British-American author of The Age of Reason, Common Sense, Rights of Man and Crisis, Thomas Paine (1737/01/29 - 1809/06/08) has not been proven to have been a Freemason. A brilliant pamphleteer, his theory about the origins of Freemasonry is only of interest as an historical curiosity.
NOTE: This essay appeared in New York, 1818, with an anonymous preface of which I quote the opening paragraph: "This tract is a chapter belonging to the Third Part of the Age of Reason, as will be seen by the references made in it to preceding articles, as forming part of the same work. It was culled from the writings of Mr. Paine after his death, and published in a mutilated state by Mrs. Bonneville, his executrix. Passages having a reference to the Christian religion she erased, with a view no doubt of accommodating the work to the prejudices of bigotry. These, however, have been restored from the original manuscript, except a few lines which were rendered illegible." Madame Bonneville published this fragment in New York, 1810 (with the omissions pointed out) as a pamphlet.
It was erroneously reported that Paine was a Freemason; but an eminent member of that Fraternity in London, Mr. George Briggs, after reading this essay, which was submitted to him, tells that "his general outline, remarks, and comments, are fairly true." Paine’s intimacy in Paris with Nicolas de Bonneville and Charles Frangois Dupuis, whose writings are replete with masonic speculations, sufficiently explain his interest in the subject. — Moncure Daniel Conway The Writings of Thomas Paine 1896 G.P. Putnam’s Sons, New York.
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It is always understood that Free-Masons have a secret which they carefully conceal; but from every thing that can be collected from their own accounts of Masonry, their real secret is no other than their origin, which but few of them understand; and those who do, envelope it in mystery.
Aries | Libra |
Taurus | Scorpio |
Gemini | Sagittarius |
Cancer | Capricorns |
Leo | Aquarius |
Virgo | Pisces |
A: East and West.
Q: Why so?
A: Because all churches and chapels are, or ought to be so.
A: In the East.
Q: Why so?
A: As the Sun rises in the East and opens the day, so the Master stands in the East, (with his right hand upon his left breast, being a sign, and the square about his neck,) to open the Lodge, and set his men at work.
A: In the West.
Q: What is their business?
A: As the Sun sets in the West to close the day, so the Wardens stand in the West, (with their right hands upon their left breasts, being a sign, and the level and plumb rule about their necks,) to close the Lodge, and dismiss the men from labor, paying them their wages.
A: East, West, and South.
Q: What are their uses?
A: To light the men to and from their work.
Q: Why are there no lights in the North?
A: Because the Sun darts no rays from thence.