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Article THE REVELATIONS OF A SQUARE. ← Page 13 of 14 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Revelations Of A Square.
tion , and deviation from ancient Landmarks , and publicly renounced their allegiance to it . Several passages from this Book were read in Grand Lodge , and I remember one paragraph from the Preface particularly ; it was as follows ' Whereas , the genuine spirit of Masonry seems to be so greatly on the declinethat the Craft is in imminent danger
, from false Brethren : and , whereas , its very fundamentals have of late been attacked , and a revolution from its ancient principles , etc ., it has been thought necessary by certain persons who have the welfare of the Craft at heart , to publish the following little pamphlet , by means of which it is hoped the ignorant may be instructed , the lukewarm
inspirited , and the irregular reformed . ' " Rather a bold beginning , was it not ? " How far this ill-judged pamphlet produced these effects it will not be difficult to pronounce ; and in the Lodge I heard but one opinion of it . Certain it is , that the Grand Lodge , on St . John the Baptist's day , 1755 , passed
unanimously the following resolution : ' Ordered , that the Brethren complained of at the last Quarterly Communication , persisting in their disobedience to the determination of the Grand Lodge , their Lodge , No . 94 , held at the Ben Jonson's Head , Pelham Street , Spitalnelds , be erased from the Book of Lodges , and that such of the Brethren thereof who shall continue those irregular meetings , be not admitted as visitors in any Lodge whatever . '
" These decisive and vigorous proceedings , " said the Square , — " increased the schism , and appeared to render a reunion impracticable . And indeed the refractory Brethren understood it to be so , for they immediately took measures for the permanency of their new branch of the Order , by constituting a Grand Lodge , and issuing warrants for
private Lodges , and thus commenced the practice of a species of Masonry unknown in former times . They instituted a novel degree , which they called the Royal Arch , compounded out of a portion of the third degree , and from various continental innovations , which gave them a vast advantage in the minds of curious and unthinking persons ,
over the pure ancient system practised by the old Grand Lodge , inasmuch as it held out the prospect of superior information , and a greater insight into the design of ancient Freemasonry . There are some reasons , however , for believing that this schism was beneficial rather than otherwise to the cause of genuine Freemasonry . Indeed , this was the opinion
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Revelations Of A Square.
tion , and deviation from ancient Landmarks , and publicly renounced their allegiance to it . Several passages from this Book were read in Grand Lodge , and I remember one paragraph from the Preface particularly ; it was as follows ' Whereas , the genuine spirit of Masonry seems to be so greatly on the declinethat the Craft is in imminent danger
, from false Brethren : and , whereas , its very fundamentals have of late been attacked , and a revolution from its ancient principles , etc ., it has been thought necessary by certain persons who have the welfare of the Craft at heart , to publish the following little pamphlet , by means of which it is hoped the ignorant may be instructed , the lukewarm
inspirited , and the irregular reformed . ' " Rather a bold beginning , was it not ? " How far this ill-judged pamphlet produced these effects it will not be difficult to pronounce ; and in the Lodge I heard but one opinion of it . Certain it is , that the Grand Lodge , on St . John the Baptist's day , 1755 , passed
unanimously the following resolution : ' Ordered , that the Brethren complained of at the last Quarterly Communication , persisting in their disobedience to the determination of the Grand Lodge , their Lodge , No . 94 , held at the Ben Jonson's Head , Pelham Street , Spitalnelds , be erased from the Book of Lodges , and that such of the Brethren thereof who shall continue those irregular meetings , be not admitted as visitors in any Lodge whatever . '
" These decisive and vigorous proceedings , " said the Square , — " increased the schism , and appeared to render a reunion impracticable . And indeed the refractory Brethren understood it to be so , for they immediately took measures for the permanency of their new branch of the Order , by constituting a Grand Lodge , and issuing warrants for
private Lodges , and thus commenced the practice of a species of Masonry unknown in former times . They instituted a novel degree , which they called the Royal Arch , compounded out of a portion of the third degree , and from various continental innovations , which gave them a vast advantage in the minds of curious and unthinking persons ,
over the pure ancient system practised by the old Grand Lodge , inasmuch as it held out the prospect of superior information , and a greater insight into the design of ancient Freemasonry . There are some reasons , however , for believing that this schism was beneficial rather than otherwise to the cause of genuine Freemasonry . Indeed , this was the opinion