The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-05-31
THE MASONIC CONTROVERSY.

WHAT IS MASONRY AND WHAT IT'S oRIoIS9-
ANOTHER REVIEW OF ANCIENT AND MODERN
MASONRY.
To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD
The Masonic brothernoods or the Middle Ages
were organized interpretations not substantially
different IN their nature from the other guilds,
governed by rules of their own and recruited rom
a body OF apprentices VINO had undergone period
OF probationary servitude FABLE and magma
ton nave traced back the origin OF Freemasonry
to the old Roman Empire, the Pharaohs, the Tenn
pie u solomon, or even the times OF the Tower OF
Babel and OF the Ark OF Moan. me Masonic craft
in reality sprung into being about the same time
and from the same set OF causes as other incor-
porated crafts but variety OF circumstances
combined 10 give it an Importance ami influence
beyond the rest Men Skilled IN Inc newlng and
setting OF stones were naturally priced IN emit
nenty church-building age. Their vocation neces-
sarily involved travelling from pace 10 place in
search or employment. Wherever great cnnrch
or cathedral was built the local masons had
10 be reinforced by large accession Of crafts
men from otner parts and the masons nom
neighooring towns Hooked 10 the spot and took
part In the work, living In q camp or tents reared
beside the building on which they were engaged
master presided over the whole. and every
tenth man Was a warden, having surveillance
over the rest mason, therefore, alter going
through his appren ticeship ana proportions, could
not settle down like another craftsman among
his neIgnnors, but must travel from place TO place
to ind employment; hence It became desirable or
necessary to devise means BY which person once
member OF the fraternity might be universally
accepted as such without recurring wherever he
went to give fresh evidence OF his skill, or having
10 undergo a renewed examination on his quain-
cations. In order TO accomplish this end and ena-
BILE mason travelling TO It's work 10 claim the
hospitality OF his brother masons on his way, .
system or symbols was devised In winch every
mason was initiated, and winch ne was bound
10 keep secret. This symbolism, invented
for the convenience OF intercourse between
members OF the same craft, IS the sole SHADOW Of
foundation Tor the popuiar notion that the
Masonic brethren were IN possession OF
secrets OF vital importance the knOwledge
of which had been from generation 10 generation
confined 10 their own Order. II has been supposed
that the possession OF tue Masonic secrets en-
aDled the MasonS 10 design the great cathedrals
or rhe thirteenth ana fourteenth centuries; nut IL
is now ce tam that during the purest ages or
Gothic architecture, both IN France anu in
England, the architects we're not members OF the
Masonic fraternity At All but eitner laymen OF
skill and taste uninitated in the mysteries OF
Mason craft or olener bishops and ahbots. me
IN consequence OF their being exempted by several
papal bulls from the laws which regulated common
Iaoorers and exonerated from various burdens
thrown on the working Classes at large both IN
gland ana on the Continent. Like all utnGr
guilds, the Masons were bound by their rules to
q
craft one OF whose Principal functions was church
building, was naturally under Inc especial protec-
ton OF the clergy considerable time before the
Reformation. We dnu the Jealousy Of the Chu en-
excited itom time 10 llme By the LreIhren, partly
in consequence or their assuming otner
functions besides those OF mere builders. In
England an act was passed during the minority
81 Henry VI, AT the lnstigatiOn OF Henry OF
Beaufort cardinal OF Nlncnesterl, prohibiting
the Masons from holding tueir wonted chapters
and assemblies, but this act was never enforced,
and Henry VI, on coming Of age nimse I, cJunte-
nanced the Masons and was a memGer OF the
fraternity. Henry VII became their Grand
Master IN ENGLAND.
Ancient and modern Masonry have no connec
ton with each other. The history OF Freemasonry
mas been overlad with hct1on and absurdltY,
partly from an exaggerated Importance attached
TO IL In reference to architecture. aud partly rom
q VISA to connec5 meai9val Masonry with the in
sttut1on that passes under the same name IN the
present day. Modem Tor sO-called specnlatIve)
Fieemasonrv is an innocent myStification III con-
or architecture 1t Is Of British origin
and dates from the seventeenth ecu
OF the Masonic brethren II Is founded IN The prac
tlce of moral and social virtue It's Distinguishing
characteristic is charity In lis most extended
sense, and brotnerly love, renef aud ruth are in-
cucated bv lts preceps. It's real lounders were
Ell8s Asnmole and some OF his literary trends,
VINO amused themselves by deyIsing set OF SYM
bos borrowed IN part from the Roslcfuclans.
These symbols are tue SUM- the moon, the COM
passes, square aud triangle. numner 0, so
cailed de- rees or grades oil Masonry, win fantas-
tic names, were established and conferred on the
members.
Now, am lover OF trutl, and think specu-
Iatiye Masonry 10 good institution; out do
think that mau VINO conceals q fraud commits
1rauo /; or, IN otner words 40 not THINK that any
the 0rder, for truth mas always prevailed and al
ways WILL by giving the above place IN the col
unns OF your valuable newspaper you Will mucn
w. Il. r.