"The Antiquity of the Craft"
 

"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.

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. For an easy way to get your own copy of this book, see the notes at the bottom of this page.

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, 1996 
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, 
 
that 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 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,  
I doubt not that he will discharge his duty with fidelity.

Installing Marshall: "I am satisfied!" 
IO: BM, present the Master-Elect West of the alter. 

IM: 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 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. IO: Brother A.B., do you accept the office to which your Brethren have elected you? 

Master-Elect: I do. 

IO: 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: ME: 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." IO: 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 new Master is then obligated at the Alter. 
The warrant of constitution is then delivered over to the New Master,  
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.
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. 



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 and the chisel (tools of modern-Day Royal Arch Masonry) 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?

I hope that this has made interesting reading!

Fraternally,

Dale K. Porray, Past Master, Vegas Lodge #32 (1994)
Grand WebMason, Grand Lodge F&AM of Nevada

--- NOTE ---

Academy Electronic Publications, from the United Kingdom, has issued a CD-ROM with not just that one edition of "Illustrations of Freemasonry" quoted above on it, but the editions of 1772, 1775, 1781, 1788, 1792, 1796, 1801, 1804, AND 1812 ... all on the same CD-ROM. The disc features:
1. The text of all 9 extant editions produced in England during Preston's lifetime.
2. Intuitive interface for browsing and searching the editions.
3. Exploration of the text's evolution across all 9 editions.
4. Introductory analyses & digitized images of the 1788 edition.

It's available from the Southern Jurisdiction, Scottish Rite's store website, at http://www.scottishritestore.org/ ... click on "DVD's, Videos and CDs" under "Other Items" .

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