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Article THE EARLY MASONTC WRITERS.* Page 1 of 8 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Early Masontc Writers.*
THE EARLY MASONTC WRITERS . *
WE remember , as if it were only yesterday , although it is now full thirty years ago , the difficulty which then existed of procuring publications on Masonry , and the consequent embarrassment which the Fraternity , and particularly Masters of Lodges , felt at the want of legitimate information on the recondite mysteries of the Craft . The complaint was
universal . It was not so much the dearth of Masonic publications , as the difficulty of procuring them . The existing books on Masonry were , it is true , rather scanty , and were hoarded up by the fortunate possessors with all the jealousy of a first love , fearful least any unpropitious eye should desecrate the object of their affections . Dr .
Anderson's " Defence , " in reply to Prichard's " Masonry Dissected , " was so scarce , that in the form of a thin quarto of twenty pages , we have known a copy sold for three guineas . This Defence , which is printed in the first volume of the " Golden Remains , " is pronounced by Dr . Oliver , in the Introductionto be " a most learned and
masterlpro-, y duction , which completely demolished poor Prichard ; and though he mustered sufficient courage to reply , his overthrow was so complete , that his new pamphlet fell dead from the press , and found few purchasers . The Defence contains an admirable vindication of the ceremonies & c . " The "Essay on Moral Geometry" published at Birmingham
, , by Bro . Skechley , was in equal request , and equally difficult to be obtained at any price . During the last century , Masonry , as we should conceive , was but an uninteresting pursuit , and we wonder how it happened that so many names of eminence were enrolled on its lists . The Masters of lodges were often at a loss for
subjects of illustration , as the sources of information at their command were so very meagre . They had the lodge lectures , it is true , and they were rather comprehensive
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Early Masontc Writers.*
THE EARLY MASONTC WRITERS . *
WE remember , as if it were only yesterday , although it is now full thirty years ago , the difficulty which then existed of procuring publications on Masonry , and the consequent embarrassment which the Fraternity , and particularly Masters of Lodges , felt at the want of legitimate information on the recondite mysteries of the Craft . The complaint was
universal . It was not so much the dearth of Masonic publications , as the difficulty of procuring them . The existing books on Masonry were , it is true , rather scanty , and were hoarded up by the fortunate possessors with all the jealousy of a first love , fearful least any unpropitious eye should desecrate the object of their affections . Dr .
Anderson's " Defence , " in reply to Prichard's " Masonry Dissected , " was so scarce , that in the form of a thin quarto of twenty pages , we have known a copy sold for three guineas . This Defence , which is printed in the first volume of the " Golden Remains , " is pronounced by Dr . Oliver , in the Introductionto be " a most learned and
masterlpro-, y duction , which completely demolished poor Prichard ; and though he mustered sufficient courage to reply , his overthrow was so complete , that his new pamphlet fell dead from the press , and found few purchasers . The Defence contains an admirable vindication of the ceremonies & c . " The "Essay on Moral Geometry" published at Birmingham
, , by Bro . Skechley , was in equal request , and equally difficult to be obtained at any price . During the last century , Masonry , as we should conceive , was but an uninteresting pursuit , and we wonder how it happened that so many names of eminence were enrolled on its lists . The Masters of lodges were often at a loss for
subjects of illustration , as the sources of information at their command were so very meagre . They had the lodge lectures , it is true , and they were rather comprehensive