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  • July 18, 1863
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  • THE CRAFT LECTURES, OF FIFTEEN SECTIONS.
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.

The Craft Lectures, Of Fifteen Sections.

THE CRAFT LECTURES , OF FIFTEEN SECTIONS .

ZONDON , SATURDAY , JULY 18 , 1863 .

The readers of THE MAGAZINE often hear that ; g _ _ is about to work the fifteen sections , o-enerally assisted by several brethren , of good memory , well up in the matter . We are aware , from the letters we receive , that there are ,

especially in the Colonies , many Freemasons ignorant of what these sections or Craft lectures are , and therefore we do not consider it out of place to make a few observations regarding them .

The Craft is in possession of a series of catechetical instruction , popularly denominated lectures , though for Avhat reason they are so called it is impossible to divine , seeing they are worked as a series of question and answer .

These lectures , to use the name by which they are best knoAvn , are three in number . The first is devoted to the Entered Apprentice degree , and is subdivided into seven sections ; the second applies to the degree of FelloAV Craft , and

comprises five sections ; Avhilst the third treats of the Master Masons' degree , and is divided into three sections , making a total of fifteen sections in all .

A knowledge of these lectures is useful , because in them the rites appertainin g to the various degrees receive some sort of elucidation , and , as far as they go , explain many circumstances which the tyro is anxious to know ; but it must by no

means be inferred that they exhaust the subject , which nothing but extensive reading and a large acquaintance Avith ancient , mediaeval , and modern usages , customs , and writers can accomplish . The changes which from time to time have taken

place with reference to these lectures will no doubt be acceptable to -others beyond the neAvly-made Freemason , and with that end in -view , the following remarks , drawn from standard authorities , are offered to the Craft .

Let us once and for all state that our ritual and lectures have no claim to hoary antiquity . They have " nothing in common with the early Freemasonry of the middle ages , beyond the traditional signs and secrets which have , during all time ,

characterised Freemasons . Indeed , the system of lod ge lectures is , in reality , a modern invention , and cannot be traced back with any certainty to a

later period than the revival of 1717 , even if th © tests in use at that period , and subsequently , may be included under the name of a lecture . These tests were examinations used for the . purpose of proving , to some extent , whether a person

professing to be a brother Avas really so or not ; and they continued in practice until after the middle of the last century . Dr . Oliver , in his Golden Remains , vol . iv ., p . 16 , " On the Masonic Tests of the 18 th Century , " says , very properly ,

they were " something like the conundrums of the present day—difficult of comprehension—admitting only of one answer , which appeared to have no direct correspondence Avith the question , and applicable only in consonance with the mysteries

and symbols of the institution . " The learned doctor says he is in possession of a formula of such tests , which he supposes to have been in use during the Grand Mastership of Bishop Chichely , in the time of Henry VI ., and from which he quotes the following in his Revelations of a Square : —

" Q . Peace be here ? A . I hope there is . Q . What o'clock is it ? A . ' It is going to six or going to twelve . Q . Are you very busy ?

A . No . Q . Will you give or take ? A . Both j or which you please . Q . How go squares ? A . Straight .

Q . Are you rich or poor ? A . Neither . Q . Change me that ? . A . I will . Q . In the name of the King and Holy Church

are you a Mason ? A . I am so taken to be . Q . What is a Mason ? A . A man begot by a man , born of a Avoman , brother to a king .

Q . WhatisafeUow ? A . A companion of a prince . " & c . & c . & c .

Whether the above are genuine or not must depend on the Source from whence the worthy doctor obtained them ; but they have as little to do with Freemasonry , as we understand it , as the old catch questions , " How old ' s your mother ?" and " What was the colour of the coat you were

“The Freemasons' Monthly Magazine: 1863-07-18, Page 1” Masonic Periodicals Online, Library and Museum of Freemasonry, 11 July 2025, django:8000/periodicals/mmr/issues/mmr_18071863/page/1/.
  • List
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Title Category Page
THE CRAFT LECTURES, OF FIFTEEN SECTIONS. Article 1
ON" GEOMETRICAL AND OTHER SYMBOLS. Article 3
MASONIC NOTES AND QUERIES. Article 7
CORRESPONDENCE. Article 9
THE MASONIC MIRROR. Article 9
THE BOYS' SCHOOL. Article 9
METROPOLITAN. Article 9
PROVINCIAL. Article 10
TURKEY. Article 15
ROYAL ARCH. Article 15
ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED RITE. Article 15
NOTES ON MUSIC AND THE DRAMA. Article 16
THE WEEK. Article 16
TO CORRESPONDENTS. Article 20
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.

