Papers. On Masonry.

PAPERS . ON MASONRY .

BY A LEWIS . H . _ MASONRY & PUBLIC ARCHITECTURE . " And if the house be worthy , let your peace come upon it ; but if it be not worthy , let your peace return to you . "MATTHEW X . 13 . AVhen King Solomon had dedicated the Temple , his first act of a secular character was to bless the people committed to his charge . After God , no ruler

has any duty but this . The accumulation of his father which did not impoverish his treasury was the sacred trust committed to tlie Grand Master of his Order . As Christ sanctified His mission b y a solemn committal of the future interests of His Church to His " peculiar people , " so King Solomon committed

his wonderful work to their hands . While there can be no doubt that he continually ratified the contract he had made with the Deity by the sanction of His presence , so in future ages he bade architecture be instinct with the glory of His presence . Thus , in an orderly manner did ho consecrate architecture to the

Highest ; an interpretation alike of his ori ginal design and a realisation" to the end kept in view . Nor to the present day has the effect of that enormous typical building been void . Throughout the varied scenes of the middle ages to our present era , architecture has prevailed as an honourable and meritorious science .

Those faithful M . M . ' s have perpetuated themselves , and in forms a thousandfold have upheld the ancient rule of beauty and holiness . Whether tlie divine principle could rest enshrined in bricks and mortar , cement and stone , has been a question ever since . No one can doubt of the

excellence of the attempt , whatever may be alleged as to the success of the experiment . A human emulation has succeeded to a divine , absorbing , and prophetical desire . It was not alien , even to the disciples of other faiths , to build some structure faintl y imitating the noble conception of a purification of the human heart and its deification to tlie satisfaction ofthe

GodlnspiiTiig influence technically expressed by thc building of tlie first temple of the Holy City . Shalom ( peace ) was an ancient centre of universal mental and emotional attraction . There , in the time of the King of the Just , Malek-i-Sedek , we find the oil and wine , the olive branch ( probably the foreshadowing of

thc ever-blooming cassia ) , with the sacred rite of hospitality , ollered to the stranger . In a right line from the mystical Adam —whether Adam , Kadnion , or no—the legitimate descendant experienced at the hand of the mystical king that advancement and recognition unknown , perhaps , to many of the present day . There ,

the cubical stone reposed in secrecy and silence until such time as the divine essence admitted it to . scientific interpretation , and from that solemn meetingthat simple rite—issued a princi ple of Peace and Justice throughout the world . Defile not the Sanctuary ! Self-respect and

manhood depend upon the right interpretation of these four words . Ami hero fhe Masonic and primeval tradition of a " temple not made with hands " comes to our aid . Warped , perhaps changed or varied , to suit the spirit of centuries , architecture remains a noble profession .

Not even the most daring priest has ventured to lay hands upon the sacred process of * re-edification and demand its suspension . Symbolically , it is ever in action ; actually , it is not iu desuetude . The early ages , with primeval manifestations of the Shckinah , which wo may assign to Moses , to David , to Zacharias ,

and to Simeon , were types of the hope of that symbolical rebuilding of the purity of the , human hearttypes in each case of the phase of mind inspired b y contemplation of the Infinite Purity and Excellence . Who , even of the most debased , can cuter a cathedral structure—reared , as historically we know tJicni to be ,

iu times ot unlettered presbyters , barbarous warriors , fainthearted traders , and brutal populations—and not be struck with awe at the magnificence of thought and the marvellous accuracy of execution around ? AVe are taught that the letter killeth , but the spirit giveth lite ; and the visiting cards of the operative

masons of the miscalled "dark ages" are evidence substantial and real of the thoughts which caused their hands to be so cunning , the strength which gave their works such endurance , and the beauty in which the intellectual excellence of their long-since glorified minds is manifested . That Spirit did indeed give

Life ! " AVe are sown in corruption , and raised in glory , " and modern speculative Masonry is the outbirth—the necessary corollary and completion—of the operative guilds of Masonry whoso time-honoured works adorn not alone Europe , but all lands . Non-Masons had better meditate the solemn truth , and pause before uttering a rash condemnation . Let

them recur to the motto of this paper , and ask themselves whether , if thc house had not been worthy , such peace would have conic enduringly to remain in it ? And before I proceed to thc question of the necessity of modern buildings , either of worship or charity , being properly committed , as with few exceptions they are , to the consecrating influence of Masonry , let me put one other question : If a Cowan an outsider , un-

Papers. On Masonry.

acquainted with the esoteric mysteries of the Royal Craft—can , as before T . G . A . O . T . U . he now solemnly does , say and believe such things , what must be thc absolute power , activity , and happiness of the Free and Accepted Mason in the contemplation and adjustment of the stones of the , sacred edifice he builds ? I

ask the question , and will leave every candid iniiid to reply . If'in the past they received such honour , why should it not be , as it must , their inheritance now ? From the time ofthe first line drawn by St . John the Baptist ,

through its completion b y the second St . John , in parallel , and enclosing the equidistant point , Masonry and its seven liberal sciences have existed , culminating in a keystone of which the awful import cannot be well clothed in words .

