Sketches Of Notable Masonic Works.

promote the latter , " he proceeds to make the following inquiries : — First . "When or what time the Craft of Masonry was instituted . " Secondly . " The cause or motive of its

instistitution . " Thirdly . " The qualities or principles of the Graft . Fourthly . " The benefits arising from a strict observance of the principles thereof . " It will be seen that these divisions of the

subject involve a consideration of the whole scope of the Institution . 1 . In order to solve the first question he " traces antiquity even unto its in ' ant state , and takes a view of our parent Adam in his sylvan

lodge , where the Almighty Architect imprinted on the very tablets of his heart the amazing symmetry and silent harmony of geometrical propotion . " Then from " Cain , who erected a fair city , and Enoch , who by gift of prophecy , foretold

the deluge , and that great day yet to come of final conflagration , " the author conducts his readers to " Shinar ' s plain , where the masons laid the foundation of Babel ' s stupendous tower !"

Like most Masonic writers of that age , Dr . D'Assigny is anxious to give an epitome of ancient history so as to connect Freemasonry with every grand and stupendous structure from the beginning of time to the building of King Solomon ' s

Temple , " which was carried on by the wisdom and dexterity of the learned Hiram , Grand Master of the Lodge of Tyre , who together with the inspired Hiram Abif , Master of the Work , without the noise of tools , produced the most perfect

pattern of architecture , the wonder and amazement of the travelling world . " We , however , of the present day would give more for a few sentences from an old minute book than a million of learned fancies and absurd stories about the

origin of the Craft . The author was , after all , but following iu the wake of the Rev . Dr . James Anderson and other writers of that epoch . At page 16 the old York legend is inserted as an " authentic account , ' '

e . g . — "It is said there is held an assembly of Master Masons in the city of York , under the title of Royal Arch Masons , who , as their qualifications and excellencies are superior to others , they receive a larger pay than working Masons ; but of this more hereafter . " ( Page 16 . ) We need not stay to discuss such a statement , as it

is wholly fabulous . Bro . Fmdel was sent to this country by the " German Union of Freemasons " purposely to look into the matter ; and his careful investigations abundantly confirmed the fact that , until after A . D . 1760 , Royal Arch Masonry was

unknown in the city of York . With this statement we quite concur , as we proceeded to that famed Masonic city in the summer of 1867 ; and , although the records and charters were freely placed at our disposal , and a minute examination was instituted ,

nothing relative to the Royal Arch could be found until after the middle of tho eighteenth century . Bro . William Cowling , P . M . and Treas . of the Union Lodge , York ( custodier of the records of that lodge , and of those belonging to the

extinct Grand Lodge ) , is also of the same opinion . Curiously enough , Dr . D'Assigny takes quite the reverse view as to the chivalric degrees and Masonry ; for , so far from admitting the indebtedness of the latter to the former for their ceremonies , he

expressly declares that it " could easily be proved that the Knights of Malta , and many other religious ^ Orders and societies , did borrow their solemn religious usages from our antient

fraternity . " ( Page 22 . ) 2 . The motives of the Institution , of Masonry are | declared to be very numerous . " The welfare and good of mankind was the chief cause or motive of so grand an institution , which not only

tends to protect them from external injuries , but to polish the rusty dispositions of iniquitous minds , and to detain them within the limited and pleasant bounds of true religion , morality , and virtue . " 3 . The benefits arising from a strict observance

of the principles of the Craft are so apparent that the author " believes every Christian would be found to profess and practise the same , because those principles tend to promote the happiness of life , as they are founded on the basis of wisdom

and virtue . " The following judicious " Remarks" on this subject are offered by Dr . D'Assigny , and we have thought it advisable to give them almost verbatim , because in many respects they are applicable to ,

we fear , many Masons of the present day who have wholly mistaken the intention of the society , and appear to believe that the chief end of Masonry is to " Eat , drink , and be merry . " It is to be regretted that so large a proportion of lodges are

held in " public-houses or hotels ; " although we would fain hope that much improvement has been madeofla e Vear s in that respect . It seems to