Reviews.

sifting-and scrutiny Of- a true historical criticism . Guilds , no doubt , are an Anglo-Saxon institution with us , and have no doubt too , a common Teutonic origin . Guilds were apparently of two kinds , religious guilds and trading guilds . The primary idea of

a religious guild was an assembly of men or of women , or of both , all pajdng to the common purse or chest , which met at stated times for the ptirjiose of prayer , of attending religious worship , of keeping duly sacred days , and the anniversary or guild

feast , generally on the day of the patron Saint , of assisting indigent members , visiting them in sickness , and attending their funerals . Many of these guilds in this country , were of very early origin , and became eventually very rich but were dissolved hi the reign of Henry VIII ., who took possession of their riroperty as

unscrupulously as he seized ecclesiastical lands also . Until late years they had practically disappeared amongst us but , as they had much of good , and value , and truth , and power , in their idea and organization ; there seems to be a tendency to resuscitate them in our own thnewith what success

, remains to be seen . There were also trading guilds , which were bound together hy a common vow , to keep secret the mysteries of their trade or art , to relieve then own brethren or sisters , to look after them in sickness , to bury

them at the cost of the guild , . and to meet once a year in the general assembly , to make rules and regulations , and duly to keep the commemoration feast in honour of their patron Saint . These guilds had generally guild halls , and chapels , and chaplains belonging specially to them ; and some of the accounts of their annual

expenses , which are still extant , are very curious indeed . Guilds existed in this country in the Anglo-Saxon times , and this fact is in itself fatal to Bro . Findel ' s and Bro . Steinbrenner ' s theory who would limit the origin of Masonic guilds apparently to about 1100 , and hold that Ereemasonry ,

is the result of the organization of the German " Steinmetzen , " and was brought into England by the-working Gorman Freemasons But we cannot forget , that guilds existed even before the Anglo-Saxon times , and are in truth of Roman origin . The " Collegium Eabrorum " was undoubtedly a guild , governed almost by the

identical laws which marked the later guilds , a fact , which Sir E . Palgrave expressly stated in his History of the Anglo-Saxons , some years ago , and of which Mr , Hope in his masterly account of architecture , seems to have no doubt whatever .

We fear then , that we cannot at all accept the theory of the German origin of our Masonic Fraternity , as not only does it contravene all our Masonic traditions , but also is antagonistic to much of trustworthy evidence , which bears directly on the origin and progress of Freemasonry .

And not only this , but such a theory entirely overlooks that remarkable manifestation of our Craft which is to be found in the very early , and identical , and universal use of Masons Marks , all pointing at any rate to the existence in different countries of

Masonic guilds . There seems to be little question or doubt , as ire before said , that both in France and England , guilds of Masons existed before 1100 , and as our legends are quite correct historically in

attributing to Charles Martel rules and regulations for the French Masons , the statement that Athelstan granted a charter to tho Masonic guilds in England , is probably equally true . Bro . Steinbrenner following Bro . Findel , lays much stress on the legend of the Four Crowned Martyrs

as decisive of a German origin . There seems to bo a little confusion and repetition of the names in the various breviaries and tho " Acta Sanctorum , " but there can be no doubt , we think , that the story of " Severus SeverianusCarpophorus and Yictorinus "

, was very familiar to the German Masons , as appear by their rules and regulations drawn up " Kappitelsweise , " or " in Chapter . " Bro . Steinbrenner truly says , the four Masonic Martyrs were the Patron Saints of the German Freemasons . And while we

admit tins , it yet seems difficult to understand how a legend which was the common property-of all the "Eideles " then , in all lands equally , could by any means , become appropriated by the Gorman Masons alone , how their use of it , is a proof of the German origin of Free

masonry . Though the German Freemasons made more use of the Four Martyrs than we English Masons seem to have done , yet their connection with the Masonic guilds , was not unknown in England . Indeed , the writer of ¦ the Masonic poem alludes to