Masonic Curiosities, No. 1.

convey their Names and Actions fco fche latest Posterity . The two former are certainly capable of flattering either their Vices or their Persons ; but the honest Trowel , as the best and most durable Register , must be allowed to bid the

fairest for eternizing of them , and has in their erecting Cities , Castles , Palaces , Amphitheatres , & c ., brought down for many Ages , and does not only convince us at present of their distinct Genius , Riches , Religion , Politicks , and Power , but their

very Names have been stampt , and are still current among us ; for Instance , Constantinople , Cesarea , and Alexandria . What Wonder after this , that so many Kings , Princes , and Noblemen , have at all Times honoured

this Society with their Peculiar Patronage and Protection , have taken ifc as an Honour to have been initiated into the mysterious Part of it , and thought it no Degradation for a Mason to say he was a Brother aud Fellow to a King ?

Europe came much later to the Knowledge of this Art , than the Eastern Parts of the World ; and this Island , as far as I can find , the latest of

all : For tho by our Records we learn it was brought into France and Germany by * one who WM n . r > t . nally n . t . f . he building of Solomon ' s Temple , yet it was long after that , when \ St . Alban , the Proto-Martyr of England , along with Christianit y ,

introduced Masonry . To the Romans , indeed , our Ancestors owe the Origin of useful Learning amongst them , which made a very good Exchange for the Loss of their Freedom ; for Gcesar in his Commentary tells us , that the Britains had no

walled Towns , nor Houses , but only fortified their Dwellings with Woods and Marshes : But when after that , our first Saxon Kings , having thrown off the barbarous Ignorance of Faganism , were by the Light of the Gospel more civiiiz'd , and shewn

the Usefulness of Arts and Sciences , this of ours answering the necessary End of Self-Preservation , as well as Grandeur and Devotion , must be allowed to be first sought after ; and tho' Old Verulam , sincef call'd St . Alban ' s , may justly claim

Precedency as the first-built Town in Britain , yet you know we can boast that the first Grand Lodge ever held in Fngland , was held in this City ; where § Edwin , the first Christian King of fche

Masonic Curiosities, No. 1.

Jforthumbers , about the Six Hundredth Year after Christ , and who laid the Foundation of our || Cathedral , sat as Grand Master . This is sufficient to make us dispute the Superiority with the Lodges at London ; But as nought of that Kind

ought to be amongst so amicable a Fraternity , we are content they enjoy the Title of Grand Master of England ; but the Totius Anglice we claim as our undoubted Right . And here I have a fair opportunity to enlarge

upon those Encomiums due to our Present Grand Master , whose Regard for his Office , Proficiency in the Science , and His Great Munificence shewn to the Society , can never be forgotten ; Menat alia mente repostum : We must all acknowledge him to be the Foundation-Stone of its Present and

Growing Grandeur . But His Command prevents me from proceeding in this . Mr . Deputy Master has likewise executed his Office throughout the whole Year with great Pains

and Industry ; and every particular Member of the Lodge owes him all imaginable Gratitude for ib . For my Brother . Warden and myself , I leaveour Conduct to your own Judgment : Our Accounts have been examin'd ; and we hope we

have not any Ways wrong'd the Great Trust you repos'd in us . A Word of Advice , or two , and I have done . To You , my Brethren , the Working Masons , I recommend carefully to peruse ^ our Constitutions : There are in them excellent Rules laid down for

your Conduct , and I need not insist upon them here . To you , that are of other Trades and Occupations , and have the honour to be admitted into this Society , I speak thus : First Mind the

Business of your Calling : Let not Masonry so far get the Ascendant , as to make you neglect the support of yourselves and Families . You cannot be so absurd as to think that a Taylor , when admitted . a Free Mason , is able to build a Church ; and for that Reason your own Vocation ought to be your most important Study . False Brethren , 'tis true ,