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Article THE LATE MASONIC RECEPTION AT YORK. Page 1 of 1 Article THE LATE MASONIC RECEPTION AT YORK. Page 1 of 1
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The Late Masonic Reception At York.
THE LATE MASONIC RECEPTION AT YORK .
^^^ J ^^^^^ S
23 GREAT QUEEN STREET , W . C .
DR . J . P . BELL P . G . D . D . P . G . M . G . Sup . of North and East Yorkshire ,
After returning thanks for the fraternal greeting whioh had been so cordially given to him , remarked thafc ifc was not his intention to make a formal address , bufc after he had personally thanked his excellent and distinguished Bro . Deputy Grand Master for the Province of West Yorkshire for the very kind and flattering way in which he had just expressed himself towards this Province , he would in a familiar and brief manner explain some of the more interesting
contributions which he had had the pleasure of submitting to the notice of thafc influential and distinguished gathering of the Craft . Whenever , as a Mason , he visited the good old city of York , he always felt as if he were treading upon sacred ground—probably from a consciousness of the important parfc which this city played afc a very early period after the arrival of the Romans , and up to the present century . He regretted to find thafc within the last few years ifc had been the fashion wifch a certain class of Masonic students to
ignore all traditional or legendary accounts of either events or circumstances relating to the early history of the Graft , and to treat such accounts as myths ; forgetting the marked distinction which obtains between these definitions . For his own part , until evidence was adduced to the contrary , ho was of opinion thafc Grand Lodges had been regularly held in York , and only in that city , from the
year 926 until the rei gn of Qaeen Elizabeth . These meetings of the Craft were dignified by the title of " Assemblies , " which were to all intents and purposes " Grand Lodges , " and there is every reason to believe that they were held in York , long antecedent to thoir being held in London , previous to which latter period ( namely , A . D . 1567 ) he was not aware of any Grand Lodge , or " Assemblie" having
, taken place in thafc city , although no doubt " Lodges " wero held in London and different parts of tbo kingdom ; bub tho " general assem . bly " was held in York , where all the records were kept- and Preston informed us that to this assembly appeals were made on every important occasion . The disposition to treat traditions and legends simply as myths , had led , and would lead , its advocates into
difficulfcies . If fchey considered how much tho history of the Craft differed from perhaps that of any other institntion , they need not wonder that they hadso few documents or other direct evidences of long bygone transactions and ceremonials , the transmission of which " they all knew was only by oral communication . Nevertheless , now and then tangible and undoubted records unexpectedly presented
themselves . For instance , they had been told over and over again thafc no Masonry of a speculative character existed prior to tho year 1700 , and some even assert not until 1717 ; but he now shewed them a photograph of an old brass square , presented to him by Lodge No . 13 , Limerick , which ho thought indubitably proved the exTsfcence of speculative Masonry as early at least as the year 1517 . What was
speculative Masonry bufc a symbolizing of the operative art in its various aspects , and amongst them that of spiritualizing or symbolizing our working tools , and applying them to our morals ? That old brass square , mncb corroded , was discovered in 1830 , under the foundation stone of Old Baal ' s Bridge , which , in that year , under the
superintendence of the lafce Bro . Pain , was removed and replaced by the present structure . He was in possession of a full account of its discovery . There could be no doubt of the genuineness of the squarewhich was carefully preserved by Lodge 13 , Limerick—neither conld thero bo two opinions as to the speculative character of the couplet engraved upon ifc 200 years before 1717 , namely : —
" I will strive to live with love and care , Upon tbe level , by the square . "—1517 . It would nofc become him that evening to impose upon the visitors even a brief history of that Province . He could not , however , but remark npon tbe graceful terms in which Worshi pful and excellent Bro . Tew alluded to the character and Masonic position of N . and E .
