Derivation Of The Word " Mason."

was unknown by any distinctive name , either among themselves , or by authoritative legislation . About the commencement of the fifteenth century , howeA'er , these Craftsmen began to bo termed . Fremacoens . This betrays , unquestionably ,

an elision and merging of Macon into some prefix , which at the era under notice had so far distinguished this class of workmen as to entitle them to be recognized by a specific appellation . The fundamental principle of fraternity and brotherhood in

the Guild , furnished Avith the name , the prefix from Gallic sources . By the junction of Frere with Macon , or Brother Mason , the in idem word Freemason has been formed .

Goderey Higgins On Freemasonry.

GODEREY HIGGINS ON FREEMASONRY .

BY AVILLIAM JAMES UUGI-IAN . ( Concluded from page 436 . ) BRO . HIGGINS distances all of us in his belief in the antiquity of Royal Arch Masonry , for he considers the society existed

, and members flourished "before tbe invention of key-stoned or radiated arches . " He must surely mean this in a figurative sense , for if otherwise we are unable to follow him in his faith , as he has failed to afford us the necessary evidence !

Concerning the Masonic Societies of Germany , Bro . Higgins says : "About the middle of the last centurv , the Masonic Societies showed themselves in Germany in a more prominent Avay than they had done for many generations ,

and , under the guidance of several able and philanthropic men , both Catholic and Protestant priests and laymen , it is probable gave encouragement to resistance to the united despotism of the Roman Pontiffs ancl the Royal tyrants of Europe

, Avhich , in France and Germany , had risen to such a pitch as to be no longer tolerable . The activity of the Masons , being discovered , it produced the persecution of their Order all over the Continent ; and it was much increased in consequence of

several publications of three persons called Zimmerman , Baruel and Robinson . The first was decidedly insane , and tbe other two Avere operated upon by groundless

fears in such a manner as to be in a state very little better , and which rendered them totally incapable of distinguishing between the destruction of religion , and the destruction of the base system to which the professors of reli gion had made

it subservient . They all admit that the British Masons had nothing to do with these hydra-headed conspiracies , and endeavour to draw a line between them and their continental brethren , being unable to see that the difference was not in the

Societies , which were the same , but in the countries—Britain being comparatively free and happy , the other countries enslaved and miserable . " ( Page 817 , vol . I . ) Bro . Higgins has , we think , taken a correct vieAv of the subjectand

appre-, ciatively values the peace and quietness of Great Britain , as contrasted with the tumult and anarchy of many Foreign countries , particularly during the latter part of last century . Freemasonry , of course , is entirely neutral as a Society ,

both as respects Religion and Politics , and so it has always been claimed to be since the Revival of 1717 , and the adaptation of the " Old Charges " issued by the Rev . Dr . Anderson in the first book of Constitutions for a Grand Lodge ever published ( A . D . 1723 . ) Before then , the Masonic Society

was not neutral as regards religion , for nearly all the copies of its Regulations and traditional History commence Avith an Invocation to the Trinity , and contain many references to the Scriptures and the church which clearly illustrated the

intimate connection subsisting between the Priesthood of past centuries and Operative Freemasonry , Avhich intimacy was not wholly severed in some countries during the last century and which is even now preserved in many lodgeswherever it is

, the custom annually to appoint a chaplain whose duty it is to deliver all the prayers , and Avhose privileges are so often misunderstood that they are permitted frequently to present such petitions " through Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour" even when

Jews and Turks may be sitting side by side with Christians . We conceive it to be quite impossible to obliterate all traces of reli g ion—and even sectarian religion as exibited in the Holy Bible of tbe Christians—from Freemasonry , without obliterating the Society