-
Articles/Ads
Article THE STUDY OF MASONIC HISTORY. Page 1 of 2 Article THE STUDY OF MASONIC HISTORY. Page 1 of 2 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Study Of Masonic History.
THE STUDY OF MASONIC HISTORY .
\\ J E have more than ouce remarked how desirable it is T 7 that the Craft should do all in its power to encourage the study of Masonic history . Never a day passes , but some of our more enthusiastic brethren utter a few well-chosen phrases in the highest degree eulogistic of Freemasonry , its profession , and its practice . We listen
to these utterances with a great deal of pleasure . We know them to be sincere , and we believe them to be true . But with all this enthusiasm for the science itself , we note , with extreme regret , that very little heed is paid to its early origin and rare development in different countries .
The brethren who are so proud of antecedent generations of Craftsmen , are strangely indifferent about the obstacles they had to encounter , the victories they won , and the prejudices they at length succeeded in outliving , until at length Freemasonry , instead of being the butt of other
persons' ridicule , won for itself the admiration and respect of men of all classes and creeds . We say there are only a very few of the more studiously inclined who care for
these things . The bulk of members exhibit a strange inertia in all that relates to our history , and many are so ill-informed that almost any myth may be made to pass current as an event which actually took place .
We are partly indebted for this state of indifference to many of our own writers , who , in their eagerness to enhance the respectability of Freemasonry , have converted a number of interesting legends into matter-of-fact history . This , too , is a reason why the outer world so often laughs
at us when we speak of the great antiquity of the Craft . We have no manner of doubt whatever that Freemasonry is of very remote origin , but we do not rest its claims to antiquity on the very unsubstantial basis so many assign to it . We believe in the antiquity , but not in its
circumstantiality , as delineated by most of our Masonic historians . But we are digressing from the purpose of our present article , which is to impress on Lodges , and especially on Lodges of Instruction , the propriety of encouraging historic studies . The latter do excellent work , but the extent of
their curriculum is mostly limited to the ceremonies and lectures . We yield to none in the importance we attach to these branches of Masonic labour , but it must be obvious to all that the iteration of the same work becomes in a very short period of time wearisome , and particularly to
those whose avocations permit them to attend with greater or less regularity . But even if we are content with the amount of knowledge that may be thus acquired , it is still desirable—we may even go further , and say it is absolutel y necessary—there should be occasional historic illustrations ,
in order that brethren may know the meaning of the many allusions which are made in the course of these ceremonies aud lectures . Persons eminent in Biblical and profane history are frequently referred to , but our Catechetical system of instruction hardly allows much room for
explanation of the propriety of these references . Again , without some kind of exposition , many brethren must leave the Lodge much in the same condition of mind as a newl ymarried couple when they leave as one flesh the church they had shortly before entered as two—that is , in
amazement . There are many strange legends introduced , which , without their intent and purpose is made apparent , must , figuratively speaking , prove a very Gordian knot for the Masonic novice to untie . There are likewise not a few anachronisms which have been permitted to creep in , or , we should say , perhaps , which having been introduced
The Study Of Masonic History.
from the old operative legends , have been permitted to remain . We believe these departures from historic faot are capable of a rational explanation , aud it is certainl y desirable that some such explanation should occasionall y be offered .
This , however , is only a small item in the general account of Freemaaonry , which it is desirable we should have expounded . Whether we carry back our Society to early times , or whether we consider that Freemasonry , as it is now constituted , dates back no further than the
commencement of last century , it is equally desirable wo should learn something of the rise and progress of our Order . It is notorious that only a very limited number of brethren have ever given their minds to tho study of such records as havo been handed down to us . Now , an Englishman who had
not mastered , at least , the outlines of English history , who was not cognisant of its most noteworthy incidents , would consider himself in no slight measure disgraced by his ignorance . Or , to pub the matter more gently , his ignorance would cause him grave dissatisfaction , and the
chances are many that he would not lose much time in supplying the defect . So with a Frenchman , a German , an American , an Italian . There is , in fact , no one , be his country what it may , who would not experience a sense of shame on finding himself ill-informed about the principal
events in his country ' s life . And yet we Masons , who profess to be in search of greater illumination , are content to go on , week after week , and month after month , without troubling ourselves to inquire what are the main features of our history , and who were the most eminent Masonic
personages who have gone before us . We consider this apathy amounts to a very serious dereliction of duty on our parta dereliction of duty for which it is impossible for any ono to offer any reasonable apology . We have a history , and every Craftsman who has found timo and inclination to
study it , must feel all the more proud of his Order . Whatever , as we have said , may be the true connection existiup * between the philosophies of a very remote past and our
present speculative Freemasonry , it must be apparent to all , that we cannot have existed as a body corporate for close upon one hundred and sixty years but some vicissi - tudes of fortune must have befallen us , and some eminent
personages figured among our members . It is , indeed , a matter of fact , and not of speculation , that Masonry , in its progress from the year 1717 till now , has experienced many troubles from without , and not a few internal disquietudes . We have been attacked by clerics and by governments .
We have been denounced publicly as the enemies of all religion and order ; while among ourselves there have been several periods in our history in which we Masons havo shown that we had little , if any , respect for that love and harmonious feeling towards one another which it is one of
the chief purposes of Freemasonry to inculcate . But , in spite of these virulent attacks from without , and these unhappy intestine commotions , the Society has gone on flourishing , till it is not too much of an exaggeration to say that Freemasonry is now a power in the world , and , what
is better still , a power whose influence is always brought to bear in the direction of the good and the beautiful . When we speak of Freemasonry as being a power which has a certain influence , we do not , of course , mean that it is an organised body either political , like a government , or
religious , like a church . The only force there is in the influence of Freemasonry is the force of its moral teaching . It is this fact which makes its progress so marvellous that , having no material force to back it up , no religious terrors to fulminate against its enemies
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Study Of Masonic History.
