Staffordshire.

STAFFORDSHIRE .

rpHE annual meeting of this Provincial Grand Lodge is to L be held at Stafford , on Wednesday next , 4 th prox . We hope to give a report of the proceedings in due course next week .

Masonry's Past And Present.

MASONRY'S PAST AND PRESENT .

Robert C . Hine , Grand Orator Grand Lodge of Minnesota . FEEEMASONEY is an institution whose origin is so remote that it is almost useless to speculate as to the time of its beginning , its antecedents , or the causes which brought it into being . "Various periods have been named by different Masonic writers as to the time of its origin , and each writer seems to have

a different theory in regard to it . Some trace it to what are known as the ancient mysteries , and others to the craft guilds of Europe ; but more frequently its origin is referred to the time of the building of the Temple of Solomon to the Most High God . I believe it has been a gradual growth , perhaps from times prior to the building of Solomon ' s Temple , perhaps since that time .

In tracing the history of Freemasonry , it seems to me it should be separated into two distinct parts ; first , that which may be called the basis or substance , such as the rough and perfect ashlar , tbe trowel , square and compass , and other working tools ; the second , the ritual . The history of the first part is one

thing , that of the ritual is quite a different matter . Ihe ancient mysteries referred to are principally classed as the Orphic , Bacchic , Eleusinian , Samothracian , Cabiric , and Mithian . We are told that they taught the doctrine of the future life , the eternal punishment of the wicked ; that the design of initiation

was to restore the soul to that state from which it fell ; that the initiated would be happier than other mortals , and that their souls would wing their flight directly to happy islands and the habitations of the Gods . We canhai-dly believe that those tools and implements of Masonry which have been selected by the

Fraternity to impress upon the mind wise and serious truths , ever held any place in these mysteries . The ashlars and the working tools belonged peculiarly to the building trades , and it is through them that we . must trace the origin of that part * of our great institution .

On the other hand , many parts of our ritual bear close resemblance to the initiatory ceremonies of those ancient mysteries , and doubtless have been derived from them . I apprehend , therefore , that here may be found the principal cause of such wide difference of opinion shown by different writers as to the origin of Masonry . Some have tried to trace the history of one parG and some chat of the other .

One thing , however , is true ; that whenever or wherever it originated , our earliest knowledge of it , reaching back into the dim light of the past , is that it consisted of active , practical , operative , skilled artificers . Its purpose and object as we first find it was to associate and educate practical workmen , and to

protect and preserve as a monopoly the secrets of architecture and building . Advancement was only attained by proficiency . The Lodges were officered by men distinguished for their operative ability , and the Craft were educated along these lines . These features have long since disappeared , aud Masonry exists to-day as an educator along moral lines only .

It is perhaps true that while men in the early dawn of the world were following that instinct which is rooted in the breasts of all people , of preparing for an existence in a future state and recognising the existence of a being superior to themselves , or God , they also recognised the interdependence of man . This

would naturally lead to the formation and organisation of societies for mutual help , protection and security . And this idea has been preserved in the teachings of our lectures . We are taught that a survey of Nature and the observation of her beautiful proportions first determined man to imitate the divine

plan and study symmetry and order . Ibis gave rise to societies , and birth to every useful art . The architect began to design , & c . It appears to me that this is a sufficient explanation of the origin of this society . The first aspirations of man were of a religious

nature , the societies he organised were religious ones , the associations he formed were of a religious character . Afterwards appears the operative features , and while they may have been corollary , to the first idea , nevertheless they followed it chronologically .

It is possible that thei * e gradually became engrafted upon these societies , while continuing their religious character , the operative features of various trades , and from them arose in this way the various guiids of workmen aud trades unions whicli

increased in numbers and power , and finally spread over all Europe , and oue oi which , the trade of the builder or workers in stone , gradually developing , formed the basis from which the Masonic Order derives its existence .

Masonry's Past And Present.

