-
Articles/Ads
Article A MASONIC ADDRESS OF THE LAST CENTURY. Page 1 of 2 Article A MASONIC ADDRESS OF THE LAST CENTURY. Page 1 of 2 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
A Masonic Address Of The Last Century.
A MASONIC ADDRESS OF THE LAST CENTURY .
To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —Tho following is an exact copy of nn old manuscript address which I have in my possession , written and dolivered by Bro . Wm . Pryce , R . W . M . of Redruth Lodge , at the Provincial
Grand Lodge of Cornwall , held at Falmouth , 27 th December 1773 . Ithas never been published , and , thinking it might be interesting to the brethren of Cornwall , particularly to tho members of tho Druids ' Lodge of Love and Liberality , No . 589 , Redruth , I send it yon for insertion in tho columns of your valuable paper . Tours fraternally , JOHN CoojtBE , P . M ., & o ., 450 .
M . W . P . G . M .. R . W . D . P . G . M ., P . G . W . 's nnd "Brethren of the P . G . Lodge ; R . W . M ., Worshipful P . M ., Worshipful Wardens and Brethren of the Lodge of Love and Honour ; R . W . M ,, Wor . P . M ., Wor . Wardens and Brethren of tho respective Lodges present . GREET VE THRICE HEARTILY WELL . To fix the absolute epocha of Freemasonry may be as difficult an undertaking as any search into the antiquities of unrecorded time
From the nature of onr institution we are enveloped in a cloud of uncertainties , and onr discoveries in many matters have the appear . auce of conjecture . We are denied the nso of dead letters to convey onr mysteries to posterity , and we are only living witnesses of the propriety and beautiful harmony of onr well-constructpd Order . Although , in one sense , we derive our rise from tho fall of oar first parent , when it became necessary for man to build an habitation and
security from the inclemencies of the season , yet , scientifically , wo date our existence as a body as Masons from the building of Solomon's Temple j therefore we may venture to affirm that onr infallible and most authentic register is the inspired Word of God Himself , so that of consequence , if our memorials aro few , they are nevertheless the absolute language of Truth Divine . Hence it follows the Bible is the code of our laws and the rule of onr faith and works .
Founded on faith itself , onr base is sure and cannot fail . The building may decay , bub it will ever rise again npon its own rnins , and , like the rebuilding of God ' s Temple , will rise superior to the ravages of time and the Gothic rudeness of uncivilised men . While we are bnilded on truth , cemented by secrecy and brotherly lovo , supported and adorned by prudence and fidelity , and ornamented
with the applied precepts of our gracious Law-giver , wo shall bo each a temple to His glory and an honour to His creation . Seeing us animated by snch Laws and Principles the world has ever been ready to catch at our morals , and to imitate onr actions , but not having tho same cement with us their mortar has proved nntempered , and their buildings have fallen to the ground .
Wo ( in our ancient brethren the chosen people of the Most High ) being framed in fraternal confidence by the Almighty Architect and Grand Contriver of the Universe , became the admiration of tho Gentile World , and they beholding the progress which Science and Philosophy in fellowship rivetted together by love and unity viewed us with emulation and applause . Of course
they contrived to form themselves into fraternities , and to build upon our plan , but not having the same Grand Master to superintend their workmanship , their superstructures were f . mndationless , and their Babels were all confusion , for how can heathen mythology nnd hnman invention be opposed to Him who sitteth in Light Inaccessible . As the Arts travelled from the East to the West , so has Masonry
likewise , and that great system of our mysteries being formed nnder the auspices of onr three grand pillars in the East , came to this island before the arts themselves . They were admired by all nations , and were found necessary to precede all other science for their excellency in preparing nnd civilising the ignorance and rusticity of onr ancestors . The minds of men being thus cultivated and associated into
order and morality were fit to receive and preserve the dogmas and rudiments of philosophy and commerce . Bnt as the polite arts have taken up their residence among us , and flourish more in Groat Britain than anywhere else , so likewise have the natives shown their superior encouragement and excellence in Masonry to all other countries , insomuch that at this time Masonry Universnl is
conatituted by the Grand Master of Great Britain in particular . Here in this land of liberty it grows and flourishes continually , and while the atoms of freedom are diffused in tho very sense and spirit of our constitution , the soul and body of our thrice venerable fraternity will live among us and perish but with the universal crash of matter . Notwithstanding Freemasonry did not originate in this isleI am
, well inclined to judge it made an early and rapid advance into onr country , and that many religions and civil institutions were formed by similar maxims and modes of government . I shall only take npon me to display the probability of this surmise by an example in point of a very local and similar nature . It is allowed by authors of the greatest veracitv that the ancient
and venerable order Drnidism was first invented in Britain . The remains of their antiquity are to be seen in every corner of the kingdom , but nowhere so particularl y as in Cornwall . They were remarkable for their learning and antiquit y before the time of Pythagoras , who lived 600 years before Christ . P ythagoras travelled
almost the then known world to converse with them and learn their doctrines . These proofs of their anti quity and locality do not disprove their taking upon ns some hints of their moral government . If it is doubted by some , the strict analogy between ns and them will confirm it to others . Bncherus derives their name from the word Trewe , i . e ., Faith ; or from Drnt , a friend j or from the Hebrew Druism , i . e ., People of
A Masonic Address Of The Last Century.