THE STUDY OF MASONIC HISTORY .
\\ J E have more than ouce remarked how desirable it is T 7 that the Craft should do all in its power to encourage the study of Masonic history . Never a day passes , but some of our more enthusiastic brethren utter a few well-chosen phrases in the highest degree eulogistic of Freemasonry , its profession , and its practice . We listen
to these utterances with a great deal of pleasure . We know them to be sincere , and we believe them to be true . But with all this enthusiasm for the science itself , we note , with extreme regret , that very little heed is paid to its early origin and rare development in different countries .
The brethren who are so proud of antecedent generations of Craftsmen , are strangely indifferent about the obstacles they had to encounter , the victories they won , and the prejudices they at length succeeded in outliving , until at length Freemasonry , instead of being the butt of other
persons' ridicule , won for itself the admiration and respect of men of all classes and creeds . We say there are only a very few of the more studiously inclined who care for
these things . The bulk of members exhibit a strange inertia in all that relates to our history , and many are so ill-informed that almost any myth may be made to pass current as an event which actually took place .
We are partly indebted for this state of indifference to many of our own writers , who , in their eagerness to enhance the respectability of Freemasonry , have converted a number of interesting legends into matter-of-fact history . This , too , is a reason why the outer world so often laughs
at us when we speak of the great antiquity of the Craft . We have no manner of doubt whatever that Freemasonry is of very remote origin , but we do not rest its claims to antiquity on the very unsubstantial basis so many assign to it . We believe in the antiquity , but not in its
circumstantiality , as delineated by most of our Masonic historians . But we are digressing from the purpose of our present article , which is to impress on Lodges , and especially on Lodges of Instruction , the propriety of encouraging historic studies . The latter do excellent work , but the extent of
their curriculum is mostly limited to the ceremonies and lectures . We yield to none in the importance we attach to these branches of Masonic labour , but it must be obvious to all that the iteration of the same work becomes in a very short period of time wearisome , and particularly to
those whose avocations permit them to attend with greater or less regularity . But even if we are content with the amount of knowledge that may be thus acquired , it is still desirable—we may even go further , and say it is absolutel y necessary—there should be occasional historic illustrations ,
in order that brethren may know the meaning of the many allusions which are made in the course of these ceremonies aud lectures . Persons eminent in Biblical and profane history are frequently referred to , but our Catechetical system of instruction hardly allows much room for
explanation of the propriety of these references . Again , without some kind of exposition , many brethren must leave the Lodge much in the same condition of mind as a newl ymarried couple when they leave as one flesh the church they had shortly before entered as two—that is , in
amazement . There are many strange legends introduced , which , without their intent and purpose is made apparent , must , figuratively speaking , prove a very Gordian knot for the Masonic novice to untie . There are likewise not a few anachronisms which have been permitted to creep in , or , we should say , perhaps , which having been introduced
The Study Of Masonic History.
from the old operative legends , have been permitted to remain . We believe these departures from historic faot are capable of a rational explanation , aud it is certainl y desirable that some such explanation should occasionall y be offered .
This , however , is only a small item in the general account of Freemaaonry , which it is desirable we should have expounded . Whether we carry back our Society to early times , or whether we consider that Freemasonry , as it is now constituted , dates back no further than the
commencement of last century , it is equally desirable wo should learn something of the rise and progress of our Order . It is notorious that only a very limited number of brethren have ever given their minds to tho study of such records as havo been handed down to us . Now , an Englishman who had
not mastered , at least , the outlines of English history , who was not cognisant of its most noteworthy incidents , would consider himself in no slight measure disgraced by his ignorance . Or , to pub the matter more gently , his ignorance would cause him grave dissatisfaction , and the
chances are many that he would not lose much time in supplying the defect . So with a Frenchman , a German , an American , an Italian . There is , in fact , no one , be his country what it may , who would not experience a sense of shame on finding himself ill-informed about the principal
events in his country ' s life . And yet we Masons , who profess to be in search of greater illumination , are content to go on , week after week , and month after month , without troubling ourselves to inquire what are the main features of our history , and who were the most eminent Masonic
personages who have gone before us . We consider this apathy amounts to a very serious dereliction of duty on our parta dereliction of duty for which it is impossible for any ono to offer any reasonable apology . We have a history , and every Craftsman who has found timo and inclination to
study it , must feel all the more proud of his Order . Whatever , as we have said , may be the true connection existiup * between the philosophies of a very remote past and our
present speculative Freemasonry , it must be apparent to all , that we cannot have existed as a body corporate for close upon one hundred and sixty years but some vicissi - tudes of fortune must have befallen us , and some eminent
personages figured among our members . It is , indeed , a matter of fact , and not of speculation , that Masonry , in its progress from the year 1717 till now , has experienced many troubles from without , and not a few internal disquietudes . We have been attacked by clerics and by governments .
We have been denounced publicly as the enemies of all religion and order ; while among ourselves there have been several periods in our history in which we Masons havo shown that we had little , if any , respect for that love and harmonious feeling towards one another which it is one of
the chief purposes of Freemasonry to inculcate . But , in spite of these virulent attacks from without , and these unhappy intestine commotions , the Society has gone on flourishing , till it is not too much of an exaggeration to say that Freemasonry is now a power in the world , and , what
is better still , a power whose influence is always brought to bear in the direction of the good and the beautiful . When we speak of Freemasonry as being a power which has a certain influence , we do not , of course , mean that it is an organised body either political , like a government , or
religious , like a church . The only force there is in the influence of Freemasonry is the force of its moral teaching . It is this fact which makes its progress so marvellous that , having no material force to back it up , no religious terrors to fulminate against its enemies