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Shakespeare A Freemason.

SHAKESPEARE A FREEMASON .

REPRINTED FKOM THE WELSHMAN . ( Continued from page 346 ) . Again , in The Winter ' s Tale , observe how Leontes evidently attaches the same meaning to the word when he says—0 that I had ever squared me to thy counsel .

And in Measure for measure occurs the beautiful reproof given hy the Duke to Barnadine , as one who—Apprehends no further than this world , And sqnarest thy life according . We conld almost be content to rest our claim to consider the Great

Magician one of our brotherhood npon these last evidences ; but we proceed , even although in our next illustration we find ourselves sadly admonished by learning that even Masons are sometimes not above taking advantage of each other , for does not Trinculo , in Tht Tempest , pleasantly justify theft by his droll

remark—We steal by line and level . Bnt let us endeavour to deal with the vexed question of oaths , about which we have heard and read so much of late . How striking ara the words of Suffolk in Henry VI . — A dreadful oath , sworn with a solemn tongue . And again in the Comedy of ' Errors , where we

read—It is a branch and parcel of my oath , A charitable duty of my order . In Measure for Measure we not only obtain the following brief reference to tbe secret ! It is a mystery !

bnfc we are darkly and impressively warned'Tis a secret must be locked within the teeth and the lips . And in King John occur the following lines , which we are satisfied to quote withont comment or remark of any kind—And whisper one another in the ear ,

And he that speaks doth grip the hearer's wrist . Let us ask next if we can learn aught respecting the different grades and steps in the Order . Take two quotations . In Henry VI . we

read—Thou wast installed in that high degree . Again , in Twelfth Night—He ' s in the third degree . In Henry V . we find a quaint passage—Singing Masons building roofs of gold ,

from which it would seem thafc our ancient brethren were accustomed to sing while at labour . Times are changed somewhat in this respect also . Our modem brethren take to their work sadly and decorously , and reserve their singing for refreshment .

Bnt once more . Shall we make the attempt to discover any idea as to what the brotherhood was , then as now ? Is it our desire that the world shonld be rightly informed as to the true meaning of the mystic tie ? Then turn again to Antony and Cleopatra , and let Agrippa be onr

spokesman—To hold you in perpetual amity , To make you brothers , and to knit your hearts With an unspilling knot . Do we desire that candidates for admission into the Order shonld learn beforehand the fashion of their welcome ? Let ns turn this time to Julius Ccesar , and let Brutus speak for

us—Onr hearts , Of brother ' s temper , do receive you in With all kind love , good thoughts , and reverence . But we may , perhaps , be asked which , if any , of the prominent

characters in Shakespeare s plays may with fair reason be adjudged to be of the Brotherhood . Shall they reply themselves P Will their own testimony be held sufficient ? With whom commeuce ? Surely , with Prospero , " tho great , " the potent

Master—Eapt in seci-efc studies , In the liberal arts without a parallel . The Duke , in Measure for Measure , avows himself thus—I am a brother of gracious Order . Richard II . says of

himself—I am sworn Brother . Whether or not Othello was a Freemason seems to be an open question ; but we think we can claim Brabantio as one upon his own admission-

Shakespeare A Freemason.

Mine's not an idle cause , the Duke himself Or any of my Brothers . Glendower , in Henry IV ., would appear to havo been not merely a Brother , but a Welsh Brother , with strong Glndsfontati proclivities . For example , when he enquires ,

Shall wo divide onr right According to the threefold order ? Benedick unmistakably was a Mason—wo unhesitatingly pin our faith to him , for does not Beatrice , in Much Ado about Nothing , say of him—He hath every mouth a new sworn Brother .

He was , doubtless , one of the most jovial members of a moat popular and thriving Lodge , to which we confess we should ourselves much liko to have been attached . If we desiro to represent how gonial , how thoroughly hospitable a Brother can bo , what better representative can we select than Bardolph in Henry V . List to his

promise—I will bestow a breakfast on you friends , And we'll be all sworn Brothers . Our old friend Pistol , in the same play , was scarcely behind in this

hospitable feeling ; indeed , he just steps in and supplies what was wanting in his Brother ' s kind invitation , when ho says—And liqnor likewise will I give to them , And friendship shall combine with Brotherhood .

But we have stretched onr cable to its limits , and must now turn for a little while from the Operative Masonry of tho pasfc to the Speculative Masonry of the present , and ifc is here we venture to think is best discovered the fullness and perfectness of the Great Master's knowledge ; it is here we obtain our most beautiful and touching

illustrations . We will suppose , in the firsfc instance , the moral virtues ask for recognition . With very little search we are able to clothe a model Mason with them , and present him not merely " bearing the badge of Faith , " but " keeping it firm and inviolable "— " strong as a tower in Hope "—and " bound by Charity "—

For chanty itself fulfils the law , And who can sever love from charity ? Next in order would come the principles npon which the Order is said to be founded , and in like manner we find them also noticed . Brotherly love : by the injunction " Use your brothers brotherly "Belief : " Wherever sorrow is " —and Truth : " To the end . "

For truth can never be confirmed enough , Though doubts did ever sleep . And yefc once more the truly Masonic utterance , I will find Where truth is hid , though it were hid indeed Within the centre .

A rapid reference to the cardinal virtues is all we can allow ourselves . A true Mason will ever " let his own discretion be his tutor " — " will acquire a temperance "— " endure out of the fortitude of his soul "and " will be just and fear nofc . " And of him may be said in truth—His life is paralleled E ' en with the stroke and line of his great justice .

And lastly we will endeavour to see whether fche Great Master in any way recognised " Virtue , Honour , and Mercy , " as being the distinguishing characteristics of a Freemason . There are those , no doubt , who agree with Bevis , in Henry VI ., thafc Virtue is not regarded in handicraftsmen ,

bnfc we prefer to hold otherwise , and desire in conclusion to place on record our firm belief thafc there are good and true representatives of the Ancient Brotherhood of whom it can be righteously said , as

regarding their daily lives and practice , thafc they " show Virtue her own feature , " " hold Honour far more dear than life , " and regard Mercy as " Nobility ' s true badge "—thafc there are those who can add

conscientiously—My Virtue ia my privilege . Mine Honour is my life . I render deeds of Mercy . And to whom do the well-known , oft-repeated , beautiful lines which follow appeal with more eloquence and force than to a Freemason ?

to whom are they more familiar r to whom do they convey the like , meaning or the same teaching ? The quality of Mercy is not sfcrain'd , Ifc droopeth as the gentle rain from heaven Upon tlio place beneath : it is twice blest ; It blesseth him that gives and him thafc takes .

And thus for the moment onr inquiry must end . The presentation , as a whole , is not an unfair or misleading one ; and if in some few instances a bearing has beeu given to passages and expressions which may not possibly stand the test of severe critical analysis , yefc enough is left , more than enough , fully to establish our claim . It has been

explained how ifc came about the present examination was undertaken—more in light pleasantry than in sober seriousness : let ifc be sufficient to add that ifc was commenced with a pleasure , lasting to the end , which is reached with reluctance and regret . So mnch haa been left nnsaid thafc might have been well said—so much said that

might have been far better said—so many points of interest scantily touched—so many left untouched altogether ; still the object sought will be attained , if a pleam of pleasure has been conveyed to a single reader—if a grain of information has been imparted—or a thought communicated in harmony with the intention .