Contemplation . These epithets of faithful friendship and contem . olative equally belong to us . Wo are true and faithful , linked toge - ther in friendship by brotherly affection , and in the m > st aconrate sense , speculative and contemplative in onr doctrines and discipline . There wero three degrees of Drnids . Tho suporio- 'clast was called the Druids hv way of eminence ; as tho sun rises in tho East , and
onens the day , so they stood in the East to open nnd unfold their nvsteries , and sot the next class , tho Bards , to work . Theao Barda were remarkable for an extraordinary talent of memory , and there - fore , like onr Follow . Crafts . were particularly employed to teach their vonng disoipl"s or Entered Prentices , who were to learn to remember , i * tho principal qualification in societies where no written laws were
allowed . The Bards were inferior in rank to the Druids , yet prior in antiquity . So were Fe ^ ow Crafts prior in antiqnity to Master Masr ni , for we all know at a certain time there were but threo of tho latter in tho world , and these were only so , in all probability , from their rank and station in life , perhaps from their wisdom in contriving , their strength in supporting the undertaking with men , money , and
materials , and their cunning workmanship in carrying ou the order . Never « theless , that circumstance we are tanghtwas followed by a transaction which , nt the same time it was most horrible and cruel , produced nn to ns the Master Key of Masonry . This class wero to give instructions nnd to we ' eomo strange brethren , as wero the Etibates or Entered Prentices to rear and receive them , and keep off all cowans or profane
persons from tho light and knowledge of their mysteries . The great similitude of tho manner and customs of the ancient Druids to those of Free and Accepted Masons , in their allegory , secrecy , morality , mysteries and discipline memoriter , aro very obvious . Under the direction of tho Drnids the most singular part of instruction was that of learning a great number of versos by
heart , for they did not think it lawful to commit what related to their particnlar discipline or work to writing . ( Sheringham thinks this favours of the customs of the Hebrews , they being as fond as any people of ORAL tradition , xohich we , as Masons , knoiu to be very true . ) They used also allegory to convey their doctrines into previously adapted and well prepared minds , without being at all understood
by , or made obnoxious to , the refusal or profanation of the ludicrous and perverse . They seem to have pursued their Mysteries Memori'er for several reasons , because they would not have their mysteries become too familiar to tho vulgar , —in this , as in many other pir . ticnlars , resembling the Egyptians , —nor be divulged and exposed to the caprice of foreign countries , nor their scholars trust too much
to their written letter , and neglect to cultivate thoir memory ; and it may be observed that we find several instances in history of the samo custom among the wisest heathens . " Lycnrgus and tho lawgivers of other cities thought it better to imprint their laws in the minds of their citizens than to engrave them in tablets where thov might be neglected and unregarded .
Plntarch informs us that Numa's sacred books and writings wore buried with him by his order ( perhaps in compliance with tho opinion of his friend Pythagoras ) , imitating herein the legislators of Greece , who inculcated the contents of their laws so long into the hearts and minds of their priests that their understanding became living libraries of those sacred volumes , it being esteemed a profanation of
such mysteries to commit thoir secrets into dead letters . " ( Pott ' s Antiquities of Greece , Vol . I ., p . 142 . ) Such was tho opinion also of Pythagoras and Socrates , neither of whom left anything behind thorn committed to writing . When , therefore , tho disciples of Pythagoras perished in the flames during the Metapontine tumults , the discipline and science of that philosopher expired for the most part with them ,
for their memories wero tho only repositories in which they had preserved those treasures of knowledge which their great founder had left them ; all these therefore were irrecoverably lost , and nothing more was preserved than what some novitiate scholars , who were never admitted into the mysteries , could remember and very badly explain .
