The Four Old Lodges.

" that Masonic writers who reject the hypothesis of descent from the Templars throw no light upon the matter ; in casting from them that theory they seem to have left themselves entirely in the dark . "

Leaving these discrepancies for others to explain ; I subjoin one peculiarly British theory , ( ) which from its quaintness , may interest , if it fails to convince , and shall pass on to a consideration of the essential simplicity of the original Masonic Rite .

II . From the earliest period , at which any distinct evidence is forthcoming of the usages and customs , which have finally crystallized into what we now know by the expression Freemasonry , a Simple Rite of one degree , or a single form of initiation , was the only ceremony ( as

we now understand that phrase ) observed by the fraternity . All the brethren were on an equal footing , and the "Master" only meant that member who was elected by vote to preside in the Lodge , or who was charged with the care of work , or with control over the Avorkmen . The

three titles , or in modern parlance , " degrees " of Apprentice , Fellow-craft ( or Craftsman ) and Master-Mason being only applied in reference to their art . (' )

The Apprentice , as the term signifies , being a learner ; the Craftsman , an expert workman , who had acquired his trade ; and the Master , an overlooker , or , possibly , an employer of labour .

There were no secrets communicated by Lodges to either fellows of Craft , or Masters , that wero not known to Apprentices , since members of the latter grade were necessary to the legal constitution of communications for the admission of Masters and Fellows . ( )

The MASON WOKD is the only secret that is ever alluded to in the minutes of St . Mary ' s Chapel , or in those of Kilwinning , Atcheson ' s Haven , or Dunblane , or in any other , examined by Bro . D . M . Lyon , of a date prior to the erection of the Grand Lodge of Scotland ( 1736 ) . ( )

But that this talisman consisted of something more than a word , is evident from the " Secrets " of the " Mason Word" being referred to in the minute-book of the Lodge of Dunblane , and from the farther information drawn from

that of Haughfoot , viz ., that in 1707 the word was accompanied by a grip ; ( ) whilst so far back as 1686 , it is proved by manuscripts of about that period that in England " Signs " were communicated to the initiates . ( )

( i ) The adherents to Druidism . had . various names . Gwjddians > Paulicians , Manicheans , Leogrians , Oughers , May ' s-ons , besides others . In the sense of the bough , or office of justice , the word May is primitive to tho month of May , to Ma-ia , the Goddess of Justice , to Majestas , and to the proper name among tho Bomans of Maius ,

Magus , or Majius . Considering , too , that the May ( May-pole ) was eminently the great sign of Druidism , as tho Cross was of Christianity , is thero anything forced or far fetched in tho conjecture that the adherents to Druidism should take the name of Men of the May , or May ' s-ons ?

The word Hiram ( which is made the foundation of the now-adopted name of Masonry , and of the strange story of the architecture of the Temple of Jerusalem ) signifies precisely the high-pole or holy-bough . This single word , however , of Hiram , nofc improbably furnished the hint afterwards inlarged into all thafc fabulous foundation of Masonry ,

after that the real cause of the name of May s-on had been abolished , and lost in tho shades of antiquity . From tho premises there also appears clearly the reason why the Society of the May ' s-ons , or adherents to tho Religion of the Grove , should be more peculiarly national to Britain than to any other part of the world . This country

Was , in all probability , the parent of Druidism . Essay on the Eeal Secret of the Freemasons ( Cleland ) 17 G 6 , p 120 . The method of the foregoing derivation well illustrates the principle enunciated by Voltaire , "That in etymology vowels go for very little , ancl consonants for nothing at all , " of which a further

example is afforded by the contention of some etymologists , thafc the term "Mason , " is derived from massa a club , with which the doorkeeper was armed to drive away uninitiated intruders ! ( see Heckethorne , Vol . I . p 251 ) . On comparing , however , the actual Druidism of the past with the Masonry of the present , the position advanced by a writer of the

last century ( 1783 ) , " thafc the most perfect remains of the Druids ' rites and ceremonies are preserved in the customs ancl ceremonies of Masons , " ( Smith ' s Use and Abuse of Freemasonry , p 35 ) wonld seem to be one that is fairly maintainable . See Preston , Ed . 179 ( 1 , p 165 ; Constit . 1767 , p 72 ; Borlase , Ant . Corn ., pp 53-146 ; and Secret Societies ( Heckethorne ) , Vol . I . p 110 .

