-
Articles/Ads
Article MASONIC NOTES AND QUERIES. ← Page 2 of 2 Article MASONIC NOTES AND QUERIES. Page 2 of 2 Article CORRESPONDENCE. Page 1 of 1
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Masonic Notes And Queries.
Bro . Findel to point out any close resemblance to our present Masonry in them . And yet Dr . Anderson alludes to the warlike fraternities , who had borrowed many usages from the Order which had existed from the beginning . Bro . Findel is well aware that the ancient Masons , pi-eviously to Dennett ' s time , published nothing ; that strictly our degrees yet prohibit it , and that the
Gothic constitutions of the Craft Freemasons were recognised to give the Order publicity . Prichard ( a copy of whose work I have ) was a member of this Grand Lodge only . In France a body was chartered by it , and a ritual supplied , as early as 1726 , a pretended copy having been printed in Germany . Tet the Order of tbe Temple practised the hih degreesand printed its statutes
g , , attested by one ot the Orleans , in 1705 . The first mention of a Boyal Arch degree is said to be in 1722 and more fully in 1743 ; but what is the present degree ? It is identical with the degree of Sword of the East , of Babylon , or of Palestine , in the French order of the Temple , the York Rite , and A . and A . rite , combined with the lost secrets which were given in the third
degree in the Craft rite , and by them thus introduced into France , Holland , & c . It is impossible to read Dermott ' s book without being convinced of its truth , and he states that there were many Masons in the South , who had refused to join the modern rite , from whom they received the genuine system indentical throughout the world ; the same thing is acknowledged by Preston , but
he states that the Grand Lodge would permit their Catholic or universal Masonry only . The St . 01 au * s , the Grand Master Masons of Scotland , resigned their authority , when a Speculative G-rand Lodge was formed in 1736 . They had previously to this , for centuries , rnled the Operative Masons , but as far as I am aware the ancient minute books of these lodges , contain no allusion to our present mysteries , but the true and only speculative Masons , viz ., the Kilwinning Templars , or Boyal Order of Scotland , are thought to have
been under the same G . M . However this may be , it is quite certain that the lodges of York , Scotland , and Ireland , were in alliance with the ancient Masons last century , and refused to have any connection with the modern . We are informed on excellent authority that the high grades are mentioned m 1722 , and I feel at liberty to inform Bro . Findel , that there are genuine English rituals
of some of them extant , of very little later date . A few queries to Bro . Findel . Where were the factories of degrees' he states established in England ? Why did the Irish Masons in 17 * 25 ( vol . 1 of Magazine ) , ridicule tbe account of tbe origin assigned to the order by modern Masons , and state that it Avas and bad been composed chiefly of the principal nobility ? There is an authentic
list of tbe York Masons from 1705 ; bow happen they to commence and continue with Baronets , Lord Mayors , & c ? How is it that wherever the genuine York rite has penetrated , there also is Templary along with it ? It is traditionally and historically true , that the Templars of York re-established their lodges in 1314 , they were there in 1561 , and from 1700 to 1787 . Whilst in the south from
1485 to 1530 Masonry was practised by the Knights of Malta , and about this time or a little later , speculative Masters arc for the first time mentioned . In our every difference is concord . Why were the ancient Masons not exposed and confounded ? The modern ivould gladly have done it . Lastly : How does he get over the constant allusions in old mystical writers , to high grade symbolism ,
and such extracts as that respecting Jacques Cceur , given a few weeks ago , and who Avere the first authors , about 1400 , alluded to by the Rosicrucians ? It is easy to assert that anything militating against a preconceived opinion is a forgery . An English divine has proved that no such personage as Napoleon I . ever existed . In like manner , our worthy brother may extinguish an ordinary reader , and scatter English Masonry to the . four winds of heaven . Let me close with an apophthegm of Lord Barghley , — " Unity is the strength , and division the ruin of any body
Masonic Notes And Queries.
politic . All things in this world are valuable but in estimation .- for a little to him that thinketb it enough is great riches . " —A CHARITY IN SAVEDEN . April , 1760 . " The Freemasons established at Stockholm , in Sweden , at the annual meeting on the 1 st inst ., in that capital , collected 5404 dollars , copper money , for
the indigent poor . " July , 1760 . " The Freemasons lodge at Stockholm have presented the orphan house , in that city , with 10 , 000 dollars . " TEJIP 1 AB ITOTE . It is well known that the Akkals of the Druses have a tradition claiming identity of ceremony with their ancient neihbours the TemplarsThere is in Lebanon
g , , a place called "Valley of the Kadesha , " or Holy Valley . —A SPECULATIVE ALLUSION , B . C . " For as the master builder of a new house must care for the whole building ; but he that undertaketh to set it out and paint it , must seek out fit things for the adorning of it : even so I think it is with us . To stand
upon every point , and go over things at large , and to be curious in particulars , belongeth to the first author of the story . But to use brevity , and avoid much labouring of the work , is to be granted to him that will make an abridgement . 11 , Maccabeus ; chap . 2 , vs . 29 , 30 , 31 . —A
Correspondence.
