Masonic Origines (1887) - The Masonic Trowel

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terials for Masonic History is a custom that ought to become ob-
selete. The demand of intelligent Masons to-day is for more light.
Upon the subject of the obscurity of Masonic Origines, I add
this from Gould, in regard to the Grand Lodge of Ireland. It
is Ihe oldest extant minute
:
Gould V, 28. Minutes of the Grand Lodge of Munster, 1726.
" At an assembly and meeting of the Grand Lodge for the
Province of Munster, at the house of M'. Herbert Phaire, in
Cork, on St. John's Day, being the 27th day of December, A°°
D". 1726. The Hon"' James O'Brien, Esq", by unanimous con-
sent, elected Grand Master for the ensueing yeare." . .
It was also entered thus, on the 27th of December, 1727
" Several Lodges within the Province had neglected to pay
their attendance."
How long these 'several Lodges' had existed, how they began
to exist, and when they formed a Grand Lodge of Munster, are
matters as to which history tells us nothing whatever.
In regard to the Grand Lodge of JEngland, we have no min-
utes or records of either of ' the four old Lodges,' by members of
which, and other Brethren, the Grand Lodge of England is said
to have been formed. Nothing is known in regard to most of
these Brethren; and but for information given by Dermott, we
should not have their names. The age of these four old Lodges
before the revival is pre-historic; All that preceded that event
is, as far as they 3,re cOtocerne"d,- wrapped in the impenetrable
darkness of oblivion.
Thus the criticisms of Bro. - Hughan do not touch the princi-
pal matter treated of in the ' Masonic Origines,' i. e. , the total
absence of original minutes and records, or of authentic evidence
in regard to beginnings of Masonic Bodies and Grand Bodies in
general. He has not succeeded in throwing much light on the
origin of two of the English Grand Lodges.
Perhaps he can tell me where are to be found the minutes of
the formation and earliest proceedings of the Grand Lodge of
the Royal Order of Scotland at Edinburgh?
Or the date of the inventioa and first working of its two De-
grees, and of the Mark Degree ?
: