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 GENEHAL H I S T O .R Y ,

C Y C L O P E D IA
AND

DICTIONARY
OP

FREEMASONRY;
CONTAINING

AS ElABORAra ACCOUST OF THE RISE ASD PROGRESS OF FREEMASONRY,

AND

ITS KINDRED ASSOCIATIONS—ANCIENT AND MODERN.

ALSO,

DEFINITIONS OF THE

TECHNICAL TERMS USED BY THE FRATEKNl'l’Y.

B Y E G B E R T M AGGY", 33®,
A U T H O B OP

The Boole o f (hs Lodge, 3IoMmie Manual^ True MoMnxc Guide, Vocal }Iannal, ete.; P ast Deputy
G rand Muster o f New York o i i f i Nova Scotia, Piist Grand Secrei'iry o f New York, Gr:ind
Recorder o f the Grand Commandery f f New York, BejirefentaUre o f the Grand Lodges
o f Wisconsin, Illinois, and N ova Scotia, o f the Grait/1 Vommanderies o f Tennessee
and Texas, and the Grand Oyuncil o f New Brunsioick, etc.

311nslrntci) roitli npttiorii of 300 (Eaigrooings.

N EW Y O R K :
MASGNIC PUBLISHING COMPANY,
G26 B R O A D W A Y .
1872.
 Entered ftccording to Act of Congress, in the year 186$, by the

MASONIC PUBLISHINQ AND MANUTACTURINQ CO.,

In the Clerk's Offlce of the District Court of the United States for the
Southern District of New Tork.
 StacK
Anne>c
5

PREFACE.

To supply, to some extent, the increasing demand for

knowledge, by students in the science of Freemasonry,
and to keep step with the irresistible progress of our institu­
tion, were the impelling motives that induced the undersigned
to undertake the arrangement of a work of this character.
Dr. Oliver’s Dictionary o f Symbolical Masonry, notwithstand­
ing its value and usefulness, falls short of the present wants
of the Fraternity. Dr. A lbert G. SIackey’s Lexicon of
Freemasonry, better adapted to the requirements of the
Fraternity in the United States than any other work of the
kind heretofore published, is also deficient in many respects.
The present volume is intended to remedy many of the
defects and omissions of its predecessors, and to exhibit, in
a form of easy reference, the latest developments and
progress of the institution, and the results of more recent
investigations. It contains a comprehensive explication of
the whole system of Freemasonry, and of kindred or similar
associations— ancient and modern— being a careful con­
densation of all that has ever been written on the subject;
intelligible to the Fraternity; and mysterious to the profane.
My purpose will be eifectually and very satisfactorily an­
swered, if the definitions here given of the technical and
other terms of Masonry, shall prove of sufficient value to
1

2 G(.5331
n PBKPACE.

iiw3uc<3 the render tp increase his stc ck of knowledge by a

refei'ence to other works, where the subjects are more
thoroughly discussed, or to confirm the more advanced
Mason in the truth of those noble principles of the Craft,
to the study of which he has devoted his time and talents.
In the preparation of the Histoi’y of the Masonic Institu­
tion, evei’y available means has been adopted to o^jtain the
most reliable information whereon to found a truthful
chronicle of its origin and early progress throughout the
several parts of the world. The many and almost insur­
mountable difficulties in arriving at precise dates, when the
materials are scattered in different places, or mixed with
iloubtful circumstances, are sufficient to almost deter any
writer from attempting the undertaking. Notwithstanding
the uncertainty with which much of the matter of history
is surrounded, a diligent and careful examination of the
materials, the probabilities of statements possessing the
germs of truth were too convincing to be set aside without
calm reflection and mature consideration. With these
views the history in the accompanying pages is offered to
the Fraternity, in the hope that it will jirove satisfactory
and useful.
I have been greatly assisted in the arrangement of this
work by Bro. A u g . C. L. A r n o l d , LL. D., whose knowledge
and correct discrimination upon subjects connected with
the history and science of Freemasonry and its kindred
associations, will be a guaranty for their correctness. To
Bro. J o h n W. S im o n s , Past Grand Master of New York,
whose knowledge of the arcana of Masonry is not excelled
by any writer of the present age, I am also indebted for
many valuable articles and excellent suggestions. To these
end other brethren who have kindly aided me I tender my
liearty thanks.
Again asking the fraternal indulgence of the brethren
for whatever defects may still be apparent, the work is re­
spectfully submitted to their inspection.
ROBT. MAUOY.
 G E I^ E E A L

HISTORY OF FREEMASONRY.

