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Article AN ANALYSIS OF ANCIENT AND MODERN FREEMASONRY. ← Page 5 of 5 Article AN ANALYSIS OF ANCIENT AND MODERN FREEMASONRY. Page 5 of 5 Article THE KNIGHTS TEMPLARS. Page 1 of 4 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
An Analysis Of Ancient And Modern Freemasonry.
whereas before the union such of the fraternity who were Christians could enjoy the ceremonies of Craft Masonry , because they contained references to Christianity as their chief corner-stone ; since 1813 the Christian relig ion has been virtually
unrepresented in the rituals—Jews , Turks , and Christians meet on one common religious level , and are required to worship in the lodge as believers in Natural Theology only ; hence the " hautes grades" in retaining ceremonies of a
¦ character such as the Rose Croix , afford an opportunity to Christian Masons to still carry out their ideas with respect to Christianity . On the other hand , it is argued , that Masonry at the beginning was intended to be of universal
application , and that Christianity was but an accident ¦ of its birth , in fact , in no sense an essential of its -character or existence . To prove which we are
referred to many of the ancient charges which breathe a spirit of Natural Religion , and permit of all classes of religionists to become members ( e . g ., " Let a man ' s religion , or mode of worship , be what it may , he is not excluded from the Order ,
provided he believe in tho glorious Architect of Heaven and Earth , and practice the sacred duties of morality * * * and seek by the purity of their own lives to demonstrate the superior excellence of the faith they may profess ) . " Here
we leave the question . It would be foreign to our present purpose , as a member of several of the higher ^ degrees , to consider the relevancy or point of the objections made to their utility , as our subject is purely a Masonic one , and already our
analysis has outgrown its legitimate proportions . There is one of the higher degrees , however , which deserves to be better known , viz ., the Royal Order of Scotlaud . Dr . Oliver declares it to be " The
only ancient system of Masonry m existence , except the three blue degrees . " We ourselves have traced its records from A . D . 1743 , and we are assured there are still earlier in existence . One more thing we may be assured of—Craft Masonry
knows neither equal nor rival for sublimity , grandeur , and importance in the Masonic edifice , and were but the fraternity to study and examine its history and records , according to their value and significance , the pure and simple English rite of
Masonry would be accepted on all bauds as the glorious legacy of our forefathers , and the progress of the society from the commencement until now , would be but as the vestibule to the pregnant future .
An Analysis Of Ancient And Modern Freemasonry.
We must also omit for the reasons previously stated , any more lengthy notice of the extinct Grand Lodges . They are now of the past , and but one united Grand Lodg-e of England , under the esteemed Grand Mastership of the M . W . the
Earl of Zetland , bears sway in this country . The jealous rivalries of sister Grand Lodges held respectively at York and London , have all been merg-ed in the reciprocal desire to act according to the sublime precepts of the Craft , and to live
in unity and brotherly love . Accordingly , Masonry in England presents a most pleasing aspect , and under its illustrious Grand Master , who has wielded the gavel for a quarter of a century , was never more united , healthy , and prosperous than at the present time . Long may prosperity continue , but let it never be said that in the midst of such
activity and usefulness , we have neglected to guard our portals by allowing our sentinels to fall asleep at the outposts , or permitting numbers to join who are both mentally and morally unfit to become neophytes of so ancient and honourable
a brotherhood ; on the contrary , may we ever be found as anxious to black-ball improper candidates as we are ready to welcome those who will be an honour to our institution . Then Freemasonry will flourish in deed and'truth , for its prosperity will
flow from temperance , fortitude , prudence , and justice , and its three grand principles—Faith , Hope , and Charity . " We build upon the noblest plan , For friendship rivets man to man , And makes us all as one . " THE END .
The Knights Templars.
THE KNIGHTS TEMPLARS .
