guides, and free investigation our right.

In religion, we shall meddle with no man's creed "whose life is in the right." "He that feareth God, and worketh righteousness," whatever may be his private tenets, must be greeted with an equal share of brotherly love, at the altar of Masonry; he who does not, is a hardened wretch, if he dare approach it.

ted in regular succession, through the " free and accepted," from Adam to Noah, and from Noah to Solomon, through whose means the brethren were more strictly united, and laws were enacted for the future government of the fraternity. Grand master Solomon organized a great number of new lodges at Jerusalem, and employed 113,600 of the fraternity, besides 70,000 labourers, in building the temple, which was finished A. L. 3028. Previous to the commencement of the

The success of this work, depends on the patronage it may receive. To the public in general, it would be do-building of this celebrated edifice, a

ing injustice to suppose, that any portion of support will be withheld, which the character of the publication shall merit. But, Brethren of the great Masonic Family, conscious of our own weakness, to you we look for more than would be our portion from the cold hand of justice; to you we look for those effusions of genius which shall dignify and adorn our pages; to your candour we look for excuses for the errors and faults you will from time to time discover; and to your liberality we look for that pecuniary support, without which, the Masonic Register will prove but a with ering plant; with which, we hope, and trust, it may flourish with everblooming freshness, yielding the comforts of life to us, and pleasure and satisfaction to you.

ORIGIN AND PROGRESS OF MA-
SONRY.

The institution of Masonry takes its date from the foundation of the world. That its principles are of divine origin, is self-evident; and that it has had the superintending hand of Deity for a support, is, we think, sufficiently demonstrated, by the many ages

through which it has existed, notwithstanding the united exertions of the

bigoted and superstitious in all ages,

to overthrow its structure; whilst every other human institution has been corrupted and destroyed.

By tradition, it appears that the mysteries of Masonry were transmit

most intimate connection was formed between grand master Solomon, king of Israel, and grand master Hiram, king of Tyre, and their friendship was permanently cemented. Under the direction of these grand masters, with the assistance of deputy grand master Hiram-Abiff, Masonry flourished in a greater degree than at any former period; and has continued to flourish in a greater or less degree, through successive generations. The following ing letters, which passed between the king of Israel, and the king of Tyre, are copied from Josephus' history of the antiquities of the Jews.

SOLOMON TO KING HIRAM.

"Know thou, that my father would have built a temple to God, but was hindered by wars, and continual expeditions, for he did not leave off to overthrow his enemies till he made them all subject to tribute; but I give thanks to God for the peace I at present enjoy; and on that account I am at leisure, and design to build an house to God; for God foretold to my father, that such an house should be built by me; wherefore I desire thee to send some of thy subjects with mine, to mount Lebanon, to cut down

timber, for the Sidonians are more skilful than our people in cutting of wood; 1 will pay whatsoever price

thou shalt determine."

HIRAM TO KING SOLOMON.

"It is fit to bless God, that he hath committed thy father's government to

1

thee, who art a wise man, and endow- || called, to assemble at York; where, ed with all virtues. As for myself, I rejoice at the condition thou art in, and will be subservient to thee in all that thou sendest to me about; for when by my subjects, I have cut dowa many, and large trees of cedar, and cypress wood, I will send them to sea, and will order my subjects to make floats of them, and to sail to what place soever of thy country thou shalt desire, and leave them there; after which thy subjects may carry them to Jerusalem: but do thou take care to procure us corn for this timber, which we stand in need of, because we inhabit in an island."

from ancient documents, they formed a book of constitutions, from which all the lodges both in England and America, either mediately or immediately derive their charters; and from this assemblage the appellation of Ancient York Masons, is derived. After this, Masonry continued to receive the fostering patronage of various kings and princes, as well as the most exalted statesmen, and men of learning and exemplary piety, not only in England, but in other kingdoms of Europe.

