The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-12-25

ders here has been the shifting of that
part of the population from which they
draw their support. AT present the inhab-
itants, however, are more fixed, and all
the orders seem to have entered upon a
steady growth, which, as the population OF
the territory Increases, will put them in
position equal to that which they hold in
the other states aud ter ritories of the
Union.
There are at the present time organiza-
tons of eight different secret societies IN
Utah, viz: Masons, Odd Fellows, knights
of Pythias, Foresters, United Workmen,
Patriotic Sons of America, Sons of St.
George, and the Star of Bethlehem.
A. F. Il A. NJ.
Of all secret societies the Ancient Order
Of Free and Accepted MdSons claims to be
the parent. The genuine legends of the
craft carry its origin back to the flood, or
at least to the building of Solomon's
temple, that wise king having been
Masonic grand master.
The Rev. George Oliver, one of the most
popular and volumiuous writers on Ma
sonry, informs US that Moses was a grand
master, Joshua his deputy, and Aholiab
and Bezaleel grand wardens. The histori-
Cal precursors of the modern fraternity of
Free Masons were the medi8val building
corporations. There are records of an as
ISOLATION OF Masons in Germany in the
Twelfth century, who acknowledged one
set of craft laws and practiced secret signs
and ceremonies.
The teachings of this body even at this
early date were favorable to liberty of
thought and religious liberation Hence
they were prohibited by the Council of
Avignon in 1926
| England, in what is called the York
| charter, bases her claim to a system of
Free Masonry as early0as the time of
Athelstan, A. D. 924. The York
charter contains the famous legend
! OF the craft which derives the seven liberal
sciences (Masonry being part of geometry
from the family of Lamech This science
was preserved in a stone pillar from the
flood, was taught by Euclid to the Egypt
ians and carried by Israel to the building of
the temple. Myamus Gracus brought it to
! Charles Martel and to England. About
the middle Of the seventeenth century vari-
Gus causes led to the introduction of a new
class Of members and gradually converted
operative into speculative Masonry The
growing spirit of the reformation in reli-
/ glon gave men freedom of speech which
superseded the manner in which the old
masons exposed the vices of the church.
Modern speculative Masonry, however,
took its real start in London on June "A,
! l717, 1.-THE high noon of the year, the day of
! light and of roses,' when the four London
lodges having formed themselves into
grand lodge, named their first grand
master. The leading spirits in this revival
of the order were Desaguliers, the popu-
larizer OF natural science, and James Ander-
son, Scottish Presbyterian minister
In l72l the committee of Charity was
formed, which has raised enormous sums
Tor the relief of distressed brethren
and built many Masonic schools and other
wise aided the cause of education An act
of Parliament passed in 1899, directed
against seditious societies, made an excep-
ton in favor of the Masonic lodges, which,
according to the act met chiefly for benev-
olent purposes.
! The first attempt to introduce Free Ma
sorry in America was made in 1890, when
a provincial grand master was appointed 20
/ New Jersey. Three years later a lodge
was opened In Boston, which was soon fol-
lowed by the organization of other lodges
in the colonies. Up to the war of hide
pendepce the lodges of America derived
their authority from the grand lodge of
England or Of Scotland; but after the war
they availed themselves of the privileges
belonging o bodies Of Free Masonry in all
independent countries, and grand lodges
were organized in their respective states.
Since then the order has rapidly progressed
in this country.
The privileges of Masonry in America
are denied to persons of African descent,
although since the civil war lodges of men
of African descent have been formed.
claiming the sanction of the grand lodge of
England.
Free Masonry is world WIDE 1t is not
confined to any country or any language.
1t has worshipers at its shrine in every
land. 1t can boast of over ten thousand
lodges and more than million devotees.
There are many degrees in Masonry.
The first and lowest is that of entered an.
prentlce, the second OF fellow craft and
he third of master Mason. In each state
and territory of the union there is a grand
lodge, composed of the representatives of
the subordinate lodges, and there are also
still higher degrees in Masonry, those of
the mark master, past master, the most ex-
cellent master and the royal arch, the mem
bers of which are styled Royal Arch Ma
sons and form ROYAL Arch charters 2e
yond this there is long series of degrees
up to the thirty third degree. To this lat
ter distinction but few ever attain.
All other secret societies in their princi-
pies and forms of government are more or
less modelled after the Masonic order.
None of them, however, have so extended
and elaborate ritual, as few claim SO an
| Gent an nriCin They are 1nndarn nnd 4 :,