Holly Springs gazette., 1845-02-15

the symbols and imple lements with which be
is invested, an abiding and more eloquent
exhoIiation than any words which could
utter. He has learned but Iille OF The sPlr-
Il and essence of our institution, who has Tot
found every stage of his progress crowned
with inducements to the performance OF
those great duties which he owes to his
God, his neighbor and himself, which were
so well incllcated by precept and example
by cur ancient patron From the Lanb
Skin which constantly adinonishes the no.
vitiate OF that purity of life anC conduct
" hich are SO essentially necessary to his
gaining admIlance INTO the Celestial Lodge
above, to the Key Stone Of the Royal Arch
which spans the summit of ancient free ma'
sonry. the road travelled by masons is thick
ly set with mute preachers of the divine
morality of ST. John, whose eloquent teach>
lngs | am persuaded you will not disregard.
1t has been customary for those who occu>
ny the place that | do on the present occa>
sion. 10 say something in regard to the orr
Gin and history of Free Masonry, and the
grand objects which she has In view, and |
would ttat were sufficiently skilled in my
profession 10 answer the expectations which
| dodbl not this usage has created in your
minds. as satisfactorily as | could desire.
The result of such research, however, as !
have been able TO give the subject, Is SUBJ
mitted TO you, in the hope that the lmper-
fecticns Of the effort will receive at your
hands that charitable indulgence that will
be extended 10 me by my companions and
bre;hren And in attempting to evolve a
history of Free Masonry, we are met at the
threshold by difficulties arising out OF the
very nature of things, which no other IN
institution has to encounter. lie who
chronicles the rise and fall OF kingdoms and
empires has mine of material at his com
mand ia the written and i'm perishabie re-
cords OF the times he would portray. The.
ores, sects aud religions. from the aggressive
aud proselyting spirit W hich ever animates
their disciples leave an impress upon the
times in which they exist which the lapse
of centuries cannot oblterate.
All along the highway Of the past there
are thickIY strewn the footprints of things
hich nave been. stamped il the crimson re-
cords OF desolatine war, or chsseled on the
stoned monument or traced on the tell tale
parchment to shich the historian may turn
for materials of which 10 weave the web
OF the wotIj's eventual history.
IL is not SO with regard 10 Free Masonry.
1t is essentially not an interme dding lnstltu
ton It receives none into its communion
but those who freely, voluntarily and with
out solicitation ask admission to its benefits
and privileges. and through long success,
sion of ages have kept no record of its
achievements but the attentive ars, lbe ST
lent tongues and the faithful breasts Of lis
votarles, transmitting It's tenels and It's laws
from one generation to another, solely
through the medium of oral tradition. Tie
archives Of nations furnish few or no mamo~
rials of it4xistence, save In the persecu-
lions which it has endured from the iea
ously Of tyrannic power, the intolerance OF
corrupt pricstcraf, aud the btgotry Of boat-
ed superstition. is not therefore wonder
full that its early history should be 10 the un
initiated as sealed book
now address myself particularly 10 the
uninitiated. We have authentic evidence bv
reference 20 the recorded prosecutions OF
Free Masonry, of It's establishment. in Eng
land as early as the tenth century. in the
days oil King Athe.Stane One record Of the
society to which | would now re'er you,
was written "a the reign Of Edward the
Fourth and preserved by Z las Ashmole.
The founder of the Oxford Museum, and II
you are not wiling to take my word upon
this subject, now inform yoC that there
are stiII copies of that work extant-exarn-
me for yourselves.
And we are also told, my brethren, by
this ancient manuscript, that Prince Edwin,
brother of the king, assembled all the ma
sons in the realm TO meet in convocation at
York. and when they had assembled, he
himself presided as Grand Master, at w hich
time the charges pertaining to each degree
were ordered TO be printed, and they have
been carefully observed up 10 the present
day. Hence the significant term, Ancient
York Masons employed by our order to
designate those who are true Israeltes from
pretenders and hypocrIes. Masonry, nv
friends, is of ancient origin. For my own
part, believe IN the language of the great
legal commentator, Judge Blackstone. "tbat
1t has existed time whereof the memory of
man runEeth not to the contrary" But |
need not. were competent, trace out its ear
ly history.
The old world owes much of its pereec.
ton in Architecture to Masonic Science
Learning and Intelligence has hourishel
under Its guidance, and counse Ell. an in
dellble imprint o its usefulness and yaIue
iOiS 'hc iCh dHd gorgeous trophies OF
rs skill, is to te seen and known. Where.
ever knowledge and virtue have hourished
or the boundaries of civilization have been
extended, ErectIons, costly, stately, and
magnificent, with high aud lofty spires
flerc.ng he very heavens. glowing in all
the richEess and beauty of the buddlno
flowers beneath the bright rays of the
morning Sun. are the work of artizans
VINO have bent at our shrines, and receiy
ed our solt mn VOWS. Hundreds and thau