Yorkshire . He wonld remind him thafc ifc was in the year 1738 thafc the firsfc deputation was appointed for Yorkshire , when William Horton , Esquire , was appointed Provincial Grand Master for all Yorkshire . He died in 1710 , and was snececded by Edward Rooke , Esqnire . Afc thafc time there were only two private Lodges in the whole Province , namely , one at the Three Tuns , at Scarborough
whose warrant was dated 1720 , and which was erased 29 th Nov . 1754 ; and another at tho Black Bnll , in Halifax , warrant dated 173 s ! Ho might'inform the visitors thafc the entire Province of York was under one jurisdiction from that time nntil the year 1 S 21 , when it was divided ; Viscount Pollington ( afterwards Enrl of Mexboroim-hl
being appointed to preside over tlio West Riding , and Lord Dundas , the father of our Me venerated and distinguished Grand Master the Eirl of Zetland , being appointed under the title of " Provincial Graud Master for the City and Aius = ty of York , and for the North aud East Ridings of the County of York . " The former Province , ho believed
The Late Masonic Reception At York.
now numbered 66 Lodges , with 3000 members , and their owu Province 27 Lodges , and about 1800 members . Tho D . P . G . M . then exhibited and described a folio copy of the Rules and Regulations of the Athol Masons , or , as thoy styled themselves , " Ancient" Masons , composed in the first instance of a few seceders from the Grand Lodgo of England , London , in or about the year 1710 . They
ultimately became a formidable rival of the Grand Lodge of England itself , bnt in the year 1813 , chiefly , if not entirely , due to tho sagacity and influence of the lato Duke of Sussex , the well-known and happy union was effected , and from thafc date arose tho United Grand Lodge of England . This book was remarkable , as containing , in print , the official declaration that Masonry consists of four degrees . The
D . P . G . M . nexfc exhibited a portion of tho Temple of Jero . iaelm—a piece of the Holy Edifice itself , which he had procured through the kindness of the Palestine Exploration Fnnd . Ifc was only of late years that we had been able to understand how the stupendous stones of which the Temple was composed conld have been got to the' top of Mount Moriah , especially as some of those monoliths measure C feet
in height and 30 feet in length . We were told in our lectures that the stone was brought from the quarries of Tyre , and in all probability some stone did come from those celebrated quarries—stone possibly peculiarly proper for arches , keystones , & o . We had now fonnd that there was an immense quarry underneath I Im Temple , and we had good evidence from those who had visited the quarry
that all the stones were there hewn , squared , and made ready for their respective places . As a matter of fact it had been ascertained that tho quarry had been so skilfully excavated thafc its floor was higher than that of the Temple itself . A distinguished brother present , the most Worshipful Bvo . Hyde Clarke , assisted in tbe formation of a Lodge whioh is held in a room in this quarry hewn out of the rock ,
and another distinguished brother present was a member of the Lodge held there , the Royal Solomon Mother Lodge , No . 293 , under the Grand Lodge of Canada . Tho stone , they would observe , was of a calcareous nature , and indeed was marble . It was rather soft and friable , bufc became harder on long exposure to air , and took a good polish . He also shewed a beautiful little piece of tesselated pave .
ment from Solomon s Temple . Some said that the Mosaic was composed of variegated precious stones ; these , however , appeared to be rather of a vitreons nature . Those brethren who took an interest in Mark Masonry as it was called , or in Masons' Marks , and who had never seen them before , would be gratified to examine the photographs of the marks discovered ( some incised and others painted )
npon the foundation of the Temple . They wero indebted to the Palestine Exploration Fund for this interesting discovery . A shaft 70 feet deep below the present surface of the ground had to be sunk through accumulated soil and debris before the lowermost stone was reached—and upon it and others in the immediate vicinity these marks were fonnd . Bro . Col . Warren , who had command of the
Palestine exploration , described some of the marks , which he says are in red paint , apparently Vermillion , and pat on with a brush . The colour easily rubbed off on being touched with a wet finger . The larger letters wero above five inches high . The marks were examined on the spot by the late Mr . E . Dentsch , of the British Museum , and who pronounced them to be certainly Phoenician , and that they wero
tho marks of Phoenician workmen employed by Hiram , the great Master Mason , who in all probability stood on that spot and superintended the lowering of the stones . To those who might be sceptical with regard to the preservation and fresh appearance of tho paint , after a lapse of nearly 3000 years , he would remark that since be read an account of tbe scribblings or " graffiti , " fonnd , after 2000
