Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Expatiation On The Mysteries Of Masonry In Malling Abbey Lodge,
of regeneration ancl spiritual illumination , are truths Veiled under the symbols and allegories of Masonry . A figurative death , burial , and resurrection has , in one form or another , been an important part of its regular ceremonial from the
earliest ages . Of this we have an interesting monumental record in Kit ' s Coity house , situated west of the hig h road from Maidstone to Chatham . It has been conjectured that it may have been erected over the grave of Catigern ; but the most
ancient historians have spoken of this and similar erections as things beyond tradition , the use of which could be even in their time but barely conjectured , and Dr . Oliver has given good reasons for the belief that they were neither tombs nor
altars for sacrifice , but ancient chambers used in Masonic initiations . According to Grose , these monuments are not peculiar to the Britons , but common to all the northern nations . In tlie
antiquities of Sweden and Norway , many of them are represented ; and several are said to remain in Denmark ; nor were they confined to those countries only , there being one of them in Minorca . Kit's Coity house is composed of four
large stones ; three of them are set upright iu the ground , enclosing- three sides of a square , ancl fronting the north , west , and south points ; the fourth , whichis the largest , is laid transversely over , and serves as a covering , but does not touch the
south stone . It is not parallel to the horizon but inclines towards the west , in an angle of about nine decrees : owinc : to the west or end stone on which it rests , being somewhat shorter than the other supporter . Perhaps the east end , now open , was
once also enclosed ; as , about severty yards to the north-west , lies another stone of the same kind and form as those standing . " Grose's
Antiquities , " vol . hi . The stone on tho east side was , doubtless , intentionally left so as to allow of its removal to admit the candidate for initiation into the mysteries of Druidical Masonrv . He was thus enclosed
withm it , as m a tomb , und remained for a longtime in darkness ; after which the stone on the east was moved aside , so as to admit the rays of the rising sun . Probably not less than three thousand years have elapsed since this ritual was first introduced into Britain . Its full sip-nification
will be understood if we carefully consider it in connection with the ceremony of raising to the degree of Master Mason . ( To be continued . )
An Analysis Of Ancient And Modern Freemasonry.
AN ANALYSIS OF ANCIENT AND MODERN FREEMASONRY .
BY ^ B . W ILLIAM J . HUGHAN , 18 ° . Ifemler of the German Union of Freemasons , Kaiglii Conrp , of Ihe Soyal Order of Scotland , _^ -u . ( Gontinuedj from pa-gc -122 . ) It would be interesting to know a little more of .
the ancient company of Operative Masons than we . do . We are told in " Ahimau Kezou , " 3 rd edition . 1788 , xxxvhi ., that " The Operative Masons arethe 30 th company in London ; they have a hall in Basinghall-street , the number of livery men
about seventy . Admission one pound sixteen shillings , and livery fine five pounds . They were originally incorporated in the year l-t-10 by the . name and style of the Society of Freemasons , and William ITankstow , Clarencieux , King-at-Arms
( iu the 3 ear 1177 ) granted them their arms , which , the modern Masons have usurped , as well as that of their title , for the said Company is the only society in the kingdom who have a right to the name of Freemasons of England . " According to
a modern list of the Companies ancl Liveries of London , inserted in Haydn ' s "Dictionary of Dates , " the " Masons" were again incorporated A . D . 1 G 77 . It would be a mistake to limit the
term " Craft" or " Craftsmen" to Masons or Freemasons , as it has been generally applied to several trades for centuries , ancl the " Wrichtes " ' are frequently placed before the " Masons " in various Acts of Parliament . Tho " Goldsmiths ^
Company" is a very ancient one , having commenced existence about A . D . 1327 , and was incorporated 1 G Richard II ., A . D . 1392 , at which date we believe no incorporated society of the Masons existed . We anticipate considerable information will be afforded as to the nature of
the Operative Masonic body by Lro . David Murray Lyon , who is about to publish his valuable and accurate " History of Mother Kilwinning , " Ayr , Scotland , by request of the "Masonic Authors * Society and Literary Onion , " under whose
sanction it will be issued as the first work printed by the society . Our friend Bro . D . M . Lyon intends at the same time to examine the various Acts of Parliament in reference to Masons , ancl hence the work will be of great value iu the elucidation of "
the ancient history of the Craft , and esiiecially as an authoritative record of the proceedings of one of the oldest Operative lodges in the world , of universal fame , and widespread influence .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Expatiation On The Mysteries Of Masonry In Malling Abbey Lodge,
