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Article THE POPE AND MEDIAEVAL FREEMASONS. Page 1 of 1 Article THE POPE AND MEDIAEVAL FREEMASONS. Page 1 of 1
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The Pope And Mediaeval Freemasons.
THE POPE AND MEDIAEVAL FREEMASONS .
FROM THE PHILADELPHIA SCXDAT SUX .
THE conversion of Constantme the Great to Christianity , in thi Fourth Century , gave a decided impulse to the enlargement o Episcopal authority , which at a later period developed into the Papacy With the protection afforded throughout the vast Empire , proselytinj and evangelical labours were assiduously pursued , not only withii the circumscribed limits of the municipalities of Rome and Alexandria bnt reached forth into the more remote provinces of Gaul ant
Germany . Tho zeal of Missionary enterprise soon opened a way fo the introduction of Christianity either in a greater or lesser orthodo : form among the native Teutons , or burned its fiery pathway to tin obdurate hearts of Gallic pagans . While Uphilas captivated thi Goths with the errors of Arianism , the Romish Church , which , undei the weighty pressure of Byzantine favor , overahadowed all competitors
had at an early period organized , upon the pure doctrines of Christ a compaot system of evangelical missions , whose labourers boldly advanced into undeveloped territory , and through numerous ex pedients , succeeded in converting the heathen Teutons to the nev religion . As a consequence of such enterprise , it was of the last necessity
that those who accorded an implicit acceptance of tho Christian fait ! shonld not only become an integral part of the Church Militant , but also have erected for their accommodation rude and temporary structures , in which the services of the church might be celebrated amid the solemn pomp of a rapidly increasing cumbersome ritualism , The earliest edifices so hastily put together for the purpose alluded
to were mainly due to the work of a class of workmen in wood designated as lignarios , composed of inferior Craftsmen , whose skill was narrowed down to the preparation of timber churches , to be used for temporarily assembling the new converts . These builders , as earlj as the Fourth Century , may be stated to havo consisted exclusively of ecclesiastical workmen , acting under specific instructions of the
Head of the Church at Rome , sanctioned by imperial anthority , Although colleges of artificers wero still sojourning upon Germanic territory at this epoch , and pursued their avocations with many customs , and practised their skill , derived from ancient precursors , there does not appear sufficient evidence to assume that tho stoneworkers wero at this time under the control of Church government ,
In this age tho secular anthority still had need of the skilled labour of such constructors , bnt when , a century later , the great heart of the Byzantine Empire withdrew along its arterial routes the vital fluide from remote provinces , and more closely concentrated them at home , then under the mighty advance of sacerdotal authority they wore controlled by Church forces .
In the Fifth Century , as is well known , the Gothic King Theodorick , influenced by his Secretary , Cassiodurns , introduced from Byzantium numerous bodies of builders , who aided him in reconstructing tho public edifices which had suffered from the destruction of war . The Church of Rome having , by frequent politic subserviency , managed to maintain with increasing vigor a foothold in the administration of
civil society , quickly seized the opportunity offered , to utilize the building guilds , by erecting more important edifices than had hitherto prevailed , on newly converted territory . These artificers were exclusively composed of Masons , ccnmentarii , and carpenters , lignarii and in the absence of that profound knowledge subsequently current among the later Freemasons , viz .: as to the preparation of an entire
building from stone , these two classes of Craftsmen worked upon uniform plans , and possessed traditions drawn from identical sources . During tho middle ages the guilds of Masons and carpenters were in the closest union . To such intimacy in detail was this similitude carried that a distinguiahad archaeologist asserts the original unity of these corporations , while our own Masonic writers of the last century
earnestly insisted upon their common parentage . These assoeiations of builders , continually recruited and invigorated by additions from Byzantium , were used by the Romish Church in the ereotion of houses of religious worship of a more enduring character than the first structures in foreign countries , of woodwork , and yet , when completed on this new scheme , presented the
appearance of churches built of stone and timber—a combination of material which fnlly aocounts for the frequency of conflagrations during the middle ages . Down to the eight century , it may be added , the woodworkers , or lignarii , were made use of in the erection of churches and cathedrals . The system olosely followed by the ecclesiastical authorities of those remote ages , in tho rapid extension of Christianity
among the Teutonic races , placed such evangelical labour under the immediate control of the supreme head of the Church—an assumption fnlly recognised and allowed by the temporal authorities . The earliest prerogative claimed by the Papacy , and radically incorporated into canonical law , was tho exclusive administration of church government over new converts gathered to the Faith of Christ where .
