Lodge Burroughs Strange No. 87
Vijayawada, India

Masonic History is linked with many ancient civilisations, religions and creeds. Upto a comparatively recent period, the History and Antiquity of Freemasonry were involved in cloud of darkness and uncertainty. At the outset it may be remarked that the actual History of Freemasonry can only, in strictness, be deemed to commence from the period when the chaos of mythical traditions is succeeded by the era of Lodge records. I would like to quote from certain ancient records with the purpose of establishing the antiquity of masonry. One must understand and accept that, the origin being so ancient, precludes the possibility of establishing a definite and indisputable answer. Nevertheless, it is a subject well worth consideration. I would like to view Masonry, its Rituals, Symbolism and ideals and beliefs from different angles and aspects to try and establish age, vaguely and consequently the antiquity of our order.

One Craft Ritual mentions that our Grand lodes consist of "ANCIENT FREE & ACCEPTED MASONS". The term "ANCIENT" refers to the antiquity of the order, having existed from time immemorial. The word "free" as meaning not in captivity refers to one of the Rules of Freemasonry, that no one can be initiated who is at the time restricted of his freedom. "Accepted" originated in the 17th century to distinguished operative from speculative Masons. In those days it became custom to accept of outstanding qualifications who were not tradesmen.

Further, how ancient one may ask? The briefest reply to that, perhaps, would be that "it is more ancient than the Golden Fleece or the Roman Eagle ; more honourable than the Garter, or ANY OTHER ORDER IN EXISTENCE." Besides its "Badge is made of lambskin, and as the lamb has been from TIME IMMEMORIAL the acknowledged emblem of Innocence and Purity ...." we now have been definitely told that ancient it undoubtedly is let us delve into (briefly) the extent and vastness of the antiquity.

At the time the foundation of our Masonic Rituals were being laid freemasonry was a purely Christian organisation. Therefore, a good deal of our work was originally based on the Old Testament. The first or Entered Apprentice Degree relates to the Book of Ruth. Ruth was the great grandmother of King David. The other historical and hierarchical connection is that by the then prevailing custom, ultimately Boaz took Ruth for his wife. Boaz was thus the Great grandfather of David and David, as we know, was the father of the glorious and mighty SOLOMON.

A question in the catechise runs:-
Q: Where was the first Lodge?
A: I the porch of Solomon's Temple.

It seems fairly certain, however, that Solomon's pillars achieved a really important part in the Craft Rituals at some time between about 1500 and 1630. The encyclopedia Britannica states that King Solomon's Temple was built 959 - 952 B.C. One is often told that the Building took seven years and seven months. But for how long did it last? the same source mentions it was destroyed by fire by king Nibuchauezza in 588 B. C. Hence, the Temple stood for 464 years. This establishes the age (of this aspect) of the foundation and base of our Ritual - king Solomon's mighty Temple and the two great pillars at the porch - way or entrance.

The THREE great emblematic lights of freemasonry are the Volume of the Sacred Laws, the Square and the Compasses. We shall try and assess their age and antiquity through their origin.

Firstly the Volumes of the Sacred Laws. In English speaking Countries we know that the V. of S. L. is the old Testament. However, in other countries it is that Book which their peoples hold sacred. To the Hindu - The Bhagavad Gita, To the Muslim - The Koran, to the Buddhist - The Dhammapada, For the Jew - the Torah and for the Parsi - The Zend Avastha to those whom it relates to and for the Scholars we know that these are the ancient and prized Books - upon which our All depends - and indicating specifically that the Sheet anchor of all our beliefs is our faith in that Supreme being - God - "to whom we must all submit and whom we ought most humbly to adore." The light of the V. of S. L. reveals our relations and duty to the Almighty. The Square is nearly always linked with the Compasses. No symbolism can be more simple, more profound, more universal and it becomes more wonderful the longer one ponders it. As has been said the square and compasses are nearly always together and that is true as far back as we can go. In the sixth of the philosophy of Mencius, in China around 280 B. C. we find these word. "A Master Mason, in teaching apprentices, make use of the compasses and the square." We who are engaged it in the pursuit of wisdom must also make use of the compass and the square. "Further, in the oldest Classic of China. The Book of History, dating back 2000 years before our era. We find the compasses employed (but without the square) "We Officers of the Government apply the compasses". It is the compass that helps us to keep our balance. Even in that far off time these symbols had the same meaning they have for us today and they seem to have been interpreted in the same way.

To trace the evolution of the Masonic Apron is a very interesting study. It is known that the Egyptians and other ancient peoples wore an apron not dissimilar to our own - when celebrating their mysteries and it was regarded as an emblem of truth and passive duty. Our apron is more ancient than the Golden fleece or Roman Eagle, more honourable than the Garter Research indicates that the great myth of "Jason's and the Argonauts" is based on fact. Jason's story is more than 3000 years old when Jason finally returned home with the Golden Fleece." Subsequently and of course much, much later the order of the Golden Fleece was founded (in 1430) by Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy and was still in existence in to the 20th Century. The eagle in symbolism dates back to the stone age. Eagles symbolise power, courage, freedom and immortality. It has long and often been used as national, military and heraldic symbols. It was used as a symbol in religion from the time of Belshazzar, King of Babylon, and by Charlemagne, the caesors and other Roman and holy Byzantine Emperors. The order of the Garter is the oldest and most illustrious of European orders. It s origin is attributed to King Edward III and the incident reportedly took place in 1347. The most Noble Order of the Garter was formerly constituted in 1348. Thus the Masonic apron is proudly (and justifiably) compared with the noblest decorations an Ancient Rome and of Modern Europe.

