Qlornell Httiocraitg Sithrarg

3tt;ara.

Nrai $ork

FROM THE

BENNO LOEWY LIBRARY

COLLECTED BY

BENNO LOEWY

1854-1919
BEOUE/^THED TO CORNELL UNIVERSITY

HS395

ComOl Unlveralty .P94 1772a

Ubrary

olln,anx

Cornell University Library

The
tine

original of

tiiis

book

is in

Cornell University Library.

There are no known copyright

restrictions in
text.

the United States on the use of the

http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924030274868

"V

REPRINT
OF THE RARE

1772

EDITION
OF

WILLIAM PRESTON'S
ILLUSTRATIONS OF MASONRY,
WITFI

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICE.

BY

WILLIAM WATSON,
LEEDS.

P.M., P.Z.,

LONDON

The Eidographic Reproduction Publishing Co.

45,

KIRBY STREET. HATTON GAREN.

1887.

NOTICE.

The
become

older editions of Preston's Illustrations have

exceedingly rare

and almost

unattainable,

except at long intervals and at considerable expense.

The

First

Edition differs widely in plan from

its

the editions which follow, and may, from

scarcity, be looked

extreme

upon

as practically out of reach.'

To meet
trious

the wish of the devoted student, induscollector, or lodge librarian, this

and enthusiastic

reprint

has been issued.

Those who have been so

fortunate as to have had the opportunity of inspecting

the original will be able to testify that not only has

the text been faithfully adhered

to,

but an exact fac-simile

produced.

W.W.

INTRODUCTION.

The Eighteenth Century though ever memorable

as

witnessing the

organization of the
basis,

craft

upon a

purely speculative
writers

produced but few masonic

of as

who can be spoken

possessing literary

attainments in an eminent degree, or as having secured

even a prospect of lasting fame.

Of
file

these,

Preston

is

known by

the rank and

his

of our Society, far

and away beyond any of

contemporaries, and to a large

extent his reputation

has been built and maintained by his " Illustrations

OF Masonry."

Few
attained

if

any, Masonic

Works

ever published have

such extensive popularity.

The

fact

that

seventeen editions have been issued, and that the book

still

preserves a strong

position

in

the face of the

countless rivals

which have come forth during the

present century, argues sterling merit and an indisputable claim to our respectful consideration.

William
annihilated,

Preston

lived not in days

when space

is

when

intercourse with the

remotest
of

corners of the

civihzed

world
is

is

but a question

moments, when

research

no longer a casual pursuit of isolated

students, but

become elevated

to a science

by which

evidence

is

collected, care.

weighed and scrutinized with the

most systematic
the power of

His

lot

was

cast in a time

when

making trustworthy record of even passing

events hung upon very uncertain conditions, and

when

almost insurmountable obstacles existed to his obtaining

any extended basis of

facts.

He

lived

when myths and

apocryphal accounts of the early history of the Order

had obtained general credence, and by many

be said, whose
gift

it

may
led

of critical

acumen should have

them

to

examine and

reject legends

which had not the

support of even the most shadowy evidence.

these surroundings and disadvantages his

With

mind would

have been rare indeed had

it

escaped some tincture of

the prevailing love of the fabulous in dealing with the

antiquities of

Freemasonry.

Yet Preston was sturdy fund of

and upright

in character, possessed a strong

common
brethren.

sense,

and was held

in

high estimation by his

His attachment to the principles of Free-

masonry was not only displayed throughout

effusions,

his literary
life

but

was exemplified

in his daily

and

actions.

Even where he

differed

widely in opinion

from others, yet the genuine nature of the

the

man and
gifts

undoubted possession of great

intellectual

commanded admiration and won

deemed
a shining light in
is

respect.

That he was
also

Masonry by brethren

highly endowed in mind,

proved by several editions

of his "Illustrations" having been successively edited

by Stephen Jones, P.M. of Antiquity Lodge, author

of "Masonic Miscellanies," &c., and by the late Rev.

Dr. Oliver,

who was probably by

far the

most

prolific

writer, the greatest essayist

and most

diligent student

the nineteenth century Freemasonary had seen up to

his decease.

To

brethren unaquainted with the

brief notice

career of
;

Preston, the following

may be of interest
at

William Preston was born

the 7th of August,
father

Edingburgh, in
).

1742, (July 28th old style

to the Signet,

His

was a Writer

and secured
life

to

him

that foundation of success in after

a good

educa-

tion.

He was bound

apprentice to Steathan,

His
to

Majesty's Printer, but afterwards

the learned

became secretary

Thomas Ruddiman,

to

whom

he rendered

good

service.

Subsequently on Ruddiman's death he

resumed

his labours at the printing office,

;

and

finally

proceeded to London

there his great literary abilities

Chronicle,

were displayed as Editor of the London

and

in

many

other ways.
t

His
1763, at

initiation into

Freemasonary took place

(of the

in

Lodge No. in

"Ancient" or "AthoU"

Grand Lodge), which had

recently been opened, and

was then working under

after

dispensation.

This lodge

a while applied to the

for a

Parent Grand Lodge,

("Moderns")

warrant and was constituted as the

"Caledodian" in 1772.

As
celebrity.

a lecturer

and orator he soon obtained

in his first edition

The "Gala," described

of "Illustrations"

was originated by him, and the

occasion of an eloquent address.

Having been induced

Antiquity, (No.
i.)

to attend the

Lodge of

in

1774, he

was admitted a member

and

at the

same time had the very exceptional honour

conferred upon him of being there and then elected

Master.

He had
office of

already

filled

with

distinguished

ability, the

master in several other lodges, and

that the brethren of the "Antiquity" were justified in

their

choice was proved by the advancement in the

state of the lodge immediately after his accession to

the chair.

His zeal

in defence

of the supposed

inherent
led

rights of " Antiquity " as a time immorial lodge,

him

to take active participation in certain proceedings

which met with the strong disapproval of Grand Lodge.

In consequence, he, and several others, having been

suspended from their

along with
the

masonic

privileges,

withdrew
their

majority of the

lodge,

from

allegiance to the

Grand Lodge

of England, and under

at York, set
title

the wing of the

"Grand Lodge"

up

in

1779, a grand lodge of their own, under the

of the

"

Grand Lodge

of England, South of the River Trent,"

John Wilson,
Master. .This

late

Master of No.
rival to the
btit

being the

first

Grand

new

Grand Lodge

of England

never attained anything

very insignificant proper-

lO
tions, for

only two lodges were

constituted from

it

the " Perseverance and Triumph," with Preston, as

master, and the " Perfect Observance," presided over

by P. Lambert de Lintot, whose name and work as an

artist

have reached us

in

his

engraved allegorical

designs on Freemasonary.

Finally

Preston and

his

compeers decided to

tender their submission to the

Grand Lodge of England,

and that body becoming favourably disposed towards a

reconciliation,

the seceders were restored in 1789 to

their privileges,

Preston being honourably received

and heartily welcomed back.

The " Grand Lodge

South of the Trent" disappeared, and thus ended the

first

and

last secession of

time honoured "Antiquity.'

effected never again

May

the happy

union

thiis

be

disturbed.

Preston took a prominent share

of the

in the formation

"Grand Chapter

of

Harodim," an institution

which did exceedingly

v-aluable

work

in its time,

by

extending the knowledge of our principles and by raising

the standard of the " working " in lodges.

The

estab-

II

iishment however in time, of formal lodges of instruction,

did

away with

the necessity for this body.

the ripe old age of seventy-six,

Having attained
he died
in

Dean

Street, Fetter
in
St.

Lane, on April

ist, 18^8,

and was interred

Paul's

Chathedral.

He

bequeathed ;^5oo to the Royal Freemason's Charity

;^5oo to the General Charity

Fund

of

Grand Lodge

and ;^300 consols

for the

annual Prestonian Lecture,

the interest thereof going to the lecturer.

Thus passed away one who mark on the

history of his

left

an ineffacable
If in
fell

own

time.

dealing

with facts in his writings he occasionally

it

into errors,

may

fairly

be ascribed to the

insufficient in

means

of

knowledge

at his

command.
it

If

he strayed

judgment

from the orthodox track,

bias, his naturally clear
reflection, to

was but from

momentary

discernment leading him, on

;

resume the right path

and

his manliness

of character to acknowledge his fault.

will ever

His memory

be loved and revered as that of a

man

in

whose

heart and soul dwelt the precepts of the Craft, and of

whom

it

may

be truly said, he was a worthy Mason.

Leeds, 1887.

WILLIAM WATSON.

ILLUSTRATIONS
O F

MASONRY
The man whofe
tirinti

on virtue bnt.
iitteiK,

PurTues Come greatly good

With andivfTted aim ^

Serene, beholds the angr/ crpud.

Nor can

their clamoun fierce and loud, Kis (lubbcra honot tame> BlACKTtOCK.

LONDON:
Printed for
Hie

Autmou %
St.

And fold by BTOthw J. Williams, oppofite Dunftao's Cbwrh, Fleet Sticet.

TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE

JLORD PETRE
GRAND MASTER
OF THE

ANCIENT AND HONOURABLE SOClETy

O
F

FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS^

THESE ILLUSTRATIONS
ARE.

WITH THE GREATEST

RESPECT,

INSCBIBEDj
BY HIS LORDSHIP'S,

M05T OBEDIENT
SERVANT,
ANJ3 ftROTHETl,

WILLIAM PRESTON.

C^e
WHEREAS

Sanrftott,
has

Brother WilIiam Prestok compiled a Book, intitled, " Ii.i.vsTqATiON " Masonry," and has requefted our San Ai on the publication thereof; we having perufed faid Book, and -finding it to correfpond with the
cient prsQices of thi* Society,

of
for
the

an-

do Kcommend die

fame..

PET RE,

Grand Maftci^
D. G.

CHARLES DILLON,

M.

Peter Parker* \ WitiiAM AwtlKSOM,] ' Wardens.

James Hbsbltinb^
G.
Seoctarjr,

E R
Page 5p.
i66,
line Ij.
4..

RATA.
roi/l

Fr proceed,

proceie,

For cotamede, read eommetht.

8.

/V natuMf parfcS^ rmd

/"ffr

ta,lent.

167.

iji

familar, waatfantiliar.

KJ^

The Bin&r is

defired to

pkce the PJan of tb

page }t^

Gala ffonting the EKplanation

 vu 3

PREFACE.
TTTHocver confiders, with atti;ntloiH " ^ the nature and dcfign of mafonry,
ttwitt

readily

admit

Its

gener^.

utility.

Few

of the members of this fociety,

who

Mve

examined

its

tenets,

have ever re^

it,

traced thek favourable opinion of

Did not

its

own excellence
it

ztrike

widi Im*

mediate conviftion,

never could have

lieea fo ftrenuouOy fupported, fo

noHy

patronited,

or

fo

greatly

cncourafed,

through a long fuccefifjon of ages.

the

Meaof
the

moA

diftinguifhed taltnfs,

and of

A4

vni

PREFACE.
all

higheft rank, ia

countries, have not

4ifdalned to lay afide

to

thofe diftintfViQas
life

which

their

charafter in

indtle

them; that they might enjoy the pl#a.

fiirea,

and partake of

the privileges,

of

mafonry.

From
lity

a
in

perffeft

fenfe

of

its

utiits

and
I

anxious dedre to difplay

value,

have been

induced

to ofTcr

the following- papers to the confideration

of the Public.

"Many rcafons might haye

tnyina-

withheld rac frora the attempt

bilitjr as,
ties

-writer,

my attention to the duand

the

of

my

profeffion,

many

abler

hands who have

me:
yet,

treated the fubjeft bere

all thefe difadvantages^

under

4:he perfuafions

of

my

friends,

added to

my

zeal in tbecaufe, have enabled

mc

to

PREFACE
ibrmount every
difficulty;,

ut
rifk

and to

my

reputation on the fate of my performance.

My
oration

firfl

defign was only to publilh the

this-

delivered at the Gala, and

at the particular requeft of a few friend*,

but, on advifing farther,

to give the whole

was

infltienced

proceedings of that*

evening

The

entertainment being to be
I

annually repeatedj

thought

it

neccflary

to recite feveral particulars I (hould otherwife have omitted

>

in order that it

might

ferve as a precedent for future exhibitions

of the fame kind

To illuftrate the
I

nature

of the fchemc I had adopted,

ral
I

added fevethefe,

remarks and obfervations; and

will

humbly apprehend,
be

be found not

to

the leaft ufeful part of the work.

Having

thus extended

my

plan beyond
I

the ufaal bounds of a painphiei,

re-

A S

PREFACE.
I

folved to feledt fome of the beft pieces

on the fubjed

could find

',

and to anne,

a few commentaries, the niore effedually

to anfwer the end
I

had

in view.

With

what ptopnetf
AgD,
mine.
I

have executed

my

de-

muft leave the

In

fraternity to deter^

may

be

fuiTicient

to obferve,

that, as tny intentions are

good, I hope

their

caadour and generofity will read%

ovcrlodk any inaccuracies they

may

dif^

cover, under the

rcflelion that

my

(udfree-

jcft wouiti not admit of that

open

dom

of communication,

which

might

have been expected irora another theme,

not under the fame rcftriftipns.
I

have fubjoihed an Appendix, which I

myfelf will not be undcfcrving the

flatter

attention

of

my

brethren

as it contalfis

rotny articles never before pubfifiied, and

PREFACE.
is

xi

fdtnpiled from the

mod

authentic reI

cords,

and the be& authorities

I

could

procure.

have not particularly fpecrfied

the different fources of

my

information)

becaufe the fab

have adduced are well

known

to the majority of

my

brethren,

who
tices

are converfant with the ancient prac-

of the

fociety.

I cannot,

however*

a/oid exprefllng

my

thanks to

my

very

worthy friend and brother Captain George

Smith, Inlpeftor of the Royal
at

Academy

Woolwich, from
to receive

whom

had the pleaannoca'*

fure
tions. I

many

valuable

have thus ventured to appear in vin-

tjication

of the ceremonies, and

of mafonry.

in

fupport
I fuc-

of the

privileges,

Jf

ceed in

my

expei:atioa$,

of giving the
infticution^

world a favourable idea of the

XXI

PREFACE
be happy
If
in the full

1 ftall

completion of

my

wi(h.
(lilt

my

hopes are-fmftrated, I

/hall

indulge the not unpleafant re-

fleflioR

of havit^ eKsrted

my btftendea*

voars in a gcmd caufe.

CONTENTS
GRAND GALA.
TNcroduftion
"*

Page Xvu.

Lodge opened
the

On

management of
-

tlie

Craft in
-.

woHcing

'

Laws for
OrHtion

the government of the

-

Lodge 4 ' 9
33

Expla nation of the Plan of the Gala

Ode
Song

33
5^
3y

[Tutte.

God

fave the King]

Remark made by
Anthem
Song
[^ure.
-

Biother Prelbon

'

38
4.1

Attic Fire]

Charge on the behaviour of mafons

Entered apprentice's fong
-

43
4./

Thanks

returned to the grand officers

-

/o
Ibid.

Lodge dofed
Remarks on

theftrft lefture

52
J7

fidlfc&on

.Iv

CONTENTS.
Page 58
-

Keinarks on the fecond feflion

third fedbion

ibid.

fourth felion
fifth

ibid,

fedioa

59
ibid.

lixth feftion

Advertifemcnt

6 j

A vindication
The

of mafonry, indud ing a deits

roonftration of

exceil cncy

fundamental principles of mafonry

-

explained

"93
^, 129
-

Historical remarties

Aft

againft the inafons confederating in

chapters and congregations

97

Judge Coke's opinion on

that ftatute
1

154

Extraft from two ancient records

oo 101,

Mr. Locke's letter to

on mafoniy
-

the earl of Pcn^roke,

-

10^
105

An old MS. on
Mr. Locke's
It

mafonry

notes

and obferratioAs on
-

n6

CONTENTS.
Remarks on
it,

xy

and on the annotations

-

of Mr. Locke

Page 158

gloifary to explain the old words in

it

fecrecy
<

'

itj
'7$

Remarks on

Inftances of the regard paid to this virtue

by the ancients

174
1

An

entertaining ftory

77 S5

Eulogium on mafonry

APPENDIX.
A
charge to be dellTcred at initiatioQ into
the
'wifirft

degree.

-^

191

8t initiation into
.

the fecond de-

gree

aoo
deaojT

.^>
gree

at

initiation

into the tflird

Prayer at opening the lodge

sop
ibid.

i^ at

clofing the lodge

.~-^ at initiation into mafoiuy

ibid

xvi

CONTENTS,
by
every
candidate
-

A Declaration to be fubfcribed or aflbnted

to,

before- his

initiation*

Page 210
-

Form of propofing

a candidate
a lodge

212
213
ibid.
2.59

Manner of conftituting

Form

of petition for a conftitution

Ceremony of confecration

Mode

of

inftallation

zzi

Ceremony obferved

at funerals.
at funerals

23 z

Form of proceffion

237

The funerai
Remarks on
hallr

fervice

24a

the propriety of building a

for

the
-

general
--

aHen^blies
-

of

mafons

250

Defcription of the banquetting hall of

the lodge c^ Sf. Johrti at Marfeilles

g^

GRAND GALA
IK

HONOUR op

FREE MASONRY,
KELD AT THE

CROWN and ANCHOR TAVERN,

in the

STRAND,
MAVt
i

On Thvhsoat

the 21ft Dajr of

TfX,

PRESENT,
The Grand OfFicsASi
with

many

otiier

eminent and reCpe^hble

Brethrxn.

STEWARDS.
Brother

BOTTOMLEY, FARMER,
PRESTON,
Capt.

SMITH*

HILL,

LEDLIE

GLIDDON
PtJGH^

SIDEBOTHAW.
DOBBSi

WELLS, ALLCOCK.
PEARCi,
Boiler,

Cxix]

INTRODUCTION.

WHEN
thought
fully
it

I firft

had the honor ro be

of a
lodge,
I

clefted

mailer

my

duty to inform myfelf more

iociety,

of the general rules of the

in order that I

mjghe be able

to explain

to the brethren under ray direAion, their

utility

and importance

and officially ta
to them,

foforce
various

a due obedience

The
this

method? I aidBpted yith

vi)W9> excited in

(oms of fuperficial know,

dJflike

lege,

an abCoIate

of what tkey

confidered as innorationsi and in

feme

of more enlarged

faculttcs,

jeatouly of

pre-enjiqence, that the prindplesof mas-

onry ought to have checked.

Notwith-

INTRODUCTION.
my
intentions,

(landing thcfe difeouragements, I perfef^

vered in

of fuppordng the-

dignity of the fociety, and of difcharging

with fidelity the

trufl:

repofed in me.

As candor and
aeal,

integrity, with

warm

uninfluenced by inrerell

and un-

biafled

by favour,

will ever fopport a

good

caufe,

many of

my

opponents (patdon the

expreffibn) were foort convinced

by ai^u-

rnent of their error and not only applauded

my

meafures, but cheerfully concurred in

,

their execution

while others fecretly ap-

proved what

their

former declared opi-

nion, forbad theni publicly to adopt.

This unejcpeded Tucce^s exceeded

moft fangaine wifhes^ and indoced
inqutrci with

my
to

me

more minute
out

attention,

into the contents of

>/ariou5

ledums.

The

rude and impcrfedl (bkte in whichi

thenii the dtflicultics I

found feme of

en

INTRODUCTION,
me

xxi

countered in my fearch after others, and the

variety of modes eftablifhed incur diffferent

aflemWies
firft

rather difcouraged
:

in

my
my

attempt

perfevering, however, In

defign, I continued

my purfuitv

and with

a few zealous friends to the caufe,

who

had carefully preferved what ignorance

and the degeneracy of a corrupt age had
rejeified

as

unintelligible

and abfurd,

diligently fought for the ancient

and vene-

rable landmarks of the fociety.

In the profecution of

my

endeavours

to revive the wife charges and ufeful regulations

of mafonry, which inattention had

fufiercd to

fmk

into oblivion, I folidted

the adtivity and affiftance of

my

friends-;

And, with

their

kind help and generous

fupportj, I, in part, happily accompIilheJ

the cfefign I had formed*

mil

INTKODUCTIOH.
by an
affiSuoiis

Direfted
careful

ftudy and

pemfal of our ancient changes,

as the bafis

which we eftablUhcd
<rork,

of cwf

our

firft

ftep

was

attentively to
inffitution.

confidcr the

nature

of the

To

imprint on the

memory

their excel-

lence and utHity in the faithful difcharge

of our duty,
rial

we reduced

the

more mateand pro-

parts of

them

into pradice,
ftill

iiecuted

our enquiries after

more

m^

ful knowlege.

To

encourage

others to

join in our
a gciie-

great undertaking,
ral rule

we obferved

of reading, or ordering to be

rea4

one or other of thefe charges on

every regular meetings and of offering

our fentiments in elucidation of fuch particular paiTages as

feemed to be obfeure.

INTRODUCTION
Th'u
praftice

xxiil

we

(lUl

retain*

pcffuaded

tb%t a reclui of our duty can never be

difagrceabk to thofe acquainted, with

it

and

to thofe to

whom

it

is

not known,

fhould any fuch be,

to

it is

highly proper

recommend

it.

Such was the method we followed

in

the introdubion of our plan, which being

favourably received,

we

gradually im-

proved, and brought into form, the feveral fedtions

which compofe the firft

led^ure

of mafoory.

The

progrefs

made

daily

by our fyftem.

pointed out the ncceffity of obtaining the

fanfkion

of our patroRS.
gentlemen
of

Several of our

brethren,

acknowledged
an

honor and

integrity, joined with us in

application to the

Grand

Officers for theif

fcheTi^e

patronage ; and the following

was

xxiv.

INTRODUCTION,

propofed, as the moil efFedual means to

convince them of the propriety of reftoring

mafonry
it

to its

primitive luflre,

and rendering

worthy the attention of

penetration.

men of judgment and

This

happily fucceeded, and the regularity obferved

by the

officers in

their different
fo fully

departments

on the occafion,

anfwered the expeftations of the originai

promoters, as not only to gain the fanction required, but to fecure the counte-

nance and fupport of our rulers to an

annual exhibition of the fame kind of
entertainment.

Crand
IN

gala,

HONOUR OF

FREE MASONRY,
MAY
ai, 1772.

fir^HE Lodge
"

was opened

in

due

form by command of the

in the chair.

Grand

Master"
Brother

W. P R E S T O N,
A. Gliddon,
as S.

as

W. M.

W.

T. PwcH,

as J.

W.

GRANBGALA.
ON

THE
of the

MANAGEMENT
in

CRAFT

working.

Relicarfed by Brother Gi-iddon-

Masohs employ
on working
days
;

themfelves

honcftly

days, live creditably on holy

and the times appointed by the

CLiftom,

law of the land, or confirmed by

are carefully obferved.

The moft

expert Craftfrnan

is

chofen
is

or appointed Mafter of the work, and

duly honored as fuch by thofe over

whom

he

prefides.

The

Ma-fter "knowing himfclf {jualified,

undertakes the government of the Lodge,

and truly difpenfes

his rev/ards,

giving no

TOOTe approbation lo any brother than he

Tcally merits.

GRAND GALA.
A. Craftrman appointed
worlt under the Matter,

3
of the

Warden
15

irae to both

MsftcT and fcllovw, caTcfally overfeM the

v/ork, and
"bis

brethren obey him.

The

Mafter,

Wardens, and brethTen

jiiftly,

receive their rewards

are faithful,

and honeflly
whether
it is

iini'fh

the
firfl:

work they begin,

orfecond degree),

in

the

but never put ihat work to the fitfty which

has been accuflomed to the fecond degree,

Neither envy or

cenfttre js difcovcrcd

amongft

mafons.

No

brother

is

fujj>
Jie is

planted, or put out of his work, if

capable

to

finlfli

the fatnej

as

no rnan
fo

ran

finifli

the work of nnother

much

to the advantage of the MaftcTw unlefs he

is

pcrfcdly fkiUed in the original defign.

GRAND GALA.
All employed in mafoTJiy meekly
re-

ceive their rewards,

and ufe no

ill

lan-

guage or difobliging name.

BrotKcr

Fellow, are the terms or appellations they

beftow on each other.

They behave

coiirt-

coully within and without the Lodge, and

never defert the' Matter

iinilhed.

till

the

work

is

LAWS
li

FORT GOVERNMENT of

E
the

LODGE.

Read by Brother Gliddon.

You are to falute one another

in a courtefta-

eous manner, agreeably to the forms

blifbed

amongil mafons

you

are freely

to

give mutual

inftrudion

as ihall

be

thought

necefifary or expedient, not

being

overfeen or overheard, v/ithout encroach-

GRAND GALA.
that refped

5.

ing upon each other, or derogating from

which

is

due to any gentle;

man were he

not a mafon
as

for though as
le\rsl,

mafons we rank

brethren on a

yet mafonry deprives no

man

of the horalie

nour due to

his

rank or charafter, but

ther adds to his honour, efpecially if

has deferved well of the fraternity, tfho

always render honour to

whom

it is

d^p.

and avoid

ill

manners.

No
raged

private committees are to be al-

lowed, or feparate converfation

;

encou-

the Mafter or

Wardens

are not

to

be interrupted, or any brother fpeaking

to the Mafter i but the brethren are to obfcrve

due decorum, and under no pre-

tence to ufe any unbecoming language

B3

GRAND GALA.
officer,s.

but pay a proper deference and refpeft to

tKe prefidj-ng

Thefe laws
tlbat

are to be ftriftly obferved.

harmony may be
of the

preferved, and the

carried on with

bufnTiefs

Lodge he

order and regularity

Amen.

So mote

it

be.

[Taaji.

The

Kmd

and the Craft,

horns. "^

Flonrijh

mtb

ORATION
ON

MASONRY.

ORATION.
By
Btothef

PRESTON.

BUETHREK,

TN

lb refpedable an aflemb^J^

and bereal

fore fuch competent judges ot

merif,
it

may probably be deemed

in

arro-

gant or prefumptuous
olYtr
his

an individual to
efpecially

fentiments

wherj

jonviiJced thatncither his

knowlcge of lan-

giage. OT his talents for eloquence, can 60

fufHcient juftice
tlieroc-

to the dignity of
Sjf

h'\s

Promplcd, neverthclels
B

zeal

lo

CRAND GALA,
a good caufe^ and animated

by the

fan<{\;ion

of your fraternal indulgence, I

forget the appreheniion of cenfure, and

vith freedoTn, the

charadterlftic of bre-

thren, proceed to difplay the merits of

the noble Inflitution which

called together to celebrate.

we now

are

It

IS

not

my

intention to enter into

an

elaborate difquifition concerning

ma-

fonry.

