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Article "IL TEGAME," OR A MASON'S HOLIDAY. ← Page 2 of 3 Article "IL TEGAME," OR A MASON'S HOLIDAY. Page 2 of 3 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
"Il Tegame," Or A Mason's Holiday.
not the highest and ornamental members , who in general have little sympathy with what the learned and noblo translator of Agamemnon satirically calls "old fashion Masonry . " It is to the Poh p homi of the Hoard that we chiefly owe this degradation . "Moii . tr : horrciul : inform : inguiis , cui lumen mloir . ptatn . **
Lot me recommend them , should by chance an Ulysses fall under their clutches , to leave their " conscience murdered vomit , " and dreading tho impending gouge , gobble him at oneo . Tho anatomv of tho " Moiistrum affords an internstin" demon .
stration in physiology , said Tl profossoro , as he called attention to tho specimen exhibited ou tlio dissecting table . " Wo will just give a few touches of tho scalpel , and a low minims of chloroformed enrare ; " at tho sound of a Latin word our clerical friend roused himself in tho E .... 1 chair from his -lumber and dreams of A ruby tho blosfc , and . uttered his usual exclamation et hoc gnuis miaie , but which
ho generally pronounced m a kind ot sacro-comic manner , something between a " Bonedicito" and an Invocation to Bacchus . "Yes , " con . tinned " II professoro , " " it in most interesting lo observe tho action , of this 'heart' which beats in unison with ' untruth ; ' trace further the current of the tluid as tho ventricle contracts , and the black lotheal iluid is diffused over tho entire system . Kegard
also tho ot . ner blood . carrying tub' ) , which iu the higher order ; - of animal life carries tlie living fluid to tlio lung , ' - ' , to be vitalized by tho influence of day aud the breezes of heaven . " Here , " continued II professore , " tho tube expands into gills—tho gills of tho scorpion , which engender their poison in darkness and dust . " Some one is responsible for that present disgraceful condition of
English Freemasonry , which revolts every right thinking man by its jargon of ghastly oaths , blasphemy , and lies . To put down tho signs of revolt , tho word is passed round . " silence , " * aud to enlist for the future only thoso recruits from whose consciences they may fear no revolt . The public , however , is getting inquiet , tho names of many havo been misused in behalf of that with which thoy havo shown but
little sympathy , and the time may not be far distant wheu that inquietude may iind a voice . In tho reckless historical insertions countenanced by our oathloving Boards certain names are presented to us , such as King Solomon , St . James , and St . John , but these persons present no critical points of identification with tho King Solomon of Holy Writ ,
nor with tho Blessed Apostles St . John and St . James . Some antiquarians indeed identify the Masonic Solomon with one of tho Old King Cole dynasty , so much toasted formerl y by our City companies , and " That 'tis a name some valiant kni ght To all his challenges did write . "
This probability is also increased b y his evident desire to attire all his followers aud henchmen in City clothing , and from tho fact oi ' this Masonic Solomon having ordered " white aprons and gloves all round . " ' ¦ For that ' s the reason so they say
no aprons wear at the present day . Of all other histories than thoso above mentioned , wo can only say ns the lightest sentence , "fancy dipt lu ; r pen in dew , " and fancy not being the muse of history , what sho wrote the muse of history on descending blotted indignantly from her records . Some years since I myself traced out the history of the ancient
liomnn trade companies or crafts , ( the origin , see Blackstoue , of all Corporate Institutions or Lodges ) , and also of tho initiating associations of which wo may yet speak more fully . The work I speak of was entitled the " Footsteps of Masonry" ( not Freemasonry ) , " or Masonry in relation to authentic history . " It was published iu the Freemason , and I believe myself correct in stating that it was
translated into different langnages , and reprinted in nearly all tho States of the American Union . I do not hold to all the inferences I then drew , but it further pointed out tho impossibility of any connection of modern Masonry with the ancient Hebrew nation . Bnt on arriving at tho early ages of the Christian era , and seeking honestly for authentic traces which should connect the past with the
present , I suddenly found myself in the condition described b y tho immortal Harvey , who , when he had completed his proofs of the " Circulation of the Blood , " essayed to discover the mystery of generation . " Here , " said he , "I found myself face to face with an impenetrable and impassable barrier . " In his caso there was a mystery he could not unfold , in mine there was nothing whatever to unfold .
In this difficulty I wrote a very carcfnl letter , and placed a statement of the subject before the great French historian ( and I here call tho special attention of any " true " historical brethren to the fact ) Guizot , a man whose intimate knowledge of the internal history of municipal and corporate institutions , together with his candid character , render him an arbitrator from whom there can be no appeal . His virtual reply was that , " History knew nothing of any such institution , " The letter is at tho disposition of my brethren .
