THE ANTIQUITIES OF FREEMASONRY.
9
to the present day,^ and very recently found an eloquent exponent in Mr E. T.
Carson, of Cincinnati, U.S.A.
Notwithstanding the entire absence of historical corroboration,
it has been adopted by many writers of ability, and has exercised no inconsiderable influence
endured
in the fabrication of
what are termed
"
High Degrees," and
in the invention of Continental
Eites.2
Nicholai, a learned bookseller of Berlin, advanced, in 1782, a singular hypothesis.^
His
Lord Bacon, influenced by the writings of Andreii,* the alleged founder of
the Eosicrucians, and of his English disciple, Eobert Fludd, gave to the world his " New
belief was, that
Atlantis," a beautiful apologue in
A ship -which
by the South
which are
to
had been detained at Peru
be found
many
ideas of a Masonic character.
one whole year, sails for China and Japan
In stress of weather the weary mariners gladly make the haven of a port
Sea.
for
which they find inhabited by Christians. They are brought to the strangers'
of which is abundant; thirty-seven years having elapsed since the
of similar visitors.
The governor informs them " of the erection and institution,
of a fair
city,
house, the revenue
arrival
1900 years ago, of an order or society by King Solamena, the noblest foundation that ever
was upon the earth, and the lanthorn of the kingdom."
It was dedicated to the study
of the works and creatures of God, and appears to have been indifferently described as
"
Solomon's House," or " The College of the Six Day's Works."
During the stay of the visitors at this city (in the Island of Bensalem), one of the fathers
"
"
of
Solomon's House
came there, and the historiographer of the party had the honour of
an interview,
of the
"
whom
to
the patriarch, in the Spanish tongue, gave a full relation of the state
"
College."
Firstly,"
he
"
said,
we have
society
was formed of fellows
;
for our
functions whereto our fellows are assigned
observe."
The
you the end of our foundation secondly, the
works thirdly, the several employments and
and fourtlily, the ordinances and rites which we
I will set forth unto
preparation or instruments
;
;
or brethren,
and novices or apprentices.
oath of secrecy, " for the concealing of those things which we think
some of those we do reveal sometimes to the State, and some not." ^
The
narrative breaks off abruptly with the words,
According
House
is
to the latest of
"
Baconian commentators,
The
]\Ir
fit
to
keep
All took an
secret
;
though
was not perfected."
"
Spedding, The story of Solomon's
rest
nothing more than a vision of the practical results, which Lord Bacon anticipated
from the study of natural
history, diligently
and systematically carried on through successive
generations."
'
Frost, Secret Societies of tlie
European Revolution, 1876, vol. i., p. 22.
Although the Knights Templars are several times referred to in this chapter,
connects them with the Freemasons will he reserved for a later part of this work.
*
my
examiuation of the theory which
'
Versuch iiber die Besschuldigungen. French and English translations respectively of the appendix to this work
(which contains Nicholai's Essay on the Origin of Freemasonry) will be found in Thory's Acta Latomorum, and in the
Freemasons' Quarterly Review, 1S53, p. 649.
*
John Valentine Andrea, born 1586, died 165i. The most important of his works (or of those ascribed to his pen)
Fama Fraternitatis " and the "Chemical Macriage" (Cliemisclie Hockzeit), published circa 1614 and 1616
It has been stated "that Fludd must be considered as the immediate father of Freemasonry, as Andrea,
respectively.
was its remote father " (Freemasons' Magazine, April 1858).
^
The New Atlantis (Spedding's Bacon), vol. iii., p. 129. The New Atlantis seems to have been written in 1624,
and was first published in 1627 (Preface, p. 121).
are the "
!
B