Tlie taik far exceeds the limits of

I fhall

my

abilities.

only venture to fub-

mit to

yoTlT fcrious conlideration a

real

few

obfervations on the

importance of

our venerable

(bciety.

Mafonry
ages,

is

my

theme,

^During many

xnd in many different coiintries, has it

flourifhed.
it.

No art,

nofcience has preceded

In

thie

dark periods of antlqait^j wKi

GRAND GALA,
literature

ii

was

in a

low

ftate,

and the rude

manners of -our forefathers with-heJd from

them the knowlegc we now

Co

amply

fliarCj

mafonry began gradually to

influence.

difiufe

her

Our myftcries

unveiled, arts amd

fciences Infl-anlly arofe,

civiUzation

took

pkccj and the progrefs of knowlege and

philofophy difpelled the gloom of ighorance and barbarifm.! Government being
fettled, authority

was given to laws, and

our aflemblies acqiiired the patronage, of

the great and the

good

whilft the tepels

of our profeffion were attended with general

and unbounded

utility.

Mafonry
to bind

is

a.

moral fcience calculated

of true
fricndfliip,

men

in the ties

to extend benevolence,
virtue.
It pa-flfes

and to promote
tmderftood rnider

and

is

iz

GRAND
:

GALA.
it

two denominations
fpeculative.

is

operative and

By

the former,

we

allude to

the uferui rules of architeclure, whence a

ftrufcure derives figure, ftrength

and beau-

ty; and

whence

refults

due proportion and

its

jufr correfpondence in all

parts.

By

the latter,

we

learn to

fubduc the paf-

fions, ai

upon

the fquare,

keep a tongue

of good report,
pT,z&.iic charity.

maintain fecrecy,

and

Speculative mafonry

is

fo

much

inter-

woven with religion,

as to lay us

under the

ftrongeft obligations to

pay to the Deity

at

that rational
tutes the

homage, which

once confti-

duty and happinefs of mankind.

view
witJi

It leads the contemplative to

reverence

and

admiration

the

glorious

works of the

creation,

and

infpires

them

with the mofl exalted ideas of the per^ 6

fedlions

GRAN n GALA. 13 of great Operative

the
Creator..
It di(plajrs

mafonry furnilhes us with dwellings and

convenient Ihelters from the viciflitudes

and the inclemencies of feafons.

human wifdom

in a proper

arrangement

of materials, and demonftrates that a fuad

of fcience and induftry

is

implanted in tSe
falu-

rational fpecies for the

tary,

mofk wife,

and beneficent purpofcs.

of time, the ruthlefs hand of
^s(ar

The T jpk
ignorance,

and the devaftations of

have laid wafte and deftroyed many valuable

monuments of

antiquity.

Even the

temple of king Selemen, fo fpacious and

magnificent, aad confcructed by jformanf
celebrated artilb,

was yet laid

in ruint,

and

cfcaped not the unfparing ravages of bar-

barous force. Free-mafonry, notwitf^flan^'

ing, has

beea able

ftill

to furvive.

I'Ke

14

GRA ND GAL
its

A.
from the

attentive ear receives the found

inftrufting tongue, and

facred myftertea

are fafcly lodged in the repofitory of faithful breads.

The tools and implements of

fymbols the moft expreflive
f

architefture,

imprint on the
truths,

memory

wife and fenous

and tranfmit unimpaired, througK

the fucceflion of ages, the exqulfitely in-

comparable tenets of

this inftitution.

But
ther

to proceed.

Mankind
forefee,

have nei-

-wifdom

to

or power ia
to

prevent,

the ev'Is

incident

human
fufpenfe
and.

nature.* but

hang

in perpetual
fear,,

betwixt

hope

and

ficknefs

health, plenty

and want,
fubfifts

A. iliutual chain

of dependence

throughout the
the uniyerfal uti-

whole
lity

creation.
!

Hence
it

of mafonry

unites

men of the mofti

oppofite

religions,

of the moft diftant

GRAND GALA.
countries,

15

and of the tnoft contradidory

opinions, in one indiiDToluble

bond of un-

feigned afFeflion, and binds them by the

ftrongeft
virtue.
ties

to
in

fecrecy,

morality and

Thus,

every nation a mafon

may

find a friend,

and

in

every climate

he may find a home.

No
fons.

eftrangement of behaviour

is

ob-

ferved in the difitrent aflemblies of ma-

They rank

as children

of the fame

parent by creation, as brethren bound by

the fame
tie.

Union
;

is

cemented by

fin-

cere attachment

hypocrify and deceij are

pleafure
is

unknown; and

reciprocally

communicated by the chearful obfervance

of every obliging
ofiicc.

Such

is

the na-

ture of our venerable inftitution.

Virtue

the grand objedt in view, luminous as the

meridian fun,

fliines

refulgent on the mind.

16

GRAND GALA,
and converts coal ap-

enlivens the heart,

probation into warm fympathy and cordial

atterition.

Our mode of government,

into claffes or degrees,
reftridions

as divided

under particular

and

injuniflions

of

fidelity,

may

fufficiently explain the

importance of
its

mafonry, and give us a true idea of

nature and defign.

Three

clafies are generally received

un-

diffcrent appellations.

The

privileg'es

of each are
are

diftinft,

and particular means

adopted to preferve thefe privil^es to

the juft and meritorious. Honour and

probity are the folc recommendation* to the

firft

clafs, in

which the practice of virtue

is

enforced, and the duties of morality in;

culcated
fecial

while the

mind
a

is

prepared for

converfe*

and

regular progrcfi

GRAND GAL A
into the principles

17

of knowlegc and phiaffiduity

lofophy.

Diligence,

and appli-

cation are neceffary qualifications for the

fecond

clafs, in

which an accurate
t

eluci-

dation of fciencc, both in

tice, is

heory and pracis

given

-,

human

reafon

cultivateti

by a due

exertion of our rational and in

j

telle^ual powers and faculties

difficult theories, are

nice

and

explwaed

; frcflj dif-

coveries are produced,

and thofe alTesdy

known

are beautifully cmbellilhed.

The
whona

third clafs confifts of a feledled few,

truth and fidelity have diltinguilhed, whom

years and experience have improved,

and

whom
marks

merit and abilities have intitled to

preferment.

With them
;

the ancient land-

are preferved

and from them we

learn and pradlif^ thofe neceflary and inftruclive leflbns

art.

which dignify the facred

its

and qualify

governors to convince

i8

GRANDdALA.
Its

the unenlightened part of mankind of

excellence

and

utility.

Tins

is oil):

cftablifeed
in

mode of govem-

ment, when we aft

conformity to our
is

rules j hence ttue friendfliip

cuftivated
<jf

between

different

ranks and degrees

men,

hofpitality

promoted, induftry reall

warded, ingenuity encouraged, and

un-

TteceiTary diftinftions are loft in the

gene-

ral good..

If the privileges of mafonry are fo valuable, as to intitle their poflcflbrs to re-

fped and efteem, by promoting virtue

and rewarding
merit-,

why

are not their

good

effefts

more

confpicuous,

and

why
the

are they not publicly

expofed for

general

advantage of mankind

If our privileges

wtre common, and in-

RAND GALA.
beftowcci,

19 of

difcriminatcly

the

defign

the inftitution
verted,

would not only be fublike

but being familiar,

it

fome
lofe its

other important matters,

would

value, and fink into difregard.

Ic

is

weaknefs in
generally

human

nature, that

men

are

more charmed with novelty, than

the real worth or intrinfic value of things.

This

is

not confined to mafonry-, even the

operations of nature,

though, beautiful,

magnificent and ufeful, are overlooked becaufe

common and

familiar.

The

fun

rifes

and

fets,

the fea ftows and reflows, rivers

glide along their channels, trees and plants

vegetate,

msn and

beafts aft,

and

all thefe,

ever prefcnt to our eyes, yet remain unnoticed,

and excite not one

fingle emotion, ei-

ther in admiration of the great caufe, or of

gratitude for the blefllings conferred.

Even

20

GRAND GAL
is

A.

virtue itfelf

not exempted froin this

unhappy
kind.
all

bias in the conftitution

ail

of man-

Novelty influences

our aftions,
is

our determinations. Every thing that

or difficult in the acquifition,
trifling

new
ever

how-

or iniignificant readily capti-

vates the imagination, and enfures a tem-

porary admiration ;

whik what is

familiar,

or

eafily attained,

however noble, or emibe difregardccj

nent for

utility, is fure to

by

the giddy and the unthinking.

It

is

a truth, too obvious to be conthat the privileges of

cealed,

mafonry

have been too common.

afllgn

Hence we may
good
effedhs

reafon

why

their

are

not

more

confpicuous.

Several

perfons enrol their names in our records

merely to oblige their friends; and

flect

re-

not on the confequences of fuch a

GR AN D GALA.
their particular engagements.

21

meafure, nor enquire into the nature of

Not

a few
;

are proinpted

by motives of iriterell

and

many

are introduced with

no better view

than to pleafe as good companions.

general odium, or at leaft a carelefs indifFeTcnce,

is

the refult of fuch conduft.

Bui

here the evil flops not.

Thefe

perfons,

ignorant of our noble principles, probably

without

any

real

defeft in

their

own
of

morals, are led to

recommend

others

the fame caft with themfelves for the fame

purpofe.

Thus, behold

the

end

the moft
fcoft

facred part of mafonry

is

turned into

and

ridicule,

and the

fuperficial praftices

of a luxurious age bury in oblivion principles

which have dignified princes, and

the mo/l exalted characters.

22

GRANDdALA.
If our fecrcrs or peoillar forms coniliit

tuted the effcncc of the zrt,

might with

fome degree of propriety be alleged that

our amufements were monies abfurd.
trifling, a:od

our cere-

But

this the fkilful wellfalfe,

;

informed mafon knows to be

He

draws them to a nearer infpeftion

he ad-

verts to the circurrrftances which gave rife

to

them

he confiders and dwells upon

;

the excellent IcffoBS they inculcate

finding,

and

thsm

replete with ufeful

knowprivi-

legCj he adopts

them

as

keys to our
as

iegcs,

and prizes them

facrcd.

Thus

he

is

convinced of the propriety of our

folemnities,
their value

and candidly acknowledges

from their

utility.

Many

have been deluded by the vague

fuppofition that the myfteries of mafonry

were merely nominals that the pracliccs

GR A ND GAL
eftablifhed
-fuperlicial,

A.
"niglit

23 and

amongft us were

and that our ccrempnies were

import, a? to be adopted or

of fuch

trifling

waved

at pleafure.

Having paflcd through,

the ufual formalities, they have accepted

offices,

and alTumed the gov<irnrn.Wt of

l-odges, equally unacquainted with the

duties of the trufts repofed in them, and

the defign of the fociety they pretended

to govern.

The confeqnence

is

obvious

anarchy and confufion enfue, and the

llaace
is

fiib-

lofb in

the fhadow.

^Thus men

eminent for

ability, for

rank and fortune,

view with indifference the diftinguifhcd honors of mafonry, and either accept offices

with reluflance, or rejedt tliem

witii difdain.

Such

are the difadvantageS under

which

mafonry has Jong laboured.

Every zea-

lous friend to the fociety mull earncftly

GRAND GALA.
to the hoaor of our orefent
it

wiih for a reformation of thefc abufes.

Of late years,
patrons,
let

be acknowledged, that
our aflemblies have

under
been

their anfpices

Ijetter

regulated.

The good efFedls of prefcrving

order and

decorum, promoting harmony, and inculcating a due obedience to the general regulations of mafonry, are too obvious to
require a laboured elucidation
;

and of this

the flourifliing ftate of feveral Lodges

who

have adopted a regular plan of governments

are convincing proofs.
I

am

firmly perthe honor

fuaded, if the brethren

to

who have

pefide over Lodges, were properly apof the

duties of their refpedire

prized

offices, a

general reformation would foon

take place.

This hint

may

probably be

GRAND GALA.

25

produftive of good confequences, as a ftep

fo laudable miift evince to the world the

propriety

of our

feveral appointments,

and lead them to acknowledge, that fometimcs at leaft our honors are defcrvcdly

bellowed.

Thus

the ancient luftrc of our

refpeftable fraternity will be happily reftored,

verfally

and our fyftem of government uniapplauded

;

virtue being duly en-

couraged, and merit properly rewarded.

Permit

me

to clofe

my

oration with a
diftin-

few obfervations on Charity, the

guilhing charafteriftic of our order.

Charity
virtue.

is

the

chief of every

focial

It includes

not only a fupreine

degree of love 10 the great Creator and

Governor of the

univerfe, but

an unli-

25

GRAND

GALA.
all

mited afFedion to beings of

chafaders
laft

and every denomination

is

-,

which

duty

forcibly inculcated

by the example of the

fo
liberally difpenies

Deity himfelf,

who

his beneficence to

unnumbered worlds.

The bounds of

the greateft natiot^, of

the moft extenfive empire, cannot circumfcribe the generofity of a liberal mind*

Mankind,
placed,

in

whatever fituation they ar^

in a great

are

ftill,

meafure, the

fame

they are expofed to fimilar dangers

;

and misfortunes
-whole

and confequently the

are proper objcfts

human

fpecies

for the exercife of this glorious virtue.

Beings
ture,

who partake of one common

na-

ought ever to be aduated by the fame

inotives and interefts.

Hence

to foothe

the unhappy, by fympatbifing with their

misfortunes

and to

reftore

peace and

GRAND GALA.

i;

tranquillity to agitated fpirits, canftitute

the general and great ends of our inftitu*

tion.

This humane,

this

generous difpo-

fition, fires the breaft

with the moft manly

fpirit

feelings,

and enlivens that

of com-

paflion,

which

is

the glory of the

human

frame, and v/hich not only rirals, but outJhines,

every other pleafurc the mind

is

capable of enjoying.

All human paflions,

if dlrcfted

by the pto-

fupcrior principle of reafon, tend to

motc fome
fion, exerted

ufcful purpofe

biit
is

compat
the moft
;

on proper objefts,
all

beneficial

of

other affeftions

it

ex-

tends to greater numbers, and excites the

moft
If

lafting degTces

of happinefs.

may

appsar, indeed, unneccffary to

the pradlice of this virtue to

;;.

commend

an affembly of

men

univerfally

famed

for

a8

GRAND GALA.
When we
confider,

difinierefled liberality.

however, the variety of perlbns

who

pre-

fcnt themfelves at our different meetinjgs,

vfhofe feen^ing diftrefs the didtates of nature, as well as the ties

us

of mafonry, incline
it

not only to pity but relieve,

may be
fybjetft

firopcr to fay fomething

left the

on the

tendernefs of oor difpofitions, and

the gerlerofity of our hearts, Itiould pre-

vent our inquiring into the caufe of their

misfortunes, or
tion in

making

a proper diftinc-

the choice of objefts.

Thouo-h

our hearts and ears are ever imprefled with,

and open

to the diftrefles

of the deferving

poor, yet our charity ought not to be mifapplied, noi* our bounty difpenfed with a

profufe

lilberaliry

on thofe wjho probably

mafonry
as

may make

ufe of

a clplte to

cover thcic inipoft^rea.

GRAND GALA.
It

39

cannot be laid, we meet only in order

to indulge in convivial mirth, while the poor

and needy pine for

relief

Our

quarterly

diftributions, exclufive of the private fub-

fcriptions in
lieve

our different Lodges,

will

to re-

diftrefs,

prove

the contrary.

We

are always ready cheerfully to conin

tribute,

proportion

to

our circumof our

flances, to alleviate the foffcrings

fellow- creatures.

But thofe who

are bur-

dened with a numerous

offspring,

and

through age, ficknefs, infirmity, or fonie

unforefcen accident in
life,

are reduced to

poverty and wjnt

attention,

-,

particularly claim our

fail

and feldom
efFefts

to experience

the

happy

of our

fraternal afToci-

ations.

We

conlider

their

fituation as

more
and

e^fy to be conceived than exprefled,

are

induced liberally to extend our

30
charity

GRAND G AL
in

A.
give
difis

their behalf.

Thus we

convincing proofs of our wiftlom and

cernmcnt
as

for though our benevolence

our laws unlimited, yet our hearts glow

principally with affbdion toward the de-

ferving part of mankind.

To
fities,

conclude.-!-May
if

all

private animo-

any fhould

exift aiT^ongft

mafons,

be buried in perpetual oblivion, and peace

^nd

fellowfliip

take

up

their

refidence

among
let

uSt

Uniting
firft

in the

grand defign

us be

happy

ourfelves,
fo.

and then

endeavour to make others

On

every

occafion let us preferve a noblenefs and

juftnefs of undetftanding, a politenefs of

manhcr and an evennefs of temper.

Let

our recreations be innocent and purfued

with moderationj and never
irregular indulgences
let ua fuflfer

to expofe

our cha-

RAND
:

G A LA.

31

/acler to derifion

Let our conduct be

let

conform.ible to our precepts, and

us

fupport .with becoming dignity the

name

we have

alwr.ys borne,

of being the moft

rcfpecftable, the mull: regular,

and the moft

uniform Society under the Sun.

I Ihall

not longer interrupt the bufinefs

;

of the evening

but

I routt

beg

to be per-

mitted to exprefs

my earnell withes for the

of
this fociety
feries
;

honor and
all

profpferity

tlrat

our patronj
;

may

ergoy a

of happy
reionir^g

years

and that peace and plenty

us,

among

our

facred.

principles

may

diffufe their influence to

the moll diftant

regions,

and our meritorious deeds give

occafion for future ages to beftow on us

the fandioji of their warmeft approbation.

[T'oajh

The Grand Mastep

with
hotrs.J^

Fhtiriffj

C ^

EXPLANATION
A,
E.
B, C,

of the

PLAN.
i

D. The Extent of the Room. The Grand Mafter on a Throne, elevated F. The Deputy Grand Matter. G. The Paft Grand Mafter. II. The Paft Grand Officers. I. The Grand Wardens.
K. Rcfpeftable Perfonages.
L. Stewards
for the

Foot.

Gala, with white Rods.

M. The l^dge. N. The Mafter of the Lodge, O. The Affiflants to the Mafter of the I^odge. P. The Pedeftal, with the Furniture, Aegalia, &c. oA
a crimfbn Velvet Culhion with Gold
Qj_
TalTels.

A rich Carpet. f. Two Stands covered with

green Baize.

K.

Brethren feated in &ie~form,

S. Tables covered with green Baize.

T. Gallery for the Mufic. V. Two Side-tables ;proj)eriy

furnilhed,

W.

Repofitory for Wine,

X. Door of the Room. Y, Grand Entrance

a, a.

for tTw Proceflion,

Three great Lights properly elevated.

GRAND

GALA.

33

ODE.
Sung by Brothers

Du Bellamy, Burton

aqd Re ILLY, accompanied with the

inftrijmcnts.

WAKE

thfc

lute

and quiv'ring
j

ftrings,

Myftic truths Urania brings

Friendly vifitant, to thee

We owe the depths of Masonry

Faireft of the virgin choir.

Warbling

to the golden lyre.

Welcome, here thy

Hail
!

Art

prevail

divine Urania, hail

in Friendfhip's facred

Here,

bower,

The downy
Mirth

wing'd, and fmiling hour.

invites,

and

focial fong,

Namelefs myftcries among,;

Crown

the bowl and

fill

the glafs.

To

every virtue, every grace,

34

GRANP GALA.
the

To

Brotherhood relbund
let it thrice

Health, and

go round.

We reftore the times

of old. of gold
j

The blooming glorious age As the new creation free,

Bleft with

gay Euphrofine

We
And

with god-like Science talk.

with fair Aftrea v/aik
;

Innocence adorns the day.

Brighter than the fmiks of

May,

Pour the

rofy wine again,

5

Wake
Waft

a louder, louder ftrain

as

Rapid Zephyrs,

ye

fly,
;

our voices to the ftv

celebrate the

While we

Nine,
;

And

the woniders of the Trine the

While

Anoels

fing above,
aiid Lovi-<

As we
[Torf/?.

beloMf,

of I'eace

The Deputy Grand Master' and Gr-and Wardens. J

GRAND GALA,
FIRST LECTURE. SECTION
I.

Brother

G L D D O N,
I

as

W. M.

Farmer,"
*AffillantS,

SONG.
[Tuney

God

fave the King. J

Sung by Brothers Burton and REiJULy*

HAIL, Masonry
Glory of ages

divine

fhine.
:

Long

may'ft thou reign

Where'er thy Lodges ftand,

May
And

they have great

command

always grace the land.

Thou Art

divine

36

GR ANp GALA.
ftill arife.

Great fabrics

And

gracte the azure ikies,

Great

are thy fchemes

Thy

noble orders are

Matchlefs beyond compare j

No

Art with

tjiee

can

fliarcj

Thou Art

divine

KiTarn-. the arehitcfl:,

Pi4

alj

th& Craft dired

H(m they ihuld

*'

build
"

* Sol'mott^ great ifr'ers

king

" Did mighty

*^

blefliags bring,

And

left

us

room
royal

to

fmg,
1

Hail,
*

Art

Chrus

tjira times^

[Tsafi

AH Mafons, both an cient and young.

Who

govern
bridle

their

paflionS

and

tlieit*

tongue.]

GRAND GALA.
SECTION
Brotlicr
II.

37

PRESTON,
Gliddon.
DOBBS,
"1

as

W. M.

White,

REMARK.
Here Brother Preston
it

pbferved, that

was a duly incumbent on every Mailer

initiation

of a Lodge, previous to the

of a

candidate into mafonry, to inform him of

the purpjfe and defign of the mfti^ufiop
to CKplain the natur of his folemn
j

wgage;
to

ments

and,

in

manner peculiar
require
his

mafons

alone

to

cheerful

lifauiefcence to the dunes of morality

virtAie,

and

and

all

the facred tenets of the

OrOer.

GRAND GALA. SOLEMN

The

AIR.

heart that conceals, and the

tongue that never reveals any

of the fecrets of Mafonry.]

SECTION Brother BOTTOMLEY,

III.

W. M.
,

of the Stewards Lodge,

Capt. Smith,

as

W. M.

T
Lfliftants.

WLLS,
Hill,

Led

IE,

ANTHEM.
[Brother

Du Bellamy,
us

SdIo.']

Grant

us, kind
let

Heav'n,whatwe
be
bleft
;

requeft..

In Mafonry

Dircft us to that happy place

Where

friendftiip fmiles in ev'ry face

"Where Freedom and fweet Innocence

Enlarge the mind and cheer the

fenfe.

GRAND GALA.
Where fcepter'd Reafon, from
Surveys the Lodge, and makes
iis

^9

her throne.,

one

And Harmony's
For ever
flieds

delightful fw;iy
;

ambrafial day

Where we bleft Eden's

plealure tafte
repail:

Whilft balmy joys are our

No prying eye can view us here No fool or knave difturb our cheer:
Our
well-form'd laws fet mankind free.

And give relief to

Mifery

The Poor, opprefs'd with woe and

Gain from our bounteous hands

grief

relief.

Our Lodge

the fecial Virtues grace.

rules

And

Wifdom's

we we

fondly trace;

Whole

Nature, open to our view.

fhould purfue
peace.

Points out the paths

Let us

fubfifl in lafting
oi.'r

And may
[Taaft.

happinefs increafc.
the

All

Mnfonj who honour

by conforming

Order

to its rules.]

40

GRAND GALA.
SECTION
IV.
as

Brother

PRESTON,
GLfDDOff,
"J

W. M.

PuCH,
DOBBS,

[.AfTiftants.

White, J

TRIO,
[Tpajt,

Clarionets and Baflbon.

all

May we
never

arrive at the

fummit

of Mafonry, and may the juft

fail

of

their reward.]

SECTION
Brother

Vas

G L I D D O N,
Preston,
Allcock,
,

W. M,

>Affiflrat?

PvcH,
Doeusj

GRAND GALA.

41

SONG.
Sung by Brother Gliddon.
{Tune, Attic Fire.]

ARISE,

and blow thy trumpet, Fame

Free-Mafonry aloud proclaim,

To realms
The

and worlds unknown

Tell them of mighty David's fon.

wife, the matchlefs Solotnon,

Priz'd far above his throne.

The
Th'

folemn temples cloud-capt towers.

afpiring

domes

are

works of ours.
:

By

us thofe piles were rais'd

Then bid mankind

with fongs advance,

Apd

tlirough tK* ethereal vaft expanfe,

prais'd.

Let Mafonry be

"Wc help the poor

in time of need.

The naked

clothe, the

hungry feed,

Tis our foundation ftone

42

GRAND GAL

A.
5

* Vf e build upon the nobleft plan

" For friendfhip rivets man to man, " And makes us all as one,"
Still

louder.
all

Fame, thy trumpet blow

Let

the diftant regions

is

know
birth,

Free-Mafonry

thjs,
it

Almighty Wifdom gave

And Heav'n

has fix'd

it

,here

on earth

A type of future
l^oaft.

blifs.

To the memory of the holy Lodge

of
St.

John.]

SECTION
Brother

VI.
as

WH

T E,

W.

BOTTOMLEY,. iOTTOMLEy,.^

GUDDON^
PUGH,

R.

[Sprightly.}

* Chorus three times

inform

GRAND GALA.

43

CHARGE
ON THE B E H A V I O U R of M A S O N S.
Rehearfed by Brother Prestov.

When
you

the

Lodge

is

clofed,

you may
;

enjoy yourfelves with innocent mirth

are carefully to avoid exccfs

but

You

arc not to

compel any brother to

aft con-

trary to his inclination, nor to give offence

by word

or deed, but enjoy a free and eafy

converfation.

You

are to ufe

no immoral

or obfcene dlfcourfe, but fuppprt with

propriety the dignity of your character.

You
and
ftranger

are to be cautious in

your words

carriage,

that the

moft penetrating

may

not be able to difcover, or

is

find out,

what

not proper to be

inri

44
mated
j

GRAND GALA.
and fometimes you are to divert

a difcourfe and

manage

it

prudently, for

the honor of the fraternity.

