Masonic Historians.—No. 2.

Royal Arch , in the United States . We must , however , forbear affording our readers more than a brief glance at the various leading features of such introduction , as we have already exceeded the limits intended for a brief sketch of

"Masonic Historians—No . 2 . " Bro . Gould states most positively that " Tlie earliest account of the introduction of Masonry into the United States is the history of a lodge organised in Rhode Island , AD . 1 G 58 , or fiftynine years before the revival in England , and

seventy-five years before the establishment of the first lodge in Massachusetts . " "The Rev . Edward Peterson , in his ' History of Rhode Island and Newport in the Past , ' gives the following account of this early lodge : ' In the spring of 1658 , Mordecai Campaunall , Moses

Packeckoe , Levi , and others , in all fifteen families , arrived at Newport from Holland . They brought with them the three first degrees of Masonry , and worked them in the house of Campaunall , and continued to do so , they and their successors , to the year 1742 . ' " ( Page 101 . )

We have often stated our inability to discover any reference to the third degree before the last century , and we now reiterate our opinion that no record has yet been produced which mentions three degrees of Freemasonry before 1717 . We do not deny the existence of Speculative

Masonry long before then . In fact , one MS . of about the end of the 15 th century , distinctly states such to have existed then . Gentlemen , though admitted members of the society in early days , and thereby becoming Speculative Masons , as contrasted with Operatives , of course simply

received the same secrets as the regular Operative Masons . This we believe and shall maintain until proof is forthcoming to the contrary . Now , if the above reference to three degrees being worked from x . x > . 1658 is susceptible of proof by the production of documentary evidence

of that date , or at least before the eighteenth century , we shall at once own that our opinion respecting the three degrees of Masonry is an erroneous one , but until such evidence has been produced we cannot believe otherwise than as

facts at present declare . Although such be our convictions , we are not oblivious of fancied evidence that points to the contrary , and always endeavour to be more anxious to discover the truth than to maintain

theories ; in fact , we have no predictions any way as regards Masonic history , and are content to bow alone to the weight of evidence , whichever way such may tend . Hence , we offer the above to our readers for solution , and have no desire to shrink from the investigation or to

avoid the retraction of our belief as to the modern character of Masonic degrees , provided only that reasons be afforded for such a change . We are not unmindful of the fact that Freemasonry of three degrees was unknown in Holland until the last century , and so also elsewhere

excepting , as we are asked to believe , in the island mentioned , and though the evidence accumulated certainly tends to disprove entirely the statement of the Rev . Edward Peterson , we simply await the proof to at once assert our conviction of its truth We think , however , at

present that it is neither more nor less than an erroneous view of Freemasonry at Rhode Island , and that if Masonry was practised there in A . D . 1658 , it was but a simple rite of initiation . " The Order was introduced into Pennsylvania in the year 1732 , " so we are told , and " into Boston

on April 30 , 1733 . Then comes an important mission : " At the time of the organisation of the St . John ' s Grand Lodge in Boston , and for years after , its subordinates did not confer the Master ' s degree , confining their labours to the first two degrees . Accordingly , in the year

173 8 , a body call the Master ' s Lodge was organised in Boston to meet monthly , whose work was exclusively confined to conferring the Master ' s degree on brethren who had received the two preceding degrees in some one of the

other lodges then existing in the colony . The ritual used in the Master ' s lodge was the original Master ' s part , practised by the Grand Lodge of England at that period , including the essential of the Royal Arch , and was unquestionably the first use of that ritual in this country . " The

Masonic Historians.—No. 2.

history of Freemasonry in tlie United States during the last century was a chequered one , owing to the rivalry between the two bodies respectively styled the "Moderns" and the " Ancients . " In some of the states , as in

Massachusetts and South Carolina , there existed two Grand Lodges , whose systems were entirely different . [ We have documents to prove the various differences were unimportant ] Soon after the close of the revolutionary war , an

earnest effort was made on the part of eminent brethren in different sections to unite the Fraternity in each state under-one Grand Lodge , a result which was formally accomplished . " The " Guide " then invites us to consider the

early history of Royal Arch Masonry m the United States , and maintains that the first chapter known to have worked in that country was in Philadelphia A . D . 1758 ; the next oldest being at Boston A . D . 1769 . We shall have occasion

to consider this subject some day , when writing a history of Royal Arch Masonry , and therefore must leave the question now . For the same reason we must pass over the articles on the " American Ritual , " the "

Symbolism of the Chapter Degrees , " and illustrations , & c , of the " Mark Master Mason , Past Master , Most Excellent Master , and the Royal Arch Degree . " We will , however , if time permits , allude to all these ere long in THE FREEMASON , unless our previous sketch has been tedious .

Reviews.

Reviews .

* The Bards and Authors of Cleveland and South Durham . Part 10 . By Bro . G . MARKIIAM . TWEDDELL . We are glad to find that Bro . Tweddell

is continuing the issue of this interesting work , which as the author somewhere calls it , is really a Pantheon of local worthies . All who admire industry and zeal , as displayed in the numerous collection of anas

of celebrated men which our literature already possesses , will readily estimate at its proper value Bro . Tweddell ' s patient diligence in rescuing from oblivion so many quaint facts and fancies anent the celebrities

of the North . When the work is completed , two more parts having to appear , we will carefully review the whole , and thus furnish the addendum to a critique on the preceding parts , which appeared in No . 35 of THE FlfREMKnY

The Great American Masonic Poem , " King-Solomons Temple . " Price 2 d . Bro . Tweddell and Sons , Middlcsborough and Stokcslcy , Yorkshire . The English Craft owe a debt of

gratitude to Bro . fweddell for bringing within their reach in this exceedingly cheap and compendious form , this chef d \ vnvre of Masonic poetry . This beautiful production was written by Bro . Augustine J . H .