Ihe elder St . John was not that Light , but he bare witness of that Li ght ; the younger St . John revealed , or revelled , that which Moses alone had beheld , and which Jacob saw but in a vision . It is this which causes me to think that it would be well to commit the sacred , patriotic , and solemn edifices of our land in

perpetuity , as to consecration and foundation , to this impartial , moderate , aud order-seeking body of Free and Accepted Masons . AVe have iu our land many forms of adoring the Unseen and Ineffable , but we have none which adores with such practical srood sense .

Ihe motto of the Masons , indeed , might well be" Be not weary in well-doing , " for they alone , both architecturally and morally , shed over the uninitiated world some of the li ght reflected from the Sun of Ri ghteousness , which shall " arise with healing in His wings !' , CRYPTONYMCJS .

Jubilee Of The Domatic Chapter, No. 177.

JUBILEE OF THE DOMATIC CHAPTER , No . 177 .

The 50 th anniversary or Jubilee Meeting of this chapter was held at Anderton ' s Hotel , Fleet-street , on the 25 th March . The chapter was opened by Comps . Brett , P . Z as Z . ; Little , H . ; and Smith , P . Z ., as J . ; Buss ,

Tyrrell , Sisson , Sutton , and Cottebrune , P . Z . ' s ; after which Comp . Brett inducted Comp . Little ( P . Z ., ' J 15 ) anil Comp . Coutts ( IL , 3 S 2 ) into the chairs of Z . and II . respectively , and then installed Comp . Gilbert as J . Tlie following officers were then invested : Coinps . Buss , P . Z ., as S . E . ; AVilson ,

b . N . ; Smith , P . Z ,, Treas . ; Cubitt , P . S . ; Foulger and Barrett , Assistant Sojourners . The M . E . Z . then delivered the following address to the companions , which was ordered to be entered ou theinmutes , aud the chapter was closed : Companions , —There are certain epochs in the lives

of men , as well as m the existence ot societies which are usually commemorated with festivity and rejoicings The DomaticChapter , companions , hasattained a period in its history which is peculiarly associated with feelings of pleasure and gratification . AVe have arrived at the completion of 50 years of honourable

labour in the cause of Royal Arch Masonry , and we now meet to celebrate our " . Jubilee" a term which is itself suggestive of the joyful character of the occasion . But in thus commemorating an era iu our existence as a body , it becomes our duty to contemplate the work of those worthy Companions ,

whose exertions in the past bave so largely contributed to the prosperity of thc chapter . It will be only a just tribute to the memories of those who have passed away for ever , and an incentive to all of us to follow in their footsteps aud emulate their example . On referring to the Graud

Chapter records , I find that the charter was granted to Comps . Robert Gill as 1 st Z . ; J . A . Farthing as H . ; John Pnrtou as , 1 . ; Andrew Dowdeu , Thomas Kay , Enoch Prince , Richard Pratt , AVilliam Seeplchorn , and AVilliam Frainpton . The charter is dated 29 th October , 1818 , but the first convocation

was not held until the 14 th March , 181 !) , or 00 years ago , when Bros . AVilliam Sharp and Joseph Franklin were exalted . Duringthe year 1810 only one other candidate was received , viz : Bro . Peter Pendlebury , who was admitted into the chapter on the 9 th May . This companion , I may remark , was the

sirandfather of Bro . Alfred A . Pendlebury , P . M . and P . Z . 1056 . Meetings were thenceforward held at the regular time , and many brethren appear to have entered into Royal Arch Masonry under the banners of the "Domatic" chapter . On the 27 th April , 1832 , the illustrious Brother Stephen Barton AVilson ,

afterwards so famous as one of the best Masons of his day , was exalted in this chapter . Another great name upon the roll is Companion John Savage , who joined on the 14 th November , 1837 , from the Royal York Chapter , No . 7 . This distinguished and worthy chief is happily still spared to the order ,

although he ia no longer a member of the Domatic Chapter . Among other well-known names we recognize Comps . Fras . Lambert , jun ., ofthe eminent firm in Coventry-street , exalted _ : Jrd May , 1839 ; AVilliam Evans , the jeweller of Great Queen-street ,

the predecessor of Bro . Spencer ; and Captain AVm . Oman , the Master of St . Katharine ' s Docks . AVe now come to the stately array of Past Principals , a list of Companions not to be surpassed in any chapter in London—whether we consider their moral worth

Jubilee Of The Domatic Chapter, No. 177.

