Masonry In Sweden.

MASONRY IN SWEDEN .

A Compilation of Data thereof by Prof . J . Wm . Wennerberg , Grand Rapids , Mich ., U . S . A . ACCORDING to the archives of the old Swedish Cathedrals , as well as French Masonic Documents , ancient Freemasonry came into Sweden through one or two of tho ancient associations

of architects and builders , as far back as the year 1125 , when Inge the younger was king of Sweden . And that those Craftsmen of one association or another must have been settled in Sweden generation after generation , or come in in flocks one after the other , the many cathedrals and monasteries and castles from the middle ages are indisputable evidences .

In old Swedish Masonic calendars is stated , that written documents exist , which provo thafc Freemasonry ( operative and symbolic ) was known in Sweden in the fourteenth century and expressly in tho year 1390 . There are old MSS . in existence which state expressly that meetings of Freemasons were held about that time , in the reign of Queen Margaret , in the Koyal Castle , called

the Tower of Three Crowns , in Stockholm , and also in the very old Cathedral , or rather , in its underground Crypt , or Craft Church , in the city of Lund . It was the custom of tho Masons of those times , whenever convenient or expedient , to hold their Lodge meeting ' s in churches or church crypts . In the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries the regular Lodge work was apparently suspended mosfc of the time , on account of the strifes and wars , yet official Masonic

records prove that secret Lodge meetings were held on certain occasions , if not in the lloyal Castle , at least in the Craft Church afc Lund ; fche records also prove fchafc in fche year 1706 fche far-famed scientist and Masonic reformer , Emmanuel Swedenborg , was then and there made a Freemason , according to the ancient York Masonry . It is claimed he also received all the degrees of the Heredom , Kilwinning Rite and Knight Templarism , as they were worked in those days .

The name oi Swedenborg is so universally connected with tho reconstruction of Freemasonry on tho European continent ( as the name of Webb is with the American York system ) , that a few reminiscences of his indefatigable efforts to rectify and explain the ancient symbolic Masonry , and of his great Masonic influence at high quarters , must throw much light on the high estimation in

which Freemasonry in Europe has been held in later times , especially amongst the most prominent and well educated classes . Bro . Swedenborg came upon the stage at tho time of the so-called revival or renovation of the fast declining Masonry in England in 1717 . Wo all know how the zealous Bro . Desaguliers , with a few other Master Masons , succeeded in forming a union of the then in

London existing Lodges and thereby institute a Grand Lodge . Tho Brethren in Sweden being informed of this welcome move by tho English Fraternity , they also moved to earnest deliberation on the same matter ; but the solution turned out somewhat differently . So , then , knowing that Bro . Swedenborg was quite intimate with King Charles XII , they solicited him to urge upon their warlike

king the propriety of initiating a similar revival of Masonry in Sweden with that just taken place in England , but with the addition of fche Heredom , Kilwinning and Knights Templar Kites , as they would be serviceable to his army , then in the field . Brother Swedenborg accepted tho task , and he went to Attenburg to consult with the king personally . His misson was successful , and Lodges

( including Chapters ) and Encampments wero at once instituted under the sanction of Koyal authority . Bufc being only temporary and without charters ( which , however , were not absolutely necessary anywhere in those days ) , and dependent on the convenience of the chiefs , these bodies partly fell into disuse for a few years after the death of their monarch in 1718 .

Yet Bro . Swedenborg ' s zeal was unabated , and his continued influence was apparent in the revival work of primitive or original Freemasonry , as well as in tho renovation and reconstruction of the higher Scottish Rite . His great share in the re-establishment of ancient Freemasonry in a perfected modern form is fully authenticated . He was in an uninterrupted communication with the

Masonic chiefs in Europe , and he especially diffused Masonic light fco all earnest inquirers through the " Exegefcical and Philanthropical Society , " at Stockholm , which , in 1796 was re-named Pro Fide et Caritatej and it was mainly here he gave his learned lectures on the primitive or original Freemasonry and the so-called higher

degrees . This influential society , after Bro . Swedenborg ' s demise in 1772 , was presided over by the Duke of Sudermania ( Charles XIII ) in 1809 , who was both Grand Master and Deputy Grand Commander of the Scottish Rite in Sweden and dependencies under King Frederick of Prussia , and after this king's demise the duke became Sov . Grand Commander in Sweden .

The Deputy Grand Commander in France , under King Frederick of Prussia , was Count de Rohan ( afterwards Cardinal Princo de Rohan ) . By tbe by , the reader will recollect that said Count de Kohan was one oi the alleged signers of thafc document given to Bro . Stephen Morin , which authorised him as an Inspector General of the Scottish Rite to establish this Rite on the continent of America .

