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Gfrmtetttss . PAGE . Illustrations ofthe History of the Craft—No . 3 281 Freemasonry in Portugal £° J History of Masonic Imitations £ »> Masonic Orders of Knighthood £ » Masonu , Jottings—No . 14 f » Masonic Notes and Queries ¦*»

Correspondence jTl Masonic Dirge for the Third Degree ^ Masonic Mems ^ CBATT L ODGE MEETINGS : — Metropolitan ? £ , Provincial f ° Scotland f . ° Royal Arch 296

Obituary " ° Notes on a visit tosaida in July , 1869 ^ b / Poetry ™ i Scientific Meetings ™ u List of Lodge , & c , Meetings for ensuing week eSUU To Correspondents 300

Illustrations Of The History Of The Craft.—No. 3.

ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE HISTORY OF THE CRAFT . —No . 3 .

LONDON , SATURDAT , APRIL 9 , 1870 .

By A MASONIC STUDENT . I propose in the present chapter to call attention to the evidences which may be adduced , relative to the existence of Masonic guilds or sodalities up to the fall of the Roman Empire .

In 1863 ., I thus stated the general proposition in words which I venture to repeat to day . " One thing is plain from history , that , from the earliest period of civilized life in the world , architecture has been considered almost as a sacred art .

In Egypt , Greece , and Rome , the colleges of architects and the sodalities of Masons were recognised by the state and cherished by the priests .

For as architecture , by its very symbolism , by the buildings it reared , the temples it adorned , by the objects of nature it sought to delineate in the ornamentation it employed , as ministering both to utility and beauty , had ever an inner and mystical

teaching , it is not at all surprising that from the very first , the builders of the world seemed k > have thrown around their outward occupation and associated companies , the attractive if serious conditions , of initiatory probation and secret

organization , while they carefully guarded both their principles of art , and their ritual of observance , their secrets and their mysteries , from the sight and knowledge of the outer world .

What then is the actual evidence we are able to put forward , in support of this enlarged view of our Masonic history ? To answer this fully , let us examine seriatim *

Illustrations Of The History Of The Craft.—No. 3.

the remarkable and interesting details of Egyptian , Grecian , Jewish , and Roman Masonry , which archaeological enquiry has collected , and careful study and research have substantiated and approved . To begin with Egypt .

All writers seem to agree in this , however differing on other points , * that the priests as a general rule directed all the works of architecture , and taught the art in secret . They were , as we know , a caste , or close

corporation , admitting none into their Order but those who were their relatives , except their kings , and some of the greater princes , whom they elected honorary members . The temples and pyramids were built by designs , traced alone by the priests , ancl there seems little

reason to doubt , that they initiated all who were permitted to labour in the sacred work of architecture into a secret brotherhood ! Of their mysteries , we now know but very little , having only scattered hints to guide us , alike iu

early heathen and Christian writers , but the great central hall of the pyramids , and the inner room of the temples were , we have reason to believe , employed for the purposes of secret reception and trying probation . Many

of the implements and special emblems of Masonry still adorn the walls of Egyptian tombs and temples , especially the tombs of the inspectors of the quarries of Silsilis at Syene , and it is impossible to suppose that the use of them is fortuitous or meaningless .

It has been before pointed out , that the Masons marks on the pyramids and temples whether made by Jewish or Egyptian hands , are identical with those of the mediawal guilds , as well as with those of Roman and Tyrian workmen . When then we

remember to-day , that the Egyptians were the oldest and greatest builders in the world , and that they distinctly communicated their principles of art ancl sodalities of architecture , to the three greatest building nations of antiquity , the Grecians ,

the Tyrians , and the Etruscans , though we must perforce be content , after this lapse of time , with general and probable evidence of the fact , rather than precise and particular proof , we need not hesitate to assert or accept the statement , that the

building corporations of later times may be traced back satisfactorily , to the early associations of Egyptian builders , which the priests had contrived