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their ideas were deposited in each civilisation . Later , there was a distinct invitation sent from the west to the building societies of Byzantium , and the movement westward was increased by the iconoclasm of Leo . In the middle ages the liber muratores , or Freemasons ,

grouped themselves around the monasteries , especially of the Benedictine Order , the abbots being in many cases the architects , themselves employing the builders . But as architecture grew and buildings became grander these societies became more definite and durable . The taste and science of

Gothic architecture were largely in the hands of the wooden Lodges , where the stone cutters during the progress of the work kept their tools , worked , held meetings , and probably ate and smoked . Many of those glorious buildings which were still the wonder of mankind , were the work of these

wooden Lodges . In the 12 th century there were distinct traces of a general association of wooden Lodges throughout Germany , acknowledging one set of Craft laws ' , one set of secret signs and ceremonies , and to a certain extent one central authority in the Grand Lodge of Strasburg . Between

1205 and 1208 a great philosopher and writer , Albertus Magnus , was supposed to have introduced many of the Jewish and Arabian symbols which were so familiar in the Craft .

The privileges of the Lodges were to give to master speakers and journeymen " a share in the administration of justice , in the election of officers , in the banquets , and in works of charity . "

The Archdeacon pointed out that the ceremony of initiation was said to be copied from a Benedictine consecration—the consecration at the entrance into the

monastery— -and in the ancient Lodges instruction was given to all apprentices in architecture and its allegory . Thus they saw the importance of these early Lodges . When the young apprentice had finished his year of travel he was entitled to receive the pass word and the salutation , he taking the oath of secrecy on the Bible , the compass , and the square , and

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drinking the loving cup . Having referred to the fact that there was traditional meaning in the three great lights , the gavel , the colours of gold , blue , and white , the numbers 3 , 5 , 7 , and 9 , and the interlaced cords , the preacher alluded to the great assemblies held at Ratisbon and Strasburg in 1459 ,

where the authority of the Grand Lodge of Strasburg was recognised , and received the confirmation of the Roman Emperor . England imported much of her Lodge organisation and learning * from Germany . A great change took place in

the 17 th century , when the building trade became open to the whole world , and the first instance they had of an amateur becoming " accepted" was that of the antiquary , Elias Ashmole , afterwards Windsor Herald under Charles II ., who with Col . Mainwaring was entered at Warrington in 16 4 6 .

The reason for the conversion of the operative into the speculative Freemason as they now knew him was to be found in the following facts : —( 1 ) The old secrets of Gothic masonry had been rendered less valuable , and were expiring as a system , buildings being put up in the Augustan and

Renaissance style of architecture , which Inigo Jones and Lord Pembroke had been studying on the continent , the former being patron of Freemasons from 1607 to 1618 . ( 2 ) The disorder of the Civil wars had prevented meetings , and so broken up Masonic connections . ( 3 ) The growing spirit

of the Reformation in religion gave everyone freedom of speech , and toleration was soon a political fact . ( 4 ) Science had taken a new departure from the time of Bacon ; its legend and allegory were heard of no longer . ( 5 ) New ideas had been spread abroad , and works like Bacon ' s " New

Atlantis " had fostered the idea of a new humamtarianism , and the expression of fellowship by ancient symbols . Under these impulses , in 1663 , a general assembly of Masons was

held , at which the old catechism was revised and new statutes passed . The movement was helped by the re-construction of London after the fire , by the building of St . Paul ' s , and the patronage of Sir Christopher Wren , so at last they had a

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Cooperative World Travel , ORGANISED BY HENRY S . LUNN , M . D ., B . CH ., F . R . Q . S ., AND CONNOP F . S . PEROWNE . £ 6 6 S and £ 6 16 S 6 d Swiss TOUTS—Geneva and Grindelwald . Extensions to Chamonix , Zermatt , Lucerne , and the Italian Lakes , the Tyrol , the Engadine , & c . £ 3 13 s 6 d Paris Tour . £ 3 13 s 6 d Cologne and Antwerp Tour . Norwegian Fjord Cruises , £ 10 10 s and upwards . Cruise to the Northern Capitals of Europe , £ 22 Is and upwards . S . Y . " Argonaut . " Tonnage 3 , 25 $ . H . P . 5 , 000 . Cruises to Morocco , the Canary Isles , and Madeira . Cruises to Iceland . Scotch Summer Tours . Cruise to the Western Mediterranean , £ 18 18 s and upwards . Special s » a $ onic Cruise & Rolp £ ana , € gppt , JftDens , $ c . 35 days for 35 Guineas , and upwards . Cycling Tours in Great Britain and on the Continent . World ' s Tour 190 guineas . Full particulars from the Secretary , 5 Endsleigh Gardens , Euston , London , N . W ,