After the departure of the Romans from England, Masonry became much neglected, and thus, in a measure continued, until A. D. 872, when it was revived by Alfred the Great under whose auspices it acquired great splendour and respectability, and continued to flourish until the reign of King Athelstane, in A. D. 926, when it was completely re-established by the institution of a grand lodge at York, of which prince Edwin, king Athelstane's brother, was appointed first grand master. A grand communication of all the Masons in the kingdom was

James I. king of Scotland, became a zealous patron of Masonry, and was initiated into the order A. D. 1443. In the year 1731, Francis, then duke of Tuscany, afterwards emperor of Germany, was initiated into the mysteries, by earl Chesterfield, while on an embassy at the Hague; and in 1738, Frederick the Great, king of Prusia, became a Mason. Frederick, was a zealous advocate for the order, and extended it throughout his dominions.

In the year 1779, Omdit-ul Omrah Bahauder, the eldest son of the nabob of Carnatic, was initiated into the lodge of Trinchinopoly, which caused Masonry to progress with rapid strides in the East Indies. On the receipt of the news of this initiation, by the grand lodge of England, they forwarded him a letter of congratulation, with an elegant apron, and a book of constitutions, to which, in the year 1780, an answer written in the Persian lan

guage was received, enveloped in an elegant gold cloth. To such of our

readers as have not seen the translation of this letter, it cannot fail to be highly gratifying. It is as follows :

"To the Right Worshipful, his Grace, the Duke of Manchester, Grand Master of the Illustrious and Benevolent Society of Free and Accepted Masons under the Constitution of England, and the Grand Lodge thereof.

"Most Honoured Sir, and Brethren,

"An early knowledge and participation of the benefits arising to our house, from its intimate union of coun

"May the common father of all, the one omnipotent and merciful God, take you into his holy keeping, and give you health, peace, and length of || from lord Weymoth, then grand mas

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ter of England, A. L. 5730; but the || lished in Pennsylvania, under a war-
first grand lodge was established at
Boston, Massachusetts, under the name
of St. John's grand lodge, when lord
Montague, at that time grand master
of England, appointed the worshipful
Henry Price, grand master of New-
England, in consequence of a petition || Masons in Scotland, who appointed
from a number of brethren residing in
those provinces.

rant from the grand lodge of England.
In 5769, an ancient grand lodge
was established in the province of
Massachusetts, in consequence of a
petition to the worshipful earl of Dal-
house, at that time grand master of

In the year following, orders having been received by this grand lodge, from the grand lodge of England, to establish lodges in all parts of NorthAmerica, a lodge was constituted in Philadelphia, of which Benjamin Franklin was appointed first master. A warrant was granted at the same time for holding a lodge in Portsfol- mouth, New-Hampshire.

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Masonry was first introduced in the West-Indies in 5738, when a lodge was formed at Antigua, by the grand master of New-England, when on his way to the mother country, into which he initiated the governor of that -hile island, and several other distinguished

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Joseph Warren, grand master of Masons in Boston, and within one hundred miles of the same ; and on the festival of St. John the Baptist, June 24th, 5769, he was installed, and in 5772, he received a commission, constituting him grand master of the whole continent of America.

In 5771, the grand lodge of NorthCarolina was established under a warrant from the grand lodge of Scotland.

On the 17th of June 5775, a very heavy loss was sustained by the grand lodge, and Masonry in general, in the death of major general WARREN, who fell in the ever memorable battle of Bunker's hill, on the heights of Charlestown, whilst gallantly fighting in defence of his country's rights.

From St. John's grand lodge, emeThis melancholy event, which nated the first subordinate lodges, in threw the whole Masonic family into and various parts of the British dominions mourning, and drew forth tears from in America, and the West-Indies, as the whole American community, towell as those of Massachusetts, Congether with other political events of Ja necticut, New-Hampshire, Rhode- that period, caused a short suspension Island, New-York, New-Jersey, Penn- of Masonic labours. The commissylvania, Maryland, and North-Caro-sion of the grand master, having with him expired, and his deputy having no power independent of that

the

lina.

