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  • Feb. 7, 1863
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The Freemasons' Monthly Magazine, Feb. 7, 1863: Page 5

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    Article MASONIC NOTES AND QUERIES. ← Page 2 of 2
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Masonic Notes And Queries.

first turning down Bread-Street from Cheapside used to be called Black Spread Eagle-court , in all probability from the Milton ensign . " Mr . Hunter has pointed out that the charge iu question is borne , with certain differences , by families of the name of Milton settled in Shropshire , Staffordshire , & c . Burke , too , in his " General Armoury , " gives this coat and crest as belonging to the Oxfordshire familof Milton lton the is in

y or My , as name - differently spelt ; and it is reported that a grant by Segar is in existence , giving to the poet and his family an assignment of . these arms . "—Illustrated Times , Jan . 31 sC 1863 .

Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

The Editor is not responsible for -the opinions expressed by Correspondents ,. ANTIQUITY OF MASONIC DEGREES . " Great is truth , and mighty above all things . " 10 IHE EDITOE OB THE EBEEMAS 0 H 3 ' MA & AZIHE AltB MAS 03 II 0 MIEEOB . DEAE SIR AND BEOTHEE , —In my rough letters and memoranda I have endeavoured to show what mustindeed

, , be evident to any impartial reader , that Speculative Masonic ceremonies , though equivalent to , were yet distinct , separate and entirely different from those of the Operative Freemasons ; and that the Mark Masters are the legitimate representatives of the latter . As bearing very considerably on this discussion , could you find space for the following extractwhich I

, find I had copied into an old pocket book , from the Daily News , of August , 1856 . " The Mahommedan sect of Beklashi Dervishes , -recognise each other by exactly the same signs and practice the rites of the European Freemasons . They are the most enlightened and civilised of all the Mahommedan sectssome of the most influential men in Turkey

, belong to it ; it is not , however , recognised by the Turkish Government , and its property has been confiscated . There are about nine lodges , and the present Grand Master of the Order is named Tzani Ismael Tochoch Mohomed Saide , he resides at Belgrade , and has just set out to the Sultan , to obtain the recognition of the sect , under the recent charter , which sanctions

all reli g ious sects , and , if successful , he will apply for the restitution of the confiscated property . It may be stated , that they eschewpolygamy , and only recognise one wife , whom they permit to appear at the lodge banquets

unveiled . At these banquets wine is drunk , toasts are proposed , and the Masons are acquainted with the ' Kentish fire , ' though under another and more barbarous appellation . In addition to a brown shawl , or handkerchief , worked with certain Masonic Symbols , and worn round the neck , the Turkish Freemasons wear , in open lodge , also round their neck , as insignia of the order , a

flat white marble polished slab of twelve sides , and two inches in diameter ; on these are a number of reddish brown spots , to represent blood , and indicate that the founder of the order in Turkey , Ali Effendi , suffered martyrdom , rather than reveal the secrets of the fraternity . The Convent of Serkedgi Tecker is the largest establishment belonging to the Order in Constantinople

. In Persia , also , Freemasonry , is widely distributed the brethren being estimated at 50 , 000 . Iu Arabia there are about 20 , 000 Freemasons . " I had added to the foregoing at-the time by way of note , " This sect appears to be a mendicant order , and was founded A . D . 1357 , year of Hegira 759 , by Haji Bektash Khorasani , who died atKir-sheba . "

As another remarkable fact , in connection with the foregoing account , it may be stated that the military order of Janizaries , were founded by the Grand Master of this fraternity ; and a few short remarks respecting their resemblance to , the Templars will be found at page 47 of your last volume , the writer having forgot this account at the time they were made . Mahommedan Writers say that Bektash , when dying , cut off one of the

sleeves of his gown , and put it upon the head of a brother , so that one of tho ends hung down upon his shoulder . While performing this act he said , " Ye shall be henceforth Janizaries , or a new soldiery . " There can be very little doubt that the Ishmaelites , Assasins , Druses , Ainsareeh , Bektasbites , & c ., are derived from the house of wisdom , alluded to in my

previous letters , and which we are specially informed by Arabian historians , was founded by a magician , or Masonic Jew , who , there is no doubt , derived his knowledge from the Essenian association of his own . country , and hence the resemblance to our own mysteries . As tending to shew the antiquity of some customs of

our Templar reception , as distinct from strictly Masonic degrees ; which , with the ancient York Masons , extended to H . R . D . M . ( now so much altered in our own conclaves that none but a Rose > $ < can understand our symbols , ) and were given to every brother previous to his reception as a knight of the Temple , * as proved by general testimonythe working of our old northern

