Freemasonry: Its Origin, History, And Design.

" By most of the leaders of this school the complex question of the origin of Freemasonry is being solved in the folloAving way : •—" There existed in Eome , from the first days of the kingdom , and all through the times of the republic and of the empire until its final decay , certain guilds or corporations of Avorkmen , Avhich are well knoAvn in history as the Eoman colleges of artificers . Numa , Avho is said to haA'e founded these guilds , established only nine , but their number

subsequently greatly increased . From the Eoman writers Avho have treated of the form and organisation of these colleges , we learn enough to show us that there Avas a great analogy in their government to that of the modern Masonic Lodges , especially in their character as a great society , and in their initiations and esoteric instructions to which candidates for admission ancl the younger members Avere subjected . Of these guilds , the one to AA'hich Masons particularly refer is that which consisted of architects or builders . The

authentic school of Masonry does not claim , as the mystical most probably would have done , that the Eoman colleges of architects were Lodges of Freemasons . They simply contend that the facts of history exhibit proofs of a derivation of the Freemasonry of this clay from these Eoman guilds , although the course of the succession Avas affected by various important changes . But these changes have not been sufficient altogether to obliterate the evidence of the relationship . This relationshiis thus indicated . From

p a very early period the Eoman people were distinguished by an active spirit of colonisation . No sooner had their victorious legions subdued the semi-barbarous tribes of Spain , of Gaid , of Germany , and of Britain , than they began to establish colonies and to build cities . To every legion that Avent forth to conquer and to colonise Avas attached a guild or college of architects , Avhose numbers , taken from the great body at

Eome , marched and encamped with the legion , ancl Avhen a colony Avas founded , remained there to cultivate the seeds of Eoman civilisation , to inculcate the principles of Eoman art , and to erect temples of worship and houses for the accommodation of the inhabitants . In the course of time , the proud mistress of the world became extinct as a poAA'er of the earth , and the colonies Avhich she had scattered over the Continent became independent kingdoms and principalities . The descendants of the Eoman colleges of artificers established schools of architectureand taught and practised the art of budding

, among the neAvly-enfrancbised people . A principal seat of this body of architects Avas at Coino , a city of Lombardy , Avhere a school was founded Avhich acquired so much reputation that the masons and bricklayers of that city received the appellation of masters of Como , and architects of all nations flocked to the place to acquire the correctprinciples of their profession . From this school of Lombardian builders proceeded that society of architects Avho were known at that time bthe appellation of Freemasons

y , and AA'ho from the tenth to the sixteenth century traversed the continent of Europe engaged almost exclusively in the construction of religious edifices , such as cathedrals , churches , ancl monasteries . The monastic orders formed an alliance Avith them , so that the convents frequently became their domiciles , ancl they instructed the monks in the secret principles of their art . The Popes took them under their protection , granted them charters of monopoly as ecclesiastical architectsand invested them Avith

, many important and exclusive privileges . Dissevering the ties which bound them to the monks , these Freemasons ( so called to distinguish them from the rough masons , AA'ho AA'ere of an inferior grade and not members of the corporation ) subsequently established the guilds of stonemasons , Avhich existed until the end of the seventeenth century in Germany , France , England , and Scotland .

"These stonemasons , or , as they continued to call themselves , Freemasons , had one peculiarity in their organisation Avhich is necessary to be considered if Ave woidd comprehend the relation that exists betAveen them and the Freemasons of the present day . The society was necessarily an operative one , AA'hose members AA'ere actually engaged in the manual labour of building , as well as in the more intellectual occupation of architectural designing . This , Avith the fact of their preAuous connection Avith the monks , Avho probably projected the plans which the Masons carried into execution , led to the admission among them of persons who were not operative Masons . These were high ecclesiastics , Avealthy nobles , and men of science Avho Avere encouragers and patrons of