Freemasonry; Its History And Publications.

destroyed . Surely there can now be no such great secrecy m the account of their doings as to necessitate public reference to them being Avithheld . If by chance then- records contain any information , it Avould prove to be highly interesting , and Avould surely repay auy Masonic archtvjologist for the trouble of the search , and the preparation of the documents for publication . There are two other old Lodges in the kingdom , Avhose records might possibly

he made serviceable in the compilation of a reasonable historical account of so highly esteemed a . fraternity . One circumstance forcibly attracted my attention . Tn 171 . 7 , as you are ; nvarc , a Grand Lodge Avas formed in London . What evidence is there of any Grand Lodge having been held prcA'ious thereto , anywhere in England ? Had there been one , Avhat had become of the office ancl officers ? Why was it necessary that a Grand

Lodge should have been so established in 1717 ' ? I presume there are no other accounts but those published in Anderson , Preston , and the other usual Avorks , and they arc assuredly unsatisfactory . It is undoubtedly true , from other evidence , that Lodges Avere in existence previous to that date ; but uo connection is adduced of them one with another , or Avith a head Lodge . They may just as likely , for all evidence to the contrary , have been independent

clubs , though possibly sprung from one another , and formed as the members separated and became resident in the various parts of the country during the commotion of the seventeenth century . These observations are the result of researches which have been caused by the desire Avhich I , Avith many others in the profession , feel for that certain information of the Avorking of the early bodies of executive masons , AVIIO Avere unquestionably the means by Avhich

the knowledge of construction ancl architectural art Avas diffused . The absence of this information in the Avorks put fanvard by the fraternity , led me to inspect various other sources more or less connected Avith the question ; and I entertain no doubt but that any one pursuing a similar course of inquiry , and having the inspection of , and permission to make use of , such of the early records relating to the old Lodges as may prove to be corroborative evidence , Avould be enabled to compile a history Avorthy of Freemasonry . To an Englishman and an architect nothing could be

of greater interest , possessing , as this country docs , the purest specimens of gothie architecture . May I add , as a disinterested obsen-er , that I would urge that some steps should be taken to put a stop to the publication of such speculative absurdities as those Avrittcn by ( diver and others , which have been already aptly criticised as " distinguished by an intrepidity of statement Avhich must advance the cause

considerably Avith a more numerous than choice class of understandings . " They may be successful perhaps as publishers' speculations , but they are certainly damaging in a literary vieAv . I think that the publications on the present Freemasonry , professing to be written by members of the fraternity , assume a great amount of respectability due to a long pedigree ; and that on the contrary , the very documents to Avhich they refer detract considerablfrom the

y respectability of the speculative Masonry founded comparatively a few years since . If the fraternity of the ' present clay is descended from the mediaeval Masons , the true history of such descent should be submitted to the members and the public . Having trespassed so largely on your attention , I will only add , that I trust these observations Avill not be looked upon in the light of fault-finding , but as the result of a long study of the Whilst that the

subject . avrare fraternity urges secrecy and prevents discussion , I yet hope that any one AVIIO may be permitted to afford an explanation , or Avho can point out any better source of evidence , Avhich he thinks I may have overlooked , will kindl y do so m a kindred spirit of inquiry . After the society has alloAved the appearance of such Avorks as some of its members have written , it seems more than disingenuous to refuse to elucidate any doubtful be raised

points that may , or others Avhich could be raised , even under so plausible a pica as an oath of secrecA' Avhich on those points , if it exist , has been , I fancy , broken by authorit y over and over again . Should these remarks be considered eligible for your Magazine I may perhaps be again tempted to trespass on your valuable pages in a future number , more especially Avith reference to the sources available for such a history as I haA'e touched upon . I am , yours respectfully , July 5 // i , 1859 , \ Y . P .

American Brethren.

AMERICAN BRETHREN .