{ - ) Findel , p 81 ; MasonicKeprints ( Hughan ) , p 10 . ( ) Lyon , pp 20—23 ; Findel , p 108 ; the Old Constitutions ( Cox ) , pp 23—26 . ( ) Lyon , pp 20-23 . ( - ) Ibid . { ) Hughan , qited by Lyon , p 211 ,

The Four Old Lodges.

III . — " It seems clear ( says Hughan ) that modern Freemasonry of Three Degrees , not only is of English origin ind a continuation of ancient operative Masonry , but that its introduction into the new arrangement took place in London , certainly not before A . D . 1717 . ( ) The introduction of the desrrees of Fellow Craft and

Master Mason was effected so imperceptibly that the sxact date has not been recorded . It is very probable that the degree of Master Mason first originated as a reward for Masonic merit , especially for brethren who had passed the chair during 1717-20 ; and that the second degree

has been intercalated afterwards , to complete the three steps of the operatives . ( ) The third degree could hardly have been present to the mind of Dr . Anderson when , in 1723 ,

he superintended the printing of his " Book of Constitutions , for it is therein stated , that " the Key of a Fellow-Craft , " is that by which the secrets communicated in the Ancient Lodges could be unravelled . ( )

It was no common thing for many years after the revival to meet with members who had received a degree beyond the Fellow-craft , ( ) which was all that was required of the

Treasurer , Secretary , or Doorkeeper of Grand Lodge , by the Constitutions of 1723 ; all new regulations , moreover , remaining subject to the approval of the youngest apprentice . ( )

Felloiv-crafts and apprentices ( ' - ) only , are named in 0 . R . XXXVII . and by the provisions of 6 . R . XVIIL , in the sickness or absence of the Deputy G . M ., the Grand Master was empowered " to chuse a discreet Fellow-craft to act as Deputy pro tempore .

In the minutes of the Moira Lodge , ~ No . 92 , which commence 17 th July 1755—the first mention of anything beyond " maldng 7 nasons , " is as follows , viz .: — " Perticular ^ ighfc , 27 Aprill 175 C For the Makeing Jn ° . Simpson , Mariner £ s . d .

He paid into the Lodg ... one pound one Shill 110 And Rais . Master the next lodg night and paid . " 0 5 0 £ 16 0

whilst the earliest reference ( by name ) to the tivo first degrees , appears under date of " Oct . ye 20 th 1760 , " viz ., "The Busness being over the Lodge was close in due form . The Enter . Apprintice aud fellow Craft ' s parts . "

IV . —The degrees recognised in 1723 ( ) being but three , the Apprentice , Fellow Craft and Master Mason , undoubtedly all others not included in such a simple Rite are " Innovations " in the Bod y of Masonry .

" It may be argued that so long as the consent of a Grand Lodge was obtained , any number of degrees would be legitimate , but as it was expressly declared by the first Grand Lodge that 'All the alterations were only for

amending or explaining the old Regulations for the good of Masonry , without breaking in upon the Antient Rules of the Fraternity , or infringing the OLD LANDMARKS ; ' it is evident that anything so revolutionary as extra degrees

must be foreign to pure and Antient Freemasonry , and contrary to the ceremonies sanctioned b y the Grand Lodge of England at the revival . " ( ) On the 26 th May 1799 , it was resolved by the Grand

Lodge of Scotland ; that they sanction the Three Great Orders of Masonry , and these alone , of APPRENTICE , FELLOW - CRAFT , and MASTER MASON , being the Ancient Order of St . John , and they expressly prohibit and discharge all Lodges having Charters from the Grand Lodge , from