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  • Aug. 27, 1887
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The Freemason's Chronicle, Aug. 27, 1887: Page 8

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IfaplPrairieInstitutionfor<§irk ST . JOHN'S HILL , BATTERSEA RISE , S . W . Chief Patroness : HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN . Grand Patron and President : His BOYAL HIGHNESS THE PJHNCE OF WALES , K . G ., M . W . G . M . Grand Patroness : HER ROYAL HIGHNESS THE PRINCESS or WALES . POUNDED 17 8 8 . CENTENARY CELEBRATION 1888 . Brethren willing to act as Stewards on the above important occasion will greatly oblige by sending in their names as early as convenient . P . R . W . HEDGES , Secretary . OIHCK—5 Freemasons' Hall , Great Queen Street , W . C .

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"MASONICFACTSANDFICTIONS," COJHBISIXG A NEW THEORY OP THE ORIGIN OP THE J 'ANCIENT" GRAND LODGE . irow iir PB « PABiTiojr , By H . SADLER , Grand Tyler and Sub-Librarian of the Grand Lodge of England . ABOUT 200 PAGES , DEMY OCTAVO , WITH ILLUSTRATIONS , SEALS , AUTOGRAPHS , & G . Price to Snbaerlbers , •* ; Carriage Free In the "CnHed Kingdom , 0 « 6 d * Prospectus and Specimen Page can be had of Messra . SPENCER & CO ., 23 A Great Queen Street , London , W . C . The Subscription List for the above named Work will be closed on the 31 st instant . Should any copies remain unsold after publication , the price will be 7 s 6 d each .

Ad00804

VictoriaMansionsiestaurant9 VICTORIA STREET , WESTMINSTER , S . W . A SUITE OF ROOMS , MOST CONVENIENTLY ARRANGED FOR MASONIC MEETINGS . EIGHT LODGES ALREADY MEET HERE ; AMPLE ACCOMMODATION FOR OTHERS . Separate Entrance—apart from the Restaurant—from Victoria Street . The Lodge Room , Ante Room , & c , on one Floor , Quite Private . THE BANQUET ROOM WILL SEAT UPWARDS OF 100 GUESTS . CHOICE STOCK OF WINES , SPIRITS , dec . "Weddinjj Breakfasts , Soirees , Concerts , Parties , G-lee Clubs , » fec ., » tec ., accommodated . Particulars on Application to H . GLOOTS , Proprietor , Victoria Mansions Hestaurant , Victoria St .. Westminster , S . W

Ar00805

fer mrVW ^ a^^^^p^tia

Reviews.

REVIEWS .

A . U Books intended for- Review should be addressed to the ' . ' - ¦ 'ditor of Tne Freemason ' s Chronicle , Belvidere Works , Hi' ¦ ¦ . » ¦ : lili , Pentonville , Loudon , N " . — : o : — T' n . t- ct 0 us i ) tho Quatnor Cormiafi Lodge , A '« . 2706 ' . Part I . 1 S 87 .

THK tir .-t purr . I . aa » unbared of the promised Tratisac'ions of this 8 = udeut Lodge , and r- finer , * great credit , not , only on the contributor * , bat on Bro . G . W . Speth , who has acted as EJitor of the same . We can quite understand tho reason wh y so many anhacribing members to tbe " Corre * pondence Circ ' e" have announced themselves- , nnd

we certainly think Lodges and bodies , aa well as Student Masons , cnnnot better invest their money than in snpport of this intellectual venuiTf , inasmuch as , b"V nd all controversy , they will receive their money ' s worth , and lav the foundation in all probability for further eSorts and enlarged volumes in the goodly canse gf intellectual study

Reviews.

and archaeological researoh . There are in this first part six contri . butions , all of which deserve perusal . They are all marked by great clearness and expresivenesa of language , and by a praiseworthy anxiety not to be too lengthy or too diffuse , but to present to students what is worthy of attention aud regard , and what after some consideration

will assimilate well and seasonabl y with mental digestion . Bro . Woodford , who contributes tho original consecration oration , also contributes a paper on a subject whioh just now has an attraction for many , —The Connection between Freemasonry arid Hermeticiam .

Bro . Woodford offers the paper as a tentamen merely for students like himself , as a suggestion for those who care for suoh things , and at present at any rate " nomen illis legio non est , " as an outline to be filled up , as he says , by abler hands and later writers , when the subject is more ventilated , when the matter ia more fully studied ,

when the coincidences , which are many , and the facts which ai * e numerous , and all bearing on a neglected subject , shall have received the attention and the realisation they so fairly deserve . By one of those peculiarities of thought and feeling which attend all human pursuits , all tbe studies of the wise , all the learned

quarrels of controversialists , Hermeticisni , a branch of Masonio arcbsBology , has been unwisely neglected , or contemptuously ignored . Bro . Gould was the first who paid any attention to the subject ; matter , and he after all was able only to look upon it , so to say . U will , we think , in tho future receive more attention , and the' result

will amply justif y Bro . Woodford a cautious and studied prbgramnie of inquiry , verification , and appreciation . Bro . Gould contributes , more suo , a very characteristic and valuable paper . It ia marked by many Balient proofs of his facility ot

language and powers of condensation , by his forcible , lucid and epigrammatic style , and by a very fair , calm' and reasonable statement of the points he wishes to urge , tbe conclusions he seeks to establish .

