-
Articles/Ads
Article THE ORIGIN OF MASONRY A JOKE. Page 1 of 1 Article THE ORIGIN OF MASONRY A JOKE. Page 1 of 1 Article A MASONIC DREAM. Page 1 of 2 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Origin Of Masonry A Joke.
THE ORIGIN OF MASONRY A JOKE .
ONE of tho contributors to Charles Knight ' s " London , " published by Bonn , London , 1 S 51 ( vol . 2 , p 14 ) , offers tho following amusing speculations as to tho origin of Freemasonry . Most Masons are of opinion that tho Institution was born centuries before Sir Christopher Wren ' s day , and that it was horn again about the timo that eminent brother died . But our profane friends must have their little joke , and we may as well enjoy it with them : —
" Thero ia a curious question connected with the bnilding of St . Paul ' s , regarding the origin of Freemasonry . Herder , in one of his fngittvo pieces , asserts ( bnt without stating his authority ) that Freemasonry [ meaning thereby modern European Freemasonry—the Freemasonry of St . John , as it is called ] had its origin during the ereotion of the cathedral , in a prolonged jest of Wren and some of his
associates . Herder ' s story is , that , on the stated days on which Wren , was accustomed to inspect the progress of the bnilding , he and his friends wero accustomed to dine at a house in the neighbour , hood ; that a club was thus formed , which by degrees introduced a formula of initiation , and rules for the conduct of the members expressed in symbolical language , derived from the Masonio profession .
[ The writer probably moans , derived from operative Masonry . ] Similar jocular affectations of mystery are not uncommon ; au interesting instance is mentioned by Goethe in his " Diohtung und Wabrheit , " iu which he took a prominent part during his residence in Wetzlar . It seems rather corroborative of Herder's assertion , that , while tho biographers of Wren mention the attendance of the
Lodge of Freemasons , of which he was the Master , at the ceremony of placing the highest stone of the lantern , no mention is made of their attendances at the laying of the foundation atone . It ia also worth notice that every Lodge in Great Britain ( and we may add , on the Continent ) is an offshoot from that one Lodge of which Sir Christopher was so long Master , now generally known by the name
of tho Lodgo of Antiquity . It is difficult to conceive the tolerant spirit of Masonry—its recognition of the personal worth of men , irrespective of their opinions , as their sole title to esteem—adopted by any body of men , while the inhabitants of Europe were growing into thinkers through the fever-fit of sectarianism . The age and nation in which Milton defended tho liberty of the press , Taylor
advocated the " liberty of prophesying , " and Locke wrote in defence of toleration , are the first in which we can well fancy an association imbued with that principle to originate . Lastly , there are several circumstances connected with Wren ' s general career , and with the building of St . Paul ' s in particular , which seem to be mirrored in Masonry . We pronounce no decided opinion on Herder ' s assertion ,
leaving the history of Masonry , as far as we are concerned , in a state of dubiety , which seems more congenial than clear knowledge to such a mysterious Institution . Shonld any zealous Mason grumble at our implied scepticism regarding the great antiquity claimed by his Order , we wonld respectfully remark that Sir Christopher Wren is as respectable a founder as he has any chance of getting—that he
' may go farther ana fare worse . "Wren was a man well qualified for drawing around him an intellectual ancl social circle of acquaintances . His talents were of the highest order , and he had overlooked no branches of knowledge cnl . tivated in his day . Evelyn , in his Diary , says— ' 1651 , Jnly lltb . After dinner , I visited that miracle of a youth , Mr . Christopher Wren ,
nephew to tho Bishop of Ely j' and in his ' Seulptnrce , or History of Chalcography , ' ' Snch at present is that rare and early prodigy of universal science , Dr . Christopher Wren , our worthy and accomplished friend . ' His Latin composition is elegant ; his mathematical demonstrations original and perspicuous . Tn 1658 , he solved the problem proposed by Pascal as a challenge to the scientific men of England ;
and proposed another in return , which was never answered . In his fifteenth year ho was employed by Sir Charles Scarborough , an eminent lecturer on anatomy , as his demonstrating assistant : and he assisted Willis in his . dissections for a treatise on the brain , published in 16 ( 34 , for which ho mado the drawings . His anniversary address to the Boyal Society , in 1 ( 564 , bears testimony to the
comprehensive and varied range of his intellect , as also to his constant recurrence to observation as to the fountain aud corrector of theory . With the characteristic carelessness of true genius he freely communicated the progress and results of his inquiries , unchecked by any paltry anxiety to set his own mark upon them before he gave them currency . Tho early annals of the Boyal Society bear record
that many small men have plumed themselves npon inventions and discoveries which really were Wren ' s , bnt which he did not take the trouble to reclaim . His was a social disposition , and the workings of his intellect afforded one of his means of promoting the enjoyment of society . It is a flattering testimony to his temper , that dnring his long life he seems never to have lost a friend . Steele , in his sketch
of Wren , under tha name of Nestor , in tho ' Tatlcr , ' dwells with emphasis on his modesty : — ' His personal modesty overthrew all his pnblic actions ; ' ' the modest man built the city , and the modest man's skill was unknown . " It was , however , no sickly modestythe want of a proper consciousness of his own strength . The bitter tears he wept when forced to abandon his original design for St .
