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Article TABLE OF CONTENTS. Page 1 of 1 Article MASONIC HISTORIANS.—No. I Page 1 of 1 Article MASONIC HISTORIANS.—No. I Page 1 of 1 Article MASONIC HISTORIANS.—No. I Page 1 of 1 Article ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR GIRLS. Page 1 of 1
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Table Of Contents.
TABLE OF CONTENTS .
PAGE M ASONIC HISTORIANS , NO . I . — Bro . Findel 25 R OYAL M ASONIC INSTITUTION FOR GIRLS ... 25 A NCIENT AND MODERN MYSTERIES 26
L EAVES FROM MY LIBRARY 26 and 27 F OREIGN MASONIC INTELLIGENCEConsecration of the Coromandel Chapter at Madras 27 Death of R . W . Bro . Daniel Hart at Trinidad ... 28 . Masonic Funeral Solemnities in Canada ... 2 S
THE C RAFTMetropolitan 29 Provincial ... ... ... ... ... ... 29 Scotland ... ... ... ... ... ... 29 ROYAL
ARCHMetropolitan 29 BIRTHS , MARRIAGES , AND DEATHS 30 A NSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS 30 A PLEA FOR THE AGED 30 and 31 CONSECRATION OF A NEW LODGE AT EXETER ... 31 MULTUM IN P ARVO 31
ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCEUniformity of Working 31 Jurisdiction of Grand Lodges ... ... ... 32 The Case of Brother Williams 32 A "Re-Echo" 32 Toasting the Prince of Wales ... ... ... 32
Bro . Stewart ' s Proposition ... ... ... 32 The Powers of a Grand Master ... ... 32 and 33 ROSICRUCIAN SOCIETY OF ENGLAND 33 THE CRUSADES AND SECRET SOCIETIES ... ... n THE R OSICRUCIAN : A TAI . E OF COLOGNE ... 33 ANNUAL FESTIVAL OF THE LEWIS LODGE , NO . 872 , WHITEHAVEN 34 MASONIC MEETINGS FOR NEXT WEEK ... 34 and 35
Masonic Historians.—No. I
MASONIC HISTORIANS . —No . I
Bro . FINDEL . Bv WILLIAM JAMES HUGHAN .
( Continued from page 13 . ) Bro . Findel observes that we may not be led astray in our enquiries into the history of thc society of Freemasons we need only
bear in mind what the English Grand Lodge , thc mother of all lodges , happened to meet with in thc year 1717 , and immediately appropriated . This was thc bequest
of some ancient Lodges of Architecture , a simple rite , the three fundamental laws of brotherly love , relief and truth , and the socalled ancient Gothic constitutions still
existing as documents , all which bear no remoter date than that of the 12 th century . What wc wish to understand , says our learned author , is this—( a ) Whether the
Roman Building Corporations were directly continued or succeeded by those in Gaul and Brittany of later date ; ( li ) Whether there exists sufficient historical proof to justify thc tracing back thc Fraternity of
Masons to thc Building Corporations of Rome ? Both these questions must be answered in thc negative , and so Bro . Findel entirely objects to thc views so ably propounded by Bro . Dr . E . Rcboltl in his
valuable history , and previously supported by Bros . Dr . Krausc , A . Lawrie , and other excellent Masons . " The history of Freemasonry is wholly and entirely gathered from documents ( constitutions and customs )
belonging to corporations formed inthc middle ages , and not from any Roman Corporations whatever . Thc connecting link between the Roman Colleges and thc Mcdiicval Building Corporations , according to thc works of
Krausc and Rcbold , was the assembly of English Masons at York , the Roman Eboracum , in 926 , which is a mere tradition not an historical fact , and thc Athelstan
Constitution or Charter of York , which never existed . Besides this , thc Roman Colleges jn Brittany perished during thc devastating invasions of thc Scots and Saxons . " To our mind thc subject requires much thoughtful examination to decide respecting
Masonic Historians.—No. I
these rival claims , and although we incline to Bro . Findel's views on this matter , we cannot deny the fact that there is a powerful array of talent supporting the other side . Masonic students will do well to carefully examine
both Bro . Findel's Avork and the capital translation of Dr . Rebold's by Bro . J . F . Brennan ( 114 , Main-street , Cincinnati , U . S . ) , before finally adopting either opinion as the more historical or probably true .