Whether he or his distinguished predecessor in this * peculiar branch of study and contention , Bro . D . M . Lyon , or his able and : untiring confrere , Bro . W . J . Hnghan , have hit upon the real solution of the Scottish grade system , is a matter on which students may be permitted , like a great Chancellor , still to have their " doubts . "

It wonld almost seem as if Bro . Simpson was right , the able J . W . of the Qnatuor Coronati , when he suggested that a distinction existed between the Scottish Lodges or tradeguilds , and tbe Scottish Lodges as Domatic Masons , if we express ourselves clearly . The Schaw Statutes clearly refer iu the main to the trade guilds , but ifc > .

nowhere appears that any suoh rules and regulations apply to the Lodges , —qua speculative Lodges as we understand' them . Bro . Gould lays great stress , and fairly so , on the late period of an universal use of the third degree . But that fact may be accounted for in various ways .

Both at York and in London the giving of the third degree was not originally allowed to the private Lodges . In London , not until January 1725 formally , and at York there is a very late example of the ceremony in the Grand Lodge .

No doubt as Lodges grew more numerous , and the members increased , it was impossible to restrict this grade to the Supreme body , and as the Grand Lodge had censed to be ambnlatury , and had become stationary aud central , tho reason fo t > e i Id ru e nvas gone .

In Scotlaud it is mure th » n probable that the mother Lodges of younger bodies kept the giving of the three degrees to themselves , and the fact of " Mast' rs' Lodges , " in which apparently no minutes were kept , has surrounded the whole question with difficulties which it is now all but impossible apparently to speak dogmatically upon .

If there was really any essential difference between the London working and Mary Chapel , it was not mentioned at Desagolier ' a visit ; the minutes of that old Lodge are quite sileut , there is no hint or sicn given of any such change , or the alteration of the entire Scottish system , for that is involved ; and a'l that seems

to be established is that where Lodges gradually , as in England , claimed independently of their Mother Lodges the right to give the grade tbey did so . Substitute the other Lodges in Scotland for Grand Lodges in

England , and we have , we think , one explanation of the difficulty , as there was clearly n nepava ' e entering ceremony , be it slight or formal only , matters little . There is no a priori reason wh y a separate ceremony for the third degree should tu t exist .

Bro . Gould ' s paper deserves tbe careful perusal of all students , ns a valuable contribution to a m st difficult subject , and as it is a question on which there are and probably always will be two sides , it merits alike from those who agree as well as those who disagree , tbe tulmirotion and respect it is fully entitled to receive .

Bro . Speth's contribution to the history of the Steinmetzen is distinguished by his wonted ability and clearness . It is in fact a deliberate impeachment of the theorios of Fallon and the suggestions of Fiudel . Faiiou "o doubt has greatly enlarged both the drift aud scope of Heidelhoff ' s remarks , and has built upon a foundation which

seems as brittle a * sand . Conceded that the Steinmetzen may have had Monastic preceptors f » nd leaders , it cannot as yet be conceded that any proof exists of any Masonic ceremm ial . Tbe Steinmetzen usages were apparently of the p'Uiihe *' . kind , and it is difficult to s » y positively whether they

had anesmerio teaching or anosotoiic system of any kind . There » re traces , here and there , and statewert's here and there , which seem to intimate that all the Steinmetzen were either not on the same level , or in the same category , and that there were both manual and visual tokens iu use , if not universally , if not necessarily , at any

rate in some centres and in some Lodges . The peculiar poem in the old " Piatt Deutsch , " or jargon of the Steinmetzen , would seem to point to some mystical teaching , Masonically preserved , in some Lodges , and no doubt

communicated to the " Geselleu , " Pallires , " and the " Meister . " But tho question is still one of the greatest difficulty . It requires , in our opinion , the closest attention and elaboration still , before we can pronounce distinctl y one way or the other .

