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Article THE PRESENT STATE OF FREE MASONRY. ← Page 2 of 4 →
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The Present State Of Free Masonry.
We begin with the County of DURHAM . Not from any idea of preference , either in arrangement or importance ; but , merely that , in the order of our correspondence , this communication is the first before us . The succession of Lodges according to seniority might , at first sight , be supposed a proper and methodical arrangement ; but a very little consideration will prove thatthough it miht appear to advantage as
, g a mere list , the Lodges are so irregularly mixed ( numerically , at least ) , not only through different counties , but over the whole globe , that no connected detail could arise from such a method . And , indeed , it must be obvious , that b y any attempt at systemising * from rank and gradation , we should lose more in time than we could gain by waiting for authorities to settle the order of precedence .
Submitting these preliminary considerations to the Society at large , we hasten to the commencement of our duty ; ' and , towards the completion of this design , the assistance of our intelligent Brethren is % varmly solicited . Hoping that , with their aid , ample materials may be supplied to the future Masonic historian or biographer ; and that the authentic and impartial view of the PRESENT STATE- OF THE CRAFT may inform and animate succeeding generations .
PRESENT STATE OF FREEMASONRY .
COUNTY OF DURHAM . Of the ancient state of Masonry in this pavt of the island , as in the Test of the kingdom , we have few documents ; but as , in those times , the practice of OPERATIVE Masonry was generally united with that of FREE and ACCEPTED , the venerable fabrics erected by the former , " may give us sufficient grounds to supposethat the Institutions of die
, latter were well understood in this opulent and reli g ious'district . Since the renovation of our Order , DURHAM has , in a peculiar manner , been favourable to the diffusion of Masonic principles and establishments . A proof of an early communication with the Grand Lodge may be derived from the seniority of some Lodges in this county , . one being in the list No . 19 , and another 44 .
It is honoured with a Provincial Grand Lodge ; boasts three splendid . Chapters of the Royal Arch ; is possessed of the sublime degree of the Harodim ; and contains several respectable and well-attended Lodges . Some of the most dignified characters , clergy as well as laity , glory in the honourable distinction of being enrolled on the Masonic list . In this number are the two members for the county , and one of the mem- » bers for the city , who is also Provincial Grand Master . As we shall be more minute in our account of the different Lodges , it will not be necessary to be diffuse in this general statement ,
CITY OF PURHAM
In this scientific and liberal spot it cannot'be matter of wonder that such an institution as Freemasonry- has rpoted itself deeply . Local advantages have been improved by the efforts of wisdom , science , and perseverance ; and , iii this great work , much , very much , is due to the
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Present State Of Free Masonry.
We begin with the County of DURHAM . Not from any idea of preference , either in arrangement or importance ; but , merely that , in the order of our correspondence , this communication is the first before us . The succession of Lodges according to seniority might , at first sight , be supposed a proper and methodical arrangement ; but a very little consideration will prove thatthough it miht appear to advantage as
, g a mere list , the Lodges are so irregularly mixed ( numerically , at least ) , not only through different counties , but over the whole globe , that no connected detail could arise from such a method . And , indeed , it must be obvious , that b y any attempt at systemising * from rank and gradation , we should lose more in time than we could gain by waiting for authorities to settle the order of precedence .
Submitting these preliminary considerations to the Society at large , we hasten to the commencement of our duty ; ' and , towards the completion of this design , the assistance of our intelligent Brethren is % varmly solicited . Hoping that , with their aid , ample materials may be supplied to the future Masonic historian or biographer ; and that the authentic and impartial view of the PRESENT STATE- OF THE CRAFT may inform and animate succeeding generations .
PRESENT STATE OF FREEMASONRY .
COUNTY OF DURHAM . Of the ancient state of Masonry in this pavt of the island , as in the Test of the kingdom , we have few documents ; but as , in those times , the practice of OPERATIVE Masonry was generally united with that of FREE and ACCEPTED , the venerable fabrics erected by the former , " may give us sufficient grounds to supposethat the Institutions of die
, latter were well understood in this opulent and reli g ious'district . Since the renovation of our Order , DURHAM has , in a peculiar manner , been favourable to the diffusion of Masonic principles and establishments . A proof of an early communication with the Grand Lodge may be derived from the seniority of some Lodges in this county , . one being in the list No . 19 , and another 44 .
It is honoured with a Provincial Grand Lodge ; boasts three splendid . Chapters of the Royal Arch ; is possessed of the sublime degree of the Harodim ; and contains several respectable and well-attended Lodges . Some of the most dignified characters , clergy as well as laity , glory in the honourable distinction of being enrolled on the Masonic list . In this number are the two members for the county , and one of the mem- » bers for the city , who is also Provincial Grand Master . As we shall be more minute in our account of the different Lodges , it will not be necessary to be diffuse in this general statement ,
CITY OF PURHAM
In this scientific and liberal spot it cannot'be matter of wonder that such an institution as Freemasonry- has rpoted itself deeply . Local advantages have been improved by the efforts of wisdom , science , and perseverance ; and , iii this great work , much , very much , is due to the