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Article A CENTURY OF FREEMASONRY. Page 1 of 10 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
A Century Of Freemasonry.
A CENTURY OF FREEMASONRY .
BY KENNETH R .. H . MACKENZIE .
No . 1 . VERY important is it for every Mason to know the history of the Craft , in its influence upon the lives , habits , customs , and actions of historical nations , in less auspicious times ; and every step which is taken in that direction must be applauded—every
addition to our knowledge must be welcomed in a truly fraternal and kindly spirit . We propose in the folloAving articles to lay before our readers an abstract of a very important work , Avhich has Avithin the last feAV months appeared in Germany ; and Ave trust that Ave shall be enabled so to direct attention to it , as to afford others a pleasure similar to that , Avhich Ave have ourselves enioyed in its perusal . *
After a few words of introduction , Avhich are intended to show that the institution of Freemasonry , although very ancient , has rather gradually grown up as circumstances led to it , — than originated all of a sudden , or started into life without any preparation , or foreshadoAving , —the author proceeds to the matter in hand , and remarks : —
" When Wren had completed the building of the cathedral of St . Paul in London , in 1708 , and thus the work-people had no common centre remaining , their corporate customs , like the customs of many other bodies , would in course of time have been lost and wiped away if the brotherhood had not been sustained , as such , by the power of that ancient additionthe non-professional members from the most various grades of society . The religious contentions , which had been dominant for two hundred
years , were at last compelled to recede before the spirit of toleration ; the necessity for some place of rest , where political discussion mi g ht not enter , was the cause and reason for the formation and adoption , about the year 1716 , of an . organized system then first appearing as Ereemasonry . f
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
A Century Of Freemasonry.
A CENTURY OF FREEMASONRY .
BY KENNETH R .. H . MACKENZIE .
No . 1 . VERY important is it for every Mason to know the history of the Craft , in its influence upon the lives , habits , customs , and actions of historical nations , in less auspicious times ; and every step which is taken in that direction must be applauded—every
addition to our knowledge must be welcomed in a truly fraternal and kindly spirit . We propose in the folloAving articles to lay before our readers an abstract of a very important work , Avhich has Avithin the last feAV months appeared in Germany ; and Ave trust that Ave shall be enabled so to direct attention to it , as to afford others a pleasure similar to that , Avhich Ave have ourselves enioyed in its perusal . *
After a few words of introduction , Avhich are intended to show that the institution of Freemasonry , although very ancient , has rather gradually grown up as circumstances led to it , — than originated all of a sudden , or started into life without any preparation , or foreshadoAving , —the author proceeds to the matter in hand , and remarks : —
" When Wren had completed the building of the cathedral of St . Paul in London , in 1708 , and thus the work-people had no common centre remaining , their corporate customs , like the customs of many other bodies , would in course of time have been lost and wiped away if the brotherhood had not been sustained , as such , by the power of that ancient additionthe non-professional members from the most various grades of society . The religious contentions , which had been dominant for two hundred
years , were at last compelled to recede before the spirit of toleration ; the necessity for some place of rest , where political discussion mi g ht not enter , was the cause and reason for the formation and adoption , about the year 1716 , of an . organized system then first appearing as Ereemasonry . f