians, w ith s ome Greek refugees,,

a l s o s o m e F r e n c h , Ge rm a n s , a n d Fl e m i s h ; joined i nto a

f r a t e r n i t y o f a r c h i t e c t s ; they styled themselves Free Ma-

s o n s , a n d t r a v e l l e d f r o m o n e n a t i o n t o a n o t h e r , a s t h e y f o u n d

edifices to be built . They had regular rules a nd regula-

tions among themselves, fixing thei r reside nce in a camp

n e ar the pl a c e w h ere th ey were empl oy e d . A Surveyor

g overne d in ch i ef ; every tenth man was called a Warden,

whose duty was to o verlook the other nine . Th e g e n t l e -

men in t he neighbourhood, out of regard for their excel-

- l e n tconduct and skill, and the laudable object they had

2 1


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2 2 OPINION ON MODERN WRITERS.view i n i t y -

or p e n a n c e , g a v e t h e m a t e r i a l s . Th o s e who have seen theaccounts i n r e c o r d s o f t h e c h a r g e o f t h e f a b r i c s o f s o m e o f

t h e c a t h e d r a l s m a n y c e n t u r i e s o l d , c a n n o t b u t h a v e a g r e a t

este em for their economy, and a dmire how so on they

e r e c t e d s u c h l o f t y s t r u c t u r e s .

B y o t h e r a c c o u n t s , t h e a n t i q u i t y o f t h e o r d e r i s c a r r i e d

f a r t h e r , e v e n a s f a r b a c k a s t h e b u i l d i n g o f S o l o m o n ' s t e m -

p l e . In Great Britain, the introduction of the order has

be e n f i x e d by some at the year 674, A. C . , w h e n g l a s s . :m a k i n g w a s i n v e n t e d , a s o l d r e c o r d s p r o v e t h a t m a n y G o t h i c

buildings we re erected by men in companies, who styled

themselves free, and w ho were governed by their own law s

a n d r e g u l a t i o n s . W h i l e o t h e r s a r e o f o p i n i o n t h a t t h e i n -

s t i t u t i o n o f t h e o r d e r i s d e r i v e d f r o m a c o m b i n a t i o n o f p e o -

ple who agreed not to work without an advance of their

w a g e s . This is pre sume d to have be e n th e ca s e in th e ,

reign of Edwa rd the Third, who direct ed the sheriffs ' t o

assist i n rebuilding and enlarging t he c a s t l e s , a s a l s o t h e

church and c hape l of St . George, at Windso r . At t his

time, it is sa id, Mason s agreed on certain tok ens to

know ea ch other by, and to prevent bei ng impressed, nor

to work unles s free, and on s uch terms as they agreedo n

between themselves .

As already premised, the o rigin of Mason ry is traced

f r o m t h e c r e a t i o n . B r o th e r P r e s t o n , i n h i s t r e a t i s e o n ' t h e .

order, published in 1792, says,1 1 Ever sinc e s ymmet ry

began,- and harmony dis played it s charms, ourorder has

had a being." He also suppose s its introduction in Eng-

land prior to the Roman invasio n . This presumptio n i s

s t r e i.gthened by the existence of the remains of some stu

penduus works execut ed by the Britons, much earlier even

than the ti the of the Romans, which display con side rable

ingenuity . So that t here remains not a shadow of doubt

o f t h e e x i s t o u t . e o f t h e o r d e r a t t h a t e a r l y p e r i o d . Time -


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OPINION OF MODERN WRITERS. 23Dru i d s , a t t h a t t i m e , a l s o , h a d m a n y c u s t o m s s i m i l a r t o

t h o s e o f t h e M a s o n s , a n d , i t i s s a i d , d e r i v e d t h e i r g o v e r n

. - m e r i t o f P y t h a g o r as. A l t h o u g h , a t t h e p r e s e n t d a y , w e c a n n o t

e x a c t l y t r a c e a n y r e s e m b l a n c e e i t h e r - t o t h e r u l e s o r u s a g e s

of Maso nry .

C a e s a r r a n d m a n y o t h e r R o m a n g e n e r a l s e n c o u r a g e d t h e

order, and we re appoin ted Governors of Britai n ; - a n d

a l t h o u g h w e k n o w t h a t a t t h i s p e r i o d t h e m e m b e r s o f t h e

o r d e r w e r e e m p l o y e d i n b u i l d i n g m a n y m a g n i f i c e n t b u i l d -

ings, -nothing can be found on record conc erning their

l o d g e s a n d a s s e m b l i e s .

C a r a u s i u s , a R o m a n g e n e r a l , p a t r o n i z e d t h e f r a t e r n i t y ,

a n d e n c o u r a g e d l e a r n i n g . H e a l s o c o l l e c t e d t h e b e s t a r t i -

f i c e r s - f r o m m a n y c o u n t r i e s , p a r t i c u l a r l y M a s o n s . He ap

p o i n t e d A l b a n u s , h i s s t e w a r d , t h e p r i n c i p a l s u p e r i n t e n d e n t

o f th e i r m e e t i n g s . U n d e r h i s g o v e r n m e n t , l o d g e s b e g a n t o

b e i n t r o d u c e d , a n d t h e b u s i n e s s o f M a s o n r y r e g u l a r l y c a r r i e d

_o n . - T h e y o b t a i n e d , t h r o u g h t h e i n f l u e n c e o f A l b a n u s , a

c h a r t e r f r o m C a r a u s i u s t o h o l d a g e n e r a l c o u n c i l , a t w h i c h

Albanus p resided a nd made many new members . This

Albanus - w a s t h e c e l e b r a t e d S t . A l b a n s , t h e f i r s t m a r t y r i nB r i t a i n f o r t h e C h r i s t i a n f a i t h .

