Post by Tamrin on Oct 25, 2011 18:35:06 GMT 10
A LECTURE ON THE VARIOUS - RITUALS OF
FREEMASONRY FROM THE TENTH CENTURY
Delivered in the Witham Lodge, LincoIn, 1863, by
THE REV. G. OLIVER, D.D.
PAST D.P.G.M. FOR LINCOLNSHIRE
[/b]FREEMASONRY FROM THE TENTH CENTURY
Delivered in the Witham Lodge, LincoIn, 1863, by
THE REV. G. OLIVER, D.D.
PAST D.P.G.M. FOR LINCOLNSHIRE
[Excerpt - Article University of Bradford's Web of Hiram - Linked Above]
(Thanks to Bro. Ian King for bringing this lecture to my attention)[/center]
During the last century, several revisions of the Ritual took place, each being an improvement on its predecessor, and all based on the primitive Masonic Lecture which was drawn up in the tenth century, and attached to the York Constitutions. This Lecture, to which I shall first call your attention, was in doggerel rhyme; a kind of composition which was very popular amongst our Saxon ancestors in the time of Athelstane. About the latter end of the fourteenth century, it was carefully translated from the Saxon for the use of the York Grand Lodge; and the MS. of that date is now in the British Museum. This invaluable document contains copious rules and regulations for the observance of the Craft, and is so curious, that I shall give you a specimen of it, to show the unchangeable character of the Order. It thus describes the duty of.the Master:-
The first article of good Masonry
Shows that the Master must surely be
Both steadfast, trusty, and also true
His place he never then shall rue.
He must, neither for love nor dread,
Of neither party to take mede;
Whether he lord or fellow be,
Of him to take no kind of fee;
But as a judge to stand upright,
And then his conduct will be bright.
It speaks thus of an E. A. P.
The Master shall not for any vantage,
Make an apprentice under age.
And, as you may plainly hear,
He must have his limbs both whole and fair,
For to the Craft it were great shame,
To make a half man and a lame;
For a man of tainted blood
Would do the Craft but little good.
This was a primitive observance amongst the Craft, for in the Constitutions of Athelstane the E. A. P. was solemnly enjoined
His Master's counsel to keep close,
Lest he his confidence should lose,
The secrets of Brethren tell to none,
Nor out of the Lodge what there is done.
Whatever you hear the Master say,
Be sure thou never do betray,
Lest it cause in thee much blame,
And bring the Craft to public shame.
Here, also, we find the origin of a clause in our present Master Mason's Obligation.:
It charges thee, upon thy life,
Not to corrupt thy Master's wife
Nor thy Fellow's concubine,
As thou wouldst not have him do by thine
Full mickle care might thus begin.
From such a foul and deadly sin.
The Obligation was thus constructed
The 14th Point is full good law,
To him that would be under awe;
A solemn oath he needs must swear,
To his Master and Fellows (hat be there,
To be both steadfast and true also,
To all these laws wherever he go.,
And to his liege Lord the King
To be true above all other things.
Thus did our ancient Brethren lecture eight hundred years ago, establishing a series of Landmarks which are not yet overthrown.
The first article of good Masonry
Shows that the Master must surely be
Both steadfast, trusty, and also true
His place he never then shall rue.
He must, neither for love nor dread,
Of neither party to take mede;
Whether he lord or fellow be,
Of him to take no kind of fee;
But as a judge to stand upright,
And then his conduct will be bright.
It speaks thus of an E. A. P.
The Master shall not for any vantage,
Make an apprentice under age.
And, as you may plainly hear,
He must have his limbs both whole and fair,
For to the Craft it were great shame,
To make a half man and a lame;
For a man of tainted blood
Would do the Craft but little good.
This was a primitive observance amongst the Craft, for in the Constitutions of Athelstane the E. A. P. was solemnly enjoined
His Master's counsel to keep close,
Lest he his confidence should lose,
The secrets of Brethren tell to none,
Nor out of the Lodge what there is done.
Whatever you hear the Master say,
Be sure thou never do betray,
Lest it cause in thee much blame,
And bring the Craft to public shame.
Here, also, we find the origin of a clause in our present Master Mason's Obligation.:
It charges thee, upon thy life,
Not to corrupt thy Master's wife
Nor thy Fellow's concubine,
As thou wouldst not have him do by thine
Full mickle care might thus begin.
From such a foul and deadly sin.
The Obligation was thus constructed
The 14th Point is full good law,
To him that would be under awe;
A solemn oath he needs must swear,
To his Master and Fellows (hat be there,
To be both steadfast and true also,
To all these laws wherever he go.,
And to his liege Lord the King
To be true above all other things.
Thus did our ancient Brethren lecture eight hundred years ago, establishing a series of Landmarks which are not yet overthrown.