soever the proselytes wero made . An infinitely more important concession , maintained by the canons of the Church , permitted the Pope to exerciso personal direction in missionary labours , and to him , as the Divine Vicegerent , was entrusted the undisputed privilege of systematising all plans of extending ecclesiastical jurisdiction , or rendering them effective in Buch territory as the evangelising zeal of
his subordinates added to the Papal See . Towards tho close of the Fifth Century this power began to assume the appearance of more than an empty assumption . As rapidly as the increasing number of converted pagans , especially in Gaul and Germany , rendered such measures neceisary for the perpetuation of congregations , substantial edifices were erected at convenient places in episcopal districts .
These structures , although often of hasty construction , wero built by corporations or guilds of masons and carpenters alread y organized and possessing the prescriptive right by immemorial usage in Italy to bo governed according to their own laws . Such , consequently , was the well-defined social status of these builders upon Italian soil at the period when the exigencies of the Romish Church demanded a more elevated acknowledge for the erection of cathedrals and
The Pope And Mediaeval Freemasons.
chapels upon territory where the religion of Christ had vanquished the sombre rites of Teutonic deities . The organization and extension of missionary enterprise invariably contemplated the use and associa . tion of these ancient artificers in such schemes . Wherever the Evangelists travelled , with assiduous zeal to proselyte and convert , bodies of builders quickly followed upon their foot-steps , iu order that
temples consecrated to the new worship might rise into immediate use . Both the laity and clergy , under authorization of the Roman Pontiff , eagerly affiliated with these travelling Craftsmen . It would indeed be an unwarranted assumption to assert that at this early period of the middle ages the precnsor of the Mediaeval Freemasons were under exclusive pontifical jurisdiction , inasmuch as it can bo demonstrated
to the contrary that contempoi-ary with such control , and in the Seventh Century , where papal influence extended , these colleges were by royal rescripts recognised to possoss the right of independent government . It is , however , manifestly in exact accord with the necessities of the enlarging Church in distant countries that those building guilds , whoso services wero demanded and called thither .
should travel in obedienco to the solo uudispnted power which could coutract with and direct them with supremo authority , which was inherent in the Pope . Such of them , therefore , as accompanied the Evangelists , or were sent upon their demand , maintained a direct relationship with his holiness , and were under his sanction and patronage .
It has oftentimes been claimed that these early bodies of artificers existed throughout tho vast domains of the Romish Church , under and by virtue of Papal charters or indul gences . To this day no proof of such allegation has been found . This statement is in open antagonism with other important facts having reference to the earlier Masons and Carpenters , and it is believed cannot be attested .
Neither charters nor Pontifical indulgences were necessary to preserve this corporate existence , which was repeatedly recognised by tho rescripts of Roman Emperors and by edicts of Longobordio rulers as late a 3 the Eighth Century . Thero is , however , a germinal truth in this venerable tradition . As early as the era of the Merowingian Kings , about tho year 550 , in France , there was a fully
developed system practised by these rulers of granting to individuals especial letters of safeguard or protection , which , when issued in the form of a written document , exempted the bearer from all and every local restriction . In the Cartularies of Charlemagne , several centuries later , these letters of personal protection are frequently referred to as a well recognised privilege of imperial power . The
Roman Pontiffs evidently adopted this system from sheer necessity , in order that such building corporations as traversed unsettled France or Germany might present themselves with letters guaranteeing their personal safety and authenticating the claims of the traveling craftsmen to papal protection . When the progress of civilisation and advance of solid government rendered this system unnecessary , it
was certainly merged into tho gradual disci pline which the Mediaeval Church , through convents and monasteries , assumed over the Freemasons , at which time it was universall y accepted to be true that episcopal or pontifical authority possessed a rigid control over the craft . It can be stated with precision at what epoch tho mediaeval guild of builders attempted to withdraw from church discipline , and
began to apply their skill to other construction than sacred edifices . Before the year 1060 , modification of the relations existing between the conventual institutions and the Freemasons had so far progressed that these builders wero known throughout France and Germany as conversi barbati fratres , or converted bearded brothers . Under ecclesiastical and evidently pontifical sanction , thoy still remained under sacerdotal control , and were unqualifiedly subjected to Church
government and direction , although by express permission of episcopal anthority , these Fratres or brothers wore allowed to wear the peculiar secular costume which distinguished the Masonic guild at a later period of the middle ages . History attests with unequivocal certainty that as early as the year 1090 , tho Barbati Fratres used marks of a specific character , hewn npon stones , for purpose of proprietory distinction .
