Skip to main content
Museum of Freemasonry

Masonic Periodicals Online

  • Explore
  • Advanced Search
  • Home
  • Explore
  • The Freemasons' Monthly Magazine
  • Feb. 5, 1870
  • Page 9
  • THE STUARTS AND FREEMASONRY.
Current:

The Freemasons' Monthly Magazine, Feb. 5, 1870: Page 9

  • Back to The Freemasons' Monthly Magazine, Feb. 5, 1870
  • Print image
  • Articles/Ads
    Article THE STUARTS AND FREEMASONRY. ← Page 2 of 3
    Article THE STUARTS AND FREEMASONRY. Page 2 of 3 →
Page 9

Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.

The Stuarts And Freemasonry.

Abbe Terrason was actually published as a Masonic book in a , Masonic periodical a few years ago . But a brother named Kelly made a higher flight still ; he actually printed the " Orbis Miraeulum" of Lee , published in 1665 , as his own , under the title of " Solomon ' s Temple Spiritualised ; and as Lee's work was

dedicated to the wardens , fellows , and students of Wadham College , so Kelly converted the dedication to all Eree and Accepted Masons . Kelly published this scandalous theft as a Masonic book of his own writing , in Dublin , 1 S 03 , and subsequently in America , and by his list of subscribers this worthy brother

Mason seems to have made a good sum of money . Ramsay ' s "Travels of Cyrus " has earned for its author the same distinction , the Freemasons not being able perceive that it is simply a system of education for a young prince , an object to which Ramsay had practically devoted his attention all his life .

The result of my researches was that in no authentic or impartial work is there any account of Ramsay having been a Ereemason . The story that he was one is only founded on a speech said to be delivered by him as Grand Orator at the initiation of a Mason . No such title as Grand Orator is known among the Freemasons of either England or France . I have seen the speech , and I solemnly declare that it is no

more than a satire upon the ignorance of Freemasons and the alleged pedantry of Ramsay . I am ashamed in " 1 ST . and Q . " to name the work in which it is found , but I feel compelled to do so , and it is in the " Almanach des Cocus , " a periodical published in Paris , from 1741 to 1743 . It is , as its title implies , a filthy , obscene publication—so obscene that even its Parisian

publisher dared not to print the word Paris on the book ; the imprint on the first two volumes is Con stantinople , on the third , Pekin . We may be sure that Ramsay has never written a line published in the disgusting Almanach , and I feel truly happy that I have at last rescued his name from a base but

baseless stigma . This very satire has since been published as an important historical document in Lenning ' s great work , the "Encyclopadie fur Freimaurer . " "This encyclopaedia , " says Findel in his " History , " is one of the richest sources of Masonic information , and an

indispensable book of reference for every inquiring Mason , and now appears in a second edition , enlarged and revised , under the title of ' Handbuch de r Freimaurerei . ' " My book-seller informs me that a new edition of Findel ' s " History" is to be immediately published . I would humbly recommend these passages to the editor ' s attention .

Thory , in his "Acta Lafcamorum , " Paris , 1815 , has acted in a precisely similar manner . He has published the whole of a clever satire on Freemasonry entitled , " Hn Brevet de la Calotte aceorde en faveur de tous les bons et zeles Francs-Macons . " An association of wits , during the Regency of France , sent to any

person or persons who mi ght fail in good manners or good sense a brevet or commission entitling them to be of the Regiment of Calotte , and this was the one sent to the Freemasons . Indeed , it seems that the Freemasons were too ridiculous of themselves to be sensible of the shafts of ridicule that were launched against them on every side . Thorey actually speaks of the caricature of the Scald Miserable Freemasons , as if it were a great credit to the society , aud tells us that

The Stuarts And Freemasonry.

there are just two in France . One of them is preserved with great care as a holy relic in the mother lodge of the Philosophic Rite of France , the other in a lodge at Douai . WILLIAM PIKKEETOH ,

Agreeing with Mr . Pinkerfcon as to the numerous literary and historical forgeries to be found in the ordinary books on Freemasonry , I would suggest to him that it does not necessarily follow that the body of Freemasons is to be charged with the authorship of these lies , but rather to be set down as dupes . A number of ignorant men readily swallow these

inventions , and some who may be supposed to know better are unable to discriminate . The last century was particularly one of literary . forgery , as Psaltnanazar , Chatterton , and Ireland attest ; while the Richard of Cirencester of Bertram has been only lately exposed , and is still quoted . The Freemasons were not

likely to escape , and afforded ready facilities for being hoaxed or duped , A manuscript was carefully treasured , kept from the public eye , copied and recopied , and mysteriously circulated . The outside critic has-only lately been able to exercise his judgment on some of these documents . If the dialogue of Henry VI . is a clumsy modern forgery , the origin of some absurd traditions dates from the era of the

Arthurian romances . I adhere to Mr . PinkertonV view , that the Young Pretender did not accept in Scotland the Grand Mastership of any sham order of Masonic chivalry , but I am not convinced by his negative arguments that the Pretender and his followers may not have countenanced Freemasonrythe exeommuniratkoi

, notwithstanding . The Jacobites appear to have introduced Freemasonry into France , and this sho nld not be discredited , because at an after period a ays tern of sham Scotch orders was fabricated . It appears to me well deserving of investigation '' oy Mr . Pinkerton and other inquirers what part the

Jacobites took in secret societies in England . The Grand Lodge of England was Hanoverian in ita leaders . Were the Jacobites then concerned in the York lodges , or were they the supporters of Gormogons , Gregorians , & c . ? The decline of Jacobite sentiment and organisation may have had its influence on the fall of the anti-Masonic societies . ITYBE ClAKEE .