T h e p r o g r e s s o f M a s o n r y w a s u n f o r t u n a t e l y i n t e r r u p t e d

b y t h e d e p a r t u r e o f t h e R o m a n s f r o m B r i t a i n , o w i n g t o t h e

f u r i o u s i r r u p ti o n s o f t h e S c o t s a n d P i c t s , w h i c h l e f t n o t i m e

f o r t h e c u l t i v a t i o n o f t h e a r t s , a n d a f t e r w a r d s t h r o u g h t h e

i g n o r a n c e o f t h e S a x o n s , w h o m t h e B r i t o n s h a d c a l l e d i n

a s _ a l l i e s , b u t w h o s o o n b e c a m e t h e i r m a s t e r s . - A f t e r t h e

i n t r o d u c t i o n o f C h r i s t i a n i t y , t h e a r t s r e c e i v e d e n c o u r a g e -

ment,, and Masonry, as a natural consequen ce, began t o

4 d o u r i s h .

In t he yea r 557, A . C . , S t . Austin with a rinmoe,

o f m o n k s , a m o n g w h o m t h e a r t s h a d b e e n - p r e s e r v e d , c a m '

to-England . B y t h e s e t h e p r i n c i p l e s o f C h r i s t i a n i t y

p r o p a g a t e d w i t h s u c h z e a l , t h a t a n u m b e r o f K i n g s w


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2 4 - OPINION OF MODERN WRITERSc o n v e r t e d . S t . A u s t i n t h e n b e c a m e t h e p a t r o n o f t h e. Meta n d b y t h e a i d o f f o r e i g n e r s i n t r o d u c e d t h e G o t h i c s t y l e o f

b u i l d i n g . H e a p p e a r e d a t t h e h e a d o f t h e f r a t e r n i t y i n - :

f o u n d i n g t h e o l d C a t h e d r a l o f C a n t e r b u r y , i n t h e y e a r 6 0 0

t h a t o f R o c h e s t e r i n 6 0 2 ; S t . P a u l ' s , i n L o n d o n , i n 604 ;

S t . Peter's, in Westminst er, in 605 ; a s w e l l as many

o t h e r s .

I n 6 4 0 , a f e w e x p e r t b r e t h r e n a r r i v e d f r o m F r a n c e , a n d

f o r m e d t h e m s e l v e s i n t o a l o d g e u n d e r t h e d i r e c t i o n o f B e n -

n e t , A b b o t o f W i r r a l ; whom Kenred, King of Mercia ,,ap

p o i n t e d I n s p e c t o r o f L o d g e s a n d S u p e r i n t e n d a n t o f M a s o n s .

U n d e r t h e p a t r o n a g e o f S t . Swithin, in 856, whom Ethel .

w o l f e m p l o y e d t o r e p a i r s o m e c h u r c h e s , t h e o r d e r i m p r o v e ) ;

w h e n i n t h e y e a r 8 7 2 t h e y f o u n d a g r e a t p r o t e c t o r i n A l f i t d

the Great, who patroniz ed the arts ; a p p r o p r i a t i n g c - n e

s e v e n t h p a r t o f h i s r e v e n u e f o r m a i n t a i n i n g a n u m b e r o f

_ w o r k m e n w h o m h e e m p l o y e d i n r e p a i r i n g t h e r u i n s c a u s e d

by the Danes . He w a s s u c c e e d e d b y Ed w a r d . Mason s

t h e n h e l d t h e i r l o d g e s u n d e r t h e s a n c t i o n o f E t h r e d , b u s

b a n d t o t h e k i n g ' s s i s t e r , a n d E t h e l w a r d , h i s b r o t h e r , t o

w h o m t h e c a r e o f t h e f r a t e r n i t y w a s e n t r u s t e d . T h e l a t t e r

f o u n d e d t h e u n i v e r s i t y o f C a m b r i d g e .

T h e p o s i t i v e e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f t h e o r d e r i n E n g l a n d , c a n

h e t r a c e d t o K i n g A t h e l s t a n e , i n t h e y e a r 9 2 6 . There I S -

s t i l l a t t a n t a l o d g e o f M a s o n s i n Y o r k , w h o t r a c e t h e i r e x -

i s t e n c e f r o m t h i s p e r i o d , a n d w h i c h i s t h e m o s t a n c i e n t

lodge in England . This lodge wa s founded by Edwin,

t h e k i n g ' s b r o t h e r , w h o o b t a i n e d a c h a r t e r f r o m A t h e l s t a n e ,

a n d be c am e Gran d Mas t e r him s elf . B y v i r t u e o f t h a t

c h a r t e r a l l M a s o n s i n t h e k i n g d o m w e r e a s s e m b l e d , a n d f o r -

the first t ime a Grand Lodge w as e stablished for their

f u t u r e g o v e r n m e n t . U n d e r i t s p a t r o n a g e t h e f r a t e r n i t y i n -

c r e a s e d . K i n g s , P r i n c e s , a n d n o b l e s , w h o h a d b e e n i n i t i a =

t e d i n t o i t s m y s t e r i e s , p a i d d u e a l l e g i a n c e t o t h e a s s e m b l y .

H e n c e o r i g i n a t e d t h e a p p e l l a t i o n o f A n c i e n t Y o r k M a s o n s ,


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OPINION OF MODERN -WRITERS 2 5a l t h o u g h t h e - g e n e r a l t r ad i t i o n i s t h a t t h e f i r s t G r a n d L o d g e ,

w a s h e l d a t Auldby, Pear York ; a n d a s A u l d b y w a s a ' s e a t

o f E d w i n , t h i s t r a d i t i o n g i v e s c o n f i r m a t i o n o f t h e a b o v e

a c c o u n t .

A f t e r t h e d e a t h o f Athelstan e, the Mason s were dis

p t , r s e d , a n d r e m a i n e d i n a n u n s e t t l e d s t a t e t i l l 9 6 0 , A , C . ,

in t he reign of Edgar . St. Dunstan then encouraged

- t h e m , w h i c h p a r t i a l l y r e v i v e d t h e i r l o d g e s . Howe ver, in

1041, A . C ., under Edward the Confesso r, . i t f l o u r i s h e d ,

w h o , w i t h t h e a s s i s t a n c e o f L e o f r i c k , E a r l o f Covent ry,

r e b u i l t W e s t m i n s t e r A b b e y , t h e e a r l b e i n g a p p o i n t e d S u -

- p e r i n t e n d a n t o f M a s o n s , b y w h o m m a n y o t h e r s u p e r b s t r u c -

t u r e s w e r e e r e c t e d .

