An Historical Account Of Master And Free Masons.

to lodges on tbe Continent , it may be readily allowed that those in the British empire were bononrably free from those imputations . The investigation is elaborate . The last-mentioned author speaks of the orig inal connexion , by analogy at least ,

Avith the mysteries of Eleusis ; tbe Essenes ; of tbe school of masonry established at Crotona in Magna Gracia by Pythagoras ; and lastly , the intimate alliance Avhich subsisted between the Knights Templars * and the FreemasonsAvith a profusion of

, useless ancl inapplicable learning . I hazard this opinion , under favour , as being merely a common reader . xJo mention is made by this inquirer of the Jewish origin , nor of the establishment , in this country , before the tAvelfth century . Both the lodge held

by EdAvyn at York , and the penal statute of Edward III . are totally omitted . The MSS . of Bode and Mouncer ( German authors ) are quoted as authorities . A passage in the Leland MS . seems to authorise a conjecture , that the

denomination of Freemasons in England was merely a vernacular corruption ( by no means unusual ) of the Freres-magons established in France . " Secretes such as do bynde the Freres more strongliche togeddre by profy tte and commoditye comynge to the

confrerie therfromme . " But I am not borne out by their appellations or titles on the Continent , t Yet how unfounded is the name free , when assumed by our countrymen , AVIIO never enjoyed here either privilege or exemption .

Both Jones and Wren were grand masters of the English lodges ; and it may be observed , that no buildings can shew a further departure from the genuine Gothic of any period than the chapel of Lincoln ' s Innthe towers of Westminsterand the

, , Campanile , Christcburch , Oxford . Tbe science and practice of the Gothic school were entirely abandoned , although in a professed imitation . In conclusion of this attempt , which I have been induced to undertake with diffi-

An Historical Account Of Master And Free Masons.

dence , and tbe sole vieAv of discovering historical truth , I disavow any inclination to scrutinize mysteries , concerning which I should be an unauthorized inquirer . But , in acknoAvledgiug with sincere praise what is conspicuously apparent to all , it

must be said , that during the last century tbe Freemasons of this kingdom have eminently distinguished themselves bv their sound loyalty and their widelyextended and useful benevolence . And so—an eminent brother of tbe

craft will say , after their patron King Henry VI . — " He Ends—and makes no Sign !"

On Her Majesty's Birthday , May , 1876.

ON HER MAJESTY'S BIRTHDAY , MAY , 1876 .

WITH leaves full glorious in their . verdure now , The trees—like thee , Victoria , —bright are crown'd ; For skies all sunny smile , which late had frown'd ,

And May with blooms afresh bedecks each bough . Thy Birthday this—daughter , wife , mother , thou Of a Masonic , royal line , renoAvn'd In ev ' ry stage , where shall th y like be

found 1 The crown , which wreathes thy fair majestic brow With priceless gems , hath goodlier gems to show Than these—thy virtuesAvhich more

, brilliant shine With love ' s pure beams , auspicious and benign , — For these with Heav ' n ' s own mystic radiance glow . These thy inherited gemsof all most

, bright ;—By thee , transmitted , too , with cloudless light . Bro . Rev . M . GORDOK .