Mr . Pinkerton has ruined the influence of the IBAV good points of his first article by the want of information displayed in his last , and the intemperate language of both . If that gentleman imag ines he can injure Freemasonry in such a way , he is quite welcome to try it , as such attempts can only recoil upon him

self . No one connected with the Order of Freemasonry cares a jot about the House of Stuart , but the information we have seems conclusive that the Stuarts did at various times between 164 S and 1745 attempt to make use of that order politically , but the proofs unfortunatelare not susceptible of introduction to

y your pages . Findel is no authority for auything connected with English Freemasonry , his viewa beingwarped to party purposes . Ramsay exercised no influence whatever upon English Freemasonry , but he did upon that of France . The Pope ' s bull h no argument , as there are Roman Catholic prelates con *

“The Freemasons' Monthly Magazine: 1870-02-05, Page 9” Masonic Periodicals Online, Library and Museum of Freemasonry, 23 July 2025, django:8000/periodicals/mmr/issues/mmr_05021870/page/9/.
  • List
  • Grid
Title Category Page
Untitled Article 1
THE TEMPLARS AND FREEMASONRY. Article 1
THE LODGE OF GLASGOW ST. JOHN. Article 2
THE RISE AND PURPOSES OF SPECULATIVE MASONRY. Article 4
MASONIC JOTTINGS.—No. 6. Article 7
THE STUARTS AND FREEMASONRY. Article 8
MASONIC NOTES AND QUERIES. Article 10
CORRESPONDENCE. Article 11
Untitled Article 12
MASONIC MEMS. Article 12
ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION FOR AGED FREEMASONS AND THEIR WIDOWS. Article 12
Craft Masonry. Article 13
PROVINCIAL. Article 14
SCOTTISH CONSTITUTION. Article 16
NEW ZEALAND. Article 16
ROYAL ARCH. Article 17
MARK MASONRY. Article 18
MASONIC FESTIVITIES. Article 18
A LECTURE. Article 19
Poetry. Article 19
SCIENTIFIC MEETINGS FOR THE WEEK. Article 19
LIST OF LODGE, MEETINGS, &c., FOR WEEK ENDING 12TH FEBRUARY, 1870. Article 20
TO CORRESPONDENTS. Article 20
Page 1

Page 1

3 Articles
Page 2

Page 2

3 Articles
Page 3

Page 3

2 Articles
Page 4

Page 4

3 Articles
Page 5

Page 5

2 Articles
Page 6

Page 6

2 Articles
Page 7

Page 7

2 Articles
Page 8

Page 8

3 Articles
Page 9

Page 9

2 Articles
Page 10

Page 10

3 Articles
Page 11

Page 11

1 Article
Page 12

Page 12

4 Articles
Page 13

Page 13

2 Articles
Page 14

Page 14

3 Articles
Page 15

Page 15

2 Articles
Page 16

Page 16

3 Articles
Page 17

Page 17

3 Articles
Page 18

Page 18

4 Articles
Page 19

Page 19

5 Articles
Page 20

Page 20

3 Articles
Page 9

Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.

The Stuarts And Freemasonry.

Abbe Terrason was actually published as a Masonic book in a , Masonic periodical a few years ago . But a brother named Kelly made a higher flight still ; he actually printed the " Orbis Miraeulum" of Lee , published in 1665 , as his own , under the title of " Solomon ' s Temple Spiritualised ; and as Lee's work was

dedicated to the wardens , fellows , and students of Wadham College , so Kelly converted the dedication to all Eree and Accepted Masons . Kelly published this scandalous theft as a Masonic book of his own writing , in Dublin , 1 S 03 , and subsequently in America , and by his list of subscribers this worthy brother

Mason seems to have made a good sum of money . Ramsay ' s "Travels of Cyrus " has earned for its author the same distinction , the Freemasons not being able perceive that it is simply a system of education for a young prince , an object to which Ramsay had practically devoted his attention all his life .

