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  • Oct. 29, 1864
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  • MASONIC NOTES AND QUERIES.
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The Freemasons' Monthly Magazine, Oct. 29, 1864: Page 5

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    Article MASONIC NOTES AND QUERIES. ← Page 2 of 3 →
Page 5

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Masonic Notes And Queries.

discussion of " most questions" like this , I venture to add my quota to-day towards the consideration of the whole matter . A great deal may undoubtedly be said , pro and con . the proposition that Freemasonry has come down to us through the Knights Templar , and a good many arguments may he adducedaud

authori-, ties quoted , for such a view of the subject . Tet it is after all , quite impossible , I think , to attempt to dogmatise one way or other upon the question itself , since it can be at best but matter of theory or premise , the proof being difficult to find , and the conclusion not easy of attainment . We haveindeedevery reason to

be-, , lieve that a very intimate connexion of some kind exists between the Templars and the Freemasons ; but what that connection , really and truly was remains as yet a matter of doubt and discussion , and has to be clearly shown and convincingly proved . So far as we have gone iu the inquirydespite much that has been

, said and written on the subject , both favourably and unfavourably , we are but groping , as it were , in the dark , and though much may be probable aud possible , little as yet is clear or certain . There seems

to be numberless and insurmountable difficulties in the way of a theory often put forward to-day , originally started , I believe , by au anonymous French writer in 1774 , in his " Historic de l'Origine de la Franc Maconnerie , " viz ., "That Freemasonry has descended to us from the Crusades and Masonic Knihtsespecially the Templarsand was' instituted

g , , by Godfrey de Bouillon , in Palestine , iu 1330 . '" _ Now , whatever may have been the exact meauing and ritual of the secret reception of the Templars , whatever even of a Masonic character may have purposely been thrown around it , it seems nevertheless difficult alike to prove ancl to believethatat the suppression

, , of that cruelly maligned order , their secrets and mysteries passed simply into the bauds of the operative lodges , and thence were handed down to our speculative brotherhood . For independently of the vast hiatus historically existing between the suppression of the Templars and the first traces we find of

any Templar tradition , as in the so-called York Lectures , which is , in itself , very hard to bridge over so as to satisfy any historical inquiry , we have a further and serious difficulty to contend with .

The earliest Masonic evidences in this countrywhich may safely be fixed about the middle of tlie ¦ seventeenth century , that is as regards Masonic teaching and usages , in the way of ritual or observancecontain no trace of any acknowledgment of a Templar descent , ancl in all probability that statement of

our commonly received Masonic history is correct , which makes the Knights Templar portions of our Order until the year 1199 , just as the Knights of Malta are said to have been patrons of the Order in 1500 ; and we have no difficulty in finding the rationale of such a union . Just as the operative Masons

admitted both monks and the clergy into their lodges : as speculative Masons and as directors , so they would naturally accept as affiliated members and patrons tbe then potent knightly orders . While the knightly -orders , perceiving the great value of the secret organisation and system of initiation and probation

of the Freemasons , would adopt it and use it , to strengthen and cement their own peculiar constitution ; so that whatever analogy may yet be traced ¦ between Templar and Masonic practices , whatever

may seem to he a common symbolism , is probably but the necessary result of this old alliance and connection ; while it is most certain that the allusions to the Templar theory were formed at a time when most of our Masonic literature had passed iuto the hands of many able and enthusiastic supporters of this

knightly theory . As opposed to this view , I believe that Freemasonry as we have it to-day , however overlaid by the purely speculative element , and affected by the lapse of time , is the same still in all its great landmarks as that which existed in this country in the operative lodges long before either the

Knights of St . John or the Knights Templar were formed into religious and militant orders . But though this be my own individual opinion on tlie subject , and I only give it for what it is worth as such , as a Masouic student , it is but fair to add that I by no means wish to question the right or ability of any

other brother to hold a diametrically opposite view , aud to bring forward many writers and authorities in support of his own deliberate conclusion . Freemasonry is wide enough , and tolerant enough , let us hope , for those who agree and those who differ . I therefore venture to offer this further answer to the query of "A Blue Mason , " as oue learns more and more , iu everything human , to value the wise axiom—¦ " audi alteram partem . "—EBOR .

