Gould's History Of Freemasonry.*

GOULD'S HISTORY OF FREEMASONRY . *

Several of my friends and fellow students would like to read a short noticed Bro . Gould's Historyof Freemasonry , written by myself , and directed mainly to sketch the main features of the work itself , now it is happily comp leted . The following is offered—in response—as a beginning . More sha'l follow as time permits .

The story of its origin is soon told . The need of a comprehensive and reliable History of Freemasonry has long been felt by brethren of the " mystic tie , " particularly in great Britain and North America . The more the earlier Books on the Craft were critically studied , the less they were valued , until , in the minds of many , it became almost impossible to separate

the facts from their entanglement of legends , fictions and contradictions . Anderson had been dethroned from his lofty and airy pinnacle , Preston was found to be untrustworthy , and Oliver had so mingled truth with fancy that few were able to follow him with confidence . Then Herr Findell came on the scene , and when his able work was translated into English , circulated

in Great Britain and North America , and been carefully studied , it was found that it was essentially more for the German Craft than for English speaking Freemasons . Its merits were conspicuous ( Mitchell's pretensions but faulty History was set aside in America ) , and in this country its value was everywhere recognised . Still , it was neither complete nor modern

enough for the wants of the British Masonic Student , and the same opinion was generally held in the United States . Much as we were all interested in a scholarly German brother's view of the subject , the advent of Findel increased rather than met the need of a comprehensive and critical History of Freemasonry , and this led the lamented Bro . Thomas Chisholm Jack , of

Edinburgh , to look about for a competent and zealous literary Craftsman with the necessary time , facilities and other means at his disposal which would enable him to undertake the almost impossible task of writing such a work . Bro . Robert Freke Gould , on the promise of hearty co-operation from his collaborators ( especially Bro . Speth and myself ) , undertook the

duty , and has now finished his herculean labours , to the great satisfaction of the numerous brethren who have gladly assisted him in searching for information , and to the expressed joy of many Craft smen , at home and abroad ,

who have now a History of Freemasonry to consult , far ahead of any hitherto published in England or elsewhere , thoroughly comprehensive and independent in character , critical almost to a fault , and accurate to the minutest details .

What the great work has involved , few will ever know , and fewer still adequately appreciate , I fear , but it is at last finished . The first half of the first volume made its debut in 1882 , and the concluding portion of the third and last volume appeared quite recently , so that some five years have directly been occupied in its preparation , besides the many previous years of study to qualify—unknowingly—for such an enterprise .

Of course , no one could possibly achieve such labours unassisted , but throughout , Bro . Gould has preserved his independence , and has always held the reins . It is emphatically his History , and to him , and to him alone is the credit due . One pleasing feature has been the number of brethren who have gladly co-operated , but in Europe and America , and indeed in

both hemispheres , wherever their aid has been sought , the author having in the most handsome terms acknowledged their assistance , in his parting words , on committing the work as a whole , to the Craft . Of brethren , no one will be surprised to learn that Speth , Woodford , and Rylands , as also

myself , are of the number to whom Bro . Gould feels indebted for generous and never failing sympathy and aid , and many are the students else who are enumerated in " L'Envoi , " as having from first to last , been only too pleased to place all well attested facts at disposal for the History .

From positive knowledge , I can declare that no probable or even possible source of information has been neglected or overlooked , much valuable time , comparitively speaking , has almost been wasted—because so

unfruitful of results save of a negative character—and even quasi Masonic subjects are almost as well represented as actual Masonic evidences , so determined has the author been to render the volumes exhaustive , authentic , and thoroughly comprehensive in character .

In consequence of the extensive and varied aims of the author , a very wide view has been taken of his duty as a Masonic historian to include in his survey , elaborate descriptions and examinations of the Ancient Mysteries , the Essenes , Roman Collegia , and the Culdees , so that much of the earlier chapters make excellent and entertaining reading even for those who are not

Masons , similar to the splendid work by Bro . George F . Fort , the " Early History and Antiquities of Freemasonry , " which has no equal in his special department . Whilst declining to accept the views which have so long been Prevalent as to the origin of Freemasonry , Gould invariably supports his own particular opinion on any controverted or disputed points with the

greatest care and thoroughness , it being his desire in all cases to rest no decision on ex parte statements , or even his own ipse dixits , however well thoug ht out , but on the evidence which is detailed precisely and fully as the work proceeds . So many are the authorities he has had to consult , that "le multitudinous references are at times well nigh bewildering to the ordinary

reader , but this apparent blemish is in reality one of the chief features and a dvantagesof the work , because the reasons recorded by Gould for opposing 0 r accepting any statements , being based upon the evidences which are dul y acknowledged , these can be verified by his readers , and thus the needful confidence is cemented between author and student . The Craft Guilds of France make an excellent chapter , and form a most ^ tractive division of the first volume . The sketch of the Companionage is

Gould's History Of Freemasonry.*

a most welcome contribution , and the curious legends peculiar in part to that Body cannot fail to strike many who may for the first time be brought face to face with their main characteristics . As Gould aptly remarks— " In

