Skip to main content
Museum of Freemasonry

Masonic Periodicals Online

  • Explore
  • Advanced Search
  • Home
  • Explore
  • The Freemasons' Monthly Magazine
  • Feb. 7, 1863
  • Page 1
  • ANTIQUITY OF MASONIC DEGREES.
Current:

The Freemasons' Monthly Magazine, Feb. 7, 1863: Page 1

  • Back to The Freemasons' Monthly Magazine, Feb. 7, 1863
  • Print image
  • Articles/Ads
    Article GRAND CHAPTER. Page 1 of 1
    Article ANTIQUITY OF MASONIC DEGREES. Page 1 of 2 →
Page 1

Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.

Grand Chapter.

GRAND CHAPTER .

LONDON , SATURDAY , FEBRTTAXY 7 , 1863 .

The Quarterly Convocation of that sham of shams , G-rand Chapter , which ought long since to have been numbered with the institutions of the past , Avas held on Wednesday , and like the celebrated army of a King of 3 ? rance , which marched up the hill and down

again—did nothing . It is true G-rand Chapter was opened—one or two questions talked over—and Grand Chapter was closed ; being entirely barren of results . When will the Companions determine to sweep away the nuisance entirely ? If Freemasonry , as the Soo 7 c

of Constitutions declares , consists of three degrees ( including the Royal Arch ) , be one institution—a fact , by the way , which Companion Savage declares to be only theoretical ; then the management should vest only in Grand Lodge , and Masonry be one and indivisible .

Antiquity Of Masonic Degrees.

ANTIQUITY OF MASONIC DEGREES .

( From a Gorrespondenti ) In the hope that this interesting subject may yet attract the attention and the study of many , who are well qualified to throw light upon it , I venture once more to trespass upon your space . The seasonable publication in your last number ofthe MAGAZINE , of the communication of Bro . Matthew Cooke ' s able

correspondent , together with the appearance of "Delta's " reply , may be fairly taken as proof that the matter has . some little interest for the Craft at large . It was with that view that the remarks were put together , which you were good enough to insert in the MAGAZINE of the week before last .

They were , in fact , the result of "Delta ' s" note amongst Masonic Notes and Queries , in the preceding number , and were confined to his statements which seemed to ask for some notice , on the part of those who hold a diametrically opposite theory . " Delta , " in his reply , in your last numberappears

, to me somewhat to forget and to wander from the real point in controversy between us . Itis , shortly stated , what is the actual antiquity of our present Craft degrees ? Are they anterior to 1717 ? or are they a compilation made just at that time ?

Is Masonry itself , in fact , the precursor of Templary , or was Templary the origin of Masonry ? If words have meaning " Delta " laid down , in his original communication , that our present Speculative Masonry was the product of the Grand Lodge of 1717

; that that Grand Lodge , —rather a startling assertion , — "was founded by a few rusty Speculative Masons who had passed the degree of a Craft . " I

suppose he means EellowCraft , but where , he does not say . In fact , this Grand Lodge , he proceeds to state , was the formation of "Masons ignorant and careless against the degree of a Master . " Having thus satisfactorily disposed of the antiquity of Craft Masonry , he goes on to examine the

superior antiquity of Temjilar Masonry . The Templar Knights having , as he says , re-established their lodges in 1314 , that they were ' at York in 1561 , and from 1700 to 1787 ; and having alluded to other high degrees and ancient Masonry , and Dermott's attack

on the Order , he leaves it to be inferred that from these same high and knightly degrees Masonry derived its origin . If this be so—coedit questio—all our belief in the antiquity of Craft Masonry , its ritual , its traditions ,

its marks , its unity , is swept away for ever . To meet this untenable theory , I ventured to submit that explanation , which I firmly believe is the true one , and which subsequent research Avill incontestably establish , viz ., that our present Grand Lodge

of Speculative and Accepted Masonry is but ; the legitimate and lineal successor ofthe Grand Assembly of Operative Masonry , revived after the civil wars , and with the absorption of the operative by the speculative element , through the progress of time , and the

conditions of the general body . I do not see , I confess , when I even " partially admit , " in saying this , what "Delta" is contending , for .

