|
The Antiquity of the Craft
by WB Dale K. Porray
Written by Dale K. Porray, Past Master, Vegas Lodge #32 (1994), and it is
based on works prepared by a noted British Freemason over 200 years ago, it
shows striking parallels between Masonic "work" then and now.
One part is the installation of a Master of a Lodge - as done then and as done
now - which, with a few minor exceptions, is word-for-word identical to the way
we (at least here in Nevada) to it today! "The Antiquity of the Craft ..." - How many times have we all heard
that phrase?
But, has it been shown to you, in living black and white? How
do you know how old some of our ritual (verily, almost all of our ritual)
really is?
We have all been told that our Craft dates back to the Operative and
Speculative Masons of England in the early 1700's, and that our tenants, ideas
and philosophies go back to the days of the stonemasons employed at the building
of King Solomon's Temple, but have you seen any rituals published
in those eras?
Those Masons living in Southern Nevada are lucky to have the Ralph R. Reed
Memorial Library at Vegas Lodge #32, F.&A.M., at 632 East Charleston Blvd,
Las Vegas NV, available to them. The late Ralph R. Reed, Past Master and Tyler
Emeritus of Vegas Lodge #32 , spent much of his own time and money seeking out
rare Masonic documents and publications, and procured as many as possible for
this library.
This library is in the final stages of being arranged and cataloged by
Worshipful Brother David O'Rourke, Librarian of Vegas Lodge #32, who also serves
in this same capacity for Nevada Lodge of Research #2.
One of the magnificent books available in this fine library is a copy of
"Illustrations of Masonry", written by William Preston, "Past
Master of the Lodge of Antiquity", the Ninth Edition, printed for G. and T.
Wilkie, in London, England, in 1796.
There are many examples of "The Antiquity of the Craft" found in a
comparison of this book versus our modern-day ritual. Let's look at how Masonic
Ritual in London 1796 compares to Masonic Ritual in Nevada in 1996 - two hundred
years and half a world away!
Some editorial liberties taken by the author of this document include that of
adding of additional spaces and/or carriage returns in what may seem unnatural
locations, in order that parallel sections of the two documents will line up, to
make the comparison of parallel sections of text easier.
Also, the Olde English custom of printing an "s" located in the
center portion of a word as a character resembling our modern "f" has
been omitted, to make the comparison easier to read.
First, let's look at the declarations that the Candidate makes to the members
of the Lodge (through the Lodge Secretary) in the Preparation Room, in the
presence of the Stewards:
|
London, 1796
|
Nevada, 1999
|
| Do you seriously declare, upon your honour, |
Do you seriously declare, upon your honor, |
| before these gentlemen, |
|
| that, unbiased by friends against your own inclination, |
that unbiased by the improper solicitation of friend, |
| and uninfluenced by mercenary motives, you freely and
voluntarily offer yourself a candidate for the mysteries of Masonry?
(Candidate answers) |
and uninfluenced by mercenary motives, you freely and
voluntarily offer yourself a candidate for the mysteries of Freemasonry?
(Candidate answers) |
| Do you seriously declare, upon your honour, |
Do you seriously declare, upon your honor, |
| before these gentlemen, |
|
| that you are solely prompted |
that you are prompted |
| to solicit the privileges of Masonry, by a favourable
opinion conceived of the institution, a desire for knowledge, and a
sincere wish of being serviceable to your fellow-creatures? (Candidate
answers) |
to solicit the privileges of Freemasonry by a favorable
opinion conceived of the institution, a desire for knowledge, and a
sincere wish of being serviceable to your fellow-creatures? (Candidate
answers) |
| Do you seriously declare, upon your honour, |
Do you seriously declare, upon your honor, |
| before these gentlemen, |
|
| hat you will cheerfully conform to all the ancient
established usages and customs of the fraternity? (Candidate answers) |
that you will cheerfully conform to all the ancient usages
and established customs of the Fraternity? (Candidate answers) |
Note - "before these gentlemen" refers to the
Stewards of the Lodge, who were present then, as now, in the preparation room
during this interrogatory.
