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Article A NEW MASONIC HISTORY.* Page 1 of 2 Article A NEW MASONIC HISTORY.* Page 1 of 2 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
A New Masonic History.*
A NEW MASONIC HISTORY . *
WE now * approach the second part of this valuable history , which is devoted to n consideration , in twelve divisions ( numbered from IV . to XV . respectively ) , of Cosmopolitan Freemasonry , Craft , Capitular and Cryptic ( " -Masonry without respect to Greed , Clime , or
Colour " ) , prefaced by » brief introduction , by tho Editor in Chief , on tho American Rite of Freemasonry . We learn by thin that American Freemasonry " properly dates from the Revolution , when all allegiance to the ' Mother Conntry' was thrown off . Like tbe British Colonies in
civil affairs , prior to 1776-83 , the Lodges owned an allegiance to Britain as the fountain-head of Government . " The progress of the Fraternity , the ritual of which was made distinctively American by the blending of tho " work" of tho several Lodges , both "Ancient" and
" Modern , " of England and Scotland , has been so great and its Grand Lodges so numerous as now to suggest "' Three Meridians' of four longitudinal departments in the United States , and a fifth comprising British America . " In connection therewith this part of the work will be found
full of "facts never before printed . " The Grand Lodge history is narrated in the first six of the twelve divisions ; and occupies no less than two hundred and eighty-nine closely printed pages . Division IV . is complete in threechapters , with an introduction by Brother John Lane ,
F . C . A ., & c , a Past Senior Grand Warden of Iowa , a Past Provincial Grand Registrar of Devonshire ( England ) , and the author of the well known " Masonic Records , 1717-1886 . " In this division are enumerated the Lodges warranted by the two Grand Lodges of England for tho
continent of America , together with valuable notes not heretofore published , and a fac simile copy of Hughan '* - * engraved list of Lodges , A . D . 1734 , which mentions the Lodge No . 126 afc Boston , New England , warranted 30 th July 1733 ; the whole forming a mosfc valuable and
interesting contribution . Ifc shonld be noted that Brother Lane premises that although proofs exist of tho constitution or authorisation of many ofcher Lodges in America by English Provincial Grand Masters , yofc inasmuch ss fchey were never registered in the books of tho Mother Grand Lodgo they are nofc included in hia list .
Division V . under tbe title or headin g of "First
Meridian , " is a " History of the Colonial and Revolutionary Period and Atlantic Slope : tbe Grand Lodges of Maine , New Hampshire , Vermont , Massachusetts , Rhodo Island , Connecticut , Now York , New Jersey , Pennsylvania , Delaware , Maryland , Districb of Columbia , Virginia , West
Virginia , North Carolina , South Carolina , Georgia , and Florida , by Bro . Charles E . Meyer , a Past Master of the Melita Lodge , No . 295 , of Pennsylvania , extending over 96 pages , in two Chapters . Whilst ifc would bo almost , if not absolutely , impossible to do full justice to thc abundance of research which characterises this contribution
without greatly extended comments , it would be beyond our present purpose to deal with historical events having special connection with any givon locality , and not embracing those which have a general or universal interest to Craftsmen of the present day . In America , no doubt ,
these pages will attract the students' attention , and prove profitable in conveying abundant information ; but to the main body of fche readers of Masonic literature—would that such body numbered more than experience compels us to believe it does—the subject matter may nofc be so accept
able . This shonld not , however , detract from the merits of Bro . Meyer ' s production ; rather is it a slur upon such as neglect to make advancement in Masonic knowledge than a reflection upon a clever and distinguished writer on
Masonic subjects . But there is no gainsaying the fact that , unfortunately , in the Masonic world such and such like erudition " pleases not the million ; 'tis caviare to the general . "
Division VI . is a continuation of the same subject , by the same author , under the title of "Second Meridian I ., " and treating of the History of the Eastern Mississippi
