The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1875-07-19
FEeEE;-MASGNRY.
Hts Rise and Progress,


At' A~AS "@ VsSA S9S'
A Relic Of The Late Josiah BigclOiC
We take the following extracts from
Masonic address, delivered by the
late Josiah Bigclow previous to the
war: The n S s. Of several oihcrpro-
ductions, which indicate not only the
toalty of the author to the institution
Of Masonry. but his ability as . polish.
cd writer and poet, will shortly be
handed US for publication
az u s. IN view Of the numcr-
Gus accessions that have been made to
its membership within the last few
years, l suppose it to be entirely true
that there are many among our young.
or brethren who entertain, at best, but
avery general and indefinite idea Of
the antiquity, extent and magnitude of
our Institution. And yet there is
nothing more certain, than tia. with.
out some better knowledge Of its histo.
ry and philosophy than is to be nc
quircd in the mere working Of its ritu-
oil, no Mason can arrive at any just ap-
probation Of the importance Of the ms
tituticn, as one Of the great balancing
agents in the machinery Of society, nor
form any just conception Of its eapa.
Lili.ics and advantages in its individual
relations. Hence, it too often happens
that many Of our most intelligent and
active young brethren, not having
their attention drawn to the subject,
overlook its history and the extent Of
its influence, and naturally come to re-
gard it in much tho same light that
they do the ordinary associations ofthc
day; and this, as naturally, leads to
indifference.
Masonry, like every other science,
whether moral or physical. to be right.
]y estimated, must DO understood in all
its relations and conditions. The iu-
tclligen, Mason values it in the exact
ratio that he has investigated its history
and studied its philosophy But my
immediate purpose is not an essay on
the importance Of the study Of Mason.
ry as a science, but to show its uuiyer-
salty as fraternity. This will ne
ccssarily involve, to some extent, the
history orits rise and progress.
In The beginning Of the 18th ceutu-
rp, Henry the Sixth Of England asked
OF our brethren Of that day, "Whcre
did Masonry begin q and being told
that it began in the East. his mex, in
quiry was, "Who did bring it wcstcr-
w." and be received for an answer
that at was brought westerly BY the
Ph9uiciaus." These answers were
predicatcd, not on archaeological invcs,
legations. for tho archaeology Of Ma.
sorry had not then been opened, but
on the traditions Of the Order, as they
had been had been transmitted from
generation to generation, and from a
period running so far back along the
stream Of time, that it had been lost in
the mists and obscurity Of the mytho.
logical ages. And recent investiga-
tons, guided by more certain lights.
and more extensive and clearer devel-
upments Of historical truth, have shown
that these brethren were not materially
mielcd by their traditions, and that
their answers indicated, with remarka-
bio precision, what the most learned of
our brethren. in this country and in
Europe, at the present time believe to
be the true origin Of our Institution.
Free Masonry was originally fra
tcrnity Of practical buillcrs-archi-
,ccts and artiliccrs. This is conceded
by all who are to any extent acquaint-
cd with its history or traditions. The
phGuiciaps, whose capital cities were
Tyre and Sidon, were the early patrons
of that scmi.religious mystic fruterni.
ty or society Of builders, known in his
tory MS the "Diouysian Architects"
That this fraternity were employed by
the Tyruus and Sidonians in the erec-
ton OF costly temples to unknown del
tics, in the building Of rich and gorge
Gus palaces, and in Strengthening and
identifying their cities, is universally
admitted. Ard that they were the
"cunning workmen" seut BY Hiram,
King Of Tyre to aid King Solomon in
tue erection Of The Temple on Mount
Moriah, is scarcely less certain. The
existence of this order III Tyre, at the
time of the building Of tho Temple, is
universally admitted; and Hiram, the
widows sou, to whom Solomon in
trusted the supcrintcndcnce Of the
workmen. as M iuLubitant Of Tyre and
MS skiliCul architect and cunning and
curious workman, was doubtless one Of
its members Hence, says Mackic, we
are scarcely claiming too much for our
Order, when we suppose that the Die.
nysiaus were sent BY Hiram, King Of
Tyre to assist King Solomon it the
construction of the house he was about
to dedicate 10 Jehovah, and that they
communicated to their Jewish fellow.
laborcrs knowledge of the advnntn.
scs Of their fraternity, and invited
them to a participation in its mysteries
and privileges.
Tie Jews were neither architects
nor artilicers. BY Sclomon's own ad.
mission, they were not even skIIIiuI
enough 10 the art of building to cut
and prepare the timber in the forests
Of Lebanon; and hence he was com.
PEELED to employ the Sidoninns to do
that work for him. The TyrianS,"
says learned foreign brother, were
celebrated artists; Solomon, therefore.
unable 10 Enl builders Of superior
kill, for the execution Of bis great
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