CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. THE REVIVAL.-DR. DESAGULIERS.-1717-1722 CHAPTER II. - ATTACK AND DEFENCE.-DR. ANDERSON.-1722-1740.... 21 CHAPTER III. PROCESSIONS.-MARTIN CLARE, A.M.-1740-1747 CHAPTER IV. THE SCHISM.-DR. MANNINGHAM.-1747-1760 CHAPTER V. TESTS AND QUALIFICATIONS. - ENTICK, HESLETINE, CAL- CHAPTER VI. 93 THE REVELATIONS OF A SQUARE. CHAPTER I. THE REVIVAL.-DR. DESAGULIERS. 1717-1722. "I could a tale unfold."-SHAKESPEARE. "Dost feel a wish to learn this thing of me?" "Hoc est TITANIA. Vivere bis, vitâ posse priore frui.". MARTIAL. A FRIEND and Brother, who resides in town, knowing that I am somewhat of a dabbler in antiquities, forwarded to me, some time ago, an old SILVER SQUARE, which he told me had the reputation of having been used in one of the earliest Lodges after the revival of Masonry in 1717. Of course I found it an object of great interest, and value it accordingly. Although a good deal battered, the inscription is still distinctly visible. On one limb of its upper face is the following legend KEEPE WITHIN COMPASSE; and on the other— ACTE ON YE SQUARE. At the angle of junction is a rude heart with the letter J on it. The reverse is blank, with the excep B tion of two small old English capitals C. U. at the angle. The jewel is soon described; but how am I to pourtray my feelings, when, with the instrument lying on the table before me, I called up the spirits of the dead, and contemplated scenes of bygone times the working of Lodges-the solemn Labours and convivial Refreshments which this small token had witnessed the racy jests and sparkling wit which set the table on a roar, after the hours of business were past. This was the age when the facetious Doctor Sheridan reduced punning to a system, and it was practised by rule and compass : and therefore we may readily believe that the Lodges had their share of it. "O!" I exclaimed aloud, "if this square could speak, what interesting scenes it might reveal, and how it would enlighten us about the doings of Freemasonry at the time of its revival!" I had been sitting late one evening in contemplation of the scenes which took place in the palmy days of Masonry, when Desaguliers, Payne, Anderson, Lamball, Morrice, Timson, and their compeers were at the helm of affairs. A dull and dreamy sensation came over me, and I saw, or fancied I saw, the Square, which had just been reposing motionless before me, raise itself up, with great solemnity, on the exterior points of its two limbs, which seemed to assume the form of legs. Body it had none, but the heart which was delineated at the angle, put forth two eyes, a snub nose, and a mouth-a sort of amplification of the letter J. I could trace the features distinctly, as we see the figure of a human face in the fire on a winter's night. While I was considering what all this could mean, I heard a small thin voice pronounce my name. To say I was merely surprised at this unexpected phenomenon, would be too tame an expression-I was utterly astonished and confounded. I rubbed my eyes and looked round the room. Everything appeared exactly as usual—no change could I perceive ; the fire burned brightly; the books covered the walls ; the candles cast their usual light; and the ticking of the spring clock over my head preserved its usual monotony. I began to fancy I had been mistaken, when my name was again uttered by the same unearthly voice, and there stood the little fellow, as if determined to indulge in some demoniacal soliloquy to which I was constrained to listen. At length it communicated its intention by saying "Attend to me, and I will realize all your wishes, by enlightening you on the subject of your meditations, and giving you the benefit of my experience; but first let me caution you not to utter a single syllable, for if you do the charm will be broken; the sound of the human voice silences me for ever. "I was originally the property of a Brother whose extensive genius has invested his name with immortality-Sir Christopher Wren, Grand Master of Masonry at the latter end of the seventeenth century, which fell into desuetude when King George I. had the impolicy to supersede this great man in favour of Bro. W. Benson, and so disgusted him with the |