At home, and

in

your feveral neigh-

bourhoods, you arc to behave as wife and

moral men.

You

are never to

commu-

nicate to your families, friends or acquaintaftce, the private tranfaftions

of our

dif-

ferent aflemblies
fipn confult

but upon every occare-

your own honor, and the

putation of the fociety at large.

You

are to ftudy the prefervation of

your healths, by avoiding irregularity and

intemperance,
glecfted
ai)led
left:

your families are nedif-

and injured, or yourfelves

from attending to your ncceflary em

ployments.

GRAND

GALA.

45

If a ftrange brother applies ia tliat cha-

rader, you are caUtioufly to examine

in fuch a

him

method

as

prudence

may

direft,

and agreeable to the

forms eftablifhed

amongftmafons

that

you may not be im-

pofed upon by an ignorant falfe pretender,

whom you

are to rqeit with contempt,

and

beware of giving him any hint? of knowledge.

But

if you

difcover

him

to be a true

and genuine ^brother, you are to refpedt

him accordingly

if

he

is

in

want, yoo
direc'^

are to relieve him, if

you can, or
relieved
-,

him how he may be

to

you

are

employ him, or recommend him to be

emptoyed: however, you are never charged

to

do beyond yoyr

abiUtjr
is

only to prefer

a poor trother,
true, before

who

good man and

pet?ple in

any other poor

the

fame circuraftances.

4^

GRAND GALA.
Thefe
rules

Filially,

you

are always to

obferve and enforce, and alfo thofe duties

Vs'hich

have been communicated

in

the

ledture*, cultivating brotherly love, the

foundation and capeftone, the cement and

glory of this ancient fraternity
;

avoidingj

upon every
relling,

occafion, wrangling

and quarnot

flander

and

backbiting;

permitting others to ilander your honeft

brethren, but defending their charadlcrs,

and doing them

all

good

offices, as far as

may

be confiftent with your honour and

fafety,
tTie

but no farther.

Hence

all

may

fee

benign influence of mafonry,

as a|ltrue

maforjs have done from the beginning of

the T/oild, and
yinien.
w"ill

do to

tTie

end oftime.
be.

So mote

it

'

An

iil';go:-ioa]

eJucifJat'inti

of the

d\ities

of

tmoraiiiy, praftifed ia all regular

lodges.

GRAND GAL
[foitji.

A.

47

May the

cardinal virtues, with the

grand principles of Mafonry, always

diftinguiHi us
;

may we

be liappy to
to

meet,

happy

to part,

and happy

meet again.]

SONG
COME
We
let us

prepare.

brothers that are

:

Affembled on noble occafion

Let's be happy and fing.

For Life

is

a Spring

To

a Free

and an Accepted Mafort.

pain

The world
Our

is

in

fecrets to gain,

And

ftill let

them wonder and paae on t

They
Tlie

ne'er can divine

Word

or the Sign

Of a

Free and an Accepted Mafon.

4?

GRAND GALA.
'Tis this and
'tis

that,

They cannot

tell

what.

Why

fo

many

great ffien of the nation

on^

Should aprons put

To make

themfelves one

"With a Free and an Accepted Mafbn.

Great kings, dukes, and lords.

Have

laid

by

their fwords,

Oar myftVy

to put a

good grace on

And

ne'er been

afham'd

To
With

hear themfelves nam'd

a Free

and an Accepted Mafon,

Antiquity's pride

We
And
it

have on our

fide.

maketh m^n jullin

their ftarion;

There's nought but what's good

To
By
a

be under (tood

Free and an Accspted Mafon,

GRAND GALA.
We're
true

49

and

fincere.

And

jult to the fair

They'll truft us on any occafion:

No
The

mortal can more

ladies adore.

Than "a Free and an Accepted Mafon.

Then
join hand in hand.

By

each brother firm ftand,

Let's be merry and put a bright face on

What

mortal can boaft

a toaft

So noble

As

a Free and an

Accepted Mafon

Chorus.

No

mortal can boaft

toaft

So noble a

As

a Free and an

Accepted Mafon*

50

GRAND
oif

GALA.
name of
the

Brother PRSTO^f, in the

Committee
Gala,

Stewards appointed for the

to

returned thanks

the

Grand
com-

OrrtcERS for the honor of

pany*

their

and fainted them in due form.

returned by the

The compliment was

Grand Master

in

the chair,

who

ex-

prefled his great approbation of the regularity

of the whole proceedings.

All bufinefs being over, the Lodge was

clofed

by command of

the

Grand Matter

in tlie ufual form.

Brother Preston, as

W.M.
W.
W.
by
the

GtiDboii, as S.

PuGH,

as J.

The grand

officers,

preceded

ftewards for the occafion, and attended

by

G R A N D G A L A,
feveral refpeftable

ii

perfdnages, then ad-

journed to

flipper,

an elegant entertain-

ment

beirig

provided at the expence of

;

the ftewards

and the evening was con

fcftivity.

eluded with the greateft joy and

Da

52

GRAN D GAL

A.

REMARKS
O N T H E

FIRST,

LECTURE
O
F

MASONRY.
By Brother
Ti yf ASONRY
is

PRESTON.
It
is

juftly confidercd as an art

equally ufeful and extenfive.

mufl: be allowed, that in all arts there

myftery; which, being difcovered, requires

a gradual progreflion of knowlege to attain

to any degree of perfeftion in them.

With-

out

much

inftruftion,

and more
in

exercife,
;

no

man

can be fkilful

any

art

in

like

manner, wthouf an affiduous application

GRAND GAL
to the various feftions

A.

53
in

comprehended

the different lefturcs of mafonry, no perfon can be fiifficiently acquainted with

true value.
its

would
this

not, however, have

it

inferred

from

remark, that thofe mafons

who

labour under the difadvantages of a confined

education, or whofe fphere of

life

requires a

more

intenfe application to bufi-

nefs or ftudy,
their

(hould be difcouraged in

endeavours to gain a knowlege of

:

mafonry

only mean,

tliat it is

not abfo-

lutely neccflaty to be acquainted with the

more

intricate

pacts of

the fcience, to

qualify an individual to enjoy the benefits

of the fociety, and

privileges.

to partalce

of

its

Some

are

more dexterous and

artificial

than others, fome more expert, fome more

3.

54

GRAND GALA.
ufefiil
;

eminent, fome more

yet

all,

in

their different fpheres.

may prove advan;

tageous to the coitimunity

,

anc?

our nece&

fities as

well aS our confciences bind us to

It is certain

love one another.

induftrioiis

that the

tradefman proves himfelf a

very ufeful meriibcr of fociety, and worthy

of every honor the

flill
it

craft can confer

yet

mu|i be allowed, that thofe who,

offices,

l?y

accepting

ejtercife

authority,

flioold be. properly qualified to difcharge

it

with honor to themfelves, and credit

to their different ftafians.<A11

men
all

are

not bleiTed with the feme powei's,

men

have not <he fame advantages

All

men

therefore are not equally qualified to go-

vern.

Mafonry

is

founded upon too noadmit of

its

ble, too generous principles, to

difquietu^ and variance

among

pro-

G R A N D GALA.
fcflbrs
;

55

neither arrogance and prefumption

appear on the one handj nor diffidence and

inability
is

on the other.

True friendfhip
drfFerent ranks

cultivated

among the

of

nnn,

and that endearing happin^fs pro*

mated, which conftitutcs the efftnce of

civil fociet/.

In the

firft

Icfture
in the

of mafonry, which
moft beautiful co-

paints virtue
lours^

and enforces the duties of morality

we

are taught fuch ufcful leffons as pre-

pare our minds for a regular progrefs in the principles of knowlege and philofo-

phy.

Thefc arc imprinted on the memory

and
fenfible
in the

by

lively

images, to

inflvi-

ence our conduft

proper difchargc

of the duties of

focial life.
in

Of

this truth,

no one converfant

the different fee-

D4

56

GRAND G AL
in

A.
can plead

tions contained

this lefture
it

ignorance

though

muft be acknowit

ledged, however ftrange

may

appear,

that many, diftinguifhed for their

know-

ledge in mafonry,
difpofed to violate

have too often been

its

laws, and even to

difregard thofe incomparable precepts, to

which a pretended conformity may have

gained them appianfe.
this as a refleftion as a friendly

But

mean not

on any individual, only

tliat
all

admonition,

our practice

and profeffion fhould at

coincide.

times perfeftly

fliall

now proceed

to explain

the

mode of arrangement of
tions
firft

the different fec-

contained

in

the

ledurc of the

degree of mafonry as mentioned in

the preceding pages, and which, to the

honor of

my

kind

afliftants

at the Gala.

GRAND GALA
that occaGon.

57

were difplayed to the beft advantage on

The
all

firft

feftion

of mafonry

is

fuited to

capacities,

and

may and ought

wiflics

to be

known
as a

to every

one who

to rank

member of

this fociety.

It confifts

of general heads, which, though fhort and

fimple, vet carry weight along with

them

and fcrve not only

as

marks of

diflinftion,

but communicate ufeful and interefting

knowlege when duly examined.

They

qualify us to try and examine the rights

of others to our privileges, while they

prove our

own ; and

as they

induce us to

enquire more minutely into other particulars of greater importance, they ferve as

an

introduftion

to

topics

more amply

elucidated in the following fedions,

58

GRAND GALA.
The
fecond feftion makes us not only

acqusiinted with our peculiar fornix

and

ceremonies, but convinces us, beyond the

power of contradidion, of the propriety

of our fokmnities
$

and dcmonftrates to

the moft fteptical ^and hcfitating mind,

their excellence

and

utifity.

The third
lar

feftlon proves

us to be reguinculcates
dvtieav

members of th fqdetyj and

neceflftTy at

thofe

and

inftruflive

which

once digmfy our char&fters in

the double capacity of

men andmafons.

The

fourth fe^ion ratbnally accounts

for the origin

of

otir hieroglyphics,

and

convinces Ws of thofe advantages which

ever

accompany a
}

faithful obfervancc

of

ouf duty

it,illuftra.tes at

the fanie time

GRAND GALA.
certain particulars,

59

of which our ignorance

may
fons

lead us into error, and

which
to

as

ma-

we

arc indtfpcnfably

bound

know.

The

fifth feftion informis

us concerning

the nature and principles of our conftitution,

and teaches us to difcharge with

propriety the duties of the different de-

partments,
fuftain.

which wc are nommated to

too,

Here

our ornaments are

difplayed, our jewels and furniture are fpe-

ciHed,

and our patrons

arc diftinguilhcd.

The
rank,

fixth fcftion,
is

though the

laft in

not the
It

leaft

confiderable

in

importance.

ftrengthens thefe which

proceed, and enforces, in the moft enga-

ging manner, a due regard to our charadler

and beliaviour

in public as well as

6o
private

GRAND GALA
life
;

in

our lodges, as well as in

the

commerce of fociety.

Such

is

the

mode of arrangement of
firft

the difFerent fedions in the

ledure,

which, with the forms adopted at the open-

ing and clofing of our aflemblies, compre-

hend the whole of the

mafonry
,

firft
is

degree of

which, while

it

void of tau^

toiogy, has the fupport of precedent and

authority,

and the fanftion and refpeft

which flow from antiquity.

is

The whole

one regular fyftem of morality, con-

ceived in a ftrain of interefting allegory,

which unfolds

its

beauties to the candid

and induftrious enquirer.

VINDICATION
O
F

MASONRY,
INCLUDING
A Demonftration of its Excellency.

ADVERTISEMENT.
' I

'^HE
a

following piece

is

founded on

difcourie

compofed by Brother

Chari.es LESLiEj-member of the Vernon

Kilwinning Lodge, Edinburgh, and
deli-

vered by him at the confecration of that

Lodge on
was

the 15th of
in

May, 1741,

It

publifttcd

the

Edinburgh Free-

Mafons Pocket Companion of the year

This ingenious atwhor has difplayed

great tafte in the choice of his fubjeft,

and

h^

handled

it

with a confiderable
In building, however,

fh ve of propriety.

on the foundation and the materials he

has laid and collefted,
it

appeared to

me

Publiihed by Auld and Smellie.

ADVERTISEMENT.
neceffary to deviate in a great meafure

from
I

his

views

fo that the fuperftrufture

have

raifed

is

to be confidered altnofl

entirely as a

new work.

The liberty

have taken,

hope

will be

freely pardoned,

when

it is

remembered,

that

it

proceeds from an ardent zeal to

in the higheft degree

promote a caufe

im-

portant, and interefting to fociety.

W.

PRESTON.

VINDICATION
O
F

MASONRY.
TF
a

man were

placed in a beautiful

garden, would not his mind, on a calm

furvey of

its

rich colledtions,

be afFeited
?

with the moft exquifite delight

The

groves* the grottoes, the artful wilds, the the flowery parterres, the openhig viftos,
the lofty cafcades, the winding ftreatns

the whole variegated fcene, would awa^

ken

his

fenfibility,

and

infpire his foul

with the moft exalted ideas.

When

hr

66

VINDICATION

obferved the delicate order, the nice fym-

metry, and beautiful difpofition of every

part, which,
in itfelf

thpugh feemingly complete

yet reflefted furprifing and

the
other,
lb

new

beauties on

that nothing

could be wanting to

make one

beautiful
fenfations

whole; with what bewitching

would

his

mind be

agitated

I-A view of

this delightful fcene

would naturally lead

him

to admire

and venerate the happy

contrived
itw

^eims of him who

If tBe produftiotts

(rf

art

can fo forcibly

imprefs the

human minS

with furprife and

greater aflo-

admiration, with

how much

nifhment, and with what more profound

reverence muft
naturet which,

we behold

the objcfts of

on every hand, prcfent to

our view unbounded fcenes of pleafure-

OF
and delight,

MASON
in
r

R Y.

S^

which divinity and wifdom

are alike confpicuous

The

fccnes

which

fhe difphys, are indeed too expanded for

the narrow capacity

of man

yet

it is

eafy

from the uniformity of the whole

prehend what

to

com-

may

lead to the true fource

exift-

of happinefs, the grand Author of

ence, the fupreme Governor of the world,

the one perfedt and unfulUed beauty

Befides

all

the gaieties

and pleafing

profpedVs which every where furround us,

and with which our lenfes are every mo-

ment
good

gratified

befides

the

fymmetry,
in
is

order,

and proportion that appear

creation, there

the whole

works of the

fomcthing farther that

ifig

affefts the refledl-

mind, and draws

its

attention nearer

to the divinity,

the univerlal

harmony

68

VINDICATION.
which
fubfifl;

and

affe(5tion

throughovit

the different fpecies of beings of every

rank and denomination.

Thefe are the

fure cements of the rational world, and

by

thefc alone the rational world fubfifts.

think, that
it

Could we

was poffible for

too,

them to be dHTolved, nature

and

man, the chief work of God, would fooa

return to chaos, and univerfal ruin enfue.

If

we look around

us,

we

hall Hnd,

that in the

whole order of beings, from

the feraph that adores and burns, dowa.

to the moft inconfiderabte infeft,
all,

ac-

cording to their proportion in the fcale of

exiftence, have,
in

more Or

lefs,

innplanted

them by wife nature,

thfe

principle of

uniting with others of the fame fpecies

with themfelvcs.

Do we

not obferve fome

OF
formed into
for

ONR

Y.

(J9

of even the moil inconfidcrable animals

different ranks

and

focicties

the benefit
?

and protedlion of each

nanne the careful ant, or

other

Need

the induftrious
wifefl

bee

infefts

which the
as a pat

of men has recommended

tern of unwearied induftry and prudent

forefight.

If

we

raife

our ideas higher, we

fhall

find that this innate principle

of friends
the objeds

Ihip arifcs

in

proportion

as

feem to advance nearer to the degree of

rational.

There can be no

better

way of

judging of the fuperiority of one part of

the

animal

creation

above

the

other,

than by obferving what degrees of kindnefs

and feeming good-nature they enjoy.

I

However,

fhall here paufe,

and refer the

70

VINDICATION

difcunion of this philofophical difquifition

to fome more refifted genius, of fuperior
parts

and

abilities.

To
fpecies

confine
:

my

fubjet to the rational

let

us think and meditate on thefe

benevolent difpofrtions and good temper of

foul which indulgent nature has fo kindly

beftowed upon
rifes in

us.

As human

nature

the fcale of things, fo do the fecial

affedtions likewife arife.

Do we

not feel

\n

our breafts a ftrong propenfity to

?

frienclftip
jt is

Enjoy we not a pleafure when

firm and cemented, and feel

we not

2 pain

when

it

deadens or

declines.-

What
di-

fweetens

life,

but friendihip? vrhat

verts care,
ates

but friehdlhip? what

allevi-

pain, or

makes forrow

fraile,
1

but

ftieiidftiip ?

faered, holy friendfhip

OF
The

MASONRY
is

71
not con-

pfogrefs offiriendfhip

fined to the ntttovr circle of private con

neftionSi but
every- branch
its

is

univerfal,

and extends to

of the human race.

is

Though
it

influence

unbounded,' yet
lefs

exerts,

itfelf

more or

vehemently as the ob-

jci^rs it

favours are nearer or more remote.

fprlngs true patrloiifm, which fires

Hence

the foul with the moft generous flame,

creates the
befl:

and

moft

difinterefted

virtue, and infpires that public fpirit

and

heroic ardour, which enables us to fupport a good caufe, and rifk our lives in
its

defence.

This commendabte

virtue crowns the

lover of his country with unfading laurels,

gives

a luftre

to

all

his

aftions,

and

72

VINDICATION
his

confccrates

name

to

lateft

ages.

The
der,

warrior's glory

may

confift in

mur-

and the rude ravage of the defolating

:,

fword

but the blood of thoufands will

not ftain the hands of his country's friend.

His

virtues are open,

and of the nobleft

kind.

Confcious integrity fupports him

againft the

arm of power ; and Ihould he

bleed by tyrant-hands, he glorioufly dies a martyr in the cauie of liberty, and leaves
to pofterity an everlafting

monument of
Should
I

the grcatnels of his foul.

name

the the

firft

Brutus, the felf-devoted Decii, or

felf-condemned

but

unconquerable

Cato?

Friendihip not only appears divine when

employed

in preferving the liberties

of our

country, but Ihines with equal fplendor

O
In the

ONR

Y.
life.

75

more

tranquil hours of
into the noble flame

Be-

fore

tt rifcs

of patriot-

ifm, aiming deftruilion aX the beads of

tyrants, thundering for liberty,

and courtftiall

ing dangers in a good caufe

we

fee

rt

calm and moderate, burning with ah even

glow, improving the
foft

hours of peace
for virtue.

and heightening the

relifh

Hence

it is

that contracts are formed, fo-

cieties are inftituted,

and the vacant hours

of

life

are cheerfully

employed

in agree-

able

company and
is

focial converfation.

It

thus

we may

trace

from

reafon,

and

the nature of things, the wife ends and defigns of the facred inftitution

of Mafonry

which not only cultivates and improves a

real

and undifguifed

friendftiip among

men

but teaches

them the

more important

74
dv5ties

A
of

VINDICATION
fociety.

'Vain

tberi is

each idle

jTuriTiife agaiafl;

this facred are,

which our

enemies

way

either

meanly

cherifii in their

own

bofotns,

or ignorantly pronfiulgate

io fhe uninftrufted world.

By

decrying
na-

mafonry, they derogate from

ture
wife
itfeffi

human

and from

that

good order and

which the

coilftitution

of things,

almighty Author of the world has framed

for the

government of mankind, and has

j

cftabHflied as the bafis of the moral fyftem

which, by a fecret but attractive fprce,

difpofcSr^ .the

human

heart to every focia?

virtue.

Can

friendfhip or fodial delights

r

be the objefi of reproach

Can

that wis-

dom which

hoary

Time

has fanftitied, be

the objedl: of ridicule.

How

mean, how
appear,

contemptible muft

ihck

mo

OF
who

NT

ONR

Y.

75

vainly pretend to cenfurc or

contemn

what they cannot comprehend! The generous

heart will pity ignorance fo afpi-

ring and infolent.

(hall

now

proceed, and conGder in

is

what
to

fliape

mafonry
it

of univerfal

utility

mankind, how

is

reconcilable to the

beft policy,
ral efteem,

why

it

deferves
all

the gene-

and why

men

are

bound

to

promote

it.

Abftrafting from the pure pleafurci

which

arife

from a friendlhip
and which
it is

fo wifely

conftituted,
fible that

fcarce pof-

any circumftance or occurrence

;

can eraze
is

let

us confider, that mafonry

to

felence

confined

no particular

country, but difFufed over the whole tcr-

76
reftrial

A
it

INDICATION
Wherever
arts
flourifli

globe.

there

flaurilhes too.

Add

to this, that

by

fccret

and inviolable

figns. carefully

prefervcd

among

ourfclves

througliout

the world, raafonry becomes an univerfal

language.

By

this

means many advanreligions

tages are gained

men of all

and

of

all

nations are united.

The

diftant

Chinefe, the wild Arab, or the American

favage,
will
will

embrace a brother Briton

and he

know,

that, befides the

comftill

mon

ties

of humanity,
to

there

is

a to

ftronger obligation

engage

him

kind and friendly aftions.

The

fpirit

of the fulminating prjcft will be tamed-,

and a moral brother, though of a

ferent
perfuafion,
all

dif-

engage

his

efteem

Thus

thofe difputes,

whicb embitter

O
life

ONR

Y.

77

and four the tempers of msn, frs

;

avoided

and every face

is

clad
all,

in fmiles,

while the

common good
crafl

of
is

the gene-

ral defign of the

zealoufly pyr-

fued.

Is It

not then evident that mafonry

?

is

an univerfil advanhige to mankind

fure,

for

unlcis
It

difcord

and harmony be the

Is.it not likewife

fame.

muft be

fo.

reconcilable

to the

bsft

policy

for

it

prevents that heat of paflion, and thefe

partial animofuies,

which

different intcrefts

too often create,

Mafonr^ teaches us

to

be

faithful to
;

our king, and true to our

country

to avoid

rurbuknt meafures, and

to fubmit with reverence to the deciftons

of leglHative pov/er.

It is furely

then no

mean advantage, no

trifling acquifition.

E3

7&

A VIND ICAT ON
I

to any
its

community

or ftate, to have under

power and

jurifdidtion, a

body of men

who

are loyal fubjefts!^ pAtrcrvs of fciejice,

to

and frieqds

mankind.

Does not mafonry,

therefore,
?

of

itfelf
it

command

the

higheft regard
gceajteft

Doe? Does

nof claim the

efteem

it

not merit the roofl extenfivc patronage ?

Without doubt.
amiable, if
all

If

all
is

that

is

good and

that

ufefuj to

mankind

or fociety, be ddciving a wife man's attention,

mafonry claims

it

'm the highcft

it

degree.
ipire ?

What
how

beautiful ideas does

it

in-

does

open and enlarge the

mind

and how abundant a fou'cc of

fatisfaftion does

afford

Does

it

not re-

commend
virtue

univerfal benevolence, and every

endeai-

which can

ons

man

to ano-

OF MASONRY.
ther
?

79

and

is' it

not particularly adapted to

give the mind the moft difintercfted, the

moft generous notions ?

An

uniformity

of opinion, not only

ufeful in exigencies bt plcafing in familiar life, univerfally

prevails

among mafons,

ftrcngthens

all

the ties of their fricntKhip,

and equally promote loVe and sftccm.

Mafons

are

brethren, and aniongft bro^

thers there exift

no invidious

diftin<fViofis.

king

is

reminded, that although a crown

hejtd,

adorns his

and a fceptre
is

his hajtd,

yet the blood in his veins

derived from
is

the

cwnmon

psrrent

of mankind, and

no better than that of the mejuieft of

fubjcAs.

his

Men

in

inferior

ftations

are

taught to love their fuperjors, when they

fee thfcm divefted

of their grandeur,

atvl

8o

VINDICATION
affiftcd

condefcending to trace the paths of wif-

dom

and foJlow virtue,

by
is

thofs of

a rank beneath them.

bility
it Is

Virtue

true mo-

and wifdam

is

the channel by which

directed and conveyed.

Wifdom and

virtue, therefore, arc the great charafter*

iftics

of

tjwibni,

Mafonry

inculcates univerfal lov<? arul

benevolence, and difpofes the heartto particular afts

fefled

of goodnefs.

mafon, pof-

of

this amiable, this god-like difis

pofition

fhocked

at mlfery

under every
is

form or appearance.
excited, but he
is

His

pity

not only
is

prompted,

as far as

confiftent with the rule

alleviate the patn

of prudence, to

of the fufferer and cheerFor

this

fully to contribute to his relief.

end our funds arc

raifcd,

and our

charities

OFMASOKRY.
eftablifhed

81

on

the firmed
is

foundation.

When

a brotlier
?

in diftrcfs,
is

what heart

does not ake

"When he
?

hungry, do

wt

not convy hitn food

him when he is naked

relief

Do wc not clothe Do we notfiy to his

Thus we
title

when he

is

in trouble.

evince the propriety of the

we

afluTne,

and demonftratc to the world that the term

Brother
nominal.
If thefe afts are not
ftifficient

among mafons

is

not

merely

to recom^

mend
wife

fo great

and generous a plan, fuch a

fociecy,

and good

happy in thcmfclves
in

and equally happy

the poffcfllon of
is

every focial virtue, nothing which

truly
refifts

good can

prevail.

The man who

topics,

arguments drawn from fuch

muft

be callous to every noble principle, and

loft to all fenfe

of honor.

E5

82

VINDICATION
may
be thus imprinted
brethren
in the

Neverthelcfs, tfiough the faireft and the

beft ideas

mind, there are

who,

carelefs
in-

of their own reputation, difregard the

ftruilive lefibns of our noble fcience,

and

by yielding

to vice and intemperance, not

refledt
dif-

only diigrace themfelvcs, but

honor upon m^fonry

this

in general.

It

is

unfortunate circumftance which has

rife to

given
tions,

thofe fevere and unjuft reflec-

which the prejudiced part of manfo liberally

kind have

beftowed upon

us.

But

let.

these stpoftate brethren

know, and
at large,

lex it

be proclaimed to the world

that they are

that,

unworthy of

their truft,

and
af-

whatever name or defignation they

in reality

fume, they are

polfiblc for a

no mafons.