“ Of all the institutions which Imvc been established for the purpose
o f improving the condition o f mankind, Freemasonry stands pre­
eminent in usefulness as it is in age. Its origin is lost in the abyss ol
unexplored antiquity. No historical records, no traditionary accounts,
can with certainty point out the precise time, tlie place, or the partic­
ular manner o f its commencement. While some liave endeayored to
discover its footsteps amongst the master-builders and artists engaged
in the construction o f the first .Jewish tem[)le, others have attom])ted
to trace it to the Eleusini.an mysteries, which are said to ha\e taught
the immortality o f tlie soul and the other sublime truths o f natural
religion. Some again have ascribed its rise to the sainted heroes ol
the Crusades; while otliers h.ave endeavored to penetrate the mysteries
of the Druids, and to discover its origin amongst the wise men ol
that institution.”— D e W i t t C l in t o n .

T h e difficulty o f arriving at the precise time, place, or

circumstaiioo in which JIasoiiry or its true prototype began,
has been encountered by every writer upon the subject.
Some, over-anxious for the dignity o f the fraternity, have rep­
resented it as coeval with the world.* Others, more moder­
ate, find its origin in the religious mysteries o f tiie ancient
world, and particularly in a supposed branch o f those reli­
gions associations formed by the .architects o f Tyre, who,
under the name o f the “ Dionysiac Fraternity,” constituted
an .association o f builders, exclusively engaged in the con­
struction o f temples and othei- prominent edifices in Asia
Minor, and who wore distinguished by the use o f secret
signs and other modes o f mutual recognition. Without
adopting any untenable opinions, we are justified in avowing
that the institution must have been framed by a people who

* Andomon, Preston, and many other Masonic writers claim for tlia
Older the higliest antiquity. Preston is particular in his expressions
as to tlie origin of the institution, by saying : “ From the commence­
ment of the world, we may trace tlie found,ation of Miisouiy.” lie un­
doubtedly meant tliat its principles were coexistent witli the universe—
for lie qualifies the preceding sentence by the following expressions:
“ Ever since symmetry began, and Iiarmony displayed her charms, our
order lias liad a being.” Regarding t k u t i i as tlie sun of the Masonic
system, around wliich all the otlicr virtues revolve, we may trace tlien
its origin to G od — tlie fountain o f all trutii, with whom there is no con­
fusion or disorder, but perfect symmetry and liarmoiiy. In that sense
the origin o f Freem.asoiiry may be reconciled with the” eommeiicemi'ni
of the world.”
S GENERAL HISTORI OF FREEMASONRY.

had made considerable advance in science. The Egyptians,

in the time o f Moses, were proficient in all the arts and
sciences,* as the gigantic works constructed in those early
ages, still existing, prove. Their language was mystical, and
their priests secured the mysteries o f their religion from the
knowledge o f the vulgar or uninitiated by symbols and
hieroglyphics, comprehensible alone to those o f their order.
The t'raternity o f ancient Egypt was denominated the Hiero-
Laotomi, or Sacred Builders. They .were a selected caste,
and connected with the government and priesthood, being in
fact 3Iasons o f the piacstly order; whilst the ordinary
Masons or artificers were o f an inferior caste.f The intent
and purpose o f those stupendous fabrics, the pyramids, was
a great mystery, and a mystery .they still remain.
Moses w'as initiated into the secrets and mysteries o f the
priestly order when in Egypt, and some have imagined that
the Hebrews assisted in the construction o f the pyramids;
but, in all probability, these wondrous efforts o f Masonic
skill were hoary w th age when the ehildren o f Israel settled
in the land o f Goshen, and were emblems o f sublime truths
to a civilized nation when Abraham was a wanderer in the
wilderness.
By Egyptian colonists, according to our biblical chronol­
ogy, the arts were carried to Greece two or three centuries
before the age o f Moses. By the Israelites a purer knowdedge
of building was carried to the promised land; and when
they became a settled people, the remembrance o f the beau­
tiful and stupendous edifices they had seen in Egypt, led
them to attempt constructions suited to their future home.
But it is evident that by the death o f their great master,
Moses, the Israelites w'cre not in full possession o f the knowl­
edge requisite to complete the glorious fabric which the G.
A. O. T. U. had in vision to King David directed his son
Solomon to erect; as we find by Holy Writ, that “ the wisest
man” needed the assistance o f the King o f Tyre. Tyre and
Sidon were the chief cities o f the Phoenicians: the latter
boasts an antiquity anterior to any other whose site can be
determined. It was a place o f considerable importance in

