The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1872-10-29
From the Now York Evoning Post.
TrcemasOury.
IT'S TRADITIONAL ANTIQUITY, MODERN
GROWTH AND PROSPERITY.

1t has been traced to the bull0lnB OF
Solomon's temple, and it is said the ar
chitects from the African coast, the Mo-
hammedans, introduced it in Spain about
the sixth century as protection against
Christian fanatics. Its introduction IN
to Great Britain has been fixed at the
year a. D. GA and other authorities
assign it u much earlier origin The
grand lodge at York was founded A. ID.
926. In 1923 Frecmasonary was inter.
dicted in England, bat afterwards it rose
to greater popularity than ever. The
grand lodge of England was established
in 17l7: that Of Ireland in 1889; and
the grand lodge OF Scotland in 1916. L.
1888 Freemasons were accommodated
by the Pope
Tradition informs us that Masonic
lodges we're dedicated from the building
OF the first Temple at Jerusalem to the
Babylonsh captivity. From that time
to the coming of Messiah they were dedi-
Gated to Zerubbable. the builder Of the
second temple and from that time to the
dual destruction Of the Temple by Titus,
n the reign of tho Emperor Vespasan
they were dedicated to St. John the Bap.
| list.
Owing to tho many disorders and mas
sacres which attended that memorable
event, Freemasonry fell into decay.
Many Of the lodges were entirely broken
up, and but few retained sufficient mem.
oers to make them legal. Under these
circumstances general meeting OF the
craft was held in the city of Benjamin
when it was observed that the principal
reason FOR the decline of Masonry was the
want Of grand master to direct its at
iairs. They therefore deputcd seven ol
their most eminent members to wait upon
st. John the Evangelist, who was at that
time bishop Of Ephesus, to request him
20 take the Office Of grand master. Al
though well advanced in life, being near
ly ninety years of age, from an early as
sociaton with Masonry, he had Away
sought to elevate the order, and now ac
cepted the new trust thus completing by
ais learning what John the Baptist hat
accomplished by his zeal. After his deatf
the Christian lodges were dedicated tC
Doth these distinguished porsonages, since
which time it has been Il custom of The
Freemasons to regularly celebrate the
24th of July in commentator OF J ohm the
Baptist, aud the 9th Of December il
commoration of st. John the Evangelist
In address delivered at Baltimore OIL
the occasion Of the dedication of the new
Mason temple in that city, by John ii
B. Latlobe, the following historical iact'
we're embodied
CAT the beginning Of the eighteenth
century Freemasonry had ceased to be
lealtbiul and vigorous society whose oc
:upation consisting in building ediiices
The ages were no longer dark. Learning
emerging as the morning sun ABOVE th'
,ill tops from the gloom in which it had
been hidden, was grandly illumlning
Europe The printing press was revolu
tionlzing the world. America had beer
discovered. Enterprise was on foot ev'
.rywherc, and marching WITH gIant''
strength. Labor, rattling impatiently
the chains with which guilds freedom
Research, careless about the mysteries o
rites and busy itself about the mysteries
Of art, and year by year unveiling them
Other men became competent as archi
tects and builders, and the Frecmasons
ceasing to be u necessity as craftsmen
found themselves in exclusive possession
If their peculiar ceremonies only. leal
.f,er year the society became teebler
William III. had been its last royal pat
on Sir Christopher Wren It's last CRANE
master in England and at length, some
where about year A. D. l7l7, four lodge
yere all that remained of the once pow
.rful Organization that had built West
minister, and Ely and Canterbury, ant
Lincoln and Durham, and to which th'
monarch had been Indebted for the palace
md the baron for his hold. This was th'
owest ebb 10 the fortunes Of Freemason
.ry. TIL, tide then turned. The practi
,al feature of the order was abandoned
altogether. 1t became speculative in 1T
character and in little while we fine
the grand lodge of London permanently
established, and Freemasonry once more
attracting to its lodges rank and wealth
md Influence. But the graEd lodge o
London was not without its troubles Th'
Masons Of York, rich in monuments, with
charter dating back nine hundred year
disputed the authority of the new crea
ion. and it was not until tho beginning o
the present century that harmony wa
secured, and the authority of the grant
odge of England recognized by all par
ties"
Masonic lodges have been closed il
Austria since 1904. The attempt t
procure the reopeuing of them in ISL
allied. The Freemasons not long sine
,ndeavored to obtain an authorization t
reconstitute the former lodge Of that city
Freemasonry was introduced into tn
United States in 1870, and at ouco be
came popular. Washington was maste
IF a lodge and greater part Of the oil
GERS Of the army of the revolution wer
members of the fraternity, The iif'
lodge of Frcemasons in this country wa
established ii New Jersey in April, ,l73t
by warrant from the mother of lodges
the grand lodge of England, under tn
= hand of the Dnke Of Norfolk. grand ma
ter.
The revolutionary struggle cause
j Freemasonary to flourish for time, bl
it subsequently languished and i. was a
most inanimate ut the time the first gran
- chapter was formed. The first edition {
"Webb's Freemason's Monitor" was pul
= lished in 1897 Then again it revived
Q and though checked BY the works of Al
= DO Barruel aud Professor CobinsoD,
= bore them down at length with the mu
e tiplicity of It's assertions, and continue