In 1066, Gund ulph, Bis hop of . R o c h e s t e r , a n d R o g e r d e

Mont gomery, Earl of Shrews bury, who we re bot h archi-

tects a nd patrons of the Masons . U n d e r t h e i r a u s p i c e s

the famous Towe r of Lond on wa s begun , althou gh only

f i n i s h e d d u r i n g t h e r e i g n o f W i l l i a m R u f u s , w h o l i k e w i s e

r e b u i l t L o n d o n B r i d g e w i t h w o o d , a n d i n 1 0 8 7 f i r s t c o n -

s t r u c t e d t h e p a l a c e a n d h a l l o f W e s t m i n s t e r . _

Mason ry flourished und er the ausp ices of Henry the

f i r s t , a n d d u r i n g S t e p h e n ' s r e i g n t h e s o c i e t y w e r e e m p l o y e d

i n buildin g a chapel at Westminster, (now the House of

Commons,) Gilbert do Clare, the Marquis of Pembroke,

b e i n g t h e P r e s i d e n t o f t h e l o d g e s . In Henry the I I . ' s t i m e ,

t h e . l o d g e s w e r e u n d e r t h e s u p e r i n t e n d a n c e o f t h e G r a n d

Lodge of the Knight Templars, who in the year 1155 e m-- -

p l ' o ye d t h e m i n t h e e r e c t i o n o f t h e i r t e m p l e i n F l e e t s t r e e t , -

Lon d or . T h e y c o n t i n u e d u n d e r t h e p a t r o n a g e o f t h e o r d e r

u n t i l 1 1 9 9 , w h e n J o h n , s u c c e e d i n g R i c h a r d t h e f i r s t i n t h e

t h r o n e o f E n g l a n d , P e t e r d e C o l e c h u r c h w a s t h e n a p p o i n t e d

Grand Maste r . Peter de Rupibus su ccee ded Colechurch,

A n d G e o f f r e y F i t z P e t e r a c t e d a s h i s d e p u t y . On the a c

_ c e s s i o n o f ' E d w a r d t h e f i r s t , i n 1 2 7 2 , t h e s u p e r i n t e n d e n c e

o f - ' t h e c r a f t w a s e n t r u s t e d t o s e v e r a l n o b l e m e n , a m o n g s t ,

8

YI


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- 2 6 OPINION OF MODERN WRITERS .o t h e r s t o W a l t e r G i f f a r d , A r c h b i s h o p _ o f Y o r k . By these

architec ts, Westminster Abbey, which had been begun i t > ` _

1 2 2 0 , w a s f i n i s h e d . During t he reign of Edw ard the II .

t h e c r a f t w e r e e m p l o y e d u n d e r t h e a u s p i c e s o f W a l t e r S t a -

p l e t o n , B i s h o p o f E x e t e r , w h o h a d ' b e e n a p p o i n t e d t h e i r

G r a n d M a s t e r i n 1 3 0 7 , i n b u i l d i n g E x e t e r C o l l e g e , i n O x

f o r d , a n d C l a r e H a l l , i n C a m b r i d g e .

Edward t he III . p a t r o n i z e d t h e f r a t e r n i t y . H e r e v i s e o

t h e a n c i e n t c h a r g e s , a d d e d s e v e r a l u s e f u l r e g u l a t i o n s t o t h e

o r i g i n a l ' c o d e th e n i n e x i s t e n c e . H e a p p o i n t e d s e v e r a l d e

puties und er him to inspect the proceedings . WilliamWy keham was the Grand Master, on the access ion o f Ri -c h a r d t h e H . , w h o f o u n d e d , a t h i s o w n e x p e n s e , t h e n e w

c o l l e g e a t O x f o r d , a n d W i n c h e s t e r C o l l e g e . A f t e r t h e a c

c e s s i o n o f H e n r y I V . , T h o m a s F i t z A l l a n , E a r l o f S u r r e y ,

beca me Grand Master, by whom Battle Abbey was foun ded,

a n d t h e G u i l d h a l l , i n L o n d o n , b u i l t . D u r i n g t h e r e i g n o f

Henry the V ., Henry Chichely, Archbi shop of Canter-

b u r y , w a s a p p o i n t e d G r a n d M a s t e r , t i n d e r w h o m t h e l o d g e s

a n d c o m m u n i c a t i o n s o f t h e f r a t e r n i t y w e r e v e r y f r e q u e n t .

- In 1425, however, during the reign of Henry the VI . .

an act was made to prevent the meetings of lodges and

c h a p t e r s . I t w a s . p r e t e n d e d t h a t b y s u c h m e e t i n g s t h e g o o d

c o u r s e a n d e f f e c t o f t h e l a b o u r e r s w e r e v i o l a t e d i n s u b v e r -

s i o n o f t h e l a w . T h i s a c t , h o w e v e r , t h r o u g h t h e i n f l u e n c e

o f A r c h b i s h o p C h i c h e l e y , w a s n e v e r p u t i n f o r c e , a n d w h o

c o n t i n u e d s t i l l t o p r e s i d e o v e r t h e m . Dr . A n d e r s o n , i n t h e

f i r s t e d i t i o n o f t h e b o o k o f c o n s t i t u t i o n s , m a k e s t h e f o l -

t o w i n g c o m m e n t u p o n t h i s a c t : "It was made i n ignorant

t i m e s , w h e n t r u e l e a r n i n g w a s a c r i m e , a n d g e o m e t r y c o n -

d e m n e d f o r c o n j u r a t i o n . T h e k i n g , i t i s p r e s u m e d , - w a s ,

t h e n t o o m u c h i n f l u e n c e d b y t h e i l l i t e r a t e c l e r g y , w h o w e r e -

n o t M a s o n s n o r u n d e r s t o o d a r c h i t e c t u r e , ( a s t h e c l e r g y - o f

c o m e f o r m e r y e a r s . " )

I n 144 2 , Henry the VI . w a s i n i t i a t e d i n m a s o n r y . H


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OPINION OF MODERN WRITERS- 27spared n ins t a p e r f ~ c t - .M n s e l - l l e p e r u s e d t h e a n c i e n tc a r g e s . revised the c onstitutio n, and honoured them with

h i s s a n c t i o n . The example of the sovereign wa s followed

by many of the nobi l i ty . The King preside d over the

lodges, nominati ng William Wanefleet, Bishop of Win-

chest er, Grand Master . Durin g h i s r e i g n , t h e f o l l o w i n g

colleges were built and founded : Magd ale n College , Ox-

f o r d ; K i n g ' s C o l l e g e a t C a m b r i d g e , a s a l s o C h r i s t C o l l e g e.