The older we become the greater folly it appears to rush hastily to conclusions respecting the origin and character of
Freemasonry . We may say that the "father of historical criticism , " Bro . Dr . G . Kloss , gave it as his well-grounded conviction that the present
Fraternity of Masons had its immediate origin from the ancient company of Stonecutters and the Building Corporations connected with it .
The account of the " Old Charters is amplified in the second edition by Bro . Findel , and forms a very useful and interesting compilation . A fuller account may be found in the
" Constitutions of thc Freemasons " we lately published , should our readers desire to further examine the subject ( a copy of which it is probable will shortly be published in THE FREEMASON for the benefit of
brethren who have been unable to procure thc work itself , from so few copies being issued ) . The study of our old constitutions must always prove of real interest to Masons .
Bro . Findel has wisely introduced several excerpts from Bro . D . M . Lyon ' s exhaustive articles on Masonry in Scotland , and especially at page 107 , he has treated us to an excellent sketch of the Craft in early days
in North Britain . Bro . Lyon declares that there is no record extant , Masonic or profane , from which can be drawn any conclusion , further than that in their organisation thc members ofthe Ancient Building
Associationsof Scotland were leagued togcthcrfor thc protection of their common rights , much after thc manner of the trades' unionists of modern times . Bro . Lyon ' s authority is also mentioned to decide the fact of no more
than three degrees having been worked at Kilwinning , and by the Grand Lodge of Scotland ; and consequently that the statement that certain high degrees originated at Kilwinning , under the " old mother ' s
wing , " is . 1 decided fabrication ; for the " Kilwinning brethren have assured us , that they have never gone further than thc Tlirec-step Masons , neither has the Grand
Lodge of Scotland , from its institution in 1736 to thc present time , ever wavered in its devoted and exclusive attachment to Craft Masonry of three decrees and no more .
Wc cannot follow Bro . Findel through his work as wc would like ; wc have neither thc time nor thc ability to do him justice . Suffice it to say , that thc mass of
information presented entirely prevents an adequate idea being given of tlie work , for every country and Grand Lodge have attention , and ever ) ' point of interest , historical or ritualistic , receives elucidation and careful
examination . On thc vexed subject of thc " Hautcs Grades , " Bro . Findel speaks in a most emphatic manner , and though in some cases certainly too much in thc spirit of
opposition , yet thcglaringmis-statements reiterated from time to time , notwithstanding their evident absurdity , respecting thc origin of these Rites , do , after all deserve an unsparing investigation and fearless
denouncement . Bro . Findel states , that before "Ramsay ' s mischievous speech in 1 740 , no document
Masonic Historians.—No. I
can be produced to certify there existed any so-called high degrees on any spot of the earth whatever . " It will be for those who deny this sweeping assertion to afford the evidence said to be wanting , and then we
will be among the first to acknowledge thc existence of the " Hautes Grades , " before or within 23 years after the Revival of Freemasonry , A . D . 1717 . Until then we shall be simple enough to prefer evidence
to the ipse dixit of any party or Rite . We intend soon referring to a few errors that have crept into thc work , and shall then conclude our hasty and imperfect sketch of Bro . Findel's History of
Freemasonry , which is written to make known the truth , that "The long contemplated separation of thc Freemasons from the Operative Guilds , was carried into effect early in the eighteenth century , and thc
institution made rapid strides towards complete and perfect transformation . From thc materials , slowly , surely , and regularly prepared , far back in the twilight ofthe Middle Ages , and carefully cherished and handed
down to posterity by the Old Building Associationsof Germany and England , arose a new and beautiful creation . Modern Freemasonry was now to be taught as a spiritualising art , and the Fraternity of
Operative Masons was exalted to a Brotherhood of Symbolic Builders , who in place of visible , perishable temples , are engaged in thc erection of that one invisible , eternal temple of the heart and mind . " ( To be continued ) .
