The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1903-12-11
MASONRY
only Worldwide Secret Organization
Now in Existence.


tuai assistance It is the only world.
wide secret organization
The word. "Freemaccn', has been
derived from the Norman French
~Frere Macon. brother mason. ana
also from the expression freestone ma.
son. The origin Of the word mason
Is itself uncertain.
Although under IT'S present form 81
ia comparatively new organization,
yet solAe writer's cite much evidence
to prove that Freemasonry is Of very
ancient origin. Il Is often claimed that
IL sprane from the "Dionysiac Frater
nifty" an association which was form
ed In Asia Minor by the architects and
Builders engaged in the construction
of temples and theaters at the time
when the Greeks migrated from A.tica
thither. The association is supposed
TO have been in existence in Tyre
when Solomon undertook the building
OF the temple. The legend is that the
fraternity sent a band Of worlcmen
from Tyre to assist Solomon in that
work.
Freemasonry. according TO this ac-
count Is said to have been originally
prganized by the leader Of the band
who was willows son. and in this
way is explained the great prominence
which IS given to Solomon's temple in
the ritual and symbols OF the order.
But as there is no trace Of these le-
gends in authentic history well in
formed Masons content themselves
with supposing that the order originat-
ed in the associations which we're
formed during the Middle Ages by ma
sons and builders as wen as by work
men belonging TO other crafts.
In those times when a church or
other great edlhce was IN procegs Of
construction workmen we're collected
from all quarters and encamped in
nuts around It. They established a
regular government with master at
their head. and appointed every tenth
man warden to oversee the others.
They ranged from country to country
and established themselves wherever
they found churches to build It thus
became important for them to be able
TO make themselves known to each
other In strange countries, and hence
they devised a system of secret signs
and symbols
Whether these associations were al
so in possession of secret knowledge
which was essential in architecture
and was transmitted from one genera
fion TO another is a disputed point
It is certain that the fnest monu-
ments Of Gothic architecture. both in
France and England, were reared by
architects who were not members OF
the order. The building OF churches
however, was the great work OF the
times. and the Masonic associations
were held in high esteem because OF
fhe smporsance Of their services. They
enjoyed the special favor and protc
tion Of the pope and buns We're issuel
by which peculiar privileges were
granted them They were exempted
from burdens imposed upon Other
workmen, and hence were style,
-.Rree" masons This IS the Legendary
explanation Of the origin of the name
Men OF eminence. both ecclesiastioi
and laymen, who were not actually
employed In building. either as archi
tects OF as masons, became member
of tue order Ia me these outnum
0ersd the real builders end operative
masonry was gradually transferred in
10 speculative Henry W. king o
England, joined the order and Henr,
VII, was a grand master In 1914
she English antiquary ELIAS Ashmolo
beecame a Freemason ana some writ
ers claim that this was the real begin
ming OF modern Masonry They sal
that Freemasonry, as now understood
never had any connection whateye
with the Freemasonry of the Middl
Ages
10 is claimed by these authoritie
that Ashmole founded the order an
that for the purpose of mys incauo
The symbols and signs employed wer
borrowed partly from the Knight
Templars and partly from the Ros
cruclans However this may be- IL
certain that an order Of Freemasol
was in existence in London after II
great fire OF 1866 ami that Sir Christ
pher Wren was appointed grand mas
er of it. AS he became old he ne
lected the order and interest died ol
10 such an extent that at the begi