Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Freemasonry In Europe During The Past Century.
history he is better know-n as Frederic Augustus ! . ; by the Turks lie was named Iron-Handed . Perhaps his enmity to the Craft was more political than personal , he having made a public declaration of his recantation at Baden in 1797 , his being a Protestant , interfering with bis claim to the Polish throne . The historical reader will recollect that he was compelled , at a later period , to retire to his Saxon dominions and swear that he ivould respect the creedaud support tbe faith of the Protestants .
, The Lodges in Poland were closed in consequence of his proclamation , yet one can be traced to have existed in 1742 . In 1747 Ave find a Loelge at work in Limbing , and in 1749 the Lodge at Warsaw was in existence , and aftenvards became ( Avhen joined with others ) the Grand Lodge of Poland ; this occurred sometime in 1769 . The Grand Lodge of England acknowledged the first Grand Master in the person of Bro . Moszynski , who , in a very short time , granted a great number of
warrants for the formation of subordinate Lodges . The misfortunes and dismemberment of the kingdom , naturally operated upon society generally , and more particularly upon such portions as sought to build their superstructure of happiness , upon a foundation of charity and brotherly love . With the partition of the empire , in 1794 , the meetings of the Freemasons ceased , those who became Prussians ranged themselves under one or other of tbe Grand Lodges of that kingdom , and became incorporated with its history . After the year 1807 , changes again took place , and we find the Grand
Orient of France playing its part in Poland . One of its public laws there being , that every Lodge must be either in the register of France orclosed—this was promulgated in 1811 . AA e need scarcely record all the vaiied fortunes of the Brotherhood , but every feiv years a change came over " the doings of the Order . " In 1813 all the meetings were suspended , and even the Grand Lodge ceased to exist . The chequered annals of Freemasonry in Poland are regular , and
succeed each other with the precision of the figures of a chess-board , for scarcely had onestorm subsided ere another arose , giving just time enough to make the light and dark more evident , thus forming the alternate space to complete the picture . The death of the Prince Poniatowski was lamented in a Mourning Lodge , held in March 1814 , and the mother Lodge of Poland boasted an offspring numbering nearly fifty . Yet it will cause but little
trouble to find the law of tlie Emperor Alexander , elated 15 th August 1821 , forbidding entirely Freemasonry in Warsaw or elsewhere in the kingdom . We must admit that several attempts ivere made to engraft secret societies upon the parent stem , the objects of Avhich societies were different to ours , and if not of a political tendency , still sufficiently unpopular to induce the authorities to ivatch them carefully and put them down as soon as opportunity could be found , ( t is only necessary to
mention , that the Neapolitan Academic des Secrets , and Swedish doctrines ivere introduced , to find some excuse for the jealousy and interference of so absolute a government as the Russian . AVe believe it is only in Prussian-Poland that Lodges noiv exist .
GERMANY . The independent city of Hambro' led the Avay for the dissemination of Masonic knoivledge in Germany , where its future course was either fostered or opposed as the various religions , politics , or interests of each particular state ivere effected . From the great variety of Sovereignties ,
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Freemasonry In Europe During The Past Century.
history he is better know-n as Frederic Augustus ! . ; by the Turks lie was named Iron-Handed . Perhaps his enmity to the Craft was more political than personal , he having made a public declaration of his recantation at Baden in 1797 , his being a Protestant , interfering with bis claim to the Polish throne . The historical reader will recollect that he was compelled , at a later period , to retire to his Saxon dominions and swear that he ivould respect the creedaud support tbe faith of the Protestants .
, The Lodges in Poland were closed in consequence of his proclamation , yet one can be traced to have existed in 1742 . In 1747 Ave find a Loelge at work in Limbing , and in 1749 the Lodge at Warsaw was in existence , and aftenvards became ( Avhen joined with others ) the Grand Lodge of Poland ; this occurred sometime in 1769 . The Grand Lodge of England acknowledged the first Grand Master in the person of Bro . Moszynski , who , in a very short time , granted a great number of
warrants for the formation of subordinate Lodges . The misfortunes and dismemberment of the kingdom , naturally operated upon society generally , and more particularly upon such portions as sought to build their superstructure of happiness , upon a foundation of charity and brotherly love . With the partition of the empire , in 1794 , the meetings of the Freemasons ceased , those who became Prussians ranged themselves under one or other of tbe Grand Lodges of that kingdom , and became incorporated with its history . After the year 1807 , changes again took place , and we find the Grand
Orient of France playing its part in Poland . One of its public laws there being , that every Lodge must be either in the register of France orclosed—this was promulgated in 1811 . AA e need scarcely record all the vaiied fortunes of the Brotherhood , but every feiv years a change came over " the doings of the Order . " In 1813 all the meetings were suspended , and even the Grand Lodge ceased to exist . The chequered annals of Freemasonry in Poland are regular , and
succeed each other with the precision of the figures of a chess-board , for scarcely had onestorm subsided ere another arose , giving just time enough to make the light and dark more evident , thus forming the alternate space to complete the picture . The death of the Prince Poniatowski was lamented in a Mourning Lodge , held in March 1814 , and the mother Lodge of Poland boasted an offspring numbering nearly fifty . Yet it will cause but little
trouble to find the law of tlie Emperor Alexander , elated 15 th August 1821 , forbidding entirely Freemasonry in Warsaw or elsewhere in the kingdom . We must admit that several attempts ivere made to engraft secret societies upon the parent stem , the objects of Avhich societies were different to ours , and if not of a political tendency , still sufficiently unpopular to induce the authorities to ivatch them carefully and put them down as soon as opportunity could be found , ( t is only necessary to
mention , that the Neapolitan Academic des Secrets , and Swedish doctrines ivere introduced , to find some excuse for the jealousy and interference of so absolute a government as the Russian . AVe believe it is only in Prussian-Poland that Lodges noiv exist .
GERMANY . The independent city of Hambro' led the Avay for the dissemination of Masonic knoivledge in Germany , where its future course was either fostered or opposed as the various religions , politics , or interests of each particular state ivere effected . From the great variety of Sovereignties ,