The History Of Freemasonry In Russia.

certain personages , united by these circumstances in personal feelings unfavourable to Freemasonry , that we must in truth attribute the influences which led Paul I . to interdict under severe penalties , all the meetings of Freemasons .

In 1803 , Alexander I ., who succeeded in 1801 to the Emperor Paul I ,, ordered a minute enquiry into , the principles _ and object of Freemasonry , and on the report thus submitted to him , took off the decree of

interdict , permitted the Lodges to be re-opened , and was himself initiated . But the historians have not been able up to this time to agree as to the name of the Lodge in which his reception took place , nor the time , nor

locality . Whenever and wherever it was , Freemasonry resumed its activity , and ne \ v Lodges were constituted . In 1805 a Lodge , working according to the Swedish rite , ivas opened at

St . Petersburg !! . This Lodge powerfully contributed to the creation of three neiv Lodges , a Russian Lodge , a French Lodge , and a German Lodge . These are the associations placed

under the direction of Bro . Beber , which appear to have constituted about 1810 the Grand Lodge of Vladimir . It Avas also about the same time that the Masonic authority recovered its activitythat tivo neiv Lodges were

, besides founded at St . Petersburg !! " Les Amis Reunis , " of which the Master ivas Bro . Gerebtsoff , chamberlain , and " La Palestine , " Avhose labours were directed by Count Wielhorski , Gentleman of the Chamber .

These two Lodges were organized in the French rite , and worked in the French language . In 1811 , the Lodge " Isis" ivas established at the " Orient" of Revel . Lastly in 1813 , the Lodge Neptune commenced its labours at the " Orient " ofCronstadt .

All these Lodges appear to have had but a short career , since Ave do not find their names in the arrangements adopted in 1815 . Until 1814 the greater part of the

Russian Lodges recognised as their Grand Master , Bro . Beber , but at that period , after an energetic discussion on a demand to suppress the high grades , General Aide-de-Camp Count Sehouvaloff was elected Grand Master ,

in the place of Bro . Beber , the defender of the so-called high grades , and who failed to obtain the majority of votes .

Bro . Count Sehouvaloff , having refused this dignity , Count Mousschin Pousehkine was elected in his stead at the meeting in January in 1815 . From tliis date the symbolical Lodges and the high grades had two distinct administrations .

Bro . Mousschin Pouchkine ivas Grand Master of the symbolical Lodges . Bro . Beber remained Grand Master of the high grades , under the title of "Vicar of Solomon" and " Prefect of the Sublime Council . "

Bro . Beber had under , his direction from the commencement two Lodges , "Elizabetha , la Virtu , " and "Les Amis Reunis , " but a little later two other associations were constituted under his jurisdiction "L'Etoile Polaire , " et " Les trois Vertus . "

As regards Bro . Mousschin Pousehkine he numbered on the 20 th of January , 1815 , under his direction the Lodges " Pierre a la Verite " et " La Palestine " at the Orient of St . Petersburgh , " Isis a l'Espdrance" at the Orient of Revel , and " Neptune a l'Esp & ance " at the Orient of Cronstadt .

These are the four bodies which founded the Grand Lodge " Astree , " of ivhicli there exists an historical document , the Constitution , such as Ave find it in the " pieces justicatives " placed at the end of the sixth volume of an important work Avhich has just appeared at St . Petersburgh , the history of the