sonry. I have never seen any historical evidence elsewhere to corroborate the one or the other case and I hold Brother Finch to be a very bad authority. Cromwell's adoption of Masonry is also said to have arisen from the circumstance, that the Royalists, who followed Charles the first, were instituted as a masonic association. No history of England that ever came under my reading has mentioned any thing of the kind, and I am very much inclined to doubt the fact. That there were various secret meetings. with pass words and signs, during a civil war of that kind, is a matter of course; but such is not a time to institute such frivolities as Freemasonry. From Preston's illustrations of Masonry, we learn a convincing fact, that, before the eighteenth century, the association was wholly confined to the principles of the trade, and none were admitted members but those who practised the trade, either operatives or architects, or who were men of fortune and influence and attached to architecture. Sir Christopher Wren was the last Grand Master of the association of Masons under its old principles. We have this fact recorded: "During the following reign (the reign of Anne,) Masonry made no considerable progress. Sir Christopher's age and infirmities drawing off his attention from the duties of his office, the lodges decreased, and the annual festivals were entirely neglected. The old lodge of St. Paul, and a few others, continued to meet regularly, but consisted of few members. To increase their numbers, a proposition was made and afterwards agreed to THAT THE PRIVILEGES OF MASONRY SHOULD NO LONGER BE RESTRICTED TO OPERATIVE MASONS, BUT EXTEND TO MEN OF VARIOUS PROFESSIONS, PROVIDED THEY WERE REGULARLY APPROVED AND INITIATED INTO THE ORDER In consequence of this resolution, many new regulations took place, and the Society once more rose into notice and esteem." What need have we to look further than this for the origin of Freemasonry as it now exists? From the same book, we learn, that so late as the year 1717, there were but four lodges in London and those thinly attended; and that there was nothing of the kind in any other of the southern parts of England. After this time, the association began to assume a new character and to extend itself. In 1723 the printing press was first called in to its aid, and, from that time, it has gone on increasing. In its present character, it may be said to have flourished in England for a century; and now, I think it high time to give it its death blow, as a piece of mischeivous and disgusting frivolity. I will now introduce, from Preston's illustrations, the suposed ancient manuscript on Masonry, which Mr. Locke, is said to have procured from the Bodleian Library; and, for the best illustration, I will give the whole of Preston's third book. It contains, first, a letter from Mr. Locke; second, the ancient document with Mr. Locke's Notes; third, a glossary of the document; and fourth, the notes of the author on those of Mr. Locke. The few words which I shall have to say on it will follow. BOOK III. THE PRINCIPLES OF MASONRY EXPLAINED. SECT. I. A Letter from the learned Mr. John Locke to the Right Hon. Thomas Earl of Pembroke, with an old Manuscript on the Subject of Free Masonry. MY LORD, 6th May, 1696. I HAVE at length, by the help of Mr. Collins, procured a copy of that MS. in the Bodleian library, which you were so curious to see; and, in obedience to your Lordship's commands, I herewith send it to you. Most of the notes annexed to it are what I made yesterday for the reading of my Lady Masham, who is become so fond of Masonry, as to say, that she now more than ever wishes herself a man, that she might be capable of admission into the Fraternity. The MS. of which this is a copy, appears to be about 160 years old; yet (as your Lordship will observe by the title) it is itself a copy of one yet more ancient by about 100 years; for the original is said to be the hand-writing of K. Henry VI. Where that prince had it, is at present an uncertainty: but it seems to me to be an examination (taken perhaps before the king) of some one of the brotherhood of Masons; among whom he entered himself, as it is said, when he came out of his minority, and thenceforth put a stop to a persecution that had been raised against them: but I must not detain your Lordship