Oliver Cromwell And The Freemasons.

him to make this admirable expedient known to them . Bat Cromwell AVOUUI not yield afc onco to their importunities , but modestly replying that K ) important an oiiferpnso was beyond tlie strength of any ono man to accomplish , and that lie would rather continue to mulme tho evils i f a bad "overnment than in seek ' uiL' to remove them bv iho

efforts of his friends subject them to dangers wl . ich thoy might be unwilling to encounter . Croimvell well understood tho character of every man who sat at the table Avith him , and he knew that by this artful address he should still further excite their curiosity and awaken their enthusiasm . And so it Avas that after a repetition of importunities , he finally consented

to develop his plan on the condi ^ on that all tho guests should take a solemn oath to reveal the plan to no ono and to consider it after it had been proposed Avith an absolutely unprejudiced mind . This was unanimously assented to , and tho oath of secrecy having been taken , Cromwell threw himself on his knees and , extending his hands towards heaven , called on Goo and all the Celestial Powers to witness tho

innocence of his heart and the purity of his intentions . All this tho Abbe Larudan relates with a minuteness of detail which Ave could expect only from an eyc-Avitness of tho scene . Having thus made a deep impression on the spectators , CroniAvell said that tho precise moment for disclosing the plan had not arrived and that an inspiration from heaven , which ho had just received , instructed him not to

divnlgo tho plan until four days had elapsed . Tho company , though impatient to receive a knoAvledge of the important secret , wero compelled to restrain thoir desires , and to agree to meet again at the appointed timo and at a place which was designated . On the fourth day all the guests repaired to a honse iu King ' s street , where the meeting took place , and Cromwell proceeded

to develop his plan . And here tho Abbe Larndan becomes fervid and diffuse in tho minuteness Avith which ho describes what must have been a AvhoIIy imaginary scene . Ho commenced by conducting tho visitors into a dark room , whero ho prepared their minds for what was to occur by a long prayer , in the course of which he gave them to understand he Avas in communion

Avith the spirits of the blessed . Aftei ? this he told them his design Avas to found a society whose only object would be to render due worship to GOB and to restore to England tho peace for Avhich it so ardently longed . Bufc this project , he added , required consummate prudence and infinite address to secure its success . Then taking a censer in his hands , ho filled tho apartment with the most subtle

fumes so as to produce a favourable disposition in the company to hear what he had further to say . He informed them that at " the reception of a new adherent it Avas necessary ho should undergo a certain ceremony , to which all of them would havo to submit . He asked them whether they wero willing to pass through this ceremony ? to which proposition unanimous consent was given . He then chose

from the company five assistants to occupy appropriate places and to perform prescribed functions . Theso assistants wero a Master , two Wardens , a Secretary and an Orator . Having made these preparations , the visitors wero removed to another apartment which had been prepared for the purpose , and in Avhich was a picture representing the ruins of King Solomon ' s Temple .

From this apartment they Avero removed into another , and being blindfolded Avero finally invested with the secrets of initiation . Crom-Avell delivered a discourse on religion and politics , the purport of which was to show to tho contending sects of Presbyterians and Independents , representatives of both being present , tho necessity , for tho public good , of abandoning all their frivolous disputes , of becoming reconciled , and of changing the bitter hatred which then inspired them

for a tender love and charity towards each other . The eloquence of their artful leader had tho desired effect , and both sects united with the army in tho establishment of a secret association , grounded on the professed principles of love of GOD and the maintenance of liberty and equality among men , but whoso real design was to advance tho projects of Cromwell b y tho abolition of the monarchy and tho establishment of a commonwealth of which he should bo the head .

It is unfortunate for the completed symmetry of this rather interesting fable , that tho Abbe has refrained from indulging his imagination by giving us the full details of the form of initiation . ° He has , however , in various parts of his book alluded to so much of it as to enable us to learn thafc the instructions were of a symbolic chameter , and thafc the Temple of Solomon constituted the most prominent symbol .

This Temple had been built by Divine command , to be the sanctuary of religion and as a place peculiarly consecrated to the performance of its angnst ceremonies . After several years of glory and magnificence , it had been destroyed by a formidable army , and the people who had been there accustomed to worship were loaded with chains and carried in captivity to Babylon . After years of servitude an

idolatrous prince , chosen as the instrument of Divine clemency , had permitted the captives to return to Jerusalem and to rebuild the Temple in its primitive splendour . It Avas in this allegory , says tho Abbe , that the Freemasons of Cromwell found the exact analogy of their society . The Temple in its first splendour is figurative of the primitive state of man . The

religion and the ceremonies Avhich Avere there practised aro nothing else than that universal law engraved on every heart whose principles aro found in the ideas of equity and charity to which all men are obliged . The destruction of this Temple , and tho captivity and slavery of its Avorshippers , symbolised the prido and ambition which have produced political subjection among men . Tho unpitying hosts of Assyrians Avho destroyed tho TeinnlofiTid Inrl t . lm nnnnin ; nfn „ ., „)¦ :

vity are tho Kings , Princes and Magistrates whoso power has overwhelmed oppressed nations with innumerable evils . Aud finally the chosen people , charged with tho duty of rebuilding the Temple , are the freemasons , who are to restore men to their original dignity . Cromwell had divided the Order which ho foundedinto three classes or degrees . The third or Master ' s degree was of course nofc without its lliranuc legend , but the interpretation of its symbolism was very Uilleront from that which is givm at the present day .

Oliver Cromwell And The Freemasons.

