Illustrations Of The History Of The Craft.

lived to take an oath * not to divulge the secrets Avith Avhich ho Avas entrusted , and was then made acquainted Avith the customary Avoids and signs of recognition . He Avas afterwards instructed in the traditionary teachings of the Order , and

devoted himself , AA'ith his brethren , to the ' acquisition of knoAA'ledge and the dispensation of charity . " There seem to have been degrees among them , and they are said to have been divided into three classes . And though I cannot shut my eyes to

the remarkable similarity betAveen the customs of the Essenes and those of Free masonry , like Krause , I believe the safest course , on historical grounds , is to endeavour to trace the orig in and continuation of Freemasonry to the building

corporations of the past . . I must leave for another chapter the history of the Roman sodalities . ( To be Continued . )

An Oration.

AN ORATION .

The following Oration Avas delivered in 1864 , at the Consecration of the Harrogate and Claro Lodge , at Harrogate , when our lamented Brother S . B . Wilson was the Consecrating Officer .

As the Oration has never been published , and as it received Bro . S . B . Wilson ' s warm commendation at the time , it is IIOAV thought Avell to submit it to the kindly consideration of the Craft , in the pages of the Magazine .

A . F . A . " WOODFORD , P . G . C . London , Aug . 16 th , 1873 . It has been customary fr ' ein time immemorial on occasions like the presentwhen

, , a new lodge is about to be consecrated , to the honour and glory of the Most High , and to the solemn ceremonies of our Ancient Order , for some of the brethren to

deliver a short address or oration , xpatiating on the excellency of Freemasonry , or explanatory of some of its leading principles . To-day , Avhen Ave are happily assembled here under the presiding direction of our distinguished brother , so long the

AvellknoAvn instructor of the Emulation Lodge of Improvement , and one of the great masters of Masonic lore in this country , I feel it to be no slight distinction , as Avell as no little privilege , to have been requested by him to officiate as Chaplain , and to address my assembled brethren of West Yorkshire .

I propose , hoAvever , to confine my present remarks to those duties Avhich devolve upon us all , as intelligent Masons , in relation to the craft at large , and to our OAVII lodges in particular , as Avell as to offer a feAV but suggestive lessons , AA'hich Ave may all derivefrom a due consideration of the ever

, appropriate teaching and spiritualized ' application , of our old and familiar ritual ! Such occasions as the present may fitly serve , and such addresses as the present should properly tend , to recall to our memoriesboth the technical terms and

, the practical teaching of Masonry , Avhen once again Ave are enabled to rekindle those Avanner associations Avhich carry us back through many changing years , to the early hours of our Masonic adoption , to past

seasons , and to our first steps in the mystic science , and to brethren and friends Avho have long since , alas ! ceased to be . The Craft hi England and Wales , and the Channel Islands , is HOAV under one United Grand Lodge , and has been so ;

happily , since 1813 . We have , consequently , no conflictingjurisdictions to harmonize and no opposing interests to fear . We are also all ruled by one Grand Master , AVIIO from his private virtues and

Masonic zeal , is indeed AA'ell fitted to preside over our Order , and to hhn Ave OAVB an ever-failing debt of gratitude , for that long and beneficent SAvay—for the AAusdom that has characterized all his decisions , and for the justice that has distinguished all his

determinations . * The Grand Master is supported by the Deputy Grand Master , our own