By ANTHONY ONEAL HATE . ( Continued from page 264 ) . BOOK FOURTH—CHAPTER V . The King orders proceedings to be followed up—Imbert visits the Knights at Melun , and converses with them—¦
The Parisians present a petition to the King at his instigation , agednst the Order Contents of the petition — The Great Idol—Imbert orders the Dominicans to proceed with the investigations The accusation Easam / iw * tions at Paris—The torture applied— -Thirty-siss die tinder it—Imbert forges a letter , in the name of the
Grand Master , avowing the guilt of tho Order—Conflicting confessions—The Grand Master ' s—Hugo do Peyrand's—Prince Guy Dauphin ' s— -Falseness of the charges—A . D . 1307—1308 . Affairs being now in a fit state for proceeding with the examinations of the Templars , Imbert
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
An Analysis Of Ancient And Modern Freemasonry.
whereas before the union such of the fraternity who were Christians could enjoy the ceremonies of Craft Masonry , because they contained references to Christianity as their chief corner-stone ; since 1813 the Christian relig ion has been virtually
unrepresented in the rituals—Jews , Turks , and Christians meet on one common religious level , and are required to worship in the lodge as believers in Natural Theology only ; hence the " hautes grades" in retaining ceremonies of a
¦ character such as the Rose Croix , afford an opportunity to Christian Masons to still carry out their ideas with respect to Christianity . On the other hand , it is argued , that Masonry at the beginning was intended to be of universal
application , and that Christianity was but an accident ¦ of its birth , in fact , in no sense an essential of its -character or existence . To prove which we are
referred to many of the ancient charges which breathe a spirit of Natural Religion , and permit of all classes of religionists to become members ( e . g ., " Let a man ' s religion , or mode of worship , be what it may , he is not excluded from the Order ,
provided he believe in tho glorious Architect of Heaven and Earth , and practice the sacred duties of morality * * * and seek by the purity of their own lives to demonstrate the superior excellence of the faith they may profess ) . " Here
we leave the question . It would be foreign to our present purpose , as a member of several of the higher ^ degrees , to consider the relevancy or point of the objections made to their utility , as our subject is purely a Masonic one , and already our
analysis has outgrown its legitimate proportions . There is one of the higher degrees , however , which deserves to be better known , viz ., the Royal Order of Scotlaud . Dr . Oliver declares it to be " The
only ancient system of Masonry m existence , except the three blue degrees . " We ourselves have traced its records from A . D . 1743 , and we are assured there are still earlier in existence . One more thing we may be assured of—Craft Masonry
knows neither equal nor rival for sublimity , grandeur , and importance in the Masonic edifice , and were but the fraternity to study and examine its history and records , according to their value and significance , the pure and simple English rite of
Masonry would be accepted on all bauds as the glorious legacy of our forefathers , and the progress of the society from the commencement until now , would be but as the vestibule to the pregnant future .
An Analysis Of Ancient And Modern Freemasonry.
We must also omit for the reasons previously stated , any more lengthy notice of the extinct Grand Lodges . They are now of the past , and but one united Grand Lodg-e of England , under the esteemed Grand Mastership of the M . W . the
Earl of Zetland , bears sway in this country . The jealous rivalries of sister Grand Lodges held respectively at York and London , have all been merg-ed in the reciprocal desire to act according to the sublime precepts of the Craft , and to live
in unity and brotherly love . Accordingly , Masonry in England presents a most pleasing aspect , and under its illustrious Grand Master , who has wielded the gavel for a quarter of a century , was never more united , healthy , and prosperous than at the present time . Long may prosperity continue , but let it never be said that in the midst of such
activity and usefulness , we have neglected to guard our portals by allowing our sentinels to fall asleep at the outposts , or permitting numbers to join who are both mentally and morally unfit to become neophytes of so ancient and honourable
a brotherhood ; on the contrary , may we ever be found as anxious to black-ball improper candidates as we are ready to welcome those who will be an honour to our institution . Then Freemasonry will flourish in deed and'truth , for its prosperity will
flow from temperance , fortitude , prudence , and justice , and its three grand principles—Faith , Hope , and Charity . " We build upon the noblest plan , For friendship rivets man to man , And makes us all as one . " THE END .
The Knights Templars.
THE KNIGHTS TEMPLARS .
By ANTHONY ONEAL HATE . ( Continued from page 264 ) . BOOK FOURTH—CHAPTER V . The King orders proceedings to be followed up—Imbert visits the Knights at Melun , and converses with them—¦
The Parisians present a petition to the King at his instigation , agednst the Order Contents of the petition — The Great Idol—Imbert orders the Dominicans to proceed with the investigations The accusation Easam / iw * tions at Paris—The torture applied— -Thirty-siss die tinder it—Imbert forges a letter , in the name of the
Grand Master , avowing the guilt of tho Order—Conflicting confessions—The Grand Master ' s—Hugo do Peyrand's—Prince Guy Dauphin ' s— -Falseness of the charges—A . D . 1307—1308 . Affairs being now in a fit state for proceeding with the examinations of the Templars , Imbert