Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1879-02-13
The Origin Of Freemascnry
From Mscmillan's Magazine.

From Macmillans Magazine.
ln the year 1000 the whole Of
Christendom was possessed with the
idea that the end of the world and
the day Of judgment were at hand ];
and when the dreaded year had
passed, and the panic had subsidized,
great impulse TO the building of
churches arose throughout Central
and Western Europe. The buildings
which were the result Of this i'm
pulse gave employment to large
numbers CT ariificers for periods
Of many years. Working at first
under the direction of tho bishops
and abbots, they ere long acquired
considerable independence. The day
brethreu," IS they had previously
been styled, separating themselves
from their clerical superiors, az we'll
o. from the common laborers, as
sembled in bauhutten, or wooden
buildings near the site of the church.
es, where they improved themselves
! in the principles of their art. blend
| ing with mathematical and artistic
studies mystic philosophy ofsacred
symbolism and Biblical allusions.
They were divided into three classes,
viz: apprentices (lehrlingen). young
men deemed worthy OF admission
into the fraternity fellow.craftsmen
(gessllen) who had 80 far advanced
ss TO be able to work alone q the
details of the art, and were bound
| to impart their knowledge to the
apprentices and masters. compare
| lively few in number, who were
competent to undertake the design
or direction of entire works, in the
capacity of architects, surveyors, or
master. builders. The entered ap-
prentice was intrusted with q secret
sign and password (gruss) and bound
on oath to divulge to mono but the
initiated either the knowledge he
should acquire or the rights and
practices Of his lodge. This method
Of mutual recognition was q neces-
sity when indensures and diplomas
were unknown, 6nt, taken in con-
Junction with the mystic PHILOSOPHY
| ia culcated and the secret ritual
practiced within the lodges, it ac-
quired in time solemnity and
sacredness which could attach 70 no
mere certificates Of membership or
of proficiency. Further credentials
were provided in q set of questions
and answers, forming a sort of
catechism. orally communicated, and
guarded by the same sanction, by
which the "br.thren," as they now
called one another, could give proof
of their identity wherever they
might travel in search of employ.
ment, and which are 10 all essential
points preserved in the s'Lectures" of
the three degrees of modern Free
masonry. Bauhutten were perma-
nently established in most of the
chief cities Of the Empire. and the
reputation which their masters &C.
CURED for genius and skill led to the
engagement of German architects in
other countries, wherever cathedrals
or churches were being erected on
scale of more than ordinary gran
deur.
At first the several looges worked
Independently of one another; but
10 the fifteenth century the necessity
of further union began to be felt. and
90 April 25. 1859, gathering of the
Master Mssops of Ger trail and South
ern Germany was held at Ratisb0n,
when the regulations of the different
lodges were revised and consolidated.
In 1892 second and more general
assembly was held. at which the
whole of the Masons of Germany
we're represented, aud united into q
single brotherhood, of which the
chief of the lodge of Straasburg.
which had long been recognized as
last court of appeal, even by the
lodges of Austria and Switzerland.
was declared perpetual Grand Mas
ter. The statutes then drawn up
received in 1893 the confirmation of
the Emperor Macmillan l.. whose
example was followed by several of
his successors.
After the Reformation, a period of
transition began; the building of
churches declined and 10 the follow
ing century the German Princes nat.
nrally looked with suspicion on
vast and well organized association
Of msn bound together by the closest
ties, and owing allegiance to an gu.
thority which by the loss of Alsace
had passed under French dominion.
In 1907 oil Communication with the
mother lodge of S.raseburg was pro-
hibited, and attempts were made to
establish a grand lodge on German
soil but these failing, through the
mutual .iealousies of the petty States
OF the Empire, the most persistent
EFFORTS we're made for the entire
suppression of the order. But, al
though prescribed. it could not be
exterminated the lodges still met in
secret. admitted new members, and
maintained their existence and con.
tinuity until the new Freemas onry.
which had meanwhile arisen in Eng.
land on the ruins of the old. held
out to its German brethren the right
hand of fellowship, and in once more
raising them to liberty and honor
did but repay the debt which our
country owed to ita cnntinerfoI c;a.