The Craft Lectures, Of Fifteen Sections.

THE CRAFT LECTURES , OF FIFTEEN SECTIONS .

ZONDON , SATURDAY , JULY 18 , 1863 .

The readers of THE MAGAZINE often hear that ; g _ _ is about to work the fifteen sections , o-enerally assisted by several brethren , of good memory , well up in the matter . We are aware , from the letters we receive , that there are ,

especially in the Colonies , many Freemasons ignorant of what these sections or Craft lectures are , and therefore we do not consider it out of place to make a few observations regarding them .

The Craft is in possession of a series of catechetical instruction , popularly denominated lectures , though for Avhat reason they are so called it is impossible to divine , seeing they are worked as a series of question and answer .

These lectures , to use the name by which they are best knoAvn , are three in number . The first is devoted to the Entered Apprentice degree , and is subdivided into seven sections ; the second applies to the degree of FelloAV Craft , and

comprises five sections ; Avhilst the third treats of the Master Masons' degree , and is divided into three sections , making a total of fifteen sections in all .

A knowledge of these lectures is useful , because in them the rites appertainin g to the various degrees receive some sort of elucidation , and , as far as they go , explain many circumstances which the tyro is anxious to know ; but it must by no

means be inferred that they exhaust the subject , which nothing but extensive reading and a large acquaintance Avith ancient , mediaeval , and modern usages , customs , and writers can accomplish . The changes which from time to time have taken

place with reference to these lectures will no doubt be acceptable to -others beyond the neAvly-made Freemason , and with that end in -view , the following remarks , drawn from standard authorities , are offered to the Craft .

Let us once and for all state that our ritual and lectures have no claim to hoary antiquity . They have " nothing in common with the early Freemasonry of the middle ages , beyond the traditional signs and secrets which have , during all time ,

characterised Freemasons . Indeed , the system of lod ge lectures is , in reality , a modern invention , and cannot be traced back with any certainty to a

later period than the revival of 1717 , even if th © tests in use at that period , and subsequently , may be included under the name of a lecture . These tests were examinations used for the . purpose of proving , to some extent , whether a person

professing to be a brother Avas really so or not ; and they continued in practice until after the middle of the last century . Dr . Oliver , in his Golden Remains , vol . iv ., p . 16 , " On the Masonic Tests of the 18 th Century , " says , very properly ,

they were " something like the conundrums of the present day—difficult of comprehension—admitting only of one answer , which appeared to have no direct correspondence Avith the question , and applicable only in consonance with the mysteries

and symbols of the institution . " The learned doctor says he is in possession of a formula of such tests , which he supposes to have been in use during the Grand Mastership of Bishop Chichely , in the time of Henry VI ., and from which he quotes the following in his Revelations of a Square : —

" Q . Peace be here ? A . I hope there is . Q . What o'clock is it ? A . ' It is going to six or going to twelve . Q . Are you very busy ?

A . No . Q . Will you give or take ? A . Both j or which you please . Q . How go squares ? A . Straight .

Q . Are you rich or poor ? A . Neither . Q . Change me that ? . A . I will . Q . In the name of the King and Holy Church

are you a Mason ? A . I am so taken to be . Q . What is a Mason ? A . A man begot by a man , born of a Avoman , brother to a king .

Q . WhatisafeUow ? A . A companion of a prince . " & c . & c . & c .

Whether the above are genuine or not must depend on the Source from whence the worthy doctor obtained them ; but they have as little to do with Freemasonry , as we understand it , as the old catch questions , " How old ' s your mother ?" and " What was the colour of the coat you were

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