Freemasonry.

them ? No one knew the necessary rules of the art except the Freemasons . England sent for such builders , and wherever they moved their usages , costumes , and building hut went with them .

Like the German Masons , all the English who worked under their guidance with square and compass , formed themselves , 1849 , into a like brotherhood , with the same rituals . They distinguished the three degrees of M ., F-C , and

E-A . ; in order to know each other , and be known from among strangers , they had certain words , and a peculiar way of shaking hands . Before and after working they assembled in the building hut or lodge , ( from the Italian Loggia , Latin Logium ,

French Logis , ) and we know ifc as a lodge . While in the hut certain impressive usages were observed . Extra celebrations took place on the arrival of a visiting craftsman , or by reception of a novice . The fundamental rules of the art they kept in

symbols , consisting of geometrical elements , like square , triangle , quadrangle , & c , likewise were borrowed from the names of tools used for drawing

and building , viz .: compass , square , plumb . Finally they enforced strict moral laws , instituted means whereby customs and the secrets of the art could be transmitted , and drew up such laws , equalising all such builders inside of the hut . But

with all the grandeur of those huts , they had to succumb . The English building huts saved themselves only by taking in to their circle rieh men , and lovers of art , and those were received under the

name of Accepted Masons . The German huts were abolished in England by an edict dated August 16 , 1731 . William of Orange became a member of a hut , 1695 , and since then ifc was

called the " Royal Art . " But after the building of St . Paul ' s Church , London , 1162—67 , the huts became more and more deserted and with the exception of a few , broke up , But in spite of edicts against the " builders" the

old saying was verified : — " The ancient crumbles , but new life sprouts from its ruins . " The few remaining lodges concluded a re-union February , 1717 , under a sole Grand Master , and in

accordance to this they assembled on fSt . John ' s Day the same year in the Ire , near St . Paul ' s Churchyard , "To the Goose and Gridiron , " celebrated that day of F . and A . M ., elected Anton Sayer their G , 1 I . and installed him also . Inasmuch as the G . M . elect was already no more

an actual Operative Mason , aud the reception of m ? r of not became more common , we might say that th < Mason of the Bauhutlc and the Mason of the presen * day became two different subjects ; but this state of things suited , for the reactions of bloody religious wars

demanded a system of tolerance and brotherly love . The ancient statutes , inculcating brotherly love , truth , and virtue , were re-established , old landmarks partly reiained partly renovated and completed , and with an admirable sensitiveness , and careful traditions ,

words , signs , forms , all of which heart warming for centuries were explained and accepted , not outwardly but spiritually . "Not a visible temple was to be erected , but a dome whose spire was seen over the globe . " Not wood , stone , metal , and other material

liable to decay , but the human soul should henceforth be proper material for the Eoyal Art . The building to be erected , though , should , like the the work of operative Masons , be of like utility to hn . man socie ' ty ,. "A Mason , " says an ancient landmark ,

is obliged to obey all moral laws ; and if he understands the art well , he will be neither an obstinate Atheist nor a religious scoffer . " In olden times all were obliged to abide by the instituted religion , but at present we oblige them according to such views as

all concur in , namely , to be true and upright , possess honour and integrity , no matter by what names and opinions they may differ religiously . This makes

Masonry the centre and means of forming true friendship . Truly , the idea of this form was sublime ! No wonder that for a long time- it was a power , with many r . religion itself ! Soon this reformed Masonry burst the narrow bounds of England , and spread over the globe .

Germany embraced it favourably and enthusiastically . Love to all , horror for all inhumanity , and peace declarations , while wars had decimated nations . But beside purity and beauty , other things may be apparent .

The mystic veil surrounding Masonry induced many a cowan to approach . The former century inherited the mania after hidden treasures , the Stone of Wisdom , and other follies , from the 17 th century . Mysticism and adventure sought a field for their follies in

lodges , and even often found adherents . In Germany was it chiefly the chase after miracle ? , in Francs was it the practical adventurer who appropriated the magic twilight for his operations and abnormity , like the Illuminates in Germany , while in

France they overworked themselves in new degrees , and tried to introduce new forms and symbols—Dead Sea fruits . In the course of our Century Masonry has pruned tbe tree of all such wild shoots . Foundation of Masonry is humanity and brotherly love . Traditional forms , rites , the so-called mysteries , are more or less things that were .