The Pope And Mediaeval Freemasons.

effective in such territory as the evangehsjn" zeal of his subordinates added to the Papal See . Towards the close of the fifth century this power began to assume the appearance of more than an empty assumption . As rapidly as the increasing number of converted pagans , especially in

Gaul and Germany , rendered such measures necessary for the perpetuation of congregations , substantial edifices were erected at convenien t places in episcopal districts . These structures , although often of hasty construction , were built by corporations

or guilds of Masons and carpenters , already organized and possessing the prescriptive right , by immemorial usage in Italy to be governed according to their own laws . Such , consequently , was the well-defined social status of these builders upon Italian

soil , at the period when the exigencies of the Romish Church demanded a more elevated art-knowledge for the erection of cathedrals and chapels upon territory irhere the religion of Christ had vanquished the sombre rites of Tuetonic deities . The

organization and extension of missionary enterprise invariably contemplated the use and association of these ancient artificers in such schemes . Wherever the evangelists travelled with assiduous zeal to proselyte and convert , bodies of builders quickly followed upon their footsteps in order that

temples consecrated to the new worshi p might rise into immediate use . Both laity and clergy , under authorization of the Roman Pontiff , eagerly affiliated with these travelling craftsmen . It would , indeed , be an unwarranted assumption to

assert that at this early period of the Middle Ages the precursor of the Mediaeval Freemasons were under exclusive pontifical jurisdiction , inasmuch as it can be demonstrated to the contrary that contemporary with such control , and in the seventh

century when Papal influence extended , these colleges were by royal rescript recognised to possess the right of independent government . It is , however , manifestly in exact accord with the necessities of the enlarging Church in distant countriesthat

, those building guilds , whose services were demanded and called thither , should travel m obedience to the sole undisputed power which could contract with and direct them with supreme authority which was inherent m the Pope . Such of them , then , as

accompanied the evangelists , or were sent upon their demand , maintained a direct relationship with his Holiness , and were under his sanction and patronage . It has oftentimes been claimed that these

early bodies of artificers existed throughout the vast domains of the Romish Church , under and by virtue of Papal charters or indulgences . To this day no proof of such allegation has been found . This statement is in open antagonism with other important facts having reference to

the earlier Masons and carpenters , and it is believed cannot be attested . Neither charters or Pontifical indulgences were necessary to preserve this corporate existence , which was repeatedly recognised by the rescripts of the Roman Emperorsand

, by edicts of Longobordic rulers as late as the eighth century . There is , however , a germinal truth in this venerable tradition . As early as the era of the Merowingiau kings , about the year 550 , in France , there was a fully developed system

practised by these rulers , of granting to individuals especial letters of safeguard or protection , which , when issued in the form of a written document , exempted the bearer from all and every local restriction . In the Cartularies of Charlemagne , several

centuries later , these letters of personal protection are frequently referred to as a well recognised privilege of imperial power . The Roman Pontiffs evidentl y adopted this system from sheer necessity , in order that such building corporations as traversed unsettled France or Germany

might present themselves with letters guaranteeing their personal safety and authenticating the claims of the travelling craftsmen to Papal protection . When the progress of civilisation and advance of solid government rendered this system

unnecessary , it was certainly merged into the gradual discipline which the Mediaeval Church , through convents and monasteries , assumed over the Freemasons , at which time it was universally accepted to be true , that episcopal or Pontifical authority

possessed a rigid control over the craft . It can be stated with precision , at what epoch the mediaeval guild of builders attempted to withdraw from Church discipline , and began to apply their skill to other constructions than sacred edifices . Before the year 1060 , modification of