Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
On Freemasonry. Evidences, Doctrines, And Traditions.
and other prints and publications in whieh Freemasonry is burlesqued . But no attempt was ever made to invalidate its claim to be a genuine document . It was first published at Frankfort in 1748 ; and appeared in the Gentlemrm ' s Magazine in 1753 whence it found its way into Hearne ' s Life of Leland .
, It was printed A . D . 1789 , with the Earl ofPembroke ' s name attached , in an Svo . vol . on Freemasonry , by Wellins Calcott , dedicated to the Duke of Beaufort . In 1775 , Hutchinson introduced it into his " Spirit of Masonry , " which contains the imprimatur of Lord Petre , the Grand Master , and the sanction of the Grand Lodge . In 1784 it was embodied in
, the " History and Constitutions of Masonry , " printed officially by the Grand Lodge of England . It appears in Dermott ' s "Ahiman Rezon ; " and in the fourteen editions of Preston ' s Illustrations .
Being thus universally diffused , had it been a suspected document , its exposure would certainly have been attempted ; particularly about the close of the last century , when the progress of Masonry was sensibly checked by the publication of works which charged it with being the depository of principles fatal equally to the peace and religion of civil
society ; ancl if a forgery , it would have been unable to have endured the test of a critical examination . But no such attempt was made ; and the presumption therefore is , that the document is authentic .
I should be inclined to pronounce , from internal evidence only , that the Letter and Annotations were written by Locke , but there are corroborating facts , which appear conclusive ; for this great philosopher was actually residing at Oates , the country seat of Sir Francis Masham , at the time when the paper is dated ; and shortly afterwards he
went up to town , where he was initiated into Masonry . These facts are fully proved by Locke's Letters to Mr . Molyneux , dated March 30 , and July 2 , 1606 . For these reasons I enter no doubt of the genuineness and authenticity of this valuable manuscript . The passage to which I have referredis this : " Peter
, Cower , a Grecian , journeydde ffor kunnynge yn Egypte , and in Syria , and yn everyche lande , whereas the Venetians hadde plaunted Macpnrye , and wynnynge entrance yn all lodges of Maconnes , he lerned muche , and retournedde , and woned yn Grecia Magna , wacksynge and becommynge a myghtye wyseaere , and gratelyche renowned , and her he
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
On Freemasonry. Evidences, Doctrines, And Traditions.
and other prints and publications in whieh Freemasonry is burlesqued . But no attempt was ever made to invalidate its claim to be a genuine document . It was first published at Frankfort in 1748 ; and appeared in the Gentlemrm ' s Magazine in 1753 whence it found its way into Hearne ' s Life of Leland .
, It was printed A . D . 1789 , with the Earl ofPembroke ' s name attached , in an Svo . vol . on Freemasonry , by Wellins Calcott , dedicated to the Duke of Beaufort . In 1775 , Hutchinson introduced it into his " Spirit of Masonry , " which contains the imprimatur of Lord Petre , the Grand Master , and the sanction of the Grand Lodge . In 1784 it was embodied in
, the " History and Constitutions of Masonry , " printed officially by the Grand Lodge of England . It appears in Dermott ' s "Ahiman Rezon ; " and in the fourteen editions of Preston ' s Illustrations .
Being thus universally diffused , had it been a suspected document , its exposure would certainly have been attempted ; particularly about the close of the last century , when the progress of Masonry was sensibly checked by the publication of works which charged it with being the depository of principles fatal equally to the peace and religion of civil
society ; ancl if a forgery , it would have been unable to have endured the test of a critical examination . But no such attempt was made ; and the presumption therefore is , that the document is authentic .
I should be inclined to pronounce , from internal evidence only , that the Letter and Annotations were written by Locke , but there are corroborating facts , which appear conclusive ; for this great philosopher was actually residing at Oates , the country seat of Sir Francis Masham , at the time when the paper is dated ; and shortly afterwards he
went up to town , where he was initiated into Masonry . These facts are fully proved by Locke's Letters to Mr . Molyneux , dated March 30 , and July 2 , 1606 . For these reasons I enter no doubt of the genuineness and authenticity of this valuable manuscript . The passage to which I have referredis this : " Peter
, Cower , a Grecian , journeydde ffor kunnynge yn Egypte , and in Syria , and yn everyche lande , whereas the Venetians hadde plaunted Macpnrye , and wynnynge entrance yn all lodges of Maconnes , he lerned muche , and retournedde , and woned yn Grecia Magna , wacksynge and becommynge a myghtye wyseaere , and gratelyche renowned , and her he