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Article EARLY HAUNTS OF FREEMASONRY. Page 1 of 4 →
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Early Haunts Of Freemasonry.
EARLY HAUNTS OF FREEMASONRY .
TT is universally allowed that some of the most important political - * - and social events that have ever happened arose out of circumstances the most trivial , and that many an institution which in time assumed the grandest proportions had a very humble origin . Certain it is as regards the Craft of Masonry , that the modern or speculative
system , as it is now spread throughout the different states into which the world is divided , set out on its career in a very unpretentious manner . Thanks to the steady and energetic efforts of a few enthusiastic brethren , we are gradually obtaining fresh information as to what Freemasonry was in the period anterior to the
establishment of our Grand Lodge in 1717 ; but though it is on record that gentlemen were received into the Fraternity , as far back as 1634 in Scotland , and 1646 in England , yet the materials at our disposal for forming an estimate of the exact nature of the Craft before the election of Anthony Sayer as Grand Master , are so scanty that it
would be unwise , in tracing its history , to go beyond that event . For practical purposes , that is , and must be , the starting point of all inquiries ; and , in contrasting the Freemasonry of that epoch , and
several years afterwards , Avith the Freemasonry of to-day , the reader will , in all probability , be as surprised , as he must be pleased , with its progress from a comparatively small and obscure beginning to its present condition of prosperity . Findel , at the time that he wrote his admirable "History of Freemasonry" set down the number of
Grand Lodges in the world as beng about seventy , with some 9000 subordinate Lodges , and a membership of from 400 , 000 to 600 , 000 brethren . But many years have elapsed since that estimate Avas made , and we know as a matter of fact , that in British North America and the United States alone , there are quite 600 , 000 Masons ,
without taking into account those of other countries , and there is no knowing how much further the number may be increased . The greater the reason , therefore , why Ave should note carefully the ori gin of this immense Society . When , in 1717 , the Grand Lodge of England , whichas the reader
, is aware , is the oldest in the world , was established at the memorable meeting at the Apple Tree Tavern , there were just four Lodges in the country , excepting that in York , which a few years later set itself up
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Early Haunts Of Freemasonry.
EARLY HAUNTS OF FREEMASONRY .
TT is universally allowed that some of the most important political - * - and social events that have ever happened arose out of circumstances the most trivial , and that many an institution which in time assumed the grandest proportions had a very humble origin . Certain it is as regards the Craft of Masonry , that the modern or speculative
system , as it is now spread throughout the different states into which the world is divided , set out on its career in a very unpretentious manner . Thanks to the steady and energetic efforts of a few enthusiastic brethren , we are gradually obtaining fresh information as to what Freemasonry was in the period anterior to the
establishment of our Grand Lodge in 1717 ; but though it is on record that gentlemen were received into the Fraternity , as far back as 1634 in Scotland , and 1646 in England , yet the materials at our disposal for forming an estimate of the exact nature of the Craft before the election of Anthony Sayer as Grand Master , are so scanty that it
would be unwise , in tracing its history , to go beyond that event . For practical purposes , that is , and must be , the starting point of all inquiries ; and , in contrasting the Freemasonry of that epoch , and
several years afterwards , Avith the Freemasonry of to-day , the reader will , in all probability , be as surprised , as he must be pleased , with its progress from a comparatively small and obscure beginning to its present condition of prosperity . Findel , at the time that he wrote his admirable "History of Freemasonry" set down the number of
Grand Lodges in the world as beng about seventy , with some 9000 subordinate Lodges , and a membership of from 400 , 000 to 600 , 000 brethren . But many years have elapsed since that estimate Avas made , and we know as a matter of fact , that in British North America and the United States alone , there are quite 600 , 000 Masons ,
without taking into account those of other countries , and there is no knowing how much further the number may be increased . The greater the reason , therefore , why Ave should note carefully the ori gin of this immense Society . When , in 1717 , the Grand Lodge of England , whichas the reader
, is aware , is the oldest in the world , was established at the memorable meeting at the Apple Tree Tavern , there were just four Lodges in the country , excepting that in York , which a few years later set itself up