'* “ Tho Egyptians are described to us as being the first people who
advanced to any liigh decree o f knowledge in astronomy and science;
and hence they acquired tho means o f discovering and proving the
existence of tiic Divinity, and worshipped tlie Author o f those sublime
works which they contemplated."—Du. A s h e .
f Champollion says: “ A theocracy or government o f priests wa.s
the first known to the Egyptians, and it is accessary to give tlie word
pitesU the acceiitation tliat it bore in ancient times, wlien the ministers
of religion were also the ministers of science and learning; so that they
united in their own persons two of the noblest missions with which
men could be invested—the worship o f the Deity, and the cultivation
o ' science.”
 GENERAL HISTORY OF FREEMASONRY. 9

the time o f Joshua, who speaks o f it as “ great Sidon.”

Hencevit is evident tliat tlie Phojniciaiis were far advanced
in the arts o f life, wlien tlie Israelites reached the promised
land. "W'hen Solomon was about to build the temple, he
communicated to the King o f Tyre his wish to enter into an
eng.agenient for a supply o f timber, knowing, as he said,
“ that tliere is not amongst us any that can skill to hew
limber like the Sidonians.” The answer o f the Tyrian king
is remarkable: “ I will do all thy desire concerning timber
o f cedar, and concerning timber o f fir ; my servants shall
bring them down from Lebanon unto the sea, and I will
convey them by sea in floats, unto the place that thou shalt
appoint me, and I will cause them to be discharged there.”
(1 Kings, V. 8, 9). Solomon was highly pleased with the answer
o f the Tyrian king, and in return he made him yearly pres­
ents o f the most costly kinds. Iliram sent him also a man
o f his own name, a Tyrian b j birth, but o f Israelitish parent­
age, who was honored by his king with the title o f father,
and is called Hiram Abiff,* the most accomplished designer
and operator then known in the country, wlio in Solomon’ s
absence filled the chair as Deputy Grand Master, and in his
presence was the Senior Grand Warden, or Principal Sur­
veyor and Master o f the work. That no confusion might
arise, owing to the great numbers employed. King Solomon
selected those o f most enlightened minds and comprehensive
understandings, religious men, and zealous in good works, as
masters to supei'iutund the workmen ; men skilful in georaetrj
and proportion, who had been initiated and proved in the
mystical learning o f the ancient sages— those he made over­
seers o f the work. To carry on this stupendous work w'ith
greater ease and speed, Solomon ordered all the craftsmen,
as well natives as foreigners, to be numbered and classed as
follows, viz: .
Harodim, princes, rulers, or p rov osts........................ 300
Menatzchim, o v e rse e rs .................................................. 3,300
GliUilim, stoue-squarers................................................. 80,000
The levy out o f Israel, at work in Lebanon................ 30,000

_ 113,600
Besides the ish sabbal or men o f burden, the rem.ains o f the
old Canaanites, amounting to seventy thousand, who are
not numbered among the Masons.

* This inspired JIaster was, w ithout question, the most cunning,

skilful, and curious workman that ever lived, whose abilities were
not confined to building only, but extended to all kinds o f work,
whetlier in gold, silver, brass, or iron. From his designs, and under
bis diieciion, all the ricli and splendid fnraitui'e o f tlie Tem ple and
Us several appendages was begun, carried on. and fiuislied.— lOxTiru
10 GEITERAL HISTORY OF FREEMASONRY'.,

