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*Mehr Licht!*
*More Light!*
*Number 275 – April 26,
2010*
*Dear Masonic Student,
*The following information
comes from the 7 volume set of Mackey's Revised History of
Freemasonry - Clegg edition; by Robert Ingham Clegg. There are
at
least 2 revised editions of Mackey’s History of
Freemasonry. I think the Clegg edition gives much more detail
that the other editions. However, for the Masonic student the
original as well as the Singleton and Clegg edition are all quite
useful.*
**
*Below are included some segments of text from
pages 692 & 693 of volume 3 of the Clegg edition. If
you have access to this set you will enjoy reading the ‘preceding
chapter’ Brother Clegg mentions below.*
**
*"The
use of prayer in the Scottish Lodges of the 17th century is not a
supposition. That is proved by actual records. Brother Lyon, in
his invaluable work, to which we have been almost wholly indebted
for the facts in the present and the preceding chapter, supplies
us with two forms of prayers, one 'to be said at the convening,'
and the other 'to be said before dismissing.' Both are taken from
the minute-books of Mary’s Chapel Incorporation for the
year 1699." *
**
*"Oh Lord, we most humblie
beseech theee to be present with us in merecy, and to bless our
meeting and haill (whole) exercise which wee now have in hand. O
Lord, enlighten our understanding and direct our hearts and
mynds, so with thy good Spirit, that wee may frame all our
purposes and conclusions to the glory of thy name and the welfare
of our Brethren; and therefore O Lord, let no partiall respect,
neither of ffeed (enmity) nor favour, draw us out of the right
way. But grant that we may ever so frame all our purposes and
conclusions to the glory of thy name and the welfare of our
Brethren. Grant these things, O Lord, unto us, and what else thou
sees more necessarie for us, and that only for the love of thy
dear son Jesus Christ, our alone Lord and Saviour; To whom with
thee, O Father, and the belessed Spirit of Grace, Wee render all
praise, honor and glory,
for ever and ever. Amen." *
**
*"The Second
Prayer, or that used at the dismissal of closing of the Lodge is
as follows: *
**
*"Oh Lord, wee most humbly
acknowledge the goodnesse in meeting with us together at this
tyme, to confer upon a present condition of this world. O
Lord, make us also study heaven and heavenly myndednesse, that we
may get our souls for a prey, and O Lord, be with us and
accompany us the rest of this day, now and forever. Amen."
*
**
*"The importance of this record of prayers at
opening and closing in the Scottish Lodges, is that it adds great
force to the claim that a similar custom existed in the English
Lodges at the same period." *
**
*"Therefore we
may fairly conclude that it was the practice of the Scottish
Lodges of the 17th century to open and close their meetings with
prayer, a ceremony that we have reason to infer was also
practiced by the English Lodges of the same period."*
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