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fair chance of knowing what we know？ Have we proof that their
hatred was against all religion； or only against that which they saw
around them？ Have we proof that they would have equally hated； had
they been in permanent contact with them； creeds more free from
certain faults which seemed to them； in the case of the French
Church； ineradicable and inexpiable？ Till then we must have
charitywhich is justiceeven for the philosophes of the
eighteenth century。
This view of the case had been surely overlooked by M。 de
Tocqueville； when he tried to explain by the fear of revolutions；
the fact that both in America and in England； 〃while the boldest
political doctrines of the eighteenth…century philosophers have been
adopted； their anti…religious doctrines have made no way。〃
He confesses that； 〃Among the English； French irreligious philosophy
had been preached； even before the greater part of the French
philosophers were born。 It was Bolingbroke who set up Voltaire。
Throughout the eighteenth century infidelity had celebrated
champions in England。 Able writers and profound thinkers espoused
that cause； but they were never able to render it triumphant as in
France。〃 Of these facts there can be no doubt： but the cause which
he gives for the failure of infidelity will surely sound new and
strange to those who know the English literature and history of that
century。 It was； he says； 〃inasmuch as all those who had anything
to fear from revolutions； eagerly came to the rescue of the
established faith。〃 Surely there was no talk of revolutions； no
wish； expressed or concealed； to overthrow either government or
society； in the aristocratic clique to whom English infidelity was
confined。 Such was； at least； the opinion of Voltaire； who boasted
that 〃All the works of the modern philosophers together would never
make as much noise in the world as was made in former days by the
disputes of the Cordeliers about the shape of their sleeves and
hoods。〃 If （as M。 de Tocqueville says） Bolingbroke set up Voltaire；
neither master nor pupil had any more leaning than Hobbes had toward
a democracy which was not dreaded in those days because it had never
been heard of。 And if （as M。 de Tocqueville heartily allows） the
English apologists of Christianity triumphed； at least for the time
being； the cause of their triumph must be sought in the plain fact
that such men as Berkeley； Butler； and Paley； each according to his
light； fought the battle fairly； on the common ground of reason and
philosophy； instead of on that of tradition and authority； and that
the forms of Christianity current in Englandwhether Quaker；
Puritan； or Anglicanoffended； less than that current in France；
the common…sense and the human instincts of the many； or of the
sceptics themselves。＇
But the eighteenth century saw another movement； all the more
powerful； perhaps； because it was continually changing its shape；
even its purpose； and gaining fresh life and fresh adherents with
every change。 Propagated at first by men of the school of Locke； it
became at last a protest against the materialism of that school； on
behalf of all that is； or calls itself； supernatural and mysterious。
Abjuring； and honestly； all politics； it found itself sucked into
the political whirlpool in spite of itself； as all human interests
which have any life in them must be at last。 It became an active
promoter of the Revolution； then it helped to destroy the
Revolution； when that had； under Napoleon； become a levelling
despotism； then it helped； as actively； to keep revolutionary
principles alive； after the reaction of 1815：a Protean
institution； whose power we in England are as apt to undervalue as
the governments of the Continent were apt； during the eighteenth
century； to exaggerate it。 I mean； of course； Freemasonry； and the
secret societies which； honestly and honourably disowned by
Freemasonry； yet have either copied it； or actually sprung out of
it。 In England； Freemasonry never was； it seems； more than a
liberal and respectable benefit…club； for secret societies are
needless for any further purposes； amid free institutions and a free
press。 But on the Continent during the eighteenth century；
Freemasonry excited profound suspicion and fear on the part of
statesmen who knew perfectly well their friends from their foes； and
whose precautions were； from their point of view； justified by the
results。
I shall not enter into the deep question of the origin of
Freemasonry。 One uninitiate； as I am； has no right to give an
opinion on the great questions of the mediaeval lodge of Kilwinning
and its Scotch degrees； on the seven Templars； who； after poor
Jacques Molay was burnt at Paris； took refuge on the Isle of Mull；
in Scotland； found there another Templar and brother Mason；
ominously named Harris； took to the trowel in earnest； and revived
the Order；on the Masons who built Magdeburg Cathedral in 876； on
the English Masons assembled in Pagan times by 〃St。 Albone； that
worthy knight；〃 on the revival of English Masonry by Edwin； son of
Athelstan； on Magnus Grecus； who had been at the building of
Solomon's Temple； and taught Masonry to Charles Martel； on the
pillars Jachin and Boaz； on the masonry of Hiram of Tyre； and indeed
of Adam himself； of whose first fig…leaf the masonic apron may be a
typeon all these matters I dare no more decide than on the making
of the Trojan Horse； the birth of Romulus and Remus； or the
incarnation of Vishnoo。
All I dare say is； that Freemasonry emerges in its present form into
history and fact； seemingly about the beginning of George I。's
reign； among Englishmen and noblemen； notably in four lodges in the
city of London： （1） at The Goose and Gridiron alehouse in St。
Paul's Churchyard； （2） at The Crown alehouse near Drury Lane； （3） at
The Apple Tree tavern near Covent Garden； （4） at The Rummer and
Grapes tavern； in Charnel Row； Westminster。 That its principles
were brotherly love and good fellowship； which included in those
days port； sherry； claret； and punch； that it was founded on the
ground of mere humanity； in every sense of the word； being （as was
to be expected from the temper of the times） both aristocratic and
liberal； admitting to its ranks virtuous gentlemen 〃obliged；〃 says
an old charge； 〃only to that religion wherein all men agree； leaving
their particular opinions to themselves： that is； to be good men
and true； or men of honour and honesty； by whatever denominations or
persuasions they may be distinguished； whereby Masonry becomes the
centre of union and means of conciliating true friendship among
persons that otherwise must have remained at a distance。〃
Little did the honest gentlemen who established or re…established
their society on these grounds； and fenced it with quaint
ceremonies； old or new； conceive the importance of their own act；
we； looking at it from a distance； may see all that such a society
involved； w