Tho Abbe thus explains it . Tho disorder of tho workman and tho confusion ; it lho Temple Avere intended to make a profound impression upon the mind of tlie candidate , and to show him that the loss of liberty and equality represented by tho death of Hiram is tho cause of all tho evils which uil ' ect mankind . While men lived in tranquillity in tho asvlum of tho Temnlo" of Liberty thov enioved noroetnal

happiness . But thoy havo been surprised and attacked by tyrants , who havo reduced them to a state of slavery . All this is symbolised by Hie destruction of the Temple , which it is tho duty of tho Master Mason to rebuild , that is , to restore that liberty and equality which had boon lost . Cromwell appointed missionaries or emissaries , says Larudan , Avho

propagated the Order , not only over all England but even into . Scotland and Ireland , whero many Lodges were established . The members of tho Order were first called Freemasons ; afterwards tlie namo was repeatedly changed to suit the political circumstances of the times , aud they were called Levellers , thou Independents , afterwards tho Fifth Monarchy Men , and finally resumed their original

title , which thoy have retained to the present day . Such is tho fablo of tho Cromwellian origin of Freemasonry , Avhich Ave owo entirely to tho inventive genius of tho Abbe Larndan . And yet it is not wholly a story of the imagination , but is really founded on an extraordinary distortion of tho facts of history . Edmund Ludlow Avas au honest and honourable man , who took at

first a prominent part in tho civil war which ended in the decapitation of Charles I ., the dissolution of the monarchy and the establishment of tho commonwealth . He was throughout his whole life a consistent and unswerving republican , and was as much opposed to tho political schemes of Cromwell for his own advancement to power as ho was lo the usurpation of unconstitutional power by tho king . In tho

language of the editor of his memoirs : " Ho Avas enemy to all arbitrary government though gilded over Avith the most specious pretences ; and nofc only disappointed tho usurpation of Cromwell , but would have opposed him Avith as much vigour as he had done the king , if all occasions of that nature had not been cut off by tho extraordinary jealousy or vigilance of the usurpers . " Having unsuccessfully

laboured to counteract tho influence of Cromwell with the army , ho abandoned public affairs and returned to his home in Essex , Avhero he remained in seclusion until the restoration of Charles II ., when ho flod to SAvitzerlaud , where he resided until his death . During ; his exile Ludlow occupied his leisure hours in tho composition of his Memoirs , a Avork of circat value , as a faithful record of the

troublous period in Avhich he lived , and of Avhich he Avas himself a great part . In these memoirs he has given a copious narrative of tho intrigues by which Croimvell secured the alliance of tho army and destroyed the influence of tbe Parliament . The AA'ork Avas published afc Vevay , Switzerland , under tho title " Memoirs of Edmund Ludlow , Esq ., Lieutenant General of tho Forces in Ireland , one of tho Council

of tho State and a Member of the Parliament Avhich began ^ November 3 rd , 16 < I 0 . " It is in tAvo volumes , Avith a supplementary ono containing copies of important papers . The edition from which I cite bears tho date of 1 G 9 S . There may have been an earlier ono . With theso Memoirs the Abbe Larudan appears to have been Avell acquainted . He had undoubtedly road them carefully , for ho has made many

quotations and has repeatedly referred toLndloAV as his authority . But , unfortunately for the Abbe's intelligence , or far more probably for his honesty , ho has always applied AA'hafc LndloAV said of tho intrigues of Cromwell for the organisation of a new party as if it Avere meant to describe the formation of a new nnd secret society . Neither Ludlow nor any other writer refers to tho existence of

Freemasonry as we now have it , and as it is described hy tho Abbe Larndan in the time of the civil wars . Even the Operative Masons were not afc thafc period greatly encouraged , for , says Northonck , " no regard to science and oleganco was to be expected from tho sour minds of the puritanical masters of the nation , between tho fall of Charles I . and the restoration of his son . "

The Guild of Freemasons , iho only form in which the Order was known until the eighteenth century , Avas , during the Commonwealth , discouraged and architecture was neglected . Iu the tumult of Avar the arts of peace aro silent . CromAvell was , it is true , engaged in many political intrigues , but he had other and moro effective means to effect his ends than those of Freemasonry , of AA'I IOSO existence afc that timo , except as a Guild of Workmen , we have no historical

evidence , bufc many facts to contradict its probability . The theory , therefore , that Freemasonry OAVOS its origin to Oliver CromAvell , who invented it as a means of forwarding his designs toward obtaining the supreme power of the State , is simply a fable , the invention of a clerical adversary of the Institution , and devised by him plainly to give it a political character , by which , like his successors Barruel and Robinson , he sought to injure ifc .

At the last meeting of the Sphinx Lodgo it was proposed' That a petition to the Grand Lodge be presented for the purpose

of advocating tho entire abolition of tho oaths at present so freely administered in Craffc Masonry , and for the substitution in place thereof of a solemn affirmation , as more consistent Avith tho true objects and best interests of English Freemasonry . "

One brother suggested , as the better course , to bring forward the subject afc the usual meeting of the Grand Lodgo . It Avas ultimately withdrawn on the understanding that the W . M . would communicate with tho Grand Secretary upon tho subject .

After nearly two years spent in its preparation , a new Avork on ferns , written by Mr . James Britten , F . L . S ., Avith fac-similo coloured plates , painted from Nature by Mr . D . Blair , F . L . S ., Avill bo published shortly in monthly parts by Messrs . Cassell , Potter , Galpin & Co ., under the title of " European Ferns . "