Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Freemasonry In Europe During The Past Century.
FREEMASONRY IN EUROPE DURING THE PAST CENTURY .
IT is difficult to account for the indifference of the English Fraternity to continental matters ; it may arise from their isolated position , or from a fancied superiority ; but certain it is , that with some few exceptions , we scarcely know any thing of what was going forward on the Continent of Europe before the French revolution ; and even now our knowledge of the social positions of a very large portion of the Order is very limited . The Masonic world generally partakes of this feeling ; and
were it not for the occasional extracts and communications relating to the Institution , in the Freemasons' Quarterly Review , we should continue to have " shadows , clouds , and darkness rest upon it . " It is not , however , necessary to reason upon the abstruse question of the formation of an Englishman ' s organ of Continental "inquisitiveness , " although "I have stock in hand to spare , And could write on , but will forbear ; First , lest I tire a friend who-e state And avocations are so great , And then , if other pens should try This foreign scheme as well as I , They may have something to puisne . "
It is not too much to hope they will , and favour us with the scenes antl dialogue to fill up the Masonic drama , of which the following is but a meie outline , chiefly drawn from the "Latomia , " a German periodical . But many valuable works upon the subject are in existence ; such as the numerous erudite works of Dr . Oliver ; Laurie ' s History of the Formation of Freemasonry in Naples , published at Leipzig ; Lennings ' Freemasonry ; Le Compas , a French Masonic Journal ; Krause ' s Enquiries , and others ; and last , though not least , the Freemason ' s Quarterly .
ENGLANO , It is unnecessary to mention here , it having been very fully treated by many abler hands in its books of constitutions , and various writers . PORTUGAL . Portugal has not been the refuge of the Mason ; to the contrary , they were known there but few years . As in Spain , its religious intolerance raised that scourge , the Inquisition , with its mummeries and horrorsseeking to coerce the mind of man within the narrowest and
, vilest trammels ; proving the state of bigotry into which they had sunk , and from thence the unhappy Freemason , or other liberal-minded person , had not much consideration to expect ; nevertheless , efforts were made to establish Lodges at various times and places , but the fears antl jealousies of the bedarkened priests always interfered to prevent the spread of enlightenment or benefit to mankind , unless they were the greatest gainers . In 1735 , several noble Portuguese , with more
foreigners , instituted a Lodge in Lisbon , under the Grand Lodge of England , of which George Gordon was Master : but no sooner was the slightest suspicion entertained of its existence , than the clergy determined to give the clearest evidence of their hatred to the Order by practical illustration . The Inquisition caused John Coustos , of Heme , and Alexander Jacob Mouton , of Paris ( two diamond cutters ami polishers ) , then in Portugal , to be arrested in 17-1-3 , and thrown into subterranean dungeons , where they remained several weeks , enduring the most severe punishments and anxiety , until the heads of the HOLY
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Freemasonry In Europe During The Past Century.
FREEMASONRY IN EUROPE DURING THE PAST CENTURY .
IT is difficult to account for the indifference of the English Fraternity to continental matters ; it may arise from their isolated position , or from a fancied superiority ; but certain it is , that with some few exceptions , we scarcely know any thing of what was going forward on the Continent of Europe before the French revolution ; and even now our knowledge of the social positions of a very large portion of the Order is very limited . The Masonic world generally partakes of this feeling ; and
were it not for the occasional extracts and communications relating to the Institution , in the Freemasons' Quarterly Review , we should continue to have " shadows , clouds , and darkness rest upon it . " It is not , however , necessary to reason upon the abstruse question of the formation of an Englishman ' s organ of Continental "inquisitiveness , " although "I have stock in hand to spare , And could write on , but will forbear ; First , lest I tire a friend who-e state And avocations are so great , And then , if other pens should try This foreign scheme as well as I , They may have something to puisne . "
It is not too much to hope they will , and favour us with the scenes antl dialogue to fill up the Masonic drama , of which the following is but a meie outline , chiefly drawn from the "Latomia , " a German periodical . But many valuable works upon the subject are in existence ; such as the numerous erudite works of Dr . Oliver ; Laurie ' s History of the Formation of Freemasonry in Naples , published at Leipzig ; Lennings ' Freemasonry ; Le Compas , a French Masonic Journal ; Krause ' s Enquiries , and others ; and last , though not least , the Freemason ' s Quarterly .
ENGLANO , It is unnecessary to mention here , it having been very fully treated by many abler hands in its books of constitutions , and various writers . PORTUGAL . Portugal has not been the refuge of the Mason ; to the contrary , they were known there but few years . As in Spain , its religious intolerance raised that scourge , the Inquisition , with its mummeries and horrorsseeking to coerce the mind of man within the narrowest and
, vilest trammels ; proving the state of bigotry into which they had sunk , and from thence the unhappy Freemason , or other liberal-minded person , had not much consideration to expect ; nevertheless , efforts were made to establish Lodges at various times and places , but the fears antl jealousies of the bedarkened priests always interfered to prevent the spread of enlightenment or benefit to mankind , unless they were the greatest gainers . In 1735 , several noble Portuguese , with more
foreigners , instituted a Lodge in Lisbon , under the Grand Lodge of England , of which George Gordon was Master : but no sooner was the slightest suspicion entertained of its existence , than the clergy determined to give the clearest evidence of their hatred to the Order by practical illustration . The Inquisition caused John Coustos , of Heme , and Alexander Jacob Mouton , of Paris ( two diamond cutters ami polishers ) , then in Portugal , to be arrested in 17-1-3 , and thrown into subterranean dungeons , where they remained several weeks , enduring the most severe punishments and anxiety , until the heads of the HOLY