C—G'ONCEUNINC * THE HlSTOIt . OF FREEMASONS . I will , therefore , now , for the information of my younger brethren , who have been so sadly deluded , give a rational sketch of tho most probable history of modern Freemasonry ; there is no difficult y , no mystery ; ifc is clear , plain and trustworthy . The name of Sir Christopher Wren has always been connected , and properly so , with Freemasonry , and if mv young friends will turn to
Knight ' s " History of London" they will find an authentic statement which has the appearance of simple truth . It is to the effect that modern Freemasonry had its origin in a prolonged joke of Sir C . Wren ; that on the days when Wren visited St . Paul ' s professionally , himself and some of his professional friends and their associates dined together in a house near the chnrch , and that according to tho habit theu coming into use they formed a club , into which by degrees they ,
"Il Tegame," Or A Mason's Holiday.
as a sort of pleasantry , introduced tornuih-. ' ol initiation , taking trade tools as symbols , such as tho Masons of thai ; time aud now carried in their trade processions , and inscri ! ., ' on I heir trade banners and blii / . nns . From this dates the " Lodge of Antiquity . " Th « real author of modern Froeina-oiiry , i-xcllen ' . ' . in its principle , was ho who first conceived the idea of the .-initiation of the clubs or Lodges . Whether this in due to Wren , does not seem clear ; Wren ,
however , was a man of taste and a gentleman ; there certainly is no evidence that he ever countenanced degrading charlatanism . Tho biographers of Wren mention the attendance of his Club of Freemasonry at the ceremony of p lacing the highest stone on tho lantern , but no mention is made of any club or Lodge at the ceremony of the foundation , a reasonable proof that i ! did not then exist . Hero thou is all tlio history aud mystery of i'reemasonio origin in a nutshell . As to ( ho Charlatanism it would he a tiilTerenl thin 1 ' —
" i ' wero long to toll , and sad to trace , The steps from honour fo disgrace . " In looking over the History of the iioyal College of Physicians ol London , 1 find mention of an association widen gave iiiem some I rouble about the epoch of Sir C . Wren . "Thoy brag , " says the reeoi'd , " the Hebrew tongue to contain tlio fundaments of all sciences-,
. ¦ mil the ;/< ('»"' ¦ irril .:. " They often file certain Uabbis , and quote the Little Ki-. y of King Solomon . I fate IfiSl . It is singularly appripriate , aud shows the current of belief in thoso days . . [ do not , indeed , propose it as an authentic source ; yet when erudite Cyclopaedias aro written to prove or disprove that Cagliostro and other rogues had , or had not a hand in making the ' secrets" of Freemasonry ,
" I can ' t help putting in my claim for praise , " And suggesting as an addition to that illustrious list the name of U ; cg Solomon . Ifc is singular how general is the paltry Freemasonie desire io protect its antiquity , aud to the disgrace of its authorities no argument has been too idle to support the claim . Assume a virtue though you
have it not , is the motto , but when that false claim is supported by unlimited oaths , what aro wo to say of the morality ? How dignified was the reply of tlio ennobled "Napoleonic general to tho herald when asked for his ancestry , " Cost moi in . me , " replied lie , " I am my own ancestor . " If wc turn to old Stowowe shall find twelve old and recognised
City companies , who as such had tho right ot electing the Lord Mayor . In reading their notices , nothing is said of any iiiiinuli . nl ' claim to antiquity , for no one doubted it ; their history , known to all , was stamped , signed , and sealed in their respective charters . Turn the page , and we come upon a series of unprivileged and half acknowledged companies , each claiming a coat of arms , whether registered
in the Heralds College or not , bat each ono Taunting ils antiquity ns half conscious of •* . bond sinister . Thus the wkU-hukws claim great antiquity , as also do the talloin-chrniillrrs : the irii . r-chanille :: ; claim ancient standing , but tlio shoemakers only long continuance , tluis making a more modest claim , as shoes , ifc is presumed , wero not worn in the L-ai-dcn of Eden .
