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Article ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR BOYS. ← Page 2 of 2 Article ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR BOYS. Page 2 of 2 Article MASONIC HISTORY AND HISTORIANS. Page 1 of 1
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.
Bro . C . F . MATIER , in the absence of Bro . Thomas Entwistle , Vice-President , moved to alter Law 55 of the Institution , by inserting after the word "livelihood " ( at the end of law ) the words " in any of which cases , except that of sudden death , the father must have been a subscribing member to a lodge for three years . " In makin- ** - ** the motion he said he had much pleasure in doing so , as he was fully convinced that some alteration of the
law was necessary . Of late years there had been a great increase in the number of those who entered Masonry . A great deal of publicity had been given to the benevolence of Masonry by the ' reports which had appeared in both the London and provincial press , and he knew that many gentlemen had sought admission to the ranks of Masonry in consequence . He believed an alteration in the laws was necessary to keep out certain people
who would join simply for the purpose of getting from it some benefit . He would give an instance of such a thing having occurred . A gentleman got himself proposed in a lodge , knowing himself to be almost in the last stage of consumption . He was initiated , and he died before he was raised to the Third Degree ; but the night he was initiated he went home and said to his wife " Now , thank God , I have provided for you and your family . " That brother never subscribed anything to Freemasonry but his initiation fee ;
there was only his promise of his first year's subscription to the lodge . The lodge afterwards subscribed for the family ' s relief , and the family was also assisted by Freemasonry . He was sure there were several cases of this description , besides that which had been removed from the paper . It was to put a stop to such a state of things that he brought forward this motion , and he would say no more on the subject , but simply confine himself to moving the resolution . Bro . CONSTABLE seconded the motion .
After a few remarks from Bros . J . G . STEVENS , S . RAWSON , and C . H . WEBB . Bro . STORR thought this was too serious a case to be decided offhand . Many of the brethren who had come to the meeting had no idea of what was coming before them , and certainly had not given the matter any consideration . As regarded men entering Masonry for mercenary purposes , he
quite agreed with all that Bro . Matier had said , but he thought they ought to draw a line . They were , however , drawing that line rather too tight by this resolution , not allowing for cases of shipwreck or sudden death of any kind—not that they wanted a coroner ' s jury to decide that the case was eligible or not . If a brother had subscribed to Masonry two years , and was then called suddenly away , that was a case for consideration . He regretted
that the case of Morris had been declared ineligible for the Institution , as though the father was alive , his living a seafaring life was very precarious as a means of subsistence . He begged to move " That the matter bc adjourned for the present . " Bro . C . H . WEBB , who had supported Bro . Matier's motion , seconded the amendment .
Bro . W . ROEBUCK proposed , as an amendment to Bro . Matier's resolu-Bro . MATIER said he would accept Bro . Roebuck ' s amendment , tion , that the words should be " except in the case of paralysis or sudden death , from shipwreck or any other cause , the father must have been a subscribing member to a lodge for three years . " Bro . S . RAWSON seconded the amendment .
Bro . WOODFORD opposed the amendment of Bro . Storr . The subject was one which was so easily understood , and so practical in itself , that , with due submission to Bro . Storr , there was no necessity for an adjournment . They all understood the question . Those of them who had taken great interest in the Masonic Charities knew that there were a large number of cases where people just came into Masonry and then left it , and died out of it , some
years afterwards , and their widows or children came upon it for relief . There were cases of men who had been out of Masonry two , three , four , five , nine , and ten years coming upon the Craft for support , who had been liberally paying their own lodge subscriptions all the while . In his opinion Bro . Matier had properly moved this resolution , and he believed they would all be
rendering good service to the true cause of Masonic charity if they voted for thc resolution at once , and did not adjourn it . Bro . Storr's amendment was put , and lost b y a large majority . Bro . Roebuck ' s amendment was then brought on , and seconded by Bro . Rawson .
Bro . BURCH did not like this constant tinkering with the rules . Bro . Roebuck ' s amendment , adopted by Bro . Matier , was put and carried . Bro . A . J . DUFF FILER proposed to alter Law 72 , authorising a grant of money by the General Committee to a boy having left thc Institution by increasing the maximum amount from £ 20 to £ 40 . He said the Girls' School
had made this alteration , and he had no doubt that many brethren present would be willing to follow the same course . It sometimes happened that there were exceptionally deserving cases when children were going out into the world where the £ 40 would be the means of providing a foundation on which ultimate success would be built .
