Cursory Remarks On Freemasonry—Iv.

with Masonic knowledge , as with all other , we must communicate it to retain it ; we must impart it to others , if we wish to increase our own store . Let us ask ourselves , brethren , do we earnestl y attempt to daily make some advancement in Masonic knowledge ? Do we bestow that attention we ought to do on the theory and

practice of the moral virtues 1 Do we , as far as in us lies , strive to unravel the hidden mysteries of nature and science 1 And , above all , do we labour with ri ght good will to become ornaments , mentall y , morally , and religiously , of that most important of all organizations with which we claim free and accepted membershi p 1 If not , though we may have paid

our initiation fees and subscriptions ; though we may have been put through certain ceremonies in warranted Lodges ; though wo may have a Grand Lodge certificate ; and may strut in Masonic clothing and jewels in public processions or private Lodges ; in . spite of all this , we may have small claims to the hi gh and honourable title of Free and Accepted

Masons . Ina future number we hope to resume the subject ; for the present wo will conclude by stating our conviction that what our glorious English bard , Edmund Spenser , has sung of knowledge , is especially applicable to Masonic knowledge : —

"Through knowledge we behold the world's creation , How in bis cradle first be ibstcr'd was ; And judge of nature ' s cunning operation , How things she formed of a formless mass ; By knowledge we do learn ourselves to know , And what to man , and what to God we owe . "

Antecedents Of Freemasonry.

ANTECEDENTS OF FREEMASONRY .

BY ItEV . BBO . SALEM TOWS , LL . D . I'lcruiArs no human institution has ever existed , on which the world has looked witli more searching scrutiny than that of Freemasonry . So far as expression has been given to the vague surmises of the uninitiated , there lias ever been , in their view , a kind of indefinable mystery involved in the precautionary concealment of what transpires in the Lodge room . Nor are such impressions

in the least surprising , since in most men there is an intuitive propensity to form unfavourable opinions of whatever is scrupulously protected by the safeguards of profound secrecy . Hence , the judgment usually formed as to the transactions requiring concealment , rests on mere suspicion , having no other foundation than utter ignorance of the whole matter . In all these vague and viskmary surmising of evil , that charity which thinkcth no evil is not taken

into account . It is believed that a due consideration of the remote antecedents of what is now denominated speculative Freemasonry , would go tar , not only in removing prejudices or evil surmisings from men of candour in judging , but lead them to a more just estimation of tiiat excellence claimed for the institution by its members . It is reasonable to believe , that all hitman institutions , whatever the for

primary object accomplishment might have been , originated from some specific cause or circumstance , which ultimately led to a formal organization . Wherever , therefore , reliable antecedents can be traced to a point resulting in a social compact of individuals under specific regulations , such antecedents go far in elucidating ' the specific object contemplated , as well as the expediency of such regulations as characterize the association . The tree and its fruit spring from and partake of the qualities of the root .

That institution known as Freemasonry in all civilized countries has well defined antecedents , through which its legitimate origin is claimed . If , therefore , the evidence hereinafter adduced on this point is entitled to credence , it would seem that all imaginary grounds for evil surmisings , as to the circumstances of ori gin , principles , practice , motives , and ultimate designs of such an association , must be thoroughly and for ever removed . The

evidences on which modern Masoury claims to have been derived from ancient operative , or craft Masonry , are mainly derivable from , sacred history ; consequently , thus far of undeniable credibility . That there has been a class of men , who . in their individual or associated capacity , wrought in stone , or brick , with which they constructed habitations for men , from the first origin of the human race , no one can deny . Moreover , some stancuu-d of measurement as well as cxaft work would be iadis-

Antecedents Of Freemasonry.

pensable ; the one to designate dimensions , the other to execute the work in accordance . Thus much , however , cannot reasonably be questioned , that from the clays Cain built the first city , till Noah built the ark , all human habitations , consisting of stone or brick , however rude or unsightly the structures , or unskilful and imperfect the workmanship , it was , nevertheless , operative Masonry . It is , moreover , evident from history , that geometry and somewhat