Margaret of Anjou, his quee n, found ed Quee n's- College,

o f t h e s a m e p l a c e .

About this time James 1 . of Scotlan d protect ed the Ma-

sons ; w h o , a f t e r h i s r e t u r n - f r o m c a pt i v i t y , b e c a m e a z e a l o u s

p a t r o n o f t h e a r t . He resided in the lodges . H i s o f f i c e _

e n t i t l e d h i m t o r e g u l a t e e v e r y t h i n g i n t h e f r a t e r n i t y , w h i c h

c o u l d n o t c o m e u n d e r t h e j u r i s d i c t i o n o f t h e c o u r t s , a n d t o

p r e v e n t l i t i g a t i o n s * a m o n g s t b r e t h r e n , b o t h m a s t e r a n d m a -

s o n , ' b u i l d e r a n d f o u n d e r , a p p e a l e d t o h i m , o r i n h i s , a b s e n c e

to his Deputy, or Grand Warden, whose resid ence was

n e a r e s t t o . t h e p a r t i e s .

T h e f o l l o w i n g s t a t e o f t h e o l d e r w a s c o n s i d e r a b l y i n t e r -

r u p t e d b y t h e c i v i l w a r t h e n i , g i n g b e t w e e n t h e h o u s e s o f

' Y o r k a n d L a n c a s t e r , w h i c h I , o u g h t i t a l m o s t e n t i r e l y i n t o

n e g l e c t . Under the au spic er of Robert Bea uchamp, Bishop

of Serum, in 1471, who hzd b een a ppo int ed G . M . by Ed-

w ar d IV . , i t r e v i v e d . Hc, repai red the castle and c hapel

a t W i n d s o r , f o r w h i c h h - t w a s h o n o u r e d w i t h t h e _ t i t l e o f

C h a n c e l l o r o f t h e G a r t e r . During the rei gns o` f Edwa rd V .

and . R i c h a r d II I . i t a g a i n d e c l i n e d , b u t c a m e a g a i n i n r e p u t e

, o n t h e ac c e s s i o n o f Henry VII ., in 1485 . It was then

patronised by the master and fellows o f the order of St .

John of Rhode s, (now Malta,) who, at' a Grand Lodge

meeting i n 1500, chose Henry for their protec tor. O n t h e

H o w d e s i r a b l e: w o u l d i t b e , i f M a s o n s h a d r e c o u r s e t o t h e G r g n a

M a s t e r , i n s t e a d o f p e t t y l i t i g a t i o n s a m o n g s t b r e t h r e n .


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OPINION OF a IODERN WRITERS .

24th- o f J u n e , 1 5 0 2 , -A4azlge Rast ers wa f a r a > e d . , h ep a l a c e , _ a t w h i c h t h e K i n g p r e s i d e d a s G . M . ; a n d a f te r ---- a p p o i n t i n g h i s w a r d e n s , p r o c e e d e d i n g r e a t s t a t e t o West-

m i n s t e r A b b e y , w h e r e t h e f o u n d a t i o n s t o n e w a s l a i d o f t h a t

e x c e l l e n t p i e c e o f G o t h i c a r c h i t e c t u r e , c a l l e d Henry t h eV I L ' s Chape l . T h e c a p e s t o n e o f t h i s b u i l d i n g w a s c e l e -

o r a t e d i n 1 5 0 7 . T h e f o l l o w i n g n o b l e s t r u c t u r e s w e r e a l l

f i n i s h e d i n t h i s r e i g n : The Palace of Richmon d, the Col-

l e g e o f B r a z e n - n o s e i n O x f o r d , a s a l s o J e s u s a n d S t . J o h n ' s

C o l l e g e i n C a m b r i d g e .

Cardinal Wolsey was appointe d G . M . by Henry VIII . ,

w h o b u i l t H a m p t o n C o u r t , W h i t e H a l l , C h r i s t C h u r c h C o l -

l e g e , O x f o r d , a n d s e v e r a l o t h e r n o b l e e d i f i c e s , a l l o f w h i c h

_ u p o n t h e d i s g r a c e o f t h a t pr e l a t e i n 1 5 3 0 , w e r e f o r f e i t e d t o

- t h e c r o w n . Wols ey w a s suc c e e d e d i n 1534 by Thom a s

C r o m w e l l , E a r l o f E s s e x , w h o e m p l o y e d t h e f r a t e r n i t y i n

b u i l d i n g S t . J a m e s ' P a l a c e , C h r i s t H o s p i t a l , a n d G r e e n w i c h

C a s t l e . Cromwell, who was beheade d in 1540, was sue-

c e e d e d b y J o h n T o u c l i e t , w h o b u i l t M a g d a l e n C o l l e g e i i

Cambridge . In 1547, the Duke o f Somerset bec ame Su-

p e r i n t e n d a n t o f , M a s o n s , w h o b u i l t S o m e r s e t H o u s e , i n t h e

S t r a n d , L o n d o n , w h i c h s t a n d s t h e a d m i r a t i o n o f t h e p r e s e n t

g e n e r a t i o n .

The Duke of Somerset was succe eded by John Poynet,

B i s h o p o f W i n c h e s t e r , w h o p r e s i d e d o v e r t h e L o d g e s u n t i l

t h e d e a t h o f t h e K i n g i n 1 5 5 3 . The Craft the n remain ed

s o m e t i m e w i t h o u t a p a t r o n , u n t i l t h e r e i g n o f E l i z a b e t h ,

when - Sir Thomas Sackville bec ame G . M . A curious

c i r c u m s t a n c e h a p p e n e d d u r i n g h e r r e i g n , w h i c h c e r t a i n l y

m e r i t s a p a s s i n g n o t i c e .

