An Analysis Of Ancient And Modern Freemasonry.

Masonry , and even the allusions to the third in this book is , to say the least , most certainly of an equivocal nature . However , we may be sure that no more than three degrees were known or heard of in England up to A . D . 1723 , and , so far as the

subject can be traced . Freemasonry , as respects its forms and ceremonies , is more nearly allied . to Rosicrucianism than to Knight Templary or any other chivalric degree . Probably the promoters of the revival were Rosicrucians , but we have no

evidence on this point to present , and , having no facts , refrain from building mere visionary theories . Dr . Oliver says , in his " History of the Royal Arch Degree , " that a Grand Lodge was established

at York , under the charter of Edwin , which maintained its functions and asserted its supremacy down to the middle of the last century ( page 9 ); and yet in another work the learned divine states that , at the time of the revival there were but four

lodges in existence , and these in London . How to reconcile these two opinions we know not . One thing s certain , it was not until after the first Grand Lodge in the world had met in London , that " it was decided that no lodge should have

the right to meet without a warrant , and that without such a warrant no lodge should hereafter be deemed regular and constitutional . " This resolution must not be understood to refer to the

four original lodges , as an exception was made in their favour . The Antiquity Lodge , No . 2 , is the only one , out of the four , that has preserved this privilege down to the present time . We find no records in the history of English

Freemasonry respecting the union of time-immemorial lodges ( possessing minutes before the revival ) with the Speculative Grand Lodge , as we do in Scotland , and hence we assume that in that respect we have not been so favourably circumstanced as

our northern brethren , neither have we such interesting and valuable records of the proceedings of operative Masonry in the seventeenth century as they have . However , England originated the first Grand Lodge .

None of these ancient records , however , according to the authority of the accomplished Mason , Bro . D . M . Lyon , do more than prove that the Craftsmen received the first and second deo-rees , and confirm us in stating that the Masters were

bond fide employers of labour in their respective Crafts- Bro . Lyon , in a private letter to me some time since , expressed himself decidedly of the opinion that before the revival there were no

secrets communicated to either Masters or Fellows , that were not known to apprentices , seeing that apprentices were necessary to the legal constitution of such meetings at which Fellows and Masters were recognised . " We are not aware of

a more reliable authority on so important a subject than Bro . Lyon , as few , if any , have had such golden opportunities Jto study the musty documents of the Craft as he has had , and assuredly the chance has not been neglected , as his valuable

contributions to Masonic literature prove with what diligence and assiduity he has worked . Too much stress has been laid on the nature of the charter granted to Stirling , dated " fifth day of March , one thousand and one hundred and

fiftyseven years , " by " David the First , by the Grace of God , King of Scots , " because it is presumed to allude to " belted Knights . " We fail however to

see more than an illustration intended . Item , "And that you mack , instruck , and teach the Masonry of St . John in all its pairts and secrets , and as ilk belted Knights and cross' legged Knights with armour , for the cause and keeping

of oar holy religion , and all times of meeting , so their be no scurriliity or banning among you in the lodge , and such offending shall forfeit and pay five pounds Scotts , the one halfe to the lodge , the other halfe to the altar of St . Mary ' s to say mass

for their souls . " ( FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE March 1 st , 1860 . ) There are no MSS . that throw much light on the customs of the fraternity , before the revival , in the British Museum . The whole relating to the Craft in our noble British Museum , are thus

catalogued by Bro . Matthew Cooke in FREEMASONS '" MAGAZINE , July 16 th , 1859 , and may therefore be relied upon as being * correct .

1 . Halliwells MS . ( published by Bro . Spencer ) . 2 . Harl . MS . 2 , 054 . 3 . Harl . MS . 1 , 942 ( "Freemasons' Quarterly Review , " 1836 , page 288 ) . 4 . LansdownMS . No . 98 , Art . 48 ( FREEMASONS '

MAGAZINE , 1858 , page 343 ) . 5 . SloaneMS . 3 , 848 folio 213 ~ ) considered to be 6 . Sloane MS . 3323 folio 195 l copies of the dated 1659 . ) Lansdown .

In order to know what are really our " ancient landmarks , " I consider that any documentary evidence before the last century , tending to elucidate the point is of great importance , but " now a days" Freemasons too often neglect the substance for the shadow , and instead of endeavouring to accumulate information of real historical value ,