The guardian., 1952-06-07
Two Grand Lodges Unite
In Religious Service
G.M. Kirfon Orator At Joint Ceremony
(Concluded from Last Week.


tary statement Of facts :. rela-
tive to the history of Freemason-
ry are chronicled o nthe pages
of History of Freemasonry and
Concordant Orders" by Edison
Worthen Sanborn. In its ap-
proach to "The Early Documen-
tary Evidence of the Fraternity,
Henry L. Stinson, its editor-in-
chief quoting late historian
declares: History must depend
for credence on creditable evil
dence. In order to justify belief,
one must either himself have
seen or heard the facts related,
or have the testimony, direct or
indirect, of witnesses or well
informed contemporaries. The
original sources of historic
knowledge are mainly comprised
lin oral traditions, or some form
of well-wri&ten records" This
being so, and with the consistent
convincing logic and colorful
documentary statements from
"welI-kept" records as recorded
in that remarkable book, 1t is
folly for members of the Fratern-
ity to indulge in claims which
are not based on Fact.
For example: If one wishes to
discuss the origin of Freemas-
onry, he may turn to that sec
tion OF History of Freemasonry
and Concordant Orders" entitled
Ancient Craft Masonry. There
the student traces the origin of
the Craft back to the. days of
the children of Israel in Egypt" p"
and from thence to 'the prom
ised land which is known as
Jerusalem. Westward. the stu
dent traces activities of the
Craft first into France and
from France to other parts of
the European continent. Let no
one deceive himself and others
that only one European country
was the one and only rightful
source that had power and au-
thority to grant Warrant and
Dispensations to Freemasons.
In the History of Freemas.
onry and Concordant Orders"
may be read-in part-the fol-
lowing statement: During the
time that the children of Israel
dwelt in Egypt they learned the
Craft of Masonry. And after
they were driven out of Egypt
they came into the promise
land, which is now called Jer-
usalem, and they occupied that
land and the Charges were OBJ
served there. And it is said that
Solomon confirmed the Charges
that David his father had given
to Masons. And Solomon him
self taught them their usages
(manners) differing but slightly
from the customs now in use
And from Jerusalem, this worth
science was brought into France
and into many other regions"
This same Documentary Evil
dence" informs us of activities
of numerous other Grand Lodges
which, evidently, came into be-
ing after establishment Of the
order in France. For example:
under heading Outline of f>Free-
masonry in Continental Europe"
DR.. Albert G.. Mackey the ripe
Masonic scholar and eminent
writer" records in alphabetical
order activities of the following
Grand Lodges: The Grand Lodge
of Austria, Belgium, Bohemia,
Denmark, France, Germany,
Greece, Holland, Hungary, italy,
Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal,
Rumania and Bulgaria, Russia,
Spain, Sweden and Norway, and
Switzerland. activities of Grand
Lodges in the Dominion of Can
ada, Grand Lodges in the U.S!A.
and other countries throughout
the world are recorded in an
other section of the book.) The
foregoing information should be
studied with an open mind for
it. is rather enlightening.
Facts Versus Claims.
Distorted facts deceive and
slow down improvement, which
of times result in unpleasant
reaction, which, in turn leads to
distasteful consequences, and
Consequences are not Incl
dental
They are the result Of ac-
ton rude or gentle;
They shape the moral fab