The Alleged Discovery Of Masonic Emblems.

THE ALLEGED DISCOVERY OF MASONIC EMBLEMS .

WE are not surprised tliafc tho great Masonic lights of the United States shonld bo divided in opinion as to tho valno of the Masonic discovery which Commander Gorringo is said to havo made . Moro information is needed boforo anything definite can bo settled , and wo shall content ourselves with noting a few of tho ideas expressed by

Transatlantic Brethren on the subject . Bro . Simons , for instance , of the Now York Dispatch , will not accept tho symbols on tbo stones beneath tho Egyptian obelisk as Masonic emblems until he has somo real data on which to baso an opinion , " but " let it be granted that tho ehai'acters

—or symbols , or whatever you please—are really Masonic in form , how shall we go back through all the intervening centuries , and connect them with Masonry as it now exists ? " Even tbe discovery of an apron with tho sqnaro and compass , and tho letter G on it , could , thinks this

worthy brother , "bo counted for nothing more than a coincidence . " Professor Rawson , the Orientalist , thinks Dr . Fanton ' s despatch falls short of proving what it so confidently asserts . " These emblems , or stonemasons' marks , "

observes the Professor , " prove nothing ; for tbo obelisk itself has been moved since the beginning of the Christian era , and tho mai-ks on tho foundation stones may bo only tho private hieroglyphics of the stonemasons in Alexandria —marks to show tho Masons whero to place the

stones——marks such as I found everywhere in my archaeological investigations in the East . " Bro . Steinbrumer , author of " Tho Origin and Early History of Freemasonry , " says

" I can dig up stones and find characters , and I can form an order aud date ifc back 10 , 000 years ; 'Jbufc thafc will signify nothing . Masonry , as we known ifc , does nofc antedate tho eighteenth century , and if tho obelisk has stood a thousand years or longer the marks beneath it can have no relation to Masonry as wo know ifc . Somo Masons , if

they happen to find in any ancient thing a symbol that is employed in our day , are ready to jump at tho conclusion that it is Masonic instead of asking themselves whether modern Masons have nofc stolen

it . The square has been used by builders in all ages , bufc ifc doesn ' t follow that the ancient builders wero Masons . Many Masons of our clay do not understand Masonry . They aro striving to givo ifc antiquity , as though thafc wero its chief merit . "

Bro . Robert Macoy , author of the " Encyclopaedia of Freemasonry , " is of opinion that secret societies " Nofc unlike the Masonic Lodges have existed in all ages , bufc I do not say that any discovery can prove that the Masonry of our time is identical with that of the ages of antiquity . The formation of our

architecture and oven our arts and sciences are based upon the systems known as Masonic . These systems and fraternities , existing for mutual protection in tbo affairs of life and for the promotion of knowledge , have passed down through the ages , among all civilized people with all tho changes and ramifications thafc are incident to human

affairs , aud tho subject is too great to be adequately investigated in a brief interview . Ifc is my conviction thafc tho discoveries that now seem to be authenticated by Dr . Fanton will reveal the true connection between ancient and modern Masonry . But lofc us wait and seo tho stones that upheld tho obelisk in Alexandria . "

Bro . Singleton , Grand Secretary of tho Grand Lodge of District of Columbia , holds that the emblems aro not indicative of any Masonic symbols , but aro simply coincidences . Further explanation will determine their full value . Ho

remarks that tho plates m a work entitled " Central America and Yutcaan , " showed " certain well known Masonic signs used in capitular Masonry , " but it was simply a coincidence . And he adds

" The information in regard to these discoveries of Commander Gorringo is not sufficiently explicit to give a reader auy correct , idea of their positions relatively to themselves or the outlines of the foundation or tho superstructure . A true plan and sectional elevation must he given to understand thoir form and position . The square , the two

altars and the old trowel may be symbolic or they may have a realistic bearing upon tho work . The cube of forty inches mentioned may determine tho length of tho cubit . The cube itself was a symbol of perfection , according to Josephus , and that was the form of tho sanctum sanctorum of tho tabernacle and in King Solomon ' s Temple . The

square discovered is peculiar . The longer arm being double the length of the other and narrower , is somewhat liko tho framing square of tho carpenter and stone mason . The ancient York lectures say thafc the longer arm of the square indicates the sum of all tho duties we

owe to mankind . The true proportion of the Masonic sqnaro is a base of three , perpendicular four aud diagonal or hypothonuso five , and demonstrates by figures tho forty-seventh problem of Euclid . This -Egyption square is anomalous . "

He thinks " Masons weaken their cause archaBologically , by much assumption . " ^ Bro . Major B . P . Pooro considers that these emblems ¦ do not appear to be Masonic , and certainly do nofc resemble the Masonic emblems of onr day , so closely as do scores

The Alleged Discovery Of Masonic Emblems.

