The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-05-28
NO. or

an institution founded essentially upon faith IN
me true Coz. Its morality II a concrete OF the
virtues eujoined by the Divine law, taught ana
contained In ceremonies, symcois and traditions.
IL Is living link Of connection between the
theology ot the ancient Israelites and the modern
Christian. An association or botn, rendering
honor ana homage to one and the same God, aud
obedience to one ana the same moral law. Let 1t
not he supposed, however, that Masonry IL sect
or JUDAISM. Masonry accepts the truth as held
BY Solomon. All admit that the laith OF solomon
was the true iaiIn. mat IL embodied or lore
Swallowed the great truths or that universal re-
ends OF the earth solomon and all the faith
iul looked forward 10 the iulnlment OF
prophecy, and the types ana shadows OF
the Hebrew law and history. in the per-
son OF one that was TO come. Divesting tnis sys-
tenn oil all that was ceremonial, rltualistic and pc.
culIar 10 Judaism. ne eDgrafted its essential and
fundamental truths upon the Masonic system
which ne established, thereby giving IL that uni
.Versal, tnGt Catholic Character winch adapted IT
ana mace II acceptable 70 the many strangers ana
foreigners " no composed SO large proportion q
the Temple workmen. This catholicity Is still tue
poas OF Masonry. II our Hebrew brethren LOOK
for the iulnme OF the law and the prophets In
tae Messiah 10 come they are none tine less our
brethren aecRzse ire christian bro her iooks back
calvary and sees there that fulnlment In the
Prince OF the House OF David.
LATER HISTORY.
"The history OF Masonry having been tnus incl
dentaliy traced TO the point at when It acquired
It's most sublime ana elevated character, II re-
mans briefly 70 sKetcn what we know OF It's career
10 tue present day. IL Is said that Tor 500 years
Il urIsned IN Egypt, q country win which solomon
nad formed o most friendly alliance py lnIermar-
rage win the royal family, the Pnaraohs. Pytna-
goras, the Grecian philosopher, there inltlated
INTO It's mysteries, introduced IL into Greece, at
Crotana, anu thence INTO western Europe. IL Is
traced, historically, IN the fourth, MIN ana sixth
centuries or the Christian era, when the
craft was paironized by Popes and other eminent
eccIesiastlcs. Ii received great impetus Ia
England on the int oductlon OF Christianity. In
the year 557 81. Austin arrived IN England with a
number OF Masons. and under MIS- charge the
Cathedral or Canterbury was built In the year COO
that of Colchester 10 COZ aud st. Pnuls London, IN
COZ. IL langu shed during the reign OF the Hep
tarchy, ana so continued until the time OF Atnel-
stane. In 926, by the authority OF that monarch
tue Masons assembled In the Grand Lodge az
brother, TO revise the ancient constitutions,
reaffirin The landmarks and MAKE them
from this convOcation Masonry IL derived IN an
uninterrupted succession OF lodges. During the
many OF the most distinguished men OF every age
and even proud monarchs oil England
uf the history OF Masonry
IN THE UNITED sTATKs
It Is scarcely necessary 10 give moro than brief
outline In fact It's beginning Il likewise involved
in so much uncertainty that 70 attempt 10 AZ .
date exactly might lead 10 useless discussion.
we do know, however, that in l72o the Duke
OF Norfolk, Grand Master OF the Grand Looge or
England (I.ondon) issued q deputatlon to Daniel
Coke, Of New Jersey, as Provincial Grand Master
OF the Provinces OF New YORK, New Jersey and
Pennsylvania. The first printed evidence or the
introduction OF Freemasonry In America Is In the
Pennsylvania Gazette, Of December s. 1880, printed
Dy Benjamin Franklin, who publishes as follows:-
sAs there are several lodges or Freemasons
erected in tots province, and people have lately
been mucn amused with conJectures concerning
them we think the following account or Free.
masonry rom London will not be unacceptable 70
our readers
Tnen follows letter on the purported ''Mystery,n
&C. subsequently, IN 1852, Benjamin FRANKLIN
became q Mason, and later was elected 10 the
once OF Grand Master. In. 1913 a lou2e was es.
tablsned In Boston. Before the Revolutionary
war rhe number OF lodges materially Increased
and the ranks OF their members received
large accessions After the evacuation or PnIa-
delphla By tue British Masonic procession was
ordered by the Grand Master 10 taEo place "on
the 2sth OF December, 1878, TO meet at the college
ana 90 10 CRrlst church, where sermon viii be
preached by a reverend brother ana q cellec-
ton made to De laid out in the purchase
OF wood and otner necessaries the relief or the
poor al this inclement season." Among those who
assembled was tour illustrous brother, George
Washington, Esquire. supported by the Grand
Master and his Deputy. The collection amounted to
g4oo.m In 1856 decisive steps were taken to cease
dependency In any manner on the Grand Lodge OF
England In 1889 the oatn OF onice was admins.
tered to President George Washington. on the
occasion OF nls inauguration by Chancellor Robert
Livingston, tnen Grand Master ofNew York. THE
Bible used on that occasion, together with the In
scrption therein, Was described In our columns
on wednesdsy.--ED. HERALD.l
II viii be remembered that Washington laid the
corner stone OF the Capitol at Washington, and the
gavel used Dy HIM on that occasion ls now held in
sacred reverence by the Potomac Lodge Of Wiz.
glnia. bis Masonic apron Is kept ~ the Grand
Lodge Of Pennsylvania in the Temple
at Philsde phia. the fact Il not gsner.
ally known ana is, therefore worthy or
repetition IN your columns, that resolutions
were unanimously adopted BY the Grand Lodge
in iTso, recommending the formation OF a General
Craha Lodge on this Uonnasnt, with washington