or masonic qualifications . The first on the roll , and the father of the chapter , is Past Principal AVilliam Carpenter , who was exalted on the 25 th May , 1848 . I need not enlarge upon his literary talents or tell you of his genial humour , which has so often sparkled round the social board , but may fitly sum up his merits by saying that he is a father of whom

we are justly proud . Comp . H . G . Buss , P . Z . and S . E ., is the next iu seniority , having been exalted on the 27 th February , 1851 . ' To him we are indebted for the exercise of great abilities in the discharge of the important duties of Scribe , as well as for many manifestations of devotion to the interests of the chapter , and the knowledge of the laws of our order

which he possesses will ever keep us iu the right path . Comp . Thomas Alexander Adams is the next in rotation ; he was exalted on the 29 th December , 1852 , and few indeed have obtained a higher position in the estimation of all who have the pleasure of his acquaintance than Comp . Adams , who has ever been ready to impart to his brethren and companions

the extensive knowledge he has acquired . Comp . Joseph Smith , our excellent treasurer , comes next , he having joined ou the 27 th April , 1853 , from the Mount Sinai Chapter , 19 . In Comp . Joseph Smith we possess a treasurer of inestimable value—one who studies the well being of the chapter in every particular—a treasurer who understands the happy

distinction between liberality and profusion , and between economy and parsimony . As an energetic member of the various boards and committees connected with Freemasonry , Comp . Smith ' s career is patent to every member of the Craft . The uext member , who is also aP . Z ., is Comp . Thomas Tyrrell , who was exalted on the 24 th January , 1856 , and

became 1 st Principal in March , 1662 . Under Comp . Tyrrell ' s presidency I received the honor of exaltation in the chapter , and shall ever retain a lively sense of the urbanity and dignity with which Comp . Tyrrell conducted the duties of his hi gh oflice . Comp . James Brett , who was exalted 2 flth March , 1858 , succeeded Comp . Tvrrell in the 1 st

chair , and , in mentioning the name of this distinguished chief , I feel that I cannot do justice to the many services which he has rendered to Freemasonry in general , and more especially to the Domatic Chapter . Hisreputationasa teacher of the ceremonies of this supreme degree is , I may safely allege , second to none , and his name must be for ever associated with

Royal Arch Masonry . Comp . C . A . Cottebrune was admitted a member on the 23 rd April , 1857 , and followed Comp . Brett as 1 st Principal iu 1804 . His is also a noted and worthy name iu Freemasonryhe is a strenuous supporter of the cause ; and , like most of the other Past Principals , a founder of several lodges ancl chapters . Our Comps . Sisson ,

Sutton , and Payne have also served the oflice of Z . of this chapter in a maimer which reflects the highest credit npon them severally . Amongst other eminent R . A . Masons who were exalted iu this chapter , I must not omit to mention the names of Comps . John Dixon , M . D . ( P . Z . 73 ) , exalted 26 th March , t \ i

IfilT . /_ . ^~ ,.,.,. l }~ Urt .. r / \ at \\ „ .... U „ , 1 _•»„ , ! 1857 ; George Bolton ( P . Z ., 169 ) , exalted 23 rd April , 1857 ; and John G . Chancellor ( P . Z ., C 57 ) , exalted 27 th March , 1862 . Good feeling and masonic ability have in a word distinguished all our worthy Past Principals , who I trust may long be spared to give thc benefit of their great experience

and sound judgment to the Domatic Chapter . Companions , it is for us to copy the example thus set by our seniors , and to endeavour to maintain the prestige of our chapter by strict attention to the offices that may be entrusted to our charge , and kindliness in the due performance of their respective duties . Our names shall then bo remembered with

gratitude , when we too in our turn shall have passed away , like many of those whose names weeommemorato to-night ; our memories shall still , let us hope , be enshrined iu the hearts of our brethren and companions , as true and faithful servants in the good cause of Ancient Freemasonry . During the subsequent proceedings , Comp . Payne

the Immediate P . Z ., was presented with a handsome Past Principal ' s jewel iu recognition of his services , and after enjoying a very pleasant evening at the social board , the companionsseparated . The visitors were Comps . AA atson ( P . Z ., 25 ) , Ough ( P . Z ., 749 ) , AValters ( P . Z , 73 ) , Potter ( P . Z ., 19 ) , Foxall ( J . 742 ) , Edersheim and Hosgood ( Z ., 1056 ) , Dr . Lucy , and our worthy and talented Comp . George Tedder .

Tho Emperor Constantine the Greafc said his life was something more honourable than that of a shepherd , but much more troublesome . —Jeremy Taylor . The stud y of literature nourishes youth , entertains old age , adorns prosperity , solaces adversity , is delightful at home , unobtrusive abroad , deserts us not by day nor by night , in journeying nor in

retirement Cicero . Several communications arc—with Bro . IIughan ' s " Specimens from a Masonic Quarry , " and our reprint of the " Proceedings of the two Grand Lodges of England in Ratification of the Union , 1813 , " —unavoidably posfcpostcd uutil next week . — ED . P .