ENGLAND AND EREEMASONRY . Foreign brethren very frequently make use of an ex pressiou equivalent to England being the birthplace ° f Freemasonry . What is the cause of this ?—A T RAVELLING BROTHER . —[ The cause of such an error is a want of the knowledge of the true

principles and history of the Order . Most , if indeed not all , of the Grand Lodges iu Europe were derived from England , after the revival of Freemasonry here in 1717 . Hence it is asserted that England is the birthplace of Freemasonry , and , proud as we should be-if it really was so , stern truth

demands that we should neither encourage nor claim the honour . Freemasonry is to be traced to Egypt as its cradle . The Jews during their captivity there , in that land of bondage , appear to have been initiated , ancl the principles of the Order to have culminated with them at the building of Solomon's Temple . This rational view entirely explodes the absurdity of

the guild theory , because we nowhere trace that Solomon or Hiram of Tyre were members of a building guild . That guilds and companies of the middle ages had Freemasons as members no one will deny , but to say that a guild of Freemasons were the depository of Craft secrets is as absurd as it is false . Freemasonry was known in the East before guilds were established

iu the West . It is stated to have been revived in Europe by the return of the Crusaders , having been established in the West and died out centuries before Christ . Its second revival was at the decline of the Eosicrucians , aud then , curiously enough , we find those of that order existing becoming Freemasons ,

and the Eosicrucians dying out in turn . Immediately upon this comes the second revival of 1717 , and in subsequent years many European nations established Provincial Grand Lodges under England , and when able to run alone cast off the mother Grand Lodge , and became INational Grand Lodges in their own right . Having derived their organisation from us at

“The Freemasons' Monthly Magazine: 1864-10-29, Page 5” Masonic Periodicals Online, Library and Museum of Freemasonry, 11 July 2025, django:8000/periodicals/mmr/issues/mmr_29101864/page/5/.
  • List
  • Grid
Title Category Page
THE CHARITIES. Article 1
MASONIC ARISTOCRACY. Article 2
Untitled Article 3
LIVES OF ENGLISH ARCHITECTS, BUILDERS, MASTER MASONS, &c. Article 3
THE MASONIC SCHOOLS. Article 4
MASONIC NOTES AND QUERIES. Article 4
CORRESPONDENCE. Article 6
MASONIC CHARITIES. Article 8
SOUTH WALES. Article 8
WEST YORKSHIRE. Article 9
Untitled Article 9
THE MASONIC MIRROR. Article 9
METROPOLITAN. Article 9
PROVINCIAL. Article 10
ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED RITE. Article 12
ROYAL ARCH. Article 13
MARK MASONRY. Article 14
PUBLIC AMUSEMENTS. Article 15
NOTES ON MUSIC AND THE DRAMA. Article 16
Poetry. Article 16
MASONIC SONG. Article 17
HOPE. Article 17
THE WEEK. Article 17
TO CORRESPONDENTS. Article 20
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Masonic Notes And Queries.

discussion of " most questions" like this , I venture to add my quota to-day towards the consideration of the whole matter . A great deal may undoubtedly be said , pro and con . the proposition that Freemasonry has come down to us through the Knights Templar , and a good many arguments may he adducedaud

authori-, ties quoted , for such a view of the subject . Tet it is after all , quite impossible , I think , to attempt to dogmatise one way or other upon the question itself , since it can be at best but matter of theory or premise , the proof being difficult to find , and the conclusion not easy of attainment . We haveindeedevery reason to

be-, , lieve that a very intimate connexion of some kind exists between the Templars and the Freemasons ; but what that connection , really and truly was remains as yet a matter of doubt and discussion , and has to be clearly shown and convincingly proved . So far as we have gone iu the inquirydespite much that has been

, said and written on the subject , both favourably and unfavourably , we are but groping , as it were , in the dark , and though much may be probable aud possible , little as yet is clear or certain . There seems

to be numberless and insurmountable difficulties in the way of a theory often put forward to-day , originally started , I believe , by au anonymous French writer in 1774 , in his " Historic de l'Origine de la Franc Maconnerie , " viz ., "That Freemasonry has descended to us from the Crusades and Masonic Knihtsespecially the Templarsand was' instituted

g , , by Godfrey de Bouillon , in Palestine , iu 1330 . '" _ Now , whatever may have been the exact meauing and ritual of the secret reception of the Templars , whatever even of a Masonic character may have purposely been thrown around it , it seems nevertheless difficult alike to prove ancl to believethatat the suppression

, , of that cruelly maligned order , their secrets and mysteries passed simply into the bauds of the operative lodges , and thence were handed down to our speculative brotherhood . For independently of the vast hiatus historically existing between the suppression of the Templars and the first traces we find of

any Templar tradition , as in the so-called York Lectures , which is , in itself , very hard to bridge over so as to satisfy any historical inquiry , we have a further and serious difficulty to contend with .

