Footsteps Of Freemasonry;

express Roman policy , Roman power , and Roman pretensions , however subdued . The Geneva Gown is the representative of the Grecian pallum or cloak , and , as such , asserts a

Grecian style of philosophizing , whilst it appeals to man himself , his passions and his sentiments , too often in vain words . Doxvn trodden it

re-arises , and like the scotched snake still wriggles on , hoping again to breast some rising tide of popular favour , which maylbear it to its destined task , and

" Sanguina ? exsuperant undas , " ' strangle , spite of Cassandra ' s , the son of the priestl y Laacoon , whilst already it is exclaimed " Proximus ardet uecalegon . " In like manner the breeched srarment of the *¦

— ~ - * t > ^ " - •- " " *^ frockless Baptist ( I take it only as the type ) represents in the attire of old Gaul , the Vercingetorix of our day , ever warring against Roman

tyranny , and power , or , like Diogenes , scorning the pride of Plato , with a pride which Plato never knew .

Let us not , then , talk oflnstitutions dying out , they still live as ever , with as fierce passions , and the strifes of ancient civilization are there represented in

" This fight for Empire once begun , Bequeathed from bleeding sire to son . "' Our own distincti \ -e garb is but an additional member of this family of vestments , and has its

own history , its own peculiar type of civilization , and its own distinctive ' future . But to return to our offices , we will now take the

W . MASTER , MVGISTKR , MAJOR , & C . The Master orMagister was . with the Romans , is with us , the chief of the Tribunes , or chief

ruler of the Collegium or Lodge , and the word itself , " with that signification , was in common use amongst them .

Thus Cresar speaks of the Magister Onerum , Master of Works , we . find also Magister Collegii Augurum , Master of the Lodge of Augurs

Magister dims , Master of the Municipal College , Master of the Arval Brethren , whose badge was a crown of wheat ears , with a white band .

The Society or Collegium of Publicans ( farmers of the revenue ) was held in high esteem at Rome , and their chief was called the Magister . Jt was the Master only who could legally take

the omens , so essential m all Roman affairs , and invoke the Deit y at opening and closing , thus acting as priests of the lodge , and his general duties were clearly defined and . handed down to

his successors . The Master was essentiall y different from the Prefectus , the former appellation being confined to the Colleges , or municipal offices , the latter

denoting military command , or the civil administration of a province , as the Prefect of a Legion , the Prefect of the Fleet , the Prefect of a town or province , as prefect of Egypt , & c .

The W . M ., in our Ritual , carries the Square , as emblem of his office , buUhe P . M ., perfect or past M . is decorated with the symbolical

Triangle , as it is demonstrated in Euclid , Book i , Problem 47 . •This problem was discovered b y Pythagoras ,

Footsteps Of Freemasonry;

who , we are told by Diogenes Laertius , sacri ficed a hetacomb of oxen as burnt offering to the most High , ingratitude for his having so inspired him

" When the great Samian Sage , his noble problem found , " A hundred oxen dyed with their life blood the pround . "

OF THE DIFFERENT GRADES OR DEGREES IN FREEMASONRY' . In treating of the fragments , we have endeavoured to point out the structure and character of

the Collegium , for it was on this type all Roman institutions were founded , and on this type our own is based . There are characteristics to every action or

institution which proves its origin , thus the Budhist religion of China is proved to be Hindoo in its origin , because its terms and conditions are Hindoo . The protomartyr , Stephen , was

martyred by Hebrew rite , our Saviour by the Roman rite in all its details , and in like manner every characteristic of Freemasonry points out its essentially Roman origin .

Let us take another example . Authentic authors inform us that the College of Augurs , instituted by Numa , still exists under another name , viz ., the Pontifical College at Rome , of

which the Pontifex Maximus or Pope is Magister , or W . M . Now in this college there are three separate

grades , viz ., Cardinal Deacon , Cardinal Priest , Cardinal Bishop , and this organisation , still existing , cannot but be considered as throwing a light upon the ancient ww .

