New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-09-25
MASONIC Department =
THREE EARLY LEADERS.
PETER ROSS. LII. D.. THE HISTORIAN OF THE
GRAND LODGE. on ANDERSON. DESA-
GULIERS AND DERMOTT.

1870 TO Daniel Coke there was virtually no olnrI
grand body which. far diligent search has dis
covered. attempted to propagate the principles Of
the fraternity in foreign lands, or even much be
yond the glimmer of their own lodge lights The
venerable lodge at Kilwinnng. while II issued char
tiers seemingly to whoever applied and even per
mitted its members to make Masons al sight. did
not send any of its Masonic light adrft across the
sea Doubtless many Of it's members NAV have visit
cd America but we have record Of them. Masoni-
cally or otherwise. The Grand Lodge Of Munster
never issued a charter which operated beyond The TIE
confines OF that ancient Irish kingdom. and in l73o
the Grand Lodge Of Ireland the mother OF so many
Foreign lodges; was Just organized The Gr i1e
Lodge of Scotland was not constituted until 1875.
and the Grand LodgS Of York did not besn 1s
Lodge. therefore had the world its field, and il,
in a dignihed and conservative way. desegvediX
In i72l 1t warranted lodge. the first IN Belgium
and In 1928 issued deputaton for constituting the
Lord Lovei issued in 1881 a warrant for con
stituting a lodge at The Hagqe and IN la%3 when
granted for lodge at Florence Italy, and for an.
other at Hamburg; In 17ip the order was instituted
East" constituted at calcutta. g.,
Thus. IT will be seen. that The Mother crane
PRESENTED themselves to spread throughout the
world the benefcent light of Masonry. At ne same
tenor Of its way 10 do this. i, simply took advan-
tage Of circumstances as they arose. Bur with the
dered since i7SS into the Grand Lodge Of Eng
land according TO OLD lnstitutons the fea! era OF
themselves THE Ancients" and dubbed that from
names were bitterly resented 10y the Mother Grand
Lodge" they proved distinctive enough ~ he A.
copied as convenient terms for distinguishing the
warning hosts by Masonic writer's.
either side were moi natives of Eneiand The Rev.
Dr.. James Anderson. The compiler OF ;he famous
Book of Constitutions, the great literary land
Eak % n 1851 shd a Wa r many R min
lister Of the Scots Presbyterian Church in Picca-
enough in money matters to have invested the
greater part OF his savings in the South Sea Bubble.
but in that respect he was no more reckless. as a
hnancier. than were thousands or others OF ms
time. He was man Of considerable learning ana
his work on Royal GeneaIogles Is monumeht 70
his industry. at least His greatest fault as an his
torian was that he accepted rs facts statements us
the truth Of which could not be demonstrated by
any laws Of evidence or by any process OF reason
while GOSSIP E b a6 or
real investigation. valid and authentic. OF he
~ Enorant and Of the Necessity Of seeking original
data. OF analyzing any statement or Of probing be-
had no conception. SO far as his literary hstori
cal labors go he was simply in keeping with the
buttons to historical literature have long been for
gotten. but then so: too. has the mass OF British
History OF England being more regarded as lit
erary classic than an authority upon the nation
Mon the As love Of h SCOPE S 5e and houshu his
long life he seems to have been held in general es-
issued in 1923, and another was called In l7Ss
10 which he appended Defence Of Free Masons
history and principles Of the craft, Not word
has ever been written against Or. Anderson per
eonal character or in defamation Of his standing
in the community, excepting by Masonic writer's
during the heated agitation which was inaueurated
by the schism Of the ancients In 1883. Then moth
ing 100 defamatory could be said against the good
munster ana some Pi me uo Ingn srD% %inb ,hi
rendered 20 modern Freemasonry have never
his name is seldom mentioned without sheer or
John Theophius Desagtlers whose name is linked
Anderson
OF the Mother Grand Lodge" was born in 1888 at
sy Ike e a@Sed nc Oxford and IN
time received from that University the degree Of
a scientific student than as a theologian and his
public lectures on natural philosophy, as well as
his scientific books and minor contributions 70
scientific literature, not only won for hin nigh
"a en- in his Sa 6n seu5eS him ns ri
scientific world. He became a Free Mason In the
lodge %hc5 met At Inc Goose and GeG 9n hn
cause he thought he saw IN the principles then
cement mankind He was scquanied. too more or
less intimately. with Sir Christopher Wren. and II
With 1 iha; ' RENOWNED arch}dct Which reay led 10
the revival Of Freemasonry In III when the four
Constituted EDITH the Grand Lodge Of England The
first Grand Master was Anthony Sayer, the second
elected 10 supreme command. and he afterward.
when 1t became the fashion 10 have = peer act as
That he assisted Or. Anderson in his Masonic
literary labors here seems no reason 70 doubt and
Connection with his Grand Lodge. which is now
known as the Fund Of Benevolence
Outside Of the Masonic cOntroversalists DR. Desa-
guliers had no deiractors, and his life really ap-
one which was devoted to doing good 10 his fellow
men. In Masonic circles-in one Masonic circle.
causes for lnt u in language are happily
passing away end the character or ms pioneer is
GRADUALLY being estimated at It's proper worth A
good man a true man an honest man. a studious
man. sincere Christian. there Is now no reason
for any Masonic student regarding the memory OF
TheODhlluS
Laurence Dermott who led the opposing forces
(the Ancients). and who has been credited with
being the prime mover in the scEism was IN
Irishnan being born in Dublin in 1920. He was by
trade q painter but managed TO acquire a WIDE
circle Of learning for when Grand Secretary OF the
ana 10 have talked in Hebrew and in Latin with
any one who came along or the detans OF 'he
entering upon here. for all that we have is 80 con.
Trajectory. evidently one-sded mat IL = oiicui
20 determine what is true and what rs false. Al!
the anaihemas OF he Moderns have been heapcd
OF his head, AMI he has been denounced In en-
phatic language as a Ter. thieI torgef con- on
spirator. ana as guilt OF almost every crime IN
confessed he returned as hard blows he re,
ce!ved. and was as incorporate In his .ausu'Ge ara
He was the central figure in time OF Masonic
controversy. d controversy which he mainly
troversy with ali the ardor Of his race: lie was
caustic vitr9eratiyc, insulting. uncompromising.
s.sh,es, fomndation. and while he was by no
means so brilliant and scholarly some Of
MS Opponents hr "dc mum uipIt 4" III
movements. more determined In his efforts and
more demonstrativc In his arguments He must
have been endowed with some good some lovdble,
some commendable qualities 20 have made and
won so many steadfast friends and have re-
tanned these friends to the end OF MS career. OF
that there seems doubt. But the whole
troversy which ne aroused vas painful one. II
eeems now: the principals both sides evil
IDENTIFY forgot all about the Masonic tenets OF
charity and brOtnerly love, and the best thing 10
write about II .s that II iE gradually being for
gotten.
AZ DR.. Albert G. Maekey has clearly pointed out
in a al n
eoph.cal appreciation OF the character of the
Masonic institution was in advance OF the spirit
OF his age" One Of the results of the establish
u.ent Of the new Grand Lodge extrpoT
binary revival OF interest In Freemasonry ana IN
this revival Laurence Dermott was the acknowl-
edged leader. He exerted himself to bring new
brethren into the fold. and his watchfu eye LED
him TO look for new material wherever II was 10
be reached. In fact he the great Masonic
missionary of his day. and in that respect. al all