The Early Indiciae Of Freemasonry.

THE EARLY INDICIAE OF FREEMASONRY .

BY THE EDITOR . No . 1 . THOUGH I do not profess or propose to be strictly chronological in my series of articles and illustrations , I think the idea a good one perse of calling the notice of the

Craft to early evidences , or proofs , of the existence of Freemasonry . If so be that my papers are received with favour by my Brethren , any question of consecutive chronology can then be satisfactorily adjusted . Indeedthe subject will probably grow

, under my hands , so to say , and many early and unsuspected illustrations will probably turn up when our attention generally is turned to the subject . I take up a book to-day , a reprint of Veldener's Erschiedenis van het heylighe

Oruys , or History of the Holy Cross , printed by him in 1483 , in which we find some curious points and tokens , as I think , of Masonic lore . This has been edited by J . Ph . Berjean , and was published by C . J . Stewart , 11 , King William-street , Strand , in 1863 . It is a most interesting book , and deserves perusal and study . It

has been most admirably edited and printed . Some of our readers may have heard of the ancient and curious History of the Cross , which is said to have been written by Rufinus , first a friend , afterwards aa opponent , of Jerome the great early father .

The Empress Helena is said to have discovered the true Cross , the wood of which was said to have been in the Temple at Jerusalem . This history is the legend of this wood from its first growth to its subsequent use , and its alleged discovery . The

present history , rhymed by an unknown German author , is , without doubt , the translation of a Latin one , and is in all probability built up on Rufinus ' s original ecclesiastical history , '' The Golden Legend of Jacobus de Voragine , " and probably

later MSS . in Latin and French . Two of the latter exist in the British Museum , and a specimen of one of these will be given . There are only three known copies of the work—one in Lord Spencer ' s library , one in the Eoyal Library at Brussels , and one in the library of Mr . Schinkel , at the Hague .

Veldener , who was born at Wurzburg , is well-known in the typographical history of Holland , and' it has been suggested by Mr , Berjeau , in his extremely well-written preface , that he obtained the " blocks " from the " Brothers of the Common Life , " whether in Holland or in Germany .

Mr . Berjeau says , " A most interesting feature of the History of the Cross , as it has been transmitted to us by Veldener , is the close relation of this work to the secret societies of the middle ages , and particularly to the early Rosierucians . Although

we cannot here properly enter into extensive disquisitions on this subject , we may at least designate the present book as the most ancient printed monument relative to the mysteries of philosophical Freemasonry . The numerous persons who are still in our

times initiated in such mysteries , and are curious to trace back their origin and their mode of transmission , cannot fail to be struck by many engravings in Veldener ' s

book . The very number ( thirty-three ) of the leaves on which it is printed—which is a puzzle for common biographers—will be particularly suggestive to "Rosete cruois ecpiitibus . ' The lovers of Egyptian mysteries , in their descent through the Dark Ages , will easily follow in Plates 3 reverse

, of Ah ., 21 , reverse of 61 , 25 reverse of B hi ., and 37 leeto of C i ., the four emblematic trials of earth , fire , water , and air The two plates 52 , reverse of C viii ., and 55 reverse of D it , will be at once recognised by the humblest member of the

Craft as a representation familiar to him , while plates 52 and 53 , D i ., will be sufficiently significative to more advanced adepts in Scottish Freemasonry . JSfo less interesting is the composition of the Cross , formed of four different species of woodin

, which a mediteval Rosicrucian saw most certainly the emblems of the four elements as he saw them in the inscription : " Iammin . Naur . Itouah . Iabesheh .

Water . Fire . Air . Earth . " This extract , of course , attracted my attention , and I looked carefully at the plates ; but , to say the truth , though I note some familiar emblems as the Sun

and Moon , I do not feel quite so certain as Mr . Berjeau seems to be on the subject ; but I recommend our Masonic students to study the plates for themselves . But while I was carefully studying the old