Ancient Masonic Lodges, No. 1.

ANCIENT MASONIC LODGES , No . 1 .

BY AV . J . HUGHAN . In order to obtain correct information as to Avhat Freemasonry Avas , prior to the introduction of Grand Lodges hi the second and third decades of the last century , we

must study the few A'olumes of records preserved , the A'arious Aversions of tho " old charges" or Operative Masonic

Constitutions , and such allusions to the craft as may be found in MSS ., and printed publications . A sure foundation can only be obtained through the foregoing media , and wherein they fail to communicate light , much caution is necessary and the "traditions of

Masonry" should only be valued and accepted as authentic when confirmed b y unquestionable documentary eAddence . We do not say " reject the traditions , " Avhen they contain extra to the records and other MSS ., but keep them in their proper place and treat them as presenting statements of Avhat may be , rather than what is , the

truth . Had our jn-edecessors paid as much attention to facts as they palpably did to fictions , the history of the fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons Avould be in a more advanced state than it is at jjresent . Bro , the Rev . A . F . A . Woodford , M . A .,

( an earnest and most intelligent Mason ) has Avell said of the true aims of Masonic students and historians , " Truth is the great object to be sought , historical certainty and archaeological accuracy . " Let , then , these

be our aims , and Avhfle anxious to conserve every tradition , may Ave be still more anxious to produce unequivocal evidence in confirmation of everything we individually advance with respect to early

Freemasonry . In a most thoughtful article on "Masonic Arehseology" ( Masonic Magazine , No . 3 . p . 89 ) Bro . Woodford has reviewed the magnificent work by Bro . D . Murray Lyon which has recently appeared under the auspices of Messrs . BlaclcAVOod & Sons ,

Edinburgh , and though generally most appreciative of the " History of the Lod ge of Edinburgh " which deserves to be very carefully perused , and thought over b y every Masonic student , our excellent brother

takes exception to some of the opinions expressed therein . The points of difference mainly arise out of the question of " Three degrees , " or Avhether in early times " there Avas but one ceremony , and that the titles

of Fallow of Craft and Maister were only titles of courtesy not distinctions of degree . " Bro . Woodford observes , " Seeing IIOAV very imperfect and sparse these Scotch minutes are , I do not think it even settles the question as far as Scotland is concerned " ...

... " The three divisions are always preserved from first to last , " " and there seem to nie to be several indiekc , if slight in themselves , that Avhile the Avholo private and general business of the lodge Avas transacted , as with us , still , in the first

degree , yet that there Avas a line of demarcation known to the Masons as existing betAveen the three classes . " "As

regards England , though Bro . Lyon quotes Bro . Hughan ' s opinion as decisive on the subject , and as being in conformity Avith his OAvn , I yet believe , as I have before said , with all respect for that able and correct brother , that Bro . Hughan

some-Avhat overlooks and depreciates our eAddence on the subject . " "I feel bound to admit that the entries in these early minute books , leave the question of the antiqmty of the degrees , as far as Scotland is concerned , in a state of great obscurity and uncertainty . "

These extracts from the interesting article under consideration Avill serve to define our relative positions , and Avhile it is pleasant to find that Ave all agree as to the operative origin of Freemasonry , likewise its partly speculative character as far back

as the records date , the differences are after all susceptible of solution by reference to the memorials of the ancient Craft