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Article AN ANALYSIS OF ANCIENT AND MODERN FREEMASONRY. ← Page 2 of 2 Article THE KNIGHTS TEMPLARS. Page 1 of 4 →
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An Analysis Of Ancient And Modern Freemasonry.
It is believed by many who have examined the matter that before A . D . 1717 no trace of Freemasonry , apart from its Operative nature or connections , can be found ; and , after a series of extended researches , we fully endorse such an
opinion . We shall conclude the first part of our analysis by a few examples of the Christian character of the Craft , from which the Grand Lodge of England ancl all the other Grand Lodges have been derived . Whilst , however , holding the opinion that Masonry
is of a Christian origin , we do not find any evidence to warrant ; the belief that chivalry was connected with it , or materially assisted in its preservation during the Dark Ages , as throughout the Fraternity has shown sufficient activity and influence to
look after its own , and its services were too valuable in any nation to bo lightly dispensed with or require protection so long as the society was mainly of an Operative character . The Constitutions of the German Masons of Strasburg , A . D . 1459 , commence thus : " In the
name of the Father , and of the Son , and of the Holy Ghost , and of our gracious Mother Mary . " They provide that " No Craftsman or Master shall be received in the Fraternity who goes not early to the Holy Communion , or who keeps not
Christian discipline ; " and , " although by Christian discipline every Christian is bound to provide for his own salvation , yet it must be duly remembered by the Masters and Craftsmen—whom the Almighty God has graciously endowed with their
art and workmanship , to build houses of God ancl other costly edifices , ancl honestly to gain their living thereby—that by gratitude their hearts be justly moved unto true Christian feelings , to promote Divine worship , and to merit the salvation of their souls thereby " ( Findel ' s " History of Freemasonry ) .
The Constitution of Masonnrie , A . D . 1704 , is introduced as follows : " The might of the Father of Heaven , together with the wisdom of the blessed Son , through the grace of God , three persons in one Godhead , be with us at our beginning , and
bestow upon us grace so to govern ourselves in this life , that we may obtain to His blessedness , whicli will never end . "
The old Y ork Constitutions commence the first charge by declaring "That yee shall be true men to God and the Holy Church , and to use no error or . heresie by your understanding and by wise men ' s teaching . "
The prayers of the Craft further elucidate this subject and abundantly prove that the Christian religion was held in great veneration by the Fraternity all over the globe . ( To be continued- in Vol . xviii . )
The Knights Templars.
THE KNIGHTS TEMPLARS .
By ANTIIOXY UNEAL HAYE . ( Continued from-page 427 . ) CHAPTER N . GRAND MASTER—GERARD DE RIDEEOET .
llenaud de Chatillon continues his raids . —Saladin terminates the irv . ee . —Assembles an army . —Council at Jerusalem . —Saladin storms Tiberias . —The Christians assemble at Sephouri . —Intrigues of tlie Count of Tripoli . The Christians advance -upon Saladin . —Heroism of Templars . —The first day ' s battle . —Dismay and exhaustion of
the Christian army . —Treachery of the Count of Tripolii —Battle of Tiberias . —Loss of the true Gross . —Slaughter of the Christians . —Goytv . ra of the hing and Gerard do Bidefoii . —Saladin hills De Chatillon , and massacres tlie captive Templars . —A . D . 1187 . The truce which had been entered into between
the Christians and Saladin had not yefc been put an end to , for the irruption of the Mussulmen , which had been headed by Malek-el-Afdal , was more caused by the rebellion of the Count of Tripoli than by any direct act of the Sultan's , The army had not been sent to battle with the Christians , but rather to assist the Count in anv
war he might be engaged in with his brethren . Saladin , however , was anxious to renew hostilities , ancl an opportunity for throwing the onus of such a jn-oceediiig upon the Christians occurred . This he eagerly seized upon to terminate the truce .
The brave but unscrupulous leader , Renaud cle Chatillon , in spite of the solemn treaty of peace , refused to lay clown his arms , or cease to continue war with the Musseknen . He was the commander of a fine body of . Knights , who obeyed him as an
oracle , and followed him through all difficulties ancl clangers with unswerving fidelity . He carried his raids into the heart of the Musselnien territory , defeated and slaughtered the armies sent against him , pillaged and fired the villages , ancl
then returned with great deliberation to his own place , burdened with booty . Saladiu complained bitterly of these inroads , but was unable , on account of the rebellious state of the Turcoinen , to avenge himself upon the Christians ; while the commands of King Guy were laughed at bv the
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
An Analysis Of Ancient And Modern Freemasonry.
