drawn in a number of worthy, honest men, and made them believe that he and his affistants truly taught them all and every part of the abovementioned branch of mafonry, which they foon communicated to the worthy brethren of their acquaintance, without being able to form any fort of judgment whereby they might diftinguish truth from falfhood, and confequently could not difcern the impofition; but, as the wife Seneca juftly obferves, it fares with us in human life as in a routed army, one stumbles first and then another falls upon him; and fo they follow, one upon the neck of another, till the whole field comes to be but one heap of miscarriages. This is the cafe of all those who think themselves Royal Arch Masons, without paffing the chair in regular form, according to the ancient custom of the craft: To this I will add the opinion of our worshipful brother Doctor Field D'Affigney, printed in the Year 1744. "Some "of the fraternity (fays he) have expreffed an un"easiness at this matter being kept a secret from "them (fince they had already paffed through the "ufual degrees of probation) I cannot help being "of opinion, that they have no right to any "benefit until they make a proper application, " and are received with due formality: And as it is "an organized body of men who have paffed the "chair, and given undeniable proofs of their skill « in architecture, it cannot be treated with too fuch "much "much reverence; and more efpecially fince the "characters of the prefent members of that parti"cular lodge are untainted, and their behaviour judicious and unexceptionable: So that there "cannot be the least hinge to hang a Doubt on,. "but that they are most excellent masons." THE refpect I have for the very name of freemafon, is fufficient to make me conceal the name of the perfon here pointed at; and, inftead of expofing him, or ftigmatizing him with a name he justly deferves, I earnestly wish that God may guide him back, out of his present labyrinth of darkness, to the true light of masonry; which is, truth, charity, and justice. I make no manner of doubt, but that this will reach the hands of the perfon aimed at ; and as my intention is rather to reform than offend, I hope he will answer my expectation, in laying aside such evils as may bring dishonour to the craft and himfelf; and I affure him (upon the honour of a mafon) I have, no evil defign against him, no more than Hefiod had against his brother Perfes, when he wrote the following advice. O Perfes, foolish Perfes, bow thine ear, The The paths of virtue must be reach'd by toil, All for the present beft and for the end: Old Regulations. I.**HE He grand-master *T* *** or deputy has when the grand-war dens are abfent, for the grand-mafter cannot deprive them of full authority and right, not only to be present, but also to prefide in every lodge with the mafter of the lodge on their office without Old Regulations. his left-hand; and to order his grand-wardens to attend him, who are not to act as wardens of particular lodges, but in his presence, and at his command; for the grandmaster, while in a particular lodge, may command the wardens of that lodge, or any other mafter-mafons, to act as his wardens, pro tempore. II. The Some grand-lodges have ordered that none but the grand-master,his deputy, andwardens(who are the only grand Officers) fhould wear their jewels in gold, pendant, to blue ribbonds about their necks, and white leather aprons with blue filk; which fort of aprons may also be worn by former grand officers. II. It * I shall at all times be conformable, and pay due refpect to every right worshipful grand lodge of regular free-mafons, and am well affured that grand officers only fhould be diftinguished by gold jewels, and them according to their proper order; but at the fame time I am certain, that every member of the grand lodge has an undoubted right to wear purple, blue, white, or crimson. |