Masonry were very anciently used interchangeably , like synonymous terms . In its orig in we have seen that Masonry was operative , and as such involves the principles of architecture , and was of all human arts one of the most useful . Architecture has been justly denominated the favourite child of civilization . In countries where operative Masonry has never laid the line nor spread the compass , where architectural science never planned civili

the dome nor projected the column , all other evidences of - zation and improvement are sought in vain . During the intervening time from Noah to Solomon , the art of design and skilfulness of Craft workmanship had advanced to a high state of perfection , as exemplified by those magnificent cities , Babylon , Nineveh , and Thebes ; the latter of which , though for centuries in ruins , is still the wonder of the world . It is furtherabovehave

more true , as a matter of fact , that Craft workmen , as , from the earliest use of language been designated by a name excgctical of their professional employment , which appellation has uniformly been translated by the English word Masons . Hence we derive the name of our institution , the synonym of which is found in the oldest language spoken by man . In proof of this factsee 1 st Chronicles xxii . - J . The Hebrew character and

, language is the same as the auciciit Chaldaic , or antediluvian . But although this description of Craft work , as well as the name of the Craftsmen themselves , date back so far into remote antiquity , yet the organization of that class of operatives , tinder social and systematic regulations , is not claimed anterior to the building of Solomon ' s temple , commencing B . C . lOli . It is ,

however , claimed on strong circumstantial evidence , if not clearly demonstrative , that speculative Masonry of the present day can be traced in a continuous line of organized succession from those Craftsmen who wrought at the temple , then , and ever since designated by the synonym in our language , "Masons , " such term being exegetical of the Craft work at which they were employed . There arc evidences , numerous , and , it would seem , sufficiently

satisfactory , to preclude all reasonable doubt , that speculative Freemasonry originated from those ancient Craft operatives employed at the buildiug of the temple at Jerusalem , a portion of whom , at least , were then aud there called Masons , as in 1 st Chronicles xxii . 2 , which reads thus : "Aud he ( David ) set Masons to hew wrought stones to build the house of God . " David , it will be seen , 1 st Chronicles xxii . 11 , had , during his of silverbrassand iron

reign , collected untold treasures gold , , , , to aid his son in carrying forward to completion that great work assigned him . Sacred history informs us that all the preliminary instructions to be observed in building the temple were divinely communicated . These directions commenced when God showed Moses the patterns of the tabernacle in Mount Sinai , at the time of giving the law ; sec Exodus xxv . 8 , 9 . This tabernacle was a type of the temple , the inner court of which had a close correspondence , as also the sacred apartments , fixtures , and furniture . The service , both of the temple and tabernacle , were peculiarly

typical . For the latter see Hebrews IX . 1—b . The fact has never been questioned that the temple was expressly designed by Jehovah as a place where the Jewish nation were to worship the true God . For , not only was the plan divinely communicated , but the buildiug was erected under the supervision of an inspired man . And it is furthermore reasonable to believe that the operatives were skilled in the principles and

application of geometrical measurement , as clearly evinced by the symmetry and richness in architectural style , as well as in the faultless execution of the mason work The number of Craftsmen employed in the forest and quarries , and as bearers of burdens , was 180 , 000 , over whom were 3 , 300 overseers to superintend their work ; see . 1 st Kings v . 13—18 . Inspiration further says , 1 st Kings vi . 7 , " And the house , while readbefore it ht

in building , was built of stone made y was broug thither , so that there was neither hammer nor axe , nor any tool of iron heard in the house while it was in building . " Whoever , therefore , duly considers the number of Craftsmen employed , cannot for a moment doubt the utter impossibility of such entire success , in preparing so great a multiplicity of materials before being brought to the ground , that not an article needed refitting , unless there had been the most perfect system of regulation previously established . Moreover , specific directions as to the dimensions of each article must necessarily have heen given to