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Article LITERARY NOTICES. ← Page 2 of 8 →
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Literary Notices.
The Rev . Doctor commences his enquiries with the charter of Athelstan to Prince Edwin , for the purpose of establishing the superior antiquity of the Grand Lodge at York . But we may as well quote his own words .
"A Grand Lodge was established at York , under the charter of Edwin , which maintained its functions , and asserted its supremacy , down to the middle ofthe eighteenth century . The name of an ancient York Mason was considered honourable in all ages ; and the precedency has been conceded to it , by both the sister countries , as being of greater antiquity than the Kilwinning Masons of Scotland , or the Carrickfergus ones of Hibernia . There is no evidence of a general Grand Lodge being held in any other place during the whole of the above periodnor has
, its authority ever been made a subject of doubt or dispute . It is true its records have not been published , owing probably to the rash and mistaken zeal of some of its grand officers in 1720 , who destroyed many of , them , to prevent what they affected to consider an act of desecration , but there is sufficient proof that its proceedings were uniform and regular , and the names of its Grand Masters are before us in the proper order of succession . * * * * The Fraternity was well governed by this
Grand Lodge , which held its communications annually , and sometimes oftener ; and the Fraternity at large were eligible to assemble in deliberation for the general benefit of the Craft . At these meetings the Grand Masters and Officers were installed , and other routine business transacted . This old Grand Lodge was the conservator of the primitive Gothic constitutions and charges ; and under its benign patronage the ivories of art were executed which reflect such high credit on the Masons
of the middle ages . " * * * * * ' . ' * . The writer then proceeds to describe the revival in 1717 , and the establishment of the Grand Lodge . in London ; an operation which was regarded with an eye of jealousy by the York Grand Lodge ; and ultimately , as might have been expected , dissentions sprang up between them , which ended in the extinction of the latter as a governing body ; and it does not appear that the former was without blame in the matter .
'' About this time commenced that notable schism which again divided the English fraternity into two separate and independent sections , by the establishment of another Grand Lodge in London , and the appointment of a new Grand Master , with his staff of officers . It will be observed in limine , that , at , this time , private Lodges did not possess the power .. of conferring either the second or third degree , which was a privilege reserved : by the Grand Lodge for its own peculiar exercise ;
and these degrees were given . as the reward of meritorious Brethren , who had rendered essential services to the Craft , either hy their learning , talent ,: or activity , ; and this only with the unanimous consent of all the Brethren assembled in communication . An infringement of this privilege-led to very serious . and important consequences . . "A few ambitious Brethren , who were ineligible for these degrees ; prevailed . upon some inconsiderate Master Masons to open , an illegal
Lodge , and : to pass , and raise them to the sublime degree ; ,, ! These irre 4 gularities having escaped immediate detection , the same Brethren proceededito initiate new members into the Order ; and , attempted to-invest them-withi Masonic privileges . A project so bold and unprecedented could' not jelude , ultimate discovery . The newly initiated Masons , ; proud of their acquisition , applied , in the character of visitors , for admission
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Literary Notices.
The Rev . Doctor commences his enquiries with the charter of Athelstan to Prince Edwin , for the purpose of establishing the superior antiquity of the Grand Lodge at York . But we may as well quote his own words .
"A Grand Lodge was established at York , under the charter of Edwin , which maintained its functions , and asserted its supremacy , down to the middle ofthe eighteenth century . The name of an ancient York Mason was considered honourable in all ages ; and the precedency has been conceded to it , by both the sister countries , as being of greater antiquity than the Kilwinning Masons of Scotland , or the Carrickfergus ones of Hibernia . There is no evidence of a general Grand Lodge being held in any other place during the whole of the above periodnor has
, its authority ever been made a subject of doubt or dispute . It is true its records have not been published , owing probably to the rash and mistaken zeal of some of its grand officers in 1720 , who destroyed many of , them , to prevent what they affected to consider an act of desecration , but there is sufficient proof that its proceedings were uniform and regular , and the names of its Grand Masters are before us in the proper order of succession . * * * * The Fraternity was well governed by this
Grand Lodge , which held its communications annually , and sometimes oftener ; and the Fraternity at large were eligible to assemble in deliberation for the general benefit of the Craft . At these meetings the Grand Masters and Officers were installed , and other routine business transacted . This old Grand Lodge was the conservator of the primitive Gothic constitutions and charges ; and under its benign patronage the ivories of art were executed which reflect such high credit on the Masons
of the middle ages . " * * * * * ' . ' * . The writer then proceeds to describe the revival in 1717 , and the establishment of the Grand Lodge . in London ; an operation which was regarded with an eye of jealousy by the York Grand Lodge ; and ultimately , as might have been expected , dissentions sprang up between them , which ended in the extinction of the latter as a governing body ; and it does not appear that the former was without blame in the matter .
'' About this time commenced that notable schism which again divided the English fraternity into two separate and independent sections , by the establishment of another Grand Lodge in London , and the appointment of a new Grand Master , with his staff of officers . It will be observed in limine , that , at , this time , private Lodges did not possess the power .. of conferring either the second or third degree , which was a privilege reserved : by the Grand Lodge for its own peculiar exercise ;
and these degrees were given . as the reward of meritorious Brethren , who had rendered essential services to the Craft , either hy their learning , talent ,: or activity , ; and this only with the unanimous consent of all the Brethren assembled in communication . An infringement of this privilege-led to very serious . and important consequences . . "A few ambitious Brethren , who were ineligible for these degrees ; prevailed . upon some inconsiderate Master Masons to open , an illegal
Lodge , and : to pass , and raise them to the sublime degree ; ,, ! These irre 4 gularities having escaped immediate detection , the same Brethren proceededito initiate new members into the Order ; and , attempted to-invest them-withi Masonic privileges . A project so bold and unprecedented could' not jelude , ultimate discovery . The newly initiated Masons , ; proud of their acquisition , applied , in the character of visitors , for admission