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Article MASONIC NOTES AND QUERIES. ← Page 2 of 2 Article MASONIC NOTES AND QUERIES. Page 2 of 2 Article ORIGIN AND MISSION OF FREEMASONRY. Page 1 of 3 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Masonic Notes And Queries.
get the account copied from the Irish lodge books in which he was made , and would send it as soon as possible . Has No . 2 ' s favour arrived ? No . 3 would have it photographed and hoped to send it next week . Do you believe next week ever came ? If—I say if it can be proved by documentary evidence it should be done , or else the claim abandoned .
" Better to " but I wont quote , its no use quoting to those " who break the sound of promise , "—there I go again , but never mind , try if you can persuade either Nos . 1 , 2 , or 3 to redeem their promises . —H . A . W . —[ We have done so over and over again , and are now so pretty well acquainted with the " pie crust" proverb , that we have given up all hopes of No . 1 , 2 , or 3 , as H . A . W . calls themever remembering
, that they sent us any such promises . We look upon both Nos . 1 , 2 , 3 , and ourselves , as having been disturbed by unquiet dreams , which we intended to shake off , but have each gone to sleep again and forgot all about ifc . Better to let the subject drop for ever , than drag out an unwilling or doubtful rejoinder to a long standing promise . ]
OLD PRENCH CERTIFICATE . In the same book from which I extracted the inventory of Bro . De Lintot is an early Prench certificate which I subjoin . The description shall be as readable as I can make it . In a border of leaves , similar to those we see on picture frames , and round which are festoons of full blown roses , is the certificate in question . At the top , ancl outside this border ,
on the left hand , is a bee-hive with bees flying round it . There is also a- very pretty little engraving at the top which bears the following objects : —A tesselated pavement for the whole picture . On the left , the plinth of a column , behind that a tree or shrub , and in the back-ground a pyramid . In the centre a female figure seated on a kind of altar-tomb , with both arms extendedin the riht hand holding a square ,
, g and in the left , a circle formed of a serpent having its tail in its mouth . Hanging over this seat there is a plan of a building which appears to be kept from falling by a bee-hive placed on it , and a large level supporting it in front . At the feet of the figure is a pair of compasses . On her left , the capital of a Corinthian column , a plumb-rule , and setting maul , and an edifice in course of construction . On the right
hand side of this plate , in a line with the first mentioned bee-hive , is the torso of a man , supported at the back by a level , compass , aud square . Underneath , and inside the border , are two seals , that on the left being the seal of the lodge with three all-seing eyes , square , compass , and plumbrule , underlined by a ribbon , the motto being effaced . The seal on the right is the arms of the Vignolles family , surmounted by a ducal coronet . The whole certificate is written throughout , and signed by the officers whose names are appended . It reads thus : —
"V . * . 51 . - . De A ignoles cle 1 'Orienfc "' un lieu eclaire oil regnenfc le Silence , In , Pais , et l'Egalite le 15 e , jour du vi . mois del ' an cle la G . L . 5768 . selon le calcul ord" -e-A tons les vrais Freres Francs & aceeptes Macons qui liront ces presentes , salut , Pais , & Prosperite . "Nous les Maitres , Inspecteurs etOuvriers principaux dela T . E . Loge St . Jeanetablie a Londressous le nom de l'lmmortalite de
, , l'Ordre , assembles par les n . * . m . - ., deeores selon l'usage efc authorises par notre cher Frere Henry Somerset , Due de Beauforte , G . M . cle toutes les Loges d'Angleterre , fiisons savour a qui apartient que notre cher Frere Jean Baptiste Saur , natif de Colmar , en Alsace , Macon du 3 e . gr . - ., et membre de notre E . Loge , lequel a signe son nom au clos de la presente ne varietur a , pendant son sejour parmi nous , frequente assidument nos assemblees , pris part
avec zele a nos travaux ordinaires des ler . 2 d . & 3 e . gv . * ., et eu une conduite tonjoiirs assortie au caractere de vertu and de probite d ' un legitime frere . En consequence Nous lui avons expedie le present certificat pour en faire l ' usage qui poura lui convenir , en le recomandant au lion accueil de tons nos freres . Donne sous le petit Seeau cle la R . Lodge et le cachet des armes du T . A . Maitre , sur la presente timbre ' s ancl munie , de la signature des Officiers
principaux . " Par ordre cle la T . B . L ., F . L , Cardinaux , Secretaire ; J . P . DuEoveray 2 nd S ., DeLeautier , Substit . du T . V . M . Pierre Duval , T . Snrv . "
The above is endorsed on the back of the first page " Jean Saur , " and at the foot is a stamp , in blue , of a square , compass , and level , with a motto , the latter illegible , all included in a circle formed by a serpent . The fly-sheet is blank , but the
Masonic Notes And Queries.
watermark in it represents Britannia seated , holding a trident , and a Lion within a circle of what appear to be palings . The inscription is " Pro Patria . " MATTHEW COOKE .
