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Masonic History is linked with many
ancient civilisations, religions and creeds. Upto a
comparatively recent period, the History and Antiquity
of Freemasonry were involved in cloud of darkness and
uncertainty. At the outset it may be remarked that the
actual History of Freemasonry can only, in strictness,
be deemed to commence from the period when the chaos
of mythical traditions is succeeded by the era of Lodge
records. I would like to quote from certain ancient
records with the purpose of establishing the antiquity
of masonry. One must understand and accept that, the
origin being so ancient, precludes the possibility of
establishing a definite and indisputable answer. Nevertheless,
it is a subject well worth consideration. I would like
to view Masonry, its Rituals, Symbolism and ideals and
beliefs from different angles and aspects to try and
establish age, vaguely and consequently the antiquity
of our order.
One Craft Ritual mentions that our
Grand lodes consist of "ANCIENT FREE & ACCEPTED
MASONS". The term "ANCIENT" refers to
the antiquity of the order, having existed from time
immemorial. The word "free" as meaning not
in captivity refers to one of the Rules of Freemasonry,
that no one can be initiated who is at the time restricted
of his freedom. "Accepted" originated in the
17th century to distinguished operative from speculative
Masons. In those days it became custom to accept of
outstanding qualifications who were not trademen.
Further, how ancient one may ask ?
The briefest reply to that, perhaps, would be that "it
is more ancient than the Golden Fleece or the Roman
Eagle ; more honourable than the Garter, or ANY OTHER
ORDER IN EXISTANCE." Besides its "Badge is
made of lamb - skin, and as the lamb has been from TIME
IMMEMORIAL the acknowledged emblem of Innocence and
Purity ...." we now have been definitely told that
ancient it undoubtedly is let us delve into (briefly)
the extent and vastness of the antiquity.
At the time the foundation of our Masonic
Rituals were being laid freemasonry was a purely Christian
organisation. Therefore, a good deal of our work was
originally based on the Old Testament. The first or
Entered Apprentice Degree relates to the Book of Ruth.
Ruth was the great grandmother of Kind David. The other
historical and hierarchiel connection is that by the
then prevailing custom, ultimately Boaz took Ruth for
his wife. Boaz was thus the Great grand father of David
and David, as we know, was the father of the glorious
and mighty SOLOMON.
A question in the catechise runs :
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Q : Where was the first Lodge ?
A : I the porch of Solomon's Temple.
It seems fairly certain, however, that
Solomon's pillars achieved a really important part in
the Craft Ritulas at some time between about 1500 and
1630. The encyclopedia Britannica states that King Solomon's
Temple was built 959 - 952 B .C. One is often told that
the Building took seven years and seven months. But
for how long did it last ? the same source mentions
it was destroyed by fire by king Nibuchauezza in 588
B. C. Hence, the Temple stood for 464 years. This establishes
the age (of this aspect) of the foundation and base
of our Ritual - king Solomon's mighty Temple and the
two great pillas at the proch - way or entrance.
The THREE great emblematic lights of
freemasonry are the Volume of the Sacred Laws, the Square
and the Compasses. We shall try and assess their age
and antiquity through their origin.
Firstly the Volumes of the Sacred Laws.
In English speaking Countries we know that the V. of
S. L. is the old Testament. How,ever, in other countries
it is that Book which their peoples hold sacred. To
the Hindu - The Bhagvad Gita. To the Muslim - The Koran
to the Budhist - The Dhammapada. For the Jew - the Tamil
and for the Parsi - The Zend Avastha to those whom it
relates to and for the Scholars we know that these are
the ancient and prized Books - upon which our All depends
- and indicating specifically that the Sheet anchor
of all our beliefs is our faith in that Supreme being
- God - "to whom we must all submit and whom we
ought most humbly to adore." The light of the V.
of S. L. reveals our relations and duty to the Almighty.
The Square is nearly always linked
with the Compasses. No symbolism can be more simple,
more profound, more universal and it becomes more wonderful
the longer one ponders it. As has been said the square
and compasses are nearly always together and that is
true as far back as we can go. In the sixth of the philosophy
of Mencuis, in China around 280 B. C. we find these
word. "A Master Mason, in teaching apprentices,
make use of the compasses and the square." We who
are engaged it in the pursuit of wisdom must also make
use of the compass and the square. "Further, in
the oldest Classic of China. The Book of History, dating
back 2000 years before our era. We find the compasses
employed (but without the square) "We Officers
of the Government apply the compasses". It is the
compass that helps us to keep our balance. Even in that
far off time these symbols had the same meaning they
have for us today and they seem to have been in terpreted
in the same way.
To trace the evolution of the Masonic
Apron is a very interesting study. It is known that
the Egyptians and other accent peoples wore an apronnot
dissimilar to our own - when celebrating their mysteries
and it was regarded as an emblem of truth and passive
duty. Our apron is more ancient than the Golden fleece
or Roman Eagle, more honourable than the Garter Research
indicates that the great myth of "Jason's and the
Argonauts" is based on fact. Jason's story is more
than 3000 years old when Jason finally returned home
with the Golden Fleece." Subsequently and of course
much, much later the order of the Golden Fleece was
founded (in 1430) by Philip the Good, Duke of Burgandy
and was still in exestence in to the 20th Century. The
eagle in symbolism dates back to the stone age. Eagles
symbolise power, courage, freedom and immorality. It
has long and often been used as national, military and
heraldic symbols. It was used as a symbol in religion
from the time of Belshazzar, King of Babylon, and by
Charlemagne, the caesors and other Roman and holy Byzantine
Emporos. The order of the Garter is the oldest and most
illustrious of European orders. It s origin is attributed
to King Edward III and the incident reportedly took
place in 1347. The most Noble Order of the Garter was
formerly constituted in 1348. Thus the Masonic apron
is proudly (and justifiably) compared with the noblest
decorations an Ancient Rome and of Modern Europe.