In tho year 1099 these craftsmen in the Low Countries had evidently advanced to an open rupture with the Church , and assumed the privilege of concealing their secret arts from tho clergy . A Frisian master , by the name of Plebcr , iu the year alluded to , pledged his head by way of forfeit to successfull y execute certain work which clerical authority deemed impossible . The enormous compensation demanded
upon perfecting this exhibition of skill induced tho Bishop to cajole Pleber ' s son into betraying the secret of the abstruse ' principle by which tho work was accomplished , which disclosure of craft arcana— archanum magiUerium—so enra ged the master builder that he killed the Bishop . The first authentic ovidence attesting tho decided tendency of these fratres to abandon ecclesiastical
jurisdiction is to be found at this period , when the Church or Canonical authorities granted permission to the laity to use their skill upon the condition that the craftsmen should not bo required to construct machines for the destruction of human Yife—onachinw mortifero ; . A century later the Abbe William of Premontro attempted to reduce the guild again to Church disci pline , and issued an order that these
Barbati Fratres , bearded brothers , should shave off their beards . They peremptorily refused , and threatened , if the edict were made mandatory , to set fire to every cloister in the country . This order and prompt refusal mark the absolute severance of the guild of Mediaeval Masons from sacerdotal control , and with the same coded for ever the direct or indirect authority of the Roman Pontiff over the Craft .
Mr . John Nash and Mr . F . Clifton have been very successful with their entertainment , entitled Be Merry and Wise , at the Egyptian Hall New Drawing Room . The various impersonations are clever and amusing , and at the same time free from vul garity . Perhaps one of the best is that of Adolphus St . Jean , who is described as being passiouately fond of mnsic , in which Mr . Nash introduces a serenade and tearlul denouement , with wonderful imitations and effects , including a clever burlesque of Levey . °
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Pope And Mediaeval Freemasons.
THE POPE AND MEDIAEVAL FREEMASONS .
FROM THE PHILADELPHIA SCXDAT SUX .
THE conversion of Constantme the Great to Christianity , in thi Fourth Century , gave a decided impulse to the enlargement o Episcopal authority , which at a later period developed into the Papacy With the protection afforded throughout the vast Empire , proselytinj and evangelical labours were assiduously pursued , not only withii the circumscribed limits of the municipalities of Rome and Alexandria bnt reached forth into the more remote provinces of Gaul ant
Germany . Tho zeal of Missionary enterprise soon opened a way fo the introduction of Christianity either in a greater or lesser orthodo : form among the native Teutons , or burned its fiery pathway to tin obdurate hearts of Gallic pagans . While Uphilas captivated thi Goths with the errors of Arianism , the Romish Church , which , undei the weighty pressure of Byzantine favor , overahadowed all competitors
had at an early period organized , upon the pure doctrines of Christ a compaot system of evangelical missions , whose labourers boldly advanced into undeveloped territory , and through numerous ex pedients , succeeded in converting the heathen Teutons to the nev religion . As a consequence of such enterprise , it was of the last necessity
that those who accorded an implicit acceptance of tho Christian fait ! shonld not only become an integral part of the Church Militant , but also have erected for their accommodation rude and temporary structures , in which the services of the church might be celebrated amid the solemn pomp of a rapidly increasing cumbersome ritualism , The earliest edifices so hastily put together for the purpose alluded
to were mainly due to the work of a class of workmen in wood designated as lignarios , composed of inferior Craftsmen , whose skill was narrowed down to the preparation of timber churches , to be used for temporarily assembling the new converts . These builders , as earlj as the Fourth Century , may be stated to havo consisted exclusively of ecclesiastical workmen , acting under specific instructions of the
Head of the Church at Rome , sanctioned by imperial anthority , Although colleges of artificers wero still sojourning upon Germanic territory at this epoch , and pursued their avocations with many customs , and practised their skill , derived from ancient precursors , there does not appear sufficient evidence to assume that tho stoneworkers wero at this time under the control of Church government ,
In this age tho secular anthority still had need of the skilled labour of such constructors , bnt when , a century later , the great heart of the Byzantine Empire withdrew along its arterial routes the vital fluide from remote provinces , and more closely concentrated them at home , then under the mighty advance of sacerdotal authority they wore controlled by Church forces .