Valley and the Lakes : The Grand Lodges of Ohio , Indiana , Michigan , Illinois , Wisconsin , Kentucky , Tennessee , Alabama , Mississippi , and Louisiana , in one chapter of 22 pages . To this Division the immediately
A New Masonic History.*
foregoing remarks equally apply . There is , however , one special feature of general interest connected with theso and the two succeeding Divisions ( VII . aud VIII . ) to which we desire to draw tho attention of English Craftsmen . A series of full pago illustrations of a largo number
of tho splendid Masonic Temples and Homes of Masonry in tbe several cities and important towns referred to in the text , embellishes this portion of tho work , and gives evidence of the energy and zeal of our American kinsmen in promoting the " dignity and high importance" of
our Order . The handsome and appropriate structures presented to our view give rise to the reflection that the " Mother Country " must suffer by the contrast with tho few notable Masonic buildings which English Freemasons possess . The illustrations aro 17 in number , amdugsfc the
most attractive being those of tho Temples of Ne * w York City , Philadelphia , Ohio , Louisville , Minnesota , Minneapolis , and Pennsylvania , the finest and largest Masonio building in the world devoted exclusively to Freemasonry , and the Egyptian Room in whioh must bo " a sight to
dream of , not to toll I" The particulars givon of those edifices should be of prominent importance to all Avho are concerned in the progress of Freemasonry through the ensuing centuries , and we strongly urge them to mako acquaintance therewith through the medium afforded by Bro . Meyer in his contribution to this History . 1
Tho second part of Division VI ., under thetitle " Second Meridian II ., " is the History of the Western Mississippi Valley : tbe Grand Lodges of Texas , Arkansas , Minnesota , Missouri , Iowa , Dakota , North Dakota , Nebraska , Kansas , and the Indian Territory ( occupying 36 pages ) , by
Bro . C . E . Gillett , Grand Almoner Grand Lodge of California . This is of much the same character as tho preceding papers , having moro of local interest than of universal application to past or current events in tho " body of Masonry . " No more ' ean be said of Division VI .,
Third Meridian : the History ot the Pacific Coast and Rocky Mountains to Mexico ; the Grand Lodges of Callfornia , Oregon , Washington , Idaho , Montana , Nevada , Utah , Wyoming , Arizona , Colorado , and Now Mexico ; and also treating of Freemasonry in the Hawaiian Islands ,
Alaska , Mexico and Central America , by Bro . Edwin A . Sherman , Vice-President of tho respective Masonic Veteran Associations of the United States and Pacific Coast , & c , assisted by Brother C . E . Gillett , above mentioned ; tho " History " comprising 48 page *? . Thero is nothing stated
thafc can be controverted , or givo cause for discussion beyond the districts referred to . All is essentially " true , " but there is nothing " new" calculated to excite widespread interest . Wo notice , not particularly in these " histories , " bufc generally throughout the whole work ,
frequent acknowledgments by our American authors of assistance and information received from their English confreres Bros . Gould , Lane and Hnghan , and thia leads us to think—whilst not by any means depreciating tho valuable work of the former—that English Freemasons
have nofc so fully and fairly appreciated tho labours of tho latter on their behalf as they might , could and should have done . At any rate wo have no knowledge of any work by either of our English historians , and from which many reprints are made and acknowledged by American
brethren , which has circulated at home by as many hundred copies as this history is said to circulate in America by thousands . And to this is added the fact that onr English brethren have together provided tho English Craffc wifch an all-sufficient history of " Universal "
Freemasonry and its progress in their country prior to the com p ilation now under review . Admirable as this compilation is ifc is nofc by any means so original as tbe works of our English authors , and ifc does reflect seriously upon English
Masonry that much greater support has not been given to their individual and indefatigable labours . Tbis may be considered , and probably is , a digression ; but wo feel strongly on the subject , and consider this tho fitting opportunity and the proper place to direct attention thereto .
Division VIII ., under tho title of " The First Glimpses of Freemasonry in North America , " is chapter VI . of tbe second part of the volume entitled "Early American Masonic History . " It occupies 16 pages , and is the
contribution of Bro . Sereno D . Nickerson P . G . M ., and Recording Grand Secretary of Massachusetts . This is certainiy a most interesting chapter , and affords information relating to the earliest trace of Masons on the Continent of America , dating back so far as A . D . 1606 , a date inscribed on a presumed gravestone discovered in
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
A New Masonic History.*
A NEW MASONIC HISTORY . *
WE now * approach the second part of this valuable history , which is devoted to n consideration , in twelve divisions ( numbered from IV . to XV . respectively ) , of Cosmopolitan Freemasonry , Craft , Capitular and Cryptic ( " -Masonry without respect to Greed , Clime , or
Colour " ) , prefaced by » brief introduction , by tho Editor in Chief , on tho American Rite of Freemasonry . We learn by thin that American Freemasonry " properly dates from the Revolution , when all allegiance to the ' Mother Conntry' was thrown off . Like tbe British Colonies in
civil affairs , prior to 1776-83 , the Lodges owned an allegiance to Britain as the fountain-head of Government . " The progress of the Fraternity , the ritual of which was made distinctively American by the blending of tho " work" of tho several Lodges , both "Ancient" and
" Modern , " of England and Scotland , has been so great and its Grand Lodges so numerous as now to suggest "' Three Meridians' of four longitudinal departments in the United States , and a fifth comprising British America . " In connection therewith this part of the work will be found
full of "facts never before printed . " The Grand Lodge history is narrated in the first six of the twelve divisions ; and occupies no less than two hundred and eighty-nine closely printed pages . Division IV . is complete in threechapters , with an introduction by Brother John Lane ,
F . C . A ., & c , a Past Senior Grand Warden of Iowa , a Past Provincial Grand Registrar of Devonshire ( England ) , and the author of the well known " Masonic Records , 1717-1886 . " In this division are enumerated the Lodges warranted by the two Grand Lodges of England for tho
continent of America , together with valuable notes not heretofore published , and a fac simile copy of Hughan '* - * engraved list of Lodges , A . D . 1734 , which mentions the Lodge No . 126 afc Boston , New England , warranted 30 th July 1733 ; the whole forming a mosfc valuable and
interesting contribution . Ifc shonld be noted that Brother Lane premises that although proofs exist of tho constitution or authorisation of many ofcher Lodges in America by English Provincial Grand Masters , yofc inasmuch ss fchey were never registered in the books of tho Mother Grand Lodgo they are nofc included in hia list .
Division V . under tbe title or headin g of "First
Meridian , " is a " History of the Colonial and Revolutionary Period and Atlantic Slope : tbe Grand Lodges of Maine , New Hampshire , Vermont , Massachusetts , Rhodo Island , Connecticut , Now York , New Jersey , Pennsylvania , Delaware , Maryland , Districb of Columbia , Virginia , West
Virginia , North Carolina , South Carolina , Georgia , and Florida , by Bro . Charles E . Meyer , a Past Master of the Melita Lodge , No . 295 , of Pennsylvania , extending over 96 pages , in two Chapters . Whilst ifc would bo almost , if not absolutely , impossible to do full justice to thc abundance of research which characterises this contribution
without greatly extended comments , it would be beyond our present purpose to deal with historical events having special connection with any givon locality , and not embracing those which have a general or universal interest to Craftsmen of the present day . In America , no doubt ,
these pages will attract the students' attention , and prove profitable in conveying abundant information ; but to the main body of fche readers of Masonic literature—would that such body numbered more than experience compels us to believe it does—the subject matter may nofc be so accept
able . This shonld not , however , detract from the merits of Bro . Meyer ' s production ; rather is it a slur upon such as neglect to make advancement in Masonic knowledge than a reflection upon a clever and distinguished writer on
Masonic subjects . But there is no gainsaying the fact that , unfortunately , in the Masonic world such and such like erudition " pleases not the million ; 'tis caviare to the general . "
Division VI . is a continuation of the same subject , by the same author , under the title of "Second Meridian I ., " and treating of the History of the Eastern Mississippi
Valley and the Lakes : The Grand Lodges of Ohio , Indiana , Michigan , Illinois , Wisconsin , Kentucky , Tennessee , Alabama , Mississippi , and Louisiana , in one chapter of 22 pages . To this Division the immediately