CORRESPONDENCE .
The Editor is not responsible for the opinions expressed by Correspondents , BEO . BOB . MOREIS OF KENTUCKY .
TO THE JEDITOK OB THE EEEEJTASOKS SrAGAZEtTE AJT » MASONIC MIBBOB . Dear Prater , —Some months ago we directed attention to the great personal peril to which the above named distinguished Mason was exposed through the deplorable events at present transpiring in the midst of our trans-Atlantic kinsmen—he having had assigned to him the command of a regiment of the State Guard . That body
of volunteers , having , on the evacuation of Kentucky by the Confederates , been honourably discharged from active service , Bro . Morris has been enabled to return to his Masonic duties . How that he has removed his office and correspondence to the city of Chicago , it is much to be desired that ho may be allowed to "hang his trumpet in the hall" and leaving the study of war to others , devote
himself anew to a source in which his herculean labours have already effected results beneficial to the Order rarely falling to the lot of one man to accomplish . We understand from a trustworthy source that the governments , both Federal and State , were satisfied with Bro . Morris ' s military services , and that had he consented to enter the Federal ranks the most flattering assurances
were held out to him of office and honour . Our brother may not have much to recall in his military experience that is agreeable , for guerilla-warfare is but little better than Indian strife . The recollection of one important service rendered by Bro . Morris to his country many among the reminiscences of his military career afford him some pleasure however . He bad tbe
duty of guarding the railroad communication between Frankfort ( the seat of government ) and Louisville , and thus preserving a train containing the archives and treasures of the state , the bank treasures , the government and whole state and executive officers , and the entire Legislature—protecting them from probable capture by the Confederate
army . Our former notice of Bro . Morris appeared in the Magazine was copied by the New Yorlc Sunday Despat h , the editor thereof , Mr . B . D . Holmes , having kindly prefaced and endorsed it . I am , dear Frater , yours truly , D . MURRAY LYON , Ayr , Jan . 14 , 1863 . P . J . W . of Mother Kilwinning .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Masonic Notes And Queries.
Bro . Findel to point out any close resemblance to our present Masonry in them . And yet Dr . Anderson alludes to the warlike fraternities , who had borrowed many usages from the Order which had existed from the beginning . Bro . Findel is well aware that the ancient Masons , pi-eviously to Dennett ' s time , published nothing ; that strictly our degrees yet prohibit it , and that the
Gothic constitutions of the Craft Freemasons were recognised to give the Order publicity . Prichard ( a copy of whose work I have ) was a member of this Grand Lodge only . In France a body was chartered by it , and a ritual supplied , as early as 1726 , a pretended copy having been printed in Germany . Tet the Order of tbe Temple practised the hih degreesand printed its statutes
g , , attested by one ot the Orleans , in 1705 . The first mention of a Boyal Arch degree is said to be in 1722 and more fully in 1743 ; but what is the present degree ? It is identical with the degree of Sword of the East , of Babylon , or of Palestine , in the French order of the Temple , the York Rite , and A . and A . rite , combined with the lost secrets which were given in the third
degree in the Craft rite , and by them thus introduced into France , Holland , & c . It is impossible to read Dermott ' s book without being convinced of its truth , and he states that there were many Masons in the South , who had refused to join the modern rite , from whom they received the genuine system indentical throughout the world ; the same thing is acknowledged by Preston , but
he states that the Grand Lodge would permit their Catholic or universal Masonry only . The St . 01 au * s , the Grand Master Masons of Scotland , resigned their authority , when a Speculative G-rand Lodge was formed in 1736 . They had previously to this , for centuries , rnled the Operative Masons , but as far as I am aware the ancient minute books of these lodges , contain no allusion to our present mysteries , but the true and only speculative Masons , viz ., the Kilwinning Templars , or Boyal Order of Scotland , are thought to have
been under the same G . M . However this may be , it is quite certain that the lodges of York , Scotland , and Ireland , were in alliance with the ancient Masons last century , and refused to have any connection with the modern . We are informed on excellent authority that the high grades are mentioned m 1722 , and I feel at liberty to inform Bro . Findel , that there are genuine English rituals
of some of them extant , of very little later date . A few queries to Bro . Findel . Where were the factories of degrees' he states established in England ? Why did the Irish Masons in 17 * 25 ( vol . 1 of Magazine ) , ridicule tbe account of tbe origin assigned to the order by modern Masons , and state that it Avas and bad been composed chiefly of the principal nobility ? There is an authentic
