Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1868-04-04
MEMPHIS APPEAL
MAsoNIC INTELLIGENCE
MASONIC HISTORY.


We can comprehend that Masonic
PhEuseeism, which, never weary Of
boaating Of the pure and sublime teach
iDgs - Of the Rituals Of the Blue degrees,
I. declares thas outside Of these there Is no
Masonry, and that these exist nowhere
legitimately, except in the Ancient York
or Modern English Rite. These men
reject as Masonry, all except the three
degrees Of App, Fellow Graft and Mas
ter, aa6 are at least consistent: but it is
not easy to understand that pretence at
Phsriseeism which tenounces one set Of
- degrees as modern and not Masonic, and
incorporates eight others, still more
modern, and part of them not known
anywhere else in the world, into "sys-
TEN, " and dares to style it 1.-THE only
legitimate Rite of Masonry" We can
respect 8 fanatical bigot who thinks that
the Masonry Of the Blue degrees is Of IN
, kuawn antiquity, and that it is heresy to
practice any other degrees; but it is not
easy 10 respect one who is a devotee Of
T C-ui.ulzr snd Cryptic Masonry, and one
OF sus Order Of High Priesthood, and de-
nounces degrees almost as old as the
, Masters, as modern and spurious, and
talks glibly OF changes and inveighs
AGAINST innovations ia rituals, knowing
tie history Of English Rjtualism, and
when tBe present work and lectures were
invented.
The time has gone BY when the Graft
could be gullssby pedlsrs Of " traditions"
tlat pretend to be history, aud are not
erea entitled to the former name; Of
the cheap and commonplace morality,
and a little rudimeutal knowledge about
Geometry and Architecture. TIE history
Of Masonry has Leen explored, and is to
be found in the works OF Preston, Oliver
and Halliwell, as well as in those OF
Kloss and Fiudel. Masonry invited the
Investigation, aad what these men have
written is open to be read oy all. They
are Masonic, and not anti Masonic wri-
tiers. Ii would have been wiser, perhaps,
70 refrain from making books or investi-
rat:o8, and to be content with pretences
/ and assertions; but the mischief, if mis-
/ chies there be, IS done; and what these
high authorities in Masonry bsve pub
lisned as authentic facts, every Mason is
free to use; and no one has right to as
sert, as historical facts, things that are
not true, hut mere bold assertions contra
dictsd by actual history.
B-0.'. OLIVER says, in his Historical
. Landmarks: Masonic History is at
/ present in q very detached and imperfect
stale. We have no protested history of
/ Free Masonry We are in even q worse
condition in the United States Mitchell
/ has written, or rather compiled, His
/ tory Of Masonry, which is q regular
/ gaE.Hl1fres Of long extracts from English
I writer's, pluudered without scknowledg-
meut or shame, ana Of scraps picked up
without Discrimination, and apparently
upon the theory that al men who have
written on Masonic history are Of equal
authority. The author is by far too shall
4 low and ignorant man for his work to
be Of any authority.
Oliver admits that Anderson's eompi- |
lation, continued by Preston, is mani
testify imperfect, and in many respects
not Of any great authority. 1t is simply |
a romance, as 10 everything Prier to |
I7I7. The work Of Laurie is more enti- |
tied to be termed historical; beesuss
Masonry has a history in Scotland, much |
more ancient thanin England again"
/ Oliver ssys, little is really known in
country about Continental Masonry,
although It's history and antiquities COM
bine subjects OF the greatest interest, snd
are fruitful in events Of grest Importance
70 the fraternity"
Sill less is known in the UEited States |
about Masonry in Europe, because there |
hiss been 3 studied effort on the part Of G
| few, seconded by 8 dense ignorance on
the part OF the many, ia this country, to
produce a big0tsd belief, like that Of sec
tarianisn in religion, that there is no
real Masonry in the world, outside OF the |
United States; and that Masonry else
where isu not TO be 6espised, only because
R 3. 81. Co be p,Hed. Oar Mssons have set |
/ the.aseIyas up to be the Masonic Puri-
taus Of the world and have, Of course, |
imagined that there was no Masonry in /
the world, outside Of the United States. |
Preston, in his Illustrations Of Mason
rs, edition OF I775, says that in Queen /
Auue's reign, Masonry was at q very low
s5b. the Lodges bad gradually decreased, |
and the snuuaI festivals were entirely |
neglected. The old Lodge at st, Paui's
and few others, continued to meet, but |
those consisted OF few members. It
was therefore resolved that The privileges
Of ilasopry should no longer be limited
10 architects and operative HdSoBs, but
that men Of different professions might
be admitted, who should agree to support
the dignity Of the Order, as au ancient
and respectable Society"
In his edition Of l7Sl, be added to this
" Provided such men were regularly ap-
proved and admitted to the Order. In
consequence Of this resolution, some new
Regulations took place, and tse Society
began once more 10 revive and -four
ish.D But we defy the whole body Of
Masonic falsiaers Of history to show that
after the revival" in l7l7, there were
any operative actual stone or brieklma-
sons among the Graft.
Anne died on the lst Of August, 1714;
aud George /. became King. In I7l7
Masonry was revived. The only four
Lodges, Preston says, then in existence i
in the South Of England, with some old |
Brothers, met at the Apple-tree tavern,
in February, voted the eldest Master
present into the chair, and constituted
themselves q temporary Grand Lodge.
On the 24Lh Of June the Assembly and
Feast were held at the same house, and
Anthony Sayer was elected Grand Mas
ter, Invested by the said oldest Master,
installed by the Master Of the Oldest
Lodge, and duly congratulated by the
Assem- bly.H
Until this time the Society of Free
BIasons was merely the guild, fraternity
or association Of stone Masons, the same
10 England Is the Stein metzen of Ger
many, who had their ceremony OF initi-
alton, their oath Of secresy, their stat
utes, and held their Chapters (Capitula),
called such in imitation OF the Convent
meetings Of the Bsnedietins Monks.