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Article THE ANCIENT YORK WORK. ← Page 2 of 2 Article THE ANCIENT YORK WORK. Page 2 of 2 Article LIMITATIONS OF OBLIGATIONS. Page 1 of 2 →
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The Ancient York Work.
one < if the finest cathedrals in Groat Britain or on the continent ; in the crypt of this cathedral the Freemasons have repeatedly held their meetings ; and its fabric rolls
contain many data of interest to onr Fraternity . On all accounts the city of Tork is dsservedly held in veneration and respect by Freemasons .
The Masonic tradition which asserts the antiquity of Freemasonry in Tork is thoroughly imbedded in Masonic history . This is evidenced in the old MS . Constitutions of the Craft , aud in tho Warrants of Constitution of many subordinate Lodges . The " Dowland MS ., " of A . D 1550 ,
reads as follows : King Athclstan was a worthy king of England * * and loved well Masons . And he had a son Edwin , and he loved Masons much more than his father did . And he was a great praoticer in
Geometry ; and he drew him muoh to talk and to commune with Masons , and to learn of them science ; and afterwards for love that he had to Masons , and to the scipnee , he was made a Mason , and he
got of the kinor his father a Charter and Commission to hold every year once an Assembly . * * And he held himself an Assembly at York , and there he made Masons , and gave them Charges .
The warrants of the old Lodges under the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania bear similar testimony , as instance the following , taken from the Warrant of Concordia Lodge , No . 67 , of Philadelphia :
To ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN : The Grand Lodge of the moat ancient and honourable Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons ( according to the old Constitutions , revived by His Royal Highness , Prince Edwin , at York , in the kingdom of England , in the year of
the Christian era Nine Hundred and Twenty and Six , and in the year of Rfa 3 > nry Fonr Thousand Nine Hundred and Twenty-Six ) , in Ample Form assembled at Philadelphia , in the State of Pennsylvania , Send Greeting .
The trouble with this tradition , as thus embodied in formal Masonic documents , is that profane history asserts that King Athelstan had no sort , while he had , however , a brother , Edwin , " a young priuce of great energy and high
promise , " whom the historian , Henry of Huntingdon , says , " was unhappily drowned at sea . " A slip might readil y have been made in the statement of relationship , and Edwin of Tork still might have been the patron of the
Freemasons . Another explanation , offered by Bro . Francis Drake , a century and a half ago , was that the Edwin intended was tho Anglo-Saxon King Edwin , who began to reign in A . D . 617 . We think the former explanation is
the more probable of the two , and we accept the Masonic tradition , which is of such long standing , and so often iterated and reiterated in Masonic documents , that
Freemasonry in Tork is of great antiquity , and may boast of royal patronnge as far back as in the tenth century . So much for Ancient Tork Masonry .
' We wish we could trace the connection of Early Freemasonry in Tork with the first historic Lodge , that of 1705 , in that city , but we cannot . Bro . Gould says , on this subject : " There is absolutely nothing to connect the Tork
Lodge of the eighteenth and most probably the seventeenth century , with Lodges of earlier date , though of course the possibility of the former being a lineal descendant of the latter must be conceded . " The Tork Lodge was certainly
at work " for years prior to the creation of the London Grand Lodge " in 1717 . Its records are preserved back to 1712 , while in the last century they existed back to
1705 . Its antiquity is unquestioned , and it was located on the oldest Masonic ground in England , according to wellestablished tradition .
Now as to the Ancient Tork Work . What is it ? Tbe expression in general terms in truth signifies the oldest Work of the Craft , and since Masonry may justly assume to
have been older in Tork than in any other locality of England , the Masonic tradition with regard to Tork is connected with , and made to give name to , what is currently regarded as the oldest Work .
