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  • April 2, 1866
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The Masonic Press, April 2, 1866: Page 9

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    Article HINTS ON THE SECRET LITERATURE OF FREEMASONRY. ← Page 9 of 10 →
Page 9

Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.

Hints On The Secret Literature Of Freemasonry.

One or tAvo examples , taken haphazard , AA T 111 better explain our meaning . In The Court of Love , Chaucer tells us : — " The second statute , secretly to keep " Counsel of Love , not blowing everywhere

" All that I know , and let it sink and float ; " It may not sound in every wight ' s ear ; " Exiling slander aye for dread and fear , " And to my lady , which I love and serve , l : Be true and kind , her grace for to deserve . " Comparing this Avith the articles and points of masonry in the

Gothic Constitutions , what is it but an amplication of the third point in Cooke ' s History and Articles of Masonry , ( page 122 )—" That ho can hele the counsel of his felloAvs in lodge , and in chamber , ' ' and in every place there as masons be ?"

Again let us take , — " The eleventh statute , thy signs for to know " "With eye and finger , and with smiles soft , " And low to couch , and alway for to show ,

" For dread of spies , for to wink oft : " And secretly to bring up a sight aloft , •' But still beware of overmuch resort ; " Por that , paradventure , spoileth all thy sport . "

Here the neophyte is to kriOAv the signs both by sight or touch . He is to couch IOAV , or be careful , not to show them , ahvays , for dread of discovering them to others but to speak his words —bring up a sig h aloft—secretly , taking care not to do so too often for that may spoil his sport .

The Assemhly of Foivls opens thus , the spelling slightly modernized : — ' ' The life so short , the craft so long to learn , " The essay so hard , so sharp the conquering ,

" The dreadful joy , alway tbat flit so yeme , " All this I mean by love . " " For out of the old fields as men sayeth " Cometh all this new corn , from year to year ; " And out of old books , in good faith " Cometh all this new science that men lere . "

“The Masonic Press: 1866-04-02, Page 9” Masonic Periodicals Online, Library and Museum of Freemasonry, 23 May 2025, django:8000/periodicals/msp/issues/mxr_02041866/page/9/.
  • List
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Title Category Page
HINTS ON THE SECRET LITERATURE OF FREEMASONRY. Article 1
MASONIC ANTIQUITIES, DOCUMENTS, &c. Article 11
LAWS, &c., OF THE UNITED SACRED BAND OF ROYAL ARCH KNIGHTS TEMPLAR PRIESTS. Article 14
FORM OF CERTIFICATE. Article 15
REPRINT OF SCARCE, ORCURIOUS , BOOKS ON FREEMASONRY . Article 22
Untitled Article 28
NOTES AND QUERIES FOR FREEMASONS . Article 29
NOVEL INVESTITURE. Article 29
GRAND OFFICE. Article 29
BRO. PRESTON'S COLLECTIONS. Article 30
THE ANCIENT LANDMARK. Article 30
THE CYPHER OF NINE. Article 30
CORRESPONDENCE. Article 31
THE LAST THING OUT IN THE MASONIC LINE. Article 31
MASONIC INTERLOPERS. Article 32
To the Editor of THE MASONIC PRESS. Article 33
PROVINCIAL GRAND SUPERINTENDENTS. Article 33
JERSEY FETE. Article 34
"MASONIC TEMPLE COMPANY (LIMITED.) Article 35
REVIEWS. Article 36
POETRY. Article 43
THE MASONIC REPORTER. Article 44
DUBLIN. Article 44
DEVONPORT. Article 44
MARK MASONRY.—(Unrecognized.) Article 44
KNIGHTS OF CONSTANTINOPLE. Article 45
OBITUARY. Article 45
THE R.W. BRO. J. J. L. HOFF. Article 46
THE HON. WILLIAM B. HUBBARD. Article 46
NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS. Article 47
TO SUBSCRIBERS. Article 47
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Page 9

Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.

Hints On The Secret Literature Of Freemasonry.

One or tAvo examples , taken haphazard , AA T 111 better explain our meaning . In The Court of Love , Chaucer tells us : — " The second statute , secretly to keep " Counsel of Love , not blowing everywhere

" All that I know , and let it sink and float ; " It may not sound in every wight ' s ear ; " Exiling slander aye for dread and fear , " And to my lady , which I love and serve , l : Be true and kind , her grace for to deserve . " Comparing this Avith the articles and points of masonry in the

Gothic Constitutions , what is it but an amplication of the third point in Cooke ' s History and Articles of Masonry , ( page 122 )—" That ho can hele the counsel of his felloAvs in lodge , and in chamber , ' ' and in every place there as masons be ?"

Again let us take , — " The eleventh statute , thy signs for to know " "With eye and finger , and with smiles soft , " And low to couch , and alway for to show ,

" For dread of spies , for to wink oft : " And secretly to bring up a sight aloft , •' But still beware of overmuch resort ; " Por that , paradventure , spoileth all thy sport . "

Here the neophyte is to kriOAv the signs both by sight or touch . He is to couch IOAV , or be careful , not to show them , ahvays , for dread of discovering them to others but to speak his words —bring up a sig h aloft—secretly , taking care not to do so too often for that may spoil his sport .

The Assemhly of Foivls opens thus , the spelling slightly modernized : — ' ' The life so short , the craft so long to learn , " The essay so hard , so sharp the conquering ,

" The dreadful joy , alway tbat flit so yeme , " All this I mean by love . " " For out of the old fields as men sayeth " Cometh all this new corn , from year to year ; " And out of old books , in good faith " Cometh all this new science that men lere . "

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