Bro . STORR seconded the motion , and was even in favour of giving a larger sum . The motion was carried . Bro . ROEBUCK , moved , in accordance with the resolution of the General Committee on the recommendation of the House and Building Committee , " That the House and Building Committee be authorised to expend a sum
not exceeding £ 700 in the enlargement of the gymnasium , & c , rendered necessary by the increase of the number of boys from 100 to 215 . " The number of boys , he said , had more than doubled since the gymnasium was built , and the House Committee felt it was very necessary that the gymnasium should be enlarged . They had obtained estimates , and they hoped that before the festival in June it would be ready .
Bro . J . G . CHANCELLOR seconded the motion . The motion was carried , and The CHAIRMAN said he most heartily concurred in the vote . Scrutineers of votes were then appointed , and the brethren proceeded to elect twenty boys . At the declaration of the poll , the following was found to bc the result : — SUCCESSFUL .
Allan , Alexander 1712 March , George Archibald 1676 Cairney , Frederick William 1 GG 5 Lucas , William Walter iGsG
vyoonons , Walter Herbert 1 G 44 Rocke , Ernest Charles 1 G 2- ? Wilson , William Leslie 1 G 13 Whitely , Louis Lawton ... ,., it- 75 Bladon , Frederick Rowley 1570 Tink , Henry James . ' . j _
Webb , Charles Edward iS 30 Conway , Walter i 5 22 Tanner , Frederick Thomas 1454 Williams . William Isaac I 45 i
Lucas , Edmund Charles 1445 Lewis , Alfred Lucas I 43 I Bloomfield , John 1423 Wicks , Grantley 13 S 5 Estlin , Charles Nathaniel 13 G 5 Carey , Stephen Darcy 1 * 156
Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.
UNSUCCESSFUL .
Fellows , Arthur ... ... ... 13 U Wortley , George ... 1253 Gurney , Charles Aubrey 1225 Lee , Sidney Edward ... ... ... 1134 Mott , Pierce Hefiry 1113 Ecclestone , Henry Arthur 10 S 7 lordison , Hugh Llovd o *; o
Hill , George William King SS 7 Kirby , Alfred S 21 Stanford , William Bryant 765 Clark , Frederick Arthur 667 Watson , William Renwick 631 Neville , Frederick John 52 S I ^ trtrertnr , Inmoo -niC ^ ij ^ j « .... w
. u ., v , u .,, , . . . . . . . . . -, £ _ Taylor , George William 442 Gunnell , William Pearse ... ... 371 Goldsbrough , Jno . Tom 355 Ashdown , Arthur Durham ... ... 352 Crane , Henry Samuel James ... 335 Booth , Frederic 326 fones , Cleophas Crofton Ben . .,. ' -521
Stewart , Charles Edward 293 Field , Charles Samuel Venlris ... 2 SG Burgess , Harold Thomas 274 Crow , Charlie John 249 Skelton , Frederick Francis ... ... 243 Sisley , Walter John iSS Jones , William Vincent Bcilby ... 16 9
Ball , Edward Thomas 163 Liversedge , Charles Percy ... ... 147 Long , Joseph William ... ... 144 Fowke , Alexander William 122 Thompson , Clement William ... 113 Willett , George Cross ... ... 100 Escott , Chas . Leopold ... ... 94 Read , John 6 S
Pudney , Frederick 61 Crabb , Tom Walcot 49 Cummings , Charles Brown 35 Jones , Geoffrey Stewart 32 l ^ nl ! , r » C ^\» , TlrM / ic mm uuiuiuuii jaiill
, . ^ . . . ... . . . J . I Sowdon , Sidney ... ... ... 26 Laing , Henry Lawson ... ... 22 Humphrey , John ... ... ... 21 Hill , Reginald Augustus Lowder ... 3 Pratt , Robert Williamson 3 Sanderson , Charles J esse ... ... 2 W 7 , nrlrr » cc Ti ^ lir , Rnninniin . iuujojv III
> ,,..., .... UI . IIJUII , ... . . m Farrar , Ethelbert ... ... ... 1 Cook , Frederick John ... ... 1 Foot , William Robert Deacon ... o Bottomley , Albert William o Lewis , Oswald Edward ... Withdrawn Gosden , Walter Henry ... „ Morris , Henry Edward ... „ Legge , Vernon Guest ... „
Masonic History And Historians.
MASONIC HISTORY AND HISTORIANS .
