Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Freemasonry In Europe During The Past Century.
he succeeded on the 16 th of December , 1798 , and that caused , for the time , the downfall of the Craft . The Czar forbade the assemblage of any and all secret societies , without mentioning Freemasons ; but the known heads of the Order pledged themselves to him not to open a Lodge without his assent first obtained , ancl , in return , he created them Knights of Malta . From that time Freemasonry slumbered , and only a few of the most and respected met in secret . In the year 1801 .
wary Alexander ascended to the Czar ' s place , and ratified Paul ' s edict against secret societies ; but , in 1803 , he allowed Bober , Director of the Corps of Cadets , to persuade him to withdraw Paul's Ukase , and to permit himself to be initiated to the Order after an inquiry . In 1811 , several private Lodges proposed to establish a directory , to be called ' Grand Directorial Lodge of Harmony' of Wladmer , of which Brother Bober was Master the first three years . All Lodges under its control adopted the
Swedish working ; but when the worthlessness of it was discovered , and tolerance for all methods demanded , the Brethren of the higher Orders refused , an unity of opinions was found impracticable , and it was decided to abandon the existing Directorship , and constitute two Independent Grand Lodges . One of these came into existence on the 30 th
of August , 1815 , with the name of Astraa , and its fundamental rules were four *—1 st . Admission of all known systems ; 2 nd . Every private Lodge to be equally represented in Grand Lodge ; 3 rd . An annual election ( uncontrolled ) of every officer ; 4 th . The non-interference of Grand Lodge with the higher Orders . These regulations were approved by the Government . Thus the position in Russia was advantageous and honourable until Alexander ' s order to the Minister of the Interior , on
the 12 th of August , 1822 , came suddenly upon the body , commanding the suspension of all Freemasonry . Every effort that time or ingenuity could suggest , has been tried in vain to ascertain the cause of this order . Upon the whole , it appears that education had not sufficiently progressed to admit the Russians generally into the Craft . The Lodges were for pleasure only , and Masonry became an expensive toy wherewith to kill time . The use of trinkets and
ornaments , in the hi gher orders of the Craft , served to embellish the persons ofthe superior classes . Candidates were admitted without sufficient inquiry and caution , and initiations were regarded as a -necessary measure of FINANCE , which , indeed was earned to an enormous extent . Of latter times , we might expect the great spread of cultivation and refinement would have done something for Freemasonry ; but , to the present , no fresh workings have taken place in this immeasurable empire . "
TTJBKEY . In European Turkey , efforts have been made to warrant Lodges , and in the house of the English interpreter , a meeting took place in 1748 , in which some Turks were initiated . The Ministry at the Porte , on hearing it , commanded , " at the next meeting to guard the doors and fire the building . " We have not heard to the present time of the conflagration , but no Turks have been proposed or balloted for sinceThe members
. of the various embassies in London and Paris have been admitted to the Craft . C To be continued . ) pf , F .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Freemasonry In Europe During The Past Century.
he succeeded on the 16 th of December , 1798 , and that caused , for the time , the downfall of the Craft . The Czar forbade the assemblage of any and all secret societies , without mentioning Freemasons ; but the known heads of the Order pledged themselves to him not to open a Lodge without his assent first obtained , ancl , in return , he created them Knights of Malta . From that time Freemasonry slumbered , and only a few of the most and respected met in secret . In the year 1801 .
wary Alexander ascended to the Czar ' s place , and ratified Paul ' s edict against secret societies ; but , in 1803 , he allowed Bober , Director of the Corps of Cadets , to persuade him to withdraw Paul's Ukase , and to permit himself to be initiated to the Order after an inquiry . In 1811 , several private Lodges proposed to establish a directory , to be called ' Grand Directorial Lodge of Harmony' of Wladmer , of which Brother Bober was Master the first three years . All Lodges under its control adopted the
Swedish working ; but when the worthlessness of it was discovered , and tolerance for all methods demanded , the Brethren of the higher Orders refused , an unity of opinions was found impracticable , and it was decided to abandon the existing Directorship , and constitute two Independent Grand Lodges . One of these came into existence on the 30 th
of August , 1815 , with the name of Astraa , and its fundamental rules were four *—1 st . Admission of all known systems ; 2 nd . Every private Lodge to be equally represented in Grand Lodge ; 3 rd . An annual election ( uncontrolled ) of every officer ; 4 th . The non-interference of Grand Lodge with the higher Orders . These regulations were approved by the Government . Thus the position in Russia was advantageous and honourable until Alexander ' s order to the Minister of the Interior , on
the 12 th of August , 1822 , came suddenly upon the body , commanding the suspension of all Freemasonry . Every effort that time or ingenuity could suggest , has been tried in vain to ascertain the cause of this order . Upon the whole , it appears that education had not sufficiently progressed to admit the Russians generally into the Craft . The Lodges were for pleasure only , and Masonry became an expensive toy wherewith to kill time . The use of trinkets and
ornaments , in the hi gher orders of the Craft , served to embellish the persons ofthe superior classes . Candidates were admitted without sufficient inquiry and caution , and initiations were regarded as a -necessary measure of FINANCE , which , indeed was earned to an enormous extent . Of latter times , we might expect the great spread of cultivation and refinement would have done something for Freemasonry ; but , to the present , no fresh workings have taken place in this immeasurable empire . "
TTJBKEY . In European Turkey , efforts have been made to warrant Lodges , and in the house of the English interpreter , a meeting took place in 1748 , in which some Turks were initiated . The Ministry at the Porte , on hearing it , commanded , " at the next meeting to guard the doors and fire the building . " We have not heard to the present time of the conflagration , but no Turks have been proposed or balloted for sinceThe members
. of the various embassies in London and Paris have been admitted to the Craft . C To be continued . ) pf , F .