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  • The Freemasons' Monthly Magazine
  • Nov. 29, 1862
  • Page 2
  • MASONIC HISTORY.
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The Freemasons' Monthly Magazine, Nov. 29, 1862: Page 2

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    Article MASONIC HISTORY. ← Page 2 of 2
    Article THE FURNITURE OF A LODGE.* Page 1 of 2 →
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.

Masonic History.

ceeded from any chivalric order , as Ramsay pretends , in favour of political purposes , but that it has taken root amidst the media 3 val corporations of the stonemasons , became more and more accredited . Next to the critical examination of the Masonic documents , the special works relative to some Grand Lodges and their affiliated lodges are worthy of mention .

Among these modern historical researches , those of Bro . Georg Kloss are to be first named . Supported by one of the best libraries and collection of manuscripts , and endowed with a spirit free from all prejudice , he undertook a renewed examination of the existing Masonic documents * which he compared

, together carefully ; and taking advantage of these , he wrote a History of Freemasonry in Fngland , Ireland and Scotland ( 1 vol ., 184 / 7 ) , and a History of Freemasonry in France ( 2 vols ., 1842 ) . Though in the work alluded to Kloss considers the German stonemasons and the English freestone-masons

only as workmen and craftsmen ; his critical examination of their statutes has brought him to the full conviction that modern Masonry has proceeded immediately from the old corporations of the stonemasons , and that it Ai'as only Masonic pride that invented the expressions "operative" and " speculative "

Masonry . The question only remained to determine whether also the ceremonies and symbols of modern Masonry proceeded directly from those mediroval building corporations , or their origin is to be sought

for elseAvhere . This question has been answered by Fr . Alb . Fallon ( Die Mysterien der Frilcrer , so wie ihr einsiy walirer Grand und TTrspruny , Leipzig , 1 S 59 , 2 Auilt . ); and by T . "Winzer ( Die Dcutsclten Brudersclutften des Mittelacierscet , Giessen , 1859 , ) to the effect that the German stonemasons aud English freestone-masons

not only were guilds , but also fraternities , exercising a mysterious system of artistical instruction . Both authors prove further , firstly , that the modern Masons neither invented their liturgy and symbols , nor received them from any other mysterious association , but that they haA'e inherited them from their Masonic

forefathers ; secondl }' , that the English stonemasons have received these rites and ceremonies from Germany ; and finally , that the German stonemasons themselves did not completely invent their ceremonies and constitution , but borroived them partly from other German guildsand partly from

, ecclesiastical institutions , and only their symbols relative to the architecture of religious monuments and the symbolization of their art must be considered as their exclusive property . As to the history of Masonry after its transformation into a universal fraternity into the bond of bonds

( 1717 ) , and that of single countries and periods , the authentical works of the bond , as Anderson's Booh of Constitutions , Preston ' s Illustrations , and Laurie ' s History , the Avorks of Kloss , Mitchell , and Sob Morris , contain rich and most useful materials . "! -

The Furniture Of A Lodge.*

THE FURNITURE OF A LODGE . *

" Bihle , compass , and square As our ensigns we wear , — The bright symbols of wisdom profound ; And , while these are our guide , Every mystery beside As a foil to our heart will be found . " —MASONIC SOJCG .

" May every Brother steer his course through the world by the three great lights of Masonry . "—SECTIOXAI CHAHCIE . When a person builds a house for his own residence , the first consideration after it is finished is , how it may be furnished to the best advantage . For this purpose he takes counsel with himselfand

exer-, cises due deliberation on a matter of such vital importance . It is not the ivork of a moment . Plans are formed and laid aside .. Others succeed and prove equally unsatisfactory . Time passes on and the final decision still looms in the distance . He calls in the assistance of his friends with little profit . Each has

some favourite crotchet of his own , and their opinions do not coalesce . At length he does what any sensible man would have done hi the first instance . He applies to his upholsterer , and p lacing the matter in his hands , with a carte Iflanclte , the difficulty ceases , and the house is speedily fit for the residence of its

owner . HOAV different from all this is the furnishing of a Mason ' s Lodge . It needs no personal anxiety—no consultations ivith friends—no professional aid . All the furniture technically required is the same in every lodge in the universe , and consists of a triad of articles

simple in themselves but containing an abundance of moral references to the faith and practice of a virtuous man during his preparation for another and better world . And on . that account we term this important

triad the Great Emblematical Lights of Masonry which point the Avay to heaven . It will not , therefore , excite any wonder that this triad is highly prized by the fraternity as an unalterable landmark . However opinions may vary respecting some other parts of the system , as men differ in their interpretation of certain passages of Scripturethe furniture of the lodge

, admits of no diversity of exposition . Its object and design are so cleverly defined as to be incapable of mistake or perversion . It may ahvays be seen in the East , the seat of wisdom , placed on an altar as a significant representative of the Shekinah in the temple of Solomon in Jerusalem . Here the candidate seeks

the light and finds it ; and its first bright rays cest on these glorious emblems of mental illumination which he is taught to venerate as the embodiment of all that is great and good . Does he want instruction to guide his path through the devious wilderness of the world , it is abundantly supplied by the furniture

of a Masons ' s lodge ? Does he seek for faith , hope , and charity , —does he lack wisdom , strength , or beauty—does he long after the practice of temperance , fortitude , prudence and justice—they are to be found there if anywhere ? They will enlighten his dark mindsupplhim with rules of practice adapted

, y to all states of existence , and furnish those helps which every step in the progress of life demands . In a word , as was expressed in the Prestonian Lecture , they give real and intrinsic excellency to man , and

“The Freemasons' Monthly Magazine: 1862-11-29, Page 2” Masonic Periodicals Online, Library and Museum of Freemasonry, 11 June 2025, django:8000/periodicals/mmr/issues/mmr_29111862/page/2/.
  • List
  • Grid
Title Category Page
MASONIC HISTORY. Article 1
THE FURNITURE OF A LODGE.* Article 2
TIDINGS FROM THE SANDWICH ISLANDS. Article 3
NEW MATERIALS FOR THE LIFE OF CAIUS GABRIEL CIBBER. Article 5
ARCHITECTURE AND DECORATION IN FLORENCE. Article 6
MASONIC NOTES AND QUERIES. Article 8
CORRESPONDENCE. Article 9
LANCASHIRE DISTRESS. Article 9
THE MASONIC MIRROR. Article 10
GRAND LODGE. Article 10
METROPOLITAN. Article 11
PROVINCIAL. Article 12
Poetry. Article 17
THE GUARDIAN ANGEL. Article 17
THE WEEK. Article 18
TO CORRESPONDENTS. Article 20
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.

Masonic History.

ceeded from any chivalric order , as Ramsay pretends , in favour of political purposes , but that it has taken root amidst the media 3 val corporations of the stonemasons , became more and more accredited . Next to the critical examination of the Masonic documents , the special works relative to some Grand Lodges and their affiliated lodges are worthy of mention .

Among these modern historical researches , those of Bro . Georg Kloss are to be first named . Supported by one of the best libraries and collection of manuscripts , and endowed with a spirit free from all prejudice , he undertook a renewed examination of the existing Masonic documents * which he compared

, together carefully ; and taking advantage of these , he wrote a History of Freemasonry in Fngland , Ireland and Scotland ( 1 vol ., 184 / 7 ) , and a History of Freemasonry in France ( 2 vols ., 1842 ) . Though in the work alluded to Kloss considers the German stonemasons and the English freestone-masons

only as workmen and craftsmen ; his critical examination of their statutes has brought him to the full conviction that modern Masonry has proceeded immediately from the old corporations of the stonemasons , and that it Ai'as only Masonic pride that invented the expressions "operative" and " speculative "