In the Fifth Century , as is well known , the Gothic King Theodorick , influenced by his Secretary , Cassiodurns , introduced from Byzantium numerous bodies of builders , who aided him in reconstructing tho public edifices which had suffered from the destruction of war . The Church of Rome having , by frequent politic subserviency , managed to maintain with increasing vigor a foothold in the administration of
civil society , quickly seized the opportunity offered , to utilize the building guilds , by erecting more important edifices than had hitherto prevailed , on newly converted territory . These artificers were exclusively composed of Masons , ccnmentarii , and carpenters , lignarii and in the absence of that profound knowledge subsequently current among the later Freemasons , viz .: as to the preparation of an entire
building from stone , these two classes of Craftsmen worked upon uniform plans , and possessed traditions drawn from identical sources . During tho middle ages the guilds of Masons and carpenters were in the closest union . To such intimacy in detail was this similitude carried that a distinguiahad archaeologist asserts the original unity of these corporations , while our own Masonic writers of the last century
earnestly insisted upon their common parentage . These assoeiations of builders , continually recruited and invigorated by additions from Byzantium , were used by the Romish Church in the ereotion of houses of religious worship of a more enduring character than the first structures in foreign countries , of woodwork , and yet , when completed on this new scheme , presented the
appearance of churches built of stone and timber—a combination of material which fnlly aocounts for the frequency of conflagrations during the middle ages . Down to the eight century , it may be added , the woodworkers , or lignarii , were made use of in the erection of churches and cathedrals . The system olosely followed by the ecclesiastical authorities of those remote ages , in tho rapid extension of Christianity
among the Teutonic races , placed such evangelical labour under the immediate control of the supreme head of the Church—an assumption fnlly recognised and allowed by the temporal authorities . The earliest prerogative claimed by the Papacy , and radically incorporated into canonical law , was tho exclusive administration of church government over new converts gathered to the Faith of Christ where .
soever the proselytes wero made . An infinitely more important concession , maintained by the canons of the Church , permitted the Pope to exerciso personal direction in missionary labours , and to him , as the Divine Vicegerent , was entrusted the undisputed privilege of systematising all plans of extending ecclesiastical jurisdiction , or rendering them effective in Buch territory as the evangelising zeal of
his subordinates added to the Papal See . Towards tho close of the Fifth Century this power began to assume the appearance of more than an empty assumption . As rapidly as the increasing number of converted pagans , especially in Gaul and Germany , rendered such measures neceisary for the perpetuation of congregations , substantial edifices were erected at convenient places in episcopal districts .
These structures , although often of hasty construction , wero built by corporations or guilds of masons and carpenters alread y organized and possessing the prescriptive right by immemorial usage in Italy to bo governed according to their own laws . Such , consequently , was the well-defined social status of these builders upon Italian soil at the period when the exigencies of the Romish Church demanded a more elevated acknowledge for the erection of cathedrals and
The Pope And Mediaeval Freemasons.
chapels upon territory where the religion of Christ had vanquished the sombre rites of Teutonic deities . The organization and extension of missionary enterprise invariably contemplated the use and associa . tion of these ancient artificers in such schemes . Wherever the Evangelists travelled , with assiduous zeal to proselyte and convert , bodies of builders quickly followed upon their foot-steps , iu order that
temples consecrated to the new worship might rise into immediate use . Both the laity and clergy , under authorization of the Roman Pontiff , eagerly affiliated with these travelling Craftsmen . It would indeed be an unwarranted assumption to assert that at this early period of the middle ages the precnsor of the Mediaeval Freemasons were under exclusive pontifical jurisdiction , inasmuch as it can bo demonstrated
to the contrary that contempoi-ary with such control , and in the Seventh Century , where papal influence extended , these colleges were by royal rescripts recognised to possoss the right of independent government . It is , however , manifestly in exact accord with the necessities of the enlarging Church in distant countries that those building guilds , whoso services wero demanded and called thither .
should travel in obedienco to the solo uudispnted power which could coutract with and direct them with supremo authority , which was inherent in the Pope . Such of them , therefore , as accompanied the Evangelists , or were sent upon their demand , maintained a direct relationship with his holiness , and were under his sanction and patronage .
