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Article THE CRAFT LECTURES, OF FIFTEEN SECTIONS. Page 1 of 3 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Craft Lectures, Of Fifteen Sections.
THE CRAFT LECTURES , OF FIFTEEN SECTIONS .
ZONDON , SATURDAY , JULY 18 , 1863 .
The readers of THE MAGAZINE often hear that ; g _ _ is about to work the fifteen sections , o-enerally assisted by several brethren , of good memory , well up in the matter . We are aware , from the letters we receive , that there are ,
especially in the Colonies , many Freemasons ignorant of what these sections or Craft lectures are , and therefore we do not consider it out of place to make a few observations regarding them .
The Craft is in possession of a series of catechetical instruction , popularly denominated lectures , though for Avhat reason they are so called it is impossible to divine , seeing they are worked as a series of question and answer .
These lectures , to use the name by which they are best knoAvn , are three in number . The first is devoted to the Entered Apprentice degree , and is subdivided into seven sections ; the second applies to the degree of FelloAV Craft , and
comprises five sections ; Avhilst the third treats of the Master Masons' degree , and is divided into three sections , making a total of fifteen sections in all .
A knowledge of these lectures is useful , because in them the rites appertainin g to the various degrees receive some sort of elucidation , and , as far as they go , explain many circumstances which the tyro is anxious to know ; but it must by no
means be inferred that they exhaust the subject , which nothing but extensive reading and a large acquaintance Avith ancient , mediaeval , and modern usages , customs , and writers can accomplish . The changes which from time to time have taken
place with reference to these lectures will no doubt be acceptable to -others beyond the neAvly-made Freemason , and with that end in -view , the following remarks , drawn from standard authorities , are offered to the Craft .
Let us once and for all state that our ritual and lectures have no claim to hoary antiquity . They have " nothing in common with the early Freemasonry of the middle ages , beyond the traditional signs and secrets which have , during all time ,
characterised Freemasons . Indeed , the system of lod ge lectures is , in reality , a modern invention , and cannot be traced back with any certainty to a
later period than the revival of 1717 , even if th © tests in use at that period , and subsequently , may be included under the name of a lecture . These tests were examinations used for the . purpose of proving , to some extent , whether a person
professing to be a brother Avas really so or not ; and they continued in practice until after the middle of the last century . Dr . Oliver , in his Golden Remains , vol . iv ., p . 16 , " On the Masonic Tests of the 18 th Century , " says , very properly ,
they were " something like the conundrums of the present day—difficult of comprehension—admitting only of one answer , which appeared to have no direct correspondence Avith the question , and applicable only in consonance with the mysteries
and symbols of the institution . " The learned doctor says he is in possession of a formula of such tests , which he supposes to have been in use during the Grand Mastership of Bishop Chichely , in the time of Henry VI ., and from which he quotes the following in his Revelations of a Square : —
" Q . Peace be here ? A . I hope there is . Q . What o'clock is it ? A . ' It is going to six or going to twelve . Q . Are you very busy ?
A . No . Q . Will you give or take ? A . Both j or which you please . Q . How go squares ? A . Straight .
Q . Are you rich or poor ? A . Neither . Q . Change me that ? . A . I will . Q . In the name of the King and Holy Church
are you a Mason ? A . I am so taken to be . Q . What is a Mason ? A . A man begot by a man , born of a Avoman , brother to a king .
Q . WhatisafeUow ? A . A companion of a prince . " & c . & c . & c .
Whether the above are genuine or not must depend on the Source from whence the worthy doctor obtained them ; but they have as little to do with Freemasonry , as we understand it , as the old catch questions , " How old ' s your mother ?" and " What was the colour of the coat you were
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Craft Lectures, Of Fifteen Sections.
THE CRAFT LECTURES , OF FIFTEEN SECTIONS .
ZONDON , SATURDAY , JULY 18 , 1863 .
The readers of THE MAGAZINE often hear that ; g _ _ is about to work the fifteen sections , o-enerally assisted by several brethren , of good memory , well up in the matter . We are aware , from the letters we receive , that there are ,
especially in the Colonies , many Freemasons ignorant of what these sections or Craft lectures are , and therefore we do not consider it out of place to make a few observations regarding them .
The Craft is in possession of a series of catechetical instruction , popularly denominated lectures , though for Avhat reason they are so called it is impossible to divine , seeing they are worked as a series of question and answer .
These lectures , to use the name by which they are best knoAvn , are three in number . The first is devoted to the Entered Apprentice degree , and is subdivided into seven sections ; the second applies to the degree of FelloAV Craft , and
comprises five sections ; Avhilst the third treats of the Master Masons' degree , and is divided into three sections , making a total of fifteen sections in all .
A knowledge of these lectures is useful , because in them the rites appertainin g to the various degrees receive some sort of elucidation , and , as far as they go , explain many circumstances which the tyro is anxious to know ; but it must by no
means be inferred that they exhaust the subject , which nothing but extensive reading and a large acquaintance Avith ancient , mediaeval , and modern usages , customs , and writers can accomplish . The changes which from time to time have taken
place with reference to these lectures will no doubt be acceptable to -others beyond the neAvly-made Freemason , and with that end in -view , the following remarks , drawn from standard authorities , are offered to the Craft .
Let us once and for all state that our ritual and lectures have no claim to hoary antiquity . They have " nothing in common with the early Freemasonry of the middle ages , beyond the traditional signs and secrets which have , during all time ,
characterised Freemasons . Indeed , the system of lod ge lectures is , in reality , a modern invention , and cannot be traced back with any certainty to a
later period than the revival of 1717 , even if th © tests in use at that period , and subsequently , may be included under the name of a lecture . These tests were examinations used for the . purpose of proving , to some extent , whether a person
professing to be a brother Avas really so or not ; and they continued in practice until after the middle of the last century . Dr . Oliver , in his Golden Remains , vol . iv ., p . 16 , " On the Masonic Tests of the 18 th Century , " says , very properly ,
they were " something like the conundrums of the present day—difficult of comprehension—admitting only of one answer , which appeared to have no direct correspondence Avith the question , and applicable only in consonance with the mysteries
and symbols of the institution . " The learned doctor says he is in possession of a formula of such tests , which he supposes to have been in use during the Grand Mastership of Bishop Chichely , in the time of Henry VI ., and from which he quotes the following in his Revelations of a Square : —
" Q . Peace be here ? A . I hope there is . Q . What o'clock is it ? A . ' It is going to six or going to twelve . Q . Are you very busy ?
A . No . Q . Will you give or take ? A . Both j or which you please . Q . How go squares ? A . Straight .
Q . Are you rich or poor ? A . Neither . Q . Change me that ? . A . I will . Q . In the name of the King and Holy Church
are you a Mason ? A . I am so taken to be . Q . What is a Mason ? A . A man begot by a man , born of a Avoman , brother to a king .
Q . WhatisafeUow ? A . A companion of a prince . " & c . & c . & c .
Whether the above are genuine or not must depend on the Source from whence the worthy doctor obtained them ; but they have as little to do with Freemasonry , as we understand it , as the old catch questions , " How old ' s your mother ?" and " What was the colour of the coat you were