What Is Freemasonry?

WHAT IS FREEMASONRY ?

LONDON , SATURDAY , JANUARY 9 , I 860 .

An address delivered bij Bro . H . Tiroiirsox , P . M . 177 and 1 , 158 , to tiie members of Vaa Domaiie Lodge of Instruction . A very important question is asked in our lectures " What is Freemasonry ? " and the ordinary reply to the query is , that it is " a peculiar system

of morality veiled in allegory and illustrated by symbols , " but the subject demands a closer examination and a more elaborate answer , for it embraces every part of that noble science which has existed as far as we know from time immemorial , and

under whose powerful influence such wonderful results have been obtained . This question , however , is often re-iterated by those who are outside our order , and sometimes with no friendly motive , for like all other human institutions it has its

detractors , however pare may be its objects or spotless its career . From vain curiosity they strive to penetrate the arcana of our secrets , but happily such efforts have hitherto proved fruitless to all who do not possess the master key by which alone

they can be obtained . While such inquirers should always be discouraged and our order closed tyled against them , there are however , many others who are prompted by truly laudable motives and a

favorable opinion preconceived of our institutions , who feel a longing desire to know something of the origin , growth , and progress of that gigantic tree , '; whose branches are spread over the entire surface of the habitable globe , and from which such

abundant fruits have been gathered . The first class of inquiriers to which I have alluded , are , I am happy to say , very limited in numbers , but notwithstanding their insignificance they are very energetic and vituperative in their slanders , and

in the presence of kindred spirits in feelings and inclinations are ever ready to denounce our institution as a body that should not exist , and ought at once to be put clown b y the strong arm of tho law . We , however , can well afford to langli at their

puny threats , and treat their vaunted allocutions with all the contempt they deserve , and in the few remarks I intend to offer , I shall perhaps not again refer to a class of inquirers who possess no title and have no claim to our consideration . As

regards the latter class to which I have referred , their motives cannot be too highly commended , for unmindful of the vulgar remarks sometimes levelled at us by those who really know nothing about the

" -a secrets and objects of our Order , they seek to inquire for themselves as to the great motives which appear to have such a potent influence in inducing so many of their fellow men to unite together with

no other law than that which is enforced by their own free will , to extend the light of truth , and promote the welfare and happiness of their fellow creatures . To such inquirers we give a hearty welcome , and if they want to know more of us and how we prove that in uniting together our object is to render ourselves more extensively serviceable

to our fellow creatures , we may well use the expressive epitaph on Sir Christopher Wren and tell them to look around at the noble institutions we have provided for the deserving- objects committed to our care . Like the Roman Matron Cornelia

we can say , " These are our jewels—these- arc tho bright and shining lights of Freemasonry / ' It has been said that "on the empire of England the sun never sets , " an apt and forcible illustration of the extent and power of country to which we owe

our birth ; but great , noble , and dazzling as is the acquisition of territory , as an inseparable and inevitable result of conquest , such victories are sometimes only obtained at the cost of thousands of lives , with desolation , ruin , and widows and

orphans following in their train . But with regard to Freemasonry although its domain is even far more extended—although as regards its influence the sun is always at its meridian—it brings no such pangs in her bright career , for hers is the mission of peace and goodwill to all mankind . Her conquests are great , noble , and bloodless , and her

highest ambition is to extend the blessings of peace and the bounties of charity to every deserving object under Heaven . Her reign commenced in the primitive period of the world , and her territory is not confined to one country , language , or people ,

for it is spread over the entire habitable globe . It stands with a rock for its foundation , honour , truth , and virtue for its superstructure , whilst tho three great pillars supporting its noble temple , are Faith , Hope , and Charity , thereby implying out- faith in .

the Gfreat Architect of the Universe , a hope iu salvation , and to be iu charity with all men . Our institution , too , can boa st of its antiquity , forming the great link between the period when civilisation just emerged from barbarism into an age iu which

it has expanded to such nobie proportions . It was in the early days of Freemasonry that natural religion first beamed on man , the darkness which ushered in his existence began to disappear . Iris