It is as

moufc to move

a mountain,

OF
or a
is

M A S O N R Y.
boifterous ocean, as
to

S3
ir

man to calm the

for a principled

malbn

commit a

dif-

honorable alion. Mafonry confifts in virtuous improvement,

in cheerful

and inno-

cent paftime, and not in lewd debauchery

or unguarded cxcefs.

But though unhappy

tranfgrefs,

brethren

thus

no wife man

will

draw any argu-

ment from thence

urge it
as

againft the fociety, or

an objedion againft the ioftittuion.

If the wicked lives of

as an

men were

admitted

argument againft the

religion
itfelf,

which
all

they profefs, chriftianity

its

with

divine
cenfure.

beauties,

would
us

be cxpofed
endea-

to

Let

therefore

vour ftrenuoufly
our characUrs,

to fupport the dignity of

and by reforming

the

84-

VINDICATION
among
us,

abufes which have crept in

dirplay

mafonry

in

its

primitive luftre,

and convince mankind that the fourcc

from which

it

flows,

is

truly divine.

It

is

this

conduft which can alone

re-

trieve the ancient glory of the craft.

Our

generous and good aftions muft

diftin-

guifh our

title to

the privileges of mafonry,

dif-

and the regularity of our behaviour

play their influence and
utility.

Thus the

world will admire our Tandtity of manners,

and efleftually reconcile our uniform condufil

with

the incomparable

tenets

-we

profefs to admire.

As our
mony, and

order
fubfifts

is

founded upon har-

by regularity and pro-

OF MASONRY.
portion
;

as

(o

our paffions ought to be pro-

perly reftrained,
to

and be ever (ubfervient

of right reafon.

the dictates

As

the

delicate plcafures of friendfhip

harmonize

our minds, and exclude rancour, malice,

or ill-nature
,

fo

we ought

to live like
tie,

brethren

bound by the fame

always

cultivating fraternal afFe(5lion,

and reconof thoie

ciling ourfelvcs to the praftice

duties,

which

are the bafis

on which the

Structure

we

ereft

muft be fupported.

By improving
ciples

our

mmds m

the

prin-

of morality and

virtue,

we

en.

large our undf rftandingi, and

tually

more

eflfec-

anfwer the

great
as

ends

of

our

exiflence.

Such

violate
order,
if

our lawi,
-we

or

infringe

on good

mack

with a peculiar odium; and

our mild
fhould

endeavours to reform their

lives

d6

VINDICATION
,

not anfwer the good purpofes intended

we expel them our

members of
fociety.

affemblies^ as

unfit

This

is

the praSice which fhould uni-

verfally prevail

among

mafons.

Our

outin-

v/aid conduft being difcfted

by 6Ur

ward

principles,

we

ftiotild

be equally

careful to avoid cenfure and reproach.

Ufeful knowlege ought to be the great

objeft of our dcfire;
for

she

ways of
to plcainto

wifdom
fure.

are beautiful,

and lead

We
the

ought to fearch

na-

ture, as

advantage* accruing from

fo

agreeable a ftudy,

wjU atopiy eomafliduity^.

penfate our unwearied

lege muft be attained
is

Knowand

by degrees,

not every where to be found,

feeks

Wiflonely

dom

the fecret Jhade, the

OF MASONRY.
cell

87
;

(Jefigned

for
fits,

contemplation

there

enthroned the
oracles
:

delivering her facred

there let us feek her, and purfue

;

the real blifs

difficult,
it

for

though the paflage be

the fgirthcr

we

trace

it,

the eafier

will

become.

Geometry, that extenfivc

particularly ftudy, as the

art,

we

fhould-

firft

and nobleft

of

fciences.

By geometry we

may

curi-

oufly trace nature, through her various

windings, to her moft concealed Jecc/Tes.

By

it

we may difcover

the power, the wif-

dom,and

the goodnefs of the grand artificer

of the unircrfe, and view with amazinor

delight the beautiful proportions

which

connedt

and

grace

this

vaft

machine.

By

it

we may

difcover

how

the planets

move

in their different orbs,

and rnathe-

88

VINDICATION
Byitwemay rationally account for
of fcafons,

maticaily demonftrate their various revolutions.

the

return

and

the

mixed

variety

of fccnes which they difplay to the

eye,

difccrning

Numberlefs worlds are

around
artift,

us, I]

framed by the fame divine

through the vaft expanfc,
the fame unerring

which
all

roll

and are

conduced by

laws of nature.

How

muft we then im-

prove

with what grand ideas muft fuch

fill

knowlege
thy
is it

our minds

.''

and

how worrational

of the attention of
cfpecially

all

beings,

of thofe Who profefs

in-

themfclves promoters of our grand

ftitution.

It

was a furvey of nature and

of
its

the obfer-

vation

beautiful

proportions that

OF MASONRY.
firft

89

determined

man

to imitate the di-

vine plan,
order,

and to iludy fymmetry and

rife

This gave

to focieties,

and

birth to every ufcful art.

The

architect

began
laid
tinne,

to defign,

and the plans which he

down, improved by experience and

produced fome of thofc excellent

works which will be the admiration of

future
hiftory

ages.

might
and

here

trace

the

of the

craft,

fliew, that

ever

fince order began, or

harmony dilplayed

her charms, our order had a being; but

this
is

fo well

known,

that a tedious diffafts,

cuflion

of incontrovertible

might

rather cloud the vnderftanding, than open

to cfor view a prolpeft which ignorance

and barbarifm can only

veil.

go
If

A
we
J

VINDICATION
are
let

united,

our fociety muft

flourifh
arts,

us then promote the ufeful

dif-

and by that means mark our and fuperiority

virtues
;

tinftion

let

us cultivate
in all

the that
o-f

fecial
is

and
;

improve
let

good and amiable

the genius

mafonry prefide, and under her fove-

reign fway let us endeavour to aft with

becoming

dignity.

Now,
a

is

mafonry

(o

good,

fo

valuable

fcience?

Does

it

tend to

inftt'iid

the
r

mind,

and tame each unruly

it
it

pafllon

Does
Does
of
^11

expel rancour, hairtd, dnd envy

reconcfJe
?

men of

al! religions

and

nations
its

Is it

an univerfal cement,

binding

fo}low!rs to charity, good-will

and

fecret.

friaidfhip
trueft

Is

it

calculated
?

w
it

promote the

freedom

Does

OF MASONRY.
teach
are

91
In
fliort,

men

to lead quiet lives

its

precepts a

complete fyftem of
glori-

moral virtue?
ous
craft,
!

Then, Hail, thou

all

bright tranfcript of

that

is

amiable

Hail, thou

blcfl

moral

fcience,

which
tue
!

fo

beautifully

exemplifies

vir-

Welcome, ye
all

delightful manfions,

where
rcnc
bleft

enjoy the pleafures of

tranquil
life
!

fe-

and

Welcome, ye
fricndfliip

retreats,

where fmiling

ever blooms, and from her throne difpenfes plealure with

unbounded

liberality

Welcome,

facred habitations, where peace

I

and innocence for ever dwell

THE
Fundamental
O F

Principles

MASONRY
EXPLAINED.
In
a.

Letter from the learned Mr.

John Locke,
Earl of

to the

Right Honourable

Thomas

Pmbrok:e,

95

THIS
brary,

letter

inclofes

a copy of an

old Manufcript in the Bodleian Li-

on the

fubjc(Sb

of free-mafonry,

in

which the fundamental principles of that

inftitution

are accurately

ftated.

Jt

is

enriched with
fcrv^tions

many

learned notes and ob-

by Mr. Locke, who, though

not at that cime enrolled in the order of

mafons,yet offers conje(5bures on the hiftory

and

traditions

of mafonry, which

are not

only juft but truly judicious.

As

every reader muft feel fome

this ancient

fatif-

fa^ion in the perufal of

ma-

nufcript, efpccialiy the true

and

faithful
;

mafofl,

whom

it

more nearly concerns

96

apprehend

it

will be unneceffary to apoit

logize for annexing

lication.

to the preftnt;

pub-

The
Mr.

j:ecommendati45n

of the

cdebratc<3

IvOcke, a pliilofoplief of

as great merit and pene-tratibn as this nation has ever produced, added to the real

value of the piece

itfelf,

mnft not only

it

give

it

a fanftion, but render

defcrV-ing

a ferious and candid examination.

It

may be proper
at the

to give fome account

is

of mafonry
fuppofed

time this manufcript

>

to

have been wrote

fliali

therefore prefix a brief entraft from our

book
tions

of"

confti tut ions,

and other publicafyibjed.

which have treated on the

During the mtnortty of Henry

Sixth, the

the

comfnons of England thought

:

the

mafons vorthy their attention

At-

97

tempts wcta made to fupprefs their lodges

and communications, and the following

aft was paflcd to prohibit their confede.

rating in chapters or congregations.

Hen. VI. cap.

I.

A. D. 14^5.

Masons JhaU not

confederate in chapttrt or

congregations,

" Whereas, by "

'*

the yearly congrega*

tions

and confederacies made by the

in their general aflemblies, the

mafons

" good

courfc and efFeft of the ftatutcs

violated

" of labourers be openly

*

and

broken,

it

fubverfion of the law, and

"

to the great
;

damage of

all

the

com-

" mens "

our fovereign lord the King,

willing in this cafe to provide a remedy,

" by
*

the advice and

confent aforefaid,

and

at the fpecial requeft

of the com-

98

mons, hath ordained and

*

cftablifhed,

that fuch chapters and congregations

** fiiall
*

not be hereafter holden

and

if

any fuch be made, they that caufe fuch

chapters and congregations to be aflem-

bled and holden,

convift,
fhall

if

they thereof be

* **

be judged for felons

to

and that other mafons, who come

'*
'^

fuch chapters or congregations, be puniihcd by prifonmcnt of their bodies,

and make
will."

fine

and ranfom

at the king's

"

This fcvere ordinance, however, was

never once put in execution, nor did
in
it

the leaft intimidate the mafons from

holding their regular aflemblies.

They

never folicited their noble patrons to get

it

repealed

confcious of their

own

jnte-

99

1
its

grity, they

dreaded not

force.

Their
re-

prudent and upright deportment, the

gularity of their proceedings, and the excellence

of their laws and regulations, had and gained

eftablifhed their reputation,

them

univerfal eftecm.

Notwithftanding

this rigorous edift,.the effird

of prejudice

and malevolence in an arbitrary fet of men,

lodges were formed in di^erent parts of
the

kingdom

and

tranquillity,

joy and

felicity

reigned

among

the fraternity.

In the year 1429, during the minority of

this prince,

a refpeftable lodge was held at

Canterbury, under the patronage of Henry

Chicheley, the archbifhop
prefent
;

at

which were

Thomas

Stapylton, the Mafter^

John Morris,

cuftos de la lodge lathomo-

100

rum, or warden of the lodge of raafons

with
fifteen fellow-crafb,
;

and three enare parti-

tered apprentices
ticularly

all

of

whom

named

in the

Latin Repiler of
in

William Molart, prior of Canterbury,

mahtjfcript, pap. 88. intitled,

"

Liberatio

"
*
**

gcnera:Iis

Domini Gulielmi

Prioris

Ec-

clefiae Chrifti

Cantuarienfis, erga Faf-

turn Natalis

Domini 1425."

A record
runs thus
:

in the reign
'

of Edward IV.
raafons,

The company of

" being
*'

otherwife termed free mafons, of

auntient ftaunding and

inge,"

good

reckojfc-

*'

by means of

affable

and kind
lofrc-

*'

meetyngs'dyverfe tymes, and as a

vinge brotherhode ufe to doe, did
this

**

" qucnt

mutual aflembly

in the

tymc

101

" of Henry VI,

in the twelfth yeare

of

his

moft gracious reign, A. D. i^za"

record fays farther,

The fame

" That

the

" charges and laws of the free-marons

*

have been fecn and perufed by our

late

" Soveraign King Henry VI. and by

*'

the

lords

of

his

moR

honourable council,

who have

allowed them, and declared,

reafon-

'

That they be nght good and

**

able to be holden, as they have been

collefted

" drawn out and

from the re-

cords of aunticnt tymes^' &c.

&c

From
troubles
this

this it appears, that before the

which happened

in the reign

of

unfortunate prince, free'inalbns were

in

high eftimation;
a coat

The above

rec<)rd

dieferibes

oC arms

niQch the fame

Fa

I02

with that of the London

company of
is

freemen mafons

;.

whence

it

generally

believed that this

that
antient

company
;

is

defcended of
in

fraternity
it

and

former

times,
free

no man,

alfo appears,

was made
initiated

of that company

until

he was

m fome lodge of free and accepted mafons,

as a neceflary qualification.

This practhe

tice

ftill

prevails

in Scoilaad. among

operative maCons.

By what

follows

it

will

be found how

very intent king Henry was on obtaining a thorough knowiege of

principles
tiation

the

original
his ini-

of mafonry, even before

the
order,

into

which certainly

took place in the year 1442.

lords

Many
at the

and gentlemen of the court

103

fame time followed

his Majefty's

example,

and the
ftate,

fociety continued in

a flourifhing

till

the peace of the

kingdom was
civil

interrvipted

by the bloody

wars be-

tween the two royal houfes of York and

Lancafter,

when free-mafonry

fell into

an

almoft total negleft.

F4

THE
Fundamental Principles

MASONRY
EXPLAINED.
A

LETTER

from
tx)

the

learned

Mr. John Locke,

the Right

Hon.
an

Thomas Earl of Pembroke, with old Manuscript on the fubjcfb

Free-Masonry,

of

Mv Lord,
T
Have
at

6th

May, 1696.
Mr.
S.

length, by the help of

Collins procure(J a copy of that

in the Bodleian library,

M.

which you were

F5

io6

THE PRINCIPLES OF
t^r(ift|ip's
it

fo CMrious to fee: an(3 in obedience to

yoqr
fend

commands,

herewith

to you.
it,

Moft of
what
I

the notes anyeftenday

nexed to

are

made

for the reading of

%i

my

lady Mafliam,

who

become

fo fond of mafonry, as to fay,

that ih

now more

than ever wifhes herfelf

m^f^if that ihe

might be
fraternity.

c^aUe

of ad-

mUBoa

Inta

^e

The M.

S, of

which
1

this is a copy, ap-

pears to be about

60 years old

y^t (as
title)
it

your
is

lordfliip will obferve

by the

itfelf

a copy of one

yet

more

ancient
is

by about iqq years:

fa id

for the original

to have been

the hand- writing of

it

K. Henry VI. Where that prince had

<s at

prefent an uncertainty

-,

but

it

feems

MASONRY EXPLAINED.
to

J07

mc

to be an examination (taken per-

haps before the king) of foine one of the

brotherhood of mafons;

^rpong
faid,

whom

he entered himfelf,

as

it. is

when he

came out of

his minority,

and thence-

forth put a ftop to

a perfecution that

had been

raifed ag^inft

them

But

muft

not detain your lordfliip longer by

preface from the thing
itfelf.

my

I
this

know not what

effeft the fight

of

old* paper may have upon your

lordfhipj but for

my own
has (o

part I can-

not

deny,

that

it

much

raifed

my

curiofity, as to

induce

me

to enter
I

myfelf into the fratcrnityj which

am

determined to do

(if I

may be

admitted.)
is

The

paper alluded to by ^r. Locke,

the

iamiediately following one.

io8

THE PRINCIPLES OF
be
ftiortly.

the ntxt time I go to London, and that

vnll I

am*

My LoRD
Your Lordship's moll
obedient,

And

moft humble fcrvant,

JOHN LOCKE.

MASONRY EXPLAINED.

109

CERTAYNE Q.UESTYONS,
W
Y TH

AWNSWERES TO THE
CONCERNING THE

SAME,

MYSTERY

of

MACONRYE;
HenryEj

Writtene by the hande of kynge

the fixthe of the name,

And

faythfullye copyed

by me (i) JoHAN

Leylande,

Antiquarius^
his (a) Highnefle.

By

the

commaunde of

They be
Quest.

as foUowethe,
?

IT 7 HAT mote ytt be

'

(jl

Answ. Ytt beech

the

fkylle of nature, the underftondynge "of

the

myghte

that

ys

hereynne,

and H^
the

fondrye

wcrckyngesj

fondcrlyche,

no
fkylle

THE

PRINCIPLfES OF
df walghtes apd

of retSbsnyngs,

metyngcs, and the treu msnerf of faconfiynge

al

thynges for iriann^g ufe

headlye,

dwell ynges,

and

buyldynges

of

alle

kindes, and al odher thynges that

nuke

gudde

to

manne.
ytt

Quest, "Where dyd

begyne?
(4.)

A^fsw. Ytt dyd bcgynne with the

fyrfte

menne

in the efte,

whych were
wefte,

be-

fore the (5) fFyrfte

manne of the
ytt

and

comyuge welllye,

hathe. broughte

herM^yth ajle comfortes 0 the wylde and

^Oipfortleife.

Quest.

Who

dyd brynge

ytt weftlye?

Answ. The

(6) Venetians,

whoo

ynge grate njerchaundes, coqied

fiVomme the
efte

ffyrfte

ynn Venetia,

for the

confxmpdytye of marchaundyfynge beithe

MASONRY EXPLAINED,
efte

nt

and weftc, bey the reddc and mydfees.

dldonde

Quest. Howe eomede yttynEngelonde?

An5w.

Peter
fFor

Gpwer

(7)

Grecian,

journeyedde

kunnynge yn Egypte,

and yn Syria,

and yn everyche londe

whereas the Venetians hadde plauntedde

maconrye, and wynnynge entraunce yn

al

lodges of maconnes, he }erned muche,

and retournedde, and woned yn Grecia

magna

(8) wackfynge^ and

becommynge

a myghtye (9) wyftacre, and greatelyche

renowned, and her he frarikd a grate

lodge at Grotptj (10), and

maked many

maconnes, fome whereoffe dyd journeye

yn Fraunce, and nnaked manye maconnes,

wherefrommc, yn proccfle of tyme. the
arte pafled

yn Engelonde.

Quest. Dothe maconnes difcouer there

artes

unto odhcrs

112

THE PRINCIPLES OF
Peter Gower, whennc he jouriFyrfte

Answ.

neyedde to lernne, was

(ii) made,

andanonne techedde; evenne

odhers bevn recht.

foefliulde all

Nathelefs (12)

ma-

connes hauetlie always yn everyche tyme,

from tyme to tyme, communycatedde to

mannkynde foche of
rallyche

ther fecrettes as^geneufefulle

allein
;

myghte be

they haueth
fhulde be

keped backe foche

harmefulle yfF
they

as

corned

yn euylle

haundes,

oder foche as ne myghte be

holpynge wythouten the techynges to be

joynedde herwythe
in

the

lodge,

oder

foche as do bynde the freres more ftrongelyche togeder, bey the proffytte and com-

modytye comynge to the

fromme.

confrerie

her-

Quest. Whatte

artes

haueth the ma?

conncs techedde mankynde

MASONRY EXPLAINED.
Answ. The
artes (13) agricuUura,

113
ar-

chiteftura, aftronomia, geometria, numeres,

miifica,

pocfie, kymiftrye.

governmente,

and relygyonne.

Quest.
more

Howe commethe
The hemfdfe
haueth

maconnes
?

teachers than odher tnenne

Ansvt.

allein in

(14) arte of fyndinge neue

arte the ffyrfte

artcs,

whyche

maconnes receaued from

Goddc} by
whatte artcs

the

whyche they fyndethe

plcfethe,

hem

and the treu

way of techynge
menne doethe

the fanne.

Whatt odher

ffynde out, ys onelvche bey

I

chaunce, and therfore but lytel

tro.

Quest.

What
?

dothe

the

maconnes

concele and hyde

Answ.

They

concelcthe

the

art

of

ffyndynge neue artes, and thattys for here

own

proffytte,

and (15)

preifo:

They

114

THE PRINCIPLES OF
fe-

concelethe the art of kepynge (i6)

crettes, thatt foe the

worlde mayeth no-

thinge conccle from thern.

They

concel-

ethc the art of wunderwerckyrtge, and of

fbrefayinge thynges to

comme,

thatt fo

thay fame attcs

may

not be iifedde of the

wyckeddc

to

an euyell ende, thay alfo

arte

concekthethe (17)

of chaunges, the

"wey of wyr\riynge the faculty e (18)

of

Abr^Cj the

fkylle

of becommynge gude

and parfyghte wythoutea the holpynges of

fere
ajnd

hope

and

tl\e

univerfelle

(19) iongage of maconnes.

Quest. Wyll$ he teche roe thay fame

artes ?

ANswi

Ye fhalle
Dothe

be techedde yff ye be

warthye and able to lerne.

Quest.

all

maconnes kunoe

more then odher menne ?

MASONRY EXPLAINED.
Answ. Not
recht
fo.

115

Thay onlyche haueth

and occafyonne more then odher

fale

menne to kunne, butt manye doeth

capacity, and

yn
in-

manye more doth want

ys
perncceflarye' for

duftrye,

thatt
all

the

gaynynge

kunnynge.

Quest. Are maconncs gudder menne

then odhers
?

Answ. Some maconnes

are not fo ver1

tuous as fome other menne

but,

yn the

mofte parte, thay be more gude than they

woulde be yf thay war not maconnes.

Quest. Doth maconnes love

odher myghfylye
as beeth fayde
?

eidthcr

Answ. Yea
odherwife be
:

yerylyche, and yt

may not
treu,

For gude menne and

kennynge eidher odher to be

foche, doeth

always love the more as thay be more gude.

Hereendethe the quefiyonnes and awnfweres*

NOTES
AND

OBSERVATIONS,
O N T H E

FOREGOING Q^UESTIONSv
By Mr- Locke.
(i)

John Letlande was appointed by

at the diflblution
for,

Henry VIII.
nafteries,

of mo-

to fearch
as

and fave fuch

books and records

them.

were valuable among-

He

was a man of great labour

and induftry.
(2)

His H1GHNESSE5

nrieaning the faid

king Henry VIII.

then the
title

Our

kings had not

of majefty.

THE
(3)

PRINCIPLES,
ytt be ?]

&c.
is,

117

What mote

That

what

may

this

myftery of mafonry be?

it

The

anfwer imports, that

confifts in natural,

mathematical and mechanici

knowledge.

Some

part of which (as appears by what

the
reft

follows)

mafons

pretend

to

have

taught the
they
ftill

of mankind, and fome part

conceal.

(4) (5) Fyrftc

It

menne yn

the efte, &c.]

fbould feem by this that mafons be-

lieve there

were men

in

the eaft before

fFyrfte

Adam, who is

called the

"

manne of

the wcfte-," and that arts and fciences be-

gan

in the eaft.

Some

authors of great

note for learning have been of the fame

opinion-,

and

it

is

certain that

Europe

and Africa (which,

be called weftern

in refpeft to Afia,

may

countries) were wild

and favage, long

after arts

and politenefs

11%

THE PRINCIPLES OF
in

of manners were
China, and the

great pcrfeftion in

I?KJies.

(6)

The Venetians,

&c.] In the times

it is

of monkilh ignorance

no wonder that

the Phenicians fhould be miftaken for the

Venetians..

Or, perhaps,

if

the

peqpk

were not taken one for the other, fimUitude of found might deceive the clerk

who

firft

took down the examination.

grcajcft voyagers
in

The Phenicians were the

attiong the ancients,

and were

Europe
lettersj

thought to be the inventory of

which perhaps they brought from the

with other
arts.

eaft

(7) Peter Gower.]

ther miftake

This muft be anowriter. I

of the

was puz-

zled at

firfi:

to guefs

who

Peter Gowei
perfeftly

fbould

be,

the

name being

MASONRY EXPLAINED.
Englifh
J

119

or

how a Greek
:

fhould come

by fuch

name

But

as foon as I

thought

of Pythagoras,

could fcarce forbear fmi*

ling, to find that philofopher

had under-

gone a metempfycofis he never dreamt

of.

We
is

need only confider the French

Pythagore,

pronunciation of his name,

that

Petagore, to conceive

how

eafily

fuch a miftake might be made by an unlearned clerk.

for

That Pythagoras

travelled
is

knowledge into Egypt, &c.

all

known
jni-

to

thelearocd; and that he was

tiatcdinto jfcveral different orders of priefts,

who

in thofe days

kept

ail their*
is

learning

fecret

from the vulgar,

alfo

as we!!

known.

Pythagoras

made every geometrical

and admitted only fuch
as

theorem a
to the

fecret,

knowledge of them,
five

had

first
is

undergone a

years filence.

He

120

THE PRINCIPLES OF
firft

fuppofed to be the inventor of the 47th

propofition of the

book of Euclid,
it is

for which, in the joy of his heart,

faid

he facrificed a hecatomb.

He

alfo

knew

the true fyftem of the world, lately

-,

revived by Copernicus

and was certainly

See his
life

a moft wonderful man.

by

Dion. Hal.
(8)

Grecia Magna,-

a part of Italy

formerly fo called, in which the Greeks

had

fettled a large colony.

(9) Wyfeacre.]
fignifies

This word

at prefent

fimpleton,

but formerly had a

Weifager,
in

quite contrary meaning.

the

old

Saxon,

is

philofopher,

wifeman or

wizard, and having been frequently ufed

ironically, at length

came

to

have a dire^

meaning

in

the ironical

fcnle.

Thus,

Duns

Scotus, a

man famed

for the fub-

MASONRY EXPLAINED,
t'tlty

lai

and acutenefs of his underftanding,

has,

by the fame method of

irony, given

genera!

name

to

modern dunces.

(lo) Groton.]

Groton

is

the nanle of

a place meant
which
is

in

England.

The

place here

Crotona, a city of Grecia Magna

in the time

of Pythagoras was very

populous.

(i

Fyrfte made.]

The word made

fuppofe has a particular meaning

the mafbns
:

among

perhaps

it

figniBes, initiated*

(12)

Maconnes haueth communycaThis paragraph hath fome*

in
it.

tcdde, 8co,]

thing remarkable
juftification

It fo

contairts

of the fecrecy
fo

much boafted

of by mafons, and

much blamed by

J2Z
others

THE PRINCIPLES OF
;

aflferting

that they have in all

ages difcovercd fuch things as might

ufeful,
as

be

and that they coaeeal Aich only

either to the

would be hurtful

world

or themfelves.

