Illustrations Of The History Of The Craft.

gress of a society , of Avhich so much has been said , Avhcthor for good or evil , yet it also seems to be our imperative duty to try and give a straightfonvard and intelligible account of this Avorld-Avide Order , to trace carefully the hws AA'MCII have controlled

its progress , to unfold the causes AA'hicli have led to its success or failure anions ; men , and to submit to all intelligent readers the evidence ancl the facts , the historical proofs and the undoubted statements , on AA'Mch AA'e base the conclusion to Avhich A \ 'e

have legitimately arrived . What , then , is the true history of Freemasonry ? AA'hat is Freemasonry itself ? are questions AA'hicli are often asked , and repeated to this clay , Avith an unmistakeable expression of complacent scepticism . As Ave knoAV , those of us AVIIO have studied the question , the most contradictory ancl the most absurd theories have been

hazarded relative to its origin and progress . To recapitulate all the different solutions , of AA'hat still to some appears an inexplicable enigma , would be also a hopeless task , and certainly an unprofitable Avaste of time . We can only notice some of the leading

explanations of the rise and continuance of our Order , whether from friendly or hostile Avriters , and Avhich seem to demand our attention and deserve our notice . There

are those AA'ho seem Avilling to trace Freemasonry to tlie loyal adherents of the Stuarts , as preparatory to the restoration of King Charles IL , Avhde others , equally sagacious , would connect it Avith the hopes and aspirations of tho oxded family of King James II .

There are a 1 ' who see in Freemasonry a Jesuit Order ; there are some Avho regard it as a purely political body—the School of Illumines , the centre of revolution . Probably it is not too much to say , that by far the larger number of Avriters , it is looked upon as a benevolent association or a convivial club .

In former times it AA'as the Avont of many Avriters , Masonic and othenvise , to connect Freemasonry Avith the Druids , AA'ith the Culdees , and , above all , with the Elensinian mysteries . No doubt Freemasonry is connectedand

, has CA'or been , AA'ith tlio history of secret initiation and personal probation , the great characteristic of all the early mysteries . It may bo perfectly true moreover , that Freemasonry possesses in it ? carefully

preserved ritual ancl traditions some traces of the oral teaching of those early mysteries , but it is not safe , it has always appeared to 1110 , to rely simply on an esoterec connection , when Ave aro asked , ancl naturally asked , to give a reasonable account of our outward organization , the channel by Avhicli the secrets and mysteries of Freemasonry have been handed doAA'n to ourselves .

There are throe other theories of Masonic life and history Avhich AVO must briefl y notice . There is the AdeAV which links our Freemasonry to some early Christian body , Avhether as successors of the Essenes , or some development of the " disciplina arcani , " which seems to be the suggestion of Dr . Leeson . A modification of this VIOAV

is to be found in those AA'ho connect Freemasonry with Rosicrucian adepts , Avith the folloAvers of " Rosenkreutz , " if that AA'ere really his name . But it is almost unnecessary to add that there is not the slightest valid or historical evidence to be adduced in behalf of such a theory . It is purely imaginative—the " baseless fabric of a dream . "

Neither can I speak more hopefully or encouragingly of that claim , propounded Avith such confidence , to consider our Freemasonry of to-day as derived from the Knights Templar . To say nothing of the intense difficulty ,

historically , of the transmission or preservation of any real Templar secrets , one thing is plain , though I am sorry to say it as it may hurt the feelings of many excellent brethren of mine , the Masonic Knights Templar never had , ancl have not

UOAV , the slightest real connection with the old Knights Templar . Tho history of the dispersion and ultimate fate of the majority of the Templars is pretty AVOII knoivn . The accounts Ave hear of Templars holding meetings at York

, or Scotland , and elseAvhcre , to perpetuate the hidden mysteries of their secret chapters , aro so opposed to the real facts of history , as fairly come within the reproach of being " fables of the Freemasons . " Up to tho present time not the slightest

historical evidence is forthcoming of any prior existence of Masonic Kni ghts Templar before 171-0 . As I propose to treat in a subsequent chapter of the connection existing between the Kni ghts Templar ancl Freemasonry . I need not allude further to