years , on the walls of the ruins of Pompeii and other places , ho could not doubt the truth of tho statement . Why might nofc the peculiarly worked bevel , and these marks , whioh undoubtedly indicated the work of the builders of the Temple , serve to prove that tho same band of workmen , or their immediate descendants , after finishing the Temple and erecting other edifices in the east , travelled
westward , which tradition declared fchey did , as far as Hercules' Pillars on the west , and China on the easfc , and the Old Constitutions affirm to Germany and Ganl , leaving , as they went along , the above vestiges of their footprints . As a believer in what was called by some the Guild theory , ancl consequently having for many years taken particular interest in Masons' Marks , he did nofc yefc despair of
being able to trace , by tbe Jewish bevel , or draft , and the letters or marks ho had described , some of them Moabite and some Phoenician a connexion between , if not a continuous succession of , Hiram's builders , and those of that glorious Cathedral under whose immediate shadow they were then assembled , and which was such a proud - monument of the skill and daring and ingenuity of their ancient
brethren . The D . P . G . M . nexfc exhibited a drawing of an earthenware jar ( about 8 inches high ) , found in a hole scooped out of one of the foundation stones of Solomon ' s Temple , and said—Are we to suppose that ifc was placed thero afc the time of the laying of tho foundation stone , and then covered in , jusfc as in the present day wo are in the habit of embedding a bottle containing coins , & c , in tbo
foundation stone of a new public bnilding ? Mr . McGregor ( Rob Roy ) visited the excavations , and in company with Bro . Captain Warren repeatedly descended the shaft afc the south-east corner . Ho saw the Masons' marks , and tbe place where tho little vase had been found afc the base of the wall . In conclusion , referring to tho beautiful address delivered by the Deputy Provincial Grand Master of
Wesfc Yorkshire , Dr . Bell said he felt assured thafc so long as the firsfc Ancient Charge remained on tho pages of oar Book of Constitutions , whatever mig ht be the case with other societies or institutions , either at home or abroad , no person would bo admitted into our Order unless he firmly believed in the Glorious Architect of Heaven and Earth , in whose bauds wero the issues of life and death .
1 \/ fR . GLADSTONE and tho WINE DUTIES . —J . E . SHAND & I TjL CO ., Wino "Mercluinte ? , 2 Albert , Mansions , Victoria Street , London , S . W ., bur ; to inform numerous inquirers that the letter received from the l'REMIKR in rcplv to theiri ( iiesttoiia on this important subject appeared iu "The Timeo " and " . Daily New ? " oratli January lS-il .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Late Masonic Reception At York.
THE LATE MASONIC RECEPTION AT YORK .
^^^ J ^^^^^ S
23 GREAT QUEEN STREET , W . C .
DR . J . P . BELL P . G . D . D . P . G . M . G . Sup . of North and East Yorkshire ,
After returning thanks for the fraternal greeting whioh had been so cordially given to him , remarked thafc ifc was not his intention to make a formal address , bufc after he had personally thanked his excellent and distinguished Bro . Deputy Grand Master for the Province of West Yorkshire for the very kind and flattering way in which he had just expressed himself towards this Province , he would in a familiar and brief manner explain some of the more interesting
contributions which he had had the pleasure of submitting to the notice of thafc influential and distinguished gathering of the Craft . Whenever , as a Mason , he visited the good old city of York , he always felt as if he were treading upon sacred ground—probably from a consciousness of the important parfc which this city played afc a very early period after the arrival of the Romans , and up to the present century . He regretted to find thafc within the last few years ifc had been the fashion wifch a certain class of Masonic students to
ignore all traditional or legendary accounts of either events or circumstances relating to the early history of the Graft , and to treat such accounts as myths ; forgetting the marked distinction which obtains between these definitions . For his own part , until evidence was adduced to the contrary , ho was of opinion thafc Grand Lodges had been regularly held in York , and only in that city , from the
year 926 until the rei gn of Qaeen Elizabeth . These meetings of the Craft were dignified by the title of " Assemblies , " which were to all intents and purposes " Grand Lodges , " and there is every reason to believe that they were held in York , long antecedent to thoir being held in London , previous to which latter period ( namely , A . D . 1567 ) he was not aware of any Grand Lodge , or " Assemblie" having
, taken place in thafc city , although no doubt " Lodges " wero held in London and different parts of tbo kingdom ; bub tho " general assem . bly " was held in York , where all the records were kept- and Preston informed us that to this assembly appeals were made on every important occasion . The disposition to treat traditions and legends simply as myths , had led , and would lead , its advocates into