France we have to do with the following distinct bodies ; the Craft Guilds , the Masters' Fraternities , the Journeyman Fraternities , and the Companionage , all working into each other like the cogs of a train of wheels , but all distinct pieces of mechanism . "

The Chapter on the Steinmetzen , or " Stone Measurers of Germany , " is a remarkable one , and of special value , not only because of its completeness , but for the translations of various important codes , one of 156 3 having been made for the work expressly . The resemblances between the Steinmetzen and Freemasonry are so intimate and numerous that it is easy to

understand how they have been considered one and the same body . No one , however , will hold that view after reading Chapter III . The three chief lodges at Strassburg , Cologne , and Vienna , have their Masonic counterparts in Edinburgh , Kilwinning and Stirling , Scotland . The authorities , accepted

by many , before Gould appeared on the scene , will be found to be untrustworthy . Fallou is fanciful , and Winzer , Schauberg and others must be carefully studied and their statements well tested before acceptance . The fact is Fallou writes more as a novelist than a historian , though much credit is due to him for his researches .

Gould , after most mature deliberation and exemplary and most cautious examination of facts , declines the Steinmetzen theory , his decision being that "The cradle of German architectural skill is to be found in the Con < - vents , and not in the organization of the Steinmetzen Guild , " the latter originating " in the Craft Guilds of the Cities . " On this subject Fort should

be consulted , so that both sides of the question may be known , and certainly the author spares no pains to do our American brother ample justice , as he well deserves . The Torgau Ordinances of 1462 are of an extraordinary character , the translation being all that could be desired , and evidently Gould is correct in claiming that they were not intended to supplant those of 1459 , but mainly elucidatory of several of their clauses .

Chapters II . and XV . on the "Old Charges of British Freemasons , " are after my own heart , especially as down to the present time my work on the subject is the only one in the field . Since it was published in 1872 , many more copies have been discovered , originals and transcripts now numbering over 50 . These are all described , and what is more , for the first

time , a comparison has been instituted so that the original text may be settled as far as possible , and reasons discovered for subsequent additions and alterations . The whole of the "Buchanan MS . " ( from the Grand Lodge ) is printed from the copy made by me , and several others are in part , reproduced .

These two Chapters should be read with numbers VI . and VII . on " Mediaeval Operative Masonry" and " Statutes relating to the Freemasons , " which cover much of the ground down to the seventeenth century , and are simply invaluable . The relation of Gothic architecture , bridge

building , & c , to the Masonic Guilds is aptly considered and masterl y described , for , beyond question , Gould proves that the Operative Masons had much more to do with the architectural features of the earl y buildings than is generally supposed .

The difference between statutes and ordinances is clearly pointed out , and the vast superiority of Kloss as an authority is established , though naturally he is not always correct , a few of his errors , re serf , & c , being kindly pointed out by Gould , who feels as much admiration for his labours on behalf of the Craft as Speth and myself . The distinction also between

" gatherings ( congregations ) and " general assemblies" is also noted , every opportunity being utilised to definitel y describe and accurately appreciate such nice points . Take , for instance , in Chapter VII . the statements relative to " signs and tokens , " in which Gould proves most clearly that Masonic signs are not referred to , as Kloss and Findel maintain , but badges , as with the other trades .

The date of the " Halliwell MS . " is ( hen considered , especially in relation to Kloss , who claims that the statute of 142 7 refers that important Masonic document to the fifteenth century ; but which document may fairly be dated , a century earlier , as Woodford long ago established on

the dictum of Casley s authority , and which Halliwell also favoured . The weighty reasons respecting Free Mason , not meaning "fre ' re Maeon , " commend themselves , to my judgment , and I am personally glad that the defence of the former view is in such good hands .

The several Chapters on " Early British Freemasonry " are models of condensation , thoroughness , and sustained interest . Nothing like them has ever been attempted before , and all previous authors , such as Lyon , Laurie , Anderson , Preston , and others , are all duly cleared out of all they had to say on the subject , the remainder far exceeding their total contributions on

that important enquiry . It appears to me impossible to resist the conclusion so ably led up to by Gould that " the Grand Lodges of Great Britain are the direct descendants , by continuity and absorption , of the ancient Freemasonry which immediately preceded their institution , " the demonstration being such as to require neither dogmatism , on the one hand , nor credulity on the other , for its proof and acceptance respectively .

All the old lodges in Scotland , with records from the 16 th century or later , one hundred of which were at work when the Grand Lod ge for that country was formed , are faithfully and amply described , their records being made the foundation for the theories , if such they may be termed , so that a reference to these chapters is alone sufficient to establish the antiquity ,

continuity , aud honourable character of Freemasonry . Speculative ¦ Masonry back to the year 1600 is abundantly illustrated , the fact of some of these old lodges having a majority of its members , who were not connected

with the building trade , being brought out in bold rebel , and their testimony alone being sufficient to prove that the Grand Lodge of England in 1717 did not introduce the Speculative element for the first time , but only continued what had long been the custom of the Craft .