CHAPTER XXVII

THE MASONIC LECTURES
THE Masonic Lectures are an elaborate ex- planation and commentary, not only of the ceremonies of the three Degrees and of the Tracing Boards appertaining to them, but of many important subjects connected with the higher phases of Masonry and Masonic thought. As at present constituted, they are divided as to seven sections in the First Lecture, five sections in the Second Lecture, and three sections in the Third Lecture, making fifteen sections in all. They are catechetical in form, and at some Masonic festivals all the fifteen sections are worked on the same evening !
The system of Lodge Lectures is, as com- pared with Masonry itself, of modern growth.
Some of the questions would seem to be intended merely to test the bona fides of the person examined, as both question and answer are distinctly arbitrary.
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It may be accepted as historical fact that — previous to 1717 the fraternity was without any such system.
Prior to that time the Charges and Cove- nants explanatory of the duties of Masons to each other, seem to have been read ‘at the making of a Freemason,’ but these charges contained no instruction as to the symbolism of the Order. (See p. 353.)
The earliest authorized Lectures were ap- parently arranged by Drs. Anderson and Desaguliers, but they were imperfect and unsatisfactory, and in 1732 Bro. Martin Clare, M.A. (afterwards Deputy Grand Master), was commissioned by Grand Lodge to prepare a system of Lectures ‘which should be adapted to the existing state of the Order without infringing on the Ancient Landmarks.’
Oliver says that Clare’s version of the Lectures was so judiciously drawn up that its practice was enjoined on all the Lodges.
But Clare’s Lectures did not long occupy - their authoritative position in the Order. About 1766 Thomas Dunckerley—‘ that truly Masonic luminary ’—-was authorized by Grand Lodge of ‘ Moderns’ to prepare a new course of Lectures.
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Dunckerley’s Lectures were a consider- able amplification of those of Clare, but a considerable modification also, as in them he dissevered the Master’s Word from the Third Degree, and postponed it into the Royal Arch Ceremony.
Even Dunckerley’s had to give way to the Lectures of William Hutchinson, of the North of England; and while Hutchinson was labouring in the North, another light, of almost equal splendour, appeared in the South, and a system of Lectures was pre- pared by William Preston, which soon super- seded all those that had previously been in use. It is supposed that Hutchinson and Preston united in this undertaking, and that the Prestonian Lectures which were after- wards universally adopted were the result of the combined labours of the two.
In 1787 William Preston organized the Grand Chapter of Harodim in order to thoroughly teach the Lectures he had pre- pared. Some of the most distinguished Masons of the day became members of the Order.
The Prestonian Lectures continued to be used authoritatively until the Union in 1813, when it was determined to ‘revise’ the
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system of Lectures. This duty was en- trusted to the Rev. Dr. Hemming. Many alterations of the Prestonian system were made by Dr. Hemming, principally, it is said, in consequence of their Christian refer- ences.
It appears from a letter from Bro. Philip Broadfoot (who was one of the members of the Lodge of Reconciliation and founder of the Stability Lodge of Instruction), that Bro. Hemming, after arranging the First Lecture, could not be induced to go on with the Second and Third, and that Bro. Philip Broadfoot was obliged to arrange them him- ‘self !
As may well be imagined, this was the subject of debate and controversy, as in 1819 complaint was made ‘against Philip Broad- foot and others for working unauthorized Lectures.’ Into this we need not enter very deeply. The Board of General Purposes re- commended that the Lecture complained of should not be further promulgated, but Grand Lodge thought it unnecessary to adopt the recommendation, and, indeed, the M. W. Grand Master, the Duke of Sussex, stated that jt was his opinion that so long as the Master of any Lodge observed exactly the Land-
Freemasonry and its Etiquette
marks of the Craft he was at liberty to give the Lectures in the language best suited to the character of the Lodge over which he presided. This will explain why the Lec- tures practised by the Stability Lodge of Instruction have since claimed to be con- sidered as legally ‘ orthodox ’ as those of the Emulation Lodge of Improvement; but the same considerations apply, though not in the same degree, to the Lectures as to the Ritual, as to the desirability of adhering to a precise and uniform method of working.
In 1819 the Perseverance Lodge of In- struction unanimously passed a resolution ‘that the Lectures as heretofore worked in this Lodge be continued.’* This was seconded by Bro. J. H. Wilson, subsequently a founder of the Emulation Lodge of Im- _ provement.
In 1821 a similar resolution was carried unanimously.
In 1823 the Emulation Lodge of Improve- ment was founded by ‘ several Brethen who considered that the Masonic Lectures were not worked in Lodges upon a sufficiently regulated system, and that if those whose attainments as working Masons placed them as a prominent authority were to meet
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together and to work efficiently, they might be the means of effecting much improve- ment.’ The work of this Lodge of Improve- ment was at first confined to the Lectures, but afterwards the Ceremonies were intro- duced. The Grand Stewards Lodge was, until that time, the only recognized authority for a recognized system of Lectures. The Lectures then worked at the Grand Stewards Lodge were probably the ‘ Prestonian ’ Lec- tures formerly worked in the Lodge of Antiquity No. 2, William Preston’s favourite Lodge. Accordingly, some members of the Grand Stewards Lodge conceived it to be their duty to watch the proceedings; and some Grand Officers, with Bro. Harper, the Grand Secretary, attended, and were greatly pleased with all they saw.
‘For how long a period the Lectures as now worked at Emulation were previously in vogue it is impossible to state definitely, but we have every reason for believing that they are almost identical with the Lectures worked in the Perseverance Lodge of In- struction, which were described as ‘‘ An- cient’? in 1821, and they certainly bear a striking resemblance to Lectures known to have been in use about 1708.’
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Bro. Thomas Fenn in 1893 stated that Bro, Stephen Barton Wilson admitted having made a few additions to the Lectures. No — alteration has been made since, and in their present form they are regularly practised by the Emulation Lodge of Improvement.
William Preston died in 1818, and was. buried in St. Paul’s Cathedral. He _ be- queathed, among other Masonic gifts, £500 Consols to the Board of Benevolence, and £300 Consols as an endowment for the annual delivery of the Prestonian Lecture. This was delivered somewhat intermittently until 1862, since which date it appears to have been forgotten.
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