ANCIENT CHARGES - the genesis and development of the Old Charges - it is perhaps no mere coincidence that the date of the earliest of these documents was very near to though almost certainly later than that of the 'Writer of for Returns' of Richard II (November, 1388). This was addressed to the Masters and Wardens of all guilds and brotherhoods.

The first of our THREE GRAND PRINCIPLES IS BROTHERLY LOVE. No other words in the vocabulary of Masonry have such significance and identify the fraternity. Very early in the Old Testament we sense that LOVE is the fundamental characteristic of the relationship between persons. Perhaps the most memorable stories of brotherly love is that of David and Jonathan. The story occurs a generation too seen to be a point of the Masonic legend, but it illustrates the ideal beautifully. From Greek mythology comes another and almost equally famous and memorable story of friendship - that of Damon and Phintias. In equal and opposite contract is the story of (Biblical of Abel and Cain. In ancient Rome man's behaviours was determined and controlled by the daily, intimate and continuous contact with his family and neighbours. So from antiquity to posterity was brotherly love, and through it freemasons, prevail and flourish.

What is the origin of the term Freemason? In Bishop Cover dales translation of Wermullan's "A Spiritual and most Precious Perle" which was published in 1550, we find "As the Freemason loweth then handstone even so, God, the Heavenly Freemason, Buildth the Christian Church." In a Statue, passed in 1350 in the reign of Edward I the wages of the Master Freemason was 4 D per day could in his concise "History" says that "in the year of 1375 was formed a wonderful society occasioned by a combination of MASONS!" It is also said that the Masons eagered on certain signs and tokens by which they might know one another render mutual assistance against impressment and further agreed not to work unless FREE and on their terms. Hence, they called themselves free MASONS. Elsewhere in French writings of about 1350 are the earliest known instances of the usage of similar expressions.

CONSTITUTED LODGES - The Period of effective duration of the Grand Lodge of England was from 1761 to 1813. The first lodge to adopt a distinctive, apart from the sign of where it met - was the University Lodge in 1730. At the same period there were no fewer than 12 lodges in the West Indies, as well as four in Germany and an equal number in Holland. Basis for modern masonry, or at least as we know it came to force with the formation of the United Grand Lodge of England from around 1814 and onwards. Meanwhile the oldest lodges in Scotland possess registers of members and meetings etc. ranging back nearly 300 years. Moving on the American continent we find from this quotation of lodge in Paris,, writing to the albian lodge in Quebec. You have one of the most temples of freemasonry, since its erection dates from 1721. The quotation speaks for the age and antiquity of the established order. Even in remote Alaska freemasonry found a footing by 1868. In Asia, moving est - we find that a deputation was granted to George Pomfret (in 1728) to open a new lodge in Bengal. Other lodges sprang up in Calcutta in 1761 and in Bombay in 1758. Swaying towards China we find presence of lodges in Canton, one erected in 1767 and another in 1788. Whilst still further east in Japan at Yokohama lodges are known to have been formed in 1866 and 1869.

Now let us take from here and there, examine stray thoughts to further establish the antiquity of masonry. Let us call this reflections on Potpourri.

In a lodge, who often does one hear the words "Right Glad am I". This is an old, anglo - Saxon expression, expressive of great pleasure and should be accordingly highlighted. And we know for how long now the Anglo - Saxon era is past. But the expressions and its meaning remains with us until today.

TOAST TO ABSENT BRETHREN! The earliest known reference to a Toast to absent Brethren is found in the minutes of a lodge meeting in 1759 when a lecture was given and the health of Absent members was drunk.

TYLERS IN MASONRY - In Anderson's Book of Constitutions, 1723 contained a regulation providing a brother being appointed to look after the door of the Grand Lodge, but the name of the Office was not stated. Ultimately in 1738 - the Book of Constitution made it mandatory that a Brother and Master Mason should be appointed the Tyler to look after the door of the lodge.

Ultimately in spite of the antiquity of Masonry and the Lament of the Poet that "Time erodes Memory" What has been observed? Memory may crumble under the weight of trivials. However, it is remarkable how some CHOSEN islands of experience defy the relentlestide of forgetfulness and, so it is with our freemasonry. It is ancients it has stood the test of time, hence is antiquity has been established.

The world recently has witnessed what. Alvin Toffler in his "Future Shock" calls "the roaring current of change, a current so shrouds our roots." The world has been ripped and sent by unprecedented chaos, strife, summary trails etc. that has survived and is striving and will have to labour straincously for the fulfillment of the promised "progress towards peace" unthinkable earlier. So from todays' disenchantment let us search with confidence for a bright future - and -

"let’s pull together with all our weight,
If we're going to make freemasonry great,
Cause if we don't, it'll be too late.
Let's advance freemasonry
And give it all we've got."