the length, breadth, height, weight, colour, shape, form, and substance of every thing within and about the temple; but also to tell the spiritual * meaning of them, as if they knew the mind of him who gave orders for that building, or seen it finished: but I can assure you that such surveyors have never seen the temple, nay never have been within a thousand miles of Jerusalem: Indeed (continued he) there was one Flavius § (I think he was a soldier) took a great deal of notice of the temple, and other matters about it; as did another man named Jerry: There were two others, whose names I have forgot, but remember one of them was an excellent dreamer‡, and the other was very handy in collecting all manner of good writings || after the captivity.

Those were the only men that have wrote most and best upon that subject, and yet all their works together would not be sufficient for a preface to the history of masonry; but for your further instructions, you shall hear an eminent brother who can inform you in every particular that is necessary to your present undertaking. The words were scarce ended, when there appeared a grave old gentleman, with a long beard; he was dressed in an embroider ed vest, and breast plate of gold, set with twelve precious stones, which formed an oblong square: I was informed that the name of the stones were Sardine, Emerald, Ligure, Beryl, Topes, Saphire, Agate, Onyx, Carbuncle, Diamond, Amethyst, and Jasper: Upon these stones were engraved the names of the twelve tribes, viz. Reuben, Judah, Gad, Zebulun, Simeon, Dan, Asher, Joseph, Levi, Naphthali, Issacher, and Benjamin*.

Upon his entrance, the four sojourners did him

* See Solomon's Temple fpiritualized by Bunyan. Flavius Jofephus, the learned and warlike Jew. Ezra.

+ Ezekiel.

Such was the breast-plate, worn by the High-Priest at the Temple.

the homage due to a superior; as to me, the lustre of his breast-plate dazzled my sight, in such a manner that I could scarce look at him. But Ahiman giving him to understand that the people of this country were weak-sighted, he immediately covered his breast-plate; which not only gave me an oppor tunity of perceiving him more distinct, but also of paying him my respects in the best manner I was capable of; and making a very low bow, I presented him with the first volume of the history of masonry, hoped he would do me the honor of perusing it, and begged his advice for my further proceedings: he kindly received it, and read it over, whilst I impatiently waited to hear his opinion; which at last (to my mortification) amounted to no more than an old Hebrew proverb (which Ahiman translated thus: Thou hast dived deep into the water, and hast brought up a potsherd): nevertheless he took me by the hand, and said *, my son, if thou wilt thou shalt be taught, and if thou wilt apply thy mind thou shalt be witty; if thou love to hear, thou shalt receive doctrine; and if thou delight in hearing thou shalt be wise and although your history of masonry is not worth notice, yet you may write many other things of great service to the fraternity.

Certain it is (continued he) that free-masonry has been from the creation (though not under that name); that it was a divine gift from God; that Cain and the builders of his city were strangers to the secret mystery of masonry; that there were but four masons in the world when the deluge happened; that one of the four, even the second son of Noah, was not master of the art; that Nimrod, nor any of his bricklayers, knew any thing of the matter; and that there were but very few masters of the art (even) at Solomon's temple; whereby it plainly appears, that the whole mystery was communicated to

Eccles. vi. 23, 34.

very few at that time; that at Solomon's Temple (and not before) it received the name of free-masonry, because the masons at Jerusalem and Tyre were the greatest cabalists then in the world; that the mystery has been, for the most part practised amongst builders since Solomon's time; that there were some hundreds mentioned (in histories of masonry) under the titles of grand-masters, &c. for no other reason than that of giving orders for the building of a house, tower, castle, or some other edifice (or perhaps for suffering the masons to erect such in their territories, &c.) while the memories of as many thousands of the faithful craft are buried in oblivion: From whence he gave me to understand, that such histories were of no use to the society at present; and further added, that the manner of constituting lodges, the old and new regulations, &c. were the only and most useful things concerning free-masonry, that could be wrote: to which I begged to be informed, whether songs were to be introduced: his answer was *: if thou be made the master, lift not thyself up; but be among them as one of the rest: take diligent care for them, and so sit down.

And when thou hast done all thy duty, sit down, that thou mayst be merry with them; and receive a crown for thy good behaviour.

Speak thou that art the elder, for it becometh thee; but with sound judgment: and hinder not music. And at all times let thy garments be white.

While he was speaking these last words, I was awakened by a young puppy that got into the room while I slept, and, seizing my papers, eat a great part of them, and was then between my legs, tearing the last sheet of what I had wrote.

I have not words to express the sorrow, grief, trouble and vexation I was in, upon seeing the ca

People skilled in the cabala, i. e. tradition, their fecret science of expounding divine mysteries, &c.

*Eccles. xxxii. 1, 2, 3.

tastrophe of a work which I expected would outlast the teeth of time.

Like one distracted (as in truth I was) I ran to the owner of the dog, and demanded immediate satisfaction: he told me he would hang the cur; but at the same time he imagined I should be under more obligation to him for so doing, than he was to me for what had happened.

In short, I lookéd upon it as a bad omen; and my late dream had made so great an impression on my mind, that superstition got the better of me and caused me to deviate from the general custom of my worthy predecessors; otherwise I would have published a history of masonry: and as this is rather an accidental than a designed fault, I hope the reader will look over it with a favourable eye.

To be serious: The reader will do me strict justice in believing, that I do not wish to offend the persons or names of writers of historical truths. My intention being only to expose ridiculous innovations, and fabulous acconnts of Grand Masters, whose Masonical authorities never existed.

What man (conversant with real free-masonry and history) can swallow the legendary stories of the Grand Mastership of the monk St. Austin, St. Swithin, St. Dunstan, and other monkish saints, confessors, cardinals, &c. &c. Is it not more probable, that those legendary Grand Masters, instead of patronizing and protecting a society that was then supposed to raise and converse with familiar spirits, would have excommunicated them by bell, book and candle; and by a thundering anathema consign them over to the devil: did not the behaviour of their contemporaries and successors, favour this opinion?

But to come nearer to the present time: suppose we were to enquire into the origin of the present Grand Lodge of Modern Masons, who, not satis

fied with the old title of Right Worshipful Grand Lodge, have, in their Callender for 1777, modestly gave themselves the title of the Supreme Grand Lodge of the Most Antient and Honorable, &c. &c. &c. Upon enquiry it would appear, that all their boasted supremacy is derived from an obscure person, who lived about sixty-two years ago, and whose name is not to be found on record amongst Ancient or Modern Masons.

1

Whosoever doubts the truth hereof, let him examine Dr. Anderson's Constitutions (printed in 1738) page 109, where it is written," that four lodges;" that is to say, some persons who were

wont to meet

"At the Goose and Gridiron ale-house, in St. Paul's church-yard.

"At the Crown ale-house, in Parker's-lane, "At the Apple-tree in Charles-street, Coventgarden.

"And at the Rummer and Grapes, in ChannelRow, Westminister, did meet at the Apple-tree aforesaid, in the year 1716, or rather 17, and having chosen (the nameless person before hinted) a Chairman, they constituted themselves a Grand Lodge."

Such are the words of the most authentic history amongst Modern Masons, and beyond contradiction prove the origin of their supremacy to be a selfcreated assembly.

Nor was a self-creation the only defect: They were defective in numbers.

To form (what Masons mean by) a Grand Lodge, there must have been the Masters and Wardens of five regular lodges, that is to say, five Masters and ten Wardens, making the number of installed officers fifteen.

This is so well known to every man conversant with the ancient laws, usages, customs and ceremo