On The Probable Origin Of Freemasonry.

ON THE PROBABLE ORIGIN OF FREEMASONRY .

LONDON , SATURDAY , FEBRUARY 17 , 1866 .

sSS' By Bro . the REV . SALEM : TOWN , 0 / Neva York . ( Continued from page 24 . ) Profane liistoiy supports the opinion that , without the shadow of doubt , Freemasonry , "" in its primitive state , consisted chiefly of a working

association , and the same fact appears from sacred history . Symbolical representations were introduced with a view to impress the human mind with the religious importance and essence of the things shown to the eye , and grave and earnest

considerations of eternity were constantly produced before the mind . By a natural and easy transition Freemasonry became invested with a speculative instead of a working character , as profane history teaches us . It is certain that the

working principles were coeval with the material world at the time of its creation , and that the origin of the moral principles of Masonry are also coeval with those of true religion . It is , therefore , highly improbable that Society could have existed

in a state of organisation previous to the erection of the Temple during the reign of Solomon , King of Israel . The character of the Masonic signs and symbols imparted to brethren on receiving

their respective degrees , convinces us that Society , in the ordinary meaning of the term , must have derived its origin from that epoch , as otherwise such signs and symbols would be utterly absurd and devoid of meaning . It is likewise evident , as

will be shown presently , that the constituent principles of Freemasonry were known from time immemorial by the ancient sages and patriarchs , as they kept them sacred , and transmitted them to the faithful and the wise , duvinsr the centuries

preceding the age of Solomon ; we are , therefore , fully justified in establishing the date of the first foundation of Freemasonry as a regular institution in the reign of Solomon j and this ojiinion is corroborated by the concourse of numerous

contingent circumstances . The epoch alluded to is about 1 , 012 years previous to the birth of Christ . Solomon , being imbued with divine inspiration , deemed it indispensable , with a view to fully carry out the enterprise he had designed , that all

the workmen engaged- in the building of the sacred edifice should form a corporation regularly organised , so that each individual part of the construction might be executed without the least

confusion , and with the utmost speed . Nothing could be more conducive to the encouragement and stimulation of the overseers , as well as the sobriety , prudence , and honour of those they employed . The total number of operatives engaged

in the construction of the Temple , without counting the officials holding high appointments , amounted to 113 , 600 ; of these 80 , 000 were stone masons and sculptors , all of them ingenious and experienced craftsmen ; 80 , 000 were employed in

the cedar forests of the Lebanon , alternately 10 , 000 each month ; 3 , 300 being well-experienced master masons , were appointed as superintendents and inspectors of the works ; 300 directors or masters for the general supervision of the workSj

and three head officials conducting the entire formation and perfection of the edifice . In this manner the whole of the materials were

prepared with the utmost speed , all parts of the Temple completed with the greatest ability , harmony , and fraternal love prevailing throughout all the classes of workmen . It is evident that at the time of the completion of the edifice the workmen must have been

eminently skilful in their art ; and it appears that , previously to parting , they endeavoured to establish ties of friendship hy means of engagements and obligations that might bind them for ever , and introduced a kind of language unknown to

the world at large , by the aid of which they might recognise each other , and that subsequently they adopted certain regulations with a view to found a useful , honourable , and lasting association . As soon as the Temple was finished and

consecrated , the workmen who had been engaged in building it commenced travelling not only amongst the various tribes of Israel , but also in such of the adjoining countries as afforded them a fair prospect of a proper remuneration for their handicraft .

Those who had given sufficient proofs of their ability , whose faith and honour had acquired them distinctions , whose intelligence had been improved , and whose mind had been imbued with the wholesome principles of morals and virtue ,

were probably entrusted with the organisation of new bodies of skilled Masons corresponding to our present lodges in speculative Freemasonry and the formation of disseminating associations in those parts to which they had resorted .

This supposition is well founded upon the fact that mutual affection and friendship necessarily existed amongst those workmen who had co-