of regeneration ancl spiritual illumination , are truths Veiled under the symbols and allegories of Masonry . A figurative death , burial , and resurrection has , in one form or another , been an important part of its regular ceremonial from the
earliest ages . Of this we have an interesting monumental record in Kit ' s Coity house , situated west of the hig h road from Maidstone to Chatham . It has been conjectured that it may have been erected over the grave of Catigern ; but the most
ancient historians have spoken of this and similar erections as things beyond tradition , the use of which could be even in their time but barely conjectured , and Dr . Oliver has given good reasons for the belief that they were neither tombs nor
altars for sacrifice , but ancient chambers used in Masonic initiations . According to Grose , these monuments are not peculiar to the Britons , but common to all the northern nations . In tlie
antiquities of Sweden and Norway , many of them are represented ; and several are said to remain in Denmark ; nor were they confined to those countries only , there being one of them in Minorca . Kit's Coity house is composed of four
large stones ; three of them are set upright iu the ground , enclosing- three sides of a square , ancl fronting the north , west , and south points ; the fourth , whichis the largest , is laid transversely over , and serves as a covering , but does not touch the
south stone . It is not parallel to the horizon but inclines towards the west , in an angle of about nine decrees : owinc : to the west or end stone on which it rests , being somewhat shorter than the other supporter . Perhaps the east end , now open , was
once also enclosed ; as , about severty yards to the north-west , lies another stone of the same kind and form as those standing . " Grose's
Antiquities , " vol . hi . The stone on tho east side was , doubtless , intentionally left so as to allow of its removal to admit the candidate for initiation into the mysteries of Druidical Masonrv . He was thus enclosed
withm it , as m a tomb , und remained for a longtime in darkness ; after which the stone on the east was moved aside , so as to admit the rays of the rising sun . Probably not less than three thousand years have elapsed since this ritual was first introduced into Britain . Its full sip-nification
will be understood if we carefully consider it in connection with the ceremony of raising to the degree of Master Mason . ( To be continued . )
An Analysis Of Ancient And Modern Freemasonry.
AN ANALYSIS OF ANCIENT AND MODERN FREEMASONRY .
BY ^ B . W ILLIAM J . HUGHAN , 18 ° . Ifemler of the German Union of Freemasons , Kaiglii Conrp , of Ihe Soyal Order of Scotland , _^ -u . ( Gontinuedj from pa-gc -122 . ) It would be interesting to know a little more of .
the ancient company of Operative Masons than we . do . We are told in " Ahimau Kezou , " 3 rd edition . 1788 , xxxvhi ., that " The Operative Masons arethe 30 th company in London ; they have a hall in Basinghall-street , the number of livery men
about seventy . Admission one pound sixteen shillings , and livery fine five pounds . They were originally incorporated in the year l-t-10 by the . name and style of the Society of Freemasons , and William ITankstow , Clarencieux , King-at-Arms
( iu the 3 ear 1177 ) granted them their arms , which , the modern Masons have usurped , as well as that of their title , for the said Company is the only society in the kingdom who have a right to the name of Freemasons of England . " According to
a modern list of the Companies ancl Liveries of London , inserted in Haydn ' s "Dictionary of Dates , " the " Masons" were again incorporated A . D . 1 G 77 . It would be a mistake to limit the
term " Craft" or " Craftsmen" to Masons or Freemasons , as it has been generally applied to several trades for centuries , ancl the " Wrichtes " ' are frequently placed before the " Masons " in various Acts of Parliament . Tho " Goldsmiths ^
Company" is a very ancient one , having commenced existence about A . D . 1327 , and was incorporated 1 G Richard II ., A . D . 1392 , at which date we believe no incorporated society of the Masons existed . We anticipate considerable information will be afforded as to the nature of
the Operative Masonic body by Lro . David Murray Lyon , who is about to publish his valuable and accurate " History of Mother Kilwinning , " Ayr , Scotland , by request of the "Masonic Authors * Society and Literary Onion , " under whose
sanction it will be issued as the first work printed by the society . Our friend Bro . D . M . Lyon intends at the same time to examine the various Acts of Parliament in reference to Masons , ancl hence the work will be of great value iu the elucidation of "
the ancient history of the Craft , and esiiecially as an authoritative record of the proceedings of one of the oldest Operative lodges in the world , of universal fame , and widespread influence .