Whoever, attentively considers the nature and tendency of the Masonic
institution, must readily perceive its general utility. (Mr. Arnold, in his Dutch
Dictionary, under the word Freemasonry, says, that it is "A Moral Order,
instituted by virtuous men, with the praiseworthy, design of recalling to our
remembrance the most sublime truths, in the midst of the most innocent and
social pleasures, founded on liberality, brotherly live and charity.") From an
anxious desire to display its value, I have been induced to offer the following
sheets to the Public. Many reasons might have with-held me from the attempt;
my inexperience as a writer, my attention to the duties of a laborious profession,
and the many abler hands who have treated the subject before me; yet, under all
these disadvantages, the persuasion of friends, added to a warm zeal in the
cause, have stimulated me to risk my reputation on the fate of my performance.
When I first had the honor to be elected Master of a lodge, I thought it proper to
inform myself fully of the general rules of the Society, that I might be able to
fulfill my own duty, and officially enforce a due obedience in others. The methods
which I adopted with this view, excited in some of superficial knowledge, an
absolute dislike of what they considered as innovations; and in other, who were
better informed, a jealousy of pre-eminence which the principles of Masonry
ought to have checked. Notwithstanding these discouragements, however, I
persevered in my intention of supporting the dignity of the Society, and
discharging with fidelity the trust reposed in me.
As candor and integrity, uninfluenced by interest and favor, will ever support a
good cause, many of my opponents (pardon the expression) began to discover
their error, and not only applauded, but cheerfully concurred in the execution of
my measures; while others, of less liberality, tacitly approved of what their
former declared opinions forbad then publicly to adopt.
This success exceeding my most sanguine wishes, I was encouraged to examine
with more attention the contents of our various lectures. The rude and imperfect
state in which I found them, the variety of modes established in our lodges, and
the difficulties which I encountered in my researches, rather discouraged me first
attempt; preserving, however, in the design, I continued, I continued the pursuit;
and assisted by a few friends, who had carefully preserved what ignorance and
degeneracy had rejected as unintelligible and absurd, I diligently sought for, and
at length happily acquired, some ancient and venerable landmarks of the Order.
Fully determined to pursue the design of the effecting a general reformation, and
fortunate in the acquisition of the friends which I had made, I continued my
industry till I had prevailed on a sufficient number to join in an attempt to correct
the irregularities which had crept into our assemblies, and to exemplify the
beauty and utility of the Masonic system.
We commenced our plan by enforcing the value of the ancient charges and
regulations of the Order, which inattention had suffered to sink into oblivion, and
we established those charges as the basis of our work. To imprint on the memory
of a faithful discharge of our duty, we reduced the more material parts of our
system into practice; and to encourage others in promoting the plan, we
observed a general rule of reading one or more of these charges at every regular
meeting, and of elucidating such passages as seemed obscure. The useful hints
afforded by these means enabled us gradually to improve our plan, till we at last
succeeded in bringing into a connected form the sections which now compose the