Paul ' s are a proof how truly he estimated its value . When told , one morning , that a hurricane which occurred iu the night had damaged all the steeples in London , he replied with his quiet smile , ' Not St . Dunstau ' s , I air . sure . ' There are passages in his Keport to the Commissioners [ for the erection of fifty additional churches in the cities of London ancl Westminster ] , conceived iu the very spirit in which Milton announced hia hopo to compose something which
future ages ' would not willingly let die . An anecdote of Sir Dudley North , preserved by his brother Roger , conveys a distinct notion of Sir Christopher's conversation : — 'He ( Sir Dudley ) was so great a lover of bnilding , that St . Paul ' s , then well advanced , was his ordinary walk ; there was scarce a course of stones laid , while we lived together , over which wo did not walk . . . . Wo usuall y went there on Saturdays , which were Sir Christopher Wren ' s days
The Origin Of Masonry A Joke.
who was the surveyor : and we commonly got a snatch of discourse with him , who , like a true philosopher , waa always obliging a „ j communicative , and in every matter we inquired about gave short but satisfactory answers . ' His equanimity supported him when the intrigues of Gorman adventurers deprived him of the post of snr . veyor-general after the death of Queen Anne . ' He then , ' observes his
son , 'betook himself to a country life , saying only , with the stoic Nunc me jubet fortuna etpeditius philosophari ; in which recess , free from worldly affairs , he passed the five last years of hia life in contemplation and study , and principally in the consolation of the Holy Scriptures , cheerful in solitude , and as well pleased to die in the shade as in the light . " It is said—and it mnst be true—that the
greatest enjoyment of his latter days was an occasional journey to London to feast his eyes upon St . Paul's . On one of theso occasions he was residing in St . James ' s-street . He had accustomed himself to take a nap after dinner , and on the 25 th of February 1723 , the servant who constantly attended him , thinking he slept longer than usual , went into his apartment , and found him dead in his chair .
" His mortal relics are deposited beneath the dome of St . Panl ' s and his epitaph may be understood in a wider sense than even of that sublime interior ; it embraces not merely the British Metropolis , but every region where one man is to be found who has benefited b y the light which Wren and his associates in philosophical inquiry were so instrumental in kindling : — Si MONUMENTUM EEQUIRIS ClBCUMSPICE . "
A Masonic Dream.
A MASONIC DREAM .
BKO . EDITOR : —I had been to a Masonio banquet , where every , thing iu the shape of good things to eat had been duly consumed . * * * I was in the land of morbid dreams , and found myself wandering at night through the deserted streets of the city . Stumbling on in tho darkness , I was suddenly grasped by two strong men , one on each side , with a Herculean grip . In the darkness I had not
seen them until they were upon me . At first I thought they were highway ruffians , bent on robbing me , but one of them in a stentorian voice said , "Ton are wanted . " I knew what that meant . I was arrested . Instantly there came flashing across me everything I had ever done , and I thought , what crime had I committed that I should be
seized in tho dead of night and hurried off to justice or injustice . It must be a mistake , thought I . I have been arrested by mistake for some other person . I shall soon establish my innocence before the tribunal . All these thoughts went like lightning through my brain , for in truth there was not much time for thought at all . In the strong grip of these two stalwart officers of justice I was
rushed through a door of some great building , which , m the darkness , I could not make out , and up a staircase so steep as to quite take away my breath . Presently we were ushered into a dimly lighted room , and before me sat two or three men masked in sombre black , whose features were entirely uncVscernible . No one else was visible . Presently a voice came from the black-robed judge at the head of
the table , deep and sepuchral , " Guards , who have you there iu charge ? " I recognized tbe voice as that of the old patriarch Enoch —the same that built the famous vault of nine arches , and hid away the golden plate for posterity to find . The guards , thus challenged , answered in a firm , decided tone , " A Mason who is accused of violating his Masonic obligation . "
" A Mason who has violated his Masonic obligation ! Can it he possible ? Knowest thou not , unhappy wretch , that no crime of which a man can be guilty is deeper or more damning than this ? Stand forth and answer ! " All this , from the deep sepulchral tones of the patriarch Enoch , struck down deep into my soul , and made we feel pretty serions . Still , thonght I , there must be some mistake j
what have I ever done to bring me here before the judges ? and tried to brace myself up in conscious integrity , and wrap about ine the mantle of injured innocence . " Chancellor , " said another voice , read from the book of doom the principal crimes of Masons who have gone over the gulf to perdition and let the accused answer as if he stood at the bar of eternal judgment .