of delineations npon tho walls of tho tombs in tho valley of the Nilo . No direct proof has even boon given thafc tho Freemasonry of to-day is directly descended from and identified with tlie mystic rites of Egypt . " Ho bolievos that " a portion of tho ceremonies and of tho emblems of thoso

rites handed down from one secret brotherhood to another were adopted by thoso who organised our Freemasonry . " And later on , " The organisers of onr Freemasonry did not certainly creatn and originate emblems which aro pourtrayod on tho monuments of Egypt ,

of Greece , of Italy and of Germany . Whether , in adopting tho emblems thus handed down to them , tho organizers of our Freemasonry have preserved any of tho rites and mysteries of thoso who presided over the altars of Memphis , is yet to ho determined . lie had hopes ,

when he heard of Lieutenant Commander Gorringe ' s discovery , that it would supply some of tho missing links , but ho fears . that ho is to bo disappointed . The emblems found beneath tho obelisk described aro nofc the recognized emblems of Freemasonry , although thoy doubtless resemble somo of them . "

Bro . Albert Pike is free to say tho articles found do " not boar any resemblaneo to Freemasonry . " Ho did not believe that " the present system of Masonry or anything like ifc was in existence at tho timo tbo obelisk was put up .

Some of the symbols of Masonry are very ancient , because they were used by Pythagoras , and were borrowed from Babylon , and havo been adapted to Modern Masons , and ifc was due in this connection that some of tho explanations had really been forgotten . " And our brother concluded ,

" I havo not the slightest idea that Freemasonry , in its present ; form or shape , had any existence older than tho seventeenth century . All attempts to prove that it existed at an earlier date aro nonsense . I have expended a largo sum of money iu tho purchase of books , and have studied tho subject to seo if thero was anything in tho records

of history to show close connection with Masonry , and all I havo ever been able to discover is a bare relation of tho symbols . Tho degrees , signs and symbols as now understood among Masons , aro comparatively modern . I think tho Egyptian relics belong to a veritable mare ' s nest . "

Bro . Albert G . Mackey is likewise among the sceptics as to tbe value of the discovery , and he is a host in himself . So far we have quoted unfavourable or hesitating opinions . Let us now glance at the other side of the picture . Bro . Daniel Sickles , author of tho " General Ahiman Rezon and

Freemason ' s Guide , " " believes Masonry to have been born in the Monumental period , as far back as any building of any notoriety is known ; " and subsequently ho adds , " As to the notion that Masonry originated at the foundation of the Pyramids , I fancy it dates back as far as civilisation

itself . It is tho only organisation that has not meddled with either creeds or governments , or politics , or with anybody ' s private opinions ; and hence its strength and durability . " Bro . Banks speaks of bis " knowledge of Brother Gorringo , who is a member of Anglo-Saxon

Lodge of Brooklyn , and who is familiar with all the emblems of Masonry , and a gentleman of the highest intelligence , " who , " in his opinion , " fortifies my proconceived opinion of tho Masonio significance of thoso important discoveries . "

Eoyal Hanover Lodgo , TTo . 1777 , Twickenham . —An emergency meeting was held at tho Albany Hotel , Twickenham , on Saturday last . Tho Lodgo was opened at half-past three o ' clock by the W . M . Bro . H . Lovotrrovc , supported by Bros . G . Chirk S . W ., IT . A Dubois Prov . J . G . W . as J . AV ., Larlham P . M . as I . P . M ., W . H . Barber Secretary , C . C . Cruikshanks S . D ., F . J . Perks J . D ., If . S .

Dunkloy I . G ., G . J . Dunkley Organist , T . W . G . Wood W . S . and J . Daly Tyler . The other members present wero Bros . Elliott , Axford , E . W . Dubois and others , and Visitors Bros . White , Stafford , & c . Bros . Thorn and Holliday answered tho usual questions , were entrusted aud duly raised to the sublime degree , the traditional

history being given by Bro . Larlham . Tho ballot was taken for several gentlemen , and Messrs . Johnson and Johnston being in attendance were duly initiated . The members wore mourning as requested by tho R . W . Prov . G . M . in consequence of the death of Bro . T . J . Sabine . About twenty remained for refreshment , after which the W . M . proposed tho usual toasts .

Bro . James Lewis Thomas , F . S . A ., Past Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies of England , has just received an elaborate designed diploma , stating that on tho fifth and seventh days of February 18 S 0 , " in consideration of his illustrious services to Freemasonry , " he was made an Honorary Member of tho Ancient Carthage Lodge and Chapter 1717 under the seal of tho said Masonio bodies .

The Principals of the Elias Ashmole Chapter , No . 148 , Warrington , will be installed on Monday , 8 th March , and those of tho Chapter of Harmony , No . 178 , Wigan , on Wednesday , 10 th March ; tho ceremonies iu both cases will bo performed by E . Comp . John Bowes P . Z ., P . P . G . S . N . Cumberland arid Wesfcmorcland . j