Royal Masonic Institution For Girls.
ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR GIRLS .
The Quarterly General Court of the Governors and Subscribers ofthe above-named Institution was held on Thursday , in the Board Room , Freemasons' Hall , Bro . JOHN
UDALL , V . P ., in the chair . There were also present , Bros . J . Creaton , Thos . W . White , W . Farnfield , John Symonds , H . Muggeridge , S . Rosenthal , H . Massey , and E . H . Patten , Secretary . Bro . PATTEN read the minutes of thc
different committees which had sat since the Quarterly Court in October last , which were put and confirmed , and several children were placed on the list for election in April .
The motion with regard to Bro . S . Rosenthal ' s painting of the late Treasurer , Bro . Benj . Bond Cabbell , having been
improperly worded in the advertisement of this meeting , it stood over till next Court , a properly drawn notice to be given before hand .
A vote of thanks to thc chairman concluded thc proceedings . [ It was mentioned at this meeting that
the painting above alluded to is a beautiful specimen of the art , and that the likeness ofthe late Treasurer is extraordinarily faithful . ]
EARI . DE GREV AND RIPON lias consented to preside at thc annual distribution of prizes of the Birkbeck Literary and Scientific Institution , on the 9 th February . THE installation of Bro . W . H . Cave , Provincial
Grand Registrar , as W . M . of the Newbury Lodge , will take place at the Mansion House , Newbury , on Friday , the 28 th , when the Provincial Grand Master , Sir D . Gooch , Bart ., M . P ., will be amongst the visitors present .
riiEUE has been found in ihc library of the Hartley Institution a copy of the first edition of Paradise Regained , and Samson Agonistes , which were licensed in 1670 , exactly 200 years ago . Thc
following is a copy ofthe title page , viz . : — "Paradise Regained . A Poem . In 4 books , to which is added Samson Agonistes . The author John Milton , London . * Printed by F . M ., for John Starkey , at the Mitre , in Fleet-street , near Temple Bar , 1671 . '
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Table Of Contents.
TABLE OF CONTENTS .
PAGE M ASONIC HISTORIANS , NO . I . — Bro . Findel 25 R OYAL M ASONIC INSTITUTION FOR GIRLS ... 25 A NCIENT AND MODERN MYSTERIES 26
L EAVES FROM MY LIBRARY 26 and 27 F OREIGN MASONIC INTELLIGENCEConsecration of the Coromandel Chapter at Madras 27 Death of R . W . Bro . Daniel Hart at Trinidad ... 28 . Masonic Funeral Solemnities in Canada ... 2 S
THE C RAFTMetropolitan 29 Provincial ... ... ... ... ... ... 29 Scotland ... ... ... ... ... ... 29 ROYAL
ARCHMetropolitan 29 BIRTHS , MARRIAGES , AND DEATHS 30 A NSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS 30 A PLEA FOR THE AGED 30 and 31 CONSECRATION OF A NEW LODGE AT EXETER ... 31 MULTUM IN P ARVO 31
ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCEUniformity of Working 31 Jurisdiction of Grand Lodges ... ... ... 32 The Case of Brother Williams 32 A "Re-Echo" 32 Toasting the Prince of Wales ... ... ... 32
Bro . Stewart ' s Proposition ... ... ... 32 The Powers of a Grand Master ... ... 32 and 33 ROSICRUCIAN SOCIETY OF ENGLAND 33 THE CRUSADES AND SECRET SOCIETIES ... ... n THE R OSICRUCIAN : A TAI . E OF COLOGNE ... 33 ANNUAL FESTIVAL OF THE LEWIS LODGE , NO . 872 , WHITEHAVEN 34 MASONIC MEETINGS FOR NEXT WEEK ... 34 and 35
Masonic Historians.—No. I
MASONIC HISTORIANS . —No . I
Bro . FINDEL . Bv WILLIAM JAMES HUGHAN .