Next to his specific scientific researches , Bro . Swedenborg manifested the greatest interest in the science of hieroglyphics and ancient symbols , to which he had found a key in his discovered Science of Correspondences , and which became his , and for his ingenious exposition of the secrets of Masonry . He accordingly presented to the Masonic chiefs in Europe his corrections and explanations of prevalent Masonry , as also a rectified Rite , which

gradually was quite extensively , though only in part inmost places , adapted to the several systems followed on the continent of Europe , lms reconstructed Rite of Swedenborg , with its strictly consecutive mstoric-philosophical degrees , and in connection with the ancient r * — Ri'e , was and still is systematically worked in several places , both in France and Germany . It is also claimed that King £ redenck of Prussia , from 1772-1786 , or up to tbe day of his death , uad a so-called Court Lodge working thc Swedenborgian Rite under

Masonry In Sweden.

his own auspices , for it is stated that he already , before the seven years' war , had become disgusted with the high degrees . How thia allegation can bc reconciled to the American A . A . Scottish Bite claim to this king ' s participation in any way in instituting thafc Bite of 33 degrees—this is a secret . Schlosser , in his " History of the World , " Vol . IV ., speaks extensively of this king ' s connections with Freemasonry . The data of Bro . Swedenborg ' s initiation and hia

Masonic labour and merits are found amongst other documents in tho MS . journal of the above mentioned society , " Pro Fide efc Caritate , " also in an old Book of Records now in the archives of the first Swedish Scottish Rite Conistory in the city of Chrisfcianstad , and in part in the Gorman journal " Latonia . " To this rather lengthy sketch of the earliest data of Masonry in Sweden , and specially of one of tho principal organisers of modem Masonry , only a few more data will complete this history .

From 1730 the Swedish Fraternity has been known under tho name of fcho " Masonic Order of Sweden , " and from 1736 ifc worked under the authority of the Grand Lodge of England , which body nominated Count de Scheffer Provincial Grand Master of Sweden .

A few years later the old Stockholm Lodge was named Sfc . John Auxiliare , when Major Count Carl Knutson Posse became its W . M . About this period fche Swedish Craffc was spreading like a fire over the country , and several new Lodges were warranted , and new Chapters and Consistories established .

In 1773 , in tho reign of Gustavus III ., the hereditary Pnnoe of Sweden , Duke of Sudermania ( afterward King Charles XIII . ) was pleased to become Grand Master of the Swedish Fraternity , and also a few years later Sov . Grand Commander of A . A . Scottish Rite , and ever since has Sweden been an independent and Sovereign Grand Jurisdiction under the protectorship of the Swedish monarch .

The Swedish system above the universal Blue Lodge comprises in a condensed form the Chapter , the Rose Croix , the Templar Encampment and the Consistory , and the whole complex is governed by a Supreme Grand Lodge and a Supreme Council . As a rather singular fact which must throw a certain gloria around the Swedish Fraternity , it can also be said here , that within the last fifty years the hereelitary princes of Denmark ,

Germany and England , and also other foreign princes and high dignitaries have come to Sweden to be initiated into Swedish Freemasonry , and thereby are the Grand Bodies of those countries intimately connected in the mystic tie . In the foregoing illustrated data of Masonry in Sweden ( the

publication of which is partly owing to the remarks below ) , it cannot be totally useless to add one or two statements relative to the relations of recognition and amity between the American and Swedish Fraternities—if there exist any such afc fche present time , since the death of Dr . J . 0 . Batchelor .

In the official Swedish Masonic Calender for 1875 is stated that the Supreme Grand Lodge and Supreme Council of Sweden have or then had , relations of amity with several American Grand Lodges—in Illinois , Tennessee , Texas , Alabama—and with the

Supreme Council for the Southern Jurisdiction . And those American Grand Bodies vice versa in Sweden . Now , should not such ample relations of amity bespeak and bo an assurance of mutual recognition of the regularity or legality of the Masonio Fraternities of Sweden and America ? Thoso stated relations have

apparently very rarely , if ever , been put to a test on this side of the Atlantic . They have at least been of no use to ono regularly demitted high degree Brother from Stockholm . And he can testify that he has during his ten years' residence in and near Michigan nofc met with such Brother who knew anything about the Masonic Fraternity in Sweden , or whether it is regular and legal or not .

Now , it is to be hoped that the foregoing history will give tho needed information and be a means fco make the sojourner ' s rough road smooth in the degree he is worthy . —" American Tyler . "

Late Hours And Hurry.

LATE HOURS AND HURRY .

IT will materially damage , if ifc does not finally kill , any Masonic Lodge or Chapter to commence half an hour or more after fche time specified for opening . The hour having been announced , the Master has no right to

keep tho Brethren waiting for somo laggard . The prompt ; will conclude that it is useless fco waste their time in that way , and will soon become careless . So the disease spreads until it is next to impossible to secure a quorum at a reasonable hour ; the interest fags and the Lodge barely survives .

Late openings necessitate late closings , and men whose business requires thafc their faculties shall be active and strong , find out sooner or later that this sort of thing impairs their efficiency , and , after awhile , drop out of the list of regular attendants , then cease to go except on rare occasions .

To overcome these impediments , the work is " cut short" or hurried , which divests it of its impressiveness , and members find no pleasure in it . They wonder where the beauty is , and why they ever saw anything to admire . — " Masonic Home Journal . "

THE Grand Master of thc State of Colorado has ruled that '' A Lodge in this jurisdiction cannot act upon , or in any way recognise , a demit from a Lodge chartered by the Grand Lodge of Hamburg or fche Grand Orient of France . "

0 0 0 , THE opinion holds considerable favour hi Calcutta that , as . iu private life a dinner is indispensable , so it must be in Freemasonry . It is a part and parcel of thc social system , and a stepping-stone to friendly intercourse .