The History of Masonic Persecution in Different Quarters of the Globe (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1847. Excerpt: ... MASONIC PERSECUTION. INTRODUCTORY ESSAY ON THE USAGES AND CUSTOMS OP SYMBOLICAL MASONRY IN THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY. BY THE EDITOR. "The Scalds exclaim, with miserable frown,1 Masons repair? they'd sooner pull it down. A set of ranting, roaring, rumbling fellows, Who meet to sing old rose and burn the bellows. Champagne and claret, dozens in a jerk, And then they say how hard they've been at work. Next for the secret of their own wise making, Hiram and Boaz, and Grand Master Jachin Poker and tongs I the sign the word the stroke 1 'Tis all a nothing, and 'tis all a joke. Nonsense on nonsense I let them storm and rail, Here's the whole history of their mop and pail; For 'tis the sense of more than half the town, Their secret is--a bottle at the Crown " Masonic Prologue. "You shall not go out to drink by night, or if occasion doe happen that you must goe, you shall not stay till past eight of the clock, having some of your fellowes, or one at the least, to beare 1 See Masonic Institutes, p. 7. M. PER. B you witness of the honest place you were in, and your good behaviour, to avoid scandall."--Ancient Charges. "I wish the reader to take notice, that in writing of this book, I have made myself a recreation of a recreation; and that it might prove so to him, and not read dull and tediously, I have in several places mixed (not any scurrility, but) some innocent harmless mirth; of which, if thou be a severe sour complexioned man, then I here disallow thee to be a competent judge; for divines say, There are offences given, and offences not given, but taken."--Izaak Walton. From the habits and usages of any society or body of men may be gathered a tolerably correct idea of their relative qualities, and the tendency such an association possesses to promote the happ...