" Thus Appears Masonry."

survived the parent stock , and in time gave the world fche Freemasonry it now has . As it emerged from the dark ages , Freemasonry was wholly operative , including only men skilled in the arts of architecture and building . The most perfect type of that period were the association of stonemasons in Germany and France . Enough is known of the

practices and formalism of these associations to prove the identity beyond doubt with the mother lodges of England and Scotland of whom we are the lineal descendants . These mediaeval associations of Masons were patronised wholly by the Church , which then possessed largely the wealth of the world , ancl was thoroughly engaged in the advancement of church architecture and building . They were

favoured by the church , and were released from various burdens and impositions wbich wero imposed upon other people , for which reasons they came to be called Freemasons . It is a matter of uncertainty when Masonio Lodges first existed in England and Scotland , bnt undoubtedly they came in connection with the erection of church edifices in those countries , by Master

Masons from the continent . Kilwinning Lodge was the first and mother Lodge in Scotland . It remained at the head of the Fraternity there , until the organisation of the Grand Lodge of Scotland at Edinbnrgh in 1736 . The date of the organisation of Kilwinning Lodge is not known , bnt beyond doubt it was at or about the time of the founding of the

Abbey of Kilwinning , which was in 1140 . The Scotch Masons have always maintained an organisation independent of the English , and strong arguments have been made favouring the proposition that English Masonry sprung from Kilwinning . The Scottish rites appertain to Scottish Masonry . Early Masonry in England is involved in still greater obscnrity ,

largely in consequence of reliance in the past having been placed upon documents which , if genuine , would establish its existence as early as the Fourth Century , but which have in modern times been shown conclusively not to be genuine . The fact , undoubtedly , is , that Masonry came to England from the continent at abont the time it came to Scotland , or that it came to England from Scotland soon

after its advent there , and in either case that the erection of church edifices in England brought it to that country . It is beyond doubt true that Masonio marks are now visible upon the stones in the walls of the oldest abbeys and churches in Scotland , which show conclusively that they were built by Craftsmen from the continent . The first Masonio organisation in England was York Lodge , wbich is the

mother of English Masonry . 24 th Juno 1717 , the Grand Lodge of London was organised . From that time until 1813 the Grand Lodges of England and York both existed , each claiming for itself regularity and supremacy over the other . The rivalry was settled in 1813 , when all irregularities were healed , and the United Grand Lodge of England was organised at London , and at once became by

common consent , and has siuce remained , tbe only Grand Lodge in England . After the organisation of the Grand Lodge in England in 1717 , those Masons who still adhered to York styled themselves the "Ancients , " which probably accounts for the use of that word in connection with present Masonry . The York rites appertained to the York jurisdiction , and much discussion has , in the pasfc , occurred as

to the regularity of York Masons . Thus appears Masonry as viewed from this side of the impenetrable chasm of the dark ages , which shuts out all view of the remote past . It is impossible to prove to the satisfaction of the sceptic and probably also the critical and unprejudiced mind that Masonry existed anterior to the dark ages .

The Church is the ark by which the remnants of past civilisations were saved and brought to the present . And although at one time the Church was the chief patron and encourager of the Fraternity , and was in every sense its friend , the time came centuries ago when the Church changed its policy in this respect , and Eomo became intensely hostile toward Masonry , and would afford it no facilities to

establish its early existence . In view of this hostility , and the absence of other means of proof , it follows that if Masonry had existed previous to the dark ages , it would be impossible to prove ifc satisfactorily , at least to the critical mind ; so that necessarily it becomes wholly a matter of conjecture . Many facts , which none familiar with ancient history will deny ,

are consistent with the existence of Masonry before the Christian era . Indeed the proof makes it very probable that Masonry then existed , but falls short of absolutely establishing that proposition . At different times and in different countries anterior to the Christian era , sects or fraternities are known to have existed bearing in many respects a close resemblance to Freemasonry . One of these was the

Essenes , a Jewish fraternity of which Josephus gives quite a full account . It may have existed at the time of the building of the temple by Solomon . It was a secret society . The characters of all candidates were carefully scrutinized before admission to it . Solemn obli gations were imposed upon initiates not to divulge the secrets of the Order , nor to innovate upon its practices aud customs . Women

were not admitted to membership . They had retreats wbich were called colleges , and were similar to Masonic Lodges . They dressed m white , emblematic of innocence . Brotherly affection and charity were inculcated . They had a burial service . Their chief aim was the subjection of matters of sense and pleasure to a higher spiritual and intellectual life .

P ythagoras was a Grecian , and lived in the fifth centnry before CHRIST . He was a great traveller , ancl visited and closely studied all the Eastern countries . He afterwards lived in ' southern Italy , and there established a very peculiar school of philosophy . He was a mathematician . He taught that there was a rhvtbm in natnre Which

determines the question of harmony ov discord , and light or Wrong . This quality was repn sented in " puro mathematics by odd and even numbers . The elements in natna'o wero represented by geometrical figures . He had a large following and his disciples were fganised into a Fraternity , closely resembling the Ease-iian frater . ha ! i ? the East ' which > Masonic tradition informs ns , Pythagoras « aci become a member of at the East and carried with him to Italy .

