Free Masonry - The Masonic Trowel

ROYAL AECH MASONRY. 16?
a Quoth she, if you suspect my troth,
" I cannot prove it but by oath;
" And if you make a question on't,
u 111 pawn my word that 1 have donet. r
No doubt; but where were the books of the prophets and of
the Psalms? Did the hussy in her haste leave them to
perish ? Such carelessness was unpardonable ; true, these
were saved, but no thanks to ancient Free Masonry; she
left undone much the larger part of her duty, and is entitled
rather to reproof than " gratitude" y
Now 530, the number of years before the Christian era
that the foundations of the second temple were laid at Jerusalem,
and that the fact occurred on which the royal arch
is founded, added to A. D. 1819, the year when the " most
excellent grand officers" were elected, exactly gives the
era of royal arch Masonry, according to Mr. Cross. v
530
A. D. 1819
R. A. M. 2349
*' Five hundred and thirty-five years before the birth of
our Saviour, the foundation of the second temple was laid
at Jerusalem ;• at which time those peculiar circumstances
occurred which gave rise to thk royal arch degreed" ( Templar's
Chart, p. 10.)
On the other hand, Mr. Webb, second in Masonry to no
other man, supported by the Grand Chapter of Rhode
Island, giving.the important tradition belonging to the
Knights of the Arch,, (Free Mason's Monitor, part 2. book
1. chap. 10. New-York, 1802.); states that Joabert, Stockin,
and G., having, by the special favour of the Most High,
been " permitted to discover the most precious jewels of
Masonry, 19 Solomon conferred upon them as a reward," the
most sublime and mysterious degree of royal arch Masonry:'
This royal arch is a "most mysterious degree," all will allow.
Those only who take it are privileged to descant up-