-, encamp ments , and the ladder of seven steps of the rite , as formerly used on our tracing boards were : — O S I S . E . | ML E J H || S . A . G . B . T . || Age 3 | B J 7 9 \ 27 l \ Si SI | Permit me to cite a portion of a long account in Hone ' s Ancient Mysteries , 1828 , of " The brethren of the Holy

Trinity without Aldersgate . " The charge of worshipping the head of Janus , here mentioned , was brought against the Templars . " This fraternity of the Holy Trinity was founded in the 48 th year of Edward III , 1373 , in honour of the body of Christ , and to maintain thirteen wax lights , burning about the sepulchre in time of Easter in the said church ,

and to find a Chaplain . Their chief day of solemnity was on Trinity-day , to hear mass in honour of the body of Christ , and to make their offerings . " So far this is Stow ' s account , to which maybe added that in Catholic worship thirteen candles are an allegory of Christ and the twelve apostles ; and that in one of its ceremonies the twelve candles denoting the twelve

apostles are extinguished at intervals , during successive parts of the service , until one only is left , which represents Christ deserted by the disciples , and in the end that one is put out to signify his death . " Here follows a copy of the statutes , & c ., of the guild , concluding with the following , aud a triangular cut of

" a Trinity argent on a field azure , " as figured in Mr . Taylor ' s Index Monastieus , 1821 . "No portion of Scripture was ever possessed by this fraternity . To be sure there was their ' rolle of velom with the pageante of the Holy Trinity paynted and lemenyed with gold , ' and the annual charge for making the branch and lighting it up ; but whatever 'Holy

Trinity' was lemenyed on this pageant , it is impossible to suppose that such a display should suggest an idea of him who is a spirit . There is however a figure , which may have been that upon their pageant . It frequently occurs . ' They in their churches and masse book doe paint the Trinifcie with thz-ee faces : for our mother the holie church did learn that at Rome , where they were

wont to paint or carve Janus with two faces . And then further there is written in John that there are three in heaven ivhich beare witnesse , the Father , the Worde , and the Holie Ghost , and these three are one , & c ; then of necessitie they must be painted with three heads , or three faces upon one necke , ' " —Beehive of the Romish Church , London , 1579 ; Svo . p . 191 . I remain , fraternally yours , — - ' A

“The Freemasons' Monthly Magazine: 1863-02-07, Page 5” Masonic Periodicals Online, Library and Museum of Freemasonry, 13 May 2025, django:8000/periodicals/mmr/issues/mmr_07021863/page/5/.
  • 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
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.

Masonic Notes And Queries.

first turning down Bread-Street from Cheapside used to be called Black Spread Eagle-court , in all probability from the Milton ensign . " Mr . Hunter has pointed out that the charge iu question is borne , with certain differences , by families of the name of Milton settled in Shropshire , Staffordshire , & c . Burke , too , in his " General Armoury , " gives this coat and crest as belonging to the Oxfordshire familof Milton lton the is in

y or My , as name - differently spelt ; and it is reported that a grant by Segar is in existence , giving to the poet and his family an assignment of . these arms . "—Illustrated Times , Jan . 31 sC 1863 .

Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

The Editor is not responsible for -the opinions expressed by Correspondents ,. ANTIQUITY OF MASONIC DEGREES . " Great is truth , and mighty above all things . " 10 IHE EDITOE OB THE EBEEMAS 0 H 3 ' MA & AZIHE AltB MAS 03 II 0 MIEEOB . DEAE SIR AND BEOTHEE , —In my rough letters and memoranda I have endeavoured to show what mustindeed

, , be evident to any impartial reader , that Speculative Masonic ceremonies , though equivalent to , were yet distinct , separate and entirely different from those of the Operative Freemasons ; and that the Mark Masters are the legitimate representatives of the latter . As bearing very considerably on this discussion , could you find space for the following extractwhich I

, find I had copied into an old pocket book , from the Daily News , of August , 1856 . " The Mahommedan sect of Beklashi Dervishes , -recognise each other by exactly the same signs and practice the rites of the European Freemasons . They are the most enlightened and civilised of all the Mahommedan sectssome of the most influential men in Turkey