Socrates , disputing with Phedrus in favour of teaching by word of month rather than by written doctrines , says , " That written books resemble the work of a painter , where the portrayed animals apppar indeed as if they had real life , but if yon ask them any question they can give yoa no answer . " " How mnchmore excellent and efficacious , " says he , " is that instruction , which is written and engraved in the
mind of him that teacheth , who knows what and before whom he is to speak , how and what ha is to inculcate , and what ho is to conceal . He sows not his seed in a hot bed , whore it shall soon sprout , flourish for a few days , then languish and decay , bnt like a skilful husbandman sows his field and waits patiently for a few months in just expectation of a plentiful harvest . " In
short , Socrates allows only of writing in order to enrich and assist the memory of the teacher , but by no means proper to instruct tho scholar . After the example of the Hebrews , Egyptians and Assyrians , the Druids comprised all the particularities of their religion and morality in hymns , the number of which , as Mr . Martin says , was so
great that the verses which composed them amounted to 20 , 000 . In justification of this part of their discipline it must be observed that the subject matter of verses is easier learned , by means of the metre , and more easily retained than what is expressed in prose . As the Bards wero remarkable for so extraordinary a talent of memory this teaching memoriter was their office , whilst the superiors
of the Order were employed in higher speculations , or the more secret and solemn parts of duty . The Drnids were such great lovers of silence and order that if any one during their assemblies was found to disturb the harmony of their meetings , they cnt , after a third admonition , a large piece of his robe , and if after that he offended a fourth time they punished him most rigorously .
I am drawn into these observations and reflections not only on account of the very great resemblance between us and the learned venerable Druids , but likewise this Lodge stands npon the very spot which was once sacred to their use and residence . The ancient name of the place was either Ryd Draw , the Druids' Ford , or Tra Druith . Pre Druiih , that ia the Druida' Town , By a grant of Faira
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
A Masonic Address Of The Last Century.
A MASONIC ADDRESS OF THE LAST CENTURY .
To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —Tho following is an exact copy of nn old manuscript address which I have in my possession , written and dolivered by Bro . Wm . Pryce , R . W . M . of Redruth Lodge , at the Provincial
Grand Lodge of Cornwall , held at Falmouth , 27 th December 1773 . Ithas never been published , and , thinking it might be interesting to the brethren of Cornwall , particularly to tho members of tho Druids ' Lodge of Love and Liberality , No . 589 , Redruth , I send it yon for insertion in tho columns of your valuable paper . Tours fraternally , JOHN CoojtBE , P . M ., & o ., 450 .
M . W . P . G . M .. R . W . D . P . G . M ., P . G . W . 's nnd "Brethren of the P . G . Lodge ; R . W . M ., Worshipful P . M ., Worshipful Wardens and Brethren of the Lodge of Love and Honour ; R . W . M ,, Wor . P . M ., Wor . Wardens and Brethren of tho respective Lodges present . GREET VE THRICE HEARTILY WELL . To fix the absolute epocha of Freemasonry may be as difficult an undertaking as any search into the antiquities of unrecorded time
From the nature of onr institution we are enveloped in a cloud of uncertainties , and onr discoveries in many matters have the appear . auce of conjecture . We are denied the nso of dead letters to convey onr mysteries to posterity , and we are only living witnesses of the propriety and beautiful harmony of onr well-constructpd Order . Although , in one sense , we derive our rise from tho fall of oar first parent , when it became necessary for man to build an habitation and
security from the inclemencies of the season , yet , scientifically , wo date our existence as a body as Masons from the building of Solomon's Temple j therefore we may venture to affirm that onr infallible and most authentic register is the inspired Word of God Himself , so that of consequence , if our memorials aro few , they are nevertheless the absolute language of Truth Divine . Hence it follows the Bible is the code of our laws and the rule of onr faith and works .
