The Trinity MS. of 1711
The Trinity MS. was found among the papers of a famous Irish doctor and scientist, Sir Thomas Molyneux. Whereas the MS. has received attention because the first hint of a Third Degree, the significance of this MS. for Irish Freemasons is, of course, that it is dated 1711, it is about Masonic Ritual and it has an Irish providence. |
Sir Thomas Molyneux (1661-1733)
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The following is an extract from "Some Unsolved Problems of Masonic Research" by V.W. Bro. R.E. Parkinson, The Lodge of Research Transactions 1958 - 1962 (Reproduced by kind permission of The Lodge of Research CC).
"There is in the Library of Trinity College, Dublin, among the Molyneux Papers, a MS. entitled "Freemasonry" and endorsed with the date February, 1711, which clearly indicates a system of three degrees similar to our own today. Because the date does not fit in with acccepted theories, this document has been almost entirely ignored.
The Librarian of T.C.D. informs me that the endorsement is in the hand of Samuel Molyneux, who was resident in Ireland till 1712, when he left to continue his studies in Cambridge."
The Right Hon. Samuel Molyneux, was Secretary to George II. when Prince of Wales; he subsequently became a Lord of the Admiralty, a Privy Councillor, and M.P. for Dublin University and the borough of Bossiney, England. He married in 1717 Lady Elizabeth Diana Capel, eldest daughter of Algernon, second Earl of Essex, died in 1728 but had no issue.
The family estates reverted at the death of his widow to his uncle, the above named Sir Thomas Molyneux, Regius Professor of Physic in the University of Dublin, afterwards Physician-General to the army in Ireland, created a Baronet 4th July, 1730. This is how the MS. endorsed by Samuel Molyneux came to be in the possession of Sir Thomas Molyneux.
"There is in the Library of Trinity College, Dublin, among the Molyneux Papers, a MS. entitled "Freemasonry" and endorsed with the date February, 1711, which clearly indicates a system of three degrees similar to our own today. Because the date does not fit in with acccepted theories, this document has been almost entirely ignored.
The Librarian of T.C.D. informs me that the endorsement is in the hand of Samuel Molyneux, who was resident in Ireland till 1712, when he left to continue his studies in Cambridge."
The Right Hon. Samuel Molyneux, was Secretary to George II. when Prince of Wales; he subsequently became a Lord of the Admiralty, a Privy Councillor, and M.P. for Dublin University and the borough of Bossiney, England. He married in 1717 Lady Elizabeth Diana Capel, eldest daughter of Algernon, second Earl of Essex, died in 1728 but had no issue.
The family estates reverted at the death of his widow to his uncle, the above named Sir Thomas Molyneux, Regius Professor of Physic in the University of Dublin, afterwards Physician-General to the army in Ireland, created a Baronet 4th July, 1730. This is how the MS. endorsed by Samuel Molyneux came to be in the possession of Sir Thomas Molyneux.
Extract from "The Alternative Third Degree ~ A Paper by V.W. Bro. Gary Kerkin
The first hint of a Third Degree appears in a MS known as the Trinity College, Dublin, Manuscript, dated 1711, found among the papers of a famous Irish doctor and scientist, Sir Thomas Molyneux.
Carr (1) writes:
“This document is headed with a kind of Triple Tau, and underneath it the words 'Under no less a penalty'. This is followed by a set of eleven Q. and A. and we know straight away that something is wrong! We already have three perfect sets of fifteen questions, so eleven questions must be either bad memory or bad copying - something is wrong! The questions are perfectly normal, only not enough of them. Then after the eleven questions we would expect the writer to give a description of the whole or part of the ceremony but, instead of that, he gives a kind of catalogue of the Freemason's words and signs.”
He gives this sign … for the EA with the word 'B........'
“He gives 'knuckles, & sinues' as the sign for the 'fellow-craftsman', with the word 'J..........'.
The 'Master's sign is the back bone' and for him (ie the MM) the writer gives the world's worst description of the FPOF. …..
“Squeese the Master by ye back bone, put your knee between his, & say Matchpin.
“That, Brethren, is our second version of the word of the third degree. We started with 'M.......', and now 'M.........', horribly debased. Let me say now, loud and clear, nobody knows what the correct word was. It was probably Hebrew originally, but all the early versions are debased. We might work backwards, translating from the English, but we cannot be certain that our English words are correct. So, here in the Trinity College, Dublin, MS, we have, for the very first time, a document which has separate secrets for three separate degrees; the enterprentice, the fellowcraftsman and the master.
It is not proof of three degrees in practice, but it does show that somebody was playing with this idea in 1711.”
Footnote
VW. Bro. Gary Kerkin is PM Lodge Piako No 160, PM Waikato Lodge of Research No 445, Past Grand Lecturer, Grand Lodge of New Zealand, Grand Lecturer (2009), Supreme Grand Royal Arch Chapter of New Zealand, Northern Division.
(1) Henry Carr ~ "Six Hundred years of Craft Ritual".
Carr (1) writes:
“This document is headed with a kind of Triple Tau, and underneath it the words 'Under no less a penalty'. This is followed by a set of eleven Q. and A. and we know straight away that something is wrong! We already have three perfect sets of fifteen questions, so eleven questions must be either bad memory or bad copying - something is wrong! The questions are perfectly normal, only not enough of them. Then after the eleven questions we would expect the writer to give a description of the whole or part of the ceremony but, instead of that, he gives a kind of catalogue of the Freemason's words and signs.”
He gives this sign … for the EA with the word 'B........'
“He gives 'knuckles, & sinues' as the sign for the 'fellow-craftsman', with the word 'J..........'.
The 'Master's sign is the back bone' and for him (ie the MM) the writer gives the world's worst description of the FPOF. …..
“Squeese the Master by ye back bone, put your knee between his, & say Matchpin.
“That, Brethren, is our second version of the word of the third degree. We started with 'M.......', and now 'M.........', horribly debased. Let me say now, loud and clear, nobody knows what the correct word was. It was probably Hebrew originally, but all the early versions are debased. We might work backwards, translating from the English, but we cannot be certain that our English words are correct. So, here in the Trinity College, Dublin, MS, we have, for the very first time, a document which has separate secrets for three separate degrees; the enterprentice, the fellowcraftsman and the master.
It is not proof of three degrees in practice, but it does show that somebody was playing with this idea in 1711.”
Footnote
VW. Bro. Gary Kerkin is PM Lodge Piako No 160, PM Waikato Lodge of Research No 445, Past Grand Lecturer, Grand Lodge of New Zealand, Grand Lecturer (2009), Supreme Grand Royal Arch Chapter of New Zealand, Northern Division.
(1) Henry Carr ~ "Six Hundred years of Craft Ritual".
“Six Hundred Years of Craft Ritual” by Henry Carr
Whereas Henry Carr's Paper is written mainly from the an English perspective it is an interesting read in regard to the history of Craft Ritual and for reference purposes the complete Paper may be accessed by the following Link ~ Henry Carr ~ "Six Hundred years of Craft Ritual".