What

theft fecrets are,

we

fee afterwards.

(13)

The

artes,

agricuitura, Sec]
this

It

feems a bold pretence

that they have taught
arts.
it ;

of the mafons,
ail

mankind

thefe

They have
I

their

own

authority for
IhaJI djfprove
is,

and

know not how we

thenn.

But what appears moft odd

that they reckon religion

among

the arts.

4) Arte of ffjfndinge neue artes.]

arts,

The

art

of inventing
art.

muft certainly be a
lord Bacon's

moft ufeful

My
is

No

vum Organum

An

attempt

towards

MASONRY EXPLAINED.
fomewhat of the fame kind.
doubt,
that if ever the

123

But

much
it,

mafons had

they have
arts

now

loft it;

fince fo

few new

have been

lately

invented,
idea
I

and fb
have of

many

are wanted.
is,

The
it

fuch an art

that

muft be fomething
all

proper to be applied in
generally, as algebra
is

the fcienccs

in

numbers, by

the help of which,

are,

new rules of arithmetic

and may be found.

(15) Preife,]

It

feems the mafons have

great regard to the reputation as well as

the profit of their order
It
;

fince they

make
art in

one reafon for not divulging an

it

common, that
feflbrs

may do honour to

the pof-

of

it.

think in this particular they

fhew too

much regard for their own fociety,

little for

and too

the

refl:

of mankind.

124

THE PRTNCIPLES OF
Arte of
keepjfhge
fecrettes.]

(i6)

What

kind of an art

this is, I

can by

no means imagine.

But

certainly fuch
:

an art the mafwis muft have

For though,

as feme people fuppofe, they Ihould have

no

fecret

at

all,

even that muft be a

fccret

which being difcovered would exand

pofe them to the higheft ridicule:

therefore
it

requires the utmoft caution to

conceal

it.

{ly) Arte of chaunges.]

tfhat thi; mfansy unlefs
taition
it

know

not

be the tranfmu-

of metals.

(1 8) Facultye of
utterly in the dark.

Abrac]

Here

am

(19) ^niverfelle longage of maeonnes.

An

univerfal

language has

^een

much

MASONRX EXPLAINED.
dcfired

125
It

by the learned of many

ages.

3 thing rather to be wilhed than

hoped

for^

But

it

feems the niafons pretend to

thing
it

have

filch a

among them.

If

it

be

true, I guefs

muft be fomething
tlie

like

the language of
the ancient
able^

Pantomimes among
are faid to be

Romans, who

by

figns only, to exiprefs

intelligibly to

and delivef
all na-

any oration
tions

men of

and languages.

man who
is

ha$ aU

thefe arts

and advantages,
to

certainly in

a condition

be envied: But we art

is

told, that this

not the tak with

arts are

4II

mafons

for

though thefe

among

hem^ and
tunity to
jpacity,

all

have a right and an opporyet fome want cdr

know them,
others

and

induftry to
all

acquire
arts

them.

However, of
which
I

their

and

fecrets, that

moft defire to

know

ia6
is,

THE

PRINCIPLES,
of

&c.

" The

Ikjrlle

becommynge gude and

it

parfy ghte ;" and I wifh

nicated
to all

were commufince

mankind,

there is

nothing more true than the beautiful fentence contained in the

the better
laft

anfwer,

'*

That

men

are, the

more they love one

itfelf

another."

Virtue having in

fome-

thing fo amiable as to charm the hearts

of

all

that behold

it.

"7

A GLOSSARY,
To
explain the old words in the fore-

going Manufcript.

ALLEIN,
Beithe, both

only

Alweys, always,

Commodytye, conveniency
Confrerie, fraternity

Faconnynge, forming
Fore-fayinge^

prophecying

Freres^ brethren
Jieadlye., chiefly

Hem plifethe.,
.

they pleafe

Hemfelfct themfelves,

Her^ there, their

Hereynne, therein

Herwythy with
Kunne,

it

Holpynge, beneflcial

know
arc beneficial

Kunnynge, knowledge

Make guide,

MetyngeSy meafures

G4

ia8
Mete^

A GLOSSARY.
may
Myddklmdet Mediterraneart Myght&t power
OccafyonnCy opportunity

Oder, or
Oneiyche^ only
PerHecejfarye, abfolutely neceflaryPreife,

honour

Recht, riglit

Reckenyngs, numbersSoitderlyche, particularly

Skylle,

knowledge
growing

Wackfynge.,

fVerck, operation

^ey, way
IVbereaSy

where

TFoned, dwelt

Wundfrwerckyage, working miracles

fVylde,

favage

Wynnynge, gaming
Ttin, into

129 ]

REMARKS.
By
the

EDITOR.
having pafled

A N aft of parliament "* * during the minority

tions

of Henry VI.

to fupprefs the lodges and communica-

of mafons,

it

may

not be improper

here to ftate fome of the circumftances

which are fuppofed

this fevcre

to have given rife to

edidt

The duke

of Bedford,

at

that time

regent, being in Prance, the regal

power

was veftcd

in

Humphrey, duke of Gk)u

cefter, his brbther,

who was

ftiled

pro-

G5

ijo
tcfitor

REMARKS
and

guardian of

the

kingdom*

The

care of the

young

king's perfon and

education was intrufted to

fort,

Henry BeaU'

bifliop

of Winchcfter, the Duke's

bifhop was a prelate of great

uncle.

The

capacity and experience, but of an intri-

guing and dangerous charafter.

aipired to the

As he
he

government of

affairs,

liad continual difputes with his

nephew

the proteftor;, and gained frequent advantages over the vehement

and impolitic
Being inveftcd

temper of that prince.

with power, he foon began to /hew his

pride and haughtinefs, and he wanted not
followers and agents,

who were bufy

to

augment

his influence,

In a parliament held at Weftminfter

on the 17th of November 1423, to an-

REMARKS.
fwer a particular end,
it

131

was ordained

and enadled,

'

That
grand

if

any pcrfon, comor petty

treafon,

"

mitted

for

"
''

Ihould wilfully break out of prifon,

and efcape from the fame,

treafon,

it

Ihould be

" deemed petty

and his goods

this

" be

forfeited * "

About

time one
in

William King of Womolton

fhirCj

York-

fervant to Sir

Robert

Scott, lieu-

tenant of the Tower, pretended, that he

had been
coufin
to

oflfered
tlie

by

Sir

John Mortimer,

lately

deceafed

Edward

Mortimer,

earl

of March, the

neareft in
a pri-

blood to the Englifli crown; and then

foner in the Tower, ten pounds to buy him

clothes, with forty

pounds

a year,

and to

be made an

earl, if

he would
;

afiift

Mor-

timer in making his efcape

that

Mortimer

* Wolfe's Chronicle, publiibed by Stowe

IJ2
faid,

REMARKS.
he would
raife

40,000

men on

his

enlargement,

aiid

would

flrike

off the

heads of the rick bifhop of Winchefter,

the duke of Gloucefter, and others.
fellow undertook to prove
truh of his aflbrtion,

This

upon oath the

fhort time after,

a fcherne was formed to out off Mortimer,

and an opportunity foon

it

offered to carry

into execution r

Mortimer being per-

mitted one day to walk to the

wharf,

Tower
fcized,

was

fuddenly

purfued,

brought back, accufed of brealdng out of

jMi(bn

and of attempting

his efcape.

He

was

tried,

and the evidence of King being

adrftitted,

was convifted, agreeably to the

late ftatutCj

and afterwards beheaded*

great
the

The death of Mortimer occafioaed

murmuring and
difcontenc

among

people, and threatened a fpecdy fubver-

REMARKS.
fjon

133
hints were

of thofc

in

power.

Many

thrown out, both

in public

and private

aflemblies, of the fatal confequences

which

were
tion.

expefted to fucceed

this

commoit

The amazing

progrefs

made,

juftly alarmed the fufpicions of the ambitious prelate,

his

who

fpared no pains to exert

power on the

occafion.

The

animofity between the uncle and

increafed,

nephew daily
rity

and the authointer-

of parliament was obliged to

pofe.

On

the

lift

day of April 1425,

at

the

parliament
fervants

met
and

Weftminfter.

The

followers

of

the

peers coming thitner, armed with clubs

and

ftaves,

occafioned

its

being

named
lawS

THE ?ATT PARLIAMENT.

ScVCral

were then made, and among the

aft

reft,

an

for

abolilhing

the fociety of ma-

i34
fons
blies
;

REMARKS.
at leaft for

preventing their affem-

and congregations.
it

As
raife

their

meet-

ings were fecret

can

no

furprife

that they fhould attrad the attention

of

the afpiring prelate, renewhis apprehenfion,

and incur

his difpleafure

the law, how-

ever; was never once executed againft them,

nor any attempt made to difturb

alTcmbliesi

their

the

biihop being

diverted

from
an

his perfecution

of the mafons, by

affair

in

which he was more nearly

eoncerned..

On

the

morning of

St.

Simon and

Jude's day, after the lord mayor of

Lon-

don had returned to the

city frorh

Weft-

mi nftcr, where he had been taking the

ufual charges of his high office, he re-

ceived a fpecial meffage from the duke

REMARKS,
of Gloucefter,
attendance.

135

requiring his imincdiate

at dinner

Being feated
arrived,

when

the meflenger

he

returned sn

anfwer that he would immediately wait

on

his highnefs

which he accordingly

did.

Being introduced into the prefence,

the

duke commanded

his lordlhip to fee

that the city was properly watched the

following night, as he expcded his uncle

would endeavour

to

make

himfelf mafter

of it by force, unlefs fome efFedual means

were adopted to (lop
his progrefs.

This
at

command was

ftriftly

obeyed; and,

nine o'clock the next morning, the bifiiop

of Winchefter, with
lowers,

his fervants

and

fol-

attempted to enter the city by

the bridge, but were prevented by the

vigilance of the citizens
j

who, having
their defign

been previoufly apprized of

136
repelled

REMARKS.
them by
force.

This unexpeAed and rmpcticollefted a

repulfe enraged the haughty

ovis prelate,

wh<J

immedktely

numerous body of archers and other mon

at

arms, and

commanded them
fliot.

to affauh

the gate with

The

citizens direftly

fhut

up

their fhops,

and crowded to the

bridge in gteat numbers, when a general

ma/Tacre would certainly have enfued, had
it

not been for the timely interpofition

and prudent adminiftfation of the mayor

and aldermen, who happily ftopt
lent meafures.
all vio-

and in

all

probability pre-

vented

great eftufion of blood.

The

archbifbop of Canterbury, in con-

jundion with Peter, duke of Conimbra,

eldeft fon

of the king of Portugal, awd

feveral others,

endeavoured to appeafe the

REMARKS.
fviry

t37

of the two contending parties, and,

bring about
all

if pofTible, to

& reconciliation
to

between themi but

neither party

no purpofc,

would

yiield.

They rode

eight or ten times

backwards and forthey could

wards, ufing every fcheme

think of to prevent further extremities,

before they could fucceed in their mediation, or bring the parties to
at Jaft
it

a conformity

was agreed on both

fides, that

all hoftile

proceedings fhould drop, and

the matter be referied to the award of the

duke of Bedford
reftored,

Upon
city

this'

peace was,
in

and the

remained

c^ht,

for the prefent

The
Jhis

bifhop

loft

no time in tranfmitting
-,

cafe to the

duke of Bedford

and

in

1^8

REMARKS.
it

order to glofs

over

v?ith the beft co-

lours he wrote the following letter

"
**

RIGHT
my

high and mighty prince,,

noble,
lord
;

and

right

and
I

after one,

'''

leiuefl:

[earthly]

recommend
all

" me unto your grace with

my

heart..

" And
*'

as

you

defire the welfare

of the
his-

king our fovereign

lord,

and of

*'

realms of England and France, your

[health] with all yours, hafte:

' own weal

*'

you hither
tarry long,

For by

my
put

troth,,

if

you

"
*'

we

fliall

this land in
field,

jeopardy [adventure] with a

a brother you have herev

fuch

**

God make

'^'

him
well

good man.

For your wifdotn,

profit of Ftance

*'

knoweth that the

*'

ftandeth in the welfare of England* &c

"

The

blefled Trinity

keep you Written

REMARKS.
in great hafte at

139

London, on All-hal-

" lowen-even, " By your

the 3ifl: of Oftober, 1425*

fervant, to

my

lives- end,

HENRY,

Winchester."
had the de-

This tremendous
fired cfFe<St,

letter

and haftened the return of the

to

duke of Bedford
'arrived

London, where he
1 4-2

on the loth of January,

1

5-6,

On

the 2

ft

of February he held 3 great

adjourned
it

council at St. Albans,

to

the 13th of

March

at

Northampton, and
Batts and

the 25th of June at Leicefter.

ftaves

being

now

prohibited,

the folat-

lowers of the

members of parliament
in a fling,

tended with Hones mets of lead.

and plum-

The duke of Bedford

employed the authority of parliament ta

140

REMARKS.
which had broke
be

reconcile the differences

out and proceeded to extremities,

twixt his brother and the bifhop of Winchefter

;

and obliged thefe

rivals to

pro-

mife before that aflembly, that they would

bury

all

quarrels in oblivion.

Thus

the

long wiflied-for peace between thefe two

great perfonages, was, to
all

appearance^

accomplKhed.

The

duke, of Gloucefter, during the

difcuflion of this matter before paEliaxnenJi

exhibited the following charge,

among

five
5

others, agfiinnr the bifhop of Wiiicheftef

" That he had,

in his letter to the duice

"of Bedford
'

at France, plainly declared

his malicious

purpofeof afTembling the

ftrrrirtg

"

people, and

up

3 rebel lioj) in

REMARKS.
'
*

141

the

nation^

contrary

to

the

kings

peace,"

The
was,
**

biftiop's

anfwer to this accufation

intention

That he never had any

"
*'
'

to difturb the peace of the nation, or

raife

any rebellion

but that he fent to

to folicit his Ipeedy
all

the

duke of Bedford

"
**

return to England to fettle

differences

thofe

which were fo prejudicial

to the peace of the

kingdom

That
in the

though he had indeed written

letter,

'

That if he

tarried,

wajhould put

"
" "
'

the land in adventure by a fields fucb irother you have here

it
\

he did not mean own, but con-

of any defign of

his

cerning the feditious aJTemblies of

fons, cajpentets, tyleis,

ma-

"
*

and

plaifterers;
late act

who, being

diftafte

by the

of

142

REMARKS.
againft the exceflive

" parliament
"

wages

of thofe trades, had given out

feditious fpeeches

many

*=

and menaces againft

**
'

certain great
to rebellion
:

men, which tended much

That the duke of Glouendeavour, as he

in his place, to

*'

cefter did not ufe his

^'

ought to have done

"

fupprefs fuch unlawful affemblies; lb

his

" that he feared the king, and

good

'

fubjeds,

muft have made a

;

field to

withftand th'em

to prevent which, he

chiefly defired the

duke of Bedford

to

" come

over."

The

falfehood of the bilhop's charge

is

againft the mafons

fo felf-evident, that

it

would be encroaching on the judgment of

the candid reader to fuppofe
it

neceffary to
it.

urge any arguments to prove

Suffice

REMARKS.
it

143

to obferve,that themafons have ever been

quiet

men and

faithful fubje<fts,

who have

cultivated peace and friendfhip one with

another, promoted the ufeful arts, practifed the

mofl noble principles, and never

in

meddled
ftate,

the affairs of either church or

but have always fubmitted with reve-

rence to the eftabliftied laws and govern-

ment of

the country in

which

it

was

their

lot to refide.

The innocentcaufe of all

the

perfecutions and reproaches which they

havefufferedjis the fecrecyobferved

among
aiFairsj

them.
fecrecy

In conducing
is

all

worldly

a virtue, not only clTential, but

abfolvitely neceflary.

The

royal art teaches

us fidelity to our truft, as well as difcretion

in

the rule of our conduct

and the

fecrcts

of mafonry are neither contrary

OJf

to religion

the duty of fubjcfts. nor

are they in

J44

REMARKS.
or divine.

the leaft degree inconfiftent with any law^

human
prelate

It

is

probable,

the

may have had

the lord mayor,

in

aldermen, and

commons of London^
he made
his

his view, at the time

charge

againft the fraternity,

and that thefe were

the mafons

whom

he had decreed for 4e-

ilrudion.

Sovereign authority being vefted in the

duke of Gloucefter,

as

proteftor of the
all

realm, the execution of the aws, and

that related to the civil magiftrate, cen-

tered in

him

a fortunate circumftance

for the mafons, vi^ho were nc^ only unjuftly accufed,

but

vilely

afperfed,

and

debarred the privileges of aflTembling to*

gether for mutual edification and improve-

ment, by a cruel aft of parliament

out, againft
their chapters,

ifliiefi

thfcwgh th6

REMARKS.
powerful influence of the
chefter,
bifliop

t45

of

Win

and

his adherents.

The duke

of Gloucefter particularly

fa.

voured the mafons

at this critical junfture.

Knowing them

to be innocent of the ac-

cufations laid againft thetn, he not only

protefted them, but transferred the charge

of

rebellion,

fcdition,

and

treafon,

from

them, to the bifhop of Wincheftef, and

his

followers

who were

the

fifft

to

difturb the public peace, and kindle the

flames of civil difcord.

faid to

This prince

is

have received a more learned

education than was ufual in his age, to

have founded one of the

ries in

firft

public libra-

England, and to have been a great

patron of learned men.

focicty as that

So refpeftable &

of the mafons. could not

46
then
fail

R E M A R K
of attrafling

S.

his notice

and, if

our records may be depended upon, we

ihave reafon to believe, that he

was admit-

ted into the order, and that he affifted at the

initiation

of king Henry,

in

the

year 1442.

Thebifhop of Winchefter,
his aftions

fenfible that

were npt to be

juftified

by the

laws of the land, prevailed with the king,

through the interceffion of the parliament,

whom

his

riches

had

particularly

inte-,

rcfted in his favour, to grant hiqi letters

of pardon for

all

offences committed

by

him, contrary to the ftatute of provifors,

and other
after
this,

afts of praemunire.

Five years

he procuced another pardoDj

feal,

under the great

for all foris of crimes

REMARKS.
to the 26th of July i^SJ-

147

whatever, from the creation of the world

The duke
ing
all

of Glouceftcr, notwidiftand-^

the cardinal's precautions, in 14-^2^

articles

drew up

of impeachment againft
his

him, and prclented them with

own

hands to the king-, dcfiring that judgment

might be pafled upon him, according tQ

his crimes.

The king

referred the maxtcf

it

to his council,

who took

under their

confiderationv but, being principally eccle*

fiaftics,
laft,

they favoured the cardinal.

At

the

duke wearied out with

and

their te-

dious

delays

fraudulent dealings,

dropt the profecution, and the cardinal

efcaped.

I4S

REMARKS.

Nothing could remove the inveteracy

of the cardinal againft ^he duke of Gloucefter
,

he Was refolved to deftroy a

man

whole popularity might become dangerous, and whofe refentment he had fo

much

xeafon to apprehend*

The Duke had ever

been a ftrenuous oppofer of every meafure contrary to the public good.

By

his his

prudence, as well as the authority of

birth and ftation^ he had prevented An ab-

folute fovereign in

power from being vefted

perfbn.

rhe

king's

This

enabled

"VVinchefter to gain

many

partizans,

who

were

eafily

brdught to concur

in the ruin

of the prince.

His dutchefs, the daughter of Reginald

lord

Cobham, had been accufed of

the

REMARKS.
crime of witchcraft, and
that a
it

149

was pretended

waxen

figure of the king

;

was found
a/To-

in hff poffefllon ciates.

which

flie,

and her

Sir

Roger Bolingbroke,

a prieft,

and one Margery Jordan of Eye, melted

in a

magical manner before a flow

fire,

with an intention of making Henry's force

and vigour wafte away by

degrees.

like infenfible

The

accufation was well calcu-

lated to afTeft the

weak and credulous

and
to gain belief in

mind of
ah

the king,
age.

ignorant

The

dutchefs

was

brought to

trial,

with her confederates, and

:

the prifoners were pronounced guilty

the

dutchefs was

condemned

to

do public

penance
to
fuffcr

in

London

for three days, and

perpetual

imprifonment

-,

the

others were executed.

H3

150

REMARKS.
proteftor,

The

provoked

at fuch re-

peated infuhs oiFered to his wife,

made a

noble and ftout refiflance to thefe moft

abominable and fhamelefs

proceedings,
in

but

it

unfortunately ended

his

own

deftrudtion.

In order to effeftuate the

plan the enemies of this prince had concerted to

murder Bim, a parliament was

to

fummoned
in 144,7,

meet

at St.

Edmondfbury
lie

where *^^y expedled he would

entirely at their mercy.

As

foon as he
fcfli-

appeared, on the fecond day of the

ons, he was^accufcd of treafon, and thrown,

into prifon
j

where he waa found the nexc

It

day, bafcly and fliamefuUy murdered.

was pretended, that

his

death was. natural

but though his body, which was expofed

to public view, bore no
injury,

marks of outward

no one doubted that he had. fallen

REMARKS.
mies.

151

a facrifice to the vengeance of his ene-

Five of

Iiis

fervaats were tried for

aiding him in his treafons, and

to

condemned
quartered.

be

hanged,

drawn

and

They were hanged

alive, (tripped

accordingly, cut

down

naked, and marked with a

;

knife to be quartered

when

the marquis
pitiful

of Suffolk, through a mean and

affedation of popularity, produced their

pardon, and faved their^ lives

the moft

barbarous kind of mercy that can poflibly

be imagined

!.

Thus

fell

that great prince the

duke

of Gloucefter.
fally

His death was univerthroughout

the

lamented

whole

kingdom.

He

had long, obtained and

defcrved well, the firname of good.

He

H4

^50i

REMARKS.
his

was a lover of

country, a friend to

good men, the protedor of the mafons,

a patron

of the learned,

and

an

en-

courager
evcrlafting

of

every

work
His

worthy

of

memorial.

inveterate

profecutor, the hypocritical bifhop, ftung

with remorfe,

fcarce furvivcd
after

him two
life

months
in

when,

a long

fpent

faifehood and politics, he funk into

oblivion, with all the daggers of divine

vengeance flicking

in

liis lieart.

The

wickednefs of his

life,

and

his

mean, bafe and unmanly death,

be a bar
againfl:

will ever

any vindication of his

memory
alive, or

for the

good which he did while

which the money he had amafled

could do after his deceafe.

When

in his

REMARKS.
laft

15^

moments he was heard

expreflions
:

to utter thefc

mean
'

"

Why

fhould I die,

who am

pofleffed of ib

much

wealth
fave

"
'

If the whole
life,

kingdom could

my

am

able by

my

policy to prc-

**

fcrve
it.

it,

or by

my money
thing
?'*

to purchafe

"
'

"Will

not death

be bribed, nor

money do every

The

inimi-

table Shakefpeare, after giving a moft horrible pifture

of defpair, and

a-

tortured

confcience, in the perfon of the Cardinal,

introduces king

Henry

to

him with

thefe,

Iharp and piercing words

**

Lord

cardinal, if thou think'ft

blifs,

on

heav'n's
**

Lift

up thy hand, make

figoal of

that hope."

He

dies,

and makes no

fign.

Hen. VI. Aft

3.

H5

154

REMARKS.
the

" The memory of

wicked

fliall

rot,

" but the unjuftly perfecuted

*'

ftiall

be had

in

everUfting remembrance."

Having

thus

endeavoured to explain
rife to

the circumftances which gave

the

ad

of parliament pafled during the mi-

nority of

Henry VI.

againft the aflem-

blies of mafons,

and which has never yet

I

been
give

repealed,

fhall

now proceed

to

the opinion of

judge Coke upon

that ftatute.

" All
*f
*

the ftatutes concerning labourers

before this ad, and whereunto this adt

doth

refer, are repealed

by

the 5 EJiz,

** **

cap. 4.

ahui A. D.

^62y whereby the

this
a<5t

caufe and end of

making

is

"
"

taken away, and confequently the at

is

become of no force }

for cef:inte ro"

REMARKS.
**

f55
in-

tione legiSi cejfat ipfa lea

and the
this

"

didlment of felony upon

contain.

ftatute

" muft "

**

That

thofe chapters and

congregations are to the violating and

breaking of the good courfe and efFeft

the
ftacutes

' of

of labourers

which

" now cannot be

**

alleged, becaufc thofe

ftatutes

be repealed.

Therefore

this

would be put out of the charge of

juftices

"

of the peace."
I

Institutes,

Part. III. fo.

J.

It is plain,

therefore,

from the above

opinion, that this aft, though never exprefsly repealed, can

fcnt.
.

have no force
reft

at pre-

The mafons may

very quiet,

may continue to
may

hold their afiemblies, and

propagate their myfteries, as long as

their conformity to their profefTed prin-

ciples intitles

them

to the fanftion of go-

156

R E

A R K
to
raife

5.

vemment.
too well

In this country, mafonry

known,

any fufpicion

in the legiflature..

The

greateft perfon-

ages have prefided over the fociety, and

under their

aufpicious' government,

at

difFerent times,

an acquifition of patrons^

both
It

great

and noble, has been made.

to imagine,

woujd therefore be abfurd

that aoy legal attempt will ever be thought

of to difturb the peace and harmony

of a Ibciety fo truly refpedable and fo
highly honoured.

I will

nov beg

leave to offer a few re-

marks on the old MS. which Mr. Locke

has fo faithfully copied, and which feems to have engaged his attention in a particular

manner, by
curious

his enriching

it

with

many

and

ufcful

elucidations.
its

His conjeftures, concerning

being an

REMARKS.
cxartiination taken before

1S1

king Henry of
of mafons, are

feme one of the

very juft.

fraternity

The

fcvere edil pafTed at that

time againft the fociety, and the difcou-

ragement given to

the mafons

by the

bifhop of Winchefter and his party, in-

duced that

prince, in his riper years, to

make

a ftrider fcrutiny into the nature of

the mafonic inftitution, which was fortunately attended with this

happy circum-

Aance, of gaining his favour, together with

his patronage.