Founded on faith itself , onr base is sure and cannot fail . The building may decay , bub it will ever rise again npon its own rnins , and , like the rebuilding of God ' s Temple , will rise superior to the ravages of time and the Gothic rudeness of uncivilised men . While we are bnilded on truth , cemented by secrecy and brotherly lovo , supported and adorned by prudence and fidelity , and ornamented
with the applied precepts of our gracious Law-giver , wo shall bo each a temple to His glory and an honour to His creation . Seeing us animated by snch Laws and Principles the world has ever been ready to catch at our morals , and to imitate onr actions , but not having tho same cement with us their mortar has proved nntempered , and their buildings have fallen to the ground .
Wo ( in our ancient brethren the chosen people of the Most High ) being framed in fraternal confidence by the Almighty Architect and Grand Contriver of the Universe , became the admiration of tho Gentile World , and they beholding the progress which Science and Philosophy in fellowship rivetted together by love and unity viewed us with emulation and applause . Of course
they contrived to form themselves into fraternities , and to build upon our plan , but not having the same Grand Master to superintend their workmanship , their superstructures were f . mndationless , and their Babels were all confusion , for how can heathen mythology nnd hnman invention be opposed to Him who sitteth in Light Inaccessible . As the Arts travelled from the East to the West , so has Masonry
likewise , and that great system of our mysteries being formed nnder the auspices of onr three grand pillars in the East , came to this island before the arts themselves . They were admired by all nations , and were found necessary to precede all other science for their excellency in preparing nnd civilising the ignorance and rusticity of onr ancestors . The minds of men being thus cultivated and associated into
order and morality were fit to receive and preserve the dogmas and rudiments of philosophy and commerce . Bnt as the polite arts have taken up their residence among us , and flourish more in Groat Britain than anywhere else , so likewise have the natives shown their superior encouragement and excellence in Masonry to all other countries , insomuch that at this time Masonry Universnl is
conatituted by the Grand Master of Great Britain in particular . Here in this land of liberty it grows and flourishes continually , and while the atoms of freedom are diffused in tho very sense and spirit of our constitution , the soul and body of our thrice venerable fraternity will live among us and perish but with the universal crash of matter . Notwithstanding Freemasonry did not originate in this isleI am
, well inclined to judge it made an early and rapid advance into onr country , and that many religions and civil institutions were formed by similar maxims and modes of government . I shall only take npon me to display the probability of this surmise by an example in point of a very local and similar nature . It is allowed by authors of the greatest veracitv that the ancient
and venerable order Drnidism was first invented in Britain . The remains of their antiquity are to be seen in every corner of the kingdom , but nowhere so particularl y as in Cornwall . They were remarkable for their learning and antiquit y before the time of Pythagoras , who lived 600 years before Christ . P ythagoras travelled
almost the then known world to converse with them and learn their doctrines . These proofs of their anti quity and locality do not disprove their taking upon ns some hints of their moral government . If it is doubted by some , the strict analogy between ns and them will confirm it to others . Bncherus derives their name from the word Trewe , i . e ., Faith ; or from Drnt , a friend j or from the Hebrew Druism , i . e ., People of
A Masonic Address Of The Last Century.