The _ ffi-iOi * 8 , olhenrise Freemason : ! , , with whom wero associated tho " marblers" claim " antiquity " liko the rest , although lii-iiiing it modestly to the time of Henry IV ., who chartered so many City companies . Tho most ancient of all was the Farriers' Company , which claimed to havo derived the name and heritage of Henri do Ferrers , tho
Conqueror's head farrier , and a Frenchman . This clearly defines what was meant by " antiquity" in thoso days , and is moreover still so defined by the City companies ; with Freemasons it has merged into tho much-abused p hrase , " Timo immemorial , " a term of gross deception . All these lesser companies , emulating the twelve greater ones , had ,
or claimed to have , armorial bearings , generally taking tho emblems of their crafts , such as hammer ., compasses , & c . for their blazons . The carpenters had three compasses , the joiners two compasses and a terrestrial g lobe , a thing so much vaunted in Masonry , as if thoy envied their luckier brethren . The marblers , allies of tho Free , masons , had a largo mallet and two pedestals , whilst tho Freemasons
emblazoned on a fesse a pair of compasses extended , with threo towers or pedestals . Practically tho Freemasons retain the same armorial bearings in tho Lodges , viz ., the compasses and pedestals , or towers , whilst they have even converted the Jesse itself into a " square . " Tho fact of the Grand Lodgo retaining tho coat of arms of the old Freemason City company heraldiually and practically proves its origin and identity .
. All these City Companies claimed likewise to havo their " Secret Mysteries , " which ifc was forbidden to toll to others , meaning of course such secrets as mixing mortar for tho masons , or tlio secrets of hard brazing , & c , for the founders , and so on with the rest . They paid fees or dues to the Tolsey , or Tolboth , on being " entered as rtpiiiv . ' iifice . i , " and when made " fellow crafts" of their trade also , as
it would seem , when , before setting up for themselves , they technically took up their freedom , and became masters . Whoever will look at a deed of apprenticeship of the last century will find ifc almost identical with , although less verbose than , onr own entered apprentice form ; in each there is a promise of secrecy . When they had become Masters , or became further distinguished ,
they loved '' good fellowship ; " thus tho . lenders aro described as a "luring society ; " the Girdlers had " good correspondence leith all the world ; " tho liiiiltoblers " often meeting and conversing together ; " tho CurryerA " a good , community among th' -mselves ; " the " Freemasons " hud " Ai'TAiiM .: AND KIND . UEI-Tixu-: " the l'lasterers " tvere oiiahle
and loving brethren . We have , then , here the origin and original signification of mosfc of the terms still used in Freemasonry , such as—Antiquity , defined to be the timo of Henry IV . Mysteries were trade receipts , & c . Fellowship meant as now , wine and wassail , aud little else .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
"Il Tegame," Or A Mason's Holiday.
not the highest and ornamental members , who in general have little sympathy with what the learned and noblo translator of Agamemnon satirically calls "old fashion Masonry . " It is to the Poh p homi of the Hoard that we chiefly owe this degradation . "Moii . tr : horrciul : inform : inguiis , cui lumen mloir . ptatn . **
Lot me recommend them , should by chance an Ulysses fall under their clutches , to leave their " conscience murdered vomit , " and dreading tho impending gouge , gobble him at oneo . Tho anatomv of tho " Moiistrum affords an internstin" demon .
stration in physiology , said Tl profossoro , as he called attention to tho specimen exhibited ou tlio dissecting table . " Wo will just give a few touches of tho scalpel , and a low minims of chloroformed enrare ; " at tho sound of a Latin word our clerical friend roused himself in tho E .... 1 chair from his -lumber and dreams of A ruby tho blosfc , and . uttered his usual exclamation et hoc gnuis miaie , but which
ho generally pronounced m a kind ot sacro-comic manner , something between a " Bonedicito" and an Invocation to Bacchus . "Yes , " con . tinned " II professoro , " " it in most interesting lo observe tho action , of this 'heart' which beats in unison with ' untruth ; ' trace further the current of the tluid as tho ventricle contracts , and the black lotheal iluid is diffused over tho entire system . Kegard
