In merly been in such a languishing condition. the year 1734, however, the Grand Lodge of England having granted constitutions to lodges within the district of York, without the consent of their Grand Lodge, incurred to such a degree the displeasure of the York masons, that the friendly intercourse which had formerly subsisted between them, was completely broken off, and the prosperity of the one was always viewed by the other with a suspicious eye. In 1739, also, some trifling innovations upon the ancient customs of the order, having been imprudently sanctioned by the Grand Lodge of England, several of the old London masons were highly offended, and, after seceding from the Grand Lodge, and pretending to act under the York constitution, they gave themselves the appellation of Ancient Masons, while they attached to those connected with the Grand Lodge the odious appellation of Moderns, who, in their opinion, never existed till the year 1717. The ancient masons, after their secession, continued to hold their meetings, without acknowledging a superior, till the year 1772, when they chose, for their GrandMaster, the Duke of Athol, who was then GrandMaster Elect for Scotland. Since that period, both the Grand Lodges of England have attained to a high degree of prosperity; but such is their mutual antipathy, that the members of the one have no correspondence or communion with those of the other. The Irish and Scotish masons, how however, who seem rather to favour the Ancients, hold communion with both the Grand Lodges, and are allowed to be present at all their meetings. It is much to be regretted, that such respectable bodies as the two Grand Lodges of England, should retard the progress of masonry by their mutual jealousies and dissensions. Schisms in societies generally arise from misconduct on both sides, which was certainly the case in the schism under consideration. The Moderns undoubtedly departed from their usual caution and propriety of conduct, by authorising the slightest innovations upon the ceremonies of an ancient institution. But the Ancients have been guilty of a greater impropriety by being the active promoters of the schism; and still more, by holding up the Moderns to the ridicule of the public. If these errors, however, were mutually acknowledged, and buried in oblivion, that breach would soon be repaired which has so long separated the two lodges, and which the Scotish and Irish masons have always regarded with pity and indignation*. AFTER * Much injury has been done to the cause of the ancient masons, by a book, intitled Abiman Rezon, written by one Dermott, their secretary. The unfairness with which he has stated the proceedings of the Moderns, the bitterness with which he treats them, and the quackery and vain glory with which he displays his own pretensions to superior knowledge, deserve to be reprobated by every class of masons who are anxious for the purity of their order, and the preservation of that AFTER the institution of the Grand Lodge of England in 1717, Free Masonry assumed a bolder and a more independent aspect. It was no longer confined to the British Isles, or to the capital of France, but was destined to irradiate every portion of the globe; and, while the Grand Lodges of Scotland and England contemplated with pleasure the propagation of the royal art, their diligence was fully rewarded by the gratitude and liberality of the foreign lodges, for the gift which they received. In the year 1729, Free Masonry was introduced into the East Indies; and, in a short time after, a provincial Grand-Master was appointed to superintend the lodges in that quarter. In 1730, the Grand Lodge of Ireland was instituted; lodges were erected in different parts of America; and a provincial deputation granted to Monsieur Thuanus, for the circle of Lower Saxony. A patent was sent from England in 1731, to erect a lodge at the Hague, in which Francis Stephen, Duke of Lorrain, and afterwards Emperor of Germany, was initiated into the order; and provincial Grand-Masters were appointed for Russia, and Andalusia, in Spain. In that charity and mildness which ought to characterise all their proceedings. The candour and fairness with which this delicate subject is treated by Mr Preston, in his Illustrations of Masonry, merit the highest encomiums. 1 In 1736, lodges were erected at Cape Coast, in Africa, and at Geneva; and provincial deputations were granted for Upper Saxony and the American Islands. In 1738, a lodge was instituted at Brunswick, under the patronage of the Grand Lodge of Scotland, in which the late King of Prussia was initiated, when Prince Royal. His Majesty was so pleased with the maxims and ceremonies of the order, that he, ever afterwards, was its most zealous partizan, and requested even that a lodge should be established in the capital of his own dominions. In this lodge many of the German Princes were initiated, who afterwards filled the office of Grand-Master, with much honour to themselves, and advantage to the fraternity. BUT while Free Masonry flourished in these different parts of the world, and in many other places which it would be tedious to enumerate, it was doomed to undergo a variety of persecutions from the unfounded jealousies of a few despotic rulers, and the deep-rooted superstition of a few Catholic priests. These persecutions took their rise in Holland in the year 1735. The States General were alarmed at the rapid increase of Free Masons, who held their meetings in every town under their government; and as they could not believe that architecture and brotherly love wc.e their only objects, they resolved to discountenance their proceedings. In consequence of this deter determination, an edict was issued by government, stating, that though they had discovered nothing in the practices of the fraternity, either injurious to the interests of the republic, or contrary to the character of good citizens; yet, in order to prevent any bad consequences which might ensue from such associations, they deemed it prudent to abolish the assemblies of Free Masons. Notwithstanding this prohibition, a respectable lodge having continued to meet privately at Amsterdam, intelligence was communicated to the magistrates, who arrested all the members, and brought them to the Court of Justice. Before this tribunal, in presence of all the magistrates of the city, the masters and wardens boldly defended themselves; and declared, upon oath, that they were loyal subjects, faithful to their religion, and zealous for the interests of their country; that Free Masonry was an institution venerable in itself, and useful to society; and that though they could not reveal the secrets and ceremonies of their order, they would assure them that they were contrary to the laws neither of God nor man, and that they would willingly admit into their order any individual in whom the magistrates could confide, and from whom they might receive such information, as would satify a reasonable mind. In consequence of these declarations, the brethren were dismissed, and the town-secretary requested to become a member of the fraternity: After initiation he re turned |