BY MASONIC STUDENT . There is a " point" which deserves attention and elucidation , on which we are doing a good deal of " sheepwalking . " It is this—what is the real connexion between the ritual of the " Operative Guilds , " and that ofthe " Speculative Masons . " In England , if the evidence of the Sloane MS . may be relied on , or if that represents the Operative Guild rituals , there is
great resemblance ; but I apprehend that such is not the case generally . In Germany , where the operative organization of the "Steinmetzen" was at one time fully developed and legally recognized , under Imperial Charters and sanctions , there seems to be no connexion whatever between the ' . " Bauhiitten" and the Speculative Lodges .
All present German Freemasonry comes from England or Scotland , most probably the former , and at thc beginning of the Eighteenth Century all indigenous Freemasonry seems to have died out , the " Steinmetzen Bauhiitten " were either dormant or decayed , silent or extinct , and there does not appear to be the slightesttrace historically of any Masonic work , or life on an operative basis .
From the English Revival of 1717 , however , Germany seems to have drawn ils new form of Masonry , and all Masonic leaching and symbolism , ritual and work . I am aware that Bro . Findel , in his " History of Freemasonry , " claims a Benedictine origin for a ceremonial he stales was in use among the Steinmetzen Lodges , and which certainly very much resembles modern
Masonry . But the question has often been asked , where did Bro . Findel obtain his authority ? and the question is still unanswered . I am aware of no evidence of any actual " Steinmetzen Ritual" which will bear investigation . If this be so as regards Germany , the argument for continuity is greatly weakened . - ¦
I believe that a German brother did publish some years back a sort of sketch of the ritual of the " Steinmetzen , " but there was nothing Masonic in it , if I remember rightly . There is a pamphlet relative to the reception of " Maurer Gesellen , " Mason Apprentices , published at Hamburg , but there is equally nothing Masonic in it . If any correspondent can crive me a clue to
any such works or evidences I shall be greatly obliged , but so far as I have been able at present to realize the German evidence on the subject , despite the high authority of Bro . Findel , the connexion and continuity of pre and post 1717 Masonry in Germany is a creation of the imagination rather than of fact .
I am not , however , sure that all available sources of information in Germany are yet exhausted or even explored , but it has yet to be demonstrated that there is any connexion as between the " Steinmetzen " and Speculative Masonry in Germany . The same argument applies to France . Bro . Gould ' s interesting remarks in the last Freemason deserve the best thanks of all Masonic students . I think he has most clearly digfaroved the
statement of the " veracious" Thomas Grinsell , the commentary of Dermott , and the still more paraphrastic statement of Oliver . For at p . 6 , " Revelations of a Square , " we find these words , " Dr . Desaguliers having intimated his intention of renovating the Order , soon found himself supported b y a party of active and zealous brethren , whose names merit preservation . They were Bros . Sayer , Payne , Lamball , Elliott , Gofton , Cordwell ,
Uc Noycr , Vraden , King , Mornce , Calvert , Ware , Lumley , and Madden . These included the Masters and Wardens of the four existing lodges at the Goose and Gridiron , the Crown , thc Apple Tree , and the Rummer and Grapes , & c . " This statement is certainl y incorrect , and represents too painfully the grave incorrectness of Oliver . Noneof these names occur in thc earl y history of Freemasonry , except Sayer , Payne , Desaguliers , Anderson ,
Lamball , Cordwell , Mornce , and Ware , and not altogether , and I have no doubt that Bro . Gould has hit on the right > xplanation of the true ori gin of this statement . It is truly Masonic " sheepwalking . " Some of the names are not so far , I believe , identified at all . I heartily agree with Bro . Gould , that we must still pause before we decide as to the question of the antiquity of the Degrees . It is , as he savs , a
most difficult and a most puzzling question . My only fear has been that we were going on too fast , and that just as before we accepted Oliver , & c , too easily , now we seemed disposed to doubt and question everything . But the value of such an enquiry is very great , and as long as we arc only clearing thc way , all is well . I have , however , seen . statements that there is no evidence of any charges before 1717 , and lhat our present system seems to have emerged between 1717 and 1723 .
It is to this statement , or suggestion , that I respectfully demur . There is evidence surel y of a co-existent Masoniy , with " Degrees , " in 1717 , and as wc know that " lodges" did exist from 1646 , there is presumptive evidence of a " ritual " of some kind . I , for one , welcome all such discussions , and as no one admires more than I do the clear and able statements of Bro . Gould , or feels more grateful for his careful researches , I trust that we may be favoured with many more communications invaluable to all Masonic students ..