( Continued from page 13 . ) Bro . Findel observes that we may not be led astray in our enquiries into the history of thc society of Freemasons we need only
bear in mind what the English Grand Lodge , thc mother of all lodges , happened to meet with in thc year 1717 , and immediately appropriated . This was thc bequest
of some ancient Lodges of Architecture , a simple rite , the three fundamental laws of brotherly love , relief and truth , and the socalled ancient Gothic constitutions still
existing as documents , all which bear no remoter date than that of the 12 th century . What wc wish to understand , says our learned author , is this—( a ) Whether the
Roman Building Corporations were directly continued or succeeded by those in Gaul and Brittany of later date ; ( li ) Whether there exists sufficient historical proof to justify thc tracing back thc Fraternity of
Masons to thc Building Corporations of Rome ? Both these questions must be answered in thc negative , and so Bro . Findel entirely objects to thc views so ably propounded by Bro . Dr . E . Rcboltl in his
valuable history , and previously supported by Bros . Dr . Krausc , A . Lawrie , and other excellent Masons . " The history of Freemasonry is wholly and entirely gathered from documents ( constitutions and customs )
belonging to corporations formed inthc middle ages , and not from any Roman Corporations whatever . Thc connecting link between the Roman Colleges and thc Mcdiicval Building Corporations , according to thc works of
Krausc and Rcbold , was the assembly of English Masons at York , the Roman Eboracum , in 926 , which is a mere tradition not an historical fact , and thc Athelstan
Constitution or Charter of York , which never existed . Besides this , thc Roman Colleges jn Brittany perished during thc devastating invasions of thc Scots and Saxons . " To our mind thc subject requires much thoughtful examination to decide respecting
Masonic Historians.—No. I
these rival claims , and although we incline to Bro . Findel's views on this matter , we cannot deny the fact that there is a powerful array of talent supporting the other side . Masonic students will do well to carefully examine
both Bro . Findel's Avork and the capital translation of Dr . Rebold's by Bro . J . F . Brennan ( 114 , Main-street , Cincinnati , U . S . ) , before finally adopting either opinion as the more historical or probably true .
The older we become the greater folly it appears to rush hastily to conclusions respecting the origin and character of
Freemasonry . We may say that the "father of historical criticism , " Bro . Dr . G . Kloss , gave it as his well-grounded conviction that the present
Fraternity of Masons had its immediate origin from the ancient company of Stonecutters and the Building Corporations connected with it .
The account of the " Old Charters is amplified in the second edition by Bro . Findel , and forms a very useful and interesting compilation . A fuller account may be found in the
" Constitutions of thc Freemasons " we lately published , should our readers desire to further examine the subject ( a copy of which it is probable will shortly be published in THE FREEMASON for the benefit of
brethren who have been unable to procure thc work itself , from so few copies being issued ) . The study of our old constitutions must always prove of real interest to Masons .
Bro . Findel has wisely introduced several excerpts from Bro . D . M . Lyon ' s exhaustive articles on Masonry in Scotland , and especially at page 107 , he has treated us to an excellent sketch of the Craft in early days
in North Britain . Bro . Lyon declares that there is no record extant , Masonic or profane , from which can be drawn any conclusion , further than that in their organisation thc members ofthe Ancient Building
Associationsof Scotland were leagued togcthcrfor thc protection of their common rights , much after thc manner of the trades' unionists of modern times . Bro . Lyon ' s authority is also mentioned to decide the fact of no more
than three degrees having been worked at Kilwinning , and by the Grand Lodge of Scotland ; and consequently that the statement that certain high degrees originated at Kilwinning , under the " old mother ' s
wing , " is . 1 decided fabrication ; for the " Kilwinning brethren have assured us , that they have never gone further than thc Tlirec-step Masons , neither has the Grand
Lodge of Scotland , from its institution in 1736 to thc present time , ever wavered in its devoted and exclusive attachment to Craft Masonry of three decrees and no more .