“The Freemason's Chronicle: 1887-08-27, Page 8” Masonic Periodicals Online, Library and Museum of Freemasonry, 14 Aug. 2025, django:8000/periodicals/fcn/issues/fcn_27081887/page/8/.
  • List
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Title Category Page
LOST OPPORTUNITIES. Article 1
OUR MASONIC GUILD LEGENDS. Article 2
ARCHITECTURE. Article 3
OUR MASONIC POSTERITY. Article 5
PROGRESS IN MASONRY. Article 6
PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF DORSETSHIRE. Article 6
CORRESPONDENCE. Article 7
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REVIEWS. Article 8
Notes For Masonic Students. Article 10
THE SWALLOW-TAILED COAT. Article 10
KING HAROLD LODGE, No. 1327. Article 11
THE THEATRES, &c. Article 11
DIARY FOR THE WEEK. Article 12
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.

Ad00802

IfaplPrairieInstitutionfor<§irk ST . JOHN'S HILL , BATTERSEA RISE , S . W . Chief Patroness : HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN . Grand Patron and President : His BOYAL HIGHNESS THE PJHNCE OF WALES , K . G ., M . W . G . M . Grand Patroness : HER ROYAL HIGHNESS THE PRINCESS or WALES . POUNDED 17 8 8 . CENTENARY CELEBRATION 1888 . Brethren willing to act as Stewards on the above important occasion will greatly oblige by sending in their names as early as convenient . P . R . W . HEDGES , Secretary . OIHCK—5 Freemasons' Hall , Great Queen Street , W . C .

Ad00803

"MASONICFACTSANDFICTIONS," COJHBISIXG A NEW THEORY OP THE ORIGIN OP THE J 'ANCIENT" GRAND LODGE . irow iir PB « PABiTiojr , By H . SADLER , Grand Tyler and Sub-Librarian of the Grand Lodge of England . ABOUT 200 PAGES , DEMY OCTAVO , WITH ILLUSTRATIONS , SEALS , AUTOGRAPHS , & G . Price to Snbaerlbers , •* ; Carriage Free In the "CnHed Kingdom , 0 « 6 d * Prospectus and Specimen Page can be had of Messra . SPENCER & CO ., 23 A Great Queen Street , London , W . C . The Subscription List for the above named Work will be closed on the 31 st instant . Should any copies remain unsold after publication , the price will be 7 s 6 d each .

Ad00804

VictoriaMansionsiestaurant9 VICTORIA STREET , WESTMINSTER , S . W . A SUITE OF ROOMS , MOST CONVENIENTLY ARRANGED FOR MASONIC MEETINGS . EIGHT LODGES ALREADY MEET HERE ; AMPLE ACCOMMODATION FOR OTHERS . Separate Entrance—apart from the Restaurant—from Victoria Street . The Lodge Room , Ante Room , & c , on one Floor , Quite Private . THE BANQUET ROOM WILL SEAT UPWARDS OF 100 GUESTS . CHOICE STOCK OF WINES , SPIRITS , dec . "Weddinjj Breakfasts , Soirees , Concerts , Parties , G-lee Clubs , » fec ., » tec ., accommodated . Particulars on Application to H . GLOOTS , Proprietor , Victoria Mansions Hestaurant , Victoria St .. Westminster , S . W

Ar00805

fer mrVW ^ a^^^^p^tia

Reviews.

REVIEWS .

A . U Books intended for- Review should be addressed to the ' . ' - ¦ 'ditor of Tne Freemason ' s Chronicle , Belvidere Works , Hi' ¦ ¦ . » ¦ : lili , Pentonville , Loudon , N " . — : o : — T' n . t- ct 0 us i ) tho Quatnor Cormiafi Lodge , A '« . 2706 ' . Part I . 1 S 87 .

THK tir .-t purr . I . aa » unbared of the promised Tratisac'ions of this 8 = udeut Lodge , and r- finer , * great credit , not , only on the contributor * , bat on Bro . G . W . Speth , who has acted as EJitor of the same . We can quite understand tho reason wh y so many anhacribing members to tbe " Corre * pondence Circ ' e" have announced themselves- , nnd

we certainly think Lodges and bodies , aa well as Student Masons , cnnnot better invest their money than in snpport of this intellectual venuiTf , inasmuch as , b"V nd all controversy , they will receive their money ' s worth , and lav the foundation in all probability for further eSorts and enlarged volumes in the goodly canse gf intellectual study

Reviews.

and archaeological researoh . There are in this first part six contri . butions , all of which deserve perusal . They are all marked by great clearness and expresivenesa of language , and by a praiseworthy anxiety not to be too lengthy or too diffuse , but to present to students what is worthy of attention aud regard , and what after some consideration

will assimilate well and seasonabl y with mental digestion . Bro . Woodford , who contributes tho original consecration oration , also contributes a paper on a subject whioh just now has an attraction for many , —The Connection between Freemasonry arid Hermeticiam .