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.
Bro . C . F . MATIER , in the absence of Bro . Thomas Entwistle , Vice-President , moved to alter Law 55 of the Institution , by inserting after the word "livelihood " ( at the end of law ) the words " in any of which cases , except that of sudden death , the father must have been a subscribing member to a lodge for three years . " In makin- ** - ** the motion he said he had much pleasure in doing so , as he was fully convinced that some alteration of the
law was necessary . Of late years there had been a great increase in the number of those who entered Masonry . A great deal of publicity had been given to the benevolence of Masonry by the ' reports which had appeared in both the London and provincial press , and he knew that many gentlemen had sought admission to the ranks of Masonry in consequence . He believed an alteration in the laws was necessary to keep out certain people
who would join simply for the purpose of getting from it some benefit . He would give an instance of such a thing having occurred . A gentleman got himself proposed in a lodge , knowing himself to be almost in the last stage of consumption . He was initiated , and he died before he was raised to the Third Degree ; but the night he was initiated he went home and said to his wife " Now , thank God , I have provided for you and your family . " That brother never subscribed anything to Freemasonry but his initiation fee ;
there was only his promise of his first year's subscription to the lodge . The lodge afterwards subscribed for the family ' s relief , and the family was also assisted by Freemasonry . He was sure there were several cases of this description , besides that which had been removed from the paper . It was to put a stop to such a state of things that he brought forward this motion , and he would say no more on the subject , but simply confine himself to moving the resolution . Bro . CONSTABLE seconded the motion .
After a few remarks from Bros . J . G . STEVENS , S . RAWSON , and C . H . WEBB . Bro . STORR thought this was too serious a case to be decided offhand . Many of the brethren who had come to the meeting had no idea of what was coming before them , and certainly had not given the matter any consideration . As regarded men entering Masonry for mercenary purposes , he
quite agreed with all that Bro . Matier had said , but he thought they ought to draw a line . They were , however , drawing that line rather too tight by this resolution , not allowing for cases of shipwreck or sudden death of any kind—not that they wanted a coroner ' s jury to decide that the case was eligible or not . If a brother had subscribed to Masonry two years , and was then called suddenly away , that was a case for consideration . He regretted
that the case of Morris had been declared ineligible for the Institution , as though the father was alive , his living a seafaring life was very precarious as a means of subsistence . He begged to move " That the matter bc adjourned for the present . " Bro . C . H . WEBB , who had supported Bro . Matier's motion , seconded the amendment .
Bro . W . ROEBUCK proposed , as an amendment to Bro . Matier's resolu-Bro . MATIER said he would accept Bro . Roebuck ' s amendment , tion , that the words should be " except in the case of paralysis or sudden death , from shipwreck or any other cause , the father must have been a subscribing member to a lodge for three years . " Bro . S . RAWSON seconded the amendment .
Bro . WOODFORD opposed the amendment of Bro . Storr . The subject was one which was so easily understood , and so practical in itself , that , with due submission to Bro . Storr , there was no necessity for an adjournment . They all understood the question . Those of them who had taken great interest in the Masonic Charities knew that there were a large number of cases where people just came into Masonry and then left it , and died out of it , some
years afterwards , and their widows or children came upon it for relief . There were cases of men who had been out of Masonry two , three , four , five , nine , and ten years coming upon the Craft for support , who had been liberally paying their own lodge subscriptions all the while . In his opinion Bro . Matier had properly moved this resolution , and he believed they would all be
rendering good service to the true cause of Masonic charity if they voted for thc resolution at once , and did not adjourn it . Bro . Storr's amendment was put , and lost b y a large majority . Bro . Roebuck ' s amendment was then brought on , and seconded by Bro . Rawson .
Bro . BURCH did not like this constant tinkering with the rules . Bro . Roebuck ' s amendment , adopted by Bro . Matier , was put and carried . Bro . A . J . DUFF FILER proposed to alter Law 72 , authorising a grant of money by the General Committee to a boy having left thc Institution by increasing the maximum amount from £ 20 to £ 40 . He said the Girls' School
had made this alteration , and he had no doubt that many brethren present would be willing to follow the same course . It sometimes happened that there were exceptionally deserving cases when children were going out into the world where the £ 40 would be the means of providing a foundation on which ultimate success would be built .
