Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Illustrations Of The History Of The Craft.—No. 1.
question , the most contradictory and the most absurd theories have been hazarded relative to its origin and progress . To recapitulate all the different solutions , of what still to some appears an inexplicable enigma ,
would be almost a hopeless task , and certainly an unprofitable waste of time . We can only notice some of the leading explanations of the rise and continuance of our Order , whether from friendly or hostile writers , and which seem to demand our attention and deserve our
notice . There are those who seem willing to trace Freemasonry to the loyal adherents of the Stuarts , as preparatory to the restoration of King Charles II ., while others , equally sagacious , would connect it with the hopes and aspirations of the exiled
family of King James II . There are a few who see in Freemasonry a Jesuit Order ; there are some who regard it as a purely political body—the School of Illumines , the centre of revolution .
Probably it is not too much to say , that by far the larger number of writers , it is looked upon as a benevolent and convivial club . In former times it was the wont of many writers . Masonic and otherwise , to connect Freemasonry
with the Druids , with the Culdees , and , above all , with the Eleusinian mysteries ! No doubt Freemasonry is connected , and has ever been , with the history of secret initiation and personal probation , the great characteristic of all
the early mysteries . It may be perfectly true moreover , that Freemasonry possesses in its carefully preserved ritual and traditions some traces of the oral
teaching of those early mysteries , but it is not safe , it has always appeared to me , to rely simply on an esoteric connection , when we are asked , and naturally asked , to give a reasonable account of our outward organisation , the channel by which
the secrets and mysteries of Freemasonry have been handed down to ourselves . There are three other theories of Masonic life and history which we must briefly notice . There is the view which links our Freemasonry
to some early Christian body , whether as successors of the Essenes , or some developetnent of the " disciplina arcani , " which seems to be the suggestion of Dr . Leeson . A modification of this view is to be found in those who connect Freemasonry with Rosicrucian adepts , with the followers of " Rosenkruitz , " if that were really his name .
Illustrations Of The History Of The Craft.—No. 1.
But it is almost unnecessary to add that there is not the slightest valid or historical evidence to be adduced in behalf of such a theory . It is purely imaginative—the "baseless fabric of a dream . "
Neither can I speak more hopefully or encouragingly of that claim , propounded with such confidence , to consider ouf Freemasonry of to-day as derived from the Knights Templar . To say nothing of the intense difficulty ,
historically , of the transmission or preservation of any real Templar secrets , one thing is plain , though I am sorry to say it , as it may hurt the feelings of many excellent brethren of mine , the Masonic Knights Templar never had , and have not now ,
the slightest real connection with the old Knights Templar . The history of the dispersion and ultimate fate of the majority of the Templars is pretty well known . The accounts we hear of Templars
holding meetings at York , or Scotland , and elsewhere , to perpetuate the hidden mysteries of their secret chapters , are so opposed to the real facts of history , as fairly come within the reproach of being "fables of the Freemasons . "
Up to the present time not the slightest historical evidence is forthcoming of any prior existence of Masonic Knights Templar before 1740 . As I propose to treat in a subsequent chapter of the connection existing between the Knights Templar
and Freemasonry , I need not allude further to the subject now than to say , that the Knights Templar borrowed , if they did borrow , their secrets from Freemasonry—not Freemasonry from the Knights Templar .
There is a third view , which has of late been advocated with more zeal than discretion—namely that which would limit Speculative Freemasonry to 1717 , and would seek to contend that at that epoch the phraseology and working tools of the
operative guilds were adapted and adopted for the purposes of a philanthropic and benevolent associates ; but that there was no further bond of union or continuity of purpose . So farback as 1733 , in the Gentlemen ' s Magazine
for February , an anonymous writer , untruly calling himself a brother , says we may as well call ourselves " carpenters or ratcatchers as Freemasons , " and he further asserts that the present Order is a " gallimawfry of the restorer of the society . " This is the view , practically , which has been pressed upon us in such a variety of ways , and
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Illustrations Of The History Of The Craft.—No. 1.