Dugannc , of New York , a brother , who we rejoice to say , is still alive , and enjoys the confidence and esteem of his fellow-citizens . It will be remembered by our readers , that our contributor , "The Son of Salathiel , "

quoted three stanzas from this remarkable poem in the opening chapters of his " Freemasonry in England " in No . 60 , and from these specimens the brethren can imagine how exquisite and unique is the completed poem .

FAITH LODGE OF INSTRUCTION . —The above Lodge of Instruction is held every Tuesday evening at 8 o ' clock , in the spacious and commodious rooms at Bro . Fisher ' s Restaurant , Metropolitan District Railway Station , Victoria , S . W . Ceremonies and

lectures worked every Tuesday , except the fourth Tuesday in the month , when the ceremonies alone are rehearsed . Tlie DOMATIC CHAPTER OF INSTRUCTION is also held in the above rooms every Friday evening , at 8 o ' clock , from October until April inclusive .

Allegories Of Masonry.

ALLEGORIES OF MASONRY .

It is usually said , "That Masonry is a beautiful system of morality , veiled in allegory ,, and illustrated by symbols . " When we inquire , what is morality ? we take a step forward , and find that it is " the conformity of an act to the divine law . " To be moral is to conform to God ' s laws , enunciated to govern man in his relative duties to his fellow man , and his absolute duties to himself . Obedience to

God ' s laws governing man in his relative duties to his Creator , is piety . The full attainment of obedience to this last is only accessible through the power of the Lion of the Tribe of Judah . Of this I do not purpose to speak in this paper .

What I design in this article is , to call the Craft back to landmarks , and ascertain what they really are . We have said that we would maintain and defend them . Do we really comprehend what are the landmarks ? The landmarks of Masonry are those which define and limit its boundary . It may

be , and perhaps is , true , that ancient rules , governing the admission of profanes , are entitled to be called landmarks . But the great landmark and corner-stone of Masonry is God ' s law—the Holy Bible . The great leading truth taught in the Bible , is , that man , by sin , has fallen from the estate of purity

and holiness in which he was created . It is taught that man was created in the image of God . He walked with God , and fully comprehended the laws of his own existence , and of all created things . This great truth is taught in Genesis ii . 19 : "And out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field , and every fowl of the air , and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them :

and whatsoever Adam called every living creature , that was the name thereof . " If Adam had not known the organism of matter , he could not have known the proper names of created things ; nor could he , had he been deficient in the comprehensin of truth , have been a fit

companion of God ; he could not have been in his image . God made him in his image , and placed him upon , or in covenant relations with himself . Withholding all thoughts upon the various theories of churches as to the fall of man , only announcing that the Bible teaches that man fell , and in the fall

lost his communion and fellowship with God , lost salvation , and no longer stood upon ground upon which God would enter into covenant relations with him , until , in divine mercy , a new and more perfect way was provided , I proceed to an examination of the teachings of our allegories , that we may learn

their real origin and purpose . I would briefly premise that , in an examination of the ancient mysteries it will be found that the acme of all'supposed good was to attain to the knowledge ofthe true pronunciation ofthe name of the great First Causeor Creator . It was taught by the

, Magi , that he who had that knowledge had the power of the Divine Being , and was freed from all the ills of this life . Another form of the same error was tlie search for the philosopher ' s stone . Could man but find that stone , he could touch the arcana

of divine knowledge , truth would be unfolded to him , and immortality and all power thus attained . Hence , the cud of all allegorical and mythological teaching , was to attain a true knowledge of God ' s laws . This was , and is yet , the object ofall allegorical and symbolical teaching .

Then , if the true knowledge of God was lost by the fall , if man lost his covenant relation , if the law , which was made to work life , has , by reason of its violation , worked death , and if death is the wages of sin , and life only the fruits of obedience to the law , to which man cannot attain of himself , and if the law

is to be fulfilled by a Messiah that has come , or is yet to come , then the knowledge ot God is lost , the communion , the true worship , is lost , and there must be a substituted worship until the fulness of time , when the mind of man shall be prepared to receive again the name and the knowledge of , and

to practise tlie true worship of God . To this end we find Abraham , who had walked one hundred and fifty years with Shem , and been instructed by him in the knowledge of God ' s laws , as taught to Noah by Lamech , Methusaleh , Jarcd , Malialaleel , Canaan , and Enos , who had all lived be

with and been instructed by Adam , is called to the head of a distinct and separate nation , who are to be the custodians of God ' s revealed laws , and are to practise a substituted typical worship of God , until the mind of man shall be prepared to receive that which was lost .

At the very threshold , Abraham is taught an important lesson ; he is childless , and his wife past the age of life . God tells him that he is to be the father of a great nation , and he believes God . 1 | "S belief is accounted to him for righteousness ; "' is , it had , through the divine economy , the same power that his perfect obedience to the law would