difficulfcies . If fchey considered how much tho history of the Craft differed from perhaps that of any other institntion , they need not wonder that they hadso few documents or other direct evidences of long bygone transactions and ceremonials , the transmission of which " they all knew was only by oral communication . Nevertheless , now and then tangible and undoubted records unexpectedly presented
themselves . For instance , they had been told over and over again thafc no Masonry of a speculative character existed prior to tho year 1700 , and some even assert not until 1717 ; but he now shewed them a photograph of an old brass square , presented to him by Lodge No . 13 , Limerick , which ho thought indubitably proved the exTsfcence of speculative Masonry as early at least as the year 1517 . What was
speculative Masonry bufc a symbolizing of the operative art in its various aspects , and amongst them that of spiritualizing or symbolizing our working tools , and applying them to our morals ? That old brass square , mncb corroded , was discovered in 1830 , under the foundation stone of Old Baal ' s Bridge , which , in that year , under the
superintendence of the lafce Bro . Pain , was removed and replaced by the present structure . He was in possession of a full account of its discovery . There could be no doubt of the genuineness of the squarewhich was carefully preserved by Lodge 13 , Limerick—neither conld thero bo two opinions as to the speculative character of the couplet engraved upon ifc 200 years before 1717 , namely : —
" I will strive to live with love and care , Upon tbe level , by the square . "—1517 . It would nofc become him that evening to impose upon the visitors even a brief history of that Province . He could not , however , but remark npon tbe graceful terms in which Worshi pful and excellent Bro . Tew alluded to the character and Masonic position of N . and E .
Yorkshire . He wonld remind him thafc ifc was in the year 1738 thafc the firsfc deputation was appointed for Yorkshire , when William Horton , Esquire , was appointed Provincial Grand Master for all Yorkshire . He died in 1710 , and was snececded by Edward Rooke , Esqnire . Afc thafc time there were only two private Lodges in the whole Province , namely , one at the Three Tuns , at Scarborough
whose warrant was dated 1720 , and which was erased 29 th Nov . 1754 ; and another at tho Black Bnll , in Halifax , warrant dated 173 s ! Ho might'inform the visitors thafc the entire Province of York was under one jurisdiction from that time nntil the year 1 S 21 , when it was divided ; Viscount Pollington ( afterwards Enrl of Mexboroim-hl
being appointed to preside over tlio West Riding , and Lord Dundas , the father of our Me venerated and distinguished Grand Master the Eirl of Zetland , being appointed under the title of " Provincial Graud Master for the City and Aius = ty of York , and for the North aud East Ridings of the County of York . " The former Province , ho believed
The Late Masonic Reception At York.
now numbered 66 Lodges , with 3000 members , and their owu Province 27 Lodges , and about 1800 members . Tho D . P . G . M . then exhibited and described a folio copy of the Rules and Regulations of the Athol Masons , or , as thoy styled themselves , " Ancient" Masons , composed in the first instance of a few seceders from the Grand Lodgo of England , London , in or about the year 1710 . They
ultimately became a formidable rival of the Grand Lodge of England itself , bnt in the year 1813 , chiefly , if not entirely , due to tho sagacity and influence of the lato Duke of Sussex , the well-known and happy union was effected , and from thafc date arose tho United Grand Lodge of England . This book was remarkable , as containing , in print , the official declaration that Masonry consists of four degrees . The
D . P . G . M . nexfc exhibited a portion of tho Temple of Jero . iaelm—a piece of the Holy Edifice itself , which he had procured through the kindness of the Palestine Exploration Fnnd . Ifc was only of late years that we had been able to understand how the stupendous stones of which the Temple was composed conld have been got to the' top of Mount Moriah , especially as some of those monoliths measure C feet
in height and 30 feet in length . We were told in our lectures that the stone was brought from the quarries of Tyre , and in all probability some stone did come from those celebrated quarries—stone possibly peculiarly proper for arches , keystones , & o . We had now fonnd that there was an immense quarry underneath I Im Temple , and we had good evidence from those who had visited the quarry
that all the stones were there hewn , squared , and made ready for their respective places . As a matter of fact it had been ascertained that tho quarry had been so skilfully excavated thafc its floor was higher than that of the Temple itself . A distinguished brother present , the most Worshipful Bvo . Hyde Clarke , assisted in tbe formation of a Lodge whioh is held in a room in this quarry hewn out of the rock ,
and another distinguished brother present was a member of the Lodge held there , the Royal Solomon Mother Lodge , No . 293 , under the Grand Lodge of Canada . Tho stone , they would observe , was of a calcareous nature , and indeed was marble . It was rather soft and friable , bufc became harder on long exposure to air , and took a good polish . He also shewed a beautiful little piece of tesselated pave .
