Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
M
worthy of remark that the objections taken to Tree masonry in tlie above letter may afford some amusement to our Brethren , who will doubtless recognize , in the objections which are now hurled at themselves and their Craft by their anti-Masonic friends and acquaintance , " old friends with new faces . " We now pass on to the second letter , containing an account of the
opposition society of the . " GrOHMoao ^ s , " to enter which , it seems , Freemasons must first " be degraded "
« LETTEE II . " Giving an Account of the " Most Ancient Order of GORMOGONS , "In " Its Original , Institution , Excellency , and Design : Its Pules and Orders , and the Manner of its Introduction into Great Britain .
" With an intire Collection or all that has been made Publick on that Occasion . Together with the supposed Reason of their Excluding the Free-Masons , without they previously undergo the Form of Degradation , & c . " Sir
" Since my last , the Venerable Order of Gormogons having been brought into England , by a Chinese Mandarin , of Great Dignity and Note in his own Country , I could not deny myself the Pleasure to give you as particular on Account as has come to ray knowledge , of what has been done and published since his Arrival , relating to the establishing that Society in this Island .
" You , Sir , are not to be informed , That the Chinese pretend to have Accounts of Time and Transactions , many Thousand Years before Adam ; And I am now to acquaint you , That their first Chief Monarch , or Emperor , as he has since been called , who , tho' European Historians frequently call him by another Name , was commonly in China known by that of Chin-Qtjaw-ky-Po , Is the Institutor of this Order , for the Reward of Merit , and Encouragement of Science , in that
Kingdom of Philosophers , many Centuries before Adam . And I must needs confess , That as their only Boast is not their Antiquity , but that they chiefly aim to establish their Order on the Merit of their Members ; they bid fair totally to eclipse the other Society , which without any other Regards than the Entrance-Fine , and consequential Gluttony , and Ebriety , promiscuously , and without Distinction , admits the Worthy and the Unworthy .
" This Order , it seems , as well as the other , has a Secret , and , as I am inform'd , it is of a very extraordinary Nature ; but what , I am well assur'd is neither shocking to Humanity , or to Morals , tho' I cannot penetrate into the Nature of it . As the Cultivating of Arts and Sciences is the principal End of its Institution , Gentlemen of Wit and Parts , who are members of it , entertain the
Society with such Productions , either of their own , or others , as are truly Curious , whether in Prose or Yerse , in every Science , as well Mechanieal as Liberal . And for this Reason , ingenious Mechanicks are far from being excluded , each being encouraged , in his own particular Way , to excel . Nor do they , it seems , disdain to divert and entertain one another with a pleasant Song , so as it is not contrary to Decency and good Manners , and turns not upon Party or Politics .
" And this leads me to tell you , That the only Point of Conversation , which is expressly prohibited , is that of the Politicks of their own Country , which ia a most excellent and necessary Rule , because , as the Society consists of ingenious men of all Persuasions , and no body is excluded for his private Opinion , Disputes might otherwise arise , which would create Feuds and Animosities among them : The propagating the contrary of which , is , it « eems , a fundamental Article among them . " After the Qualifications of the Person are examin'd into ( which I am told is extremely strict ) and approv'd , the Terms of Entrance are very easy : Instead of
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
M
worthy of remark that the objections taken to Tree masonry in tlie above letter may afford some amusement to our Brethren , who will doubtless recognize , in the objections which are now hurled at themselves and their Craft by their anti-Masonic friends and acquaintance , " old friends with new faces . " We now pass on to the second letter , containing an account of the
opposition society of the . " GrOHMoao ^ s , " to enter which , it seems , Freemasons must first " be degraded "
« LETTEE II . " Giving an Account of the " Most Ancient Order of GORMOGONS , "In " Its Original , Institution , Excellency , and Design : Its Pules and Orders , and the Manner of its Introduction into Great Britain .
" With an intire Collection or all that has been made Publick on that Occasion . Together with the supposed Reason of their Excluding the Free-Masons , without they previously undergo the Form of Degradation , & c . " Sir
" Since my last , the Venerable Order of Gormogons having been brought into England , by a Chinese Mandarin , of Great Dignity and Note in his own Country , I could not deny myself the Pleasure to give you as particular on Account as has come to ray knowledge , of what has been done and published since his Arrival , relating to the establishing that Society in this Island .
" You , Sir , are not to be informed , That the Chinese pretend to have Accounts of Time and Transactions , many Thousand Years before Adam ; And I am now to acquaint you , That their first Chief Monarch , or Emperor , as he has since been called , who , tho' European Historians frequently call him by another Name , was commonly in China known by that of Chin-Qtjaw-ky-Po , Is the Institutor of this Order , for the Reward of Merit , and Encouragement of Science , in that
Kingdom of Philosophers , many Centuries before Adam . And I must needs confess , That as their only Boast is not their Antiquity , but that they chiefly aim to establish their Order on the Merit of their Members ; they bid fair totally to eclipse the other Society , which without any other Regards than the Entrance-Fine , and consequential Gluttony , and Ebriety , promiscuously , and without Distinction , admits the Worthy and the Unworthy .
" This Order , it seems , as well as the other , has a Secret , and , as I am inform'd , it is of a very extraordinary Nature ; but what , I am well assur'd is neither shocking to Humanity , or to Morals , tho' I cannot penetrate into the Nature of it . As the Cultivating of Arts and Sciences is the principal End of its Institution , Gentlemen of Wit and Parts , who are members of it , entertain the
Society with such Productions , either of their own , or others , as are truly Curious , whether in Prose or Yerse , in every Science , as well Mechanieal as Liberal . And for this Reason , ingenious Mechanicks are far from being excluded , each being encouraged , in his own particular Way , to excel . Nor do they , it seems , disdain to divert and entertain one another with a pleasant Song , so as it is not contrary to Decency and good Manners , and turns not upon Party or Politics .
" And this leads me to tell you , That the only Point of Conversation , which is expressly prohibited , is that of the Politicks of their own Country , which ia a most excellent and necessary Rule , because , as the Society consists of ingenious men of all Persuasions , and no body is excluded for his private Opinion , Disputes might otherwise arise , which would create Feuds and Animosities among them : The propagating the contrary of which , is , it « eems , a fundamental Article among them . " After the Qualifications of the Person are examin'd into ( which I am told is extremely strict ) and approv'd , the Terms of Entrance are very easy : Instead of