Post by Tamrin on Aug 23, 2009 15:17:37 GMT 10
THE POCKET HISTORY OF FREEMASONRY
by Fred L. Pick & G. Norman Knight
[Preface - Lodge Burns Dundonald No. 1759, GLS - Full Text Linked Above]
by Fred L. Pick & G. Norman Knight
[Preface - Lodge Burns Dundonald No. 1759, GLS - Full Text Linked Above]
In its inception this little work was to have been undertaken by the Rev. Herbert Poole in collaboration with the present junior author. On Brother Poole’s premature passing on the 14th February 1951, which deprived Masonic research of one of its foremost lights, he had completes only a few rough notes towards the project. Fortunately Brother Pick was willing to step into the breach.
In condensing the whole of the history of Freemasonry in all its aspects into 283 pages, the chief difficulty has beer this very task of compression and much fascinating detail has perforce had to be omitted. The Pocket History is in no sense a mere epitome of any of the larger histories. Although in its compilation all the standard authorities and records have been consulted. A principal aim has beer to achieve accuracy of statement; with the many doubt: and uncertainties in which the earlier part of the story is shrouded it has been impossible to avoid the use of “probably,” “possibly” and “it may have been that. .. “ The authors believe that their work will prove especially useful to the young Master Mason, for whom, should h be tempted to pursue his studies further, they have prepares é a short list of recommended books.
They wish most gratefully to acknowledge the help they have received from Brother R. E. Parkinson of Downpatrick, N. Ireland, and Brother Ward St. Clair of New York. Brother Parkinson very kindly read through the Chapter on Irish Freemasonry and made several valuably suggestions. It is good news to learn that he is no’ engaged in preparing a sequel to Lepper and Crossle’s History of the Grand Lodge of Ireland, the only published volume of which stopped short at 1813.
Brother St. Clair, who performed a similar service for the Chapter on the U.S.A., is a well-known American student and a Past District Deputy Grand Master of New York. He has a remarkable collection of transcripts of Rituals, many of which are no longer worked. His interest in present day Freemasonry is none the less practical.
The authors would like also to express their indebtedness to Brother J. Heron Lepper, late Librarian of the Grand Lodge of England, and his Staff, and to Brother J. R. Dashwood, Secretary of the Quatuor Coronati Lodge of Research, No. 2076. The death of Bro. Lepper while this work was in the press has robbed Freemasonry of one of its greatest students.
In sending out this brief history the authors trust that they have done justice to their subject—the story of an Order which has numbered among its members monarchs such as Francis I (of the Holy Roman Empire), Frederick the Great, the Emperor Napoleon I, Their Majesties Kings George IV and VI, William IV and Edward VII and VIII: such soldiers as the 2nd Earl of Moira, the 1st Marquess of Wellesley and the 1st Duke of Wellington, Marshal Blucher, General Garibaldi, Lord Garnet Wolseley, Lieut.-General Sir Charles Warren, Field Marshals Earl Kitchener of Khartoum, Earl Haig of Bemersyde and Earl Alexander of Tunis as well as General MacArthur: such statesmen as Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, Bolivar the Liberator, Daniel O’Connell, Theodore Roosevelt and Harry Truman: with politicians like John Wilkes: men of letters such as Alexander Pope, the 4th Earl of Chesterfield, Goethe, Boswell, Horace Walpole, Robert Burns, Sir Walter Scott and Rudyard Kipling: architects like Sir Christopher Wren: composers like Samuel Wesley, Mozart and Joseph Haydn: antiquaries such as Elias Ashmole and the Randle Holmes: such artists as William Hogarth, “Old Crome” and John Sell Cotman: such doctors as Sir Bernard Spilsbury and Sir Alexander Fleming: with a host of other celebrities who have adorned and been adorned by the Ancient and Accepted Craft of Freemasonry.
In condensing the whole of the history of Freemasonry in all its aspects into 283 pages, the chief difficulty has beer this very task of compression and much fascinating detail has perforce had to be omitted. The Pocket History is in no sense a mere epitome of any of the larger histories. Although in its compilation all the standard authorities and records have been consulted. A principal aim has beer to achieve accuracy of statement; with the many doubt: and uncertainties in which the earlier part of the story is shrouded it has been impossible to avoid the use of “probably,” “possibly” and “it may have been that. .. “ The authors believe that their work will prove especially useful to the young Master Mason, for whom, should h be tempted to pursue his studies further, they have prepares é a short list of recommended books.
They wish most gratefully to acknowledge the help they have received from Brother R. E. Parkinson of Downpatrick, N. Ireland, and Brother Ward St. Clair of New York. Brother Parkinson very kindly read through the Chapter on Irish Freemasonry and made several valuably suggestions. It is good news to learn that he is no’ engaged in preparing a sequel to Lepper and Crossle’s History of the Grand Lodge of Ireland, the only published volume of which stopped short at 1813.
Brother St. Clair, who performed a similar service for the Chapter on the U.S.A., is a well-known American student and a Past District Deputy Grand Master of New York. He has a remarkable collection of transcripts of Rituals, many of which are no longer worked. His interest in present day Freemasonry is none the less practical.
The authors would like also to express their indebtedness to Brother J. Heron Lepper, late Librarian of the Grand Lodge of England, and his Staff, and to Brother J. R. Dashwood, Secretary of the Quatuor Coronati Lodge of Research, No. 2076. The death of Bro. Lepper while this work was in the press has robbed Freemasonry of one of its greatest students.
In sending out this brief history the authors trust that they have done justice to their subject—the story of an Order which has numbered among its members monarchs such as Francis I (of the Holy Roman Empire), Frederick the Great, the Emperor Napoleon I, Their Majesties Kings George IV and VI, William IV and Edward VII and VIII: such soldiers as the 2nd Earl of Moira, the 1st Marquess of Wellesley and the 1st Duke of Wellington, Marshal Blucher, General Garibaldi, Lord Garnet Wolseley, Lieut.-General Sir Charles Warren, Field Marshals Earl Kitchener of Khartoum, Earl Haig of Bemersyde and Earl Alexander of Tunis as well as General MacArthur: such statesmen as Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, Bolivar the Liberator, Daniel O’Connell, Theodore Roosevelt and Harry Truman: with politicians like John Wilkes: men of letters such as Alexander Pope, the 4th Earl of Chesterfield, Goethe, Boswell, Horace Walpole, Robert Burns, Sir Walter Scott and Rudyard Kipling: architects like Sir Christopher Wren: composers like Samuel Wesley, Mozart and Joseph Haydn: antiquaries such as Elias Ashmole and the Randle Holmes: such artists as William Hogarth, “Old Crome” and John Sell Cotman: such doctors as Sir Bernard Spilsbury and Sir Alexander Fleming: with a host of other celebrities who have adorned and been adorned by the Ancient and Accepted Craft of Freemasonry.