That voice began , " O unhappy mortal ! hast thou ever unlawfully revealed the secrets of Freemasonry ?" " Never , " I answered , with the quickness of an electric telegram I began to be sure they were after the wrong individual . "Art thou sti / 2 in the habit of using the name of God profanely notwithstanding all thou didst promise at thy initiation into the
solemn mysteries of Masonry ?" " No , sir , " I replied with firmness , " never since I have been a Mason have I been guilty of that vulgar and gratuitous vice . When I was made a Mason I broke short off , and never have been guilty since . " I straightened myself up in conscious rectitude , and I could plainly see that my deportment was making a favourable impression
on those cowled judges , who held in their hands my Masonic , if not earthly fate . Ono judge whispered lo another , and I could just make out * ' There must be some error in rur information . This respondent ha * the air of an innocent aud upright Mason . " " Bat , " said the President . " Chancellor , is there not still another
question ? " There is yet one , " said the official addressed . " Bead it !" " Hast thou ever wilfully defrauded a brother Mason ?" " Not wilfully , I hope , " I answered more humbly . " If I have over
done so , I trust it has been through carelessness , or forgetfulneas * r > r thoughtlessness , and not maliciously or intentionally . " " Pause and reflect ! " said tho sepulchral tones of all tho cowled heads at once . Then , after a long pause , came thus : " Thou hast been accused of having taken the Freemason ( or two
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Origin Of Masonry A Joke.
THE ORIGIN OF MASONRY A JOKE .
ONE of tho contributors to Charles Knight ' s " London , " published by Bonn , London , 1 S 51 ( vol . 2 , p 14 ) , offers tho following amusing speculations as to tho origin of Freemasonry . Most Masons are of opinion that tho Institution was born centuries before Sir Christopher Wren ' s day , and that it was horn again about the timo that eminent brother died . But our profane friends must have their little joke , and we may as well enjoy it with them : —
" Thero ia a curious question connected with the bnilding of St . Paul ' s , regarding the origin of Freemasonry . Herder , in one of his fngittvo pieces , asserts ( bnt without stating his authority ) that Freemasonry [ meaning thereby modern European Freemasonry—the Freemasonry of St . John , as it is called ] had its origin during the ereotion of the cathedral , in a prolonged jest of Wren and some of his
associates . Herder ' s story is , that , on the stated days on which Wren , was accustomed to inspect the progress of the bnilding , he and his friends wero accustomed to dine at a house in the neighbour , hood ; that a club was thus formed , which by degrees introduced a formula of initiation , and rules for the conduct of the members expressed in symbolical language , derived from the Masonio profession .