ment from Solomon s Temple . Some said that the Mosaic was composed of variegated precious stones ; these , however , appeared to be rather of a vitreons nature . Those brethren who took an interest in Mark Masonry as it was called , or in Masons' Marks , and who had never seen them before , would be gratified to examine the photographs of the marks discovered ( some incised and others painted )
npon the foundation of the Temple . They wero indebted to the Palestine Exploration Fund for this interesting discovery . A shaft 70 feet deep below the present surface of the ground had to be sunk through accumulated soil and debris before the lowermost stone was reached—and upon it and others in the immediate vicinity these marks were fonnd . Bro . Col . Warren , who had command of the
Palestine exploration , described some of the marks , which he says are in red paint , apparently Vermillion , and pat on with a brush . The colour easily rubbed off on being touched with a wet finger . The larger letters wero above five inches high . The marks were examined on the spot by the late Mr . E . Dentsch , of the British Museum , and who pronounced them to be certainly Phoenician , and that they wero
tho marks of Phoenician workmen employed by Hiram , the great Master Mason , who in all probability stood on that spot and superintended the lowering of the stones . To those who might be sceptical with regard to the preservation and fresh appearance of tho paint , after a lapse of nearly 3000 years , he would remark that since be read an account of tbe scribblings or " graffiti , " fonnd , after 2000
years , on the walls of the ruins of Pompeii and other places , ho could not doubt the truth of tho statement . Why might nofc the peculiarly worked bevel , and these marks , whioh undoubtedly indicated the work of the builders of the Temple , serve to prove that tho same band of workmen , or their immediate descendants , after finishing the Temple and erecting other edifices in the east , travelled
westward , which tradition declared fchey did , as far as Hercules' Pillars on the west , and China on the easfc , and the Old Constitutions affirm to Germany and Ganl , leaving , as they went along , the above vestiges of their footprints . As a believer in what was called by some the Guild theory , ancl consequently having for many years taken particular interest in Masons' Marks , he did nofc yefc despair of
being able to trace , by tbe Jewish bevel , or draft , and the letters or marks ho had described , some of them Moabite and some Phoenician a connexion between , if not a continuous succession of , Hiram's builders , and those of that glorious Cathedral under whose immediate shadow they were then assembled , and which was such a proud - monument of the skill and daring and ingenuity of their ancient
brethren . The D . P . G . M . nexfc exhibited a drawing of an earthenware jar ( about 8 inches high ) , found in a hole scooped out of one of the foundation stones of Solomon ' s Temple , and said—Are we to suppose that ifc was placed thero afc the time of the laying of tho foundation stone , and then covered in , jusfc as in the present day wo are in the habit of embedding a bottle containing coins , & c , in tbo
foundation stone of a new public bnilding ? Mr . McGregor ( Rob Roy ) visited the excavations , and in company with Bro . Captain Warren repeatedly descended the shaft afc the south-east corner . Ho saw the Masons' marks , and tbe place where tho little vase had been found afc the base of the wall . In conclusion , referring to tho beautiful address delivered by the Deputy Provincial Grand Master of
Wesfc Yorkshire , Dr . Bell said he felt assured thafc so long as the firsfc Ancient Charge remained on tho pages of oar Book of Constitutions , whatever mig ht be the case with other societies or institutions , either at home or abroad , no person would bo admitted into our Order unless he firmly believed in the Glorious Architect of Heaven and Earth , in whose bauds wero the issues of life and death .
1 \/ fR . GLADSTONE and tho WINE DUTIES . —J . E . SHAND & I TjL CO ., Wino "Mercluinte ? , 2 Albert , Mansions , Victoria Street , London , S . W ., bur ; to inform numerous inquirers that the letter received from the l'REMIKR in rcplv to theiri ( iiesttoiia on this important subject appeared iu "The Timeo " and " . Daily New ? " oratli January lS-il .