It is believed by many who have examined the matter that before A . D . 1717 no trace of Freemasonry , apart from its Operative nature or connections , can be found ; and , after a series of extended researches , we fully endorse such an
opinion . We shall conclude the first part of our analysis by a few examples of the Christian character of the Craft , from which the Grand Lodge of England ancl all the other Grand Lodges have been derived . Whilst , however , holding the opinion that Masonry
is of a Christian origin , we do not find any evidence to warrant ; the belief that chivalry was connected with it , or materially assisted in its preservation during the Dark Ages , as throughout the Fraternity has shown sufficient activity and influence to
look after its own , and its services were too valuable in any nation to bo lightly dispensed with or require protection so long as the society was mainly of an Operative character . The Constitutions of the German Masons of Strasburg , A . D . 1459 , commence thus : " In the
name of the Father , and of the Son , and of the Holy Ghost , and of our gracious Mother Mary . " They provide that " No Craftsman or Master shall be received in the Fraternity who goes not early to the Holy Communion , or who keeps not
Christian discipline ; " and , " although by Christian discipline every Christian is bound to provide for his own salvation , yet it must be duly remembered by the Masters and Craftsmen—whom the Almighty God has graciously endowed with their
art and workmanship , to build houses of God ancl other costly edifices , ancl honestly to gain their living thereby—that by gratitude their hearts be justly moved unto true Christian feelings , to promote Divine worship , and to merit the salvation of their souls thereby " ( Findel ' s " History of Freemasonry ) .
The Constitution of Masonnrie , A . D . 1704 , is introduced as follows : " The might of the Father of Heaven , together with the wisdom of the blessed Son , through the grace of God , three persons in one Godhead , be with us at our beginning , and
bestow upon us grace so to govern ourselves in this life , that we may obtain to His blessedness , whicli will never end . "
The old Y ork Constitutions commence the first charge by declaring "That yee shall be true men to God and the Holy Church , and to use no error or . heresie by your understanding and by wise men ' s teaching . "
The prayers of the Craft further elucidate this subject and abundantly prove that the Christian religion was held in great veneration by the Fraternity all over the globe . ( To be continued- in Vol . xviii . )
The Knights Templars.
THE KNIGHTS TEMPLARS .
By ANTIIOXY UNEAL HAYE . ( Continued from-page 427 . ) CHAPTER N . GRAND MASTER—GERARD DE RIDEEOET .
llenaud de Chatillon continues his raids . —Saladin terminates the irv . ee . —Assembles an army . —Council at Jerusalem . —Saladin storms Tiberias . —The Christians assemble at Sephouri . —Intrigues of tlie Count of Tripoli . The Christians advance -upon Saladin . —Heroism of Templars . —The first day ' s battle . —Dismay and exhaustion of
the Christian army . —Treachery of the Count of Tripolii —Battle of Tiberias . —Loss of the true Gross . —Slaughter of the Christians . —Goytv . ra of the hing and Gerard do Bidefoii . —Saladin hills De Chatillon , and massacres tlie captive Templars . —A . D . 1187 . The truce which had been entered into between
the Christians and Saladin had not yefc been put an end to , for the irruption of the Mussulmen , which had been headed by Malek-el-Afdal , was more caused by the rebellion of the Count of Tripoli than by any direct act of the Sultan's , The army had not been sent to battle with the Christians , but rather to assist the Count in anv
war he might be engaged in with his brethren . Saladin , however , was anxious to renew hostilities , ancl an opportunity for throwing the onus of such a jn-oceediiig upon the Christians occurred . This he eagerly seized upon to terminate the truce .
The brave but unscrupulous leader , Renaud cle Chatillon , in spite of the solemn treaty of peace , refused to lay clown his arms , or cease to continue war with the Musseknen . He was the commander of a fine body of . Knights , who obeyed him as an
oracle , and followed him through all difficulties ancl clangers with unswerving fidelity . He carried his raids into the heart of the Musselnien territory , defeated and slaughtered the armies sent against him , pillaged and fired the villages , ancl
then returned with great deliberation to his own place , burdened with booty . Saladiu complained bitterly of these inroads , but was unable , on account of the rebellious state of the Turcoinen , to avenge himself upon the Christians ; while the commands of King Guy were laughed at bv the