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Article CORRESPONDENCE. ← Page 2 of 2 Article CORRESPONDENCE. Page 2 of 2 Article LODGE OF HARMONY (No. 600). Page 1 of 1
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Correspondence.
of Pythagoras , Homer , & c , and adopted a guild pedigree , tracing architecture up to Adam , and forgebtiug that , to a comparatively recent period , all architecture was in the hands of monks , through whom we must have received our ceremonies . Dr . Oliver asserts that Raleigh was a Rosicrucian : — " Give me a scallop shell of quiet , staff oi faithto walk
My , upon , My scrip of joy , immortal diet , My battle of salvation , My gown of glory , hope's true gauge , Anel then I'll take my pilgrimage . " I remain , dear Sir and Brother , yours fraternally , A-
XO THE EDITOR OF THE FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE AND MASONIC MIRBOB . DEAR SIR AXD BROTHER , —Bro . "Ebor" says I know as well as he does that in 1715 , and long before 1715 , the same system as we have now was in full operation in all its leading particulars in this country . I know nothing of the kind—I wish I did—I have for years been seeking for evidence to prove ib . The " Legend of Hiram "
and the Master Mason's degree was unknown in 1646 ( Sloane MSS . 3848 ) . In 1682 , Freemasons were admitted in a lodge of Fellow Crafts ( Ashmole ) , and according to Dr . Oliver ( " Freemasons Treasury , " page 234 ) there were no regular lodges at that time , and the brethren met at considerable intervals , as chance might direct . About the year 1717 ( says Ahim . Rez ., p . xxhi ., ed . 1813 ) ,
¦ some joyous companions who had passed tlie degree of a Graft , though very rusty , resolved to form a lodge for themselves , in order , by conversation , to recollect what had formerly been dictated to them ; or , if that should be found impracticable , to substitute something new , which for the future might pass for Masonry among themselves . At this meeting the question was asked
whether any person in the assembly knew the Master ' s part , and being answered in the negative , ib was resolved that the deficiency should be made up by a new composition . In fact , Master Masons existed long before the third degree was invented . Now , does our Bro . "Eboi * " moan to say that the ancient ritual , without the third degree , was the same we have now , like the play of Hamlet , leaving out the Prince of Denmark ? Yet he says , of this , plenty of
-evidence is happily forbhcommg ; indeed , ib may , without fear of contradiction , be affirmed that there is substantial evidence which goes back to the middle of the 17 th century , as the identity of our Craft ritual is now as then . Then why , in the name of common sense , does nob he produce it ? But do we not lay too much stress on mere ritualism ,
which , after all , is but the outer clothing , not the soul within P By its very nature , handed down to us by oral tradition , affected by the lapse of ages , the change of language and customs , the advancement of knowledge , and the introduction of a purer system of morality aud religion , a ritual must bo subject to constant revisions . " Delta" English Masonrymeaning the Craft
_ says , ritual , cannot boast of more than fifty years ; yet the records of Grand Lodge go back to a century and a half . In 1787 , Grand Lodge recognised the Grand Elected Knight , K . D . S . H ( see " Cumberland Masonry" ) . In 1785 , German Rosicrucianism embodied Craft Masonry , Tomplarism , and the N . P . H . ( " Mysterium Magnum Stadium Universale Altona , " 1785 . ) In 1722 , all Masons were
commanded to respecb bhe Knighbs K . D . S . H . ( Dr . Leeson ) . In 1314 , the Royal Order of H . R . D . M ., the Scottish Rose Croix , was instituted by Robert Bruce ; and in 1147 , the ancient Kilwinning brethren were told " that you mak , instruck , and teach the Masonry of St . John , in all its pairbs and secrebs , and as lik belted Knighbs and crosslegged Knighbs with armour . " Indeed , however modern may be the ritual of the antiquity of Symbolic Masonry , no doubt has ever been
Correspondence.
