1779. When it was inaugurated it is impossible to say, but it may be a descendant of the lodge which we know was active at York Minster in the fourteenth century. The York brethren started a "Grand Lodge of all England," in 1725, and kept it alive for some twenty years. After a short interval it was revived, in 1761, and continued to work until 1792, when it collapsed. Prior to this date, several subordinates were chartered. One, possibly, at Scarborough, of 1705, was held under its auspices, and much work was done, but all confined to England. The serious error of calling the "Atholl" brethren of America "York Masons," has, it is to be hoped, long ceased to be used or tolerated in the United States. The Grand Lodge of Ireland, at Dublin, was formed 1728-1729; but there was one held previously at Cork, as the "Grand Lodge for Munster," certainly as early as 1725. The Scottish brethren did not follow the example set by England until 1736, and then managed to secure Brother William St. Clair, of Roslin, as their Grand Master, whose ancestors by deeds of A.D. 1600-1628 circa, had been patrons of the Craft but never Grand Masters, though that distinction has been long claimed as hereditary in that Masonic family. Brother E. Macbean is now writing as to these points. From this Trio of Grand Lodges, situated in Great Britain, and Ireland, have sprung all the thousands of lodges, wherever distributed, throughout the "wide, wide world." Through their agency, and particularly that of the "Military lodges" of last century, the Craft has been planted far and wide. Though there is evidence to prove that brethren assembled in America, and probably elsewhere, in lodges, prior to the formation of either of these Grand Lodges, or quite apart from such influence, as in Philadelphia in 1731, or earlier, and in New Hampshire, soon afterward (the latter apparently having their manuscript copy of the "Old Charges"), nothing has ever been discovered, to my knowledge, which connects such meetings with the working of the historic “three degrees" of last century origin, and post-Grand Lodge era. There were, however, some connecting links between the old régime and the new, to enable visitations and reciprocal changes of membership to be indulged in. Some seven years after the premier Grand Lodge was launched, authorities to constitute were issued for Bath and other country cities and towns, and a few, later, for abroad; especially through the medium of Provincial Grand Masters, first appointed in 1725 circa, as at Boston, Massachusetts, in the year 1733. On this most interesting topic, as respects America, I dare not dwell, and am unable to offer any opinion on the manner in which it is treated (owing to the exigencies of printing), by doubtless most competent Craftsmen, in Divisions V. to X. My able coadjutor, Brother John Lane, the authority on all such matters, has, in Division IV., presented an excellent summary and table of all the lodges constituted in America, by either the regular Grand Lodge of England (sometimes known as the "Moderns"), or the rival Grand Lodge, also held in London (of 1751 origin, and frequently but absurdly styled "Ancients"), from 1733 to the formation of the United Grand Lodge, in December, 1813, and from that period down to the year 1889. The Grand Lodges of Ireland and Scotland likewise participated in the honor of making Freemasonry known on the great continent of America, but only slightly so compared with either of the two rival Grand Lodges in England. The cosmopolitan basis of the Society thus inaugurated in 1717 does not appear to have wholly satisfied the Brotherhood. Initiation and membership, without regard to creed, color, or clime, was an extraordinary departure from the previous Christian foundation of the Society. Even at the present time some Grand Lodges select all their members from professing Christians only (though no such condition was laid down on their origin), and many are the differences between the several governing bodies, while they have sufficient in common to permit of reciprocal visitation. I am very much of the opinion of Brother E. T. Carson (of Cincinnati), that to the dislike of the unsectarian character of the Fraternity from 1717, is due the origination and spread of Masonic degrees for professing Christians only, from about 1735, or before. The Knights Templars, the "Royal Order of Scotland," and some of the degrees of the "Ancient and Accepted Rite," owe much of their vitality to their rituals being wholly based on the New Testament, and thus exclusively Christian. I regret my inability, from the cause previously mentioned, to offer at this time any opinion on Divisions XII. to XV., but the names of the writers are a complete guarantee of their excellence, value, and reliability. The comprehensive "History of the Knights Templars and the Crusades," by Bishop Perry, will be eagerly welcomed by the many thousands of brethren who patronize the "additional degrees," and forms a most attractive feature of Division II. His deliverance respecting the connection existing between the modern and ancient Knights Templars should be carefully studied by those who, like myself, believe it is impossible to bridge over the "Interregnum" referred to. Division XVII., by my lamented friend, Colonel McLeod Moore (his last essay and his best), is an able treatise on "British Templary," by a brother whose knowledge of Chivalric Masonry was unsurpassed; and, with the preceding division by Brother Frederic Speed, is of absorbing interest to the tens of thousands of Masonic Knights Templars in the United States and Canada, where that degree is so extremely popular. So far as my experience has gone, I have not found that the attention paid. to these extra degrees has, in any way, diminished the interest taken in the foundation-ceremonies of the Craft; but, on the contrary, the most zealous in the one class is generally seen to be the most devoted in the other; though I much wish the number of degrees was lessened, and the cost of the special regalia and jewels considerably reduced in price. How far it has been desirable to add to the number of Masonic degrees (so-called) of late years, opens up a most important question, and one about which some of us hold very strong opinions. The Editor-in-Chief has thought it necessary to admit chapters on The Eastern Star." Assuredly if this Order is admitted it is in safe hands when entrusted to Brother Willis D. Engle; and so also as to the article on "The Rosicrucian Society," by the gifted writer, Brother McClenachan, which is found in rather strange company (Division XX.). 66 The "Cryptic Degrees" (Division XIV.), by Dr. E. Grissom, has been perused by me with considerable pleasure, and of that treatise, as with the others, generally, I can affirm without hesitation that the most reliable authorities have been consulted, the result being the presentation of able digests, written with great pains and scrupulous fidelity, relating to the Fraternity in one form or other, — legendary, ritualistic, historic, — which cannot fail to be invaluable to the American Brotherhood in particular, and wherever the Society is rightly appreciated and duly valued. Not the least important contributions to the tout ensemble, are Brother Stillson's preliminary observations to many of the Divisions, which should be diligently perused, as effective introductions and aids to their critical study. Three questions naturally fall to be answered by inquirers anxious to know somewhat of our great beneficent Society. 1. Whence came Freemasonry? 2. What is it? 3. What is it doing? This splendid volume furnishes replies to the first and second of these queries, but the third must be lived to be effective. Theories prevail, more or less, as to the first two, but in relation to the last of the trio, right or wrong conduct is involved; and according to the one or the other, the world will judge as to what Freemasonry is, and care much or little as to its origin. If the votaries of the Craft seek to become living, loving, and loyal embodiments of the humanly perfect Ideal set before them, and each individual member acts as if the honor of the Fraternity was specially entrusted to his keeping, the continued prosperity of our Brotherhood is assured, and wide-spread and popular as are its influence and philanthropic work of to-day, we are as yet far from reaching the limits of the organization, either as respects numbers or usefulness. Fraternally Your |