ILLUSTRATIONS OF MASONRY

by WILLIAM PRESTON (1742-1818)
Past Master of the Lodge of Antiquity

The Twelfth Edition, London. 1812
Strahan and Preston
Printers-Street, London

FORWARD

PREFACE

INTRODUCTION

BOOK I - The Excellency of Masonry Displayed

SECTION I - Reflections
SECTION II - Friendship
SECTION III - Origin of Masonry
SECTION IV - Masonry Under Two Denominations
SECTION V - The Government of the Fraternity
SECTION VI - Reasons for the Secrets of Masonry
SECTION VII - Irregularities of Masons
SECTION VIII - Charity the Distinguishing Characteristic of Masons
SECTION IX - Discernment
SECTION X - Friendly Admonitions

BOOK II - General Remarks

SECTION I - General Remarks
SECTION II - The Ceremony of Opening and Closing
SECTION III - Remarks
SECTION IV - Remarks
SECTION V - Remarks
SECTION VI - Of the Ancient Ceremonies

BOOK III - The Principles of Masonry Explained

SECTION I - A Letter
SECTION II - Remarks

BOOK IV - The History of Masonry

SECTION I - Masonry Early Introduced into England
SECTION II - History of Masonry in England
SECTION III - History of Masonry in England
SECTION IV - History of Masonry in the South of England
SECTION V - Progress of Masonry
SECTION VI - History of Masonry in England
SECTION VII - History of the Revival of Masonry
SECTION VIII - History of Masonry
SECTION IX - History of Masonry in England
SECTION X - History of Masonry in the South of England
SECTION XI - History of the Most Remarkable Events in the Society
SECTION XII - History of Masonry from the Installation
SECTION XIII - The History of Masonry
SECTION XIV - History of Masonry from 1800 to 1804
SECTION XV - History of Masonry from 1804 to 1812

ODES

I - Hail to the Craft
II - What Solemn Sounds
III - Order is Heaven's First Law
IV - When First the Golden Morn
V - Thou Fairest Type of Excellence Divine
VI - Strike to Melodious Notes the Golden Lyre
VII - Wake the Lute and Quivering Strings
VIII - Almighty Sire! our Heavenly King
IX - Hail, Universal Lord!
X - Assist Me, Ye Fair Tuneful Nine
XI - Urania, Hail! to Thee We Sing
XII - Arise, Gentle Muse

ANTHEMS

I - Grant us, Kind Heaven! What we Request
II - By Mason's Art, th' Aspiring Dome
III - "Let there be light!" The Almighty Spoke
IV - Ere God the Universe Began

SONGS

I - Arise, and Blow Thy Trumpet, Fame
II - Unite, Unite, Your Voices Raise
III - When Earth's Foundation first was laid
IV - Ere God the Universe began
V - While trifles lead the world astray
VI - Not the fictions of Greece
VII - Ye dull stupid mortals
VIII - While Princess and Heroes
IX - No Sect in the world
X - A system more pure
XI - Genius of Masonry descend
XII - When my divine Althæa's charms
XIII - On, on my dear brethren
XIV - Hail Masonry, thou craft divine!
XV - Let Masonry from pole to pole
XVI - Hail, Masonry! thou sacred Art
XVII - When Heaven design'd
XVIII - Ye sons of fair Science, impatient to learn
XIX - Hail, Masonry divine!
XX - Let drunkards boast the power of wine
XXI - Come let us prepare
XXII - Ye thrice happy few
XXIII - When a lodge of Freemasons
XXIV - In history we're told
XXV - O what a happy thing it is
XXVI - Adieu! a heart-warm, fond adieu!
XXVII - As long as our coast
XXVIII - When Masonry expiring lay
XXIX - Come, ye Masons, hither bring
XXX - A Mason's life the life for me
XXXI - Whilst each poet sings
XXXII - Grave business being clos'd
XXXIII - When the Sun from the East