The Arcana of Freemasonry (1915) - The Masonic Trowel

108 THE ARCANA OF FREEMASONRY
'
Craft Masonry " first in England or Scotland.
The word Freemason is met with in MS. as far
back as a.d. 1376. The oldest Lodge
record is
that of the Aitcheson Lodge, date 1598 ; that is
one year older than No. 1 Lodge of Edinburgh,
1599-
The Druids were first persecuted and driven
to secret meetings in England, as may be seen
from Canute's edict ; but that is immaterial, and
I only mention it because the S'ltch people
claim to be " the oldest Masons." Ce ainly some
of the
" carriers "
came to Scotlai.d, as is
proved by research, but it is questionable if they
brought over any fresh or newer developments
in the Egyptian Eschatology— this they already
found here. Bro. Gould, to whom we are much
indebted for the beautiful work he has given to
the Brotherhood, dealing
with the modern and
historic aspect of Freemasonry from a later date,
I believe differs somewhat in his views from mine,
but I have not the slightest doubt, if he could read
the old dead and primary written languages, he
would modify his opinion.
If Masonry has not its origin in the Sacred
Mysteries of the Ancient Egyptians, how could
these rites and ceremonies, signs and symbols, have
found their way into it? These sacred mysteries
were the same amongst the Priests of the Mayas
in Central America and Peru in South America.