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Masonic Legend And Tradition.
mysteries , it is not necessary to enter into a detail nf the labours of thoso Tyrinn artists , in conjunction with tho men of Israel , in tho prooaration of the material for , and final completion of the Temple which roi- 'O '" a '" 110 5 '' unearthly grandeur on Moriah . Jew and Gentile wrought together , as though the achievement was designed to prefigure ' that of the Gospel in later times , when all wero to be included
iu the privileges and blessings of a Temple equally as holy and still more spiritual . On this analogy tho fathers founded another legend . " Now for the corner-stone of another tradation : For seven years the work of constructing that Temple went steadily forward according to the designs of tho ' cunning workman' of Tyro in whom was
min <» led the blood of the Jew and the Gentile . Israelite and Tyrian toiled side by side , until by tbe united skill and industry of moro than one hundred and fifty thousand workmen tho Grand Design was comp leted . Think you a close and fraternal intimacy had grown np between these workmen ? In thoir hours of ' rest and refreshment ' thoy doubtless talked over tho history , customs and religions of their
respective nations , with tho nature and resulting benefits of a closer union ; and though the sons of Abraham could not , perhaps , formally unite with their co-workers , the Tyrinns , nor embrace their peculiar dogmas in their entirety , they conld unite in some of them . Tho Israelites , perhaps , wonld commend tho doctrines and duties taught by the Prophets , and instructed their Tyrian associates in relation to
the claims and promises—the privileges and blessings vouchsafed to them by the Goo of Abraham . " The very rock or timber on which their skill was then engaged would lead to conversation on this subject ; and in the hours of relaxation from toil , while reposing nnder the deep shades oftho forest on the plains of Zarthan . or the sides and summit of Lebanon , would
suggest the wonders Goo had wrought in behilf of His chosen people ; and such themes would lead them to chant the inspired songs of the Hebrew Bards , until the mind and language of the Jowglowed under the inspiration of the themes , and the hopes and prospects opening before them ; while their Tyrian associates would listen , and wonder , and admire . It cannot be supposed that this free and unrestrained
intermingling of workmen , even of different races , conld continue for a period of seven years , without creating an intimacy as sincere as it was disinterested , and without making each party acquainted with whatever was valuable and disirable in the social , religions , or fraternal institutions of the respective nations . The one was as ready to impart as the other was to receive instrnction j while both were
benefited , and received impressions that ages did not obliterate . " Bnt tho great work was finally completed , and the workmen were again to be separated . The Temple , in which the solemn and imposing worship of JEHOVAH was to be publicly instituted and statedly celebrated , was dedicated witb the most imposing ceremonies that earth had ever witnessed . The Ark , with its sacred deposits was
safely deposited in the ' Most Holy Place . ' On his bended knees ' before all the congregation , ' and tho vast assemblage which the groat event had collected from every part of Judea , tbe great Monarch of Israel had solemnly consecrated tho whole to the worship of JEHOVAH . And Goo had appeared in awful majesty over tho mercy seat , and accepted the offering . Next to the cloud ancl tbe thunder
and the earthquake upon Mount Sinai , this was the most solemn and awe inspiring scene that man had ever witnessed . "We may reasonably conclude that many of those Tyrian artists who so long and faithfully laboured in the erection of this wonderful structure , remained to witness tho great events of its dedication ; and if so , what thoy saw and heard on that memorable occasion must have
made a deep impression upon their minds , aud served to confirm them iu tho truths about which they had heard so much during their seven years' association with their Hebrew friends . Many of the Jewish Craftsmen were , no doubt , by this timo well skilled in tho science of architecture , and disposed to devote themselves to it in preference to their old occupation . They had also , probably , by association with
others , witnessed tho order , harmony , perpetual friendship and general benefits resulting from a practice of the secret Kites of tho Tyrians or Dyonisians , and wero ready to adopt them if thoy could be so modilied as not to conflict with their own religions opinions and prejudices . The mythological fictions of the Tyrians it were easy to supercede by
tlio great truths of the Hebrew system as revealed in ' the law and tho prophets ; ' and events which had transpired during the progress of building the Temple ( with which every Mason of to-day is familiar ) conld readily be substituted , iu substance , for thoso prominent in the Dyonisian Eites . Here , in my opinion , was the commencement of the ancient Gnilds or associations of Builders of different
nations , which grew and spread , as their services were needed , down jo the Middle Ages . The ancient Kites and ceremonies of the old "iiitders , adapted to tho religious dogmas and ceremonies of tho Hebrews , wedded to the moral truths taught in tho Sacred Law , and baptized at the Altar of JEHOVAH . I will not say that it was the r i'eemasonry of to-day , but it was the beginning of those old Guilds of
after ages tho fruits of whoso labours , though many of them in ruins , are the wonder and admiration of still later centuries : and theso later associations of builders constitutcd-the germ out of which grew 'he Freemasonry of the present . 'Onr tradition aud legends are linked with tho architects of Tyro and E gypt and Phoenicia and Jerusalem ; and theso roots of a now
and constantly improving system grew from shadow to substance , rom root to tree , from germ to structure , until the culmination is now seen in tho Masonic Fraternity everywhere . Onr traditions nnd e gcnds connect us , more or less directly , with those ancient rites and systems , but the particulars arc shrouded nnd lost in the dim obscurity ° f moro than throe thousand years . I can ncconnt for the origin of Tl ...-OV . ULI . / .. LJ ... H . JW .. I-M . ^ ...... « . ^ V ....... .... « ,.. V . Villain Ul Jive
^ masonry , its Jewish lineaments , its adhesion to the moral law o | the Bible , and its peculiar secrets , legends and traditions , < n no other hypothesis than the one I have given ; if any one else can , we shall not dispute about it . A fact connected with this theory is worthy of thoughtful considerfi ° m ^ ' CDnn ' Dg workman ' who drew tho designs for that wonderul " > ple , was of both Tyrian and Jewish extraction , aud combined
Masonic Legend And Tradition.
in himself tho artistic skill of ono nation with the religious tenets of the other . . Tows could not build that Temple , for they had not tho artistic skill ; Tyrians could not do it , for they were ignorant of the rites and ceremonies of that religions system to bo taught within Jew and Gentilo , therefore combined to accomplish tho work ; and to this day , Jew and Gentilo kneel side by side around the altars of
Freemasonry , harmonizing antagonistic opinions , subduing discordant national prejudices , and thns aro gathering tho world into a universal harmony . " And hero tho old brother paused , while , pencil in hand , I looked up from my notes in admiration of tho careful thonght ho had evidently
bestowed upon bis theory . He may bo correct in his reasoning and deductions , and yet there may bo latent errors in his views not discernible at first sight becanse of thoir plausibility . But what theory can bo advanced on such a subject that is absolutely certain and incontrovertible ?
What are the facts ? Here is an association or fraternity of almost a million of members scattered over tho world . In nearly everything thoy are a unit , their objects , aims ancl purposes tho samo . The organization is not political , nor ecclesiastical , nor mechanical , and yet it includes men of all religions creeds , of every party in politics , of all professions and callings . As I said at tho beginning
of this article , " Whence camo thoy ? " They did not grow out of tho tribal dispersion oftho children of Abraham ; they are not the frag . ments of tho persecuted ancl scattered Crusaders , thoy aro not the outgrowth of a political idea nor a dogmatic creed— " Whence came they F " The Masonic writers of a century and a half ago thonght they could
answer the question , but the answer has not stood the test of criticism . Tho clearest and most cultured minds of Europe and America have given the subject very carefnl consideration . Witb a deep anxiety about the question , ancl an earnest desire to solve the problem , oceans have been crossed , libraries , public and private , have been examined ; money , and timo , and thought have been devoted to this
investigation , and yet we are still in the dark . Science has discovered wonders in nature and art ; ancient history has become familiar to the school-boy ; astronomy has almost become the plaything of amateurs ; while nature , in air , and sea , and land has been tortured until its secrets have been revealed ; but no man , no nation , no writer , no devotee of library or Lodge , no student , ancient aud
modern , has been able to give us a satisfactory answer to the query , " Whence came they ? " Now is not this fact remarkable , and does it not reflect in some manner upon the intelligence of Freemasons f Wo know when creeds and churches took form and organisation ; wo know even when the Eoman church became cryssallized into a power that has sometimes ruled the world . We can point out the period
when the Eoman Empire was established—and when it fell . We can repeat the story of the Patriarchs , and become familiar with the dynasties of ancient Egypt or India—but when and where was Freemasonry born ? Even its own members—the oldest and wisest of them—do not know ! After all that has been said and written on thesubject . it is still theory—guess work —tradition ! Is not this
astounding ? There are still extant Lodges that have been organized for some three hundred years ; yet an examination of their recorded transactions gives ns no reliable information on tho origin and history oftho Order ! As we are still , partially at least , at sea ou this question , may not the theory suggested in this article by our venerable brother be as nearly
correct as any other ? Yet we want certainty , or as near to it as can bo attained . We want it for tho satisfaction of the Graft at large , for tbe instruction of tho neophyte , for the honour of the Order . We want it to refute tho errors and to reply ( o tho sarcasms and insults of our enemies ; we want it to satisfy honest inqnirers , and give the world assurance of our interest in an association of which we aro
proud to be members . Now , how shall we obtain this knowledge—who will unravel the mystery , or point out the footprints of tho Order along the track of the centuries , from the first impression to the present t Can it not be done ? Aro not tho resources of tho Craft equal to such an under , taking ? The Knights Templars spent , perhaps , a million dollars last
summer in a trip to Chicago ; but thero is not a Templar in America who knows with certainty when the first Commandery was formed on this continent , or under what authority ! But I will leave all this for tho present , and probably for others ; but give us light and reliable information on a question of so much importance .
TUE POKT . S . MOLTH FREE . HASO . NS' HALL AJTD CLUB CO . HI'A JVI - . —At the annual meeting on Monday , 4 th instant , Alderman W . D . King , J . P ., jnesiding , the directors presented a congratulatory report , aud recommended , as the result of their nine months' account , a dividend at the rate of 2 " ,- per cent , per aiiuum from tho commencement of the company in 1879 until tho opening of the building by the P . G . M ., and
a further dividend at the rate of 5 per cent , per annum until tbe end of the year . The inadequacy oftho share capital to provide for tho completion of tho buildings , aud furnish them throughout , had com . polled the directors to borrow the sum of £ 1 , 200 from the bank . This sum the directors propose to raise by issuing debenture bonds to tbe shareholders , of the value of £ 20 , redeemable at three months' notice
and bearing a guaranteed rate of 5 per cent , interest per annum , rather than to raise a mortgage or to increase the share capital , or to pay interest and commission to the bankers . Tho report was adopted . Messrs . T . Mares , T . Good , aud G . Dean were elected directors 3 Messrs . T . P . Wills and C . J . Messum were re-appointed auditors , and thirty guineas were voted to the Secretary ( Mr . E . S . Main ) for his services . —Portsmouth Times .
The annual supper of The Great City Lodge of Instruction , No . 142 G , will take place at Masons' Hall Tavern , Masons ' -avenue , Basinghall-street , E . G ., on the 28 th inst ., when Bro . G . W . Blackie P . M . 1426 will preside . Tickets , 3 s ( id each , may be had of Bro . C . F . Goodenongh , Secretary pro tern , Tho Cottage , St . Bartholomew ' s , Smithfield , E . C .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Masonic Legend And Tradition.
mysteries , it is not necessary to enter into a detail nf the labours of thoso Tyrinn artists , in conjunction with tho men of Israel , in tho prooaration of the material for , and final completion of the Temple which roi- 'O '" a '" 110 5 '' unearthly grandeur on Moriah . Jew and Gentile wrought together , as though the achievement was designed to prefigure ' that of the Gospel in later times , when all wero to be included
iu the privileges and blessings of a Temple equally as holy and still more spiritual . On this analogy tho fathers founded another legend . " Now for the corner-stone of another tradation : For seven years the work of constructing that Temple went steadily forward according to the designs of tho ' cunning workman' of Tyro in whom was
min <» led the blood of the Jew and the Gentile . Israelite and Tyrian toiled side by side , until by tbe united skill and industry of moro than one hundred and fifty thousand workmen tho Grand Design was comp leted . Think you a close and fraternal intimacy had grown np between these workmen ? In thoir hours of ' rest and refreshment ' thoy doubtless talked over tho history , customs and religions of their
respective nations , with tho nature and resulting benefits of a closer union ; and though the sons of Abraham could not , perhaps , formally unite with their co-workers , the Tyrinns , nor embrace their peculiar dogmas in their entirety , they conld unite in some of them . Tho Israelites , perhaps , wonld commend tho doctrines and duties taught by the Prophets , and instructed their Tyrian associates in relation to
the claims and promises—the privileges and blessings vouchsafed to them by the Goo of Abraham . " The very rock or timber on which their skill was then engaged would lead to conversation on this subject ; and in the hours of relaxation from toil , while reposing nnder the deep shades oftho forest on the plains of Zarthan . or the sides and summit of Lebanon , would
suggest the wonders Goo had wrought in behilf of His chosen people ; and such themes would lead them to chant the inspired songs of the Hebrew Bards , until the mind and language of the Jowglowed under the inspiration of the themes , and the hopes and prospects opening before them ; while their Tyrian associates would listen , and wonder , and admire . It cannot be supposed that this free and unrestrained
intermingling of workmen , even of different races , conld continue for a period of seven years , without creating an intimacy as sincere as it was disinterested , and without making each party acquainted with whatever was valuable and disirable in the social , religions , or fraternal institutions of the respective nations . The one was as ready to impart as the other was to receive instrnction j while both were
benefited , and received impressions that ages did not obliterate . " Bnt tho great work was finally completed , and the workmen were again to be separated . The Temple , in which the solemn and imposing worship of JEHOVAH was to be publicly instituted and statedly celebrated , was dedicated witb the most imposing ceremonies that earth had ever witnessed . The Ark , with its sacred deposits was
safely deposited in the ' Most Holy Place . ' On his bended knees ' before all the congregation , ' and tho vast assemblage which the groat event had collected from every part of Judea , tbe great Monarch of Israel had solemnly consecrated tho whole to the worship of JEHOVAH . And Goo had appeared in awful majesty over tho mercy seat , and accepted the offering . Next to the cloud ancl tbe thunder