As further proof of identity ., we may mention that they were virtually continuous . Secondly that both hax'e claimed and exercised

the right of regulating the calendar . Thirdly the ancient as well as modern pontiffs have claimed the right of canonhation , that is to insert the names of eminent men in the

calendar . Here then is an example of a lodge , descended from Roman times , retaining its three degrees , and its ancient traditions and customs .

The internal economy of a Freemasons' lodge is also founded on the triple division , the superior partaking with the inferior , although not

scientically so , the inferior with the superior , in that he was a Mason , although not a man of Science . " Science , O man , thou hast with higher powers , But art thou hast alone . "

These ' remarks are founded on the acknowledged princip les of the Craft , for in the . lower degree were received the initiates ; there , it would seem ,

the operatives remained permanently ; those of a higher social rank or education only a stipulated time , or until found worthy .

The control exercised over this class , as stated in the ritual , was probably chiefl y of a moral character .

This triple division is evidentl y founded on or adapted to the three degrees adopted in his teaching by that great master , who may justly be called the founder of Roman philosophy , I mean

Pythagoras , the illustrious orginator of the Mathematical School , and the expounder of the Mathematical system of the universe , and of whom it is said that by a series of experiments reducing it to-a demonstrative science .

Footsteps Of Freemasonry;

" He first made music malleable . The Romans could not comprehend the Grecian philosophy , ami when at last it xvas forced upon them , like a captive bird , it died in

their clumsy grasp . 'They , in fact , never worked or warred for an idea . Hence the Romans only valued philosophy as a means to attain some personal or political end , betraying by that their

want of a genuine philosophical spirit , for their system and teaching , both in its faults and in its perfections , is embodied in our own . It is to Pythagoras we are indebted for the

first attempt , however rude , for an analysis of the operations and faculties of the mind , and when a Mason would " shield his secrets " he adopts a Pythagorean emblem .

In his Ethics moral good was by him identified with unity , or frendship , with the object of of cultivating and practising it , he distributed his disciples into companies or lodges , for once

received as disciples , they were , says Aulus Gelhus ( lib . I . ix . ) formed into an indissoluble society , or consortium , sworn to aid and support each other .

His disciples were divided into three classes , thus they remained as " probationers , " or to be " physiognomised , " until by his study of their

character , he had satisfied himself of their fitness to become his followers . If accepted , they were admitted ,

1 st . As silent learners , " akoustikoi , " or Initiates , and had to guard silence , and listen for two years , during which time they were forbidden to ask any question , oven for explanation , so strictly were thev disciplined .

2 nd . As students , " matheuiatikoi , " ( equivalent to our second degree ) , they studied the mathematics , viz .: Geometry , music , and astronomy , and might inquire , and dispute .

3 rd . Masters or physicians , " Phustkot , when they proceeded to investigate Ihe system of the Universe , in its most extended sense , and the grand principles of Nature .

Further we may add , that of all his teachings he . gave under vows of secrecy , and lamblichus , in his Life of Pythagoras , informs us , that the penalty of drowning on the sea-shore was

actuall y enforced on a violator of his secrets or symbols . Thus we see that , in organisation and teaching , our system is evidently of Roman origin , for

there is no doubt that in all Roman associations whether laiac or cleric , a similar organisation prevailed . This trip le division , as applied to the Craft

Lodges , which so extensively existed at Rome , may , supposing it to have been applied to the practical Craft of Masonry , and lliat we are really the ' may descendants of the Craft have had

some influence on the Roman style of building , by giving less scope for individual exertion , and is possibly one cause why it never attained the same elevation as the . Greek .

A structure being required in any part of the world , a plan was sent down from Rome , a multitude of workmen , representing the first degree ( but probably not affiliated ) , were collected

together , some superintendants , with a chief architect at their head , were sent down , the original p lan , haying been most probably designed at Rome in the office of the Grand Master .. . ..