Free Masonry - The Masonic Trowel

BOOK OF CONSTITUTIONS OF MASSACHUSETTS. 45
view to a worthy maxim of the dark ages, "Omne ignotum
est pro magnifico." Every secret is a wonder.
The antiquities are copies of eight pretended ancient
manuscripts; the most important' one I give at full length.
It is
No. "VI." (page 15.)
44 A manuscript copy of an examination of some of the
brotherhood, taken before king Henry VI. was found by
the learned John Locke, in the Bodleian library. This dialogue
possesses a double claim to our regard; first, for its
'antiquity, and next, for the ingenious notes and conjectures
of Mr. Locke upon it; some of which we haVe retained.
The approbation of a philosopher of as great merit and
penetration as the British nation ever produced, added to
the real value of the piece itself, must give it a sanction,
and render it deserving a serious and candid examination."
The "sanction" it has, is the seal of the grand lodge.
Its " real value" we will examine, ** seriously," if we can.
It is written in the black, letter, and antique style, which
style I will follow through the caption, and afterwards aim
chiefly at the sense. Many of the words are obsolete, but
a glossary at the end explains them.
" Certayne questyons, with answeres to the same, concernynge
the mystery of Maconrye, writtenne by the hande
6f kynge Henrye the Sixthe of the name, and faythfullye
copyed by me Johan Leylande, Antiquarius, by the command
of his Highnesse.
" They be as followeth:
" Ques. What mote ytt be ?
" Ans. It beeth the skill of nature, the understanding of
the might that is therein, and its sundry workings, particularly
the skill of numbers, of weights, and measures, and
the true manner of forming all things for man's use, chiefly
dwellings, and buildings of all kinds, and aU other things
that make good to man.
"Ques. Wherdydyttbeginne?
44 Ans. It did begin with the first men in the East, which