Origin And Mission Of Freemasonry.
ORIGIN AND MISSION OF FREEMASONRY .
At the annual meeting of the Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Pennsylvania , held on 27 th December last , the retiring Grand High Priest , Comp . Benj . Parker , delivered an excellent address , in the course of which he said : — It is not an uninteresting thought , that our Annual Comniunica « tion occurs on the great festival day of Masonry , a day consecrated
to the memory of St . John the Evangelist—venerated throughout the habitable globe as a patron of our Order—whose life and character formed the purest ancl brightest exhibition of the Masonic virtues . This thought gains in interest , when we reflect that on this day , and perhaps at this hour , our brethren dispersed around the globe , whether residing in city , town or country , clad in costly or humble garbare gathering around the altars of Masonrywhere
, , all distinctions but goodness are laid aside , to " render thanksgiving and praise for our Institution , and the pleasures and benefits derived from it ; ancl to ask Him , who aforetime appeared to Moses in aflame of fire out of the midst of a bush , to enkindle in each of our hearts a flame of devotion to Him , of love to each other , and of charity to all mankind . " Ifc is a heart-cheering and ennobling thought that on this day especiallour Institution—the only one
y , , it is believed , in ivhich the science of symbolism , ancl symbolic teaching , are preserved and practiced—exhibits before the world the most perfect symbol in existence of the . Brotherhood of Mankind . For not only on our own continent , from the frozen ocean to Cape Horn , ancl from the Atlantic to the Pacific , bufc throughout Europe and Asia , from the icy regions of Siberia to the burning plains of
Hindostan" From Greenland ' s icy mountains To India ' s coral strand : " AVherever the light of civilization has beamed , the tenets of Masonry are taught ; its secret language learned and practiced , and the unwavering fidelity and love ivhich characterized the holy St . John , inculcated . Surelthenit is meet for us to be thankful ; and amid such
souly , , stirring reflections and proud gratulations , to return our hearty thanksgivings to our Father in Heaven , for the preservation of our lives ancl the blessings ivehave so bountifully enjoyed ; and inthe inspired language adopted in our Ritual , in imitation of our ancient brethren at the dedication ofthe temple , bow ourselves and worship , and praise the Lord , saying : "For He is God ; for His mercy endureth for ever . "
And now , companions , while enjoying the proud consciousness of being members , in good standing , of this ancient and wide-spread fraternity , whose mystic chain of Brotherhood engirdles our globe , we may surely be indulged in a few reflections as to its oiigin , character , and mission . The [ origin of the science now called Masonry , must be left to conjecture . No man can show when it did not exist , or point us to the time when ifc legan . Its birth was anterior to authentic history , or profane tradition . It grew out of the physical and
moral wants of man as a fallen being , taking the mould and hue ot the religion practiced by the various nations of ancient times . As we look backward , we see issuing from fche mists and clouds of the remotest antiquity , the rivulet of Masonry . It trickles like a current of love along the valleys of this wilderness world , and though mostly unseen , and hidden from the gaze of the multitude , ifc has collected and borne along in its ever onward course , much of the wisdomand learningand iety of every age . Its intimate
, , p connection with the Hebrews , among whom it was probably first organized into a society , at the building of the temple , has deeply imbued its ritual with Bible language and sentiment , and its memorial ceremonies with Bible history : while at the same time a resemblance , in some cases clear , ancl in others more faint , can be traced to the religious mysteries of Ancient Egypt , Assyria , Chaldea , Hindostan , and the Druids of Gaul and Britain . This is especially
true in regard to the symbolic mode of teaching—of communicating thought and conveying moral instruction by means of appropriate emblems—common among the Egyptians and other nations of antiquity , now almost , if not exclusively , confined to the Masonic Fraternity . These emblems , well understood and familiar , were not arbitrarily adopted ; but with extraordinary ingenuity and skill were appropriated to their respective objects with a p hilosopnic accuracy ; big with meaning and rich in their moral teaching . They are links in that great chain wliic ' .:, extending back through
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Masonic Notes And Queries.
get the account copied from the Irish lodge books in which he was made , and would send it as soon as possible . Has No . 2 ' s favour arrived ? No . 3 would have it photographed and hoped to send it next week . Do you believe next week ever came ? If—I say if it can be proved by documentary evidence it should be done , or else the claim abandoned .