also tho ot . ner blood . carrying tub' ) , which iu the higher order ; - of animal life carries tlie living fluid to tlio lung , ' - ' , to be vitalized by tho influence of day aud the breezes of heaven . " Here , " continued II professore , " tho tube expands into gills—tho gills of tho scorpion , which engender their poison in darkness and dust . " Some one is responsible for that present disgraceful condition of
English Freemasonry , which revolts every right thinking man by its jargon of ghastly oaths , blasphemy , and lies . To put down tho signs of revolt , tho word is passed round . " silence , " * aud to enlist for the future only thoso recruits from whose consciences they may fear no revolt . The public , however , is getting inquiet , tho names of many havo been misused in behalf of that with which thoy havo shown but
little sympathy , and the time may not be far distant wheu that inquietude may iind a voice . In tho reckless historical insertions countenanced by our oathloving Boards certain names are presented to us , such as King Solomon , St . James , and St . John , but these persons present no critical points of identification with tho King Solomon of Holy Writ ,
nor with tho Blessed Apostles St . John and St . James . Some antiquarians indeed identify the Masonic Solomon with one of tho Old King Cole dynasty , so much toasted formerl y by our City companies , and " That 'tis a name some valiant kni ght To all his challenges did write . "
This probability is also increased b y his evident desire to attire all his followers aud henchmen in City clothing , and from tho fact oi ' this Masonic Solomon having ordered " white aprons and gloves all round . " ' ¦ For that ' s the reason so they say
no aprons wear at the present day . Of all other histories than thoso above mentioned , wo can only say ns the lightest sentence , "fancy dipt lu ; r pen in dew , " and fancy not being the muse of history , what sho wrote the muse of history on descending blotted indignantly from her records . Some years since I myself traced out the history of the ancient
liomnn trade companies or crafts , ( the origin , see Blackstoue , of all Corporate Institutions or Lodges ) , and also of tho initiating associations of which wo may yet speak more fully . The work I speak of was entitled the " Footsteps of Masonry" ( not Freemasonry ) , " or Masonry in relation to authentic history . " It was published iu the Freemason , and I believe myself correct in stating that it was
translated into different langnages , and reprinted in nearly all tho States of the American Union . I do not hold to all the inferences I then drew , but it further pointed out tho impossibility of any connection of modern Masonry with the ancient Hebrew nation . Bnt on arriving at tho early ages of the Christian era , and seeking honestly for authentic traces which should connect the past with the
present , I suddenly found myself in the condition described b y tho immortal Harvey , who , when he had completed his proofs of the " Circulation of the Blood , " essayed to discover the mystery of generation . " Here , " said he , "I found myself face to face with an impenetrable and impassable barrier . " In his caso there was a mystery he could not unfold , in mine there was nothing whatever to unfold .
In this difficulty I wrote a very carcfnl letter , and placed a statement of the subject before the great French historian ( and I here call tho special attention of any " true " historical brethren to the fact ) Guizot , a man whose intimate knowledge of the internal history of municipal and corporate institutions , together with his candid character , render him an arbitrator from whom there can be no appeal . His virtual reply was that , " History knew nothing of any such institution , " The letter is at tho disposition of my brethren .
C—G'ONCEUNINC * THE HlSTOIt . OF FREEMASONS . I will , therefore , now , for the information of my younger brethren , who have been so sadly deluded , give a rational sketch of tho most probable history of modern Freemasonry ; there is no difficult y , no mystery ; ifc is clear , plain and trustworthy . The name of Sir Christopher Wren has always been connected , and properly so , with Freemasonry , and if mv young friends will turn to
Knight ' s " History of London" they will find an authentic statement which has the appearance of simple truth . It is to the effect that modern Freemasonry had its origin in a prolonged joke of Sir C . Wren ; that on the days when Wren visited St . Paul ' s professionally , himself and some of his professional friends and their associates dined together in a house near the chnrch , and that according to tho habit theu coming into use they formed a club , into which by degrees they ,
"Il Tegame," Or A Mason's Holiday.
