Free And Freemasonry.

authority to three operations . First , he asks whether he has read the passage as the author wrote it . For the transcriber , and the editor , and the official or officious censor on the top of the editor , have played strange tricks , and have much to answer for . And if they are not to blame , it may turn out that the author wrote his book twice over , that you can discover the first jet , the progressive variations , things added , and things struck out . Next

is the question where the writer got his information . Jf from a previous writer , it can be ascertained , and the inquiry has to be repeated . If from unpublished papers , they must be traced , and when the fountain head is reached , or the track disappears , the question of veracity arises . The responsible writer ' s character , his position , antecedents , and probable

¦ motives have to be examined into , and this is what , in a different and adapted sense of the word , may be called the ' higher criticism , ' in comparison with the servile and often mechanical work of pursuing statements to thejr root . For a historian has to be treated as a witness , and not believed unless his sincerity is established , " ( Lord Acton , Lecture on the Study of History , 40-42 ) .

Now the " question of veracity , will of necessity arise , in connection with the authorship or transcription of the Cooke MS ., but beyond the fact that this manuscript " History" was the production of some unknown fabulist , there is nothing to disclose .

To use the words of a great philosopher , "If we read a book which contains incredible or impossible narratives , or is written in a very obscure style , and if we know nothing of its author , nor of the time or occasion of its being written , we shall vainly endeavour to gain any certain knowledge of its true meaning" ( Spinoza , Works—Bohn ' s Pltilos . Lib . —i ., in . )

I must not forget to state , however , that the legendary narrative and the code of regulations in the Cooke and other MSS . are supposed to stand on very distinct footings , the former being regarded as delusive fable , and the latter as accredited history . I do not profess to see this point in the same

strength as some see it , or I might even say that in my judgment the foundations of the " code , " as well as those of the " narrative , " have been built on legendary quicksands ( A . Q . C . v . 219 , vi . 184 ) , but since our Bro . Speth has laid great stress upon it in his remarks on the "Assembly" ( Ibid vi ., 189 ) , it is right that I should set it before the readers of this article .

A rule , however , which it would seem in every respect most desirable to follow , has been strictly laid down by one of the most eminent of all the students who are to-day investigating the history and sources of early Christian literature : " None but firmly established historical facts or doings can be allowed as evidence of the existence of any legal ordinance they may imply . " ( Prof . A . Kuenen , An Historico-Critical Inquiry into the Origin and Composition of the Hexateuch , tr . by P . H . Wickstead , 170 ) .

I shall now ask all who have favoured me with their attention so far , to cast a backward g lance at the contention which has been presented to them in the language of Albert Pike , —after which I shall enquire of them , whether there is any proof that the English working masons of the fourteenth century recognised one another by means of signs and tokens , or , in other words , if there is any more positive evidence to support such a conclusion , than has been advanced in favour of the theory that the symbolism of Masonry was brought into it by the Rosicrucians ?

If , indeed , the literati of the Craft differ very essentially , as they unquestionably do , about the details of Modern , how can they be expected to agree with respect to those of Ancient Masonry ? Also , if they differ about facts , is it conceivable that they can arrive at any definite agreement in regard to conjectures ? Then , again , is it within the limits of possibility to

discriminate between what is legitimate conjecture , and what is not ? To a great many persons , apart from any predilection they may entertain for one theory of Masonic descent over another , the story of Christian Rosenenkreutz as related in the Fama Fraternitatis , will seem far less violently improbable than the Legend of the Craft ( with the " Charges " thrown in ) , as recounted in the various copies of the "Constitutions . "

Still , as it has been finely observed : " The rise of new difficulties is as essential to the progress of truth as the removal of old puzzles . " ( T . K . Cheyne , Founders of Old Testament Criticism , 127 . ) The Tentative Enquiry , which has been launched with such remarkable force by our Bro . Speth , seems to me to have come to stay . But the last word has not been spoken on the subject , and no one probably feels a stronger conviction than the writer of that paper , that he has lifted only a little corner of the veil .

Albert Pike tells us— " No man can find any evidence that , before 1723 , the Ancient Craft Masonry had any symbols at all . At the beginning of its rebuilding in England , its whole foundation was a rubble-work of fictions as absurd as the story of Jack the Giant Killer . Most of this has been got

out and cast away ; but some remains in its place yet , and is very dear to those whose faith is large enough to remove mountains . There is a leaning now , likely to become stronger , to replace the old rubble-work of fiction and fable , by building presumptions on suppositions , and from the presumptions inferring facts " ( Official Bulletin , Sup . Counc . S . J ., X . App . 14 ) .

Now I have endeavoured to show cause why it is permissible to differ from Bro . Speth with respect to many of his " supposiiions , " but tin re is a "presumption , " and , indeed , the most material of the whole numbir , that 1 think he has clearly proved to be one of the several possible explanations of ' the problem which he set himself to attack . That the "Free" Masons were free from and not of , something with

regard to which the converse holds good in the cas * cf other Misons , is a theory which I hope may be s ' . ill further developed b y its author who , I trust , will regard it as a greater compliment to be asked to continue the interesting study upon which he has so far advanced , than to rust from his labours , under the highly mistaken idea that the effect of the verdict of the " English Dictionary " has been to transmute an ingenious hypothesis in to a fact .