But there is also a special historic significance in the term " Ancient Tork Work . " Dermott's Grand Lodp-eof 1752-3—that of the so-called " Ancients "—assumed the proprietorship of this phraseology , and gave currency to
it . The " Ancients" pretended ( without authority ) to have had the favour and support of the Grand Lodge at Tork , and in consequence they st yled themselves " Ancient Tork Masons . " These " Ancients " warranted a
Provincial Grand Lodge in Pennsylvania in 1764 j with Brother William Ball as Provincial Grand Master , and this Provincial Grand Lodge flourished after the decay of
the older Provincial Grand Lodge of 1730 , warranted by the Grand Lodge of 1717 , slightingly styled "Moderns " by their rivals . As a result , until of late years , all of the
The Ancient York Work.
subordinate Lodges in Pennsylvania styled themselves " Ancient Tork Masons , " and even now some of th em cling to this title . In point of fact , however , the superior designation is that of " Free and Accepted Masons "— .
whilo in the Work of the Craft in this jurisdiction both are properly retained and cumulatively used . But the term " Ancient Tork Work" may be misleading . There is absolutel y nothing , at present known , which connects it
with the old city of Tork , or the old Masons once in authorit y there . The name was derived solely from Bro . Dermott , and he appropriated it for his own purposes , to give character to the Grand Body of which he was the
Deputy Grand Master , and the Grand Secretary , the champion and the life-blood . If by " Ancient Tork Work " we mean the oldest Work , then it is a true designation , and by almost universal , consent the Work of the Grand
Lodge of Pennsylvania is acknowledged to be the oldest and purest on this Continent , more nearly approximating to that of the Grand Lodges of England of 1717 and 1752 , and also to that of the present Grand Lodge of England ,
than that of any other of our sister jurisdictions . As Pennsylvania Masons we are proud of this fact , and , with a proper understanding of the meaning of the phrase , we should all be champions of the " Ancient Tork Work . " —Keystone .
Limitations Of Obligations.
LIMITATIONS OF OBLIGATIONS .
An Oration by Eev . E . W . Hill , Grand Orator , before the Grand Lodge of Oregon . 18 // J June 1886 . LIVING NEAR THE TRUE IDEAL .
WE speak often , one to another , of the beauties of Masonry and meditate thereon ; without doubt we all appreciate the privileges which we enjoy through our connection with the sublime mysteries . And this is well ,
for it is in this way that we can reach the truths which are contained in Masonry . All Masonry contains is not exhausted when we have " taken the degrees ; " more awaits the diligent and earnest one who is willing to devote
thought and energy to it . Like the precious metal in the deep mine , toil and careful attention is essential if one would possess himself of all the treasures in Masonry . Perhaps it was for this reason that the office of orator was
created by the Grand Lodges . It may be reasonabl y supposed that when one has given time and thought to any branch of human knowledge , he will be enabled to add something to the fund of information possessed by those
who have not been privileged to spend as much of their time in the study of special subjects . The Masonic orator then should have no narrow sweep to his vision as he surveys the system of Masonry , but should seek for those
principles which govern and control all of its parts , in order that what he may say may not onl y have the advantage of truth , but that also in its presentation it may be so arranged as to fit into all sides of life and add to its
benefits . No aim should be hi gher or purpose grander than his , for it is possible that his thoughts and words may give power to actions reaching far into futurity . His aim should be to make ours
" The ample views that , unconfined , Stretch to the utmost walks of human kind ; Ours the spirit that , with wisest plan , Brother to brother binds , and man to man . "
Perhaps this may seem too high an ideal , but if it be so , it is well that the error is on the nobler side , and that we do not lean to any view which would tend to lower these standards of Masonic life , which have been bequeathed to
us by the fathers gone before . We should have no patience with those who look only to the selfish side of life and make use of Masonry as one of the steps to further purely selfish interests . And yet we are all aware that such men
so gain admission , and abuse the privileges of the Fraternity . To such as these Masonry is nothing but a system of rituals , and all the sublime teachings are but as " sounding brass and tinkling cymbals . " There is nothing beyond
the mere ceremony for them , and with the close of the Lodge the duties of Masonry rest altogether on others , and must be performed for the advantage of this class . But
duty is the fundamental principle of Masonry , and the Mason who lives nearest to the full performance of all tbe duties of life , lives nearest to the true ideal . In whatever
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Ancient York Work.
one < if the finest cathedrals in Groat Britain or on the continent ; in the crypt of this cathedral the Freemasons have repeatedly held their meetings ; and its fabric rolls
contain many data of interest to onr Fraternity . On all accounts the city of Tork is dsservedly held in veneration and respect by Freemasons .