" Better to " but I wont quote , its no use quoting to those " who break the sound of promise , "—there I go again , but never mind , try if you can persuade either Nos . 1 , 2 , or 3 to redeem their promises . —H . A . W . —[ We have done so over and over again , and are now so pretty well acquainted with the " pie crust" proverb , that we have given up all hopes of No . 1 , 2 , or 3 , as H . A . W . calls themever remembering
, that they sent us any such promises . We look upon both Nos . 1 , 2 , 3 , and ourselves , as having been disturbed by unquiet dreams , which we intended to shake off , but have each gone to sleep again and forgot all about ifc . Better to let the subject drop for ever , than drag out an unwilling or doubtful rejoinder to a long standing promise . ]
OLD PRENCH CERTIFICATE . In the same book from which I extracted the inventory of Bro . De Lintot is an early Prench certificate which I subjoin . The description shall be as readable as I can make it . In a border of leaves , similar to those we see on picture frames , and round which are festoons of full blown roses , is the certificate in question . At the top , ancl outside this border ,
on the left hand , is a bee-hive with bees flying round it . There is also a- very pretty little engraving at the top which bears the following objects : —A tesselated pavement for the whole picture . On the left , the plinth of a column , behind that a tree or shrub , and in the back-ground a pyramid . In the centre a female figure seated on a kind of altar-tomb , with both arms extendedin the riht hand holding a square ,
, g and in the left , a circle formed of a serpent having its tail in its mouth . Hanging over this seat there is a plan of a building which appears to be kept from falling by a bee-hive placed on it , and a large level supporting it in front . At the feet of the figure is a pair of compasses . On her left , the capital of a Corinthian column , a plumb-rule , and setting maul , and an edifice in course of construction . On the right
hand side of this plate , in a line with the first mentioned bee-hive , is the torso of a man , supported at the back by a level , compass , aud square . Underneath , and inside the border , are two seals , that on the left being the seal of the lodge with three all-seing eyes , square , compass , and plumbrule , underlined by a ribbon , the motto being effaced . The seal on the right is the arms of the Vignolles family , surmounted by a ducal coronet . The whole certificate is written throughout , and signed by the officers whose names are appended . It reads thus : —
"V . * . 51 . - . De A ignoles cle 1 'Orienfc "' un lieu eclaire oil regnenfc le Silence , In , Pais , et l'Egalite le 15 e , jour du vi . mois del ' an cle la G . L . 5768 . selon le calcul ord" -e-A tons les vrais Freres Francs & aceeptes Macons qui liront ces presentes , salut , Pais , & Prosperite . "Nous les Maitres , Inspecteurs etOuvriers principaux dela T . E . Loge St . Jeanetablie a Londressous le nom de l'lmmortalite de
, , l'Ordre , assembles par les n . * . m . - ., deeores selon l'usage efc authorises par notre cher Frere Henry Somerset , Due de Beauforte , G . M . cle toutes les Loges d'Angleterre , fiisons savour a qui apartient que notre cher Frere Jean Baptiste Saur , natif de Colmar , en Alsace , Macon du 3 e . gr . - ., et membre de notre E . Loge , lequel a signe son nom au clos de la presente ne varietur a , pendant son sejour parmi nous , frequente assidument nos assemblees , pris part
avec zele a nos travaux ordinaires des ler . 2 d . & 3 e . gv . * ., et eu une conduite tonjoiirs assortie au caractere de vertu and de probite d ' un legitime frere . En consequence Nous lui avons expedie le present certificat pour en faire l ' usage qui poura lui convenir , en le recomandant au lion accueil de tons nos freres . Donne sous le petit Seeau cle la R . Lodge et le cachet des armes du T . A . Maitre , sur la presente timbre ' s ancl munie , de la signature des Officiers
principaux . " Par ordre cle la T . B . L ., F . L , Cardinaux , Secretaire ; J . P . DuEoveray 2 nd S ., DeLeautier , Substit . du T . V . M . Pierre Duval , T . Snrv . "
The above is endorsed on the back of the first page " Jean Saur , " and at the foot is a stamp , in blue , of a square , compass , and level , with a motto , the latter illegible , all included in a circle formed by a serpent . The fly-sheet is blank , but the
Masonic Notes And Queries.
watermark in it represents Britannia seated , holding a trident , and a Lion within a circle of what appear to be palings . The inscription is " Pro Patria . " MATTHEW COOKE .