H e a r i n g t h a t t h e M a s o n s u s u a ll y h e l d t h e i r l o d g e s a t Y or k _

a n d t h a t t h e y w e r e i n p o s s e s s i o n o f m a n y s e c r e t s , w h i c h

under no ci rcumstance s they ever revealed, and besides

b e i n g j e a l o u s o f a l l s e c r e t a s s e m b l i e s , s h e s e n t a n a r m e d

f o r c e t o b r e a k u p t h e i r a s s e m b l i e s . The d e s i g n w a s p r e .


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OPINION OF MODERN WRITEItS 2 9v e n t e d b y t h e i n t e r p o s i t i o n o f S a c k v i l l e , t h e G . M . , w h o

t o o k c a r e t o i n i t i a t e s o m e o f t h e o f f i c e r s w h o m s h e s e n t o n .

t h i s d u t y , i n t h e s e c r e t s o f t h e o r d e r . They mad e s u c h

f a v o u r a b l e r e p o r t s t o t h e q u e e n , t h a t h e r o r d e r s w e r e c o u n -

t e r m a n d e d , a n d s h e n e v e r a t t e m p t e d a f t e r w a r d s t o d i s t u r b

t h e i r m e e t i n g s . In 1567, Sir Thomas Sackville res ign ed

t h e g r a n d m a s t e r s h i p i n f a v o u r o f F r a n c i s R u s s e l l , E a r l o f

Bed ford, and Sir Thomas Gresham . The former too k

c h a r g e o f t h e b r e t h r e n i n t h e n o r t h , w h i l e t h e l a t t e r s u p e r -

i n t e n d e d t h e m e e t i n g s a t t h e s o u t h , w h e r e t h e s o c i e t y a u g -

m e n t e d c o n s i d e r a b l y , o w i n g t o t h e f a v o u r a b l e r e p o r t s m a d e

t o t h e q u e e n . A l l r e c o r d s w e r e k e p t a t Y o r k , w h e r e a l l

a p p e a l s w e r e m a d e b e f o r e t h e g e n e r a l a s s e m b l y .

O n t h e 7 t h o f J u n e , 1 5 6 6 , S i r T h o m a s G r e s h a m a p p e a r e d

p u b l i c l y i n h i s c a p a c i t y a s G . M . , a n d l a i d t h e f o u n d a t i o n

ston e, with great s olemnitie s, of the Royal Exchange ,

Lon d o n . T h i s e d i f i c e w a s c o m p l e t e d i n N o v e m b e r , 1 5 6 7 -

Q u e e n E l i z a b e t h o p e n e d t h e s a m e i n p e r s o n , o n w h i c h o c c a -

s i o h t h e q u e e n d i n e d w i t h t h e G M She was now more"_'t h a n e v e r s a t i s f i e d t h a t t h e f r a t e r n i t y o f M a s o n s d i d n o t

i n t e r f e r e i n s t a t e a f fa i r s ; s h e b e c a m e r e c o n c i l e d t o t h e i r

m e e t i n g s , a n d f r o m t h i s t i m e M a s o n r y m a d e g r e a t p r o g r e s s .

S e v e r a l g r e a t w o r k s w e r e c a r r i e d o n , u n d e r t h e s u p e r v i -

sion of Sir Thomas' Gresham, who wa s suc ceede d as G .M. b y C h a r l e s H o w a r d , E a r l o f E f f i n g h a m , w h o c o n t i n u e dt o p r e s i d e u n t i l t h e y e a r 1 5 5 8 , w h e n G e o r g e H a s t i n g s w a s

cho s e n G . M . , a n d r e m a i n e d i n o f f i c e t i l l t h e d e c e a s e o f t h e

quee n io 1603 .

D u r i n g t h e r e i g n o f J a m e s t h e F i r s t , M a s o n r y f l o u r i s h e d

in the kingdom . A b o u t t h i s t i m e , t h e c e l e b r a t e d I n i g e

Jones w as ap pointe d General Surveyor to the king . Hew a s n t . + . .ed G . M . of England, and was depute d by meking t c p r e s i d e o v e r a l l t h e L o d g e s . S e v e r a l l e a r n e d m e n

b e c a m e ~ t i e m b e r s o f t h e f r a t e r n i t y , w h i c h c a u s e d t h e s o c i e t y

t o i n c r e a s e i n n u m b e r s a s w e l l a s i n r e p u t a t i o n . Unde r the

3 *


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30 OPINION OF MODERN WRITERS. -d i r e c t i o n o f t h e p r e s e n t G . M . m a n y m a g n i f i c e n t s t r u c t u r e s

w e r e r a i s e d ; he was employed by command of the king t o

p l a n a . n e w p a l a c e a t W h i t e H a l l . H e c o n t i n u e d i n o f f i c e

u n t i l 1 6 1 8 , w h e n h e w a s s u c c e e d e d b y t h e E a r l o f P e m b r o k e

u n d e r w h o s e a u s p i c e s t h e o r d e r f l o u r i s h e d .

D u r i n g t h e r e i g n o f C h a r l e s t h e F i r s t , H e n r y D a n v e r s ,

E a r l o f Danb y, became G . M. i n 1 6 3 0 . He wa s ; s u c c e e d e d

in 1633 by Thomas Howa rd, Earl o f A r u n d e l , t h e a n c e s t o r

o f t h e N o r f o l k f a m i l y . I n 1 6 3 5 , F r a n c i s R u s s e l l , E a r l o f

B e d f o r d , s u c c e e d e d h i m , a n d c o n t i n u e d i n h i s o f f i c e u n t i l

1646 . I n C h a r l e s t h e S e c o n d ' s ' r e i g n , w h o b e c a m e P a t r o n

o f t h e o r d e r , M a s o n r y r e v i v e d , h a v i n g p r e v i o u s l y b e e n o b -

s t r u c t e d b y t h e c i v i l w a r s ; d u r i n g h i s r e i g n , o n t h e 2 7 t h

D e c e m b e r , 1 6 6 3 , a g e n e r a l a s s e m b l y w a s h e l d , w h e n H e n r y

Jernyn, Earl of St . A l b a n s , w a s e l e c t e d G . M. , w h o a p -

point ed John Denham his dep uty, Mr . Christ ophe r Wren

( a f t e r w a r d s th e c e l e b r a t e d Sir Christo pher Wren) and John

Webb, his wa rdens . A t t h i s a s s e m b l y , m a n y u s e f u l r e g u -

l a t i o n s f o r t h e b e t t e r g o v e r n m e n t o f the Lodges were made,

a n d t h e g r e a t e s t h a r m o n y p r e v a i l e d a m o n g t h e c r a f t . In .