Had

not the didurbanoes

in the

and

civil

commotioiw

kingdom, du-

ring his reign, fokly attradled the notice

of government,
this

it is

more than probable

been
repealed,

adt

would

have

through the

interceflion

qf the duke of

Gloucefterj whofe attachment to the fo-

158
ciety,

REMARKS,
we have already obferved, was
par-

ticularly confpicuous.

REMARKS

on the Questions, and

on the Annotations of Mr. Locke.

I,

* P. 109. 117.

What mote

ytt

be?]

Mr. Locke
on
this

obferves, in his annotation

it

queftign, that the anfwer to

imports, that mafonry confifts of natural,

mathematical, and mechanical knowlege

fome part of which the mafons pretend

to

have taught the

* The
firft

reft

of mankind) and
page of the

number

refers to the

queftions
notes,

the fccond

number

to the

page of the

fome part

REMARKS. they The

ftill

159
arts

conceal.

which have been communicated to the

world by-mafons, are particularly fpecified in an anfwer to

one of the following

thofe

qucftions-,

as arc

alfo

which they
pur-

have

reftridled to themfclves for wife

pofcs.

Morality
;

might

likewife
it

have
con-

been included
ftltutes

in this

anfwer, as

a principal part of the mafonic

fyftem

every chara(fler, figure, and

em-

blem, adopted by mafons, having a moral

tendency, and fcrvingto inculcate the practice

of virtue.

II.

Page no. 117. Where did

gynne
?]

ytt

bc-

Mr. Locke's remark on

the an-

fwer to this queftion, that mafons believe

there were

men

in the eaft before

Adamjt

i6o
is

REMARKS.
This opilearned

indeed a mere conje<Slure.

nion

may

be confirmed by

many

authors,

but mafons

comprehend

the

true

meaning of mafonry taking

rife in

the eaft, and fpreading to the weft, with-

out having recourfe to the Prseadamites.

Eaft and weft, are terms peculiar to the
fociety,

and,

when mafonicaliy adopted,

j

are only intelligible to mafons

refer to certain

as they,

forms and eftablifhed cuf

toms among themfelves.

III.

Page no. irS.

weftlye ?]

Who

dyd brynge

ytt

The judicious

corrediort of an

illiterate clerk,

in the anfwer to this que f-

tion as well as
credit

the next, refleSs great

on the ingenious annotator.

His

REMARKS.
explanation
accurate.
is

t6i

juft,

and

his elucidation

IV.

Page in.
Engelonde?]
initiated into

II 8.

Howe comede

ytt

yn

Pythagoras was regularly

mafonry;
in

and being pro-

perly inftrufted
art,

the myfteries of the

he was
tlie

much

improved^ and propa-

gated

principles of the order in other

countries into
velled.

which he afterwards

tra-

The
us,

records of the fraternity in-

form

that the ufagcs

and cuftoms

among mafons have

ever correlponded

with thole of the antient Egyptians, to

which they bear a near

philofopheris,

affinity.

Thefe
their

unwilling to expofe

myfteries to vulgar eyes, couched their

particular tenets and principles of polity

i62

REMARKS.
by
figns

under hieroglyphical figures, and exprcffed their notions of government

and fymbols, which they communicated

to their

magi

alone,

and they were bound

by oath not

to reveal them.

Hence

arofc

the Pythagorean fyftem, and

orders,

many

other

of a more modern date.

This

method of inculcating fublime

truths

and
alle-

important points of knowlege by

gory, fecured

them from defcending

into

the familiar reach of every inattentive and

unprepared

novice,

from

whom

they

might not receive due veneration.

milar cuftom
ftill

A ft-

prevails in

many of the

eaftern nations.

V.

Page

III. 121.
artes

Dothe maconnes

dif-

couer here
in all ages,

unto odhers ?] Mafons,

have fludied the general good.

REMARKS.
of mankind.

163
is

Every

art

which

ufeful,

or neceflary for the fupport of authority and prcfervation of good government,

as

well as for promoting fcicnce, they have

cheerfully

communicated

to

mankind,

Thofc matters which were of no public

importance, they have carefully preferved
in their

own

breafls

fuch

as,

the tenets

of the order,

their myftic forms,

and par-

ticular cuftoriis.
diftinguiftied

Thus

they have beea

in

different countries,

and

by

this

means have confined

their privi-

leges to the juft and meritorious.

VI.

Page 112. 122. Whatte

the
arts

artes

haueth
?]

maconnes techedde mankynde

which the
mafons
have

The

publicly

taught, are here fpecified.

It appears, to

i64

REMARKS.
among
the arts

have furprifed the learned annotator, that

religipn fhould be ranked

propagated by the fraternity.

Mafons

have ever, in compliance with the tenor

of

their profeflion, paid

due obedience to
its

the rnoral law, and have inculcated

precepts
their

with

powerful

energy on
doftrine

all

followers.

The

of one

God,
v^erfe,

the creator and preferver of the uni

has always been their firm belief.

the influence of this dodlrine, the-

Under

condudl of the fraternity has been regulated through a fuccefllon of ages.

The

progrefs

of knowlege

and philofophy,

aided by divine revelation, having abolifhed

many of

the vain fuperftitions of

antiquity,

and enlightened the minds of

men

with the

knowlege of the true

God

and the facred myfteries of the

chriftian

REMARKS.
faith,

165
in,

mafons have always acquicfced

and zealoully purfued every meafure which

might promote that holy
calculated to
religion, fo wifely

make men happy.

In thofe

countries, however,

where the gofpel has

not reached, and chriftianity difplayed her

beauties,

the mafons

have purfued the

univerfal religion

or the religion of na-

ture

that

is,

to be

good men and

true,

by

whatever denomination orperfuafion they

have been diftinguifhed.

A cheerful com-

pliance with the eftabliOied religion of the

country in which they

correfponds with, and
teftets

live, in fo far as it
is

agreeable to the
earneftly

of mafonry,

is

recom-

mended

in all their aflemblies.

This uni-

verfal conformity, notwithftanding private

fentiment and opinion, anfwers the laudable purpofe of conciliating true friend-

i66
fliip

REMARKS.
among men, and
and
is

an art few arc

fewer to
teacfi.

qualified to learn,

ftill

VII.

Page 113. 122.

How

commede ma?]

connes more teachers than odher menne

The

anfwer implies, that raafons having

greater opportunities

of improving

their

natural parts, are better qualified to inftruft others.

Mr. Locke's obicrvation

on

their

having the art of finding new

aijd his

arts, is

very judicious,

explanation

of it j utt.

The fraternity have ever made the

ftudy of the arts a principal part of their

private
b'.ies

amufement j
and

in their feveral affem-

nice

difficult

theories

have

been faithfully canvafled and wifely explained-, frcfh difcoveries

have

alfo

been

produced,

and

thofc

already

knOwa

REMARKShave been
accvrately tlluftrated.
different clafles

167

The

eftabKfhed, the gradual

progreffion of knowlege communicated,

and the regularity obfervcd throughout

the whole fyftem of their government
is

an evidcntproof of

this aflertion.

Thofe
art

initiated into the myfteries

of the

foon

difcover that mafons are poffefled of the art

of finding out new

arts

to

which know-

lege they gradually arrive by inftruAion

from, and familar intcrcourfe with,

men

of genius and

ability.

VIII.

Page 113. 123. What dothe the maconnes concele and hyde
?]

The
new

anfwer
for

imports, the ^rt of finding

their
profit

arts,

and praife

and then

par-r

ticularizes

the difFereot. arts

they care^

i68

REMARKS,
Mr. Locke's, remark,
that

fully conceal.
this

fhews too

much

regard for their

own

fociety, an4' too little for the reft

of man-

kind,

is

rather too feyere,

when he has

admitted the propriety of concealing from

the world

what

is

of no real public

utility,

kft, being converted to

bad

ufes,

thecon-

fequences might be prejudicial to fociety.

By
and

the

word

praife^

is

here meant honor

refpeft,

to which the mafons' were

ever in titled, and which only could give

credit to the wife doftrines they propa-

gated. Their fidelity has ever given tliem a

claim to cfteem, and the redtitude of their

manners has ever demanded veneration.

Mr. Locke
obfervations
tion.

has

made

feveral judicious
to this qucf-

on the anfwer

His being

in the darit

concerning

^hc meaning of the faculty of Abrac, I

7.

REMARKS.
am noways
ceive
is

169

furprifed at, nor can i con-

how he could olherwife

be.

Abrac

an abbreviation of the word abracaIn the days of ignorance and fa

dabra.

perflition, that
fication. ftnd

word had a magical

in

figni-

was written

a certain fbml
explanation

"peculiar to the craft.

The

of

it is

now

loft.

Our

celebrated, annotator has takerv

no

notice of the mafons having the art of

working; miracles, and fbrefaying thtngs-to

come.

Aftrology was received as one of

j

the afts which merited their patronage

and the good ei^d^

ftudy of
it,

refulting

from the

may fully

vindicate the counteto this delufion^

nance given by the mafons

The

ancient phiiofophers applied with

unwearied diligence to difcover the afpefts,

magnitudes, diftances, motions and revolu-

170

REMARKS.
-,

tions of the heavenly bodies

ing, to the difcoveries

ami accord-

they tnade, pretended

to foretell future eventsi*

and to deter-

mine concerning the

fecrets

of providence:

Hence

this

ftody grew, in a courfe of

time, to be a regular fcience, and was ad-

mitted

among

the other arts praifHfed

fay

fnafbns.

Aftrology,

it

moft be ovimed, however

in it&lf,

vain and delafivc

ha proved ex-

tremely ufefiU to Ttiankind, by proraoting

ihe exQcllent fcienee of aftronomy.
.

The

vain hope of reading the fates of men, and

the fuccefs of their defigns, has been one

of the ftrongeft.motives to induce them,

in

'all countries, to a3it|pntive obfervation of

0iecelcftial bodies
;

whence they have been

taoght to meafurc time, to

tion of feafons,
tions

mark

the dura*

and to regulate ihe aera-

of agriculture.

REMKllKS.
IX.

171

Page 114. Wylle he techc

fame
t'loixt

me

thay

artes P]

By

the atifwerto this quef*^

we

learn the ncceflary qualiflcattons

in

which are required

mafonry
>,

a candidate for

a good chara^er, and an

abk

rapacity.

Page 1x4. Dot;he

all

maconncs kunne

more then odher mennc?] The anfwcr

only implies, that mafons have a better
opporttinity than the reft of marikHid,

of

rmpTOvir^

in ufeful

knowlcge.

XI.

Page

115.

Aremaconnesguddcrfnenne

than odhers ?] Mafons are not underftood

%a
l>e

more virtupus
I

in

their lives

and

172

REMARKS,
men may
be,j

adionSj than other

is

but

it

an undoubted a&^ that a ftrid con-

formity to the rules of their profefllon

may make them

better

men

than ihey

otherwiie would be.

XII.

page 115. Dothe maconnes love

odher myghtylye
anfwer to
ss

eidher

as beeth fayde ?}

The
and
the

this quefl,5on is truly greatj

judicioofly

remarked upon

by

teamed

aniiotator.

By the
tions)

anfwers to the three

is

laft

quefall-

mafonry

vindicated againfl:
j

the objeftions of cavillers

is
jt,

its

excellency

difplayed

-,

and every cenfure againU

its

on account of the tranfgrc/nens of

enthly removed.

profeffiirs,

No

bad.

man

can be enrolled in our records^ if

REMARKS.
upon
us,

173

knoMvn to bt foj but fhould he impofe

and

we

unwarily are led to re-

reive him, our endeavours are exerted to

reform him
niafon, he

and,

it

b certain,

by being a

v/i)I

become a

better fobjeft to

his fovcrcjgn,

and 4 more ufeful member

to the itate.

Upon
vations

the whole,

Mr, Locke's

obfer*-

on

this curious

rnanuftript,

are

well defcrving a ferious and careful ex-

amination

an4therie remains little doubt,

but the favourable opinion he conceived

of the fociety of mafons before his ad^
niifnon,

was

fufficiently

confirmed after

his initiation.

Of
fefe,

all

the arts which the mafons pro-

the art of keeping

(terete particu-

I3

X74
larly

REMARKS.
diftinguifhes

them.
is

Secrecy

is

proof of wifdom, and

of the utmoft

importance in the different tranfafkions of

life.

Sacred, as well as profane, hiftory,

it

has declared

to

be an
is

art

of

inefti-

mable value.
jpcUy
himfelf,

Secrecy

agreeable to the

who

gives the glorious eK-

ample, by concealing from mankind the

fecrets

of his providence.

The wifeft

of

men cannot pry

nor can
fovf

into the arcana

of heavtn,

tihey divine

to-day what to-mor'

may

bring forth.

Many

inftances

maybe adduced from

hiftory,

of the great

veneration that was paid to this art

by

the ancients

but

I (hall

only

feledl

a fev^
reader.

for the prefent entertainment

ofthe

Pliny informs us, tiiatAnaxarchui, be-

ing imprifoned with a view to txtort from

REMARKS.
bim fomc
entrufted,
fecrets

175

with which he had been

exquifrte tor-

and dreading that

ture might induce him to betray his truftj

bit his tongue in the middle, and threw
it

in the face

of Nicocreon, the tyrant of

torments could

Cyprus.

No

make

the

fervants of Plancus betray the fecrets

of

their matter % with fortitude they encour*-

tered cverypain, and flrenuouilyfup ported

Uieir ftdclity, till death
fiafFerings.

put a period to their

The Athenians had aftatue of

bowed
;

bcafsvto which they

the figure was

reprcfcnted without a tongue to denote fecrecy.

The Egyptians
Romans bad

worlhipped Har-

jxjcrates,

the god of filence,

who was always

Tcprefented holding his finger at his ih<Hith.

.r-Tbe

likewifc their

godd^

of

filence,

named Angerona, to >yhom they

oflfcricd

worlhip.

In

fhort,

the multi-

I4

-6

REMARKS,
of examples,
-which

pUcity

might

be

t-rought to confirnt) the regard that was

:.<ajd

to

this

virtue

in

the early ages,

would
c

increafe the plan

its

of

my
;

work
it

fer

eyond

prefcribed limits

fufSce

to

rAjferve,

that

Lycurgiis the eelebratcd

as.

lai^iver, as vreH

PytliiagoTa.?, the great

fehotar, particularly

recomtneaded this viv-

tue: sipecially tfie

laft,

w^o kept

his difcU

pies file^t during ftyren yearsj that they

might learn the valuable

fecrets
i

he had to

communicate

111159

them

thereby expre&

fing that fccrecy

waS the

rateftj as \/d\ as

the nobieft, art.

lliall

concltide

my

remarks with th^

ivllowing ftory^ related by a

riri,

Roman

hifto-

which,

as

ft

may be

equally pleafing

and

inftruftiTe, I fhall give at full length.

REMARKS.
The
that,

t77
ordained,
in the fe-

fenators

of

Rome had

during their confultations

natc-houfe, each brother fenator (hould be

jpcrmitted to bring his fon with him,

who
This

was to depart

if occaflon required.

favour, however, was not general, but reftrifted

only to the fons of noblemen

who

were tutored from

their infancy in the virin their

tueo/fecrecy,and thereby qualified,

riper years, to difcharge the

moft importfidelity
it

ant

offices

of government with

and wifdom.

About

this

time

hap-

pened, that the fenators met on a very

important cafe, and the
affair

requiring

mature deliberation, they were detained

longer than ufual in the fenate-houfe, and
the conclufion of their determinations ad-

journed to the followingday ; each member

engaging, in the

mean

time, to keep fecret

l5

178

REMARKS,
Among
attended

the tranfa(5lions of the meeting.

other noblemen's fons,

who had

on the

occafion, was, the fon of the grave

,

Papyrus

a family of great renown and

fplendoe.
leis

The young Papyrus was no

remarkable for his genius, than for

the prudence of his deportment.

On

his

return home, -KU mother, anxious to

know

-what important cafe had been debated in

the ienate that day, which had detained the

fenators fo long

beyond the ufual hour,

irv-

treated

him to

relate the particulars.

it

The
was a

noble and virtuous youth told her,

bulinefs not in his

power to

reveal,

he be-

ing folcmnly enjoined to fiknce^

On hear-

ing

this,

her importunities

were moce

earneft,

and her

inquiries

more minute.
all cvafioia

Intelligence Ihe

muft havcv

REMARKS.
were vain.
Firft,

179
and

by

fair fpceches

imrcaties, with liberal promifcs, Ihe en-

deavoured to break open

this little cafltet

of fecrecy

-,

then finding her

efforts

in

vain, (he adopted rigorous mcafures,

and
i

had recourfe to ftripes and violent threats

firmly perfuadcd that force would extort;

what

lenity

could not

effcft.

The

youth,

finding his mother's threats to be very

harfh, but her ftripes

more fevere

com-

paring his love to her, as his mother, with

the duty he

owed

to his father

the one

mighty, but the other impuliive; lays her

and her fond conceit

father, his

in

one

fcale i his

own

honour, and. the folemn.

;

injunflions to fecrecy in the other fcale

and finding the

derate,

latter

greatly preponfpirit

with a noble and heroic

liis

prc-

fcrved

honour,

at

the

rifle

of his mo-

16

tSo

REMARKS.
j

ther's difpleafure

and thus endeavoured

to relieve her anxiety.

" Madarn^ and dear mother, you may

^

well blame the fenate for their long

fitting,

at leaft for

prefuming to call
j

**

in queftion a caie fa trul^ impertinent

**

except th^ wives of the feoators are

al

**

lowed to confult thereon, thexe can be

no hope of a concl u fi on^

only,

ipeak
I

this

"
*'
*

from

my own

opinion;

know

their gravity will eafiJy coirfoimd

my

juvenile appfehetvGons

yet^,

whether

**
**

nature or duty inftrub.

I

ms

to

da

foj

cannot

tell.

It fcems neceflary

to

them,, for the increaf^ of people,

that every
j

and

" the public good,

'*

fenator

ihould bs allowed two wives

wife, their wives

or othrI fball

"

two hnibands.'

"

hardly incline to call^ under one.roo^

REMARKS.
*'

lit
I

tvfO

men by

the

name of father ;
falute

had

"
*

rather

with cheerfulncfs
the

two
This>

women by
is

name of mother.
}

**
*

the queftton) mother

and to-morrow

it is

to be determined.'*
this,
it,

His mother hearing

and

his

feenv
it

ing unwilling to reveal

Ihe took

for

an

infallible trutli.

Her blood was

enfued.

quickly.
in-

firedj

and rage

Without

qoiring any farther into the merits of the

cafe, ihe

immediately difpatched meffen^

all

gers to

the other ladies and matrons.

of Rome,
weighty
v^hich

acquaintrag

them

of

this
iir

affair

now under

deliberation^

the peace and

lives

welfare of their

whole

was

fo nearly concerned.--

The

melancholy news foon fpread a general

alarm;

thoufand

conjedSlores

were

formed, and the ladies being refolvcd^tQ

i82

REMARKS.
vreighcy
pointy

give their adiftaTice in the decidon of

this

immediate]/

af-

fcmbledj and headed by young Papyrus'

mother, on the next moffniogy proceeded
to the fenate-houie.

Though

it

is

re-

marked that a parliament of women

fcldom governed
affair

are

by.

one fpcaker, yet the

being {o ur^gcntj the hafte as perti-

nent,

and the cafe (on

their behalf)

of the

utmoft Gonfequence, the revealing woman

muft fpeak for

all

the reft, and

infift

on

the neceffity of the concurrence of the

feuators wives to the deteraiination of a

Jaw in which they were Qj particaJarly

interefted.

When

they came to the door

ofihjc fcnate-houfe, fuch a noifewas made,

for admiflfon to
this

fit

wkh

their hufbands in
all

grand confottation, that

Rome

eetned to be in an upfoaF^

Their bufine^

REMARKS,
which being complied with, and

183

mud be known before they have audience;

their ad.miflion granted, fuch an elaborate oration

was made by the female fpeaker on the

occaGon, in behalf of her fex, as aftoniihed
the whole fenators.

She requefted, that

the xnatter might be feriouily canvafTed

according to juflice and equity', and

ex<-

preiled the determined refolutions of all

her

fiflecs,

to oppofe a meafore fo unconf

iHtutional, as that of perjnitcing one

hu&

band to have two wives, who could

pleafe one
efFeflual
if
:

fcarcely

ihe propofed,

as the

moQ:

way of peopling
.

the ftate, that

in the eftar

any alteration was made

biifhed cuIVom

of Rome, women might be

permitted to have two hufbands.

Upon

the riddle being folved, the ladies were

greatly confoundcdi

and departed wfth

r84

REMARKS.
;

blufhing cheeks

wfiile the

noble yovth,

who had
his truft,
fidelity,

thus proved himfelf worthy of

was highly commeilidcd for

his

Howeverj

in order

to avoid a

like tumult in future, the fenate r^folved,

that the

cuftom of intfodocing
be
abolifhed
;

their fons

fhould

but that young

Papyros, on account of bis attachment to

his

word, and

his difcreeC policy, fhould

be freely admitted, and ever afterwards be

dignified and. rewarded.

The
have

virtue and fidelity of Papyrus

j

is

truly worthy of imitation

ftill

but the mafons

in their

more glorious example

own body, of a brother *,

every
sort,

accotnplilhcd in
.

who,

rather, than

forfeit his

honor> or betray his truft*

to the cruel

fell

fecrifice

hand <^ a barbarous

* Hifam Abbiill

alTafllR

REMARKS.

I85

E U L O G

M.
mark

" Masonry ftamps an

indelible
its

of

pre-eminence on

all

^rofsSbrs,

** v/hicli
*

neither chance, powefj nor fbr-

^unt can beftow on thofe

who have not

It
is

'

been

initiated into its myftcries.

"
'

fure foundation

of tranquility amidft
}

all

'

ihc difappointments of life

it is

a friend

who
una
iity
;

-will

not deceive, but will comfort

**

affifV,

both in profpcrity and advera bleffing which will remain

"

it is

" with
*'

all

times

circumft^nccs
Iiad

and

p}ac8,

and may be

recourfe to,
fail.

vvhcn

all

other earthly comforts

186

REMARKS.
gives real and intrinfic excct-

" Mafonry
**

lence to

man, and renders him

of
fbcial life.
It

fit

for

**

the

duties

calms

" domeftic
**

ftrife, is

company

in folitudc,

ind gives vivacity, variety and energy

to fecial

converfatbn.
pafllons,

Li youth

it

" calms the

**

and employs
faculties
j

ufein

fully our

moft aftive

and

**

old age, when ficknefs, imbecility and

** difcafc
*'

have benumbed every corporeal

ftnfe,

and rendered the union of

intolerable,
it

foul

**

and body afmoft

yields

an inexhauftible fund of comfort and

fatisfaftion.
'*

Such

are the general advantages of

**
*

mafonry;
rately,

to

enumerate

them

fepa-

would be an md^lds labour

he

"

fufficc it to fey, that

who

is

pofieft

" of this

true fcicncc, and afts agreeably

REMARKS.
**
**

187

to the charafter he bears, has within

himfelf the
fpring

and

fupport

of

**

every focial virtue j a fubjeft of contcmplation that enlarges

** * **

the mind, and

expands every mental power j a fubjeft that

is

inexhauftible,
interefting

is

ever new,

and always

"

APPENDIX.

APPENDIX.
A

CHARGE*
O N

MASONRY.
To
be delivered after the ceremony of
Initiation into

the Firft Degree

Brother

AS

hare had the honour to introfirft

ducc you into the

I

principles

of our Royal Order,

furc to

have now the plear

congratulate

you on being
this

ac-

cepted a

Member of

moft ancient

* This charge was

and infcribed

printed by itfelf in 1769.

to the honourable
it

Chahles Dillon*

who was

pleafed to give

Ki( patronage.

I9Z

A P P E N D

X>

and honourable Society!

ancient, as hav5

ing fubfifted from time iimnemorial

and

honourable, as tendings in every particular!

to render

all

men

fo,

who

will

be

but conformable

-to its

^orious precepts.

No feciety ever ilibfifted

on a
better principle or
i

which was

raifcd

more

folid foun-

dation
rules

nor were ever more excellent

laid

and ufcful maxirns

down, than

are inculcated

on

all

perfons

when

ini*

tiated into the myfteries

of

this fcience.

Monarchs,
rftgcrs.

in all ages,

have been encouthis Art;,

and promoters of
it

and

have never deemed

their

derogatory from
themfelves

dignity

to

level

with

the fraternity* to extend their privileges,

and to patronize

their aflemblies.

As
bound

gentleman and a mafon you are

to

be a

ftrift

obferver of the moral

APPENDIX.
law, as contained in this holy
confider
it

193
to

book ^ ;

as the unerring ftandard of

truth and juftice, and to regulate your

life

and aflions by

its

divine precepts.

Herein your duty to God, to your neighbour, and to yourfelf,

is

duly inculcated

and; as a zealous attachment to thefe

duties will fecure both public and private
etteetn* I

hope your future conduft

wilt
this

amply evince the happy cfk&s of

fraternal admonition.

In the

ftate>

you

are to

be a quiet and

peaceable fubjed, true to your fovereign^

and juft to your country

never to coun*
pai*

tenance diOoyaltjr or rebellion^ but

tiently to

fubmit to magifterial authority^

and conform with cheerfulnefs to the go-

* Hen the

Msfter poinu to the Bible.

194

APPENDIX.
in

vcrnment of the kingdom

live.

which you

In your outward demeanour, you are to

be particularly careful to avoid cenfure

or reproach \ and to beware of
all thofe

who may

artfully

endeavour to infinuatc

thcmfelves into your efteem, with a view

to betray your virtuous rcfolutions, or

make you

fwerve from the honourable

principles of this inftituticm.

tereft,

Let not

in-

favour, or

prejudice,

ever biafs

your integrity, or influence you to be

guilty of a dishonorable

adion; but

let

the whole

feries

of your conduft and be-

haviotir be regular

and uniform, and your

the dignity of this

deportment

fui table to

laudable pro&fllon.

APPENDIX.
Above
all

195

other virtues, praftife benediC-

volence and charity \ two of the moft

tinguiftiing
eharafteriftics

of

this

vene-

rable inftitution.

