FREEMASONRY IN THE EARLY 1600 AND 1700

Bro. W.J. Hughan

There is such an abundance of evidence in proof of the continuity of Freemasonry during the period selected, that it is only necessary to study the special records of the old Lodges, happily still preserved, the Rolls of the “Old Charges”, and especially the extant minutes of the Masons’ Company of London, to be assured that the Freemasons of the present day are the lineal descendants of the operative builders, who in the 17th century, and earlier, admitted speculative or non-professional members.

THE MARK DEGREE

Mark degree

Those of my readers who have already studied the first three Handbooks of this series will realise that the true S..s of a M.M. are not restored to them. The real S.. which was lost was comprehension of the Nature of God, and our Third Degree quite clearly indicates that, despite popular beliefs, we shall not be able to comprehend God as soon as we are dead

HISTORICAL SURVEY – Higher Degrees

Square & Compass Door Knocker

The early history of the so-called “Higher Degrees” is even more obscure than that of the Craft, and in consequence a tendency has grown up to regard them as “Manufactured” during the 18th century.

In my opinion this is too hasty a conclusion, for some of these degrees at any rate bear every evidence of antiquity, and contain that wisdom which has been handed down from generation to generation.

Walter Besant was a Freemason, British Writer and Historian

Walter Besant was a Freemason British writer and historian

Walter Besant was born on August 14th, 1836 in Potsmouth, Hampshire, England. He attended St. Paul’s in Southsea and Stockwell Grammar in London. He went on to King’s College London. In 1855 he was admitted to Christ’s College, Cambridge. He graduated in 1859 from Christ’s Church as a wrangler, an individual who attains first class honors in mathematics in their third year.

Millennial Masons in England

NewUGLELogo 78b846bf140edabc442defedfc7577ae5bd897bc

Well, our brethren across the Atlantic are confronting this same situation in England, and the similarities and differences between our two societies are interesting to compare.

The Freemasons’ Sword of State

Sword

THE memorial presented by the St. Paul’s Head Lodge gives occasion for a description of the Sword which Bro. George Moody was empowered to bear before…