Through the Key Hole - RoseCroix.org.au

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But what elements for scandal! William Morgan was about to publish
a Masonic exposé. Masons had been convicted of abducting
him. A body had been found identified as Morgan. John Whitney on
his death bed related what actually happened in that Morgan had
accepted a sizeable sum of money as a bribe to disappear and the
Masons involved in his “abduction” had only facilitated his removal to
Canada.
Another involved party by the name of Thurlow Weed also stated that
he had received a death bed confession from John Whitney and that
this confession related how Morgan had been murdered, bound in
chains and taken in a boat to the centre of the river where he was
dumped over board..
It is difficult I believe for us now to envisage the extent of the negative
impact that this story created.. The fame or infamy of the affair
spread all over the country and an anti-Masonic sentiment spread
like wild fire. Meetings were held, the Order was denounced by both
press and pulpit, an anti-Masonic newspaper was started and in general,
feelings were whipped to a very high pitch. Freemasons became
synonymous with murderers and kidnappers.
Gould in his “History of Freemasonry” epitomises the spirit of the
time : “This country has seen fierce and bitter political contests, but
no other has approached the bitterness of this campaign against the
Masons. No Society, civil, military or religious, escaped its influence.
No relation of family or friends was a barrier to it. The hatred of Masonry
was carried everywhere, and there was no retreat so sacred
that it did not enter. Not only were teachers and pastors driven from
their stations, but the children of Masons were excluded from the
schools and members from their churches. The sacrament was refused
to Masons by formal vote of the church, for no other offence
than their Masonic connection.
Families were divided. Brother was arrayed against brother, father
against son and even wives against their husbands. Desperate efforts
were made to take away chartered rights from Masonic Corporations
and to pass laws that would prevent Masons from holding
their meetings and performing their ceremonies.”
49
NON OPERATIVE OR ACCEPTED AND
SPECULATIVE MASON
By ANON , edited by Keith Stockley
The operative period of the Masonic fraternity flourished from the
11th to the 15th century. The 16th century saw the rise of the Reformation
in Europe and the Gothic style of architecture became
less prevalent. Social conditions and laws altered considerably.
These factors, coupled with the Great Plague and the Great Fire of
London, as well as the introduction of bricks instead of stone,
brought about a decline in operative masonry.
This decline was so great that by the late 17th century, freemasons
became so few that only a small; number of lodges remained.
During this period, referred to by Masonic historians as the Transition
Period, a number of important citizens commenced taking an
active interest in the ancient customs of the craft and although they
were not operative masons, they were admitted into lodges. Because
of the circumstances of their joining the craft, they were
called “accepted” masons.
At first the number of “accepted” masons was small, but by the
early part of the 18th century they outnumbered the operatives and
exerted a great deal of influence on the expansion of Freemasonry
and on its principles of fellowship and charitable pursuits.
On St. John the Baptist’s Day, 24th June 1717, four old lodges in
London and Westminster met and organized governing body that
they called the Grand Lodge. This Grand Lodge gradually took
control of all lodges meeting in England.
The word “speculative” now became linked with the word
“accepted”, speculative meaning masonry in a symbolic sense. The
two original grades of masonry were organized into the three degrees
with which we are all familiar.
In 1723, the Grand Lodge approved a Constitution and was soon
chartering lodges in England and its colonies.