1 6 6 6 , t h e E a r l o f S t . A l b a n s w a s s u c c e e d e d b y E a r l R i v e r s ,

w h o a p p o i n t e d S i r C h r i s t o p h e r W r e n h i s d e p u t y , a n d d i s -

t i n g u i s h e d h i m s e l f m o r e t h a n a n y o f h i s p r e d e c e s s o r s i n

p r o m o t i n g , n o t a l o n e t h e p r o s p e r i t y o f t h e L o d g e s , b u t t h e

g e n e r a l w e l f a r e a n d r e p u t a t i o n o f t h e c r a f t , b u t m o r e e s p e -

c i a l l y S t . P a u l ' s L o d g e , n o w t h e L o d g e o f A n t i q u i t y : h e

p r e s e n t e d t h e m w i t h t h r e e m a g n i f i c e n t c a n d l e s t i c k s , w h i c h

a r e s t i l l p r e s e r v e d , a s a l s o t h e m a l l e t u s e d b y C h a r l e s t h e

F i r s t , i n 1 6 7 3 , a t t h e l a y i n g o f t h e f o u n d a t i o n s t o n e o f S t .

P a u l ' s c h u r c h , w h i c h h a d b e e n d e s t r o y e d d u r i n g t h e g r e a t

f i r e w h i c h d e s t r o y e d L o n d o n .

I n 1 6 7 4 , E a r l R i v e r s r e s i g n e d h i s G r a n d M a s t e r s h i p - i n

f a v o u r o f G e o r g e V i l l i e r s ; Duke of Bucki ngham,-who left

t h e c a r e o f t h e f r a t e r n i t y t o h i s w a r d e n s a n d S i r C h r i s t o -

p h e r W r e n , w h o c o n t i n u e d t o a c t a s h i s d e p u t y . Im1679 ,

Rivers resigned in favour of Henry Benn eft, Duke o f A r


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O P I N I O N O 1 + M O D E R N W R I T E R S , 3 1

n n g t o n , d u r i n g w h o s e t e r m o f o f f i c e m a n y n o b l e m e n j o i n e d

t h e o r d e r . P

I n 1 6 8 5 , S i r C h r i s t o p h e r W r e n b e c a m e G . M . , a n d n o t -

w i t h s t a n d i n g t h e c e l e b r i t y o f t h i s a r c h i t e c t , M a s o n r y d e -

c l i n e d u n t i l t h e y e a r 1 69 5 , w h e n K i n g W i l l i a m w a s i n i t i -

a t e d i n t o i t s m y s t e r i e s , w h o h o n o u r e d t h e L o d g e s w i t h - h i s

p r e s e n c e , a n d p r e s i d e d i n t h e o n e h e l d i n H a m p t o n C o u r t.

M a n y o f t h e n o b i l i t y w e r e p r e s e n t , i n p a r t i c u l a r a t a g e n e -

r a l a s s e m b l y , i n 1 6 9 7 , w h e n C h a r l e s , D u k e o f R i c h m o n d

a n d L e n o x , w a s e le c t e d G . M . f o r t h a t y e a r ; t h e n e x t y e a r

h e r e s i g n e d h i s o f f i c e i n f a v o u r o f S i r C h r i s t o p h e r W r e n ,

w h o c o n t i n u e d i n o f f i c e t i l l t h e d e a t h o f K i n g W i l l i a m , i n

1 7 0 2 .

D u r i n g t h e r e i g n o f Q u e e n A n n e , M a s o n r y d e c l i n e d ,

o w i n g t o S i r C h r i s t o p h e r ' s a g e a n d i n f i r m i t i e s ; t h e f e s t i -

v a l s - w e r e n e g l e c t e d , a n d t h e n u m b e r o f Ma s o n s d i m i n i s h e d ,

w h e n i t w a s d e t e r m i n e d t h a t t h e p r i v i l e g e s o f M a s o n r y s h o u l d

n o t a l o n e b e c o n f i n e d t o o p e r a t i v e s , b u t t h a t p e o p l e o f a l l

p r o f e s s i o n s s h o u l d b e a d m i t t e d t o p a r t i c i p a t e i n t h e m , p r o -

v i d e d t h e y w e r e a p p ro v e d p r e v i o u s t o t h e i r i n i t i a t i o n . -T h e s o c i e t y d u r i n g t h e r e i g n o f G e o r g e t h e F i r s t t r o s e i t

e s t e e m ; t h e l o d g e s t h e n i n e x i s t e n c e m e t a t t h e A p p l e T r e e

T a v e r n i n C h a r l e s s t re e t , C o v e n t G a r de n , L o n d o n , c o n s t i -

t u t i n g t h e m s e l v e s i n t o a G r an d L o d g e p r o te m p o r e , w h e r e

t h e y a g r e e d t o r e n e w t h e q u a r t e r l y c o m m u n i c a t i o n s , a n d a t

t h e a n n u a l m e e t i n g M r . A n t h o n y S a y e r w a s e l e c t e d G . M .

H e w a s i n v e s t e d b y t h e o l d e s t M a s t e r M as o n o f t h e o l d e s t

l o d ge p r e s e n t , w h o h a d d u e h o m a g e p a i d h i m b y t h e f r a t e r n i t y .

, I n 1 7 1 8 M r . S a y e r w a s s u c c e e d e d b y M r . G e o r g e P a y n e ,

- w h o c o l l e c t e d m a n y v a l u a b l e m a n u s c r i p t s o n t h e s u b j e c t o f

M a s o n r y , a n d r e q u e s t e d t h e b r e t h r e n t o b r i n g t o t h e G r a n d

L o d g e a n y o l d w r i t i n g s o r r e c o r d s c o n c e r n i n g t h e f r a t e r n i t y ,

t o s h o w t h e a n c i e n t u s a g e s , a n d s e e t h a t n o n e o f t h e l a n d -

m a r k s h a d b e e n i n f r i n g e d , w h i c h t h r o u g h o u t m a n y g e n e r a

b o o s h a d n e v e r b e e n d e v i a t e d f r o m . A t t h i s a s s e m b l y ,


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8 2 OPINION OF MODERN WRITERS.-s e v e r a l G o t h _ i s r e c o r d s w e r e p r o d u c e d . On the 2 4th o f

J u n e , 1 7 1 9 , a t t h e a n n u a l c o m m u n i c a t i o n , D r . D e s a g u l i e r s

w a s u n a n i m o u s l y e l e c t e d G . M . A t t h i s f e s t i v a l t h e r e g u l a r

t o a s t s w e r e i n t r o d u c e d ' ; and from this ti me we may date

t h e p r o g r e s s o f M a s o n r y o n i t s p r e s e n t p l a n i n England .

I n - 1 7 2 0 t h e f r a t e r n i t y m e t w i t h a n i r r e p a r a b l e l o s s b y

the burning o f many valuable manuscripts . This wa s

done by some scrupulous brethren, w h o b e c a m e u n n e -

c e s s a r i l y a l a r m e d a t t h e p u b l i c a t i o n o f t h e M a s o n i c C o n s t i -

t u t i o n .

T h e f r a t e r n i t y w a s , a s b e f o r e s t a t e d , d i v i d e d i n t o t w o

d i f f e r e n t g o v e r n m e n t s ; t h e o n e i n t h e n o r t h , t h e o t h e r i n

the south of England . The greatest harmony, howe ver,

p r e v a i l e d , a n d m a n y p e r s o n s w e r e i n i t i a t e d i n t o t h e m y s t e -

r i e s o f t h e o r d e r . The only distinction between the tw o

g r a n d l o d g e s w a s , t h a t t h o s e o f t h e n o r t h b o r e t h e t i t l e o f

Grand Lodge o f all Englan d, while the ot her was o n l y

c a l l e d t h e G r a n d L o d g e o f E n g l a n d .

I n the yea r 1723, under the Grand Mastership o f t h e

Duke of Buccleu gh, who suc cee ded t he Duke of Wharton,

t h e n o b l e p r o j e c t o r i g i n a t e d , t h e s c h e m e o f r a i s i n g a g e n e r a l l

f u n d f o r d i s t r e s s e d M a s o n s . A c o m m i t t e e w a s a p p o i n t e d t o

m a t u r e a p l a n t o c a r r y t h e s c h e m e i n t o e x e c u t i o n .

T h e d i s p o s a l o f t h e f u n d s w a s v e s t e d i n twelve masters -

o f c o n t r i b u t i n g l o d g e s , w h o i n r o t a t i o n , w i t h s o m e o f t h e

g r a n d o f f i c e r s , should form a committee of charity, who

w e r e t o m e e t f o u r t i m e s a y e a r , o r w h e n e v e r a c a s e o f e x i -

g e n c y s h o u l d - r e q u i r e , a t t h e d f s c r e t i o n a n d c o m m a n d o f t h e

G. M . T h e p e t i t i o n s o f d i s t r e s s e d b r e t h r e n w e r e t h e n c o n -s i d e r e d , a n d i f f o u n d w o r t h y , a s u m o f f i v e g u i n e a s w a s

i m m e d i a t e l y g r a n t e d . S h o u l d t h e n e c e s s i t i e s o f a di s t r e s s e d

w o r t h y b r o t h e r r e q u i r e f u r t h e r r e l i e f , a t a s u b s e q u e n t m e e t

i n g t w e n t y g u i n e a s w e r e . g r a n t e d . T h u s t h e d i s t r e s s e s o f a _

b r o t h e r f o u n d a l w a y s r e a d y r e l i e f f r o m t h i s - g e n e r a l c h a r i t y

f u n d , w h i c h i s s u p p o r t e d b y , t h e v o l u n t a r y c o n t r i b u t i o n s 1 .

I


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' G E N E R A L R E G U L A T I O N S. 3 3 -

t h e d i f f e r e n t l o d g e s , o u t o f t h e i r p r i v a t e f u n d s , w i t h o u t b e i n g

b u r t h e n s o m e t o a n y m e m b e r i n p a r t l e u f a r .

T h u s w a s t h e c h a r i t y f u n d o f t h e G r a n d ' L o d g e e s t a -

b l i s h e d , w h i c h h a s i t s e x i s t e n c e t i p t o t h i s d a y i n e v e r y

c o u n t r y . A n d s o l i b e r a l h a v e i t s c o n t r i b u t i o n s a t . a l l t i m e s

b e e n , t h a t a l t h o u g h t h e s u m s y e a r l y e x p e n d e d h a v e b e e n

g r e a t , t h e e x c e l l e n t _ m a n a g e m e n t o f t h e s e f u n d s a l w a y s l e f t

p l e n t y i n i t s c o f f e r s t o a l l e v i a t e t h e d i s t r e s s e s o f t h e w o r t h y

d i s t r e s s e d b r o t h e r , h i s w i d o w o r o r p h a n s .

The two Grand Lodges of England remaine d und er

s e p a r a t e g o v e r n m e n t s u n t i l t h e 2 7 t h o f D e c e m b e r , 1 8 1 3 ,

w h e n a h a p p y u n i o n t o o k p l a c e , a n d a l l di f f e r e n c e s h e a l e d ,

u n d e r t h e a u s p i c e s o f h i s R o y a l H i g h n e s s , P r i n c e A u g u s t u s

F r e d e r i c k , D u k e o f S u s s e x , w h o w a s e l e c t e d a n d p r o -

c l a i m e d G r a n d M a s t e r o f t h e U n i t e d G r a n d L o d g e o f

A n c i e n t F r e e M a s o n s o f E n g l a n d , a n d w h o c o n t i n u e s i n

h i s o f f i c e u p t o t h e p r e s e n t d a y .

GENERAL REGULATIONS .E x t r a c t f r o m a w o r k w r i t t e n i n 1 7 7 2 , b y t h e R . W'

G . M. , L a u r e n c e D e r m o t t .

