The Origin Of Freemasonry

The subject which I have selected for this evening is lecture is the "Origin of Freemasonry", a theme which will at once, I should hope, invite the attention of each of my hearers - members themselves of that mysterious and widely-spread body. Every brother has indeed, on his initiation into the Craft, gained some little insight into that which, traditionally at least, has, for many ages, been handed down to us as the origin of that fraternity, of which, we must confess, we are now the scarcely recognised representatives; but few, perhaps, have considered how much truth is hid in our legends, and how realities have been converted into symbols. Few have reflected whether our pretended ancient descent is not a mere modern invention, or whether the present appearance of the Order is the transition state of a mystery corrupted from its purer source in its descent through ages. But your presence here, in this "Lodge of Instruction," convinces me that all apathy on the subject of our organization is past, and that you are anxious to increase the knowledge, the respectability, the zeal, and utility of the fraternity of Freemasons.