Some Masonic Matters For Future Inquiry.

operative Masons were patrons and protectors of the operative Masons ? Which of the alleged early instances of operative Masons and individuals not operative Masons being members of the same English lodge , admit of historical proof ?

THE GUILDS . Are the Constitutions of the guilds or corporations the basis of the constitutions of Dr . Anderson ? Have the Public Records been searched to ascertain in what cities and towns besides London

there were in ancient times guilds or corporations of Masons ? In 1376 were there not in London two guilds or companies , the one of Masons , the other of Freemasons ? and before 1421 did not the guild or company of Freemasons merge in that of Masons ? In the constitutions of the

Masonic guilds or corporations of the Middle Ages , is it not possible to find traces of a more symbolical character than in the constitutions of other similar guilds or corporations not being Masonic ? Is it known at what time individuals who were not

Masons might , nevertheless , become members of the London guild or conrpany of Masons ? Must every one who has studied the best Masonic authorities hold that Freemasonry is derived from the operative guilds of the mediaeval times ? Must

not imagination be stretched to a great extent to allow us to assume that the constitution of the building guilds or corporations of the Middle Ages was endowed with a more spiritual character than that of other similar bodies ? Was not a guild or

company of Masons in existence in London in the 49 th year of the reign of Edward III . ? When did it become unnecessary that the members of a London guild or company should belong to the particular trade for the sake of which such guild or company was created ?

CRAET MASONRY . Are our modern Craft rituals , and the ceremonies used by the working Masons employed in the erection of our old cathedrals , substantially the same ? Have we not now in our Craft system of

working substantiall y the same ritual as prevailed amongst the old operative lodges ? In our Craft Masonry are not the opening ceremonies , except the first , modern inventions ? Is there , or is there not , good ground for the belief in the

authority , reality , value , and antiquity of Craffc Masonry , as the source of all other degress , high or low ? Is an opinion as to the superior antiquity of Craft

Masonry and the Craffc ritual unassailable ? Is there nofc abundant evidence and proof fchafc Craffc Masonry is both in itself and its ritual older than any other degree or order whatsoever ? Is there substantial evidence which goes back to the

middle of the 17 th century as to the identity of the Craft ritual , now as then ? May or may not our Craft rituals be considered . as ancient and genuine ? Was not our present Craft ritual , in all its leading particulars , in full operation in this

country long before 1715 ? What can be said effectively against the opinion that , in Craffc Masonry and the Craffc ritual , we have the forerunner of ail inner and secret organisation , and the foundation upon which every other ritual

actually rests ? When , in 1717 , the speculative element got the upper hand , was not the old operative system nevertheless preserved , allowance being , of course , made for the preponderance of the speculative element , and for the unavoidable change of time and circumstances ?

CRAFT DEGREES . Are our present Craft degrees anterior to 1717 , or are they a compilation made just at that time ? In what way can a denial that the three Craffc degrees had any connection with operative Masonry

be supported ? Is there incontestable proof of the real and superior antiquity of original Masonry in the three Craffc degrees ? Upon what ground is it asserted that the three Craffc degrees are a compilation of the end of the 17 fch , or beginning

of the 18 th , century ? What is the actual antiquity of our present Craffc degrees ? Where can be found the Chevalier Ramsay ' s proposal to Grand Lodge , in 172 S , to substitute certain other degrees for our three first ?

THE MASTERS' DEGREE . In former times , when the Craft was essentially operative , was not the degree of Master Mason unknown ? Is ifc not clear that Master Masons existed long before the third degree was invented ?

Is it known that formerly very few Masons went beyond the degree of a Fellow Craffc , the degree of Master being for several years given in Grand Lodge only ? Is there not important evidence to prove the precise difference , about the middle of

the 17 th century , between the Master , Fellow Craffc , aad Apprentice ? Was nofc the degree of Master unknown in the 17 th century ? Was not the Master Mason ' s degree unknown in 1646 ? Was Elias Ashmole , in 16 S 2 , more than a Fellow