Illustrations Of The History Of The Craft.

ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE HISTORY OF THE CRAFT .

Br A MASONIC STUDENT . It has been considered advisable in tho interests of Masonic archaeology to reprint the " Illustrations of the History of the

Graft , " which have already appeared , both in the old Masonic Magazine , and The Freemason . The chapters Avhich & 11 OAV have been carefully revised , and hi many instances , greatly enlarged and materially altered since they were first commended to the kindly attention of the Craft .

CHAPTER I . Tho object of this and tlie folbrwing papers is , to illustrate , if possible , tho true annals of the Craft , and to induce a more careful study of its history and archaeology . They have been Avritten in no

controversial spirit , but simply AA'ith a desire after truth , that Ave may accustom ourselves , as Freemasons , more than has hitherto been our Avont , to patient study of our evidences , ancl historical accuracy in our assertions . Our Masonic writers seem to have

accepted far too readily , as regards the records of our Order , the good old adage "epiieta non moverc , " as they have all more or less adopted , Avithout hesitation and Avithout inquiry , unaccredited statements and dubious assertions , for no other reason , seemingly , than because these statements ancl assertions had been once given forth to the Avorld .

Not that in so doing they ever meant to impose on the initiated or the profane , to put forward an untrue narrative or a fictitious claim , but that they accepted without doubt or demur statements repeated so often that they came at last to be

accepted as true ! Hence there has arisen among modern writers a grave distrust of Masonic history , as generally received , and critical doubts have been expressed as to the validity of our Masonic claims to antiquit of

y ; many our traditional statements are openly assailed , and the accuracy of the dates AVO give under authorit y , relating to persons and occurences in the past , is questioned and challenged , as Ave know from day to day .

Mr . Hallani for instance has asserted , that " Masonic calumniators and Masonic paneygerists are all equally mendacious ;" while De Quincy has said , " I affirm as a fact , established upon historical research , that before tho beginning of the 17 th oenturv no traces are to be met with of the

Masonic Order , ancl I challenge any antiquary to contradict me . " Mr . Gilbert Scott talks of the " fables of the Freemasons , " ancl AA'e have lately heard much harsher words used , such as " imposture , " and the like .

NOA \ ' , it is in order to lead others , even more qualified , to remove this unfair and , as I belieA'e , unjust reproach on the Craft that those papers have been put together . If we are enabled gradually , by reliable evidence and accurate assertionsto remove

, doubts , to clear aAA'ay difficulties , to harmonise anachronisms , and to stimulate inquiry , AVO shall best prepare the . way , ere long , for a more authoritative and- reliable history of our Order than AVO at present possess .

My anxiety has been , and still is , simply , in the cause of Masonic truth , to lay before my bretlnen the humble results of earnest ' study ancl reflection—to give , what is so difficult , " novelty to Avhat is old , and authority to AA'hat is neAV , value to what is obsolete , and light to Avhat is obscure , favour to Avhat is despised , and trust to Avhat is doubtful . " *

May , then , those illustrations of our Craft history be received b y my brethren in the spirit in Avhich they have been clraAvn up—viz ., a sincere love for our useful ancl valuable Order , and a humble but firm belief in the essential truth of its ancient

legends and time-honoured traditions . To trace the early history of any ancient and useful institution is , in almost every case , a matter of deep interest to tho archaeologist , but IIOAV much more must it be to the Masonic student , since the earl y

annals of Freemasonry seem lost hi the dimness of ages ; ancl though it is a subject about Avliich much has been AA'ritten , yet , after all , IIOAV very little is really knoivn about it 1 And if , then , AVO may have ourselves , AA'ith the Avorld at large , a not unnatural curiosity in respect of the ori gin and pro-