" Thus Appears Masonry."

The Pythagoreans became numerous in Italy and Rome , where their colleges are known to have existed . Many have speculated ancl argued that these Pythagorean Lodges of Italy ancl Eome aro identical with the Mediaeval building associations of Europe , from which Scotch and English Masonry sprang . This , my brethren , is an epitome of tbe history of the Fraternity

which honours us with membership in it . Its antiquity is great . Practically it is unimportant whether it existed at the time of the building by Solomon of the Temple at Jerusalem or not , undeniably its existence is coeval with Western civilisation , which surely entitles it to be greatly venerated and loved . Its excellence is conclusively established by the vigour it now exhibits ancl the position it is

recognised to have attained among the great moral influences at work at the present day . Its brow is gray ancl wrinkled with age , ancl its heart is young and warm with universal love ancl benevolence . The worthy poor ancl distressed everywhere are its friends . It is a great leveller ; the rich and the poor , the distinguished and the obscure , the wise and the simple , all stand upon the same plane in Masonry .

The first preparation to be made a Mason must be in tbe heart , and unless this preparation precedes the work of tho Lodgo tho material is bad ancl should be thrown into the rubbish and not placed in the building . Masonry is , however , a human institution , and is therefore not perfect . It is not gifted with the power to look into the heart and seo the true character of the man . It has to judge of

candidates who knock at its door for admission by appearances . Appear , ances are deceptive , and many aro admitted to the Fraternity who ought not to be . The Fraternity is thereby made to suffer for the unworthiness of its children , thus paying a debt which all human institutions have to pay to the weakness and depravity of man ' s nature . Nor does the Fraternity claim for itself infallibility . It has

made mistakes ; mistakes which have aroused against ifc strong prejudices , prejudices which have lived a lifetime and then died , leaving the Fraternity comparatively unaffected by them . It is uot the policy of Masonry to defend itself against the attacks of the outside world . The opinions of tho uninitiated of the Fraternity are of little consequence to a Mason , The Institution is not

in search of proselytes . It is one of tho mosfc imperative and consnientious duties of a Mason to pass upon the admission of candidates for initiation . Tho integrity of the Institution depends npon the exclusion of bad material which may apply for admission . While the Fraternity welcomes to its doors men of good character who will conform to its rules and principles , its doors should be

closed like adamant against the base and unworthy . Thus guarded , so long as virtue exists will tho Institution of Masonry live . In conclusion , Jet me say to the Companions and Brethren of Platteville , with these additional facilities for Masonic work and additional incentives to devotion to tho principles of the Fraternity , come additional responsibilities . Where much is given much is

required , is a rule having the Divine sanction . Let your lines be well ordered , that you make the greatest attainable progress in moral and Masonio perfection . Life is made up of small things . The artist , however gifted he may be , cannot by a single blow of the hammer upon the chisel , or in a single day or month , develop from the rough marble the thing of beauty to which his genius has

given birth . Months and years of toil many times lie between the conception in his mind and its realisation in the marble before him . Every point in fche statue must be carefully studied , and as skilfully wrought as though the quality of the whole depended solely upon the merit of each part . So with fche perfect human character to which Masonry aims .

Character is the crystallisation into moral habits of millions of fche experiences , impulses and acts of the individual , all relating to the most commonplace affairs of life . To be perfect character must be perfect in every part . A single blemish determines largely tbe standing of the whole . How many of our race and of our brethren have , in most respects , approximated closely to perfection , while life has been a failure from some single fault or weakness , insignificant ,

perhaps , but incompatible with what the world requires of its favourites . Masonry is an aid in the elevation of individual character towards the perfect model . It is not exclusive but will co-operate with other aids in this grand object . It is not required to crowd the church and religion out of the man to make room for Masonry . Both can exist together in harmony , and he who is so narrowly constructed as to have insufficient moral or mental compass for both , has obviously too little for either .

Obituary.

Obituary .

Another worthy brother , whose friendship we were accustomed to date back to the earliest days of the FREEMASON ' CHRONICLE , has passed over to the great majority . Bro . S . J . Turquand died on Thursday , the 27 th ult ., respected , we may fearlessly say , by all who knew bim , and his

friends were not few , either in or outside the mystic circle . Bro . Turquand took a very great interest in Freemasonry , particularly so in Lodges of Instruction , where , as Preceptor or visitor , he was alike at home . His death , it may truly be said , has created a blank in Freemasonry which it will be hard to fill up .

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FUNERALS . Bros . W . K . L . & G . A . HUTTON , COFFIN MAKERS AND UNDERTAKERS , 17 NEWCASTLE STREET , STRAND , W . O . And 30 FOREST HILL ROAD , PECKHAM RYE , S . E .