ANCIENT CHARGES - the genesis and development
of the Old Charges - it is perhaps mo mere coincidence
that the date of the earliest of these documents was
very near to though almost certainly later than that
of the 'Writer of for Returns' of Richard II (November,
1388). This was addressed to the Masters and Wardens
of all guilds and brotherhoods.
The first of our THREE GRAND PRINCIPLES
IS BROTHERLY LOVE. No other words in the vocabulary
of Masonry have such significance and indentify the
fraternity. Very early in the Old Testament we sense
that LOVE is the fundamental characteristic of the relationship
between persons. Perhaps the most memorable stories
of brotherly love is that of David and Jonathan. The
story occurs a generation too seen to be a point of
the Masonic legend, but it illustrates the ideal beautifully.
From Greek mythology comes another and almost equally
famous and memorable story of friendship - that of Damon
and Phintias. In equal and opposite contract is the
story of (Biblical of Abel and Cane. In ancient Rome
man's behaviours was determined and controlled by the
daily, intimate and continuous contact with his family
and neighbours. So from antiquity to posterity was brotherly
love, and through it freemasons, prevail and flourish.
What is the origin of the term Free
mason ? In Bishop Cover dales translation of Wermullan's
"A Spiritual and most Precious Perle" which
was published in 1550, we find "As the Free MASON
loweth then handstone even so, God, the Heavenly Freemason,
Buildth the Christian Church." In a Statue, passed
in 1350 in the reign of Edward I the wages of the Master
Free Mason was 4 D per day could in his concise "History"
says that "in the year of 1375 was formed a wonderful
society occasioned by a combination of MASONS!"
It is also said that the Masons eagered on certain signs
and tokens by which they might know one another render
mutual assistance against impress-ment and further agreed
not to work unless FREE and on their terms. Hence, they
called themselves free MASONS. Elsewhere in French writings
of about 1350 are the earliest known instances of the
usage of similar expressions.
CONSTITUTED LODGES - The Period of
effective duration of the Grand Lodge of England was
from 1761 to 1813. The first lodge to adopt a distinctive,
apart from the sign of where it met - was the University
Lodge in 1730. At the same period there were no fewer
than 12 lodges in the West Indies, as well as four in
Germany and an equal number in Holland. Basis for modern
masonry, or at least as we know it came to force with
the formation of the United Grand Lodge of England from
around 1814 and onwards. Meanwhile the oldest lodges
in Scotland possess registers of members and meetings
etc. ranging back nearly 300 years. Moving on the American
contient we find from this quotation of lodge in Paris,,
writing to the albian lodge in Quebec. You have one
of the most temples of freemasonry, since its erection
dates from 1721. The quotation speaks for the age and
antiquity of the established order. Even in remote Alaska
freemasonry found a footing by 1868. In Asia, moving
est - we find that a deputation was granted to George
Ponfret (in 1728) to open a new lodge in Bengal. Other
lodges sprang up in Calcutta in 1761 and in Bombay in
1758. Swaying towards China we find presence of lodges
in Canton, one erected in 1767 and another in 1788.
Whilst still further east in Japan at Tohohama lodges
are known to have been formed in 1866 and 1869.
Now let us take from here and there,
examine stray thoughts to further establish the antiquity
of masonry. Let us call this reflections on Potpourri.
In a lodge, who often does one hear
the words "Right Glad am I". This is an old,
anglo - Saxon expression, expressive of great pleasure
and should be accordingly high lighted. And we know
for how long now the Anglo - Saxon era is past. But
the expressions and its meaning remains with us until
today.
TOAST TO ABSENT BRETHREN ! The earliest
known reference to a Toast to absent Brethren is found
in the minutes of a lodge meeting in 1759 when a lecture
was given and the health of Absent members was drunk.
TYLERS IN MASONRY - In Anderson's Book
of Constitutions, 1723 containeda regulation providing
a brother being appointed to look after the door of
the Grand Lodge, but the name of the Office was not
stated. Ultimately in 1738 - the Book of Constitution
made it mandatory that a Brother and Master Mason should
be appointed the Tyler to look after the door of the
lodge.
Ultimately in spite of the antiquity
of Masonry and the Lament of the Poet that "Time
erodes Memory" What has been observed ? Memory
may crumble under the weight of trivials. However, it
is remarkable how some CHOSEN islands of experience
defy the relentlestide of forgetful - ness and, so it
is with our freemasonry. It is ancients it has stood
the test of time, hence is antiquity has been established.
The world recently has witnessed what.
Alwin Toffler in his "Future Shock" calls
"the roaring current of change, a current so shrouds
our roots." The world has been ripped and sent
by unprecedented chaos, strife, summary trails etc.
that has survived and is striving and will have to labour
straincously for the fulfillment of the promised "progress
towards peace" unthinkable earlier. So from todays'
disenchantment let us search with confidence for a bright
future - and -
"lets pull together with all our
weight,
If we're going to make freemasonry great,
Cause if we don't, it'll be too late
"Let's advance freemasonry
And give it all we've got."
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