On the contrary , if I understand him , and he understands me , we differ toto ccelo , and are , in truth , as far as the poles asunder . Eor observe the difference between us . " Delta " looks for the origin of Masonry in some secret speculative body , whether of knightly or of high degree ; I trace the history of speculative

Masonry to-day—through the operative guilds before 1700—through the operative feudalities of the middle and earlier ages—to the Roman colleges , and thence to the Tyrian and Hebrew Masons . re . I might enlarge a great deal on this subject , but I

spare your readers' time and patience . As regards the connection between the operative and speculative Masons in this country previous to 1700 , which I asserted existed , and of which I gave a few proofs , I observe that Delta takes no notice of Dr . Plot ' s

evidence , w hich , ' pro tanto , is most important as' showing the antiquity before 1687 , of conjoint lodges of operative and speculative Masons . Neither does " Delta " allude to the very striking evidence of that Masonic poem , written by Mr . Marsh in the latter part of the fourteenth century , and which led Mr .

Halliwell , a non-Mason , to admit , that " the identity of the legend in the ancient poem with , that in the modern constitutions is a decisive argument in . favour of the connection between the old societies of Masons and the benefit clubs of the seventeenth century . " Mr . Halliwell , who as a Cowan , speaks thus ignorantly of Masonry itself , in calling it a benefit club , unhesitatingly connects the revival in the 17 th

“The Freemasons' Monthly Magazine: 1863-02-07, Page 1” Masonic Periodicals Online, Library and Museum of Freemasonry, 16 May 2025, django:8000/periodicals/mmr/issues/mmr_07021863/page/1/.
  • List
  • Grid
Title Category Page
GRAND CHAPTER. Article 1
ANTIQUITY OF MASONIC DEGREES. Article 1
THE HIDDEN MYSTERIES OF NATURE AND SCIENCE.—PART II. Article 2
THE POEMS AND SONGS OF THE LATE BRO. FRANCIS LOVE, OF LODGE No. 169. (S.C.) Article 4
MASONIC NOTES AND QUERIES. Article 4
CORRESPONDENCE. Article 5
Untitled Article 6
METROPOLITAN. Article 6
PROVINCIAL. Article 7
SCOTLAND. Article 15
IRELAND. Article 15
COLONIAL. Article 15
MARK MASONRY. Article 15
MASONIC FESTIVITIES Article 16
ROYAL ARCH. Article 16
Poetry. Article 17
THE WEEK. Article 17
TO CORRESPONDENTS. Article 20
GRAND LODGE PROPERTY. Article 20
Page 1

Page 1

2 Articles
Page 2

Page 2

3 Articles
Page 3

Page 3

1 Article
Page 4

Page 4

2 Articles
Page 5

Page 5

2 Articles
Page 6

Page 6

2 Articles
Page 7

Page 7

2 Articles
Page 8

Page 8

1 Article
Page 9

Page 9

1 Article
Page 10

Page 10

1 Article
Page 11

Page 11

1 Article
Page 12

Page 12

1 Article
Page 13

Page 13

1 Article
Page 14

Page 14

1 Article
Page 15

Page 15

6 Articles
Page 16

Page 16

2 Articles
Page 17

Page 17

3 Articles
Page 18

Page 18

1 Article
Page 19

Page 19

1 Article
Page 20

Page 20

3 Articles
Page 1

Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.

Grand Chapter.

GRAND CHAPTER .

LONDON , SATURDAY , FEBRTTAXY 7 , 1863 .

The Quarterly Convocation of that sham of shams , G-rand Chapter , which ought long since to have been numbered with the institutions of the past , Avas held on Wednesday , and like the celebrated army of a King of 3 ? rance , which marched up the hill and down

again—did nothing . It is true G-rand Chapter was opened—one or two questions talked over—and Grand Chapter was closed ; being entirely barren of results . When will the Companions determine to sweep away the nuisance entirely ? If Freemasonry , as the Soo 7 c

of Constitutions declares , consists of three degrees ( including the Royal Arch ) , be one institution—a fact , by the way , which Companion Savage declares to be only theoretical ; then the management should vest only in Grand Lodge , and Masonry be one and indivisible .

Antiquity Of Masonic Degrees.

ANTIQUITY OF MASONIC DEGREES .