longer by my preface from the thing itself. I know not what effect the sight of this old paper may have upon your Lordship; but for my own part I cannot deny, that it has so much raised my curiosity, as to induce me to enter myself into the Fraternity, which I am determined to do (if I may be admitted) the next time I go to London, and that will be shortly. I am, MY LORD, Your Lordship's most obedient, JOHN LOCKE. Certayne Questyons, with Answeres to the same, concerning the Mystery of MAÇON RYE; writtene by the hande of kynge HENRYE, the sixthe of the name, and faithfullye copyed by me' JOHAN LEYLANDE, Antiquarius, by the commaunde of his Highnesse. They be as followethe. Q. What mote ytt be3? A. Ytt beeth the skylle of nature, the understondynge of the myghte that ys hereynne, and its sondrye werkynges: sonderlyche, the skylle of reckenyngs, of waightes and metynges, and the true manere of façonnynge al thyngs for mannes use; headlye, dwellinges, and buyldynges of alle kindes, and all other thynges that make gudde to manne. Q. Where dyd ytt begynne? A. Ytt dydd begynne with the fyrste menne yn the este, whych were before the ffyrste menne of the weste; and comyinge westlye, ytt hathe broughte herwyth alle comfortes to the wylde and comfortlesse. Q. Who dyd brynge ytt westlye? A. The Venetians, whoo beynge grate merchaundes, comed 'JOHN LEYLANDE was appointed by Henry VIII. at the dissolution of monasteries, to search for, and save such books and records as were valuable among them. He was a man of great labour and industry. His HIGHNESSE, meaning the said King Henry VIII. Our kings had not then the title of Majesty. What mote ytt be?] That is, what may the mystery of Masonry be? The answer imports, That it consists in natural, mathematical, and mechanical knowledge. Some part of which (as appears by what follows) the Masons pretend to have taught the rest of mankind, and some part they still conceal. * Fyrste menne yn the este, &c.] It should seem by this, that Masons believe there were men in the east before Adam, who is called the 'ffyrs:e manne of the weste;' and that arts and sciences began in the east. Some authors of great note for learning have been of the same opinion; and it is certain that Europe and Africa, (which, in respect to Asia, may be called western countries,) were wild and savage, long after arts and politeness of manners were in great perfection in China and the Indies. 'The Venetians, &c.] In the times of monkish ignorance it is no ffyrste ffromme the este ynn Venetia, for the commodyte of marchaundysynge beithe este and weste bey the redde and myddlonde sees. Q. Howe comede ytt yn Engelonde ? A. Peter Gower' a Grecian, journeydde ffor kunnynge yn Egypte, and in Syria, and yn everyche londe, whereas the Venetians hadde plauuted maçonrye, and wynnynge entraunce yn al lodges of maçonnes, he lerned muche, and retournedde, and woned yn Grecia Magna, wacksynge and becommynge a myghtye wyseacre, and gratelyche renowned, and her he framed a grate lodge at Groton 10, and naked manye maçonnes, some whereoffe dyde journeye yn Fraunce and maked manye maçonnes; wherefromme, yn processe of tyme, the arte passed in Engelonde. Q. Dothe maçonnes descouer here artes unto odhers? A. Peter Gower, whenne he journeyede to lerne, was ffyrste " wonder that the Phenicians should be mistaken for the Venetians. Or, perhaps, if the people were not taken one for the other, similitude of sound might deceive the clerk who first took down the examination. The Phenicians were the greatest voyagers among the ancients, and were in Europe thought to be the inventors of letters, which perhaps they brought from the east with other arts. 7 Peter Gower.] This must be another mistake of the writer. I was puzzled at first to guess who Peter Gower should be, the name being perfectly English; or how a Greek should come by such a name: But as soon as I thought of Pythagoras, I could scarce forbear smiling, to find that philosopher had undergone a metempsychosis he never dreamt of. We need only consider the French pronunciation of his name, Pythagore, that is, Petagore, to conceive how easily such a mistake may be made by an unlearned clerk. That Pythagoras travelled for knowledge into Egypt, &c. is known to all the learned; and that he was initiated into several different orders of Priests, who in those days kept all their learning secret from the vulgar, is as well known. Pythagoras also made every geometricab theorem a secret, and admitted only such to the knowledge of them as had first undergone a five years' silence. He is supposed to be the inventor of the 47th proposition of the first book of Euclid, for which, in the joy of his heart, it is said he sacrificed a hecatomb. He also knew the true system of the world, lately revived by Copernicus; and was certainly a most wonderful man. See his life by DION. HAL. • GRECIA MAGNA, a part of Italy formerly so called, in which the Greeks had settled a large colony. 