as a sort of pleasantry , introduced tornuih-. ' ol initiation , taking trade tools as symbols , such as tho Masons of thai ; time aud now carried in their trade processions , and inscri ! ., ' on I heir trade banners and blii / . nns . From this dates the " Lodge of Antiquity . " Th « real author of modern Froeina-oiiry , i-xcllen ' . ' . in its principle , was ho who first conceived the idea of the .-initiation of the clubs or Lodges . Whether this in due to Wren , does not seem clear ; Wren ,
however , was a man of taste and a gentleman ; there certainly is no evidence that he ever countenanced degrading charlatanism . Tho biographers of Wren mention the attendance of his Club of Freemasonry at the ceremony of p lacing the highest stone on tho lantern , but no mention is made of any club or Lodge at the ceremony of the foundation , a reasonable proof that i ! did not then exist . Hero thou is all tlio history aud mystery of i'reemasonio origin in a nutshell . As to ( ho Charlatanism it would he a tiilTerenl thin 1 ' —
" i ' wero long to toll , and sad to trace , The steps from honour fo disgrace . " In looking over the History of the iioyal College of Physicians ol London , 1 find mention of an association widen gave iiiem some I rouble about the epoch of Sir C . Wren . "Thoy brag , " says the reeoi'd , " the Hebrew tongue to contain tlio fundaments of all sciences-,
. ¦ mil the ;/< ('»"' ¦ irril .:. " They often file certain Uabbis , and quote the Little Ki-. y of King Solomon . I fate IfiSl . It is singularly appripriate , aud shows the current of belief in thoso days . . [ do not , indeed , propose it as an authentic source ; yet when erudite Cyclopaedias aro written to prove or disprove that Cagliostro and other rogues had , or had not a hand in making the ' secrets" of Freemasonry ,
" I can ' t help putting in my claim for praise , " And suggesting as an addition to that illustrious list the name of U ; cg Solomon . Ifc is singular how general is the paltry Freemasonie desire io protect its antiquity , aud to the disgrace of its authorities no argument has been too idle to support the claim . Assume a virtue though you
have it not , is the motto , but when that false claim is supported by unlimited oaths , what aro wo to say of the morality ? How dignified was the reply of tlio ennobled "Napoleonic general to tho herald when asked for his ancestry , " Cost moi in . me , " replied lie , " I am my own ancestor . " If wc turn to old Stowowe shall find twelve old and recognised
City companies , who as such had tho right ot electing the Lord Mayor . In reading their notices , nothing is said of any iiiiinuli . nl ' claim to antiquity , for no one doubted it ; their history , known to all , was stamped , signed , and sealed in their respective charters . Turn the page , and we come upon a series of unprivileged and half acknowledged companies , each claiming a coat of arms , whether registered
in the Heralds College or not , bat each ono Taunting ils antiquity ns half conscious of •* . bond sinister . Thus the wkU-hukws claim great antiquity , as also do the talloin-chrniillrrs : the irii . r-chanille :: ; claim ancient standing , but tlio shoemakers only long continuance , tluis making a more modest claim , as shoes , ifc is presumed , wero not worn in the L-ai-dcn of Eden .
The _ ffi-iOi * 8 , olhenrise Freemason : ! , , with whom wero associated tho " marblers" claim " antiquity " liko the rest , although lii-iiiing it modestly to the time of Henry IV ., who chartered so many City companies . Tho most ancient of all was the Farriers' Company , which claimed to havo derived the name and heritage of Henri do Ferrers , tho
Conqueror's head farrier , and a Frenchman . This clearly defines what was meant by " antiquity" in thoso days , and is moreover still so defined by the City companies ; with Freemasons it has merged into tho much-abused p hrase , " Timo immemorial , " a term of gross deception . All these lesser companies , emulating the twelve greater ones , had ,
or claimed to have , armorial bearings , generally taking tho emblems of their crafts , such as hammer ., compasses , & c . for their blazons . The carpenters had three compasses , the joiners two compasses and a terrestrial g lobe , a thing so much vaunted in Masonry , as if thoy envied their luckier brethren . The marblers , allies of tho Free , masons , had a largo mallet and two pedestals , whilst tho Freemasons
emblazoned on a fesse a pair of compasses extended , with threo towers or pedestals . Practically tho Freemasons retain the same armorial bearings in tho Lodges , viz ., the compasses and pedestals , or towers , whilst they have even converted the Jesse itself into a " square . " Tho fact of the Grand Lodgo retaining tho coat of arms of the old Freemason City company heraldiually and practically proves its origin and identity .
. All these City Companies claimed likewise to havo their " Secret Mysteries , " which ifc was forbidden to toll to others , meaning of course such secrets as mixing mortar for tho masons , or tlio secrets of hard brazing , & c , for the founders , and so on with the rest . They paid fees or dues to the Tolsey , or Tolboth , on being " entered as rtpiiiv . ' iifice . i , " and when made " fellow crafts" of their trade also , as
it would seem , when , before setting up for themselves , they technically took up their freedom , and became masters . Whoever will look at a deed of apprenticeship of the last century will find ifc almost identical with , although less verbose than , onr own entered apprentice form ; in each there is a promise of secrecy . When they had become Masters , or became further distinguished ,
they loved '' good fellowship ; " thus tho . lenders aro described as a "luring society ; " the Girdlers had " good correspondence leith all the world ; " tho liiiiltoblers " often meeting and conversing together ; " tho CurryerA " a good , community among th' -mselves ; " the " Freemasons " hud " Ai'TAiiM .: AND KIND . UEI-Tixu-: " the l'lasterers " tvere oiiahle
and loving brethren . We have , then , here the origin and original signification of mosfc of the terms still used in Freemasonry , such as—Antiquity , defined to be the timo of Henry IV . Mysteries were trade receipts , & c . Fellowship meant as now , wine and wassail , aud little else .