Since the above was in type , I have become aware that in the observations with which Dr . Chetwode Crawley accompanied his excerpt from the Oxford English Dictionary , he studiously confined himself to its philological ( without , as erroneously printed in his letter of August 13 'h , concerning himself in any way about its philosophical ) bearing . I have reason to believe that he has personal knowledge of the natire and extent of the

learned Editors' philological researches on the points reviewed in this article . Therefore , when writing of their " exhaustive survey of the whole ground , " the context of his letter shows that he refers only to the philological aspect , and that he does not claim for them any further survey . What I trust to have already shown , however , in the course of the remarks is , that a survey thus limited cannot properly be called " exhaustive , " and that any conclusion deducted from it cannot be " authoritative . "

Free And Freemasonry.

But after all , how shifting and uncertain is the result of modern research" We see through a glass darkly . The past is an enigma . The voices of the dead are faint and distant . History will not become a branch of positive science till the secrets of all hearts are loosed , till at eventime it is light . " ( John Skelton , Nugae Criticae 145 ) .

, To those of my fellow-students , therefore , who are interested in the problem of "Free" and " Freemason , " let me conclude by saying—in the words of the Genius to the Hermit of Bassora— " If you wish for the solution , bs patient , and wait . "

Craft Masonry.

Craft Masonry .

Lodge of Perseverance , No . 1743 . Saturday last saw the opening- of the new installation season , two lodges of the London District , then furnishing two new Worshipful Masters . These two lodges were the lodge of Perseverance , No . 1743 , which met at Anderton ' s , and the Duke of Cornwall Lodge , No . 1 S 39 , at Freemasons' Hall . The former lodge was presided over by Bro . Harry Watts , who took the chair for the last time for the year . There was a capital attendance of members of the lodge as well as of visitors , as will be seen by the

following list , which includes the names of Bros . Henry G . Park , S . W . ; W . B . Cossham , J . W . ; T . Lovell , P . M ., Treas . ; G . J . Tollett , Sec ; R . Perry , S . D . ; John Handley , J . D . ; J . Henry Bridgman , I . G . ; W . Farrant , A . D . C . ; J . Dormer , P . M ., Stwd . ; Frederick Kearney , P . M . ; H . C . Lonsdale , P . M . ; W . J . Wall , P . M . ; Louis Leins , P . M . ; Bernard Ferry , Joseph Houten , J . Millman , W . Searle , F . Hannam , H . Camp , G . Millard , D . Rogers , H . Taylor , J . W . Terry , G . W . C . White , lames Phillips , F . R . Frost , H . Hawkins , A . R . Batton , Thomas Tyrell , R . F .

Sharp , Walter Thompson , and J . Bogler . Visitors : Bros . Edward Triggs , P . M . 749 and 2291 ; Walter Bray , 431 U . S . A . ; Joseph Walton , 1360 ; William Thomas Winsor , P . M . 1950 and 1559 ; H . McClintock Harris , 1997 ; Eli Bull , I . G . 1549 and 221 S ; J . R . Johnson , P . M . and Sec . 2005 , P . P . S . G . D . Essex ; C . J . Thomas , 11 S 5 ; George Browne , 700 ; H . Massey , P . M . 619 and 193 S ; R . Ede , 1474 ; W . Pallant , S . D . 1421 ; George Verlyck , 1421 ; W . J . London , 15 S 0 ; and F . Stutfield , P . M . 144 . Mr . R . bert Frank Sharp was initiated by Bro . Kearney , P . M ., after which

ceremony Bro . Henry C . Lonsdale , P . M ., in splendid style , instilled Bro . Henry George Park , S . W . and W . M . elect , as Master of the lodge for the year ensuing . Bro . H . Watts was invested with the collar of I . P . M . The other collars of office were disposed as follows : Bros . W . B . Cossham , S . W . ; Richard Perry , J . W . ; T . Lovell , P . M ., Treas . ; G . J . Tollett , Sec . ; John Handley , S . D . ; J . H . T . Bridgman , J . D . ; fas . Flexman , I . G . ; W . Farrant , D . C . ; 1 . Cunnington , A . D . C . ; J . T . Dormer , P . M .

1571 , and J . E . Millman , Stewards ; and W . Lane , Tyler . At the banquet which succeeded the working of the lodge , a long list of toasts were disposed of , the music between the speeches being rendered by Miss Ruby Lyons , Bro . J . E . Lyons , Bro . George Browne , Mr . A . A . Moncrieff , and Bro . W . Graves . Bro . VV . Stevens accompanied on the pianoforte , and Bro . W . Farrant , D . C , acted admirably as introducer of the artists .