TO THE EDITOR- 01 ? THE FREEMASONS' JIAQAZIXE AND JIASOXIC Mir . ROR . LEAK SIR AND BROTHER , —As the almoner of our Lodge , I am frequently puzzled by the proofs of fraternity offered by tra .-

American Brethren.

vellers en route , professing to haA'e been initiated in some American Lodge , the same differing so Avidely from the English mode as not to be approved by me . As ' Bro . Cooke is IIOAV in this country , probably you could inquire of him if there be any difference in the Avorking ; and , if so , he could perhaps name some brother in London AVIIO could explain the difference , that myself and other almoners be instructed in their modeso that AVC

may , may not close the portal of relief to any of the American brotherhood , AVIIO , for Avaut of knoAving the English Avorking , fail in proving themselves to have been properly initiated . Yours faithfully and fraternally , Jul // Svd , 1 S 59 . ' R . E . X ,

Masonic Missions.

MASONIC MISSIONS .

TO THE EDITOR OP THE FREEJIASONS MACIAZIXE AND JIASOXIC MIRROR . DEAR Sin AXD BROTHER , —There can be no doubt as to the benefit Avhich will arise to the Craft in this country from the admirable series of papers Avhich you are publishing under the head "Masonic Missions . " They will not only tend to point out deficiencies and neglect in some districts , and to hold up to commendation the Avhich characterizes othersbut they must in the

energy , end liaA'e the effect of inciting to greater efforts in provinces Avhere the claims of the Order are but little known , and thus of removing inequalities among us , ivhich , by causing different standards of merit to prevail , in proportion to tbe number of Lodges under the surveillance of any Provincial Grand Master , omit to confer elevation in accordance with the services and merits

of individual brethren in a masonically populous district , m comparison -with other provinces in AA'hic ' h the number of Lodges is small , and Avhere consequently a IOAV standard is adopted as the claim to office in the Piwincial Grand Lodge . I have before troubled you Avith some remarks on this subject , but it is by some considered of so much importance to the Avell being and the united action of the Craft , that I do not hesitate to

recapitulate on the present occasion a portion of what has been already said , and to add some further considerations . In reality , the duties of the Provincial Grand Officers are so trivial , and of so little practical benefit , that the purple apron cannot be regarded in any other light than an honorary distinction , though there are some AVIIO A'ery reasonably consider that the Provincial Grand Lodges ought to be made thoroughly effective , by

affording means of extending and exalting our Order , of investigating its history , of raising its literature , of spreading a knowledge of its origin ancl its progressive development to the present period . Such , hoAvever , is not the case at present , and therefore , as the tenure of office imposes no duties Avhich prevent brethren of IOAV qualification from accepting it , great discrimination ought to be used bthe Provincial Grand Masters in the selection of fit

y persons to surround themselves , as the heads of the Craft , on important occasions . For this there are several reasons ; namely , the desirability of offering objects of aspiration beyond the mere routine of office , as the reAvard of services not Avell defined ; the maintenance of their own dignity in the Craft by the standing

aud position of their officers ; the impression produced , in cases ol publicity before the world , by attendance at church , at Provincial Grand Lodge meetings , or at public processions for any object , Avhen we shall of course be judged unfavourably by our felloAv citizens , if they sec the highest honours and decorations appertaining to those Avho morally and socially appear to have but slender , if any , claims to distinction and honour . If the purple apron

merely marks honour , dignity , merit , distinction , let care be taken that in no instance it is conferred umvorthily , for from that moment it ceases to be an object of ambition , and it Avould be easy to point out provinces Avhere such has been the effect of a few injudicious appointments . For these reasons it seems most desirable to have one rule of action prevailing uniA'ersally throughout all districts under the "

warrants of theGrand Lodge of England . To g ive an example : in one province , Avith Avhich I am acquainted , the Provincial Grand Master , though in many respects very efficient , and therefore highly esteemed , knoAvs but little of the characters and qualifications of the Masters of Lodges under his control , except in a feAv individual cases , and makes his appointments on the suggestion of one or two of his principal officerswho in their recommendations

, act on some rule Avhich has been laid doAvn for them by him , but about the justice of wliich many have grave doubts . The number of Lodgesin the province is considerable . None are appointed to office in " Provincial Grand Lodge unless they have filled the chair of Worshipful Master . The first appointment is that to the office of Pursuivant , and a brother once entering upon it expects , and