A New Masonic History.*
foregoing remarks equally apply . There is , however , one special feature of general interest connected with theso and the two succeeding Divisions ( VII . aud VIII . ) to which we desire to draw tho attention of English Craftsmen . A series of full pago illustrations of a largo number
of tho splendid Masonic Temples and Homes of Masonry in tbe several cities and important towns referred to in the text , embellishes this portion of tho work , and gives evidence of the energy and zeal of our American kinsmen in promoting the " dignity and high importance" of
our Order . The handsome and appropriate structures presented to our view give rise to the reflection that the " Mother Country " must suffer by the contrast with tho few notable Masonic buildings which English Freemasons possess . The illustrations aro 17 in number , amdugsfc the
most attractive being those of tho Temples of Ne * w York City , Philadelphia , Ohio , Louisville , Minnesota , Minneapolis , and Pennsylvania , the finest and largest Masonio building in the world devoted exclusively to Freemasonry , and the Egyptian Room in whioh must bo " a sight to
dream of , not to toll I" The particulars givon of those edifices should be of prominent importance to all Avho are concerned in the progress of Freemasonry through the ensuing centuries , and we strongly urge them to mako acquaintance therewith through the medium afforded by Bro . Meyer in his contribution to this History . 1
Tho second part of Division VI ., under thetitle " Second Meridian II ., " is the History of the Western Mississippi Valley : tbe Grand Lodges of Texas , Arkansas , Minnesota , Missouri , Iowa , Dakota , North Dakota , Nebraska , Kansas , and the Indian Territory ( occupying 36 pages ) , by
Bro . C . E . Gillett , Grand Almoner Grand Lodge of California . This is of much the same character as tho preceding papers , having moro of local interest than of universal application to past or current events in tho " body of Masonry . " No more ' ean be said of Division VI .,
Third Meridian : the History ot the Pacific Coast and Rocky Mountains to Mexico ; the Grand Lodges of Callfornia , Oregon , Washington , Idaho , Montana , Nevada , Utah , Wyoming , Arizona , Colorado , and Now Mexico ; and also treating of Freemasonry in the Hawaiian Islands ,
Alaska , Mexico and Central America , by Bro . Edwin A . Sherman , Vice-President of tho respective Masonic Veteran Associations of the United States and Pacific Coast , & c , assisted by Brother C . E . Gillett , above mentioned ; tho " History " comprising 48 page *? . Thero is nothing stated
thafc can be controverted , or givo cause for discussion beyond the districts referred to . All is essentially " true , " but there is nothing " new" calculated to excite widespread interest . Wo notice , not particularly in these " histories , " bufc generally throughout the whole work ,
frequent acknowledgments by our American authors of assistance and information received from their English confreres Bros . Gould , Lane and Hnghan , and thia leads us to think—whilst not by any means depreciating tho valuable work of the former—that English Freemasons
have nofc so fully and fairly appreciated tho labours of tho latter on their behalf as they might , could and should have done . At any rate wo have no knowledge of any work by either of our English historians , and from which many reprints are made and acknowledged by American
brethren , which has circulated at home by as many hundred copies as this history is said to circulate in America by thousands . And to this is added the fact that onr English brethren have together provided tho English Craffc wifch an all-sufficient history of " Universal "
Freemasonry and its progress in their country prior to the com p ilation now under review . Admirable as this compilation is ifc is nofc by any means so original as tbe works of our English authors , and ifc does reflect seriously upon English
Masonry that much greater support has not been given to their individual and indefatigable labours . Tbis may be considered , and probably is , a digression ; but wo feel strongly on the subject , and consider this tho fitting opportunity and the proper place to direct attention thereto .
Division VIII ., under tho title of " The First Glimpses of Freemasonry in North America , " is chapter VI . of tbe second part of the volume entitled "Early American Masonic History . " It occupies 16 pages , and is the
contribution of Bro . Sereno D . Nickerson P . G . M ., and Recording Grand Secretary of Massachusetts . This is certainiy a most interesting chapter , and affords information relating to the earliest trace of Masons on the Continent of America , dating back so far as A . D . 1606 , a date inscribed on a presumed gravestone discovered in