Origin And Mission Of Freemasonry.
ORIGIN AND MISSION OF FREEMASONRY .
At the annual meeting of the Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Pennsylvania , held on 27 th December last , the retiring Grand High Priest , Comp . Benj . Parker , delivered an excellent address , in the course of which he said : — It is not an uninteresting thought , that our Annual Comniunica « tion occurs on the great festival day of Masonry , a day consecrated
to the memory of St . John the Evangelist—venerated throughout the habitable globe as a patron of our Order—whose life and character formed the purest ancl brightest exhibition of the Masonic virtues . This thought gains in interest , when we reflect that on this day , and perhaps at this hour , our brethren dispersed around the globe , whether residing in city , town or country , clad in costly or humble garbare gathering around the altars of Masonrywhere
, , all distinctions but goodness are laid aside , to " render thanksgiving and praise for our Institution , and the pleasures and benefits derived from it ; ancl to ask Him , who aforetime appeared to Moses in aflame of fire out of the midst of a bush , to enkindle in each of our hearts a flame of devotion to Him , of love to each other , and of charity to all mankind . " Ifc is a heart-cheering and ennobling thought that on this day especiallour Institution—the only one
y , , it is believed , in ivhich the science of symbolism , ancl symbolic teaching , are preserved and practiced—exhibits before the world the most perfect symbol in existence of the . Brotherhood of Mankind . For not only on our own continent , from the frozen ocean to Cape Horn , ancl from the Atlantic to the Pacific , bufc throughout Europe and Asia , from the icy regions of Siberia to the burning plains of
Hindostan" From Greenland ' s icy mountains To India ' s coral strand : " AVherever the light of civilization has beamed , the tenets of Masonry are taught ; its secret language learned and practiced , and the unwavering fidelity and love ivhich characterized the holy St . John , inculcated . Surelthenit is meet for us to be thankful ; and amid such
souly , , stirring reflections and proud gratulations , to return our hearty thanksgivings to our Father in Heaven , for the preservation of our lives ancl the blessings ivehave so bountifully enjoyed ; and inthe inspired language adopted in our Ritual , in imitation of our ancient brethren at the dedication ofthe temple , bow ourselves and worship , and praise the Lord , saying : "For He is God ; for His mercy endureth for ever . "
And now , companions , while enjoying the proud consciousness of being members , in good standing , of this ancient and wide-spread fraternity , whose mystic chain of Brotherhood engirdles our globe , we may surely be indulged in a few reflections as to its oiigin , character , and mission . The [ origin of the science now called Masonry , must be left to conjecture . No man can show when it did not exist , or point us to the time when ifc legan . Its birth was anterior to authentic history , or profane tradition . It grew out of the physical and
moral wants of man as a fallen being , taking the mould and hue ot the religion practiced by the various nations of ancient times . As we look backward , we see issuing from fche mists and clouds of the remotest antiquity , the rivulet of Masonry . It trickles like a current of love along the valleys of this wilderness world , and though mostly unseen , and hidden from the gaze of the multitude , ifc has collected and borne along in its ever onward course , much of the wisdomand learningand iety of every age . Its intimate
, , p connection with the Hebrews , among whom it was probably first organized into a society , at the building of the temple , has deeply imbued its ritual with Bible language and sentiment , and its memorial ceremonies with Bible history : while at the same time a resemblance , in some cases clear , ancl in others more faint , can be traced to the religious mysteries of Ancient Egypt , Assyria , Chaldea , Hindostan , and the Druids of Gaul and Britain . This is especially
true in regard to the symbolic mode of teaching—of communicating thought and conveying moral instruction by means of appropriate emblems—common among the Egyptians and other nations of antiquity , now almost , if not exclusively , confined to the Masonic Fraternity . These emblems , well understood and familiar , were not arbitrarily adopted ; but with extraordinary ingenuity and skill were appropriated to their respective objects with a p hilosopnic accuracy ; big with meaning and rich in their moral teaching . They are links in that great chain wliic ' .:, extending back through