Bro . STORR seconded the motion , and was even in favour of giving a larger sum . The motion was carried . Bro . ROEBUCK , moved , in accordance with the resolution of the General Committee on the recommendation of the House and Building Committee , " That the House and Building Committee be authorised to expend a sum
not exceeding £ 700 in the enlargement of the gymnasium , & c , rendered necessary by the increase of the number of boys from 100 to 215 . " The number of boys , he said , had more than doubled since the gymnasium was built , and the House Committee felt it was very necessary that the gymnasium should be enlarged . They had obtained estimates , and they hoped that before the festival in June it would be ready .
Bro . J . G . CHANCELLOR seconded the motion . The motion was carried , and The CHAIRMAN said he most heartily concurred in the vote . Scrutineers of votes were then appointed , and the brethren proceeded to elect twenty boys . At the declaration of the poll , the following was found to bc the result : — SUCCESSFUL .
Allan , Alexander 1712 March , George Archibald 1676 Cairney , Frederick William 1 GG 5 Lucas , William Walter iGsG
vyoonons , Walter Herbert 1 G 44 Rocke , Ernest Charles 1 G 2- ? Wilson , William Leslie 1 G 13 Whitely , Louis Lawton ... ,., it- 75 Bladon , Frederick Rowley 1570 Tink , Henry James . ' . j _
Webb , Charles Edward iS 30 Conway , Walter i 5 22 Tanner , Frederick Thomas 1454 Williams . William Isaac I 45 i
Lucas , Edmund Charles 1445 Lewis , Alfred Lucas I 43 I Bloomfield , John 1423 Wicks , Grantley 13 S 5 Estlin , Charles Nathaniel 13 G 5 Carey , Stephen Darcy 1 * 156
Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.
UNSUCCESSFUL .
Fellows , Arthur ... ... ... 13 U Wortley , George ... 1253 Gurney , Charles Aubrey 1225 Lee , Sidney Edward ... ... ... 1134 Mott , Pierce Hefiry 1113 Ecclestone , Henry Arthur 10 S 7 lordison , Hugh Llovd o *; o
Hill , George William King SS 7 Kirby , Alfred S 21 Stanford , William Bryant 765 Clark , Frederick Arthur 667 Watson , William Renwick 631 Neville , Frederick John 52 S I ^ trtrertnr , Inmoo -niC ^ ij ^ j « .... w
. u ., v , u .,, , . . . . . . . . . -, £ _ Taylor , George William 442 Gunnell , William Pearse ... ... 371 Goldsbrough , Jno . Tom 355 Ashdown , Arthur Durham ... ... 352 Crane , Henry Samuel James ... 335 Booth , Frederic 326 fones , Cleophas Crofton Ben . .,. ' -521
Stewart , Charles Edward 293 Field , Charles Samuel Venlris ... 2 SG Burgess , Harold Thomas 274 Crow , Charlie John 249 Skelton , Frederick Francis ... ... 243 Sisley , Walter John iSS Jones , William Vincent Bcilby ... 16 9
Ball , Edward Thomas 163 Liversedge , Charles Percy ... ... 147 Long , Joseph William ... ... 144 Fowke , Alexander William 122 Thompson , Clement William ... 113 Willett , George Cross ... ... 100 Escott , Chas . Leopold ... ... 94 Read , John 6 S
Pudney , Frederick 61 Crabb , Tom Walcot 49 Cummings , Charles Brown 35 Jones , Geoffrey Stewart 32 l ^ nl ! , r » C ^\» , TlrM / ic mm uuiuiuuii jaiill
, . ^ . . . ... . . . J . I Sowdon , Sidney ... ... ... 26 Laing , Henry Lawson ... ... 22 Humphrey , John ... ... ... 21 Hill , Reginald Augustus Lowder ... 3 Pratt , Robert Williamson 3 Sanderson , Charles J esse ... ... 2 W 7 , nrlrr » cc Ti ^ lir , Rnninniin . iuujojv III
> ,,..., .... UI . IIJUII , ... . . m Farrar , Ethelbert ... ... ... 1 Cook , Frederick John ... ... 1 Foot , William Robert Deacon ... o Bottomley , Albert William o Lewis , Oswald Edward ... Withdrawn Gosden , Walter Henry ... „ Morris , Henry Edward ... „ Legge , Vernon Guest ... „
Masonic History And Historians.
MASONIC HISTORY AND HISTORIANS .