and the earthquake upon Mount Sinai , this was the most solemn and awe inspiring scene that man had ever witnessed . "We may reasonably conclude that many of those Tyrian artists who so long and faithfully laboured in the erection of this wonderful structure , remained to witness tho great events of its dedication ; and if so , what thoy saw and heard on that memorable occasion must have
made a deep impression upon their minds , aud served to confirm them iu tho truths about which they had heard so much during their seven years' association with their Hebrew friends . Many of the Jewish Craftsmen were , no doubt , by this timo well skilled in tho science of architecture , and disposed to devote themselves to it in preference to their old occupation . They had also , probably , by association with
others , witnessed tho order , harmony , perpetual friendship and general benefits resulting from a practice of the secret Kites of tho Tyrians or Dyonisians , and wero ready to adopt them if thoy could be so modilied as not to conflict with their own religions opinions and prejudices . The mythological fictions of the Tyrians it were easy to supercede by
tlio great truths of the Hebrew system as revealed in ' the law and tho prophets ; ' and events which had transpired during the progress of building the Temple ( with which every Mason of to-day is familiar ) conld readily be substituted , iu substance , for thoso prominent in the Dyonisian Eites . Here , in my opinion , was the commencement of the ancient Gnilds or associations of Builders of different
nations , which grew and spread , as their services were needed , down jo the Middle Ages . The ancient Kites and ceremonies of the old "iiitders , adapted to tho religious dogmas and ceremonies of tho Hebrews , wedded to the moral truths taught in tho Sacred Law , and baptized at the Altar of JEHOVAH . I will not say that it was the r i'eemasonry of to-day , but it was the beginning of those old Guilds of
after ages tho fruits of whoso labours , though many of them in ruins , are the wonder and admiration of still later centuries : and theso later associations of builders constitutcd-the germ out of which grew 'he Freemasonry of the present . 'Onr tradition aud legends are linked with tho architects of Tyro and E gypt and Phoenicia and Jerusalem ; and theso roots of a now
and constantly improving system grew from shadow to substance , rom root to tree , from germ to structure , until the culmination is now seen in tho Masonic Fraternity everywhere . Onr traditions nnd e gcnds connect us , more or less directly , with those ancient rites and systems , but the particulars arc shrouded nnd lost in the dim obscurity ° f moro than throe thousand years . I can ncconnt for the origin of Tl ...-OV . ULI . / .. LJ ... H . JW .. I-M . ^ ...... « . ^ V ....... .... « ,.. V . Villain Ul Jive
^ masonry , its Jewish lineaments , its adhesion to the moral law o | the Bible , and its peculiar secrets , legends and traditions , < n no other hypothesis than the one I have given ; if any one else can , we shall not dispute about it . A fact connected with this theory is worthy of thoughtful considerfi ° m ^ ' CDnn ' Dg workman ' who drew tho designs for that wonderul " > ple , was of both Tyrian and Jewish extraction , aud combined
Masonic Legend And Tradition.
in himself tho artistic skill of ono nation with the religious tenets of the other . . Tows could not build that Temple , for they had not tho artistic skill ; Tyrians could not do it , for they were ignorant of the rites and ceremonies of that religions system to bo taught within Jew and Gentilo , therefore combined to accomplish tho work ; and to this day , Jew and Gentilo kneel side by side around the altars of
Freemasonry , harmonizing antagonistic opinions , subduing discordant national prejudices , and thns aro gathering tho world into a universal harmony . " And hero tho old brother paused , while , pencil in hand , I looked up from my notes in admiration of tho careful thonght ho had evidently
bestowed upon bis theory . He may bo correct in his reasoning and deductions , and yet there may bo latent errors in his views not discernible at first sight becanse of thoir plausibility . But what theory can bo advanced on such a subject that is absolutely certain and incontrovertible ?