The older traditions o f Masonry say, “ that the (mly

actual Freemasons who were present at the building o f the
Temple, were the three thousand three hundred overseers,
mentioned in 1 .Kings, v. 16, added to the three hundred
who were called Gt iblimites, and were in fact masters over
all the operative jMasons employed in the work.”
This arrangement produced the happiest effects, and in­
troduced among the frateniity that perfect harmony and
universal brotherhood which is so often referred to in our
ancient charges.* _
Masonic tradition says that the workmen were divided
into classes or degrees, and to each class were assigned dif­
ferent methods o f recognition. There is no doubt that
there was an organization among the Jews which e.vtended
beyond Judea. The Bible c.vhibits them mixing themselves
with the Tyrians or Dionysian artificers, notwithstanding
the ordinary repugnance o f the Israelites toward strangers,
and that they recognized each other b y words and secret
signs similar to those employed by natives o f other coun­
tries. There was also between the .Jews and Tyrians a
conformity o f allegorical taste, particularly in all that af­
fected sacred architecture.
So perfect was the organization among the vast num­
ber o f workmen, and so systematic the distribution o f labor,
that Solomon’ s Temple, with all its gorgeous splendor and
minute ornaments in detail, was finished in little more than
seven years from the laying o f the foundation-stone; while
the Temple o f Herod, where the same accurate arrange­
ment did not exist, occupied thirty-six years ; th.at o f Diana,
at Ephesus, two hundred years; St. Beter’s Cathedral at
Rome, one hundred and fifty-five years; and St. Paul’s in
London, thirty-five years in building.
Many o f Solomon’ s jMasons, before he died, began to
travel. The royal descendants o f King Solomon continued
to occupy the throne and patronize the noble art o f Free­
masonry until the reign o f Josiah, the last king o f Judah.
With no people did the Masons seem to exercLsc a greater
or more beneficial influence than the Gentiles. The Syrians
built a lofty temple, and a royal palace at Damascus, and
other cities on the coast and throughout Syria.

• Tlioy were instructed to “ salute one another in a courteous

manner, calling each other brother; freely giving mutual instniction,
as miglit be thousrht exiiedient, without being overseen or overheard,
and without cncroacliing upon each otlier, or derogating from that
reapeot wliich was due to any Brotlier, were he not a JIason ; for
idthough all Jfasons are, as Brethren, upon the same level, yet Ma-
Eom-y lakes no honor from a man that he had before; nay, it rather
adds to his honor, especially if he has deserved well o f tlie brother­
hood.” — .An c ie n t CiiAiiOEs.
 GENERAL HISTORY OP FREE5LASONRY. n

About thirty-five years after the death o f Solomon, the

Temple o f Diana, built by some Japhitites, in the days of
Moses, was burned down, and the kings o f Lesser Asia re­
built and ornamented it in the most splendid manner. This
temple w.as regarded by all as pre-eminently magnificent,
and hence became the third o f the seven wonders o f the
world.
In the twelfth year o f Jotham, king o f Judah, A. ir. 3256,
Sardanapalus was besieged by his brt>thers Eser and Nabo-
nassar, until, in despair, he burned himself, and all his
treasure, in the old palaee o f Nimrod, when the Assyrian
Empire was divided between Tiglath Pul Eser and Nabo-
nassar. In the days o f the latter Prince, who ruled over
Chaldea, much attention was given to the study o f astrono­
my, and so great was the advancement made in the science
that after-generations styled this the astronomical era. In
one o f the degrees o f IMasonry we have a tradition that after
Noah safely landed on Mount Ararat, and offered up sacri­
fice to God on an altar which he erected, that he turned his
attention to the cultivation o f the earth for one hundred
yc,ars; wkon, his posterity becoming numerous, he ordered
them to disperse themselves and take possession o f the earth
according to the p.artition which he made; that they tr.aveled
a westerly com-se until they came to the plains o f Shin.ar,
when they counseled together, and, fearing the consequences
o f a sep.aration, and being desirous to establish for them­
selves a name, built the city o f liabylon and the Tower o f
B.abel.
W e will not attempt to trace Masonry into eyery country,
and point out the various cities that were built or adorned
by the traveling jMasons who had assisted in the erection of
Solomon’ s Temple, but will be content to look at some o f
the more prominent places.
Masonry not only flourished in Eastern Asia, but it took a
westerly direction also. Boristhenes, in' Pontus, was built
about the period o f which we are writing. Prusias and
Chalcedon, in Bithyuia, Constantinople (then called Bizan-
tium), and Lampsacus, in the Hellespont. The travelers also
penetrated into Rome, Ravenna, Florence, and many other
cities in Italy; Granada and Malaga, and other cities of-
Spain ; and also on the coast o f Gaul.
In A . M. 3416, or n. c. 588, four hundred and sixteen years
after the completion o f the Temple, the powerful army of
Nebuchadnezzar entered Jerusalem, after a protracted siege
and took all the sacred vessels, removing the two famous
pill.ars, Jaehin and Boaz, robbed the city and the king’ s p.al-
ace o f all the riches they contained, and then set fire to the
J'emple and city, oyerthrew the walls o f the towns, and Car­
rie 1 away tlioiisands o f the people cap*^ives to the city of
12 r.KN’ ERAL HISTORY OF FREEMASONRY.

