Independent Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1842-1844, 1844-01-06


be founded on just and wise principles"
it is not our purpose to inquire. To ana
I'VE these qualities Of mind would better
employ the mental philosopher than your
speaker on the present occasion. 1t sui
fees for our present purpose, that the
qualities which have been adverted to
do exist; and it is from these that we
are to account for the great amount of
time and labor which have been expend-
ed by the friends and enemies, alike, of
Masonry, in endeavoring to clear away
the obscurity in which ITS origin is
shrouded.
The writer of an article in the Ency-
copedia Amsritana says, that some have
all, ged that Free Masonry originated
from the common corporations of the
separate crafts Of operative masons,
which existed in many parts Of modern
Europe. But he denies the truth ofthis
allegation, and asserts that, long before
the origin Of such corporations, there
existed societies Of artificers. who unit
ei all the crafts necessary for building
under the direction Of one or more lea
ders, or architects; that, protected by
the charters of the clerical and secular
powers, and united in one great society
for the construction Of each great build
ing, las the Cathedrals, &C., these so
cietes erected, in all countries Of Eu
rope, those gigantic monuments, gene
rally termed Gothic, which excite our
amazement, and with an economy, too,
of time and expense truly surprising
that these great societies were compos-
ed of members from every part OF the
world; and that they, at last, gave rise
to some not occupied with actual build
ing, viz: to speculative or Free Masonry.
"The first societies of antiquity" he
adds, with which Free Masonry appears
10 stand in historical come xion, re the |
corporations of architects, which with
the Romans, existed under the name OF
collegia and corpora" and which were
established by Numa, one of the frs,
Kings of Rome. 1t will be recollected,
that Numa reigned about three humid
red years after the erection and dedica
ton OF Soomon's Temple. If the views
of this writer be correct, then, the insti
tuition of Masonry is at least some three
centuries younger than is claimed for it
by its friends; and cannot boas, of King
Solomon as one oil the frst-if not the
|4irst-of its Grand Masters. But the |
writer cites no authorities in support Of
his views; and as they stand opposed by |
the opinions of men distinguished for
their learning and research, as we'll as
by the traditions of our order, ! esteem
them as Of little weight.
The celebrated Thomas Paine, whose
pen, as all are aware, was employed in
attempting the destruction Of the Chris
tian Religion, waged war, also, against
the institution of Masonry. Speaking
of its origin, he said that it is derived
from, and is the remains of, the religion
of the ancient Druids; who, like the
Magi of Persia and the Priests Of He'll
opolls in Egypt, we're Priests Of the sun,
and paid worship to this great luminary,
as the great visible agent of great in
visible first cause, whom they styled,
Time without limits.
The Christian Religion and Masonry,
said he, have one and the same common
origin: both are derived fro the wor-
ship of the sun, &c. He aIIudes to the
ancient custom Of Christians, never to
bury their dead on the north side OF
church, and TO the fact that Masonic
Lodges are constructed in a manner 10
correspond with the apparent motion of
the sun as one among numerous other
instances, showing that the Christian Re-
ligion and Masonry have one and the
same origin-the ancient worship Of the
sun.
But mark you the inconsistency of this
bold and powerful, though not always
accurate, writer. On the next page he
says that circumstance which shows
that Masonry is derived from some an
cient system, prior 10, and unconnected