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  • The Freemasons' Monthly Magazine
  • July 10, 1869
  • Page 6
  • OPINION OF FREEMASONRY EXPRESSED BY THE EARL OF DERBY.
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The Freemasons' Monthly Magazine, July 10, 1869: Page 6

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    Article ON TREE AND SERPENT WORSHIP, AS EXEMPLIFIED BY SOME RECENTLY DISCOVERED INDIAN MONUMENTS. ← Page 4 of 4
    Article OPINION OF FREEMASONRY EXPRESSED BY THE EARL OF DERBY. Page 1 of 2 →
Page 6

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On Tree And Serpent Worship, As Exemplified By Some Recently Discovered Indian Monuments.

as the great centre of Tree and Serpent worship of the present day . The faith of the kingdom of Dahomey , on the Gold Coast , is essentially the adoration of Trees and Serpents , accompanied by ancestral worship and human sacrifices , and female

soldiers . In fact , Africa preserves in full vigour and perfection at the present day all those characteristics which we see only dimly reflected in the myths of other nations . In the new world , too , the worship of the

Serpent—apparently there connected with that of the sun—certainly prevailed extensively before that continent was discovered by Columbus ; and with forms so like many of those found in Asia that frequent attempts have been made to prove that what we find there is a form of Buddhism .

This cannot , however , be sustained ; but it certainly appears to be a form of that primaBval faith on which Buddhism was based , and out of which it arose in India . In conclusion , the speaker pointed to certain

forms of Dolmens , stone circles , menhirs , and such like rude stone monuments , found in India , identical in form and purpose with those found in Africa , in Britanny , and nearly all over the world wherever a Turanian people can be traced . These

are not necessarily old , though some of them may be of any age : others were certainly erected in India within the limits of this century and are undistinguishable from the older examples ; showing how persistent certain forms of faith are when once adopted by certain races of

mankind . Among these the Turanians are certainly the most instinctive and least progressive of any . It is the last fact which gives unity while it adds interest to the whole subject . In Tree and

Serpent worship we have the oldest known form of faith and belonging to the most ancient people of Avhose existence Ave have any knoAvledge . It is now found generally in a nearly fossil state uuderlying the Semitic and Ayran strata which

have been superimposed upon it . Occasionally , however , it crops up in out-of-the-way corners of the world , fresh and vigorous , aud tells a strange tale of the persistent unchangeableness of certain races of mankind and still more strano-e irradicability of certain forms of superstitious faith .

Opinion Of Freemasonry Expressed By The Earl Of Derby.

OPINION OF FREEMASONRY EXPRESSED BY THE EARL OF DERBY .

The motives of the ancient and honourable Order of Freemasons have often been regarded with suspicion by those who do not belong to it , and who have no knowledge of its affairs . It might be supposed , indeed , that the rules and

principles of Freemasons Avere so far known , thatthe public mind should be inclined to regard them with respect , and the character of the members of the Order is generally such as to command respect in all circles of society . All this ,

however , does not prevent a feeling of doubt and suspicion on the part of some , who can give no reason for it , but who are perhaps ready to entertain such a feeling as to everything beyond the ' sphere of their once immediate observation .

There are many , however , who do not belong tothe Masonic Order , who judge more justly , and a strong testimony in favour of its high and estimable character was recently bore by the Earl of Derby , in a speech made by him in the House

of Lords on the 7 th June 1869 . Referring to the Order of Freemasons , he said : " I am not a . member of that body , but I believe that a more loyal , peaceable , charitable , and benevolent body

does not exist . " * Higher commendation could hardly be given , nor could it be given by one ^ whose opinion is more worthy of respect- Such a testimony borne by Lord Derb y cannot but bevery gratifying to the members of the Craft , and

ought to have some effect on the minds of those who do not belong to it . Freemasons , themselves , indeed , are well aware of the high and noble principles on which their ancient Order is founded and of the excellence of the rules by which it is

governed , of the landmarks in constant adherence to which its true nobility is maintained . These ancient landmarks have not often been overlooked and can never be broken down . Whilst they subsist and are kept clearly in vieAV by Freemasons

themselves , the character of the Order must appear in the eyes of the Avorld , such as Lord Derby has declared it to be . Loyalty is , indeed , one of the essential principles of Freemasonry , and a Freemason is bound by the most solemn

obligations to live as a good member of society , observing the laws of God and of his country . Peaceable he therefore must be , whilst these obligations are remembered . As to charity and