The result of my researches was that in no authentic or impartial work is there any account of Ramsay having been a Ereemason . The story that he was one is only founded on a speech said to be delivered by him as Grand Orator at the initiation of a Mason . No such title as Grand Orator is known among the Freemasons of either England or France . I have seen the speech , and I solemnly declare that it is no

more than a satire upon the ignorance of Freemasons and the alleged pedantry of Ramsay . I am ashamed in " 1 ST . and Q . " to name the work in which it is found , but I feel compelled to do so , and it is in the " Almanach des Cocus , " a periodical published in Paris , from 1741 to 1743 . It is , as its title implies , a filthy , obscene publication—so obscene that even its Parisian

publisher dared not to print the word Paris on the book ; the imprint on the first two volumes is Con stantinople , on the third , Pekin . We may be sure that Ramsay has never written a line published in the disgusting Almanach , and I feel truly happy that I have at last rescued his name from a base but

baseless stigma . This very satire has since been published as an important historical document in Lenning ' s great work , the "Encyclopadie fur Freimaurer . " "This encyclopaedia , " says Findel in his " History , " is one of the richest sources of Masonic information , and an

indispensable book of reference for every inquiring Mason , and now appears in a second edition , enlarged and revised , under the title of ' Handbuch de r Freimaurerei . ' " My book-seller informs me that a new edition of Findel ' s " History" is to be immediately published . I would humbly recommend these passages to the editor ' s attention .

Thory , in his "Acta Lafcamorum , " Paris , 1815 , has acted in a precisely similar manner . He has published the whole of a clever satire on Freemasonry entitled , " Hn Brevet de la Calotte aceorde en faveur de tous les bons et zeles Francs-Macons . " An association of wits , during the Regency of France , sent to any

person or persons who mi ght fail in good manners or good sense a brevet or commission entitling them to be of the Regiment of Calotte , and this was the one sent to the Freemasons . Indeed , it seems that the Freemasons were too ridiculous of themselves to be sensible of the shafts of ridicule that were launched against them on every side . Thorey actually speaks of the caricature of the Scald Miserable Freemasons , as if it were a great credit to the society , aud tells us that

The Stuarts And Freemasonry.

there are just two in France . One of them is preserved with great care as a holy relic in the mother lodge of the Philosophic Rite of France , the other in a lodge at Douai . WILLIAM PIKKEETOH ,

Agreeing with Mr . Pinkerfcon as to the numerous literary and historical forgeries to be found in the ordinary books on Freemasonry , I would suggest to him that it does not necessarily follow that the body of Freemasons is to be charged with the authorship of these lies , but rather to be set down as dupes . A number of ignorant men readily swallow these

inventions , and some who may be supposed to know better are unable to discriminate . The last century was particularly one of literary . forgery , as Psaltnanazar , Chatterton , and Ireland attest ; while the Richard of Cirencester of Bertram has been only lately exposed , and is still quoted . The Freemasons were not

likely to escape , and afforded ready facilities for being hoaxed or duped , A manuscript was carefully treasured , kept from the public eye , copied and recopied , and mysteriously circulated . The outside critic has-only lately been able to exercise his judgment on some of these documents . If the dialogue of Henry VI . is a clumsy modern forgery , the origin of some absurd traditions dates from the era of the

Arthurian romances . I adhere to Mr . PinkertonV view , that the Young Pretender did not accept in Scotland the Grand Mastership of any sham order of Masonic chivalry , but I am not convinced by his negative arguments that the Pretender and his followers may not have countenanced Freemasonrythe exeommuniratkoi

, notwithstanding . The Jacobites appear to have introduced Freemasonry into France , and this sho nld not be discredited , because at an after period a ays tern of sham Scotch orders was fabricated . It appears to me well deserving of investigation '' oy Mr . Pinkerton and other inquirers what part the

Jacobites took in secret societies in England . The Grand Lodge of England was Hanoverian in ita leaders . Were the Jacobites then concerned in the York lodges , or were they the supporters of Gormogons , Gregorians , & c . ? The decline of Jacobite sentiment and organisation may have had its influence on the fall of the anti-Masonic societies . ITYBE ClAKEE .

Mr . Pinkerton has ruined the influence of the IBAV good points of his first article by the want of information displayed in his last , and the intemperate language of both . If that gentleman imag ines he can injure Freemasonry in such a way , he is quite welcome to try it , as such attempts can only recoil upon him

self . No one connected with the Order of Freemasonry cares a jot about the House of Stuart , but the information we have seems conclusive that the Stuarts did at various times between 164 S and 1745 attempt to make use of that order politically , but the proofs unfortunatelare not susceptible of introduction to

y your pages . Findel is no authority for auything connected with English Freemasonry , his viewa beingwarped to party purposes . Ramsay exercised no influence whatever upon English Freemasonry , but he did upon that of France . The Pope ' s bull h no argument , as there are Roman Catholic prelates con *

  • Prev page
  • 1
  • 8
  • You're on page9
  • 10
  • 20
  • Next page
  • Accredited Museum Designated Outstanding Collection
  • LIBRARY AND MUSEUM CHARITABLE TRUST OF THE UNITED GRAND LODGE OF ENGLAND REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER 1058497 / ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © 2025

  • Accessibility statement

  • Designed, developed, and maintained by King's Digital Lab

We use cookies to track usage and preferences.

Privacy & cookie policy