A New Masonic History.*

These are not our words , but they are most distinctly our views ; and our greatest personal disrelish for what are denominated the " higher degrees , "—at any rate up to and inclusive of the eighteenth , of which we have cognizance , —arises from the fact that they are not , and

cannot be , universal , and are made ridiouloua by the highsounding but mostly unmeaning titles borne by their officials and lay members . The sweet simplicity of " Brother , " " Companion , "— " Frater , " if you will , —contrasts strongly with the morbid craving for distinction

whioh impels many Craftsmen to expend money and time for tbe empty titles of "Sir Knight" this , "Sublime Prince " that , " Most Enlightened " the other , & c , & c , ad nauseam , unaccompanied by any useful knowledge or advantage beyond the satisfaction of an idle curiosity . We should

have hesitated to say of our own accord as muoh aa the late Bro . Moore has written , and there ia yet more to the same purpose in this introduction , to which we now refer the reader . The first Chapter in Bro . Moore ' s " sketch , " for so he calls it , treats of the " Origin of Speculative or

Symbolic Freomasonry . " From tho several paragraphs in this Chapter wo shall select brief extracts as the most forcible method of convoying the " views , convictions , deductions aud stand-point" of the author , " so materially different from that usually adopted . " In regard to the

Templar System's connection with Freemasonry , we learn that " many of the discrepancies in Masonic history arise from not knowing or not distinguishing the wide difference between Ancient Christian Freemasonry and the Free and Accepted Masonry of the present day . "

This , of course , refers to the fact that Speculative Freemasonry was originally a Christian Institution , and not of the universal character , " without regard to creed , clime or colour , " it now bears . " Our knowledge commences with the Christian era , passing over reference to the building of

the Solomonian Temple and the usages of the workmen employed at that period , —a mere matter of conjecture of no account in the present investigation . " Referring to tho Ancient Mysteries our author says , " the whole course

of history flatly contradicts the possibuzty of a perpetuation of their doctrines ; the idea of a direct connection between them and Freemasonry is nothing more than an idle fancy , " and he explains his views thereon at length . He also states that it is well authenticated that Lodges of

Speculative Masonry for instruction were anciently held , presided over by Master builders ; these taught the rnde workmen the religious and moral principles for which the Fraternity was noted , a 3 well as the laws of the Craft , and the then mystery of architecture which was carefully concealed from all who were not initiated into the Brotherhod .

There are some concise particulars of tho origin and evolution of Freemasonry : — " The name ' Freemason' appears for the first time in Statute 25 of Edward I ., of England , A . D . 1350 . " The term signified a " Free-stone Mason , " one who works in free-stone as distinguished from the

rough Mason who merely built walls of rough stones . "It was not until the beginning of the seventeenth century that persons who were not Operative Masons began to unite with the Freemasons , and were distinguished from the regular working Masons by the denomination of

' Accopted . ' By tho year 1702 , the Speculative Lodges in England began to decay , and became so degenerate as to be applied to purposes of gain and self-interest . " Masons made here for 12 s " was then a frequent public announcement in the river-side streets of London and Liverpool ;

but 1717 saw a complete change when the so-called revival , of which we have spoken in the earlier part of this notice , was effected , and the true character of Freemasonry became only the history of the operativo sodalities and successive ages o £ architects . It has become a beautiful system of

morality : — " Undoubtedly there can be no more beautiful code , in its original proper sense , when divested of the numerous parasitical additions of fungus growth , since it is ' a system of morality developed and inculcated by symbols . ' The idea intended to be conveyed is to draw

men together in one great Brotherhood ; but it has in the course of evolution , since it left its birth-place , the British Isles , been so altered , and so many degrees and rites have been added , as to obliterate almost entirely the original plan , which stands alone . As first conceived it stood above

all otheis , unaided , unassisted . Could any plainer words than these , which are the " language of truth , " be employed to induce Freemasons of the present day to devote their energies to the promulgation and performance of the duties of Craft Masonry " pure and simple , " leaving out of all

A New Masonic History.*

consideration attachment to those " parasitical additions " which tend to destroy the purity and simplicity of the original and all-sufficient system ? To men of mind and intelligence there must be a feeling of being engaged in something puerile and ridiculous , when associated with

manufactured " rites , " unmeaning titles , and gaudy " frippery , " which form the sole rtiisons d ' etre of the so-called " high " degrees . Wo havo here the experience of a great authority on such matters , —aud hia condemnation of those "fungus growths" is unmistakable . With these

remarks we thought to close our notice of this instructive and most interesting Chapter , but its final paragraph arrests our attention , and it must not pass unheeded . What earnest Craftsman will gainsay the truth of these , nearly the last words of this venerable Nestor in