question , the most contradictory and the most absurd theories have been hazarded relative to its origin and progress . To recapitulate all the different solutions , of what still to some appears an inexplicable enigma ,
would be almost a hopeless task , and certainly an unprofitable waste of time . We can only notice some of the leading explanations of the rise and continuance of our Order , whether from friendly or hostile writers , and which seem to demand our attention and deserve our
notice . There are those who seem willing to trace Freemasonry to the loyal adherents of the Stuarts , as preparatory to the restoration of King Charles II ., while others , equally sagacious , would connect it with the hopes and aspirations of the exiled
family of King James II . There are a few who see in Freemasonry a Jesuit Order ; there are some who regard it as a purely political body—the School of Illumines , the centre of revolution .
Probably it is not too much to say , that by far the larger number of writers , it is looked upon as a benevolent and convivial club . In former times it was the wont of many writers . Masonic and otherwise , to connect Freemasonry
with the Druids , with the Culdees , and , above all , with the Eleusinian mysteries ! No doubt Freemasonry is connected , and has ever been , with the history of secret initiation and personal probation , the great characteristic of all
the early mysteries . It may be perfectly true moreover , that Freemasonry possesses in its carefully preserved ritual and traditions some traces of the oral
teaching of those early mysteries , but it is not safe , it has always appeared to me , to rely simply on an esoteric connection , when we are asked , and naturally asked , to give a reasonable account of our outward organisation , the channel by which
the secrets and mysteries of Freemasonry have been handed down to ourselves . There are three other theories of Masonic life and history which we must briefly notice . There is the view which links our Freemasonry
to some early Christian body , whether as successors of the Essenes , or some developetnent of the " disciplina arcani , " which seems to be the suggestion of Dr . Leeson . A modification of this view is to be found in those who connect Freemasonry with Rosicrucian adepts , with the followers of " Rosenkruitz , " if that were really his name .
Illustrations Of The History Of The Craft.—No. 1.
But it is almost unnecessary to add that there is not the slightest valid or historical evidence to be adduced in behalf of such a theory . It is purely imaginative—the "baseless fabric of a dream . "
Neither can I speak more hopefully or encouragingly of that claim , propounded with such confidence , to consider ouf Freemasonry of to-day as derived from the Knights Templar . To say nothing of the intense difficulty ,
historically , of the transmission or preservation of any real Templar secrets , one thing is plain , though I am sorry to say it , as it may hurt the feelings of many excellent brethren of mine , the Masonic Knights Templar never had , and have not now ,
the slightest real connection with the old Knights Templar . The history of the dispersion and ultimate fate of the majority of the Templars is pretty well known . The accounts we hear of Templars
holding meetings at York , or Scotland , and elsewhere , to perpetuate the hidden mysteries of their secret chapters , are so opposed to the real facts of history , as fairly come within the reproach of being "fables of the Freemasons . "
Up to the present time not the slightest historical evidence is forthcoming of any prior existence of Masonic Knights Templar before 1740 . As I propose to treat in a subsequent chapter of the connection existing between the Knights Templar
and Freemasonry , I need not allude further to the subject now than to say , that the Knights Templar borrowed , if they did borrow , their secrets from Freemasonry—not Freemasonry from the Knights Templar .
There is a third view , which has of late been advocated with more zeal than discretion—namely that which would limit Speculative Freemasonry to 1717 , and would seek to contend that at that epoch the phraseology and working tools of the
operative guilds were adapted and adopted for the purposes of a philanthropic and benevolent associates ; but that there was no further bond of union or continuity of purpose . So farback as 1733 , in the Gentlemen ' s Magazine
for February , an anonymous writer , untruly calling himself a brother , says we may as well call ourselves " carpenters or ratcatchers as Freemasons , " and he further asserts that the present Order is a " gallimawfry of the restorer of the society . " This is the view , practically , which has been pressed upon us in such a variety of ways , and