[ The writer probably moans , derived from operative Masonry . ] Similar jocular affectations of mystery are not uncommon ; au interesting instance is mentioned by Goethe in his " Diohtung und Wabrheit , " iu which he took a prominent part during his residence in Wetzlar . It seems rather corroborative of Herder's assertion , that , while tho biographers of Wren mention the attendance of the
Lodge of Freemasons , of which he was the Master , at the ceremony of placing the highest stone of the lantern , no mention is made of their attendances at the laying of the foundation atone . It ia also worth notice that every Lodge in Great Britain ( and we may add , on the Continent ) is an offshoot from that one Lodge of which Sir Christopher was so long Master , now generally known by the name
of tho Lodgo of Antiquity . It is difficult to conceive the tolerant spirit of Masonry—its recognition of the personal worth of men , irrespective of their opinions , as their sole title to esteem—adopted by any body of men , while the inhabitants of Europe were growing into thinkers through the fever-fit of sectarianism . The age and nation in which Milton defended tho liberty of the press , Taylor
advocated the " liberty of prophesying , " and Locke wrote in defence of toleration , are the first in which we can well fancy an association imbued with that principle to originate . Lastly , there are several circumstances connected with Wren ' s general career , and with the building of St . Paul ' s in particular , which seem to be mirrored in Masonry . We pronounce no decided opinion on Herder ' s assertion ,
leaving the history of Masonry , as far as we are concerned , in a state of dubiety , which seems more congenial than clear knowledge to such a mysterious Institution . Shonld any zealous Mason grumble at our implied scepticism regarding the great antiquity claimed by his Order , we wonld respectfully remark that Sir Christopher Wren is as respectable a founder as he has any chance of getting—that he
' may go farther ana fare worse . "Wren was a man well qualified for drawing around him an intellectual ancl social circle of acquaintances . His talents were of the highest order , and he had overlooked no branches of knowledge cnl . tivated in his day . Evelyn , in his Diary , says— ' 1651 , Jnly lltb . After dinner , I visited that miracle of a youth , Mr . Christopher Wren ,
nephew to tho Bishop of Ely j' and in his ' Seulptnrce , or History of Chalcography , ' ' Snch at present is that rare and early prodigy of universal science , Dr . Christopher Wren , our worthy and accomplished friend . ' His Latin composition is elegant ; his mathematical demonstrations original and perspicuous . Tn 1658 , he solved the problem proposed by Pascal as a challenge to the scientific men of England ;
and proposed another in return , which was never answered . In his fifteenth year ho was employed by Sir Charles Scarborough , an eminent lecturer on anatomy , as his demonstrating assistant : and he assisted Willis in his . dissections for a treatise on the brain , published in 16 ( 34 , for which ho mado the drawings . His anniversary address to the Boyal Society , in 1 ( 564 , bears testimony to the
comprehensive and varied range of his intellect , as also to his constant recurrence to observation as to the fountain aud corrector of theory . With the characteristic carelessness of true genius he freely communicated the progress and results of his inquiries , unchecked by any paltry anxiety to set his own mark upon them before he gave them currency . Tho early annals of the Boyal Society bear record
that many small men have plumed themselves npon inventions and discoveries which really were Wren ' s , bnt which he did not take the trouble to reclaim . His was a social disposition , and the workings of his intellect afforded one of his means of promoting the enjoyment of society . It is a flattering testimony to his temper , that dnring his long life he seems never to have lost a friend . Steele , in his sketch
of Wren , under tha name of Nestor , in tho ' Tatlcr , ' dwells with emphasis on his modesty : — ' His personal modesty overthrew all his pnblic actions ; ' ' the modest man built the city , and the modest man's skill was unknown . " It was , however , no sickly modestythe want of a proper consciousness of his own strength . The bitter tears he wept when forced to abandon his original design for St .
Paul ' s are a proof how truly he estimated its value . When told , one morning , that a hurricane which occurred iu the night had damaged all the steeples in London , he replied with his quiet smile , ' Not St . Dunstau ' s , I air . sure . ' There are passages in his Keport to the Commissioners [ for the erection of fifty additional churches in the cities of London ancl Westminster ] , conceived iu the very spirit in which Milton announced hia hopo to compose something which
future ages ' would not willingly let die . An anecdote of Sir Dudley North , preserved by his brother Roger , conveys a distinct notion of Sir Christopher's conversation : — 'He ( Sir Dudley ) was so great a lover of bnilding , that St . Paul ' s , then well advanced , was his ordinary walk ; there was scarce a course of stones laid , while we lived together , over which wo did not walk . . . . Wo usuall y went there on Saturdays , which were Sir Christopher Wren ' s days
The Origin Of Masonry A Joke.
who was the surveyor : and we commonly got a snatch of discourse with him , who , like a true philosopher , waa always obliging a „ j communicative , and in every matter we inquired about gave short but satisfactory answers . ' His equanimity supported him when the intrigues of Gorman adventurers deprived him of the post of snr . veyor-general after the death of Queen Anne . ' He then , ' observes his
son , 'betook himself to a country life , saying only , with the stoic Nunc me jubet fortuna etpeditius philosophari ; in which recess , free from worldly affairs , he passed the five last years of hia life in contemplation and study , and principally in the consolation of the Holy Scriptures , cheerful in solitude , and as well pleased to die in the shade as in the light . " It is said—and it mnst be true—that the
greatest enjoyment of his latter days was an occasional journey to London to feast his eyes upon St . Paul's . On one of theso occasions he was residing in St . James ' s-street . He had accustomed himself to take a nap after dinner , and on the 25 th of February 1723 , the servant who constantly attended him , thinking he slept longer than usual , went into his apartment , and found him dead in his chair .