( From a Gorrespondenti ) In the hope that this interesting subject may yet attract the attention and the study of many , who are well qualified to throw light upon it , I venture once more to trespass upon your space . The seasonable publication in your last number ofthe MAGAZINE , of the communication of Bro . Matthew Cooke ' s able

correspondent , together with the appearance of "Delta's " reply , may be fairly taken as proof that the matter has . some little interest for the Craft at large . It was with that view that the remarks were put together , which you were good enough to insert in the MAGAZINE of the week before last .

They were , in fact , the result of "Delta ' s" note amongst Masonic Notes and Queries , in the preceding number , and were confined to his statements which seemed to ask for some notice , on the part of those who hold a diametrically opposite theory . " Delta , " in his reply , in your last numberappears

, to me somewhat to forget and to wander from the real point in controversy between us . Itis , shortly stated , what is the actual antiquity of our present Craft degrees ? Are they anterior to 1717 ? or are they a compilation made just at that time ?

Is Masonry itself , in fact , the precursor of Templary , or was Templary the origin of Masonry ? If words have meaning " Delta " laid down , in his original communication , that our present Speculative Masonry was the product of the Grand Lodge of 1717

; that that Grand Lodge , —rather a startling assertion , — "was founded by a few rusty Speculative Masons who had passed the degree of a Craft . " I

suppose he means EellowCraft , but where , he does not say . In fact , this Grand Lodge , he proceeds to state , was the formation of "Masons ignorant and careless against the degree of a Master . " Having thus satisfactorily disposed of the antiquity of Craft Masonry , he goes on to examine the

superior antiquity of Temjilar Masonry . The Templar Knights having , as he says , re-established their lodges in 1314 , that they were ' at York in 1561 , and from 1700 to 1787 ; and having alluded to other high degrees and ancient Masonry , and Dermott's attack

on the Order , he leaves it to be inferred that from these same high and knightly degrees Masonry derived its origin . If this be so—coedit questio—all our belief in the antiquity of Craft Masonry , its ritual , its traditions ,

its marks , its unity , is swept away for ever . To meet this untenable theory , I ventured to submit that explanation , which I firmly believe is the true one , and which subsequent research Avill incontestably establish , viz ., that our present Grand Lodge

of Speculative and Accepted Masonry is but ; the legitimate and lineal successor ofthe Grand Assembly of Operative Masonry , revived after the civil wars , and with the absorption of the operative by the speculative element , through the progress of time , and the

conditions of the general body . I do not see , I confess , when I even " partially admit , " in saying this , what "Delta" is contending , for .

On the contrary , if I understand him , and he understands me , we differ toto ccelo , and are , in truth , as far as the poles asunder . Eor observe the difference between us . " Delta " looks for the origin of Masonry in some secret speculative body , whether of knightly or of high degree ; I trace the history of speculative

Masonry to-day—through the operative guilds before 1700—through the operative feudalities of the middle and earlier ages—to the Roman colleges , and thence to the Tyrian and Hebrew Masons . re . I might enlarge a great deal on this subject , but I

spare your readers' time and patience . As regards the connection between the operative and speculative Masons in this country previous to 1700 , which I asserted existed , and of which I gave a few proofs , I observe that Delta takes no notice of Dr . Plot ' s

evidence , w hich , ' pro tanto , is most important as' showing the antiquity before 1687 , of conjoint lodges of operative and speculative Masons . Neither does " Delta " allude to the very striking evidence of that Masonic poem , written by Mr . Marsh in the latter part of the fourteenth century , and which led Mr .

Halliwell , a non-Mason , to admit , that " the identity of the legend in the ancient poem with , that in the modern constitutions is a decisive argument in . favour of the connection between the old societies of Masons and the benefit clubs of the seventeenth century . " Mr . Halliwell , who as a Cowan , speaks thus ignorantly of Masonry itself , in calling it a benefit club , unhesitatingly connects the revival in the 17 th

  • Prev page
  • You're on page1
  • 2
  • 20
  • Next page
  • Accredited Museum Designated Outstanding Collection
  • LIBRARY AND MUSEUM CHARITABLE TRUST OF THE UNITED GRAND LODGE OF ENGLAND REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER 1058497 / ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © 2025

  • Accessibility statement

  • Designed, developed, and maintained by King's Digital Lab

We use cookies to track usage and preferences.

Privacy & cookie policy