R;il)ylon, ainoiis; whom were many o f those nohle-hearted

Giblemites who descended from the builders o f Solomon’ s
Temple. And Masonic tradition informs us that they con­
tinued to hold secretly their Lodge meetings, .and, in this
way, taught their children the secrets o f Masonry and the
principles o f the revealed religion of their fathers; for it
will be remembered that, previous to the fall o f Jerusalem,
the power and authority to transcribe the law were confined
to the Scribes, and hence but a small portion o f the people
were in possession o f a copy, every copy found having been
destroyed by the infidel invader. The c.aptive Jews, there­
fore, could only perpetuate their religion by teaching it to
their children from tradition, as they did Masonry. A ll the
captive JNfasons were compelled, for the space o f fifty-two
years, to devote their time, labor, and skill in finishing and
ornamenting the buildings which the king o f Babylon and
his predecessor had commenced, as also the erection o f new
ones. In this way the Chaldean Masons, who wrought Yvith
the captive .Tews, perfected themselves in architecture, for
the results o f their joint labor made B.abylon the fourth o f
the seven wonders o f art and the boasted misti’ess o f the
world. Thus labored and toiled the true descendants o f the
children o f Israel, borne down witli oppression and slavery,
and often denied the privilege o f worshiping the God o f
their fathers. But their long sufferings were destined to re­
sult in g o o d ; for the very opposite effect to that sought by
the king o f Babylon was the result o f their long avid painful
captivity, for when the proclamation o f Cyrus was issued for
the liberation o f the Israelites, .according to the word o f God,
these architects w*ere better prepared to return to the land
they so much loved, and lay the foundation for the rebuild­
ing o f the Temple and the; city o f Jerusalem.
In 536 B. c. the Jews were liberated from Babylonish cap­
tivity by Cyrus, king o f Persia, who, in the first year o f his
reign, issued the'^following proelamatioii : “ Thus saith
Cyrus, king o f Persia: The Lord God o f heaven hath given
me all the kingdoms o f the earth ; and he hath charged mo
to build him a house at .Jerusalem, which is in Judea. W ho
is there among you o f all his people ? his God be with him,
and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judea, and build
the house o f the Lord God o f Israel, which is in Jerusalem.”
_ These “ glad tidings o f great jo y ” were received by the
liberated captives with shouting and praise—for they were
permitted to return to their former homes. Forty-two
thousand three hundred and si.vty bf the exiled Jews re­
paired, in the same’ year, from Babylon and the neighboring
cities to Jerusalem. The leaders o f these were Zerubbabel,
Josliua, and llaggai, who perform an importaiit part in the
Koyal Aroli degree!. • '
 OENEKAL HlSTOliV OF FKEEilASONRT. 13

