How old is Freemasonry?
Passwords
Brother Ward concludes his famous study of Freemasonry and the Ancient
Gods with a poem entitled "Masonic signs" and inspired by his
research. These verses, and the research that inspired them, would
indicate that the archetypal traditions, teachings, signs and symbols
of the Freemasons, shared by the most ancient religions, are rooted in
the most distant antiquity. "Terminat, hora, diem; terminat auctor
opus."
Masonic signs
From Yucatan to Java's strand
We have followed thy trail o'er sea and land.
When Pharaoh lived he knew this sign,
Brother of mine, Brother of mine.
Where Vishnu sits enthroned on high
I noted Hanuman passing by,
And as he passed he made this sign,
Brother of mine, Brother of mine.
In far Canton a Buddha stood,
A gilded image of carven wood,
And, strange to say, he knew this sign,
Perfect Prince and Brother of mine.
Where Tigris flows - one blazing day -
Two Arabs appeared, as I passed that way,
And as they met they made this sign,
Companions all, brothers of mine.
Amid the bush by Zanzibar
Tribesman were gathering from afar,
And one, I swear, did make this sign,
Royal Order of Brethren mine.
In the Ocean of Peace I came to a land
Where silence broods on an empty strand,
Where ancient Gods of carven stone
Gaze o'er the waters, still and lone.
And, search as I might, I could but find
Fragments of wood, which bring to mind
Ancient writings of bygone days...
Whilst on the hieroglyphs I gaze
I find that they also knew the sign,
Brothers now dead, yet Brothers of mine!
J.S.M. Ward.
FOOTNOTES
Quoted from the landmark 20th century book "Freemasonry and the
Ancient Gods" by J.S. M. Ward:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1564591336/cbjoe-20
An extract of this rhyme is quoted in a page about the moral teachings
of Freemasonry on www.4masonry.com:
http://www.mastermason.info/education/files/moral.htm