Illustrations Of The History Of The Craft.—No. 1.

ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE HISTORY OF THE CRAFT . —No . 1 .

By A MASONIC STUDENT . The object of this and the following papers is , to illustrate if possible the history of the Craft , and to induce a more careful study of its archasology .

They have been written in no controversial spirit , but simply with a desire after truth , that we ' may accustom ourselves , as Freemasons , more than has hitherto been our wont , to patient study of our evidences , and historical accuracy in our assertions .

Our Masonic writers seem to have accepted far too readily , as regards the records of our Order , the good old adage " quieta non movere , " as they have all more or less adopted , without hesitation and without enquiry , unaccredited statements and

dubious assertions , for no other reason seemingly , than because these statements and assertions had been once given forth to the world . Not that in so doing , they ever meant to impose on the initiated or the profane , to put

forward an untrue narrative or a fictitious claim , but that they accepted without doubt or demur , statements repeated so often , that they came at last to be accepted as true ! Hence there has arisen among modern writers , a grave distrust of Masonic history , as generally received , and critical doubts have been expressed

as to the validity of our Masonic claims to antiquity ; many of our traditional statements are openly assailed , aud the accuracy of the dates we give under authority , relating to persons and occurrences in the past , is questioned and challenged

as we know from day to day . Mr . Hallam , for instance , has asserted , that " Masonic calumniators and Masonic paneygerists are all equally mendacious , " while De Quincy has said , " I affirm as a fact , established upon historical

research , that before the beginning of the 17 th century , no traces are to be met with of the Masonic Order , and I challenge any antiquary to contradict me . " Mr . Gilbert Scott talks of the " fables of the

Freemasons , " aud we have lately heard much harsher words used , such as "imposture , " and the like .

Now it is , in order to lead others even more qualified , to remove this unfair and , as I believe , unjust reproach on the Craft , that these papers have been put together .

Illustrations Of The History Of The Craft.—No. 1.

If we are enabled gradually by historical evidence and accurate assertions , to remove doubts , to clear away difficulties , to harmonise anachronisms , and to stimulate enquiry , we shall best prepare the way , ere long , for a more authoritative

and reliable history of our Order than we at present possess . My anxiety has been , and still is simply in the cause of Masonic truth , to lay before my brethren the humble results of earnest study and reflection *

to give , what is so difficult , " novelty to what is old , and authority to what is new , value to what is obsolete , and light to what is obscure , favour to what is despised , and trust to what is doubtful . " *

May then , these illustrations of our Craft history , be received by my brethren in the spirit in which they have been drawn up , viz ., a sincere love for our useful and valuable Order , and a humble but firm belief , in the essential truth of its

ancient legends and time-honoured traditions . To trace the early history of any ancient and useful institution , is in almost every case a matter of deep interest to the archaaologist , but how much more must it be so to the Masonic student , since

the early annals of Freemasonry seem lost in the dimness of ages , and though it is a subject about which much has been written , yet after all how very little is really known about it ?

And if then , we may have ourselves , with the world at large , a not unnatural curiosity , in respect of the origin and progress of a society , of which so much has been said , whether for good or evil , yet it also seems to be our imperative duty , to try

and give a straightforward and intelligible account of this world-wide Order , to trace carefully the laws which have controlled its progress , to unfold the causes which have led to its success ' or failure

among men , and to submit to all intelligent readers , the evidence and the facts , the historical proofs and the undoubted statements , on which wc base the conclusion to which we have legitimately arrived .

What then is the true history of Freemasonry ? What is Freemasonry itself ? are questions which are often asked , and repeated to this day , with an unmistakeable expression of complacent scepticism . As we know , those of us who have studied the