“The Freemasons' Monthly Magazine: 1869-07-10, Page 6” Masonic Periodicals Online, Library and Museum of Freemasonry, 11 July 2025, django:8000/periodicals/mmr/issues/mmr_10071869/page/6/.
  • List
  • Grid
Title Category Page
Untitled Article 1
FREEMASONS' HALL. Article 1
CHIPS OF FOREIGN ASHLAR. Article 1
ON TREE AND SERPENT WORSHIP, AS EXEMPLIFIED BY SOME RECENTLY DISCOVERED INDIAN MONUMENTS. Article 3
OPINION OF FREEMASONRY EXPRESSED BY THE EARL OF DERBY. Article 6
THE PALESTINE EXPLORATION FUND. Article 7
ANCIENT LODGES. Article 8
MASONIC NOTES AND QJJERIES. Article 9
CORRESPONDENCE. Article 12
BRO. MELVILLE'S DISCOVERIES. Article 12
THE EARLS WOOD IDIOT ASYLUM. Article 13
GRAND LODGE CALENDAR. Article 13
A COMPARISON. Article 13
REDUCTION IN PRICE OF THE "MAGAZINE." Article 15
ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR BOYS. Article 15
METROPOLITAN. Article 16
PROVINCIAL. Article 16
IRELAND. Article 17
ROYAL ARCH. Article 18
Obituary. Article 18
Poetry. Article 19
THE "MORNING ADVERTISER" AND FREEMASONRY. Article 19
LIST OF LODGE, &c., MEETINGS FOR WEEK ENDING 17TH JULY, 1869. Article 20
TO CORRESPONDENTS. Article 20
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.

On Tree And Serpent Worship, As Exemplified By Some Recently Discovered Indian Monuments.

as the great centre of Tree and Serpent worship of the present day . The faith of the kingdom of Dahomey , on the Gold Coast , is essentially the adoration of Trees and Serpents , accompanied by ancestral worship and human sacrifices , and female

soldiers . In fact , Africa preserves in full vigour and perfection at the present day all those characteristics which we see only dimly reflected in the myths of other nations . In the new world , too , the worship of the

Serpent—apparently there connected with that of the sun—certainly prevailed extensively before that continent was discovered by Columbus ; and with forms so like many of those found in Asia that frequent attempts have been made to prove that what we find there is a form of Buddhism .

This cannot , however , be sustained ; but it certainly appears to be a form of that primaBval faith on which Buddhism was based , and out of which it arose in India . In conclusion , the speaker pointed to certain

forms of Dolmens , stone circles , menhirs , and such like rude stone monuments , found in India , identical in form and purpose with those found in Africa , in Britanny , and nearly all over the world wherever a Turanian people can be traced . These

are not necessarily old , though some of them may be of any age : others were certainly erected in India within the limits of this century and are undistinguishable from the older examples ; showing how persistent certain forms of faith are when once adopted by certain races of

mankind . Among these the Turanians are certainly the most instinctive and least progressive of any . It is the last fact which gives unity while it adds interest to the whole subject . In Tree and

Serpent worship we have the oldest known form of faith and belonging to the most ancient people of Avhose existence Ave have any knoAvledge . It is now found generally in a nearly fossil state uuderlying the Semitic and Ayran strata which

have been superimposed upon it . Occasionally , however , it crops up in out-of-the-way corners of the world , fresh and vigorous , aud tells a strange tale of the persistent unchangeableness of certain races of mankind and still more strano-e irradicability of certain forms of superstitious faith .

Opinion Of Freemasonry Expressed By The Earl Of Derby.

OPINION OF FREEMASONRY EXPRESSED BY THE EARL OF DERBY .

The motives of the ancient and honourable Order of Freemasons have often been regarded with suspicion by those who do not belong to it , and who have no knowledge of its affairs . It might be supposed , indeed , that the rules and

principles of Freemasons Avere so far known , thatthe public mind should be inclined to regard them with respect , and the character of the members of the Order is generally such as to command respect in all circles of society . All this ,

however , does not prevent a feeling of doubt and suspicion on the part of some , who can give no reason for it , but who are perhaps ready to entertain such a feeling as to everything beyond the ' sphere of their once immediate observation .

There are many , however , who do not belong tothe Masonic Order , who judge more justly , and a strong testimony in favour of its high and estimable character was recently bore by the Earl of Derby , in a speech made by him in the House

of Lords on the 7 th June 1869 . Referring to the Order of Freemasons , he said : " I am not a . member of that body , but I believe that a more loyal , peaceable , charitable , and benevolent body

does not exist . " * Higher commendation could hardly be given , nor could it be given by one ^ whose opinion is more worthy of respect- Such a testimony borne by Lord Derb y cannot but bevery gratifying to the members of the Craft , and

ought to have some effect on the minds of those who do not belong to it . Freemasons , themselves , indeed , are well aware of the high and noble principles on which their ancient Order is founded and of the excellence of the rules by which it is

governed , of the landmarks in constant adherence to which its true nobility is maintained . These ancient landmarks have not often been overlooked and can never be broken down . Whilst they subsist and are kept clearly in vieAV by Freemasons

themselves , the character of the Order must appear in the eyes of the Avorld , such as Lord Derby has declared it to be . Loyalty is , indeed , one of the essential principles of Freemasonry , and a Freemason is bound by the most solemn

obligations to live as a good member of society , observing the laws of God and of his country . Peaceable he therefore must be , whilst these obligations are remembered . As to charity and

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