most worshipful grand lodge - Louisiana State University

26 .SPECIAL COMMUNICATION OF THE G-RANJ) LODGEof these unions may be admitted, and it does not weaken the claimset up for Masonry—for here ends the resemblance. The radicaldifference appears iu such strong contrast as to mark the operativeMason as a body of its own kind. The very nature of theircalling; the necessity of a knowledge of so many branches oflearning to become a master workman ; the fact that they had togo from home and to the temple, cathedral, church or mosque, inwhatever city or country it was to be erected, superinduced in thisorder a relation of fraternity that never could have had existencein those trades-artisans who lived and conducted business thatcame to them in their own homes. As the Masons went from Tyreto Jerusalem, so they travelled to every city where splendid edificeswere to be constructed. They generally lived in "huts"around, or near the edifice to be built; each Mason on arrivinghad to identify himself as a member of the order, to be received andpermitted to earn master's wages. 1It will not do to conclude, because we have no positive evidenceof the fact, that the operative Mason had no esoteric teachings.Think you these men, who were organized into associationsin every land where the forms of architectural rules were observedin constructing temples and palaces, were different from the peoplefrom whom they sprung 1Prom earliest recorded history, we find man had some knowlledgeof four very important branches of useful arts, which nec.es-1 But though their organization was the same, the nature of ttieir pursuitsforced one very essential distinction upon Ihe Masons, for inasmuch as all the usualtrades weie local, and the exercise of them confined to the locality where the tradesmenresided, the builders were, on (.he contrary, forced to go wherever any greatwork was to be executed.Thus the shoemakers, tailors, bakers and others, lived among their customersand Justin such numbers as were required to supply their usual recurring wants.With the Mason it was different; his work never came to him, nor could it be carriedon in his own home; he was forced to eo to his work; and when any greatchurch, or building was to be erected in any town ***** the Masons weresent for.* * * * * * * * * * * * * *At a time when writing was almost unknown among the laity ***** itwas evidently essential that some expedient should be hit upon by which a Masontravelling to his work might claim the assistance and hospitality of his brotherMasons on the road, and by means of which he might take his rank at once onreaching the lodge, without undergoing tedious examinations or giving practicalproof of his skill. For this purpose a set of secret signs- were invented which enabledall the Masons to recognize one another as such, and by which also, each mancould make known his grade to those of similar rank without further trouble thana manual sign or the utterance of some recognized password. Ferguson's Hist, ofArch., vol. 1, p. 528.