The

inconceivable plea

fure of contributing towards the relief oF

our fellow-creatures can only be experienced by perfons of a humane difpoGtion;

who

are naturally excited,

by the power

of fympathy, to extend
ation of the miferies

their aid in allevi-

of others. This alone

encourages the generous foul to diftribute

his

bounty with cheerfuinefs.

By

fup-

pofing himfelf in their unhappy fituationi

he

liftens

to their complaints with atten-

tion, bewails their misfortunes,

ily relieves their diftrefi.

and Ipeed-

The

next objeft of your attention, and

relates to

which more immediately

your.

2,

196

A P P E
is

MD

K.

prefent ftate,

our excellent Book of

Conftitutionsi

containing the hiftory of

the Craft from the earlieft periods and an

entertaining detail of thofe noble peribn*

ages

who have

enriched the Art from

-,

Adam

to the prefent aera

with

all

the

laws and regulations of th fociety, neceffafy for the inftruftion of the fraternity 4

and

to which* I hope,

you

will ever con-

form and adhere.

puncfhial attendance on our aflem-

blies I

would next

enjoin>

more

efpecially
in

on the duties of
all

this lodge.

Here, as

other regular meetings of the frater-

nity,

you

are to

behave with due order

and decorum, that harmony may be preferved,

and the

bufinefe

of the fociety be
are not to lay.

properjiy

conduced.

You

APPENDIX,
or offer to lay, wagers
;

197

nor uie any unbe-

coming language

in

derogation of the
the corruption of

name of God, or towards

good manners }
duce, fupport,

neither are

you

to intro-

or maintain any difpute

;

about

religion or politics

nor to behave
is

yourfclf ludicroufly while the lodge

gag,ed in

en-

what

is

ierious

and important-,

but to pay a proper deference and refpeft

to the Mailer and prefiding officers, and
diligently to apply to your

work

in

ma-

fonry, that

you may the fooner become a

your own

proficient therein, as well for

reputation, as the honor of the lodge in

which you have been made.

However, although
folicic

would

earncftly

your frequent appearance at our

meeiiags, yet
I

r^lar

mean not to

in-

K3

198

APPEND! X
your
accsHkry avocations

terfere with

for theie are

lefted.

on no occafion to be negieifure

At your

hours you are

required to fhjdjr -only the liberal art*

and
a

fciencesi,

and, by that means, with

will foon

few private inftrudions, you

attain

a competent knowlege of our ma-

fonic inyderies.

Before I conclude,

I fnwft lecal

to your

memory

the abfolute neceiTity

of keeping
of

inviolable every particular inftrudlion

this

folemni charge;

and

that

if

ver

in the circle

of your acquaintance, you

ihould find one defirous of being accepted

amorg mafons, you

attentive not tp

will

be particularly
unlefs
thefe

recommend him,

you

are convinced he will

3

conform to

rules

in order that the

hoaour, glory.

APPENDIX.
and
tion

199
inftitu-

reputation

of

this

noble

may be

firmly eftablifbed, and the

its

popular world be fully convinced of

benign influence.

Thus, brother,

have recapitnlated

thofe duties I could wilh

you

carefully to
er-

obfervci and hope, from the apparent

tention
that

you have paid

to their recital,

you

will cftimatc their real value:

and

ever imprint on your mind the facred dictates

of truth, honor, and juftice

K*

aoo

APPENDIX.
A

CHARGE,
at

To

Jbe

delivered

Initiation

into the

Second Degree.

Brother,

BEING now advanced

degree of mafonry,
vince to congratulate you

to the
is

fecond

it

my

pro-

on your

prefer-

ment Yo Uf mofV know

tnd not the

that the internal,

external, qualifications

of a

man

are w?iat

fna&my regards. As you

you mil conieI

increafe
quentljF

in knowlege,

improve in

ibcial intercourfe.

^all not therefore recapitulate the

duties, which, as a maibn,

feveral

you

are

bound

to difcharge

or enlarge on the necefllty

as

of a RnQ. adherence to them,

your own

experience muft have fufficieutly convinced

APPENDIX,
you of their importance and tjtility.
it to

201
Suffice

obferve, that your paft behaviour and

regular deportment has merited this additional

that,

honor which we nov/ confer; and

your new charafter,
it is

expcAtd

you

will always

conform to the principles

fteadily perfevere in the

of mafonry, and

pra^ice of every commendable virtue.

The Xhidy of

the liberal arts, that va^

luable branch of education, .which tends

fo eife^ually to polifh

and adorn the hu*

man mind,

would

earneftly

recommend
\

to your ferious confideratton

cfpecially
is

the noble fcience of geometry, which

eftabllfhed as the bafis

on which the fupcrereftcd.

(Irufture

of mafonry

is

This

fci-

ence, being both of a divine and moral nature , isenriehed withthe moft ufeful loKnw

K5

202
lege
;

APPENDIX*
and, while
it

proves the wonderful

it

properties of nature,

alfo

demonftrates.

the Tttore important truths of morality.

As

the folemnhy of our different cereferi-

monies alwaya requires a grave and

OU5 deportment you are to he particularly

attentive to your behaviour in our regular

aflemblies

to preferve the

antient

ufages and cuftoms of the fratermty fa-

cred and invioiable

and to endeavour to

induce others,

by your example, to hold

them in due veneration.

The laws and regulations

you
are to fupport

of the fociety
j

and maintain
in feeing

and be

ever ready to
executed.

affift

them duly

You

are neither to palliate

nor aggravate the offence^ of your hre-

APPENDIX.
thren ; but, in the decifion of every
pafs againft our rules,
v(ith candor,

203
treC-

you

are to

judge

to admonifh

with friend-

ihip,

and to punlHi with juftice.

In our private zl^mhVies, you

msy

oSht your fentiments and opinions on va^

rious branches

of

ufeful knoHrlqge, fo far

as they correfpond with,

and are

gree*

able to,

the tenets

on mafonry.
rational

Thus
Intel-

you may improve your

lediual powers
i

and

qualify yourfelf to be-

come an

ufeful

member of

fociety

-,

and

vie with your brethren, in your endea-

vours to excel

in

every thing that

is

good

and great.

Every regular

fign or

fummons, given

and received, you are duly to honor, and

iC

204

APPENDIX.
inromuch
as

punftually to obey;
confift:

they

with

our

profeflid

principles.

You are
ties

cheerfxilly to relieve the necefli-

of your brethren to the utmoil of

Ability^

your power and

without prejudice
:

to yourfelf or your private concerns

and

you

are,

on no account, to injure a bro-

ther, or to fee

him

injured } but
all

you

are

to apprife
gers,

him of
View

approaching dan-

and

to

his intereft as

your own.

Such

is

the nature of your prefent en',

gagements

and to thefe duties you are

moft facrcd
ties.

now bound by the

APPENDIX.
A
To
be

i05

CHARGE.
at Initiation Into the

delivered

Third P^fce.

Brother,

TTAVING arrived at this refpeftable ^ degree, with equal pleafure and

joy, I falute you.

Your

zeal for this

honourable inftitution, your knowlege in

our facred myfteries, and your

conformity to
gulations,
all

ftedfaft
re-

our wife and ufeful

pointed

have

you out

as

proper objeft for this diftinguifhing

mark

of our fraternal

afTeftion.

Duty now

binds you, as
to

-well as

honor

and gratitude,
truft
}

be

faithful to every

to fupport the dignity of the fociety

206
on

APPENDIX.
and to recommend a due
tenets.

all occafions,

obedience to

our incomparable

The

principles of mafonrp will certatnly^

all

induce you to adhere ca

the duties

contained in our various le^ures i I (hall

not therefore enlarge on this fubjefti but

requeft
diat,

by precept and exannple^

you may enforce our laws % thereby convincing the world that merit
title
is

the only

to our privileges,

and that on you our

favours are not ondelervedly bellowed.

In the charafter of a matter mafbn,

you

are authorized to conefl the irregu^

larities

of your brethren

if

any of them
inatteii-

have, tiiroughi heedlefTnefs and

tion* deviated

from our excellent

rules |

you

are to

be to them perpetual moerrors,

nitor

of

their

to fortify

their

APPENDIX.
minds
with
refolation

ao7
the

to

refift

temptations of the wild and imprudent,

and

to

guard them againft every allure-

ment
iions

to VICIOUS praftices.

On

all

occa-

you are to caution the inexperienced

againft a breach of fidelity, and, as

as lies in

much

your power, preferve the repuat large.

tation

of the fociety

You

are

to

recommend

to your inferiors, obedij

ence and

fubmifliOn

to
i

your equals,
to

coortefy and affability

periors, kindnefe

and

your fu-

and condefcenfion, Uni-

verfal benevolence

you

are

zealoufly to

inculcate;

and qualify yourfelf, byargo-

meat to remove every afperflon againft

this

venerable inftitution.

Our

ancient

landmarks you are carefully to preferve,

and never Co

fuffer

any infringement of

them i

or,

on any pretence^ to countenance

2o8

APPENDIX.
and

deviations from the eftablilhed wfages

cuftotns of the order.

Your

zeal for virtue*

your honour

as

gentleman, your reputation as a mafon

are all equally toncerned in fupporting,

with becoming dignity, the charadler in

which you now appear^

therefore

let

no motive

make you

fwerve from your

duty, violate your vows^ or betray your

truft
i

but be true and

faithful^

and imi*
cele-

tate the glorious

example of that
have
will
this

brated

artift,

Vhom you
Thug you

evening

rcprefented.
felf

prove your-

worthy of the confidence which we

have repofed in you, and defcrving of every

honor which wc can confer.

APPENDIX.
A
Ufed

209

PRAYER,
at

opening the Lodge.

V/TAY
this

the favour of

Heaven be upon
;

our happy meeting

may

it

be

begun, carried on, and ended with

order,,

harmony, and brotherly

love.

Amen.

A
Ufed

PRAYER.
at clofing the

Lodge.

Jy^AV the
us,
tify

blefBng o(
all

Heaven be with

and

regular mafons ; to beau-

and cement us with every moral and

focial virtue.

Amen.

A PRAYER,
Ufed
at the Inidation
aid.

of a Candidate.

l^Ouchfafe thy

Almighty Father

and fupreme governor of the world,

on

this

our prefent convention

and grant

210

APPENDIX.
may
delife

that this candidate for mafonry

dicate and devote his

to thy fcrvice,

and become a true and

faithful brother

among

us.

Endue him with a compe-

tence of thy divine wifdom, that, by the

fecrets

of

this art,
tlie

he may be better cnamyfterics of godlineis,

tied to unfold
to the hoftor

of thy h<^y name. Amen,

A DECLAKATION,
To be
fubfcribed, or aCfented to,

by every
his

Candidate for Nafonr/^ previous to

lixitiatiorv

T A.
*

do

ferioufly dtcJare

upon my

honor, ihal unbiaffed by ftiends and uninilaencd by mercenary motives* 1

*^

APPENDIX.
**

211
myfclf a

freely

and voluntarily
tJie

offer

"
*'

candidate for
that 1

mj^teries of mafonry

am

folely

prompted by a favour-

"
"
**

able opinion conceived of the inflitution,

a defire of kruivvlege,

and

fincere wiJh of being fcrviceable to

;

my

" fellow-creatures
*'

and that
all

will cheer-

fully

conform to
ufages

the ancient efta'

*'
*'

blilhed
fociety.

and cuftoms

of
this

the

As

witncfs

my

hand,

**

day of
(Signed)

E.

Witnefles.
F.'}

^'

When the above declaration is made and

attefted, the candidate
is

then propofed in

opca lodge,

in

manner following

ai2

APPENDIX.
Worftiipful Mafter and bre-

" Right
"

thren,

" At "
*'

the earneft requeft of

Mr. A. B.

{mentioning his profejjion and refidenee,"]

I

propofe him as a candidate for our

myfteries.
charajfter, I

From

knowlege of
as

his

recommend him

worthy

*'

to partake of the privileges

of mafonry

**

and

in

confequence of a declaration of

" "
**

his intentions,

made, figned, and pro-

perly attefted, I firmly believe he will

cheerfully

conform to

all

the rules

of

this foclety."

dWJ^

APPENDIX.
THE

ai^

MANNER
O
F

Conftitutlng a Lodge,
According
to ancient

Ufage:

WITH
The Ceremony of Consecration.

ANY
*

number of Mader-mafonx,

not

under feven, refolved to form thetn-

felves into a
petition,

New Lodge,

mull apply, by
fetting

to the

Grand Mafter}

forth,
*

**

That they

are regular-made

ma-

fons,

and prefcnt members of

different

"

lodges under the conftitution of Eng-

land

That they have

the profperity

214
<*

APPENDIX.
fociety at heart,

of the

and are willing

to exert their bcft endeavours to pro-

**

mote

the principles

of raafonry

That

for the convcniehcy of their re(peftive

'

dwellings,

and

other

good

reafons,

<

they have agreed to form themfelves

into

aNew Lodge, to be named

-,

'

and have nominated A. B. to be the

Matter,

*'

CD.

to

be the Senior Warden,

and E. F. to be the Junior Warden

That, in confcquence of tliis refolution,
they pray for a warrant of conftitutk)n,
to impower

**
*(

chem to

ailemble, and bold

a regular lodge on the

of
in

every

" month*

at the houfe of

G. H. known
^,

by the fign of
then and
raife

and

there

to

make,

pafs,

and

"

mafons, according to the regular

APPENDIX.
^
* *'
<

2J5
all

forms of th^

fociety,

and to execute

the other duties of the craft: the

That,

prayer

of their petition being

all

granted, they will faithfully obey

the edifts or

**

commands of
ftrt^ly

the

Grand
all

<<

Mafter,

and

conform to

**

the laws and regulations of the

Grand

" Lodge."
This
petition, being properly figned,

and recommended by three Matters of

regular lodges, muft be delivered to the

Grand
the

Secretary

who, on prefenting

it

to

Deputy GraiSd Mafter, and his approvs

ing of ic, will grant a difpenfation

autho-

rifing the brethren fpecified in it, to aS~

femble as malbns for forty days, or until

fuch time as a conftitution fhall be granted,
or that authority be recalled.

2i6

APPENDIX.
may be
and
held at the place
its

In confequence of this difpeniation, a

lodge
there

fpecifted ;

tranfadtions, being pro-

perly recorded, will

be equally

valid, for

the time being, with thofe of a regular

conftituted lodge.

The

petition

is

prefented

by

the

De-

puty Grand Mafter to the Grand Mailer^

who being
allegations

fatisfied
it

of the truth of the

appoints

contains,

a day

and hour for conftituting [and confecrating *} this

New Lodge i

and for inftaloffi-

ling the Mafter, Wardens, and other

cers

of the iame.

If the

Grand Mafter

attends, with all

his OfHcers the lodge will be conftituted

IN AMPLE

FORM }

if the

Deputy Grand

Mafter and theotherGrand Officers attend*

This
is

too Ireiiuently omitted*

APPENDIX.
it will

217
j

be condituted in doe form

but

if the

power
it

is

vefted in any fubordinate

lodge,

will only

be conftituted in form.

On

the day and hour appointed, the

his Officers,

Grand Mafter, with

[or the

Mafter and Officers of any private lodge

authorized by the Grand Mafter,] meet in
a convenient

room, and being properly

clothed, walk in proccflion to the lodge

room.
Mafter
ibnry.

The

lodge

is

opened by the Grand

degrees of ma-

in all the different

prayer being repeated in due form,

focicty fung, the

and an ode in honor of the

Grand Mafter
is

[or Mafter in the Chair]

informed,

*'

That a

certain

number of

" brethren then

*

prefent, duly inftrufted

in the myfteries of mafonry, defire to

into a

be formed
*

New

Lodge, under

his

Worlhip*s [or the Grand Mafter'sj

218
*

APPENDIX.
;

patronage

that

& difpenfation

had

**

been granted

to thetn,

by virtue of
aflembled as
tranf-

" which
**
*'

authority they had

regular mafons;

and that the

adions of their fevcral

meetings had

*'

been properly recorded."

is

The

petl-

tiemsisthen read, as

aifo the difpenfacion,

end the warrant or charter of

tion,

conftjtiK
it.

granted in confequence of

The

minutes

of

all

the tranfai:ion of the

difpenfetion*

New

Lodge, while under

ore lifcewifc read,

and bdng approved

of, they are declared to be regular

valid.

and
[or

Then

the

Grand

Mailer

Mafter hi the ChairJ takes the warrant

In his hand, arrf requcfts the brethren

of

the

New

Liodge, to fignify their appro-

bation or difapprobation of the officers

nominated
over them.

in the faid warrant to

prcCde
accord-

This facing

fignified

APPENDIX.
rn^y, &n anthem
is

219

fung, and an oration

i?

on the nature and defign of nialbnry

delivered..

Ceremony of Consecration
The
Officers,

*.

Cranfd Matter, attended

by

his

and fome dignified Clergyman,

in order
all

form thcmfelves
in the center
}

round the lodge

and,

devoutly kneeling,
is

the prepM*atory prayer

rehearfed.

The
and

chaplain

produces

his

authority,

being properly aQlfled, proceeds to confecrate.

Solemn mufic

ftrikes

up,

and

the

neceffary
firft

preparations

are

made.

The
is.

claufeof the confecretion prayer

all

rehearfed,
* This
is

devoutly kneeling

and

never to be ufcd but

when

ipeciatljr

ordered.

220
the

APPENDIX,
refponfe
is

made, olory to God

is

ON HIGH.

Inccnfe

fcattered over the

lodge, and the grand honors of mafonfjr

are given.

The

confecration prayer

is

concluded, and the refponfe repeated, together with the grand honors, as before.

All

rifing upj

folemn mufic
is

is

introduced,

after

which the bleiBng

given, and the

refponfe

made

as

before,

accompanied

with the ufual honors.

An

anthem bein* o

then fung, and the brethren of the

New

Lodge

coming

forward,

the

Grand

Mafter pronounces thefe words

" In

this

my

facred charafter, and in

of the MOST HIGH, to

*'
**

whom

be glory and honor, I conftitute and

form
lar

thefe

good brethren

into a rcguIVIa-

Lodge of Free and Accepted

APPENDIX.
"
fons
}

221

and may

God be

with them."

Amen.
pets.]

[Flourifh with

drums and trum-

The

grand honors are once more

re-

peatedj and the ceremony of conlecration

ends-

The Grand Mafter*

" nominated ' Ke
*

then

aflcs

his de-

puty, " If he has examined the mafter

in the warrant,

and whether

finds

him well

fkilled in the noble

fcicnce,

and the royal art?" Tlie dein the affirmative;

puty anfwering
the

he,

by

Grand Matter's

order, takes the canhis fellows,

j

didate from
fents

among

and pre-

him

at the pcdeftal

faying,

" Moft
where

In this,

and other (imilar

is

inftances,

the

Grand Mafter

fpecified

afling

may be

uaderftood any Mafter

who performs

the ceremony,

L3

aaa

APPENDIX'
Grand Matter,
as
ir

"

worftiipful
worftiipful,

[or
I

right

"
"

happens,]

prefent
in-

my

worthy brother A' B. to be

Mafter
of
to
this

"

flailed

New

Lodge,

" knowing him

be of good morals
true and trufty, and
fi^aternity,

" '

aiid

of great

(kill

a lover

of the whole

wherc-

" foever difperfed over the face of the

earth,"

The

ancient charges and ge-

neral regulations are then read,

and the

Grand Mailer

addreffes the maftflt eleft,

" Do you
f
*

fubPAit to tbefe charges,

and

do you promife
lations,
as

to fupport thefc regiiall

mafters have done in

" ages ?"

The New Mafter having

fubmiffion,
is

fig-

nified his cordial

his truft,

bound

to

and inverted with the badge of

his oilice

by the Grand Matter, who thus

falutes

him:

"Brother A. B.

in confc-

APPENDIX.
" quence of the recommcndatioa
*'

a3
I have

received of you

and your cheerful

**

conformity^ to the u^iges and cuftoms

*' *

df the fociety,
this

appoint you Mafter of

New Lodge,

not doubting of your

"

care, fkill,
is

and capacity "

The war-

rant

then delivered over to the

i

New

Mafter

after

which the hiranv the Holy

Bible, the iquare and c^pjtfs, the

conftitutions, the

book of

minute booki the moveall

able jewels, and

the infignia of his dif-

ferent oiBcers, are feparately prcfented to

him, and the neceflary charges luicable to

each,

properly
is

delivered*.

The New

MaHier

then conduied by the Stewards,

amidtl the acclamations of the brethrep, to

the

Grand Matter's left hand, where he

it to be afed at

rc-

* Tbe fame eeremoa/

Aicceeding ioftalUaoiu

cveiy

L4

324
turns

APPENDIX
Misbecoming acknov/iedgments; to
fiift.

the
reft

Grand Mafter
in

snd to

all

the
is

their

order

after

which he

faluted by the mufic, with a fong fuit-

able to the occafion.

Then

the

members
pay due
fignify

of the

New Lodge
to the

advance,

homage
their

Grand Mafter, and

promife of fubjeftion and obedience

to their

New

Mafter, by the ufual congr*.

tlSe

tulatiofis

different

degrees

of

mafonry.

The Grand Mafter then

orders the

New
the

Matter to enter immediately upon

exercife

of his

office

to wit, in appoint

ing his wardens, whoni he aceordingly

names.
pedeftal,

They

are condufted

up
the

to the

and prefcnted
after

to

Grand

Mafter ;

which the

New

Mafter pro-

APPENDIX.
ceeds to
invetfc

225

them with

he badges of

their offices in the following

manner

" Brother C. D.
*'

appoint you Senior

j

"Warden of

this

lodge

and inveft you

office.
I

" with
*

the enfign

of your

Your
parti-

regular and early attendance

cularly requeft, as in

"
*

my

abfence you

are to govern the lodge, and in

my

* **

prefence to

alfift

me

in the

government

of
to

it.

Your

zeal for mafonry, joined

abilities,

your

ejctenfive

will,

no

doubt,
**

enable you

to

difcharge the

duties of this important ftation to your.

**
*

own
thofe

t-eputation,

aod to the honor of

are

over-whom you

now appointed

to prefide.'*
**

Brother E. F.
this

appoint you Junior

i

Warden of

lodge

and

inveft

you

with the badge of your

office.

To

1^5

2z6
**

APPEND!
I

X.

you
tors,

entruft the examination of vifi-

"

and the introdud^ion of candidates.

"I
<*

therefore requeft your regular

and

punftual attendances Imd de^ubtnot but

your proficiency

in m^fojiry will qualify

" you .to

escecutc faithfully the

duty you

owe
*

to your prefent appointment,**

Brother Wardens, you are both too

" good members of our community, and

*

00 expert *m the principles

to

of nufoniy,
in
:

require

more ihfbrmaiujn

the
fiif-

** **
*

duties of your refpeftive offices

fice it

to mention, that I expedl

what

you have feen

praife- worthy in others,

*'

you
in

will carefully imitate;

and what

**
*

them may have appeared dciecyou

will carefully avoid.

tive,

Good

order and regularity you muft endea-

*'

vour to promote, and by a due regard

to the laws in your

own

coodufl, en-

APPENDIX.
"
*

227
in that

force a

due obedience

to

them

of the other members."

The Wardens
the Treafurqr

retiring to their feats,

is

next invcfted.

The

$eerpt9ry

is

then called

up

to the pedeftal,
his office
j

and inrefted with the jewel of

the

Nov MaftcT
I

thus addrefling him

*^
**

appoint you bnxhcr G.

It is

H.

Seu-e>-

tary of this lodge.

your province

"
**

to record the miautes, fettle the ac-

counts, and ilTuc out the

fummons

for

" our
**'

regular meetings.

am

v/ell

con-

vinced your good inclinations to mafonry

this

will
traft

induce you
writh fidelity,
'

to

difeharge
I

and

doubc

*
**

not but your condudl will juftly merit

the efteem and applaufe of the lodge."
* This
officer i

not appointed by

the ma&tt,

bat eleded by tbe lodge.

2a8

appendix.
Stewards afe then called up and
,

The

invcfted,

and the foJlawing charge

deli-

vered by the

New
I.

Mafter

" Brother
*'

K,

md

biX)ther

L.

M.

appoint yew Stewards of the lodge,

duties of youvifitors,

" The

Ofike are to infee that they

" troduce

and to

"
*

are properly

accommodated j
and orher

to colledb

the quarterage

fees,

and to

" keep an account of

**

the lodge expences. early

Your
will

regular and

attendance,

<
'

be the beft proof you can give of

your zeal for malbnry, and your attachto the lodge."

* ment

The Mafter

then appoints the Tyler,

in

and delivers over

form the inftrument

the neceOary charge

of

his

office,

witli
%.

on that occafion
the

after wl^ich

he addreffes

members of

the lodge as follows

APPENDIX.
" Brethren,

^29

" Such
"
tion,

is

the nature of our conftituas

that

fome muft of

neccflitv

" ruk and

"
*'

teach, fo others muft of courfe

learn to fubmit and obey.

Humility

ia
I

both

is

therefore an eflential duty.

**

am firmly perfuaded,
have appointed

that the brethren I

*'

to fupport

me in the go-

" vernment of
*'

this lodge, are too well ac-

quainted with the principles of mafonry,

'

and the rules of good breeding,

extend
their

to

**

power

-,

and

the other
neccffity

members too
*'

fenfiblc

of the

of their appointment, and of too genereus difpofitions, to envy their prefernient.

I

"
'

From

the

know lege

have of
fliall

" both,
'

make no doubt but we

in

all

concur

the grand dcfigii of being

'

happy,
pinefs."

and of communicating hap-

"

2J0

APPENDIX.
then gives
all

The Grand Mafter

the

brethren joy of their officers, and recom-

mends harmony

exptefling

his

deiire

that their oply contention will be a laud-

able emulation in cultivating the royal

art,
all

and the
the

focial virtues.

Upon which
together, and

New Lodge bow

return thanks for the honor of the conftitution.

The Grand
the

Secretary then proclaims

three
times, with

New Lodge

the

honors of mafonry.
each time.

Flourifh with horns

long

is

then

fung

witli

grand
Matter

chorus.

After which the

New

proceeds to explain the lodge.

The Grand Mafter

then orders the

lodge to be regiftercd in the Grand Lodge

book, and the Grand Secretary

the
fjLtas

to notify

to all other regular lodges.

APPENDIX.
A
when
the lodge
is

Z2i

fong * concludes the cntertainmcntt

clofed with
ihi?

wfual

foleinnuies in

the dififerent degrees,

j

by
after

the Grand Matter and his Officers

which they return

in

proceifien to

the

aparwieni from whence they cuqe.

This

is

the fym, but not the whole

whi;h

cJeremoniaU

the

Grand

Officers

can abridge or extend

*
rni

at pleaAtfC,

Al) the (bflgs and anthemi,

uk4 upoo

this

other occafion
ill

wfh

tfce

ipuliq ainiei^d,

wjU

bilt(ertei
intilad,

n*w wdfH.

>

pCenf

m th? profs,
the

T
W.

h MuifCA*. MaSon, publiOied by

Lbslic, and printed

Brother

(amefiM

with thu Volume,

(Sm

232

APPENDIX.
THE

GEREMONT
OBSERVED AT

FUNERALS,
According to Ancient Cuftom:

WITH
The Service
ufed on thofe occafions.

NO

mafon

dstn

be interred with the

it

formalities

of the order, unlefs

fpecial requeft,

has been by his

own

com-

municated to the Mafter of the lodge, of

which he

is

a member, before his deccafe

nor unleGi he has been advanced to the

APPENDIX.
member of a

8,33

third degree of mafonry, and has died a

regular conftituted lodge *

The Mafter

of the lodge, on receiving

intelligence of his death,

and being made

acquainted with the day and hour appointed for his funeral
is

to

iffiie

Ins

command

for

fummoning the lodge

and.

immediately to

make

application,

by

the

Grand

Secretary,

to the

Deputy Grand
autfaority

Matter, for a

1^1
a*

power and

ID attend the proceflion, with his officer?

and fuch brethren

properly clothed

he

may approve

of,

f
of
(his

The

Isil

part

reftriftion

has

been

Wftved in behalf of foreigners and fojourner.i, hut

doi not extend to refidents and natives.

t By an expreis law of the Grand Lodge, it in etiaAed, " That no r^alr mtSen do tt?nd any

"
'*

funcrai

or other pubJic proceflion, clothed with

;

the badges and ejtfigns o( the order

iinle& a

%U
The

APPENDIX
difptyifation

being obtained^ the

lodlgcs as

Maftcr may invite as many

thinks proper^ and the

he

memb^s

of the

"

difpenfation for that pitrpcrfe, has

been ofitatn^
tiniet

" from the Grand Matter, or

hi iOeputy,

"
**

the penalty of forfeiting all the righu and pri

>ileges of the fociety

and of being deprived of

"

the benefit of the geoerat fuod of charityt (hould

"

he be reduced to want."

As

difpenfatioiu for pnbiic procefiiotta a/e

fel>

hojo or never granted but uprn.v&ry particulai

occafuons,
it

cannot be thought that

thfife will

be

very frequent, or that regaiar mafons will incline

to infringe an eftablifhed law, by attending thofe

which afe ot properly aathorifed.

parades .under this charater,
it

Many

public

is true,

have been

made of late years; but

they never
received

it

raayfafelybe affirmed, that

the

fancKon of the Grand

Mailer, or the countenance of any regular mafon,

tomrerftnt with the laws of the fociety.

the pablic

Of

this

may

be eaIy convinced, if they reAed

that the reputation of the whole fraternity

would

be at

riflt

by irregularis on fuch an oecafidn)

APPENDIX.
faid in

235

lodges
;

may accompany

their officers

form

but the whole ceremony muft

be under the direction of the Mafter of

the lodge to which the deceafed belonged
,

and

he,

and

his

officers,

muft be duly

honored, and cheerfully obeyed on the

occafion.

AU
abd

the brethren,

who walk
sls

in proceC-

fion, fliould obfrrve,

much
the

as poflible,

it

cannot be imagined,
IS

tiiat

Grnd MaKer,
would To
es
ar

who

generally of noble iKe dfgnicy

birtti,

<fegrade

Kis

c&te,

fo hazard

ch charadef of the fociety at large, by granting a

difpcnfatiFn from our dIaMiihed rules, for a pub.

Uc

proeeflfon

upon

fo trifling

an oceafion as a pri-

ate benefit at a playhoaft, pffblic garden, or other

place of general refort

vrhwe neither the

the ^sablJc good,

inttreft if

of the
terned
;

fratetnity,

itor

coo.
ad:-

and which
to

thonglt

it

may be of

vantage

one or two indivtduak, can never

re

donnd

to the

good oTttafonry.

or

ilie hotior <ir itc

flArOns.

236

APPEND!
in

X.

an uniformity

their

drefs.

Decent

inourning, with white ftockings, gloves

and aprons

*, is

mQftfuitabie and becom-

ing; and no pcrfon ought to be diilin*

guiihcd with a jewel, unkfs he

is

an-offic

cer of one of the lodges invited to attend

in

form.

The

officers

of fuch lodges-

fhould be ornamented with white falhes

and hatbands

as alfo the officers

of the

bdge to whom
who

the difpenfation

is

granted,

fliould likewife be difl:inguiflie4

with

white rods.
In the proceffion to the place of inter-

ment, the different lodges rank according^

to their feniority
;

the junior ones prece^

divifipn*
:

ding.

Each lodge forms one

is

and the following; order

This
is

obfcrvcd

the ufual dothing of msAer

mafonn

APPENDIX.
The The
The
Tyler, with his fword
;

23;

Stewards, with white rods

office,

Brethren out of

two and two^

The

Secretary, with a roll

j

The

Trcafurer, with his badge of office

in

Senior and Junior Wardens, hand

hand

The

PaftmAfter

The Matter;

The Lodge

to

which the deceafed Broin the

ther belonged,
ail

following order-,
flower's or

the

members having
in their

herbs

hands

The Tyler

The

Stewards
muffled, and
;]

The Mufic, [Drums

Trum-

pets covered

The Members of the Lodge;

The

Secretary and Treafurcr

The

Senior and Junior

Wardens j

238

APPENDIX.
The Paftmaftw 5
aiid

The Bible
a
ctifhion,

Book of

Conftiturions on

covered with

black

cloth,

carried

by a Member of the Lodge

The Master j The

Choirifters, finging an

anthem j

The Clergyman
The
Pall Bearers,

BODY,
Fall Besreni

with the Tegaljl^ placed thereon,

and twoswords
crossed.

Chief Mourner
Affiftant

Mourners

-,

Two
One

Stewards

A. Tyler.
or two lodges march, before the

proceffion begins, to the churchward, to

prevent confufion, and

faiy preparations.

make

the necef-

The

brethren on no ac-

count to defert

their ranks, or

change

their

APPENDIX.
places, but

339

kep

in their different depart-

ments.

When

the procefllon arrives at

the gate of the church-yard, the lodge

to which the deceafed brother belonged,

and
halt,

all

the

reft

of the brethren,

mult

till

the

members of
41

the different

lodges have formed

the grave,

perfcft circle round

is

when an opening

made

to

receive them.

TJiey then march

up

the grave
officers

and the clergyman, and the

their

of the a&ing lodge, taking

ftation at the
choirifters

head of the grave, with the

fide,

on each

and the mourners

an

4t the foot, the feryice is reheaded,

anthem Tung, and that

the ceremony
is

particular part of

concluded with. the ufual

forms.

In returning from the funeral,

is

the fame order of procefllon

ferved.

to be ob-

240

APPENDIX.
THE FUNERAL SERVICE,

The

lodge

is

opened by the Mafter of

the lodge to which the deceafed belonged

in the third degree, with the utual forms,

and an a.aihem

is

fung.

The body being

placed in the center on a couch, and the

cheft in

which

it is laid

being open, the

anafter proceeds to the

head of the corpfc,

and the

fervice begins.

Master.
^

What man

is

he that
.

liveth,

and

iliall

not fee death

fliall

he deliver his
?

foul
*

from the hand of the grave

Man

walketh in a vain fhadow, he

"
*'

heapeth. tip riches, and cannot idl

fliaU gather

who

them.

APPENDIX,
" When
"

t^t

hedirth, he
i

fliall

carry no-

thing

away

his glory fhdl not dcfcend

"

after him.
*'

Naked we

catnc into the world,

:

and

**

naked we muft return

the

the

Lord gave,
bleffed

" and

Lord hath taken awa/i

" he

the

name of the Lord."

honors ^re then given, and

The grand

certain forms ufed,

which cannot be hrrs

is

explained.

Solemn nauGc

introduced,

during which the Matter ftrews herbs of

flom^rs over the

body; and then, taking

the SACiiBP RoiiL in his hand, he fays,

'*

Let TQC die

the deth of the righte}aft cfid

ousness,

and jny

be like

his.'*

The Brethren
"

anfwerj
for ever and ever death,

God is our God,

he will be oat ^de even onta

4a

APPENDIX,
Mafter then puts the
roll into

The
clicft,
**

the

faying,

Almighty Father, into

thy hands

**

we commend
brother."

the foal of our loving

The Brethren anfwer three times,

the grand honors each lime,
*

giving

The

will

of

God

is

accompHOied

"fo be

it."

The Mafter
prj^er:

then repeats ^he following

"

Moft

glorious

God
all

author of

all

goodi and giver of

**

mercy, pour
us,

down iky
ftrengthen

bleffings
all

upon

and

**

our folemB engagement

f
fraternal
affection.

with the

tics

Let

this ftriking

iti&mce of morta!it/

O Lord, remind us of our approaching

APPENDIX.
''

24a

fate

>

and fo

6t and prepsrr us for thac

is

*'

awful period, whenever

may

arrive,

" that aderour departare hence,

'

in

peace

and
into

in thy favour* -we

may

be received

'*

chine everlafting

kingdons and

"

there enjoy in endlefs fruition, the juft

"

rewards of a pious and virtaoos

**

life.

" Amen

An anthem being fung, the Mailer retcres

to the pedeftaly

and the cheft

is

(hut up.
is

An oration fuitable to
delivered-,

the occaHon

then

and the MaOer reconunending

the brethren join hands,
their

love and unity

and renew to each other

vows.

pledged

The

lodge

is

adjourned, and the

proceflion begins, in the form already

scribed, to the church,

de-

ad from thence

fo the place if interment; where an ex-

hortation

is

given, and the Mailer

makes

444

APPENDIX.
and

the followirtg Invocations, the ufual honors accompanying each.

Master. " May we be

ful,

true

faith-

and may we

live

and die
it

in Jove J"

Answer. " So mote

bCi"
profefs

Master. " May we always

*' **

what

is

good, and

may we

always aft

agreeably to our profefilon !"

Answer, " So mote Master. " May

it

be."

the

Lord
all

blefc

us,

and profper us ; and may

intentions be

oar good

crowned withfaccefsl"
it

Aw5"WER.

*'

So mote

be now, from

henceforth, and for evermore

"

The

Secretaries then advance,

and throw,

their rolls into the grave with the ufual

forms, while the Matter repeat* with an

audible voice

APPENDIX,
" Glory be
to

a4y

God

on high, on earth
nien.

" peace,

and good-will towards

it

Answer. " So mote

be."

The Mafter then concludes the ceremony

at the grave in the following

wgrds
it

* From time immemorul

lias

been

"

an cftablifhed cuftom

among

the

mem"
when

" bcrs of
'

this refpeftablc ibciety,

requefted by a brother, to accompany

bis cofpfe to the place

*'

of interment
remains with

"

aod there to depofi^

formalities,

his

" the ufual

In

conformity with

this

laudable

" ufage

and

at

the

Ijpecial

reque/l of

" our

deccafed i>rothr, whole

lofs

memory
de-

" we
'

rever^ and whofe

we now

plore,wc arc here sficmbled^ under

difpenfation, in the

legal

It
It

form and chtracccr

his

of roafons, to rcfign

body

to

*e

a4
*'

APPENDIX.
from whence
laft it

cartJi

came,

and to

*"

offer

up the

tribute

of our fraternal
hia

"

affeftion

and regard to

memory >

*'

thereby demonftrating to the world the

finccrity
ifteady

of our paft

efteenj,

and our

**

attachment to the principles of

our honorable order.

" With

all

proper re/pet to the

efta-.

bli/hed cuftoms

of the country

in

which

"
*''

we

refide,

with due deference to our fu-

periors in church

and

ftate,

and vnth

"
'

unlimited goodrMrill to all raanldad>

in the character of

'we here appear

our

"profcflionInvefted with the badges

**

of our iacred

inftitiitiouj

^e humbly
all

" implore the bleffing of Heaven on

" our zealous endeavouB
fjor

the getieraj

"^oodoffociety,

and pray for

our

APPENDIX.
'*
*

947
of

fteady perfcverance in the principles

piety and virtue.

*'

As

it

has plcafed the great Creator

to

remove our worthjr brother now

from the
cares and troubles

"

deccafed,

" of a
*

tranfitory exigence, to

ftate

of

eteraal duration j

and thereby to weaken

arc linked
<rf

the chain

by which we

one
the

** *'

to another:

may

this

example
life

uncertainty of

human

remind ua

of our approaching

fate,

and

maf we

**

vho

furvive him^

be mote ftronglf
ties

**

cemented with the

fricndihip ;

of union 9n4

**

and fo relate our conduft

**

here,

by the facred dilates of truth

**

and wifdom,
period of
life,

to enjoy, in the Utter

that ferene traoquilltty of

mind which ever flows from a dear and

iiflAiUicd conference,

**

voidof c^^ncep

M4

!?48

APPENDIX.
the grave

" Unto
**

we have

refigncd

the

body of our loving friend and brothere fo rem^^in until the generai
,

"

ther,

"
**

refgrreftipn

in favoiirable expe^tatica*

that his immortal foul will partake of

thofc joys

which have been prepared

beginning

^
'

for the righteous frora the

of the world

and

we

earneftly pray

"Almighty God, of
"
nefs, at the

his infinite

good*

^rani mboflal <} unbiased

"juftice,

to extend his iti^T^y towards

all

" him, and

" felicity
*'

of s, and to crown our

evcrlafting
blifs

with

in the
etcr-

expanded realms of a boundlcfs

nity.

" "

This we beg, for the honor of

name, to whotn be

his hoiJ

^f^ now

" and
*

for

ever

Amen."
when the
ufual
re-

Thus

the fervice end*,

honors are given, and the procefllon

turns to the place from whence,
il

came.

APPENDIX.
The
brethren being
all

149

arrived at the

lodge, the ncccffary duties are complied

with, and the bufinefs of mafonry
is

re-

newed,

"f he rtgaJiay

and ornaments of

the deceafed, if an officer of a lodge^ arc

returned totheMafterin due form, and with

the ufual ceremonies
;

after

which the

charges for regulating the condul of the

fraternity
is

are rchcarfed,
in

and the lodge

degree

clofed

the

third

with a

blelBng.

2^

APPENDIX.
R E
^f

A R K

O N TH E
Propriety of Building a

Hall

for

the General Aflcinblics of Mafoos.

Hxttaded
Brother

from

Letter

witten

by

James Galloway,

to Brother
in his

Wf LLiNs Cai,cott,
Candid
Prafticcs

and publifiicd

Difquifition of the Principles

and

of the Society of Free and Accepted Mafons, ama i y6g.

TS
*
and

not greatly to be lamented, that

fo
its

the fociety of mafons,

fo highly

numerous,

honored

in

members^

(being in a great degree compofed of

perfons of rank and fortune) ihould^ as
oft 35 they have occafion for

^neral mce t-

APPENDIX
ings,

ft5i

be obliged to

refort to taverns,

or

to hire halb of inferior communities, and

thofe> at the bcft, very
ill

adapted for fucH

meetings;

as all

places mxift generall/

be, that are not particularly cotiftiufted

for the purpofe ?

fiefides

our meering at the houfes of

publicans, gives us the air of a Bacchanalian fociety,

inHeadof that appearance

of gravity and wifdom, vdiich our order

jtiftly requires.

How

properly

mi^

it

be Temarked

on fuch a condufb,

that as almoil all the

Co
in

companies that refort with

mality to the city-hall^ have
feafVing
y/ith

much

for-

view chiefly

and
air

jollity

fo mafons affcmble

an

of

feftivity at taverns, >to

per-

form the

fcriou* duties

of

their profefficMi,

under the regulations of moralhy and

phjlofc^hy.

Such a condud,

in the

eyes

25*

APPENDIX.

of every thinking man, muft appea*, even

on the Rrd view, to be ridiculous and

abfuTti.

The
Verfafly

neceflity

of fuch a building

is

uni-

acknowledged through the

fociety ^

and a defire of feeing one

rally prevails

ereifted, as

gene*
it

How

afflifting

muft

be

to thew(thyinafon,afliflg under the authority of our Grand Mafter, to confider the

accounts iwe daily receive frotp farayclling

brethren, of the magnificence of the grand

lodges abroad

Trhilc

that in England,
is

which in many

rcfpeifts

intitled to

preference in dignity to
titute

all others, is

def*

of a building, which they can call

to reft

their

own. But, nor

permit

on

thefe general

accounts,

me

here

to

give

particular defcription of the banquettin^

toom belonging
at Marfeilies
i

to the lodge of St,

Joha

and from the magnificence

APPENDIX.
brerhren only

253

and fplendor of that room, to which the

retire for refrefhtnent, there
I

may be formed,

(hould think, fomc idea

of the fuperior excellence which ought to

diftinguiflx the

lodge room,

A DESCRIPTION
OV THE
Banquetring Hall of the Lodge
fellies,, intitied,

at

Mar-

the

Lodge of St JmiN.
under a

At

the bottom of the hall,

gilded canopy, the valences whereof arc

blue,

fringed with, gold,

is

a painting,

which rcprefents the genius of mafoniy

fupporting the portrait of the king of

France,
fcription

upon a
:

pedeftal, with

this

in-

DiUSllJfimo Regi

Mbnumentum

jimoris

25f

AP

PE N B

X
have

[Tht^ MASQws at
Shis

MarMies

ere^d
thdf

monument of

their affe^ion to

mo?t belovesi king,]

genius

fcated bclo^ the pedsils^lj

prsfents with

one haad

tlus infctipfioHs

and with the other the arms'of the lodge,

with their motto Deo, Regi^
[Fidelity to

a Fetri^ FidfiUas.
a genius which crewns

God, our King and Country.]

Abo^e
the king.

this

To the

light of this painting

is

placed

another* reprdenting the wifdoin of

Scuk

MON, with
Prudentia.

this

infcription

abore it,

[Prudencei]
left is

To the

another, reprefcnsing the

courage of

St. John the BaptitI:, in resicn

ftrating vrith
eries.

Herod apon
infcription

his dcbaucls
is
is^*-*'

The

above

Fortitado.

j^FOEtitudlwj

APPENDIX.
The right
fide

255

of the hall

is

ornamenrcd

^mth paintings of equal grandeur.

The

firft

reprcfents

Joseph acknow-

ledging his brethren^ and pardoning thetn

for the
tiicm,
ill

ufage he had received froni

this

with

infcription, ^Wff.

[Pardon.]

The

fccond reprtfcnrs Job upon the

dunghill, bis houfe deftroycd, his fields

laid wafle

by

fborni,

his wife infulting

lifting his

him

and himfclf calm,

hands

towards heaven, with

Fatientfa.

this

infcription,

[Patience.]

The

third rcprefents St. Paui. aiid-St.

BAR.NABAS,

rcfufing

divine

honors

Lyftra, with this infcriptionj

{;Humility.3

Humilitasi,

The fourth, Jonathan, when he warned

David
to keep from the city in order to

25'

APPENDIX.
avoid the danger which threatened
days,
his

with

this

infcription,

Amicitlti:

[FriendJhip.]

The fifth, SoLOMOU

oi*

furveying the works

his orders for
his father
this
in-*

the temple,

and giving

the execution of the plan,

which
it,

David had
fcription,

left

him of

with

Pietas,

fPiety.}

The

fixth, the charity this

of the SamaCbarhas*

ritan, with
{Charity.]

infcription,

The

feventh, St.

Peter and
to

the other

apoftles paying

tribute

C.Sar, by

means of

the piece of

money found mirafifh,

cuioufiy in the belly of a

with this

\nkn^iyQn,FiMtas:

[Fidelity.]

The

left fide

of the hall contains three

paintings.

APPENDIX.
The
with
fiift,

S7
father,

Tobias curing

his

tiiffe

words fox the

[Filial

infcription,

FitUdt Dehiium.

Debt.]

The
ffi

fecond, the father of the jnodigal

when he embraces him, and pardons

with
this infcription,

his offences,

F^fef-

nus Amor.

[Paternal Love.]
reprefents the fa^lfice
this

The

third

of

Abraham, with
ditntia.

inlcnption,- O^f-

[Obedience,]

On
One
in

each fide the door are two paints

ings of equi^l grandeur.,

reprefents the apoftles giving aim*
v

common

the infcription,-/^*,

fAIms-giviog.]

The

other

reprcfejits

Lor,

teciving

the angels into his houfe, believing

them

to be ftrangers
pituHtas.

the infcription iSf-^Hof-

[Ho^itality.]

APPENDIX.
The
four corners of the hall arc decorated with four allegorical piftures.

Tn one are reprefcntcd tv/o gehiufea

holding a large medal,
in

which

are

painted three pillars of a gold colour^

with this motto,

Uicpoftiere Ltcam, Virtus^ Sapientia

F^rma

[Here Virtue, Wifdom, Beauty

feat,]

fixed their

In another, two geniufes equally fup*

porting a lar^e

medaU on which
fire

are xe*

prefented three hearts fet on

by the

fame

flaine, mttted

by the bond o tb

onier, with this motx^^

Pe&era

junijit

Amr^

Pietaffm

U^eaiU

JmaBtes,

[Lovejoins their hearts, and Piety the eJe J

the two

others are in the

fame

tafie,

but fq>potted by o&e genius only, being

APPENDIX.
a fmaller
follows
fiae.

259

The medah

reprefexit as

The

firft,

three branches

one of

olire,
^

another of laurel, and another of myrtle

with this motto,

Hie Pttcem mutuo dam us, accipimufjue vicijim.

[Here Peace we
receive.]

give, and here bjr turns

The

other a level in a hand coming

from heaven* placed pcrpcadiculaTiy apaa a heap of ilones of unequal forms and
fixes,

whh

this

motto,

Equa

LegsfprtiSitr Infignes et

hmf.
the lot.]

[Ofle equal

Law, of high and low

All thele paintings are upon a linei

thoie which are placed oppofice the win

dow3

are

intirely in

front.

Over the

mner door of entrance is this inscription) in

a painting whicK
\s

dKfplayed

by z

child ^

26(5

AfPU^DlX,
Virtmum Exempla Fraternte
Li'.,

?'(??-;i2 /"iff

leralitsiu

Monumenta D. V. l^
^v.,e

C.

Latomi
fta-'

M&ffMsnfeSy Fratrikus

ajfequenda

hent^ anno Lucis

^7^5'
fignify,

The
[The

letters S.

T. O, T. A.

Suprenw TeUus OrMs Terrarum Jnhiieifa

matter,

vjcem after,, and

whole

body of the mafoos at Marfciiles have eicdled. thefe different

examples of the virtues,

liberality,

and monuments oE fraternal

propofcd
to the. imrtatjon

of

tbeir btethten,

to the honor of the fupreme irebiteft of

the whole world-, in the ytix of fight

5765)
Each painting
bears below
it,

the arms

and blazon of the brethren who caufcd

them

to

be painted.

Every

^ce*

frara

one column to an-

other, forms an intercolumniation.

t/poa

APPENDIX.
fourin number, arc raifcd corbals,
in

261

the middle of each pilafter, being twenty-

form

of antique Guaines, upon which are placed

die baft of the great and virtuous
antiquity.

men of

The
in the

curtains to the gilded canopy are

Italian

taAe^

and are

four in

number.

Three great branches of

this hall at

chryftal, light

proper times, and ferve as an

additional ornament.

This

hall will contain fixty brfthren.

without making ufe of the in fide of the

horfe-lhoe table-

There
buffets,

arej

moreover, two grand defert

a great fpace in

which take up

the length.

The

above defcription of the Banquet-

ting Hall of the lodge of St. John ?t

s62

APPENDIX,
&e
rplendor
in foreign countries.

Marfdlies. does not exceed

of

many other lodges

The grand

lodges inftituted in Ruflia,

pa^ts of

HoUand, and imny

Germany,
re-

according to the accounts

we have

ceived, far eaoseedthis inelegance; par-

ticuJady ia Berlin, under

lite

great

King

of Pruffia- our royal brother,

Thsy are

hwng witH

the rfcheft velvet

tapeflrifa,

cmbraiderits, and gold law? and are oraar

mcnted with every coftly

able decoratioo*
liancy thefe

luftre

and

fuit-

The

sUunvinaf^d bril-

make, added to the polite

order and
Ihe

harmony of the members, and

graadeur of the mufic> confillieg o

different

feveral

bands,

ftrike

a,

moil
fhey

grateful and pleaiiag concord,

fin

w^hiie

the

mind of every brother with the

'

idea of a heavenly matirjon, and the plea{ures of

an angelic aflbciauon

Edmondes' Addrefs to the Free

RfafsiiiS,.

APPENDIX.
It
'

263

therefoK greatly to be wifhed that the

brethren of this kingdom, the grand local

Aandard for msTomy, could bo induced

to exrend their geneoolity

and,

by em-

bracing Hit glorious opportunit/, while

princes of the blood are our patrons^ and

noblemen of the moil diftfnguKhed virtue

are our rulers

immediately to

fct

on foot

a roluntaxy contribution for ere&ing, in

this

country! % fuperb and magnificent

afleipblies

ftruAure for the genera!

fraternity, that
it

of the

might be recorded, to

the honor of the prefent age, that

cvay

encouragement was given

to a fociety*

whofe chief

purfiilt

is

the acquifition of

knowlege^ and the cultjvatioa of virtue.

As

fuch a fcheme

is

now

in agitation,

every zealous friend to the caufe ought

to exert his inQuence

on the occafion and

%64
not let
it

APPENDIX.
fall

to the

ground

for

want of
re-

fuppoTt.

Though

the ftims

we hare
if

ceived are as yet inconfiderable,

ve

perfevere with fpirit in the profccution of

dur kudable defign, there

is little

doubt

but we

fhall

happily

fi)Qceid

in

our

greateft expeftations.

FINIS.