Now that we have seen that first example of the "Antiquity
of the Craft", and have compared the ritual of 1796 with our own
recollections of our Secretary's solicitation of our answers in the preparation
room, let's look at the "Prayer over the Candidate", as found in the
Entered Apprentice Degree:
|
London, 1796
|
Nevada, 1996
|
| Vouchsafe thine aid, Almighty Father of the Universe, to
this our present convention, and grant that this Candidate
for Masonry may dedicate and devote his life to Thy service, and become
a true and faithful brother among us! Endue him with a competence of thy
divine wisdom, that, by the secrets of this Art, he may be better
enabled to display the beauties of godliness, to the honour of thy holy
Name! Amen. |
Vouchsafe Thine aid, Almighty Father of the Universe, to
this our present convention; and grant that this candidate for Masonry
may dedicate and devote his life to Thy service, and become a true and
faithful Brother among us. Endue him with a competency of thy divine
wisdom, that by the influence of the pure principles of our
Fraternity he may be better enabled to display the beauties
of holiness, to the honor of Thy Holy Name. Amen. |
Next, a comparison of the ritual used at the installation of a Worshipful
Master of a Lodge, then and now:
|
London, 1796
|
Nevada, 1996
|
| The (installing officer) asks his Deputy "whether he
has examined the Master nominated in the Warrant, and finds him well
skilled in the noble science and royal Art". |
Installing Officer: "Brother Marshall, are you
satisfied that the Brother elected as Master of this Lodge is eligible,
and well skilled in the noble science and royal art? |
| The Deputy answering in the affirmative, by the
(installing officer's) order, takes the candidate from among his
fellows, and presents him at the pedestal, saying, |
Installing Marshall: "I am satisfied!"
IO: BM, present the Master-Elect West of the alter. |
| "(Installing Officer), I present my worthy brother
A.B., to be installed Master of this Lodge. I find him to be of
good morals, and of good skill, true and trusty, and as he is a lover of
the whole fraternity, wheresoever dispersed over the fact of the earth, |
Installing Marshall: I present Worthy Brother A.B. to be
installed Master of ___ Lodge number ___. I find him to be
qualified and of good morals, of great skill, true and trusty, and as he
is a lover of the Fraternity, |
| I doubt not that he will discharge his duty with fidelity. |
I doubt not that he will discharge his duties with
fidelity and honor. |
| The (Installing Officer) orders a summary of
The Ancient Charges to be read by the Secretary to the Master elect. |
Installing Officer: Brother A.B., do you accept the office
to which your Brethren have elected you? |
| Master-Elect: I do. |
| Installing Officer: Brother A.B., I congratulate you upon
your election as Worshipful Master of this Lodge. It will afford me
great pleasure to invest you with the authority and insignia of your
office. Previous to your investiture, however, it is necessary that you
signify your assent to those charges and regulations which point out the
duty of the Master of the Lodge. You may answer after I have concluded
the interrogatories. |
| I. You agree to be a good man and true, and strictly to
obey the moral law. |
1. You agree to be a good man and true, and strictly obey
the moral law? |
| II. You agree to be a peaceable subject, and cheerfully
conform to the laws of the country in which you reside. |
2. You agree to be a peaceable citizen and cheerfully to
conform to the laws of the Country in which you reside? |
| III. You promise, not to be concerned in plots or
conspiracies against government, but patiently to submit to the
decisions of the supreme legislature. |
3. You promise not to be concerned in plots and
conspiracies against the Government, but patiently submit to the law and
constituted authorities? |
| IV. You agree to pay a proper respect to the civil
magistrate, to work diligently, live creditably, and act honourably by
all men. |
4. You agree to pay a proper respect to the civil
magistrates, to work diligently, live creditably, and act honorably
toward all men? |
| V. You agree to hold in veneration the original rulers and
patrons of the Order of Masonry, and their regular successors, supreme
and subordinate, according to their stations, and to submit to the
awards and resolutions of your brethren in general chapter convened, in
every case consistent with the constitutions of the Order. |
5. You agree to hold in veneration the original rules and
patrons of Freemasonry, and their regular successors, supreme
and subordinate, according to their stations, and submit to the awards
and resolutions of your brethren, in Lodge convened, in every case
consistent with the Constitutions of the Fraternity? |
| VI. You agree to avoid private piques and quarrels, and to
guard against intemperance and excess. |
6. You agree to avoid private piques and quarrels, and to
guard against intemperance and excess? |
| VII. You agree to be cautious in carriage and behaviour,
courteous to your brethren, and faithful to your lodge. |
7. You agree to be cautious in your behavior, courteous to
your brethren, and faithful to your Lodge? |
| VIII. You promise to respect genuine brethren, and to
discountenance imposters, and all dissenters from the original plan of
Masonry. |