Wc cannot follow Bro . Findel through his work as wc would like ; wc have neither thc time nor thc ability to do him justice . Suffice it to say , that thc mass of
information presented entirely prevents an adequate idea being given of tlie work , for every country and Grand Lodge have attention , and ever ) ' point of interest , historical or ritualistic , receives elucidation and careful
examination . On thc vexed subject of thc " Hautcs Grades , " Bro . Findel speaks in a most emphatic manner , and though in some cases certainly too much in thc spirit of
opposition , yet thcglaringmis-statements reiterated from time to time , notwithstanding their evident absurdity , respecting thc origin of these Rites , do , after all deserve an unsparing investigation and fearless
denouncement . Bro . Findel states , that before "Ramsay ' s mischievous speech in 1 740 , no document
Masonic Historians.—No. I
can be produced to certify there existed any so-called high degrees on any spot of the earth whatever . " It will be for those who deny this sweeping assertion to afford the evidence said to be wanting , and then we
will be among the first to acknowledge thc existence of the " Hautes Grades , " before or within 23 years after the Revival of Freemasonry , A . D . 1717 . Until then we shall be simple enough to prefer evidence
to the ipse dixit of any party or Rite . We intend soon referring to a few errors that have crept into thc work , and shall then conclude our hasty and imperfect sketch of Bro . Findel's History of
Freemasonry , which is written to make known the truth , that "The long contemplated separation of thc Freemasons from the Operative Guilds , was carried into effect early in the eighteenth century , and thc
institution made rapid strides towards complete and perfect transformation . From thc materials , slowly , surely , and regularly prepared , far back in the twilight ofthe Middle Ages , and carefully cherished and handed
down to posterity by the Old Building Associationsof Germany and England , arose a new and beautiful creation . Modern Freemasonry was now to be taught as a spiritualising art , and the Fraternity of
Operative Masons was exalted to a Brotherhood of Symbolic Builders , who in place of visible , perishable temples , are engaged in thc erection of that one invisible , eternal temple of the heart and mind . " ( To be continued ) .
Royal Masonic Institution For Girls.
ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR GIRLS .
The Quarterly General Court of the Governors and Subscribers ofthe above-named Institution was held on Thursday , in the Board Room , Freemasons' Hall , Bro . JOHN
UDALL , V . P ., in the chair . There were also present , Bros . J . Creaton , Thos . W . White , W . Farnfield , John Symonds , H . Muggeridge , S . Rosenthal , H . Massey , and E . H . Patten , Secretary . Bro . PATTEN read the minutes of thc
different committees which had sat since the Quarterly Court in October last , which were put and confirmed , and several children were placed on the list for election in April .
The motion with regard to Bro . S . Rosenthal ' s painting of the late Treasurer , Bro . Benj . Bond Cabbell , having been
improperly worded in the advertisement of this meeting , it stood over till next Court , a properly drawn notice to be given before hand .
A vote of thanks to thc chairman concluded thc proceedings . [ It was mentioned at this meeting that
the painting above alluded to is a beautiful specimen of the art , and that the likeness ofthe late Treasurer is extraordinarily faithful . ]
EARI . DE GREV AND RIPON lias consented to preside at thc annual distribution of prizes of the Birkbeck Literary and Scientific Institution , on the 9 th February . THE installation of Bro . W . H . Cave , Provincial
Grand Registrar , as W . M . of the Newbury Lodge , will take place at the Mansion House , Newbury , on Friday , the 28 th , when the Provincial Grand Master , Sir D . Gooch , Bart ., M . P ., will be amongst the visitors present .
riiEUE has been found in ihc library of the Hartley Institution a copy of the first edition of Paradise Regained , and Samson Agonistes , which were licensed in 1670 , exactly 200 years ago . Thc
following is a copy ofthe title page , viz . : — "Paradise Regained . A Poem . In 4 books , to which is added Samson Agonistes . The author John Milton , London . * Printed by F . M ., for John Starkey , at the Mitre , in Fleet-street , near Temple Bar , 1671 . '