The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1884-12-24
Origin Of tho Masonic Order.

Beginning with the Ancient Mysteries
of Isis and Osiris in Egypt, whence were
derived the Eleusinian and SamOthraclan
Of the Greeks. the Dyonisian prlestcratt,
the augury and divination of the Romans,
the author proceeds to show the relation
which these bore. and the influence they
exerted upon the operative Masonry OF
those ages. Brushing away, as cob webs,
all the fine spun and far fetched theories
and ridiculous assumptions of writer's who
have preceded him, as to the more re-
mote antiquity Of Masonry as an order.
some OF whom make God himself the
first Freemason and Paradise the first
lodge, while others with better show of
reason, but equally in error as to the
| facts, fnd its foundation at the building
| of Solomon's temple; the author, with
array of evidence seemingly lncontrover-
tible, places the origin of the Masonic
| fraternity at the institution of the Col
eges of Builders by Numa PomEllius,
at Rome in the year 7l5 B. c.. These
colleges" were religious societies as we'll
as fraterDities Of artisans, bound together
by oaths of secrecy and obligations OF
mutual interest, as we'll as by the benefits
conferred upon them by law. They had
their own worship and their own organi-
zation, and they constituted a school of
; instruction, in which were taught the
mysteries and architecture by the priest
architects, of whom many were to be
found anterior to this period, in Syria,
Egypt. Persia and India; and the degree
J of sublimity::. to which they had carried
their art is revealed to us by the ruins
vet existing of the monuments they
erected.
These colleges, corporations" OF
lodges of builders had many privileges
granted to them, among which may be
r reckoned monopoly of constructing the
. temples, monuments and public build
t ings; judiciary OF their own, which rem
t dered them independent Of all other
: legal tribunals; freedom from all taxes OF
: contributions to the State; from which II
e process Of time, they came to be knowr
: as Freemasons, in contradistlnctlon tt
: other builders who composed no part o
o such bodies.
e The chapter on the Masonic Corpora
Y tions in England, transferred thlther Will
the Roman legions, is particularly clea
and comprehensive, showing their intro
duction into the British Isles, by the Em
!. peror Claudius in the year 43 OF this era
, their VlclSsiIDueS. peIoccutiOGo, dimon
: extinction and subsequent resuscltatlo
: by the order OF King Athestan. 20 his so
- . Prince Edwin. in the year G29, when b
= assembled Grand Lodge Of represe nta
tive Masons at the city OF York, aud re
!, reconstructed them, and confirmed ther
:" in al the privileges of their ancient law:
The transformation Of Freemasonry fron
a guild or brotherhood Of artisans to spe
ie u!ative or philosophic, orderls shown to b
one OF the consequences OF the reforna
:, ton, led by Martin Luther. which rent
10 its foundation the colossal power OF tn
s. popes, and arrested forever the wor
'e upon the vast cathedrals and temples {
worship which for ages Masonry had bee
ne erecting. To stay the dissolution ofth
H. order, which seemed imminent upon Il
'i- destruction of the occupation Of its men
be oers. the privileges OF Masonry were e.
tended to men Of all professions; By whi'
means has been perpetuated to our tim
j. through the beautiful allegories of its
h. gends and symbols, the religion the t.
cd dition, and the eminently humanitari
an doctrines of this most ancient and ht
vs. .orable order"