In 5752, a dispensation was granted by the grand lodge of Scotland, of derived from him, caused some emwhich Sholto Charles Douglass, lord Aberdour, was then grand master, to a number of brethren who had been initiated into the order in foreign lodges, to hold a lodge in Boston, under the appellation of St. Andrew's, No. 82. St. John's grand lodge, considering their jurisdiction infringed, refused, for a number of years, any communications from St. Andrew's h-lodge, or visits from such of its members as had not formerly sat in lodges

barrassment as it respected the future proceedings of the craft, being left destitute of a head, or a single grand officer to regulate their work. However, after various communications, in which the subject was candidly considered, on the 8th of March 5777, the brethren came to a conclusion to form an independent grand lodge, "on principles consistent with, and subordinate to the regulations pointed out in the

constitutions of ancient Masonry." The lodge was accordingly organized,

In 5764, a grand lodge was estab- || and the worshipful Joseph Webb, in

stalled grand master. This grand || which was politely handed us by a lodge continued to exercise its prerog-friend, having been mutilated.

atives independently of any other, till the year 5791, when overtures were made to the officers of St. John's grand lodge, to form an union, which were accepted, and on the 5th of March, the two lodges were organized into one body, under the name of "The grand lodge of the ancient and honourable society of free and accepted Masons, for the commonwealth of Massachusetts."

"On Tuesday the 18th inst. agreeably to notice, the grand royal arch chapter of Massachusetts was duly organized at Bath, by M. E. D. G. H. P. HENRY FOWLE, Esq. who then and there publicly consecrated Montgomery chapter of royal arch Masons; and on the 19th, New Jerusalem chapter at Wiscasset; and on the 21st, Jerusalem chapter at Hallowell, and their several officers were installed in due form. An address was delivered at Bath by ROBERT P. DUNLAP, Esq. on the social and benevolent principles of Masonry; at Wiscasset, by NATHANIEL COFFIN, Esq. on it moral and religious influence; and at Hallowel, by Dr. LAWRENCE SPRAGUE, on the origin and importance of the royal arch degree. The character of this institution, in these several points of view, was delineated and enforced

Previous to the revolution, which dissolved all allegiance of the then American Provinces to the British crown, the grand lodge of England had appointed Provincial grand masters in several of the provinces, from which emanated a number of subordinate lodges; but the same revolution which separated the states from all foreign government, exhonerated all Masons in the United States, from allegiance to foreign lodges: means were therefore taken for the establish-in an elegant and impressive manner.

ment of independent grand lodges in the respective states. A friendly correspondence, however, has been carefully preserved, among the fraternity in all parts of the world.

FROM MAΙΝΕ.

"The ceremonies on each occasion were peculiarly gratifying, and were rendered more interesting by the performance of several pieces of sacred music, in an admirable style, reflecting honour on those who so politely volunteered their assistance. The grand officers and respective chapters at each place, were preceded by a large procession of the fraternity, and the exercises performed to crowded auditories. At Bath and Wiscasset, governor KING, as grand master of Masons in Maine, accompanied by several officers of the grand lodge, participated in the solemnities, and expressed his regret that his public avocations prevented his accepting the invitation to attend the consecration at Hallowell. At Bath, the grand chapter, and the officers of the respective chapters, were in the evening received by the gov ernor at his house, with his usual politeness and hospitality; and at WisWise casset and Hallowell, they experienced those attentions which are peculiar to

The following interesting article is copied from the EASTERN ARGUS, published in the state of Maine. With a high degree of pleasure we observe the lights of Masonry extending their benign influences in this new state. We most heartily congratulate our brethren and companions of Maine, on the "recent consecration of their grand lodge, and of three royal arch chapters within so short a period." May unanimity prevail among them, and may their work be always such, as to pass the inspection of the Grand Overseer. We regret that it is out of our power to give a complete list of the officers of the several new chapters, together with that of the new grand lodge, owing to the paper | royal arch Masons.