The Craft And Its Criticisers.—Iii.

sphere would have been left undone ; and yet but little is really known ol the extent to which this is carried , because the same secrecy which characterizes other proceedings is greatly exercised in this respect , and lists ol donors are not vaunted and blazoned forth to the world for purposes oJ self-glorification . Under this head may be especially mentioned the Masonic Annuity Fund , and the schools for children of deceased and decayed Masons . " It may also be addedthat according to the obligations which

, all must take on their admission , no Master of a Lodge can initiate a person without administering the same obligation ; and hence , it is impossible that any one , since the establishment of the institution , in the early ages of the existence of the world as the abode of rational beings , could reveal that which he had solemnly sworn to lock up in the safe repository of his heart ; in fact , that there can be no one willing to take on himself the awful responsibility of the first step , in violation of his serious promises and

engagements . " flow can there be any similarity between the present institution , which it is said is speculative , and intended to inculcate the moral and social virtues in a symbolical form ; that of the periods of Old Testament history , when it is supposed to have been the conservator of religion itself ; and that of the middle ages , when it seemed to have as its chief object the erection of Christian templesand the cultivation of the sciencesparticularl

, , y architecture ?—It may be answered , that the connexion between them is much the same as that between astronomy and astrology , the former being the position which the latter assumed , in proportion as true knowledge of the laws by which the heavenly bodies are governed took the place of mere theory , founded on ignorance or credulity ; though it must be admitted that the analogy does not hold good in every point of view , because Freemasonry

was from the beginning founded on truth and on a knowledge of God's dealings with mankind . The very names of these two sciences referred to hnplie the change which has taken place ; and such must ever he the case as the human race adds one discovery to another , and advances in the cultivation of knowledge of the different portions of creation , and of the principles and laws by which they arc regulated . Still , Freemasonry has more affinity , at these different epochs , than may at first be supposed . It

lias ever had relation to religion and virtue ; and it is well known that the Craft was in full vigour at the time of the building of the first and second ' temples at Jerusalem , in which it took a chief part , when the various means used to bind the members together in one fraternity were of infinite use in the accomplishment of those great works , independently of the operative skill which was confined to them , and without either of which the architects could not have been crowned with success . Againin what are called the

, middle ages , when nearly all the great ecclesiastical edifices in the most civilized countries of Europe were erected , those who wrought upon them were united in Lodges or guilds for the purpose , and none were permitted to take a part unless they belonged to these incorporated associations . Even now there are Lodges in existence , whose charters date back to the period when such was the case , and they contain provisions suited to the circumstances of the timeand to the main objects which they had in view as

, operative as well as speculative Masons . To these bodies belonged a large number of ecclesiastics , who planned and directed the works , and it is but reasonable to suppose that their sacred calling must have led them to enforce , equally with operative Masonry , a regard for the principles of true religion , of genuine piety , and of fraternal union . "Before the invention of printing , when the means of communicating knowledge were few and imperfect , no readier mode presented itself of extending awl keeping up the