hazarded ; and we find in 1155 the Grand Master of the Templars , when in the full plenitude of their power and greatness , honouring the Craft by exercising the office of their Grand Master ( Preston ) . Nor did this fraternal act pass unrequited by the brethren ; for when sinking under the malignant attacks of their enemies , the Temlars were robbed of their possessionsand theirGrand
p , . Master burnt alive by the most Christian king , Philip the Fair , several of the English Knights , instead of flying to Scotland , found refuge iu the religious foundations in Yorkshire . That Freemasons were patronised by the monkish orders , history contains ample proof ; and among the more aged inmates , the Templars , there is reason to believewould have met many of their
every , old companions of the battle-fields of Palestine . At least this is cerbain , Freemasonry from this period assumed a new phase ; for the title of one of the oldest lodges of the Crafb was the Druidical Lodge , or Chapter of Royal Arch Masons , or Templar Encampment of York . Indeed , from this time Templarism and Masonry have been so completely entwined that it is impossible for the
Masonic historian to untwist the thread ; and whilst every Templar is bound , by his Masonic obligation , to uphold the dignity of our venerable Order , Craft Masons must feel some pride in being so closely affiliated with the descendants of a body whose gallant deeds in the defence of the holy Christian faith has been the theme of every historian , and who include in their ranks the most highly educated and influential members of the society of
Freemasons . Very far am I from wishing to depreciate universal Freemasonry , hut I wish to see Christian Masonry go hand in hand with tho moral teachings of the Craft . Bro . " Ebor" and many other of our most zealous brethren may differ with me as to the antiquity of several of the degrees and chivalric orders—that is fair ground for mutual argument and research—but there is one point
on which we must all agree , and I cannot do better than close thislefcterin the words of our eloquent and reverend Bro . Oliver— " The days are come when the real must supersede the ideal . Truth cannob always be ab a discount amongst us , nor fable be the acknowledged basis of the system . To be acknowledged and esteemed by the outer world , Freemasonry must ex necessitate rei ,
renounce its indefensible theories , and trust its celebrity to the firm and immovable pillar of unquestionable and unquestioned verity . The Masonry of the past must be purified from all fabulous relics of a superstitious age , that the residuum may be beautifully and transparently bright and clean . " I am , dear Sir and Brother , yours fraternally , ROS . - CRUCIS . Nov . 24 , 1863 .
Lodge Of Harmony (No. 600).
LODGE OF HARMONY ( No . 600 ) .
TO THE EDITOR OF THE FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE AND MASONIC MIRROR . DEAR SIR AXD BROTHER , —At the regular monthly meeting of the above Lodge , held November 19 th , the following resolution was passed unanimously , and the Secretary was instructed to i * ecord the same in the minutes of the lodge , and to forward a copy to the Editor of bhe FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE for insertion bherein : —
"That the Lodge of Harmony ( No . GOO ) , having been interested observers of the correspondence hetwen their esteemed anil worthy ' Treasurer' and ' Investigator , ' in the columns of the FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE , feel it incumbent upon them to express , by a vote of its members iu loelge assembled , their unqualified approval of the course taken by their Treasurer in that correspondence . "
I , therefore , respectfully ask you to allow the above to appear in your next issue , And remain , dear Sir and Brother , yours fraternally , S . 0 . BAILEY , P . M . and Sec . of Lodge of Harmony ( No . 600 ) . tfovember 23 rd , 1863 .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Correspondence.
of Pythagoras , Homer , & c , and adopted a guild pedigree , tracing architecture up to Adam , and forgebtiug that , to a comparatively recent period , all architecture was in the hands of monks , through whom we must have received our ceremonies . Dr . Oliver asserts that Raleigh was a Rosicrucian : — " Give me a scallop shell of quiet , staff oi faithto walk
My , upon , My scrip of joy , immortal diet , My battle of salvation , My gown of glory , hope's true gauge , Anel then I'll take my pilgrimage . " I remain , dear Sir and Brother , yours fraternally , A-
XO THE EDITOR OF THE FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE AND MASONIC MIRBOB . DEAR SIR AXD BROTHER , —Bro . "Ebor" says I know as well as he does that in 1715 , and long before 1715 , the same system as we have now was in full operation in all its leading particulars in this country . I know nothing of the kind—I wish I did—I have for years been seeking for evidence to prove ib . The " Legend of Hiram "
and the Master Mason's degree was unknown in 1646 ( Sloane MSS . 3848 ) . In 1682 , Freemasons were admitted in a lodge of Fellow Crafts ( Ashmole ) , and according to Dr . Oliver ( " Freemasons Treasury , " page 234 ) there were no regular lodges at that time , and the brethren met at considerable intervals , as chance might direct . About the year 1717 ( says Ahim . Rez ., p . xxhi ., ed . 1813 ) ,
¦ some joyous companions who had passed tlie degree of a Graft , though very rusty , resolved to form a lodge for themselves , in order , by conversation , to recollect what had formerly been dictated to them ; or , if that should be found impracticable , to substitute something new , which for the future might pass for Masonry among themselves . At this meeting the question was asked
whether any person in the assembly knew the Master ' s part , and being answered in the negative , ib was resolved that the deficiency should be made up by a new composition . In fact , Master Masons existed long before the third degree was invented . Now , does our Bro . "Eboi * " moan to say that the ancient ritual , without the third degree , was the same we have now , like the play of Hamlet , leaving out the Prince of Denmark ? Yet he says , of this , plenty of
-evidence is happily forbhcommg ; indeed , ib may , without fear of contradiction , be affirmed that there is substantial evidence which goes back to the middle of the 17 th century , as the identity of our Craft ritual is now as then . Then why , in the name of common sense , does nob he produce it ? But do we not lay too much stress on mere ritualism ,
which , after all , is but the outer clothing , not the soul within P By its very nature , handed down to us by oral tradition , affected by the lapse of ages , the change of language and customs , the advancement of knowledge , and the introduction of a purer system of morality aud religion , a ritual must bo subject to constant revisions . " Delta" English Masonrymeaning the Craft
_ says , ritual , cannot boast of more than fifty years ; yet the records of Grand Lodge go back to a century and a half . In 1787 , Grand Lodge recognised the Grand Elected Knight , K . D . S . H ( see " Cumberland Masonry" ) . In 1785 , German Rosicrucianism embodied Craft Masonry , Tomplarism , and the N . P . H . ( " Mysterium Magnum Stadium Universale Altona , " 1785 . ) In 1722 , all Masons were
commanded to respecb bhe Knighbs K . D . S . H . ( Dr . Leeson ) . In 1314 , the Royal Order of H . R . D . M ., the Scottish Rose Croix , was instituted by Robert Bruce ; and in 1147 , the ancient Kilwinning brethren were told " that you mak , instruck , and teach the Masonry of St . John , in all its pairbs and secrebs , and as lik belted Knighbs and crosslegged Knighbs with armour . " Indeed , however modern may be the ritual of the antiquity of Symbolic Masonry , no doubt has ever been
Correspondence.
