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  • The Freemasons' Monthly Magazine
  • Sept. 28, 1867
  • Page 8
  • WHAT IS FREEMASONRY?
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The Freemasons' Monthly Magazine, Sept. 28, 1867: Page 8

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Page 8

Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.

What Is Freemasonry?

3 rd Henry YI ., chap . 1 ) making it felony to meet in lodges . " What is Freemasonry ? " was asked by the Princes during the reign of George III . The ansAver Avas , " Come and see ! " They Avent , were initiated , and became eminent in their

devotedness to the Craft . Henry YI ., on attaining his majority , became a Freemason , and took great interest in the Avelfare of the brotherhood . He sought out by every means the mystic knowledge it contains , and Avrote a history of Freemasonry .

Among the LandsdoAvne MSS . in the British Museum is a curious paper on the " Origin of Freemasonry , " collected by Lord Burleigh ( No . 98 , article 48 ) , in Avhich Freemasonry is traced back to the antedeluvians , who erected two pillars

and placed thereon certain characters , and these pillars existed after the Flood , as stated by Josephus , AVIIO says one of them Avas existing in his day . Freemasonry existed in England in the time of the Druids ; their temples Avere lodges ;

their supposed altars have a Masonic meaning , which , being placed east , south , and west , correspond Avith the arrangement of certain portions of the loclge to this day . King EdAvin granted a charter to Freemasons , presided as G . M . at York , and ordered the Masonic archives to be registered .

King Alfred Avas G . M ., and , upon his defeating the Danes at RavensAvorth , in Northumberland , at RavensAving ( Avening ) , in Gloucestershire , and Ravenstone , in Leicestershire , held a lodge , the remains of Avhich are existing at these places to

this day , ancl are identified by all Masons Avho see them . The raven AA as emblazoned on the Royal flag or standard of Denmark , and the above places took their names from the defeats the Danes sustained there . In A . D . 878 , Hubba , a Danish

chief , ancl nearly a thousand folloAvers , Avere slain in an attempt to land in Devonshire , and their magical banner , a raA ^ eii embroidered in one noontide by the hands of the three daughters of the great Lodbroke , Avas taken by the British followers

of King Alfred the Great —( White ' s History ) . Whatever the secrets of Freemasonry may be , it is certain that there is' much that is good in it manifested to the Avorld . The brethren of the Craft cannot be enemies to each other ; the mystic

sign , or mystic word , has often saved the lives and property of captains aud crews , of officers and men in battle . Instances are known Avhere Masons opposed in battle have dropped their arms and embraced each other ; prisoners have been liberated and the Avounded Mason protected

by his foe . There is a gentleman UOAV hvmg m Stockton Avhose father , his creAV and ship , Averesaved by Freemasonry . The pirates had taken the ship , and Avhile searching for plunder discovered certain Masonic emblems , ancl on

ascertaining that the captain Avas a Freemason , by signs only , they restored everything and left the ship . Such instances are numerous . Freemasons make the best soldiers . Field-Marshal the late Lord Combermere stated publicly "that during the time he had been in the army he never knew a bad soldier Avho was a Freemason . " Sir Lucius

Curtis stated publicly that Avhen he was in command at Malta , a Bull Avas issued by the Pope excommunicating all Romanists Avho should become Freemasons , and that his brethren in the army who Avere Romanists publicly renounced

theirreligion rather than their brotherhood . Sir Wm ,. Follett said " that in his early struggles at the bar ,, he required something to reconcile him to the bitterness , rivalry , jealousy , and hatred he had tocontend Avith , and he was thankful to find it in

the principles of Freemasonry , which created kindly sympathies , cordial wide-spread benevolence , and brotherly love . " These are the fruits of Freemasonry—they manifest to the world that there must be

something of intrinsic value in the principles of the-Craft . It is often thought that a banquet or sumptuous dinner is the summuru bommi of

Freemasonry . This is not so . It is usual for lodgesto meet once a year , as other bodies generally do ,, to settle their annual business , ancl then they usually dine and exchange reciprocities of brotherly feeling , Avhile their poorer brethren become the

objects of their benevolence . At the annual meetings of the head lodges in London alone fchesubscriptions for the " Masonic Benevolent Institution , " the " Freemasons' Boys' School , " and the " Masonic Girls' School" average

about-£ 8 , 000 annually , ancl large sums are collected and . disbursed in Masonic charity throughout the provinces . Truly Freemasonry makes " the Avidow ' s heart leap for joy , " and Avipes the tear from the . eye of the orphan . It soothes the rugged pathway

of many an aged and broken doAvn brother as hedescends to the " dark valley . " The virtue elicited in the heart of a true Freemason makes him a

better man , a more affectionate husband , and a kinder father ; he is loving to his country , and loyal to the throne . He is a citizen of the Avorld , and Avherever he may go , at home and abroad , he

“The Freemasons' Monthly Magazine: 1867-09-28, Page 8” Masonic Periodicals Online, Library and Museum of Freemasonry, 28 March 2023, www.masonicperiodicals.org/periodicals/mmr/issues/mmr_28091867/page/8/.
  • List
  • Grid
Title Category Page
THE ANCIENT AND MYSTERIOUS ORDER OF THE DRUIDS. Article 1
THE KNIGHTS TEMPLARS. Article 5
WHAT IS FREEMASONRY? Article 7
MASONIC NOTES AND QUERIES. Article 10
CORRESPONDENCE. Article 10
MASONIC MEMS. Article 13
PROVINCIAL. Article 13
SCOTLAND. Article 15
GLASGOW. Article 16
ROYAL ARCH. Article 18
LODGE MEETINGS, ETC., FOR, THE WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 5TH, 1867. Article 19
THE WEEK. Article 19
TO CORRESPONDENTS. Article 20
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.