Masonry . The question only remained to determine whether also the ceremonies and symbols of modern Masonry proceeded directly from those mediroval building corporations , or their origin is to be sought

for elseAvhere . This question has been answered by Fr . Alb . Fallon ( Die Mysterien der Frilcrer , so wie ihr einsiy walirer Grand und TTrspruny , Leipzig , 1 S 59 , 2 Auilt . ); and by T . "Winzer ( Die Dcutsclten Brudersclutften des Mittelacierscet , Giessen , 1859 , ) to the effect that the German stonemasons aud English freestone-masons

not only were guilds , but also fraternities , exercising a mysterious system of artistical instruction . Both authors prove further , firstly , that the modern Masons neither invented their liturgy and symbols , nor received them from any other mysterious association , but that they haA'e inherited them from their Masonic

forefathers ; secondl }' , that the English stonemasons have received these rites and ceremonies from Germany ; and finally , that the German stonemasons themselves did not completely invent their ceremonies and constitution , but borroived them partly from other German guildsand partly from

, ecclesiastical institutions , and only their symbols relative to the architecture of religious monuments and the symbolization of their art must be considered as their exclusive property . As to the history of Masonry after its transformation into a universal fraternity into the bond of bonds

( 1717 ) , and that of single countries and periods , the authentical works of the bond , as Anderson's Booh of Constitutions , Preston ' s Illustrations , and Laurie ' s History , the Avorks of Kloss , Mitchell , and Sob Morris , contain rich and most useful materials . "! -

The Furniture Of A Lodge.*

THE FURNITURE OF A LODGE . *

" Bihle , compass , and square As our ensigns we wear , — The bright symbols of wisdom profound ; And , while these are our guide , Every mystery beside As a foil to our heart will be found . " —MASONIC SOJCG .

" May every Brother steer his course through the world by the three great lights of Masonry . "—SECTIOXAI CHAHCIE . When a person builds a house for his own residence , the first consideration after it is finished is , how it may be furnished to the best advantage . For this purpose he takes counsel with himselfand

exer-, cises due deliberation on a matter of such vital importance . It is not the ivork of a moment . Plans are formed and laid aside .. Others succeed and prove equally unsatisfactory . Time passes on and the final decision still looms in the distance . He calls in the assistance of his friends with little profit . Each has

some favourite crotchet of his own , and their opinions do not coalesce . At length he does what any sensible man would have done hi the first instance . He applies to his upholsterer , and p lacing the matter in his hands , with a carte Iflanclte , the difficulty ceases , and the house is speedily fit for the residence of its

owner . HOAV different from all this is the furnishing of a Mason ' s Lodge . It needs no personal anxiety—no consultations ivith friends—no professional aid . All the furniture technically required is the same in every lodge in the universe , and consists of a triad of articles

simple in themselves but containing an abundance of moral references to the faith and practice of a virtuous man during his preparation for another and better world . And on . that account we term this important

triad the Great Emblematical Lights of Masonry which point the Avay to heaven . It will not , therefore , excite any wonder that this triad is highly prized by the fraternity as an unalterable landmark . However opinions may vary respecting some other parts of the system , as men differ in their interpretation of certain passages of Scripturethe furniture of the lodge

, admits of no diversity of exposition . Its object and design are so cleverly defined as to be incapable of mistake or perversion . It may ahvays be seen in the East , the seat of wisdom , placed on an altar as a significant representative of the Shekinah in the temple of Solomon in Jerusalem . Here the candidate seeks

the light and finds it ; and its first bright rays cest on these glorious emblems of mental illumination which he is taught to venerate as the embodiment of all that is great and good . Does he want instruction to guide his path through the devious wilderness of the world , it is abundantly supplied by the furniture

of a Masons ' s lodge ? Does he seek for faith , hope , and charity , —does he lack wisdom , strength , or beauty—does he long after the practice of temperance , fortitude , prudence and justice—they are to be found there if anywhere ? They will enlighten his dark mindsupplhim with rules of practice adapted

, y to all states of existence , and furnish those helps which every step in the progress of life demands . In a word , as was expressed in the Prestonian Lecture , they give real and intrinsic excellency to man , and

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