BY MASONIC STUDENT . There is a " point" which deserves attention and elucidation , on which we are doing a good deal of " sheepwalking . " It is this—what is the real connexion between the ritual of the " Operative Guilds , " and that ofthe " Speculative Masons . " In England , if the evidence of the Sloane MS . may be relied on , or if that represents the Operative Guild rituals , there is
great resemblance ; but I apprehend that such is not the case generally . In Germany , where the operative organization of the "Steinmetzen" was at one time fully developed and legally recognized , under Imperial Charters and sanctions , there seems to be no connexion whatever between the ' . " Bauhiitten" and the Speculative Lodges .
All present German Freemasonry comes from England or Scotland , most probably the former , and at thc beginning of the Eighteenth Century all indigenous Freemasonry seems to have died out , the " Steinmetzen Bauhiitten " were either dormant or decayed , silent or extinct , and there does not appear to be the slightesttrace historically of any Masonic work , or life on an operative basis .
From the English Revival of 1717 , however , Germany seems to have drawn ils new form of Masonry , and all Masonic leaching and symbolism , ritual and work . I am aware that Bro . Findel , in his " History of Freemasonry , " claims a Benedictine origin for a ceremonial he stales was in use among the Steinmetzen Lodges , and which certainly very much resembles modern
Masonry . But the question has often been asked , where did Bro . Findel obtain his authority ? and the question is still unanswered . I am aware of no evidence of any actual " Steinmetzen Ritual" which will bear investigation . If this be so as regards Germany , the argument for continuity is greatly weakened . - ¦
I believe that a German brother did publish some years back a sort of sketch of the ritual of the " Steinmetzen , " but there was nothing Masonic in it , if I remember rightly . There is a pamphlet relative to the reception of " Maurer Gesellen , " Mason Apprentices , published at Hamburg , but there is equally nothing Masonic in it . If any correspondent can crive me a clue to
any such works or evidences I shall be greatly obliged , but so far as I have been able at present to realize the German evidence on the subject , despite the high authority of Bro . Findel , the connexion and continuity of pre and post 1717 Masonry in Germany is a creation of the imagination rather than of fact .
I am not , however , sure that all available sources of information in Germany are yet exhausted or even explored , but it has yet to be demonstrated that there is any connexion as between the " Steinmetzen " and Speculative Masonry in Germany . The same argument applies to France . Bro . Gould ' s interesting remarks in the last Freemason deserve the best thanks of all Masonic students . I think he has most clearly digfaroved the
statement of the " veracious" Thomas Grinsell , the commentary of Dermott , and the still more paraphrastic statement of Oliver . For at p . 6 , " Revelations of a Square , " we find these words , " Dr . Desaguliers having intimated his intention of renovating the Order , soon found himself supported b y a party of active and zealous brethren , whose names merit preservation . They were Bros . Sayer , Payne , Lamball , Elliott , Gofton , Cordwell ,
Uc Noycr , Vraden , King , Mornce , Calvert , Ware , Lumley , and Madden . These included the Masters and Wardens of the four existing lodges at the Goose and Gridiron , the Crown , thc Apple Tree , and the Rummer and Grapes , & c . " This statement is certainl y incorrect , and represents too painfully the grave incorrectness of Oliver . Noneof these names occur in thc earl y history of Freemasonry , except Sayer , Payne , Desaguliers , Anderson ,
Lamball , Cordwell , Mornce , and Ware , and not altogether , and I have no doubt that Bro . Gould has hit on the right > xplanation of the true ori gin of this statement . It is truly Masonic " sheepwalking . " Some of the names are not so far , I believe , identified at all . I heartily agree with Bro . Gould , that we must still pause before we decide as to the question of the antiquity of the Degrees . It is , as he savs , a
most difficult and a most puzzling question . My only fear has been that we were going on too fast , and that just as before we accepted Oliver , & c , too easily , now we seemed disposed to doubt and question everything . But the value of such an enquiry is very great , and as long as we arc only clearing thc way , all is well . I have , however , seen . statements that there is no evidence of any charges before 1717 , and lhat our present system seems to have emerged between 1717 and 1723 .
It is to this statement , or suggestion , that I respectfully demur . There is evidence surel y of a co-existent Masoniy , with " Degrees , " in 1717 , and as wc know that " lodges" did exist from 1646 , there is presumptive evidence of a " ritual " of some kind . I , for one , welcome all such discussions , and as no one admires more than I do the clear and able statements of Bro . Gould , or feels more grateful for his careful researches , I trust that we may be favoured with many more communications invaluable to all Masonic students ..