What Is Freemasonry?

3 rd Henry YI ., chap . 1 ) making it felony to meet in lodges . " What is Freemasonry ? " was asked by the Princes during the reign of George III . The ansAver Avas , " Come and see ! " They Avent , were initiated , and became eminent in their

devotedness to the Craft . Henry YI ., on attaining his majority , became a Freemason , and took great interest in the Avelfare of the brotherhood . He sought out by every means the mystic knowledge it contains , and Avrote a history of Freemasonry .

Among the LandsdoAvne MSS . in the British Museum is a curious paper on the " Origin of Freemasonry , " collected by Lord Burleigh ( No . 98 , article 48 ) , in Avhich Freemasonry is traced back to the antedeluvians , who erected two pillars

and placed thereon certain characters , and these pillars existed after the Flood , as stated by Josephus , AVIIO says one of them Avas existing in his day . Freemasonry existed in England in the time of the Druids ; their temples Avere lodges ;

their supposed altars have a Masonic meaning , which , being placed east , south , and west , correspond Avith the arrangement of certain portions of the loclge to this day . King EdAvin granted a charter to Freemasons , presided as G . M . at York , and ordered the Masonic archives to be registered .

King Alfred Avas G . M ., and , upon his defeating the Danes at RavensAvorth , in Northumberland , at RavensAving ( Avening ) , in Gloucestershire , and Ravenstone , in Leicestershire , held a lodge , the remains of Avhich are existing at these places to

this day , ancl are identified by all Masons Avho see them . The raven AA as emblazoned on the Royal flag or standard of Denmark , and the above places took their names from the defeats the Danes sustained there . In A . D . 878 , Hubba , a Danish

chief , ancl nearly a thousand folloAvers , Avere slain in an attempt to land in Devonshire , and their magical banner , a raA ^ eii embroidered in one noontide by the hands of the three daughters of the great Lodbroke , Avas taken by the British followers

of King Alfred the Great —( White ' s History ) . Whatever the secrets of Freemasonry may be , it is certain that there is' much that is good in it manifested to the Avorld . The brethren of the Craft cannot be enemies to each other ; the mystic

sign , or mystic word , has often saved the lives and property of captains aud crews , of officers and men in battle . Instances are known Avhere Masons opposed in battle have dropped their arms and embraced each other ; prisoners have been liberated and the Avounded Mason protected

by his foe . There is a gentleman UOAV hvmg m Stockton Avhose father , his creAV and ship , Averesaved by Freemasonry . The pirates had taken the ship , and Avhile searching for plunder discovered certain Masonic emblems , ancl on

ascertaining that the captain Avas a Freemason , by signs only , they restored everything and left the ship . Such instances are numerous . Freemasons make the best soldiers . Field-Marshal the late Lord Combermere stated publicly "that during the time he had been in the army he never knew a bad soldier Avho was a Freemason . " Sir Lucius

Curtis stated publicly that Avhen he was in command at Malta , a Bull Avas issued by the Pope excommunicating all Romanists Avho should become Freemasons , and that his brethren in the army who Avere Romanists publicly renounced

theirreligion rather than their brotherhood . Sir Wm ,. Follett said " that in his early struggles at the bar ,, he required something to reconcile him to the bitterness , rivalry , jealousy , and hatred he had tocontend Avith , and he was thankful to find it in

the principles of Freemasonry , which created kindly sympathies , cordial wide-spread benevolence , and brotherly love . " These are the fruits of Freemasonry—they manifest to the world that there must be

something of intrinsic value in the principles of the-Craft . It is often thought that a banquet or sumptuous dinner is the summuru bommi of

Freemasonry . This is not so . It is usual for lodgesto meet once a year , as other bodies generally do ,, to settle their annual business , ancl then they usually dine and exchange reciprocities of brotherly feeling , Avhile their poorer brethren become the

objects of their benevolence . At the annual meetings of the head lodges in London alone fchesubscriptions for the " Masonic Benevolent Institution , " the " Freemasons' Boys' School , " and the " Masonic Girls' School" average

about-£ 8 , 000 annually , ancl large sums are collected and . disbursed in Masonic charity throughout the provinces . Truly Freemasonry makes " the Avidow ' s heart leap for joy , " and Avipes the tear from the . eye of the orphan . It soothes the rugged pathway

of many an aged and broken doAvn brother as hedescends to the " dark valley . " The virtue elicited in the heart of a true Freemason makes him a

better man , a more affectionate husband , and a kinder father ; he is loving to his country , and loyal to the throne . He is a citizen of the Avorld , and Avherever he may go , at home and abroad , he

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