http://www.nullens.org/freemasons/
[Seems to be a fairly unbiased and extremely thorough history, including both the "official" history and legends, etc. Points out ridiculous discrepancies without being extremist or derogatory]
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the Halliwell Poem
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Freemasons and Urban Planning:
Washington DC
Sandusky OH
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http://members.tripod.com/baileysgunsmithing/utah_lodge_of_research_articles/page6.html
ORIGINS OF FREEMASONRY
John D. Prater
March 23, 1990
June 24, 1717 is generally accepted by Masons as the starting date of modem Freemasonry. But is this the origination of Masonry? Most Masonic scholars believe that the principles of Masonry or similar teachings were expounded by symbolism similar to that used today by Masons hundreds and even thousands of years prior to this date and were found in various parts of the world. Although it is rather far fetched some scholars have placed the origin of the Order in the Garden of Eden with the fig leaf worn by Adam as the first Masonic Apron.
Dr . Leeson, an English Masonic scholar stated "that Egypt was the cradle of Masonry. The Egyptians were the first to establish a civilized society and all the sciences must necessarily have been derived from this source." In the historical records of Egypt are records of the symbolic expressions of religious ideas similar to those of Masonic teachings. Warburton stated that each of the Pagan Gods had besides the public and open, a secret worship paid to hirn, to which none were admitted except those who were selected by preparatory ceremonies call Initiation. This secret worship was termed the Mysteries. Among the most important of these ancient Mysteries were: Ile Osiric in Egypt, the Adonisian in Syria, the Mithrac in Persia, the Gabric in Thrace, the Druidical among the Celts, the Scandinavian among the Gothic, the Dionysian and Eleusian in Greece. These Mysteries embraced the Arts~ Sciences, Religion, and Immortality of the soul. Astronomy, geometry, and architecture were first rank in the Sciences. Similarity of design of all of these Mysteries indicated that there must have been a source of common origin. The ceremonies at initiation were all funereal in their character. They celebrated the death and resurrection of some cherished being. Universally, the Mysteries included several degrees, with the candidate subjected to varying degrees of study and probation before advancing to the next degree.
Egypt has been considered the birthplace of the Mysteries. Warburton stated that the first of the Mysteries of which we have any account is that of Isis and Osiris in Egypt. The principal seat of these Mysteries was at Memphis. Initiation into this Mystery is said to be the most severe and impressive of all the Mysteries. The priesthood of Egypt constituted a sacred caste and were the only ones who could explain the Mysteries. They were educated from childhood for this purpose. The candidate was required to exhibit proofs of a blameless life and had to pass through an initiation characterized by the severest trials of courage and fortitude. Tle first degree, that of Isis, is said to be preparatory for that of the second degree, Osirian degree, and was taught by instruction in the physical laws of nature, the necessity of moral purification. The Osirian degree symbolically taught the lesson of death and resurrection. The legend was as follows: Osiris, a wise king of Egypt left the care of his kingdom to his wife Isis and traveled for three years to communicate to other nations the arts of civilization. During his absence his brother Typhon formed a secret conspiracy to usurp his throne. On his return Osiris was invited by Typhon to an entertainment in the month of November, at which all the conspirators were present. Typhon produced a chest inlaid with gold, and promised to give it to any person whose body would exactly fit it. Osiris tried the experiment but as soon as he laid down in the chest the lid was nailed shut and tossed into the river Nile. ne chest containing the body of Osiris was finally cast up at Byblos, in Phoenicia, and left at the foot of a tamarisk tree (similar to the acacia). Isis set out to search for the chest and body and when she finally discovered it, returned it triumphantly to Egypt. It was then proclaimed with most joy, that Osiris was risen from the dead and had become a god. Its resemblance to the Hiramic legend of the Masonic system is readily seen and its symbolism understood. Osiris and Typhon are representatives of the two antagonistic principles - good and evil, light and darkness, life and death.
The Egyptian Mysteries commenced about 2500 B.C. and were celebrated once a year when candidates were inducted into the degrees. Temples where the ceremonies were performed were numerous and magnificent. Ruins have been discovered in which secret arrangement for carrying out the ceremonies of initiation were complete. Evidence indicates that the secret ceremonies were generally carried out in dark pawages underground. The Temple consisted of a sanctuary where worshipers met, and a cell equivalent to the Jewish Holy of Holies into which only the priest could enter. In the front of the entrance at either side of the door were a pair of obelisks. When preparing one of these obelisks for shipment The Two Ashlars, an Apron, a Trowel, and a Trestleboard were found cut in the stone.
The other Mysteries coincided in general character with that of the Osirian differing in particulars to meet the specific requirements of the local situation. I will not go into detail but ceremonies similar to the Osirian in Egypt included the Dionisian celebrated in Greece, the Elusinian at Eleusis, the Adonisian in Syria, the Mithraic in Persia, the Cabiric in Tbace, the Scandinavian among the Gothic Nations, and the Druidic among the Celts.
The Dionysian Mysteries because of their location bring them into close connection with the history and origin of Freemasonry. About 1000 B.C. they established a society known as the Dionysian Architects which was exclusively confined to the privilege of erecting Temples and other public buildings. They were divided into communities each of which was governed by a Master and Wardens. The Order existed in Tyre at the time of the building of the Temple of Solomon. It is possible that Hiram was one of its members.
In China a secret society said to be akin to Masonry existed approximately 1000 B.C. was known as the "Most Ancient Order of Saustika" or the Brotherhood of the Mystic Cross. It contained three degrees: Apprentice Brothers, Tao Sze (or Doctors of Reason) and Grand Master. The Apprentice wears the Jaina Cross, worked on a blue silk ribbon, the Tao Sze wears a cross of silver, and Grand Master one of gold. The meetings were called "Tents". Mr. Giles, an authority on Chinese literature, states that many expressions were in use seven hundred years before the Christian era which bear close similarity to those used in Masonry. As an example he quotes from the works of Mencius, the disciple of Confucius "A Master Mason, in teaching his apprentices, makes use of the compasses and square". Mr. Giles points out that in the oldest of Chinese classics there are distinct allusions to this type of symbolism. Sir Chaloner Alabaster also stated that in his studies of Ancient China he found evidence of a mystic faith whose secrets were orally transmitted by the Chiefs who alone had full knowledge of them. The various offices in the hierarchy were designated by symbolic jewels and that they wore leather aprons marked with the insignia of their rank. Deity was spoken of as the First Builder bearing a striking resemblance to Masonic reference to the Great Architect of the Universe.
In this paper I have attempted to trace some of the possible origins or predecessors of Masonry only in ancient times - approximately to the time of the building of King Solomon's Temple. In summary, although there has not been established a definite connecting link between Freemasonry and the Ancient Mysteries, there is a remarkable similarity between them possibly indicating a common origin. This may be attributed to a natural coincidence of human thought. The legends of the Ancient Mysteries and of the Third Degree in Masonry each teaches the reality of a future life after death. Each uses symbolism and essentially of the same representations. Subordination of degrees is characteristic and candidates are subjected to probation of varying degrees of time and severity. This does not necessarily mean there is a lineal connection but possibly there has been at all times a proneness of all human hearts to nourish a belief in a future life and to represent this belief by symbols. As stated, this paper covers the time before the building of King Solomon's Temple. Following the progress of Masonry from that period to more recent times could be the subject for an additional paper.