I n - t h e f i r s t p l a c e , w h e n y o u i n t e n d t o b e m a d e a F r e e

M a s o n , g o w i t h y o u r f r i e n d t o t h e l o d g e a n d d e s i r e h i m t o

s h o w y o u t h e w a r r a n t o r d i s p e n s a t i o n b y w h i c h t h e l o d g e

i s h e l d , w h i c h y o u w i l l f i n d t o b e a n i n s t r u m e n t p r i n t e d o r

w r i t t e n o n p a r c h m e n t , a n d s i g n e d b y t h e R i g h t W o r s h i p f u l

G r a n d M a st e r , h i s D e p u t y , W a r d e n s , G r a n d S e c r e t a r y a n d

T r e a s u r e r , a n d s e a l e d w i t h t h e G r a n d L o d g e S e a l , c o u s t i -

t i l t i n g a n d a p p oi n t i n g c e r t a i n p e r s o n s t h e r e i n n a m e d , a n d

t h e i r s u c c e s s o r s , a s M a s t e r a n d W a r d e n s w i t h p o w e r r t o

c o n g r e g a t e a n d h o l d a l o d g e a t a c e r t a i n p l a c e , a n d _ t h e r e i n

3

e c x


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94 GENERAL RjGULATIONS.mak e a n d a d m i t F r e e M a s o n s , a c c o r d i n g t o t h e a n c i e n t c u e -

t o m o f t h e c r a f t , w e l l k n o w n i n a l l a g e s a n d n a t i o n s t h r o n g ]

out the whole world, with power to nominate an d choose

t h e i r s u c c e s s o r s ; w i t h o u t s u c h a n a u t h o r i t y n o r e g u l a r l o d g e

c a n b e i n o p e r a t i o n . A f t e r s a t i s f y i n g y o u r s e l f a s t o t h e

g e n u i n e n e s s o f t h i s d o c u m e n t , yo u h a v e a r i g h t t o c a l l f or

a n d p e r u s e t h e b y - l a w s , t o c o n s i d e r w h e t h e r y o u r n a t u r a l

d i s p o s i t i o n w i l l i n c l i n e y o u t o b e c o n f o r m a b l e t o t h e m .

N e x t y o u m a y l o o k a t t h e l i s t o f t h e m e m b e r s , w h e r e y o u

may find t he names of your inti mate and most es teemed

f r i e n d s , of perhaps the names of such (other of youra c q u a i n t a n c e s ) a s y o u w o u l d n o t c h o o s e t o a s s o c i a t e - w i t h ;

when at the perusal of the list of members of anot her

lodge you may find a greater r t t t m b e r o f y o u r a c q u a i n t -

a n c e s . You will v e r y n a t u r a l l y a s k , w h e n y o u s e e a n o b j e c -

t i o n a b l e n a m e o n t h e l i s t o f t h e m e m b e r s o f s o m e o f t h e

l o d g e s , b y w h a t - m e a n s s u c h a n i n d i v i d u a l g o t a d m i t t a n c e

i n t o a s o c i e t y w h i c h b o a s t s o f s o m u c h h o n o r a n d v i r t u e - a s

to rank themselves with kings and princes? To this I

a n s w e r , t h a t o f t e n a s u f f i c i e n t s c r u t i n y h a d n o t b e e n t a k e n

b y t h e c o m m i t t e e s w h o h a v e i n c h a r g e t h e a p p l i c a t i o n o f

e v e r y c a n d i d a t e a s r e g a r d s h i s s t a n d i n g a n d m o r a l c h a r a c t e r;

w h i l e o t h e r s , w h o h a v e s t o o d t h e t e s t o f s t r i c t i n v e s t i g a -

t i o n s , b e h a v e d w e l l f o r y e a r s , a n d a f t e r w a r d s f e l l i n t o a W

m a n n e r o f v i c e s , w h i c h s e r v e s t o s h o w t h e i n s t a b i l i t y a n d

w e a k n e s s o f h u m a n b e i n g s , a n d t h a t a l l t h e d o c t r i n e o f

l a w s u p o n e a r t h , w i t h o u t t h e g r a c e o f G o d , i s n o t s u f f i -

c i e n t t o m a k e m e n w i s e , o r d e t e r t h e m f r o m e v i l . Never-

t h e l e s s , - in t he syst em of Free Maso nry, there are many,

w a y s t o m e n d t h e m a n n e r s , p o l i s h t h e d i s p o s i t i o n , c o r r e c t

t h e j u d g m e n t , a n d r e f i n e t h e t a s t e o f a s o u l v i r t u o u s l y

i n c l i n e d . And as the number of wise an d good Free -

M a s o n s h a v e a l w a y s , a n d I t r u s t s h a l l e v e r , e x c e e d t h a t o f

t h e f o o l i s h a n d w i c k e d , i t w o u l d b e a s a b s u r d to condemn

t h e w h o l e f o r p a r t s , a s i t ' w o u l d b e ' i n th e Is r a e l i te s t o


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GENERAL REGULATIONS . e ~ . 7conde mn S h e m a n d J a p h e t f o r t h e c u r s e b r o u g h t u p o n H a m ,

o r t h e C h r i s t i a n s t o c o n d e m n t h e e l e v e n a p o s t l e s b e c a u s e

J u d a s t u r n e d t r a i t o r . B u t t h i s i s n o t a l t o g e t h e r t h e b u s i -

nes s of-a gui de, and I resume my proper character, and

e a r n e s t l y d e s i r e y o u t o s h u n M a s o n c l u b s ; t h a t i s t o s a y .

l o d g e s f o r m e d w i t h o u t s u c h a n a u t h o r i t y a s d e s c r i b e d , f o r

y o u m a y r e s t f u l l y a s s u r e d t h a t s u c h c l u b s a r e - g e n e r a l l y

composed o f excluded members, or persons clandesti nely

m a d e b y t h e m , a n d c o n s e q u e n t l y i n c a p a b l e o f g i v i n g p r o p e r

i n s t r u c t i o n s t o t h e i r p u p i l s . Or, admit t hem capable of

g i v i n g p r o p e r i n s t r u c

the freemasons monitor-z a davis-1843-398pgs-sec soc

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