Reviews.

Reviews .

The History of Masonry , from the building of the House of the Lord , audits progress throughout tho civilized world , dawn to the present time , by J . W . S . Mitchell , M . D ., S . G . M ., Missouri . Published by the Author , Griffin , U . S .

Nothing is more remarkable in the progress of Freemasonry , than that intellectual movement which began in Germany , and carried on in England , is IIOAV receiving such fostering encouragement and support in the United States of America . It was not

very long ago that it Avas our privilege to rovieAV a very interesting volume , by Bro . Steinbrenner , which , belonging to the Masonic critical school , Avas characterized in our humble opinion by most fpraise-Avorthy evidences of accurate investigation

and dispassionate enquiry . Based no doubt mainly on Bro . J . Findel ' s more elaborate work , it yet reflected no little credit on Bro . Steinbrenner , for the simple , yet effective and original dress , as regards his statement of facts and evidence , in Avhich he submitted it to the studious and lenient

consideration of the Craft . In the vieAA's Avhich Bro . Steinbrenner put forward Ave mainly agree , ancl think that , in the operative character originally of Freemasonry , Ave find the true solution of our history in the past , and up to the ^

present hour . Bro . Mitchell ' s elaborate history of 740 octavo pages is based on an entirely different foundation . This goodly volume—goodly in size and appearance , is devoted for someAvhat more than half of it to the history of Masonry

generally ; the remaining portion contains the history of Masonry mainly in America . We propose , hoAvever , on the present occasion , only to deal with that portion of the book which relates to Freemasonry generally . We have said beforethat Bro .

, Mitchell ' s history rests upon a basis different to that , on which Bro . Steinbrenner builds up his Masonic historical superstructure . Bro . Mitchell assumes the

connection of Freemasons with the building of King Solomon ' s Temple , as an undoubted , nay , an historical fact , relying , no doubt , on the uniform legends and traditions of our Order to this effect . And though this vieiv is not so fashionable just noAV as it used to be , though on the

sterner sifting of legends and myths , and the connecting ratiocination of cause and effect , many IIOAV would take a much more matter of fact vieAV of our' history , and discard what they consider as purely legendary or sentimental , yet , we think it both

right to say , that Ave do not see Avhy explanations may not be true . The fact that specidative Masonry is the successor of the guilds of working Masons may be true , but that , by no means , shuts out the older theorythatthe mediaeval

, , guilds are the continuation of the Roman guilds , ancl that all the early building coUeges , and sodalities , were bound together by one common tie of outward marks ancl organization , ancl by an inner secrecy of ritual and recognition . The Tyrians , the

Egyptians , the Etruscans , Avere the great builders of antiquity ; all their arts and sciences , and colleges and corporations , passed on to Greece ancl Rome , and we think it ' right to say that , as there is no it priori reason , evidently , why our old tradition on this head should not be true ,

all subsequent evidence seems to point to a community of aim and brotherhood among the early building fraternities of the world , whatever be their special name or actual country . Hence then , our brother Mitchell's vieAV is , that , we may date back

"Freemasonry to the building of the Temple at Jerusalem , and that it subsequently flourished as an operative fraternity under high ancl distinguished patronage . Bro . Mitchell assmnes we note Avithout questionthe Masonic legend of the York

, assembly under Edwin , the meeting at Canterbury under Archbishop Chicheley , and the existence and authenticity of the Locke MS . "With regard to the assembly under Edwin , AVC fear that cannot be any longer

upheld historically . The tradition is either a perversion of an historical event , namely , the advent of Edwin or Eachvin , King of Northumbria , to York , and his baptism there , and the building of a stone church by Masons who came from Rome , —or it is

an allusion , to the probable fact that Athelstan gave a charter to the operative Masons , among other guilds , to whom he is also said to have granted a charter . In the Masonic Poem there are , no doubt , some lines winch seem to refer to what Avas said at the meeting in the "Syte , " ancl Dr . Oliver may be correct , after all , that Ave