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Article M. CLAVEL'S PICTURESQUE MASONRY. ← Page 3 of 4 →
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M. Clavel's Picturesque Masonry.
in consequence of their dissolution , the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Strasburgh , on which latterly they had been dependent , had almost ceased , and in 1707 , it had become extinct throughout Germany . In fact , the Diet of the empire passed an act on the 16 th of March , abrogating their jurisdiction , as well as that exercised by the Grand Lodge of Vienna , and that of Magdeburgh , which was more recently established , and ordering all future trials that might arise among Masons to be submitted to the decision of the civil tribunals .
" The great confraternities for whom these tribunals had been instituted , did not after this long continue in existence ; and the courts of jurisdiction established at Strasburgh , Vienna , and Magdeburgh were thenceforward called on to adjudicate only in such disputes as arose between individuals ancl private workmen on the subject of breaches of contract or badly executed work . In shaking the Papal power to its very foundation , the Reformation of Luther had also given a heavy blow to the Masonic associationsDoubt had penetrated to the minds
. of all , and the construction of those vast churches was no longer undertaken , the spirit of religious fervour which produced them having ceased . The incorporations were thus left without any object , and they were soon dissolved . The richer members became architects , and took the poorer brethren into their pay in the quality of workmen . It was at this time was first established amongst them an institution ( the companionshi ) which had existed from time immemorial amongst other
p trades , and even among the Masonic workmen who were kept excluded from the great privileged associations , and confined to the construction of non-ecclesiastical buildings . * These societies had been formed from the fragments of the Roman colleges . The vices of the feudal system had compelled them to modify in many particulars their original organization ; but they had preserved , nearly untouched , the antient mysterious ceremonies .
" We have already said that all systems of initiation , and all secret doctrines , are to be found in the Roman colleges . From this fact has arisen the diversity of mysteries amongst the companionship . The mode of initiation used in the case of the early Christians was pursued until very recently amongst classes of workmen unconnected with the art of building ; the candidate represented Jesus , ancl the initiated made him pass through various ceremonies , representing the different stages of the Saviour
' s passion . Amongst the workmen connected with the art of building , who were kept excluded from the privileged associations , and who called themselves compagnons passant , and loups-garoux , their mysteries formed a mixture of Judaism and Christianity . It related to the death of the Master , James , one of the constructors of the temple of Solomon , who was , as they represent , assassinated by five fellowcrafts at the instigation of a sixthcalled Father Soubise .
, " In the companionship which issued from the privileged associations , the members of which called themselves compagnons etrangeres , and loups , the mysteries were exclusively Judaic , and as in the Lodges of the Freemasons , they commemorated the allegorical murder of the Grand Master H . According to the confessions of the other companionship , this of the Masons is admitted to be the most ancient of all . It is
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
M. Clavel's Picturesque Masonry.
in consequence of their dissolution , the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Strasburgh , on which latterly they had been dependent , had almost ceased , and in 1707 , it had become extinct throughout Germany . In fact , the Diet of the empire passed an act on the 16 th of March , abrogating their jurisdiction , as well as that exercised by the Grand Lodge of Vienna , and that of Magdeburgh , which was more recently established , and ordering all future trials that might arise among Masons to be submitted to the decision of the civil tribunals .
" The great confraternities for whom these tribunals had been instituted , did not after this long continue in existence ; and the courts of jurisdiction established at Strasburgh , Vienna , and Magdeburgh were thenceforward called on to adjudicate only in such disputes as arose between individuals ancl private workmen on the subject of breaches of contract or badly executed work . In shaking the Papal power to its very foundation , the Reformation of Luther had also given a heavy blow to the Masonic associationsDoubt had penetrated to the minds
. of all , and the construction of those vast churches was no longer undertaken , the spirit of religious fervour which produced them having ceased . The incorporations were thus left without any object , and they were soon dissolved . The richer members became architects , and took the poorer brethren into their pay in the quality of workmen . It was at this time was first established amongst them an institution ( the companionshi ) which had existed from time immemorial amongst other
p trades , and even among the Masonic workmen who were kept excluded from the great privileged associations , and confined to the construction of non-ecclesiastical buildings . * These societies had been formed from the fragments of the Roman colleges . The vices of the feudal system had compelled them to modify in many particulars their original organization ; but they had preserved , nearly untouched , the antient mysterious ceremonies .
" We have already said that all systems of initiation , and all secret doctrines , are to be found in the Roman colleges . From this fact has arisen the diversity of mysteries amongst the companionship . The mode of initiation used in the case of the early Christians was pursued until very recently amongst classes of workmen unconnected with the art of building ; the candidate represented Jesus , ancl the initiated made him pass through various ceremonies , representing the different stages of the Saviour
' s passion . Amongst the workmen connected with the art of building , who were kept excluded from the privileged associations , and who called themselves compagnons passant , and loups-garoux , their mysteries formed a mixture of Judaism and Christianity . It related to the death of the Master , James , one of the constructors of the temple of Solomon , who was , as they represent , assassinated by five fellowcrafts at the instigation of a sixthcalled Father Soubise .
, " In the companionship which issued from the privileged associations , the members of which called themselves compagnons etrangeres , and loups , the mysteries were exclusively Judaic , and as in the Lodges of the Freemasons , they commemorated the allegorical murder of the Grand Master H . According to the confessions of the other companionship , this of the Masons is admitted to be the most ancient of all . It is