Freemasonry ? "It is to be regretted that Speculative Freemasonry is not more studied and its teachings , as emblematized by its symbols , better explained and more largely ventilated throughout the Fraternity . If its tenets and principles were more fully known , a better spirit of

Brotherly union would exist ; but , of late years , a race of Masonic writers has sprung up , of the ' sheep-walk' school , who 'follow the beaten track , and seldom turn aside to the by-paths ) ' and , in their anxiety to prove the antiquity of Freemasonry , they have indulged in a mere repetition of

unreliable legends , perpetuating what is vague and childish , creating scepticism , casting doubt upon tbe source of all . It should be clearly understood that the frequent allusion

to the great antiquity of Freemasonry refers to the ancient architects , —stone builders , —not to the Free and Accepted Masonry of modern times , which is an entirely new departure . "

A cursory glance through the next six Chapters in this Division admonishes us that we should not hastily bring our comments on Templary and the quasi 'Higher * degrees to a close ; and these must next have our considcration . ( To be continued . )

Ar00503

The Committee of Management of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution held their monthly meeting at the Freemasons' Hall , on Wednesday , Bro . Dr . Jabez Hogg P . G . D . occupied the chair , and thero were present Bros . Hubberb , Cottebrune P . G . P ., Brett P . G . P ., Vallentine

G . P ., Fairchild , Stevens , Belchamber , Haslip , Maad P . G . S . B ., Kempton , Hogard P . G . Standard Bearer , Richards , Lacey , Murlis , Cotter , Forsyth , Robbins G . D ., Durrant , Tattershall , Webb , Bnllen P . G . S . B ., Makm ? , Fisher , Mullord , Fitzgerald , Walker , and Terry P . G . S . B .

( Secretary ) . The minutes of the previous meeting having been read and verified , the Secretary reported the death of six annuitants ( four men and two widows ) . The Warden ' s report for tbe past month , and the report of the Finance Committee , were read . The latter was adopted and

ordered to be entered on the minutes . Five petitions ( four male and one widow ) were considered , with the result that one was deferred , and four accepted ; the names were ordered to be entered on tho lists of candidates for the Election iu May 1892 . A vote of thanks to the Chairman brought the proceedings to a close .

The Ritual In Staffordshire.

THE RITUAL IN STAFFORDSHIRE .

r pH 2 fourth and last of a series of meetings of Preceptors and ¦ L Lodge representatives in furtherance of the scheme of tho R . W " . P . G . M . Col . Foster Gougb , for assimilating the ceremonies to those of the Emulation Ledge , was held at the Swan Hotel , Stafford , on Tuesday afternoon , Bro . Sndlow Past Grand Standard Bearer England , and member of the Emulation Improvement Committee ,

attending for the purpose of acting aa Preceptor on the occasion . The Lodge Preceptors were entertained at luncheon by Col . Goagh prior to the oommeuoement of the business . At the meeting of the Preceptors and Lodge representatives there were present , in addition to the R . W . P . G . M . Col . Gongh and Bro . Sudlow , Bros . J . B . Pieroy ,

W . J . Gothard , G . H . Stanger , the Rev . W . F . Bradley , A . S . Town-MIXA , John Idossop , J . Woolridge , G . W . Walker , E . W . Taylor , E . Peake , J . Stevenson , T . 11 . Arter , G . Platfc , W . H . Howson , G . W . Bradford , S . Keeling , W . Garnham , A . Smith , E . J . Monsley , F . S . Pepper , G . Ashmall , English Pearson , F . Thompson , W . Briokel ,

J . Williams , R . GibBon , Fred W . Gribble , W . E . Marple ? , F . G . Waiburton , E . Penn , George Haynes , T . J . Barnett , J . B . Ashwell , EL Finch , J . M . Willdig , J . W . Abbott , John Chadwick , W . H . Newby , F . Skerret , Jame 3 Wearing , W . R . Woolridge , E . Hallam , J . Stevenson , J . White , E . B , Jackson , J . Webbarley , W . Twist , &? . Iu the