The earliest Masonic evidences in this countrywhich may safely be fixed about the middle of tlie ¦ seventeenth century , that is as regards Masonic teaching and usages , in the way of ritual or observancecontain no trace of any acknowledgment of a Templar descent , ancl in all probability that statement of

our commonly received Masonic history is correct , which makes the Knights Templar portions of our Order until the year 1199 , just as the Knights of Malta are said to have been patrons of the Order in 1500 ; and we have no difficulty in finding the rationale of such a union . Just as the operative Masons

admitted both monks and the clergy into their lodges : as speculative Masons and as directors , so they would naturally accept as affiliated members and patrons tbe then potent knightly orders . While the knightly -orders , perceiving the great value of the secret organisation and system of initiation and probation

of the Freemasons , would adopt it and use it , to strengthen and cement their own peculiar constitution ; so that whatever analogy may yet be traced ¦ between Templar and Masonic practices , whatever

may seem to he a common symbolism , is probably but the necessary result of this old alliance and connection ; while it is most certain that the allusions to the Templar theory were formed at a time when most of our Masonic literature had passed iuto the hands of many able and enthusiastic supporters of this

knightly theory . As opposed to this view , I believe that Freemasonry as we have it to-day , however overlaid by the purely speculative element , and affected by the lapse of time , is the same still in all its great landmarks as that which existed in this country in the operative lodges long before either the

Knights of St . John or the Knights Templar were formed into religious and militant orders . But though this be my own individual opinion on tlie subject , and I only give it for what it is worth as such , as a Masouic student , it is but fair to add that I by no means wish to question the right or ability of any

other brother to hold a diametrically opposite view , aud to bring forward many writers and authorities in support of his own deliberate conclusion . Freemasonry is wide enough , and tolerant enough , let us hope , for those who agree and those who differ . I therefore venture to offer this further answer to the query of "A Blue Mason , " as oue learns more and more , iu everything human , to value the wise axiom—¦ " audi alteram partem . "—EBOR .

ENGLAND AND EREEMASONRY . Foreign brethren very frequently make use of an ex pressiou equivalent to England being the birthplace ° f Freemasonry . What is the cause of this ?—A T RAVELLING BROTHER . —[ The cause of such an error is a want of the knowledge of the true

principles and history of the Order . Most , if indeed not all , of the Grand Lodges iu Europe were derived from England , after the revival of Freemasonry here in 1717 . Hence it is asserted that England is the birthplace of Freemasonry , and , proud as we should be-if it really was so , stern truth

demands that we should neither encourage nor claim the honour . Freemasonry is to be traced to Egypt as its cradle . The Jews during their captivity there , in that land of bondage , appear to have been initiated , ancl the principles of the Order to have culminated with them at the building of Solomon's Temple . This rational view entirely explodes the absurdity of

the guild theory , because we nowhere trace that Solomon or Hiram of Tyre were members of a building guild . That guilds and companies of the middle ages had Freemasons as members no one will deny , but to say that a guild of Freemasons were the depository of Craft secrets is as absurd as it is false . Freemasonry was known in the East before guilds were established

iu the West . It is stated to have been revived in Europe by the return of the Crusaders , having been established in the West and died out centuries before Christ . Its second revival was at the decline of the Eosicrucians , aud then , curiously enough , we find those of that order existing becoming Freemasons ,

and the Eosicrucians dying out in turn . Immediately upon this comes the second revival of 1717 , and in subsequent years many European nations established Provincial Grand Lodges under England , and when able to run alone cast off the mother Grand Lodge , and became INational Grand Lodges in their own right . Having derived their organisation from us at

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