Contemplation . These epithets of faithful friendship and contem . olative equally belong to us . Wo are true and faithful , linked toge - ther in friendship by brotherly affection , and in the m > st aconrate sense , speculative and contemplative in onr doctrines and discipline . There wero three degrees of Drnids . Tho suporio- 'clast was called the Druids hv way of eminence ; as tho sun rises in tho East , and
onens the day , so they stood in the East to open nnd unfold their nvsteries , and sot the next class , tho Bards , to work . Theao Barda were remarkable for an extraordinary talent of memory , and there - fore , like onr Follow . Crafts . were particularly employed to teach their vonng disoipl"s or Entered Prentices , who were to learn to remember , i * tho principal qualification in societies where no written laws were
allowed . The Bards were inferior in rank to the Druids , yet prior in antiquity . So were Fe ^ ow Crafts prior in antiqnity to Master Masr ni , for we all know at a certain time there were but threo of tho latter in tho world , and these were only so , in all probability , from their rank and station in life , perhaps from their wisdom in contriving , their strength in supporting the undertaking with men , money , and
materials , and their cunning workmanship in carrying ou the order . Never « theless , that circumstance we are tanghtwas followed by a transaction which , nt the same time it was most horrible and cruel , produced nn to ns the Master Key of Masonry . This class wero to give instructions nnd to we ' eomo strange brethren , as wero the Etibates or Entered Prentices to rear and receive them , and keep off all cowans or profane
persons from tho light and knowledge of their mysteries . The great similitude of tho manner and customs of the ancient Druids to those of Free and Accepted Masons , in their allegory , secrecy , morality , mysteries and discipline memoriter , aro very obvious . Under the direction of tho Drnids the most singular part of instruction was that of learning a great number of versos by
heart , for they did not think it lawful to commit what related to their particnlar discipline or work to writing . ( Sheringham thinks this favours of the customs of the Hebrews , they being as fond as any people of ORAL tradition , xohich we , as Masons , knoiu to be very true . ) They used also allegory to convey their doctrines into previously adapted and well prepared minds , without being at all understood
by , or made obnoxious to , the refusal or profanation of the ludicrous and perverse . They seem to have pursued their Mysteries Memori'er for several reasons , because they would not have their mysteries become too familiar to tho vulgar , —in this , as in many other pir . ticnlars , resembling the Egyptians , —nor be divulged and exposed to the caprice of foreign countries , nor their scholars trust too much
to their written letter , and neglect to cultivate thoir memory ; and it may be observed that we find several instances in history of the samo custom among the wisest heathens . " Lycnrgus and tho lawgivers of other cities thought it better to imprint their laws in the minds of their citizens than to engrave them in tablets where thov might be neglected and unregarded .
Plntarch informs us that Numa's sacred books and writings wore buried with him by his order ( perhaps in compliance with tho opinion of his friend Pythagoras ) , imitating herein the legislators of Greece , who inculcated the contents of their laws so long into the hearts and minds of their priests that their understanding became living libraries of those sacred volumes , it being esteemed a profanation of
such mysteries to commit thoir secrets into dead letters . " ( Pott ' s Antiquities of Greece , Vol . I ., p . 142 . ) Such was tho opinion also of Pythagoras and Socrates , neither of whom left anything behind thorn committed to writing . When , therefore , tho disciples of Pythagoras perished in the flames during the Metapontine tumults , the discipline and science of that philosopher expired for the most part with them ,
for their memories wero tho only repositories in which they had preserved those treasures of knowledge which their great founder had left them ; all these therefore were irrecoverably lost , and nothing more was preserved than what some novitiate scholars , who were never admitted into the mysteries , could remember and very badly explain .
Socrates , disputing with Phedrus in favour of teaching by word of month rather than by written doctrines , says , " That written books resemble the work of a painter , where the portrayed animals apppar indeed as if they had real life , but if yon ask them any question they can give yoa no answer . " " How mnchmore excellent and efficacious , " says he , " is that instruction , which is written and engraved in the
mind of him that teacheth , who knows what and before whom he is to speak , how and what ha is to inculcate , and what ho is to conceal . He sows not his seed in a hot bed , whore it shall soon sprout , flourish for a few days , then languish and decay , bnt like a skilful husbandman sows his field and waits patiently for a few months in just expectation of a plentiful harvest . " In
short , Socrates allows only of writing in order to enrich and assist the memory of the teacher , but by no means proper to instruct tho scholar . After the example of the Hebrews , Egyptians and Assyrians , the Druids comprised all the particularities of their religion and morality in hymns , the number of which , as Mr . Martin says , was so
great that the verses which composed them amounted to 20 , 000 . In justification of this part of their discipline it must be observed that the subject matter of verses is easier learned , by means of the metre , and more easily retained than what is expressed in prose . As the Bards wero remarkable for so extraordinary a talent of memory this teaching memoriter was their office , whilst the superiors
of the Order were employed in higher speculations , or the more secret and solemn parts of duty . The Drnids were such great lovers of silence and order that if any one during their assemblies was found to disturb the harmony of their meetings , they cnt , after a third admonition , a large piece of his robe , and if after that he offended a fourth time they punished him most rigorously .
I am drawn into these observations and reflections not only on account of the very great resemblance between us and the learned venerable Druids , but likewise this Lodge stands npon the very spot which was once sacred to their use and residence . The ancient name of the place was either Ryd Draw , the Druids' Ford , or Tra Druith . Pre Druiih , that ia the Druida' Town , By a grant of Faira