The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1879-02-21
THE MYSTERIUCS MASONS.
An Extraordinary Chapter from the His
tory OF Masonry

I FrOm- Nc MILAN 8 tiaxuLiDc-
In the year 1000 the whole of Christ
endom was possessed with the idea that
the end OF the world and tie day OF
judgment were at hand; and when the
dreaded year had passed and the panic
had subsidized, u great impulse to the
building Of churches arose throughout
central and western Europe. The
building which were the result of this
impulse gave employment to a large
number of artiiicers for a period of
many years. Working at first under
the direction of the bishops and abbots,
they ere long acquired considerable in
dependence. The ''holy BRETHREN" as
they had previously been styled, separa-
ting themselves from their clerical SUI
periors as well as from the common Ia
borers, assembled in q bauhuetten or
wooden buildings neal the site of the
churches, where they improved them
selves in the principles of their art,
blending with mathematical and artist
ic studies a mystic philosophy of sac
red symbolism and biblical illusions.
They were divided into three classes,
viz, apprentices, young men deemed
worthy of admission into the fraternity
fellow craftsmen, who had so far ad-
vanced as to be able to work alone on
the details of the art and were bound to
impart to the apprentices their knowl-
edge; and masters, comparatively few in
number, who were competent to un-
dertake the design or direction of
entire works, in the capa city
of architects, surveyors ormaster build
ers. The entered apprentices were in
trusted with 4 secret sign and password
and bound on oath to divulge TO none
but the initiated either the
knowledge he should acquire
or the rite and practices of his
lodge. This method of mutual recog-
milton was a necessity when indentures
and diplomas were unknown, but taken
in conjunction with the mystic philos-
Ophy inculcated, and the secret ritual
practice within the lodges, 1t acquired
in time a solemnity and sacredness
which could attach to no mere certif-
cate Of membership or of proficiency.
Further credentials were provided in u
set of questions and answers, forming
a sort of catechism, orally communicate
ed and guarded by the same sanction
by which the brethren, as they now cal
one another, could give proof of their
identity wherever they might travel in
search of employment, and which are
in all essential points preserved in the
lectures, " of the three degrees of mod.
ern Free Masonry. Bauliuetten were
permanently established in most of the
chief cities of the empire, aud the rep
utation which these masters acquired
for genius and skill, led to the engage
ment Of German architects in Other
countries wherever cathedrals or
churches Were being erected on IL seal,
Of o than ordinary grandeur. At
first the several lodges work ed indie.
pendently Of each other; but in the
fifteenth century the necessity of fur
ther union began to be felt, and OH
April %, 1850, q gathering of the Mas.
ter Masons of central and southern
Germany was held at Ratisbon, when
the regulations of the different lodges
were revised and consolidated. In 1492
u second and more general assembly
was held, at which the whole Of the
Masons of Germany were represented
and united into a single brotherhood, Of
which the chief of the lodge of Stras-
burg, which had long been recognized
as a court of appeal eve by the lodge.
of Austria and Switzerland, was de
clared perpetual Grand Master. Tn,
statues then drawn up received in 149s
the confirmation of the Emperor Maxi
milan l., whose example was followed
by several of his SUCCESSORS. After the
Reformation, n period of transition be-
gan: the building of churches declined
and in the following century the Ger
man princes naturally looked with sus
picion on u vast and well organized rs
ISOLATION of men bound together by the
closest ties and owing allegiance to n
authority by which Alsace has passed
under French dominion. In 1907 nj
communication with the mother lodge
of Strasburg was prohibited, and at
tempts were made to establish n grant
| lodge on German soil. lint these falIint