From this period the fraternity o f traveling Masons passed

into Greece, Rome, Spain, and other countries, where their
services could he employed in the erection o f the famous
edifices for which the ancient world is justly celebrated.
In passing, in this brief outline, from the condition o f the
fraternity in what we may properly denominate the ancient
history, we will endeavor to trace its progress from that
period to the more enlightened days o f modern architecture,
and the cultivation o f the arts and sciences, in such chrono­
logical order as will give the most concise historical facts in
detail— these facts being based upon substantial documents
and the principal monuments erected by the traveling opera­
tive fraternities or Freemasons. In '715 before the Christian
era, the Roman Colleges o f Constructors were established,
composed o f men learned in all the arts and trades necessary
for the execution o f civil, religions, naval, and hydraulic
architecture, with their own laws and judges— laws based on
those o f the Dyonisian artificers, whose mysteries had spread
among the principal peoples o f the East. Numa Pompilius,
in founding these colleges, made them at the same time civil
and religious societies, with the exclusive privilege o f build­
ing temples and public edifices— their relations to the state
and the priesthood being precisely determined by the laws.
Thev had their own jurisdiction and laws; at their head were
presidents called Masters, Overseers or Wardens, Censors,
Treasurers, Keepers o f the Seals, Archivists, and Secretaries ;
they had their own physicians and serving brethren, and
paid monthly dues. The number o f members to each col­
lege was fixed by law. Composed, principally, o f Greek
artisans, they surrounded the secrets o f their art and doc­
trines by the mysteries o f their country, and concealed them
in symbols borrowed from these mysteries and from their
own arcana, one o f the characteristics o f which was the sym­
bolic employment o f the utensils o f their profession.
710. Numa, the. great legislator who fotinded the colleges,
at once assigned them^ labors o f more than ordinary impor­
tance. First, the enlargement o f the capitol, then the eom-
[iletion o f the temples' dedicated to the Sun, Moon, Sat­
urn, Mars, and other divinities, commenced under Romuluf
and other Sabine kings. On the termination o f these labors
Numa directed the construction o f temples to Faith, to Fi­
delity, to Romulus, and Janus, the god o f peace, speci.ally
adored by N um a; he caused the city to be fortified, and sur­
rounded it with walls. lie also continued labor on the fa­
mous temple erected by Uomulus- to Jupiter, on the spot
where his army, about to flee, was induced to fight by tlie
prayer addressed by Romulus to that deity. The great num­
ber of temjdes established in Rome since Romulus are due
to the custom that the gcneial-in-chief sliould erect a temple
14 GENET! AL HISTOIiT OF FREEMASON BY.

to the deity invoked l>y him in the course o f a victorious

battle; this also explains the number o f temples erected to
the same divinity. They were learned in the religious or
symbolic teachings o f the period as well as in the arts and
sciences.
CIO. Under the reign o f the elder Tarquin temples were
erected to Jupiter, Juno, and Minerva; he caused the erec­
tion o f a city wall o f hewn stone (614), a sewer for improv­
ing the health o f the city, and many other public monu­
ments. The first circus was constructed by his order.
580. Servius Tullius again enlarged Rome by the addition
o f three neighboring eminences, which he surrounded by a
w all: he also built temples to Fortune and Diana.
500. Building o f the temples o f Vesta, Hercules, Pallas,
and Minerva, under Junius Drusius.
490. The consuls Sempronius and Minucius cause the
building by the colleges o f constructors o f two temples, one
dedicated to Saturn, the other to Mercury; they also estab­
lish the Saturnalian feasts.
451. Creation o f the law o f the Twelve Tables, the V lllt h
relating to the colleges o f builders.
390. Taking o f Rome by the Gauls and destruction o f va­
rious monuments.
385. The ruined monuments are rebuilt, and new temples
constructed under F. Quintius, who dedicated them to Mars,
Juno, Health, and Concord.
312. The first paved road was constructed by the colleges,
under the ordere o f Appius Claudius, who had it extended
to Capua. The first great aqueduct was built at this time.
290. The temple to Romulus, under the title Quirinus, was
built, and in it was placed the first sun-dial, due to the con­
sul Spurius. Carvilius, who also built a temple to Fortis-
Fortuna, to contain the spoils taken from the Etruscans. A
temple in honor o f Esculapius is built on an island in the
Tiber. - • , .,
285. The fraternities o f builders, as they were then called,
attached to the Roman legions, establish themselves in Cisal­
pine Gaul (Venezia and Lombardy), on the conquest o f that
country by the Romans; these fr.aternities, a detachment o f
which accompanied each legion, were charged with the duty
o f drawing plans for all military constructions, such as in­
trenched camps, strategic roads, bridges, aqueducts, dwell­
ings, e tc.; they directed the soldiers and laborers in the
actual execution o f these works; and they also made the in­
struments o f warfare. So far as related to matters directly
pertaining to the war, they were under the orders o f the gen­
erals or chiefs o f the legions, but in .all other matters enjoyed
their peculiar privileges. Composed o f artists and learned