The Present Position Of English Ereemasonry.

one both of undoubted progress and of peculiar promise ? And if now we turn to consider our position historically , we see at once also , what great strides archaeological study and scientific enquiry are making amongst

us . Time was , that we were content generally with somewhat too easy au assent to what others had said , and to what others had written , often with little of special

knowledge on the subject , and less ol accurate authority . Not that in saying this , we wish to disparage in any way the earlier labours and histories of Anderson or Preston , or Laurie , or Oliver—on the contrary we think that Anderson and

Preston especially , subject to some needful modification , and some friendly pruninggive us in truth our safest and truest clue to the real history of our ancient Order . But we undoubtedly owe to our German brethren that great impetus which has been given to the actual study of our documents , and the careful analysis of

om- evidences . There have been those , there may be some still , whom Anderson calls " scrupulous brethren , " who have rather set then - faces , and still set them against Masonic inquiry and research , against the verification of our commonly

received authorities , against the opening out of our long hoarded stores of forgotten archives and dusty manuscripts . But let us hope that now , when all studies are advancing and all knowledge is progressive , we who have as Freemasons taken the

lead in so many kindly acts of sympathy and goodwill to man , will also not be backward but on the contrary anxious to advance , in all intellectual appreciation and all archaeological study , alike of our history and antiquities , our ancient legends , and our

time-honoured traditions . At this moment five groat views of Masonic history ( wo leave out those of lesser importance ) seem to divide Masonic students . There is first the theory which links Ereemasonry on to the Templar

Order or the Rosicrucian confraternity . 11 iis theory however plausible in itself or vehemently supported has never been able to meet the sifting demands of history , and seems now to be given up even by

its warmest supporters . It is in truth historically untenable . There is a second view , which more or less finds support from modern German Masonic writers , thouah the aerms of it may be found in

earlier authorities of that country , which regards Ereemasonry as a purely speculative order now , but deriving its origin from the German Operative Stonemasons , not earlier than the twelfth and not later

than the thirteenth century . The one great objection to this theory is , that it is what is always a mistake , the application of a particular fact to advance a general theory . It may be true for instance , that the German Stonemasons existed as

a fraternity in the thirteenth century with usages and customs very like our own , but " non constat" that therefore Freemasonry took its rise then or thence . Our able Bro . J " . Findel of Leipsie has put forward this explanation of our rise and progress as an Order , in his "Geshichte derFraumaurerei , " of which we have a translation in this

country , and has developed his views on the subject with great clearness and ability , and his history of Ereemasonry is most interesting in itself , and will well repay perusal . But the argument of our Bro . Findel is after all only " post hoc

propter hoc , " as it is said , and through it reflects the greatest credit on his German patriotism , to make the good " Gesellen " of the German " Steinmetzen Bauhiitten , " the originators of Freemasony , we feel sine , that this theory of our history will not

survive the assaults of a scientific and colder criticism . There is a third view which considers Freemasonry as a sort of universal league of philosophic and mystical teaching , with a considerable leaning to the School of the " Illumines , " and a still greater adoption of a very negative