8. You promise to respect genuine Brethren, and
discountenance imposters and all dissenters from the original plan of
Freemasonry? |
| IX. You agree to promote the general good of society, to
cultivate the social virtues, and to propagate the knowledge of the Art. |
9. You agree to promote the general good
of society, to cultivate the social virtues, and to propagate the
knowledge of the Art? |
On the Master elect signifying his assent to these Charges, the
Secretary proceeds to read the following regulations: |
|
(next two questions are reversed from original order)
| I. You admit that is it not in the power of
any man, or body of men, to make innovation in the body of masonry. |
10. You promise to pay homage to the Grand Master, for the
time being, and to the Grand Officers when duly installed, and strictly
to conform to every edict of the grand Lodge that is not subversive to
the principles and groundwork of Masonry? |
| II. You promise to pay homage to the Grand Master for the
time being, and to his officers when duly installed, and strictly to
conform to every edict of the Grand Lodge, or General Assembly of
Masons, that is not subversive of the principles and groundwork of
Masonry. |
11. You admit that it is not in the power of
any man, or body of men, to make innovations in the body of Masonry? |
| III. You promise a regular attendance on the committees
and communications of the Grand Lodge, on receiving proper notice, and
pay attention to all the duties of masonry, on convenient occasions. |
12. You promise a regular attendance on the committees and
communications of the Grand Lodge, on receiving proper notice, and to
pay a proper attention to all the duties of Masonry, on convenient
occasions? |
| IV. You admit that no new lodge shall be formed without
permission of the Grand Master or his Deputy, and that no countenance be
given to any irregular lodge, or to any person clandestinely
initiated therein, being contrary to the ancient charges of the Order. |
13. You admit that no new Lodge shall be formed without
the permission of the Grand Lodge and that no countenance be given
to any irregular Lodge, or to any person clandestinely made
therein, being contrary to the ancient charges of Freemasonry? |
| V. You admit that no person can be regularly made a mason
in, or admitted member of, a regular lodge, without previous
notice, and due inquiry into his character. |
14. You admit that no person can be regularly made a Mason
in, or admitted a member of, any regular Lodge, without previous notice
and due inquiry into his character? |
| VI. You agree that no visitors shall be received into your
lodge without due examination, and producing proper vouchers of their
regular initiation. |
15. You agree that no visitor shall be received into your
Lodge without due examination, and producing proper vouchers of his
having been initiated in a regular Lodge? |
| These are the regulations of the Grand Lodge of Free and
Accepted Masons. |
These are the regulations of Free and Accepted
Masons. |
The (Installing Officer) then addresses the Master Elect in the following
manner:
| "Do you submit to those Charges, and promise to
support those Regulations, as Masters have done in all ages before
you?" |
Do you submit to these charges and promise to support
these regulations, as Masters have done in ages before you? |
| The New Master having signified his cordial submission, is
regularly installed, bound to his trust*, and invested with the badge of
office by the (Installing Officer), who salutes him: |
Master Elect: I do. |
| "Brother A.B., in consequence of your cheerful
conformity to the Charges and Regulations of the Order, I appoint you
Master of this Lodge, not doubting of your care, skill, and
capacity." |
Installing Officer: Brother A.B., in consequence of your
conformity to the charges and regulations of the Fraternity, you
are now to be installed Master of this Lodge, in full confidence of your
skill and capacity to govern the same. |
| * The phrase "bound to his trust" in the old (1796) version
refers to the obligation of the New Master, after which the Installing
Officer invests him with the badge of his office, following which he is
presented with the "warrant of constitution" or charter of his
Lodge, and then the other objects are presented. |
|
| The warrant of constitution is then delivered over to the
New Master, |
The new Master is then obligated at the Alter. |
| after which, the Holy Writings, the rule and line, the
square and compasses, the constitutions, the minute book, the mallet,
the trowel, the chisel, ..." |
The new Master is then conducted to the North-East corner
of the Lodge, where he is presented with the insignia of his office,
followed by the Holy Writings, the Square, the Compasses, the Rule, the
Line, the Book of Constitutions, the Charter, and the By-Laws. |
Note the minor changes in wording, the reversal of two of the
interrogatories, the minor changes in the order of presentation of the objects
to the new Master, and the inclusion of the mallet, the trowel, and the chisel
in the old (1796) version ... but a close inspection reveals that the words are
almost exactly the same, and certainly the philosophies and customs are
identical today to those of two hundred years ago!
My brother, the next time you hear the phrase "The Antiquity of the
Craft", will you get "a little bit tingly", the way I do
back to top
|