Bro . Woodford offers the paper as a tentamen merely for students like himself , as a suggestion for those who care for suoh things , and at present at any rate " nomen illis legio non est , " as an outline to be filled up , as he says , by abler hands and later writers , when the subject is more ventilated , when the matter ia more fully studied ,

when the coincidences , which are many , and the facts which ai * e numerous , and all bearing on a neglected subject , shall have received the attention and the realisation they so fairly deserve . By one of those peculiarities of thought and feeling which attend all human pursuits , all tbe studies of the wise , all the learned

quarrels of controversialists , Hermeticisni , a branch of Masonio arcbsBology , has been unwisely neglected , or contemptuously ignored . Bro . Gould was the first who paid any attention to the subject ; matter , and he after all was able only to look upon it , so to say . U will , we think , in tho future receive more attention , and the' result

will amply justif y Bro . Woodford a cautious and studied prbgramnie of inquiry , verification , and appreciation . Bro . Gould contributes , more suo , a very characteristic and valuable paper . It ia marked by many Balient proofs of his facility ot

language and powers of condensation , by his forcible , lucid and epigrammatic style , and by a very fair , calm' and reasonable statement of the points he wishes to urge , tbe conclusions he seeks to establish .

Whether he or his distinguished predecessor in this * peculiar branch of study and contention , Bro . D . M . Lyon , or his able and : untiring confrere , Bro . W . J . Hnghan , have hit upon the real solution of the Scottish grade system , is a matter on which students may be permitted , like a great Chancellor , still to have their " doubts . "

It wonld almost seem as if Bro . Simpson was right , the able J . W . of the Qnatuor Coronati , when he suggested that a distinction existed between the Scottish Lodges or tradeguilds , and tbe Scottish Lodges as Domatic Masons , if we express ourselves clearly . The Schaw Statutes clearly refer iu the main to the trade guilds , but ifc > .

nowhere appears that any suoh rules and regulations apply to the Lodges , —qua speculative Lodges as we understand' them . Bro . Gould lays great stress , and fairly so , on the late period of an universal use of the third degree . But that fact may be accounted for in various ways .

Both at York and in London the giving of the third degree was not originally allowed to the private Lodges . In London , not until January 1725 formally , and at York there is a very late example of the ceremony in the Grand Lodge .

No doubt as Lodges grew more numerous , and the members increased , it was impossible to restrict this grade to the Supreme body , and as the Grand Lodge had censed to be ambnlatury , and had become stationary aud central , tho reason fo t > e i Id ru e nvas gone .

In Scotlaud it is mure th » n probable that the mother Lodges of younger bodies kept the giving of the three degrees to themselves , and the fact of " Mast' rs' Lodges , " in which apparently no minutes were kept , has surrounded the whole question with difficulties which it is now all but impossible apparently to speak dogmatically upon .

If there was really any essential difference between the London working and Mary Chapel , it was not mentioned at Desagolier ' a visit ; the minutes of that old Lodge are quite sileut , there is no hint or sicn given of any such change , or the alteration of the entire Scottish system , for that is involved ; and a'l that seems

to be established is that where Lodges gradually , as in England , claimed independently of their Mother Lodges the right to give the grade tbey did so . Substitute the other Lodges in Scotland for Grand Lodges in

England , and we have , we think , one explanation of the difficulty , as there was clearly n nepava ' e entering ceremony , be it slight or formal only , matters little . There is no a priori reason wh y a separate ceremony for the third degree should tu t exist .

Bro . Gould ' s paper deserves tbe careful perusal of all students , ns a valuable contribution to a m st difficult subject , and as it is a question on which there are and probably always will be two sides , it merits alike from those who agree as well as those who disagree , tbe tulmirotion and respect it is fully entitled to receive .

Bro . Speth's contribution to the history of the Steinmetzen is distinguished by his wonted ability and clearness . It is in fact a deliberate impeachment of the theorios of Fallon and the suggestions of Fiudel . Faiiou "o doubt has greatly enlarged both the drift aud scope of Heidelhoff ' s remarks , and has built upon a foundation which

seems as brittle a * sand . Conceded that the Steinmetzen may have had Monastic preceptors f » nd leaders , it cannot as yet be conceded that any proof exists of any Masonic ceremm ial . Tbe Steinmetzen usages were apparently of the p'Uiihe *' . kind , and it is difficult to s » y positively whether they

had anesmerio teaching or anosotoiic system of any kind . There » re traces , here and there , and statewert's here and there , which seem to intimate that all the Steinmetzen were either not on the same level , or in the same category , and that there were both manual and visual tokens iu use , if not universally , if not necessarily , at any

rate in some centres and in some Lodges . The peculiar poem in the old " Piatt Deutsch , " or jargon of the Steinmetzen , would seem to point to some mystical teaching , Masonically preserved , in some Lodges , and no doubt

communicated to the " Geselleu , " Pallires , " and the " Meister . " But tho question is still one of the greatest difficulty . It requires , in our opinion , the closest attention and elaboration still , before we can pronounce distinctl y one way or the other .

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