list of tbe York Masons from 1705 ; bow happen they to commence and continue with Baronets , Lord Mayors , & c ? How is it that wherever the genuine York rite has penetrated , there also is Templary along with it ? It is traditionally and historically true , that the Templars of York re-established their lodges in 1314 , they were there in 1561 , and from 1700 to 1787 . Whilst in the south from
1485 to 1530 Masonry was practised by the Knights of Malta , and about this time or a little later , speculative Masters arc for the first time mentioned . In our every difference is concord . Why were the ancient Masons not exposed and confounded ? The modern ivould gladly have done it . Lastly : How does he get over the constant allusions in old mystical writers , to high grade symbolism ,
and such extracts as that respecting Jacques Cceur , given a few weeks ago , and who Avere the first authors , about 1400 , alluded to by the Rosicrucians ? It is easy to assert that anything militating against a preconceived opinion is a forgery . An English divine has proved that no such personage as Napoleon I . ever existed . In like manner , our worthy brother may extinguish an ordinary reader , and scatter English Masonry to the . four winds of heaven . Let me close with an apophthegm of Lord Barghley , — " Unity is the strength , and division the ruin of any body
Masonic Notes And Queries.
politic . All things in this world are valuable but in estimation .- for a little to him that thinketb it enough is great riches . " —A CHARITY IN SAVEDEN . April , 1760 . " The Freemasons established at Stockholm , in Sweden , at the annual meeting on the 1 st inst ., in that capital , collected 5404 dollars , copper money , for
the indigent poor . " July , 1760 . " The Freemasons lodge at Stockholm have presented the orphan house , in that city , with 10 , 000 dollars . " TEJIP 1 AB ITOTE . It is well known that the Akkals of the Druses have a tradition claiming identity of ceremony with their ancient neihbours the TemplarsThere is in Lebanon
g , , a place called "Valley of the Kadesha , " or Holy Valley . —A SPECULATIVE ALLUSION , B . C . " For as the master builder of a new house must care for the whole building ; but he that undertaketh to set it out and paint it , must seek out fit things for the adorning of it : even so I think it is with us . To stand
upon every point , and go over things at large , and to be curious in particulars , belongeth to the first author of the story . But to use brevity , and avoid much labouring of the work , is to be granted to him that will make an abridgement . 11 , Maccabeus ; chap . 2 , vs . 29 , 30 , 31 . —A
Correspondence.
CORRESPONDENCE .
The Editor is not responsible for the opinions expressed by Correspondents , BEO . BOB . MOREIS OF KENTUCKY .
TO THE JEDITOK OB THE EEEEJTASOKS SrAGAZEtTE AJT » MASONIC MIBBOB . Dear Prater , —Some months ago we directed attention to the great personal peril to which the above named distinguished Mason was exposed through the deplorable events at present transpiring in the midst of our trans-Atlantic kinsmen—he having had assigned to him the command of a regiment of the State Guard . That body
of volunteers , having , on the evacuation of Kentucky by the Confederates , been honourably discharged from active service , Bro . Morris has been enabled to return to his Masonic duties . How that he has removed his office and correspondence to the city of Chicago , it is much to be desired that ho may be allowed to "hang his trumpet in the hall" and leaving the study of war to others , devote
himself anew to a source in which his herculean labours have already effected results beneficial to the Order rarely falling to the lot of one man to accomplish . We understand from a trustworthy source that the governments , both Federal and State , were satisfied with Bro . Morris ' s military services , and that had he consented to enter the Federal ranks the most flattering assurances
were held out to him of office and honour . Our brother may not have much to recall in his military experience that is agreeable , for guerilla-warfare is but little better than Indian strife . The recollection of one important service rendered by Bro . Morris to his country many among the reminiscences of his military career afford him some pleasure however . He bad tbe
duty of guarding the railroad communication between Frankfort ( the seat of government ) and Louisville , and thus preserving a train containing the archives and treasures of the state , the bank treasures , the government and whole state and executive officers , and the entire Legislature—protecting them from probable capture by the Confederate
army . Our former notice of Bro . Morris appeared in the Magazine was copied by the New Yorlc Sunday Despat h , the editor thereof , Mr . B . D . Holmes , having kindly prefaced and endorsed it . I am , dear Frater , yours truly , D . MURRAY LYON , Ayr , Jan . 14 , 1863 . P . J . W . of Mother Kilwinning .