The business of the original builders' guilds was to learn how to build , and this secret was carefully preserved . Their occupation consisted largely in building the heautiful and delicate church edifices of Europe . When a church building was determined upon , the local Masons were required to be reinforced with others

from distant parts of the land , and thus were congregated large numbers of craftsmen , who , during the progress of the building , dwelt in booths erected near at hand , and there held their meetings to devise plans for the building . As they were thus a travelling organisation , signs and symbols were devised in order that a

Mason , having proven himself competent in one part of the country , could be accepted as such without further evidences of skill in another . It is natural that , devoting themselves so largely to church building , they should have been favoured and encouraged by the clergy and the monasteries .

Two causes , however , operated to overthrow the operative features of the societies . First , the growth of ability to perform the work among men not affiliated with the societies , or cowans , and second , the introduction of strangers among the workmen .

Gradually , there grew up alongside these guilds a body of operatives not included in their membership who , nevertheless , were Masons , and who , though bitterly opposed by the guilds as well as by legislation , increased in skill and had a tendency to break down the monopoly held by the guilds ..

The introduction of uon-operatives , while it tended to overthrow the operative features of Masonry , probably also tended to continue the existence of the organisation , for , were it not for them , the old societies would probably long ago have been forgotten , as has actually been the case with guilds of other trades , as the guild of free carpenters , the guild of free tailors , etc .

There is strong evidence that among the building guilds prior to this time and so long as they maintained their operative features , there existed but one degree , that of the apprentice . All the work of the Lorlge was done in this degree , as it is in some countries to-day . After serving an apprenticeship for a

certain period , and giving proof of his operative ability , the apprentice could become fellow or journeyman . At this advancement apprentices could be present , and even preside . The Earl , of Cassilis was Master of tbe Lodge of Kilwinning in 1670 , though only an apprentice . The Earl of Eglinton occupied

the chair after him , but was only an apprentice . Lord William Cochran in 1678 was a Warden , although simply an apprentice . The rituals of the different degrees , as we have them now , were produced after the extinction of the operative features , aud doubtless were borrowed from the ceremonies of some of the

ancient mysteries . At what period in its history the doors were first opened and non-operative members were admitted , cannot now be definitely determined . It is doubtless true , for human nature has changed very little , that men of wealth or of social or political position

frequently sought the support of the Craft , and on the other hand it truiv be true that the Order sought to strengthen its position by cultivating men of high standing . These two forces would naturally lead us to believe that others than operatives were at times admitted , even at an early day . In the thirteenth century

we find that a nobleman , William de Saint Pafcre , was appointed by Louis IX . as Grand Master of the Craft at Paris . We are told that at the time of Edward III ., in England , the sheriff , mayor or alderman of the city in which a Lodge was held might be made a Fellow . In Scotland , the first record of a

nonoperative being present is 1600 , when John Boswell , Esq ., of Auchinleck , is mentioned in the minutes of the Lodge . In 1634 Et . Hon . Lord Alexander was made a Fellow , and tried to establish a colony on the St . Lawrence river . His brother , the Earl of Stirling , was admitted the same day , and frequent

admissions appear after that . In the old Lodge at Aberdeen , out of forty-nine members in 1670 , only eight were known to be Operative Masons . Perhaps as large a percentage could be found in many Lodges to-day . In the famous diary of Elias Ashmole is found the following , under date of 1682 * . " March 10 th ,

received a summons to appear before a Lodge at Mason ' s Hall , London . Eleventh , went and was admitted into the fellowship of Freemasons . Sir William Wilson , Knight , was senior fellow , being thirty-five years since making . Dined at dinner at expense of the new Accepted Mason . "

Such then was the condition of the Masonic societies about the year 1700 . Their business as architects and builders was gone ; outsiders were performing what work was to be done , and there was no longer demand for their operative labours . Their Lodges were filled and their tneinberfhip composed largely of men

wholly unable to perforin those duties , even if called upon . What was then to be done ? Should the society be allowed to disappear and die ? All praise is due to the Masonic fathers of that time who in their wisdom preserved from destruction this great institution . — " Voice of Masonry . " ( To be continued . )