" His mortal relics are deposited beneath the dome of St . Panl ' s and his epitaph may be understood in a wider sense than even of that sublime interior ; it embraces not merely the British Metropolis , but every region where one man is to be found who has benefited b y the light which Wren and his associates in philosophical inquiry were so instrumental in kindling : — Si MONUMENTUM EEQUIRIS ClBCUMSPICE . "
A Masonic Dream.
A MASONIC DREAM .
BKO . EDITOR : —I had been to a Masonio banquet , where every , thing iu the shape of good things to eat had been duly consumed . * * * I was in the land of morbid dreams , and found myself wandering at night through the deserted streets of the city . Stumbling on in tho darkness , I was suddenly grasped by two strong men , one on each side , with a Herculean grip . In the darkness I had not
seen them until they were upon me . At first I thought they were highway ruffians , bent on robbing me , but one of them in a stentorian voice said , "Ton are wanted . " I knew what that meant . I was arrested . Instantly there came flashing across me everything I had ever done , and I thought , what crime had I committed that I should be
seized in tho dead of night and hurried off to justice or injustice . It must be a mistake , thought I . I have been arrested by mistake for some other person . I shall soon establish my innocence before the tribunal . All these thoughts went like lightning through my brain , for in truth there was not much time for thought at all . In the strong grip of these two stalwart officers of justice I was
rushed through a door of some great building , which , m the darkness , I could not make out , and up a staircase so steep as to quite take away my breath . Presently we were ushered into a dimly lighted room , and before me sat two or three men masked in sombre black , whose features were entirely uncVscernible . No one else was visible . Presently a voice came from the black-robed judge at the head of
the table , deep and sepuchral , " Guards , who have you there iu charge ? " I recognized tbe voice as that of the old patriarch Enoch —the same that built the famous vault of nine arches , and hid away the golden plate for posterity to find . The guards , thus challenged , answered in a firm , decided tone , " A Mason who is accused of violating his Masonic obligation . "
" A Mason who has violated his Masonic obligation ! Can it he possible ? Knowest thou not , unhappy wretch , that no crime of which a man can be guilty is deeper or more damning than this ? Stand forth and answer ! " All this , from the deep sepulchral tones of the patriarch Enoch , struck down deep into my soul , and made we feel pretty serions . Still , thonght I , there must be some mistake j
what have I ever done to bring me here before the judges ? and tried to brace myself up in conscious integrity , and wrap about ine the mantle of injured innocence . " Chancellor , " said another voice , read from the book of doom the principal crimes of Masons who have gone over the gulf to perdition and let the accused answer as if he stood at the bar of eternal judgment .
That voice began , " O unhappy mortal ! hast thou ever unlawfully revealed the secrets of Freemasonry ?" " Never , " I answered , with the quickness of an electric telegram I began to be sure they were after the wrong individual . "Art thou sti / 2 in the habit of using the name of God profanely notwithstanding all thou didst promise at thy initiation into the
solemn mysteries of Masonry ?" " No , sir , " I replied with firmness , " never since I have been a Mason have I been guilty of that vulgar and gratuitous vice . When I was made a Mason I broke short off , and never have been guilty since . " I straightened myself up in conscious rectitude , and I could plainly see that my deportment was making a favourable impression
on those cowled judges , who held in their hands my Masonic , if not earthly fate . Ono judge whispered lo another , and I could just make out * ' There must be some error in rur information . This respondent ha * the air of an innocent aud upright Mason . " " Bat , " said the President . " Chancellor , is there not still another
question ? " There is yet one , " said the official addressed . " Bead it !" " Hast thou ever wilfully defrauded a brother Mason ?" " Not wilfully , I hope , " I answered more humbly . " If I have over
done so , I trust it has been through carelessness , or forgetfulneas * r > r thoughtlessness , and not maliciously or intentionally . " " Pause and reflect ! " said tho sepulchral tones of all tho cowled heads at once . Then , after a long pause , came thus : " Thou hast been accused of having taken the Freemason ( or two