hazarded ; and we find in 1155 the Grand Master of the Templars , when in the full plenitude of their power and greatness , honouring the Craft by exercising the office of their Grand Master ( Preston ) . Nor did this fraternal act pass unrequited by the brethren ; for when sinking under the malignant attacks of their enemies , the Temlars were robbed of their possessionsand theirGrand
p , . Master burnt alive by the most Christian king , Philip the Fair , several of the English Knights , instead of flying to Scotland , found refuge iu the religious foundations in Yorkshire . That Freemasons were patronised by the monkish orders , history contains ample proof ; and among the more aged inmates , the Templars , there is reason to believewould have met many of their
every , old companions of the battle-fields of Palestine . At least this is cerbain , Freemasonry from this period assumed a new phase ; for the title of one of the oldest lodges of the Crafb was the Druidical Lodge , or Chapter of Royal Arch Masons , or Templar Encampment of York . Indeed , from this time Templarism and Masonry have been so completely entwined that it is impossible for the
Masonic historian to untwist the thread ; and whilst every Templar is bound , by his Masonic obligation , to uphold the dignity of our venerable Order , Craft Masons must feel some pride in being so closely affiliated with the descendants of a body whose gallant deeds in the defence of the holy Christian faith has been the theme of every historian , and who include in their ranks the most highly educated and influential members of the society of
Freemasons . Very far am I from wishing to depreciate universal Freemasonry , hut I wish to see Christian Masonry go hand in hand with tho moral teachings of the Craft . Bro . " Ebor" and many other of our most zealous brethren may differ with me as to the antiquity of several of the degrees and chivalric orders—that is fair ground for mutual argument and research—but there is one point
on which we must all agree , and I cannot do better than close thislefcterin the words of our eloquent and reverend Bro . Oliver— " The days are come when the real must supersede the ideal . Truth cannob always be ab a discount amongst us , nor fable be the acknowledged basis of the system . To be acknowledged and esteemed by the outer world , Freemasonry must ex necessitate rei ,
renounce its indefensible theories , and trust its celebrity to the firm and immovable pillar of unquestionable and unquestioned verity . The Masonry of the past must be purified from all fabulous relics of a superstitious age , that the residuum may be beautifully and transparently bright and clean . " I am , dear Sir and Brother , yours fraternally , ROS . - CRUCIS . Nov . 24 , 1863 .
Lodge Of Harmony (No. 600).
LODGE OF HARMONY ( No . 600 ) .
TO THE EDITOR OF THE FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE AND MASONIC MIRROR . DEAR SIR AXD BROTHER , —At the regular monthly meeting of the above Lodge , held November 19 th , the following resolution was passed unanimously , and the Secretary was instructed to i * ecord the same in the minutes of the lodge , and to forward a copy to the Editor of bhe FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE for insertion bherein : —
"That the Lodge of Harmony ( No . GOO ) , having been interested observers of the correspondence hetwen their esteemed anil worthy ' Treasurer' and ' Investigator , ' in the columns of the FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE , feel it incumbent upon them to express , by a vote of its members iu loelge assembled , their unqualified approval of the course taken by their Treasurer in that correspondence . "
I , therefore , respectfully ask you to allow the above to appear in your next issue , And remain , dear Sir and Brother , yours fraternally , S . 0 . BAILEY , P . M . and Sec . of Lodge of Harmony ( No . 600 ) . tfovember 23 rd , 1863 .