ANTIQUITIES OF FREE-MASONRY, COMPRISING ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE FIVE GRAND PERIODS OF MASONRY FROM THE CREATION OF THE WORLD TO THE DEDICATION OF KING SOLOMON'S TEMPLE. BY THE REV. G. OLIVER, D.D., M.A.S.E., Incumbent of the Collegiate Church, Wolverhampton; P.D.P.G.M. for Lincolnshire; Author of "The History of Initiation." "Star in the East," &c., &c. A NEW EDITION, WITH LARGE ADDITIONS AND IMPROVEMENTS BY THE AUTHOR. - Αὕτη ἐστὶν ἡ ἀγγελία, ἣν ἠκούσατε ἀπ' ἀρχῆς, ἵνα ἀγαπῶμεν ἀλλήλους. NEW YORK: JNO. W. LEONARD & CO., AMERICAN MASONIC AGENCY. PREFACE. THE objections which have been so unceasingly urged against the institution of Free-Masonry, excited in me, some years ago, a serious desire to obviate the general and vague charges of envy and prejudice, by some formal examination of the grounds on which they are founded. Since this duty has been impressed upon my mind, I have preached and printed many sermons in my official capacity of Provincial Grand Chaplain for the county of Lincoln, the tendency of all which has been chiefly directed towards this point. But I find, that while I confine myself to answering peculiar objections I am only applying a partial remedy to the evil. To stem the torrent which is opposed to us, and effectually to divert the course of its stream, is an undertaking of a more broad and extensive nature: and it is only from an exposition of the pure principles of the science, as it actually existed in the primitive ages of the world, that a correct idea of its beneficial tendency can be conveyed to the mind of those who look upon Masonry as another name for licentiousness and excess. An ancient manuscript, in the handwriting of King Henry the Sixth, gives the following definition of Masonry:-" Ytt beeth the skylle of Nature, the understondynge of the myghte that ys hereynne; and its sondrye werckynges, sonderlyche, and skylle of rectenynges, of waightes and metynges, and the true manere of faconnynge al thynges for mannes use; headlye, dwellynges, and buildynges of all kyndes, and al odher thynges that make gudde to manne." The same manuscript, which was preserved in the Bodleian library, adds :-"Maçonnes havethe alweys, yn everyche tyme, from tyme to tyme, communycatedde to mankynde soche of her secrettes as generallyche myghte be usefulle; they hauethe keped backe soche alleine as shulde be harmfulle yff they comed ynn euylle haundes. Maçonnes love eidher odher myghtylye, and yt may not odherwise be: for gude menne and true, kennynge eidher odher to be such, doeth always love the more as thay be more good."1 It is truly said that Masonry unites mankind in the indissoluble bonds of sincere affection; and if it snature and origin be minutely considered, it will produce a perfect conviction, that when its fundamental principles are strictly adhered to, it cannot possibly be otherwise. It is not simply practical or operative, but speculative or spiritual Masonry that produces this desirable communication. Our ornaments, furniture, and jewels are all highly emblematical of some greater and more noble purpose than the use to which they might be applied as instruments of labour; and in this view it is, that though the light may shine brilliantly amidst the darkness, yet it is evident that the darkness comprehendeth it not. I cannot but think (and I say it with the utmost deference, as it involves some of the most refined and honourable. feelings of human nature,) that the doubts 1 The whole of this MS., with annotations by our countryman, the learned Mr. Locke, is published in Preston's "Illustrations of Masonry," Hutchinson's " Spirit of Masonry," and other masonic works. of conscientious brethren, respecting the propriety of committing masonic investigations to writing, have tended to impede the study of Masonry, and have prevented the science from carrying that conviction which an opposite practice would have commanded. It is true we enjoy every benefit derivable from oral communication, yet very great numbers of worthy and good Masons, residing at a distance from the metropolis, remain perfectly ignorant of the progress of Masonry in the darker ages of the world. This is an evil to which the Grand Lodge is fully empowered to apply a remedy. Annual prize essays on masonic subjects, the establishment of a respectable periodical magazine, under the mmediate auspices of the Grand Lodge, or even private encouragement or patronage to literary Masons, which our noble and royal brethren are well competent to afford, would create a stimulus in defence of the Order, which might produce the most beneficial results to Masonry; and would certainly be a powerful and efficient means of removing a portion of the unmerited disrespect which is systematically cast upon us by the uninitiated. I am by no means prepared to admit the policy of these scruples generally, which, indeed, appear to have been a matter of regret to all good Masons, whose sentiments we have any opportunity of becoming acquainted with. Dr. Anderson, who wrote the History of Masonry by the command of the Grand Lodge, and whose book was approved, both in manuscript and print, by two * This desideratum has been supplied by the establishment of the Freemasons' Quarterly Review; a periodical which has realized my most sanguine anticipations, by becoming the accredited organ of the Craft in every quarter of the globe. |