9 Wyseacre.] This word at present signifies simpleton, but formerly had a quite contrary meaning. Wiseacre in the old Saxon is philosopher, wiseman, or wizard; and having been frequently used ironically, at length came to have a direct meaning in the ironical sense. Thus Duns Scotus, a man famed for the subtilty and acuteness of his understanding, has, by the same method of irony, given a general name to modern dunces. 10 Groton.] Groton is the name of a place in England. The place here meant is Crotona, a city of Grecia Magna, which in the time of Pythagoras was very populous. Ffyrste made.] The word MADE I suppose has a particular meaning among the Masons; perhaps it signifies, initiated. 12 made, and annone techedde; evenne soe shulde all odhers beyn recht. Nathe-less 13 maçonnes hauethe alweys, yn everyche tyme, from tyme to tyme, communycatedde to mannkynde soche of her secrettes as generallyche myghte be usefulle; they haueth keped back soche allein as shulde be harmfulle yff they comed yn euylle haundes, oder soche as ne myghte be holpynge wythouten the techynges to be joynedde herwythe in the lodge, oder soche as do bynde the freres more stronglyche togeder, bey the proffytte and commodytye comynge to the confrerie herfromme. Q. Whatte artes haueth the maçonnes techedde mankynde?, A. The artes" agricultura, architectura, astronomia, geometria, numares, musica, poesie, kymistrye, governmente, and relygyonne. Q. Howe comme the maçonnes more teachers than odher menne? A. The hemselfe haueth allein in " arte of ffyndynge neue artes, whyche, arte the ffyrste maçonnes receaued from Godde; by the whyche they fyndethe what artes hem plesethe, and the treu way of techynge the same. What odher menne doethe ffynde out, ys onelyche bey chaunce, and herfore but lytel 1 tro. Q. What dothe the maçonnes concele and hyde? A. Thay concelethe the arte of ffyndynge neue artes, and thatt ys for here owne proffytte, and 15 preise: they concelethe the arte of kepynge secrettes, that soe the worlde mayeth nothinge con 16 12 Maçonnes haueth communycatedde, &c.] This paragraph hath something remarkable in it. It contains a justification of the secresy so much boasted of by Masons, and so much blamed by others; asserting that they have in all ages discovered such things as might be useful, and that they conceal such only as would be hurtful either to the world or themselves. What these secrets are, we see afterwards. The artes agricultura, &c.] It seems a bold pretence this of the Masons, that they have taught mankind all these arts. They have there own authority for it; and I know not how we shall disprove them. But what appears most odd is, that they reckon religion among the arts. "Arte of ffyndynge neue artes.] The art of inventing arts, must certainly be a most useful art. My Lord Bacon's Novum Organum is an attempt towards somewhat of the same kind. But I much doubt, that if ever the masons had it, they have now lost it; since so few new arts have been lately invented, and so many are wanted. The idea I have of such an art is, thut it must be something proper to be employed in all the sciences generally, as algebra is in numbers, by the help of which, new rules of arithmetic are, and may be found. 15 Preise.] It seems the Masons have great regard to the reputation as well as the profit of their order; since they make it one reason for not divulging an art in common, that it may do honour to the possessors of it. I think in this particular they show to much regard for their own Society, and too little for the rest of mankind. Arte of kepynge secrettes.] What kind of an art this is, I can by no means imagine. But certainly such an art the Masons must have for |