Bro . Harry Watts , I . P . M ., in proposing the toast of " The W . M ., " wished the duty had fallen to better hands than his , because the W . M . deserved everything which could be said in his praise that the most practised elocutionist could give utterance to . He had known Bro . Park a good many years , and had found him a true and honest friend ; they had entered the lodge together side by side ; they were initiated together ; and their father in Masonry—Bro . Louis Lsins—was present now . It wis very gratifying to Bro . Park and himself to know that Bro . Leins was there ; it gave them an

amount of courage and confidence to know that he was there . But Bro . Park and he ( Bro . Watts ) had come up the ladder step by step ; Bro . Park had done his work well ; he was a good Master ; he knew he could d . > the work and would do the work . It was very presumptuous for him ( Bro . Watts ) to say Bro . Park could do the work , because Bro . Park might say , " You cannot do the work yourself . " He knew Bro . Park could doit ; he hoped he would have a very prosperous year . Whatever Bro . Park put his hand to he would do to the satisfaction of the lodge and of himself .

Bro . H . G . Park , W . M ., in reply , said Bro . Watts had mentiined many kind thinjs about him , half of which he did not deserve he was quite sure . But Bro . Watts had been very , very , kind to him , and he appreciated that kindness immensely . Ths brethren had placed him in the high position he had looked forward to with very great pleasure indeed ; it was the height of his ambition to get into the Master's chair ; h : thought it was nothing but right that all brethren should have the same ambition . As the brethren had seen fit to place him there it would be his earnest endeavour to do his very best .

He should try to do his duty without fear , favour , or affection , and to the utmost ; he only hoped they would give him plenty of work . With the assistance of T . G . A . O . T . U . he would do his best ; they must all admit that without His help none of them could da anything . He would endeavour to do the work to the satisfaction ol all the brethren . He was exceedingly grateful to P . M . Watts for his very very great kindness . Bro . Watts had known him , it was true , longer than any brother in the lodge except one . They had all enjoyed each other's friendship , and he trusted they would for many years to come .

Bro . H . G . Park , W . M ., then proposed "The Installing Master . " In Bro . Past Master Lcnsdale they had an exceptionally good Master , who had installed him that night with great credit to himself and ' satisfaction to the brethren generally . He would have been delighted if Bro . Watts had performed the ceremony , but knowing the anount of trouble he had gone through lately he could hardly exoect that pleasure . But the brethren would agree he had found a good substitute in Bro . Lonsdale . He was very grateful to Bro . Lonsdale , P . M ., for the way he had installed him . It was very impressive . He thought when he was initiated he was impressed , but he was far more impressed with the installation .

Bro . H . C . Lonsdale , P . M ., in acknowledging the toast , said he could assure Bro . Park that if it had given him pleasure to be installed by his humble servant , it had given him pleasure to do it , and he could only say after hearing so much of him ( Bro . Lonsdale ) that night , that at any time he might be called upon to assist the W . M . he shouM be only too pleased . Bro . H . G . Park , W . M ., next proposed "The I . P . M . " They all knew Bro . Watts ' s good qualities ; they knew how he had educated the lodge during his Mastership ; that he had done his dutv to the best of his ability , and zealously , faithfully , ami

impartially ; he was a good friend , a good brother , and a good Masjn . H s had h id ths honour of Bro . Watts ' s friendship iG or 17 years , and he had always found him eve rything that one could wish . He was quiet , unassuming , sympathising ; ever ready t <> enter into your joys or your sorrows , and to lend a hand in time of trouble . He could enlarge upon Bro . Watts's virtues , but being present , he would refrain from saying more in that respect , for he knew it was distasteful to him . The brethren knew how he had conducted his business during the past year , and in appreciation of his work they

had voted him a splendid Past Master ' s jewel . He now pinned iton Bro . Watts ' s breas ., hoping he might live many , many years to adorn the Perseverance Lodge . Bro . Harry Watts , I . P . M ., in reply , said the W . M . had spoken of him in very high terms ; if he only deserved half of them he might feel himself much honoured . But he did feel very great honour to have the jewel ; he could not say he deserved it W the work he had done in the lodge ; perhaps he had done some good outside . However , he had endeavoured to relieve the and to do what the brethren had asked h , m

poor to do , although he had not been able to do the work of the lodge as he thought when they did him the honour to elect him he should have been able to do . If he had worker ) harder he might have done better ; but he had had a great deal of trouble , a ' great deal <>> illness ameng his close relations , his dear wife's sister and her father . Such t ' , ]* had had something to do with his not having paid enough attention to the

ritualthanked the brethren one and all very much for their great kindness ; Bro . Kearnej had come to his assistance and rescue sone months ago at a minute ' s notice ; lir ? j Lonsdale he had to thank personally for his great kindness , for a great deal—he won 1 not tell him all that night , and every officer and m ; m } er of ths lol ^ i hi hid to ' » very heartily for their kindness during his year of office . If he could dj anything promote the welfare of the lodge he should do it . „ „ Bro . H . G . Park , W . M ., in proposing "The Initiate , " said he was sure - . ,, would be a credit to the lodge and to the Craft in general . Ha sincerely hoped o Sharp was impressed with the way in which ths cerenpny was conducted by