Freemasonry: Its Origin, History, And Design.

leA'el of equality . The prince and the peasant , the bishop and the layman , sit together , ancl join band in hand in the same symbolic labour . It is but the other day that the heir-apparent of the British Crown AA'as seen kneeling at the feet of one of his subjects and giving to him his oath of Masonic allegiance ancl fealty . " So , too , it is eminently a benevolent institution . There is no other institution that has built and endowed more asylums for the aged ancl decayed , or hospitals for the sick ,

or houses for orphans , or doue ' more to clothe the naked , to feed the hungry , or relieA'e the poor , ancl in granting eleemosynary aid to the distressed Brother or his destitute AA'icloAv . It halloAvs and sanctifies the gift by the silence ancl secrecy Avith AA'hich it is bestoAved . Such is Freemasonry—venerable in its age , beneficent in its design , and practical in its charity . " I have not thought it necessary to interrupt the course of my Bro . Mackey ' s eloquence , or to lessen the-force of his animated Avords , by any " notes or comments" of

my OAVU . In all that he says in this latter portion of his Essay I entirely go AA'ith him , Dubious still as is the history of Freemasonry , on many heads , and complex as are the difficulties attendant on any satisfactory theory of Masonic history , I think the f olloAA'ing " points" are Avell worthy-the attention of all Masonic students and writers , and , above all , the historians of the future . The AA'hole difficultis summed in this : What is the rwival of 1717 ' ?

y Is it the resuscitation of a previously existing fraternity ? or is it the happy adaptation by some ingenious aud benevolent individual , Avishing to utilize the decayed guild life of an operative Order , for purposes of sociality and beneA'olence , and universal Brotherhood ?

Masonic Avriters seem to he converging- more and more definitely into three great schools : those who see in the revival of 1717 the incorporation of decaying Operative Sodalities ; those AA'ho behold in it the deA'elopment of an Hermetic Association ; those AA'ho find in it nothing but a skilful adaptation to social and benevolent purposes of the skeleton or framework of a defunct organisation ; and much may be said for all these schools , and vieAvs , and theories . To my mind the evidence is irrefragable Avhich links

on our Freemasonry to later ancl niedheval guilds , to Saxon ancl Eoman Guilds , to Jewish and Tyrian Masons . But it may not be so to others ; and as unfortunately the evidence in England , so far , is most scanty , and the period of " intersection " " and " crossing , " so to say , of the Operative Guilds ancl the Speculative Grand Lodge is not yet by any means clearly ascertained , there is still room for argument , for doubt , and for disquisition . So far our English evidence amounts to this , —that in 1646 , 1682 ,

1686 , 1696 , a society existed called " The Worshipful Society of Freemasons , " luhieli was not identical either ivith the Masons' Company of London , or ivith any other lenown body . If this society is the same as ours substantially to-day , the connection with the Operative Guilds is made , I venture to think , absolutely incontestable on any ground of historical evidence or critical enquiry . If it be notthen are we no doubt still leftlike sailors in an boat the

, , open on great ocean , struggling Avith the Avaves of doubt and debate . And here I IeaA'e the matter pro . tern ., hoping that AA'hat I haA'e said may arouse friendly discussion , and lead to accurate disquisition on a subject which is interesting . and important per se , ancl deserves alike , I believe , the serious attention of the Masonic student , the historian , the critic , and the archaeologist .