It has oftentimes been claimed that these early bodies of artificers existed throughout tho vast domains of the Romish Church , under and by virtue of Papal charters or indul gences . To this day no proof of such allegation has been found . This statement is in open antagonism with other important facts having reference to the earlier Masons and Carpenters , and it is believed cannot be attested .
Neither charters nor Pontifical indulgences were necessary to preserve this corporate existence , which was repeatedly recognised by tho rescripts of Roman Emperors and by edicts of Longobordio rulers as late a 3 the Eighth Century . Thero is , however , a germinal truth in this venerable tradition . As early as the era of the Merowingian Kings , about tho year 550 , in France , there was a fully
developed system practised by these rulers of granting to individuals especial letters of safeguard or protection , which , when issued in the form of a written document , exempted the bearer from all and every local restriction . In the Cartularies of Charlemagne , several centuries later , these letters of personal protection are frequently referred to as a well recognised privilege of imperial power . The
Roman Pontiffs evidently adopted this system from sheer necessity , in order that such building corporations as traversed unsettled France or Germany might present themselves with letters guaranteeing their personal safety and authenticating the claims of the traveling craftsmen to papal protection . When the progress of civilisation and advance of solid government rendered this system unnecessary , it
was certainly merged into tho gradual disci pline which the Mediaeval Church , through convents and monasteries , assumed over the Freemasons , at which time it was universall y accepted to be true that episcopal or pontifical authority possessed a rigid control over the craft . It can be stated with precision at what epoch tho mediaeval guild of builders attempted to withdraw from church discipline , and
began to apply their skill to other construction than sacred edifices . Before the year 1060 , modification of the relations existing between the conventual institutions and the Freemasons had so far progressed that these builders wero known throughout France and Germany as conversi barbati fratres , or converted bearded brothers . Under ecclesiastical and evidently pontifical sanction , thoy still remained under sacerdotal control , and were unqualifiedly subjected to Church
government and direction , although by express permission of episcopal anthority , these Fratres or brothers wore allowed to wear the peculiar secular costume which distinguished the Masonic guild at a later period of the middle ages . History attests with unequivocal certainty that as early as the year 1090 , tho Barbati Fratres used marks of a specific character , hewn npon stones , for purpose of proprietory distinction .
In tho year 1099 these craftsmen in the Low Countries had evidently advanced to an open rupture with the Church , and assumed the privilege of concealing their secret arts from tho clergy . A Frisian master , by the name of Plebcr , iu the year alluded to , pledged his head by way of forfeit to successfull y execute certain work which clerical authority deemed impossible . The enormous compensation demanded
upon perfecting this exhibition of skill induced tho Bishop to cajole Pleber ' s son into betraying the secret of the abstruse ' principle by which tho work was accomplished , which disclosure of craft arcana— archanum magiUerium—so enra ged the master builder that he killed the Bishop . The first authentic ovidence attesting tho decided tendency of these fratres to abandon ecclesiastical
jurisdiction is to be found at this period , when the Church or Canonical authorities granted permission to the laity to use their skill upon the condition that the craftsmen should not bo required to construct machines for the destruction of human Yife—onachinw mortifero ; . A century later the Abbe William of Premontro attempted to reduce the guild again to Church disci pline , and issued an order that these
Barbati Fratres , bearded brothers , should shave off their beards . They peremptorily refused , and threatened , if the edict were made mandatory , to set fire to every cloister in the country . This order and prompt refusal mark the absolute severance of the guild of Mediaeval Masons from sacerdotal control , and with the same coded for ever the direct or indirect authority of the Roman Pontiff over the Craft .
Mr . John Nash and Mr . F . Clifton have been very successful with their entertainment , entitled Be Merry and Wise , at the Egyptian Hall New Drawing Room . The various impersonations are clever and amusing , and at the same time free from vul garity . Perhaps one of the best is that of Adolphus St . Jean , who is described as being passiouately fond of mnsic , in which Mr . Nash introduces a serenade and tearlul denouement , with wonderful imitations and effects , including a clever burlesque of Levey . °