most worshipful grand lodge - Louisiana State University

32 SPECIAL COMMUNICATION OF THE GRAND LOD&Kspeculative tenets, to join an association of operative masous, ifthe order taught no lessons beyond the practical use of tools, asmasons and builders ? The speculative novitiate could have noplace in such an order, if this was the all of its existence. Therecould be no inducement for such to apply for membership ; andwithin its walls such members would be without kindred spiritsor associates. No order from Sir Christopher Wren would havebeen needed to exclude the speculative mason, for no purelyspeculative mason would have applied. After the death of GrandMaster Wren, the doors were open to both speculative and operative.There was enough for both to learn and enough taughtwithin the lodge to benefit both.The force of this historical fact will not be destroyed by the assertionthat the esoteric ritual of masonry sprung into existenceby chance, complete in all its legendary and traditional beauty ata convocation held in 1737. The statement bears upon its facethe evidence of fabrication. And it is also at variance with thetruth of history, which truth is confirmed by the ''Book of theConstitutions of the Freemasons of 1723"—the authorities forwhich are now too well known to be disputed.If further evidence is needed to establish the untruth of thisassertion, several are at hand—well authenticated in history.Henry YI succeeded to the throne of England in his infancy,1422. In the third year of his reign Parliament passed an actcharging the Masons with controverting a law of the realm, byfixing in their chapters, the price of labor t 1 A. D. 1425, anotheract by Parliament was passed making it a penal offence for Masonsto meet. 2 These statutes do not seem to have been enforced, forfive years later a lodge was held at Canterbury, under the patronageof the Archbishop himself. And, shortly thereafter, the King,having attained his majority, " not only permitted the orderto hold their meetings without molestation, but even honored the1. 3 H. VI. C. I.; Hallam's Middle Ages, vol. ii, pp. 358, 359 and note.2. 3 H. VI, Ohap. 2.