The Masonic tradition which asserts the antiquity of Freemasonry in Tork is thoroughly imbedded in Masonic history . This is evidenced in the old MS . Constitutions of the Craft , aud in tho Warrants of Constitution of many subordinate Lodges . The " Dowland MS ., " of A . D 1550 ,
reads as follows : King Athclstan was a worthy king of England * * and loved well Masons . And he had a son Edwin , and he loved Masons much more than his father did . And he was a great praoticer in
Geometry ; and he drew him muoh to talk and to commune with Masons , and to learn of them science ; and afterwards for love that he had to Masons , and to the scipnee , he was made a Mason , and he
got of the kinor his father a Charter and Commission to hold every year once an Assembly . * * And he held himself an Assembly at York , and there he made Masons , and gave them Charges .
The warrants of the old Lodges under the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania bear similar testimony , as instance the following , taken from the Warrant of Concordia Lodge , No . 67 , of Philadelphia :
To ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN : The Grand Lodge of the moat ancient and honourable Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons ( according to the old Constitutions , revived by His Royal Highness , Prince Edwin , at York , in the kingdom of England , in the year of
the Christian era Nine Hundred and Twenty and Six , and in the year of Rfa 3 > nry Fonr Thousand Nine Hundred and Twenty-Six ) , in Ample Form assembled at Philadelphia , in the State of Pennsylvania , Send Greeting .
The trouble with this tradition , as thus embodied in formal Masonic documents , is that profane history asserts that King Athelstan had no sort , while he had , however , a brother , Edwin , " a young priuce of great energy and high
promise , " whom the historian , Henry of Huntingdon , says , " was unhappily drowned at sea . " A slip might readil y have been made in the statement of relationship , and Edwin of Tork still might have been the patron of the
Freemasons . Another explanation , offered by Bro . Francis Drake , a century and a half ago , was that the Edwin intended was tho Anglo-Saxon King Edwin , who began to reign in A . D . 617 . We think the former explanation is
the more probable of the two , and we accept the Masonic tradition , which is of such long standing , and so often iterated and reiterated in Masonic documents , that
Freemasonry in Tork is of great antiquity , and may boast of royal patronnge as far back as in the tenth century . So much for Ancient Tork Masonry .
' We wish we could trace the connection of Early Freemasonry in Tork with the first historic Lodge , that of 1705 , in that city , but we cannot . Bro . Gould says , on this subject : " There is absolutely nothing to connect the Tork
Lodge of the eighteenth and most probably the seventeenth century , with Lodges of earlier date , though of course the possibility of the former being a lineal descendant of the latter must be conceded . " The Tork Lodge was certainly
at work " for years prior to the creation of the London Grand Lodge " in 1717 . Its records are preserved back to 1712 , while in the last century they existed back to
1705 . Its antiquity is unquestioned , and it was located on the oldest Masonic ground in England , according to wellestablished tradition .
Now as to the Ancient Tork Work . What is it ? Tbe expression in general terms in truth signifies the oldest Work of the Craft , and since Masonry may justly assume to
have been older in Tork than in any other locality of England , the Masonic tradition with regard to Tork is connected with , and made to give name to , what is currently regarded as the oldest Work .