, belong to it ; it is not , however , recognised by the Turkish Government , and its property has been confiscated . There are about nine lodges , and the present Grand Master of the Order is named Tzani Ismael Tochoch Mohomed Saide , he resides at Belgrade , and has just set out to the Sultan , to obtain the recognition of the sect , under the recent charter , which sanctions

all reli g ious sects , and , if successful , he will apply for the restitution of the confiscated property . It may be stated , that they eschewpolygamy , and only recognise one wife , whom they permit to appear at the lodge banquets

unveiled . At these banquets wine is drunk , toasts are proposed , and the Masons are acquainted with the ' Kentish fire , ' though under another and more barbarous appellation . In addition to a brown shawl , or handkerchief , worked with certain Masonic Symbols , and worn round the neck , the Turkish Freemasons wear , in open lodge , also round their neck , as insignia of the order , a

flat white marble polished slab of twelve sides , and two inches in diameter ; on these are a number of reddish brown spots , to represent blood , and indicate that the founder of the order in Turkey , Ali Effendi , suffered martyrdom , rather than reveal the secrets of the fraternity . The Convent of Serkedgi Tecker is the largest establishment belonging to the Order in Constantinople

. In Persia , also , Freemasonry , is widely distributed the brethren being estimated at 50 , 000 . Iu Arabia there are about 20 , 000 Freemasons . " I had added to the foregoing at-the time by way of note , " This sect appears to be a mendicant order , and was founded A . D . 1357 , year of Hegira 759 , by Haji Bektash Khorasani , who died atKir-sheba . "

As another remarkable fact , in connection with the foregoing account , it may be stated that the military order of Janizaries , were founded by the Grand Master of this fraternity ; and a few short remarks respecting their resemblance to , the Templars will be found at page 47 of your last volume , the writer having forgot this account at the time they were made . Mahommedan Writers say that Bektash , when dying , cut off one of the

sleeves of his gown , and put it upon the head of a brother , so that one of tho ends hung down upon his shoulder . While performing this act he said , " Ye shall be henceforth Janizaries , or a new soldiery . " There can be very little doubt that the Ishmaelites , Assasins , Druses , Ainsareeh , Bektasbites , & c ., are derived from the house of wisdom , alluded to in my

previous letters , and which we are specially informed by Arabian historians , was founded by a magician , or Masonic Jew , who , there is no doubt , derived his knowledge from the Essenian association of his own . country , and hence the resemblance to our own mysteries . As tending to shew the antiquity of some customs of

our Templar reception , as distinct from strictly Masonic degrees ; which , with the ancient York Masons , extended to H . R . D . M . ( now so much altered in our own conclaves that none but a Rose > $ < can understand our symbols , ) and were given to every brother previous to his reception as a knight of the Temple , * as proved by general testimonythe working of our old northern

-, encamp ments , and the ladder of seven steps of the rite , as formerly used on our tracing boards were : — O S I S . E . | ML E J H || S . A . G . B . T . || Age 3 | B J 7 9 \ 27 l \ Si SI | Permit me to cite a portion of a long account in Hone ' s Ancient Mysteries , 1828 , of " The brethren of the Holy

Trinity without Aldersgate . " The charge of worshipping the head of Janus , here mentioned , was brought against the Templars . " This fraternity of the Holy Trinity was founded in the 48 th year of Edward III , 1373 , in honour of the body of Christ , and to maintain thirteen wax lights , burning about the sepulchre in time of Easter in the said church ,

and to find a Chaplain . Their chief day of solemnity was on Trinity-day , to hear mass in honour of the body of Christ , and to make their offerings . " So far this is Stow ' s account , to which maybe added that in Catholic worship thirteen candles are an allegory of Christ and the twelve apostles ; and that in one of its ceremonies the twelve candles denoting the twelve

apostles are extinguished at intervals , during successive parts of the service , until one only is left , which represents Christ deserted by the disciples , and in the end that one is put out to signify his death . " Here follows a copy of the statutes , & c ., of the guild , concluding with the following , aud a triangular cut of

" a Trinity argent on a field azure , " as figured in Mr . Taylor ' s Index Monastieus , 1821 . "No portion of Scripture was ever possessed by this fraternity . To be sure there was their ' rolle of velom with the pageante of the Holy Trinity paynted and lemenyed with gold , ' and the annual charge for making the branch and lighting it up ; but whatever 'Holy

Trinity' was lemenyed on this pageant , it is impossible to suppose that such a display should suggest an idea of him who is a spirit . There is however a figure , which may have been that upon their pageant . It frequently occurs . ' They in their churches and masse book doe paint the Trinifcie with thz-ee faces : for our mother the holie church did learn that at Rome , where they were

wont to paint or carve Janus with two faces . And then further there is written in John that there are three in heaven ivhich beare witnesse , the Father , the Worde , and the Holie Ghost , and these three are one , & c ; then of necessitie they must be painted with three heads , or three faces upon one necke , ' " —Beehive of the Romish Church , London , 1579 ; Svo . p . 191 . I remain , fraternally yours , — - ' A

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