Bacon's DictionaryAppendices

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The exhibits and miniatures of which are found in this section, are designed to assist the serious student and reader in following the path of the Authorship Controvesy that has been so laboriously persued by many authors and researchers during its commence.

These exhibits have been placed here as not to interrupt the flow of reading in the Baconian Dictionary sections, being a finding list of Bacon’s works, his history, his thoughts and his aims, which are a subject of study and discussion.

Bacon’s Masonic Affiliations

Bacon’s 137th translated Psalm in the Resuscitatio of 1671, gives part of the reception or rite of the degree of super-excellent master in cryptic Masonry:

When as we sat all sad and desolate

By Babylon upon the river’s side,

Eased from the tasks, which in our captive state

We were enforced daily to abide,

Our harps we had brought with us to the field

Some solace to our heavy souls to yield.

Mackey’s Cryptic Masonry 1 gives this verse as part of the reception into the degree mentioned, thus:

By Babel’s stream we sit and weep;

Our tears for Zion flow:

Our harps on drooping willows sleep;

Our hearts are filled with woe.

Cryptic Masonry is that division of the Masonic system which is directed to the investigation and cultivation of the Cryptic degrees. It is, literally, the Masonry of the Secret Vault. As a symbol, the Secret Vault does not present itself in the primary degrees of Masonry. It is found only in the high degrees, such as the Royal Arch of all the Rites, where it plays an important part. Dr. Oliver, in his Historical Landmarks, 2 gives, while referring to the building of the second Temple, the following general detail of the Masonic legend of this vault: “The foundations of the Temple were opened, and cleared from the accumulation of rubbish, that a level might be procured for the commencement of the building. While engaged in excavations for this purpose, three fortunate sojourners are said to have discovered our ancient stone of foundation, which had been deposited in the secret crypt by Wisdom, Strength, and Beauty, to prevent the communication of ineffable secrets to profane or unworthy persons. The discovery having been communicated to the prince, prophet, and priest of the Jews, the stone was adopted as the chief corner-stone of the re-edified building, and thus became, in a new and more expressive sense, the type of a more excellent dispensation. An avenue was also accidentally discovered, supported by seven pair pillars, perfect and entire, which, from their situation, had escaped the fury of the flames that had consumed the Temple, and the desolation of war that had destroyed the city.”

The Secret Vault, which had been built by Solomon, as a secure depository for certain secrets that would inevitably have been lost without some such expedient for their preservation, communicated by a subterranean avenue with the King’s palace; but at the destruction of Jerusalem the entrance having been closed by the rubbish of falling buildings, it had been discovered by the appearance of a keystone amongst the foundations of the sanctum sanctorum. A careful inspection was then made, and the invaluable secrets were placed in safe custody. The vault was, in the ancient mysteries, symbolic of the grave; for initiation was symbolic of death, where alone Divine Truth is to be found. [Also see Part III: Verulam & Burial Grounds; Masonic Pillars].