But there is also a special historic significance in the term " Ancient Tork Work . " Dermott's Grand Lodp-eof 1752-3—that of the so-called " Ancients "—assumed the proprietorship of this phraseology , and gave currency to
it . The " Ancients" pretended ( without authority ) to have had the favour and support of the Grand Lodge at Tork , and in consequence they st yled themselves " Ancient Tork Masons . " These " Ancients " warranted a
Provincial Grand Lodge in Pennsylvania in 1764 j with Brother William Ball as Provincial Grand Master , and this Provincial Grand Lodge flourished after the decay of
the older Provincial Grand Lodge of 1730 , warranted by the Grand Lodge of 1717 , slightingly styled "Moderns " by their rivals . As a result , until of late years , all of the
The Ancient York Work.
subordinate Lodges in Pennsylvania styled themselves " Ancient Tork Masons , " and even now some of th em cling to this title . In point of fact , however , the superior designation is that of " Free and Accepted Masons "— .
whilo in the Work of the Craft in this jurisdiction both are properly retained and cumulatively used . But the term " Ancient Tork Work" may be misleading . There is absolutel y nothing , at present known , which connects it
with the old city of Tork , or the old Masons once in authorit y there . The name was derived solely from Bro . Dermott , and he appropriated it for his own purposes , to give character to the Grand Body of which he was the
Deputy Grand Master , and the Grand Secretary , the champion and the life-blood . If by " Ancient Tork Work " we mean the oldest Work , then it is a true designation , and by almost universal , consent the Work of the Grand
Lodge of Pennsylvania is acknowledged to be the oldest and purest on this Continent , more nearly approximating to that of the Grand Lodges of England of 1717 and 1752 , and also to that of the present Grand Lodge of England ,
than that of any other of our sister jurisdictions . As Pennsylvania Masons we are proud of this fact , and , with a proper understanding of the meaning of the phrase , we should all be champions of the " Ancient Tork Work . " —Keystone .
Limitations Of Obligations.
LIMITATIONS OF OBLIGATIONS .
An Oration by Eev . E . W . Hill , Grand Orator , before the Grand Lodge of Oregon . 18 // J June 1886 . LIVING NEAR THE TRUE IDEAL .
WE speak often , one to another , of the beauties of Masonry and meditate thereon ; without doubt we all appreciate the privileges which we enjoy through our connection with the sublime mysteries . And this is well ,
for it is in this way that we can reach the truths which are contained in Masonry . All Masonry contains is not exhausted when we have " taken the degrees ; " more awaits the diligent and earnest one who is willing to devote
thought and energy to it . Like the precious metal in the deep mine , toil and careful attention is essential if one would possess himself of all the treasures in Masonry . Perhaps it was for this reason that the office of orator was
created by the Grand Lodges . It may be reasonabl y supposed that when one has given time and thought to any branch of human knowledge , he will be enabled to add something to the fund of information possessed by those
who have not been privileged to spend as much of their time in the study of special subjects . The Masonic orator then should have no narrow sweep to his vision as he surveys the system of Masonry , but should seek for those
principles which govern and control all of its parts , in order that what he may say may not onl y have the advantage of truth , but that also in its presentation it may be so arranged as to fit into all sides of life and add to its
benefits . No aim should be hi gher or purpose grander than his , for it is possible that his thoughts and words may give power to actions reaching far into futurity . His aim should be to make ours
" The ample views that , unconfined , Stretch to the utmost walks of human kind ; Ours the spirit that , with wisest plan , Brother to brother binds , and man to man . "
Perhaps this may seem too high an ideal , but if it be so , it is well that the error is on the nobler side , and that we do not lean to any view which would tend to lower these standards of Masonic life , which have been bequeathed to
us by the fathers gone before . We should have no patience with those who look only to the selfish side of life and make use of Masonry as one of the steps to further purely selfish interests . And yet we are all aware that such men
so gain admission , and abuse the privileges of the Fraternity . To such as these Masonry is nothing but a system of rituals , and all the sublime teachings are but as " sounding brass and tinkling cymbals . " There is nothing beyond
the mere ceremony for them , and with the close of the Lodge the duties of Masonry rest altogether on others , and must be performed for the advantage of this class . But
duty is the fundamental principle of Masonry , and the Mason who lives nearest to the full performance of all tbe duties of life , lives nearest to the true ideal . In whatever