What are the facts ? Here is an association or fraternity of almost a million of members scattered over tho world . In nearly everything thoy are a unit , their objects , aims ancl purposes tho samo . The organization is not political , nor ecclesiastical , nor mechanical , and yet it includes men of all religions creeds , of every party in politics , of all professions and callings . As I said at tho beginning
of this article , " Whence camo thoy ? " They did not grow out of tho tribal dispersion oftho children of Abraham ; they are not the frag . ments of tho persecuted ancl scattered Crusaders , thoy aro not the outgrowth of a political idea nor a dogmatic creed— " Whence came they F " The Masonic writers of a century and a half ago thonght they could
answer the question , but the answer has not stood the test of criticism . Tho clearest and most cultured minds of Europe and America have given the subject very carefnl consideration . Witb a deep anxiety about the question , ancl an earnest desire to solve the problem , oceans have been crossed , libraries , public and private , have been examined ; money , and timo , and thought have been devoted to this
investigation , and yet we are still in the dark . Science has discovered wonders in nature and art ; ancient history has become familiar to the school-boy ; astronomy has almost become the plaything of amateurs ; while nature , in air , and sea , and land has been tortured until its secrets have been revealed ; but no man , no nation , no writer , no devotee of library or Lodge , no student , ancient aud
modern , has been able to give us a satisfactory answer to the query , " Whence came they ? " Now is not this fact remarkable , and does it not reflect in some manner upon the intelligence of Freemasons f Wo know when creeds and churches took form and organisation ; wo know even when the Eoman church became cryssallized into a power that has sometimes ruled the world . We can point out the period
when the Eoman Empire was established—and when it fell . We can repeat the story of the Patriarchs , and become familiar with the dynasties of ancient Egypt or India—but when and where was Freemasonry born ? Even its own members—the oldest and wisest of them—do not know ! After all that has been said and written on thesubject . it is still theory—guess work —tradition ! Is not this
astounding ? There are still extant Lodges that have been organized for some three hundred years ; yet an examination of their recorded transactions gives ns no reliable information on tho origin and history oftho Order ! As we are still , partially at least , at sea ou this question , may not the theory suggested in this article by our venerable brother be as nearly
correct as any other ? Yet we want certainty , or as near to it as can bo attained . We want it for tho satisfaction of the Graft at large , for tbe instruction of tho neophyte , for the honour of the Order . We want it to refute tho errors and to reply ( o tho sarcasms and insults of our enemies ; we want it to satisfy honest inqnirers , and give the world assurance of our interest in an association of which we aro
proud to be members . Now , how shall we obtain this knowledge—who will unravel the mystery , or point out the footprints of tho Order along the track of the centuries , from the first impression to the present t Can it not be done ? Aro not tho resources of tho Craft equal to such an under , taking ? The Knights Templars spent , perhaps , a million dollars last
summer in a trip to Chicago ; but thero is not a Templar in America who knows with certainty when the first Commandery was formed on this continent , or under what authority ! But I will leave all this for tho present , and probably for others ; but give us light and reliable information on a question of so much importance .
TUE POKT . S . MOLTH FREE . HASO . NS' HALL AJTD CLUB CO . HI'A JVI - . —At the annual meeting on Monday , 4 th instant , Alderman W . D . King , J . P ., jnesiding , the directors presented a congratulatory report , aud recommended , as the result of their nine months' account , a dividend at the rate of 2 " ,- per cent , per aiiuum from tho commencement of the company in 1879 until tho opening of the building by the P . G . M ., and
a further dividend at the rate of 5 per cent , per annum until tbe end of the year . The inadequacy oftho share capital to provide for tho completion of tho buildings , aud furnish them throughout , had com . polled the directors to borrow the sum of £ 1 , 200 from the bank . This sum the directors propose to raise by issuing debenture bonds to tbe shareholders , of the value of £ 20 , redeemable at three months' notice
and bearing a guaranteed rate of 5 per cent , interest per annum , rather than to raise a mortgage or to increase the share capital , or to pay interest and commission to the bankers . Tho report was adopted . Messrs . T . Mares , T . Good , aud G . Dean were elected directors 3 Messrs . T . P . Wills and C . J . Messum were re-appointed auditors , and thirty guineas were voted to the Secretary ( Mr . E . S . Main ) for his services . —Portsmouth Times .
The annual supper of The Great City Lodge of Instruction , No . 142 G , will take place at Masons' Hall Tavern , Masons ' -avenue , Basinghall-street , E . G ., on the 28 th inst ., when Bro . G . W . Blackie P . M . 1426 will preside . Tickets , 3 s ( id each , may be had of Bro . C . F . Goodenongh , Secretary pro tern , Tho Cottage , St . Bartholomew ' s , Smithfield , E . C .