Freemasonry In Scandinavia.

FREEMASONRY IN SCANDINAVIA .

LONDON , SATURDAY , JANUARY 13 , 1866 .

At a recent meeting of tlie St . Christopher Lodge ^ of Christianstad , Sweden , Bro . Dr . Ahlfeld gave the following outline of the' history of this lodge , which is at present one of the most flourishing in Scandinavia : —

The St . Christopher Lodge received its constitution and was inaugurated on the 24 th of June , 1776 , and has thus been in existence for eighty-nine and a half years . The 24 th of June is , therefore , the proper anniversary of the

foundation of this lodge , and was celebrated as such for many years . However , a variety of circumstances that rendered difficult the assembling of officers and brethren on this day , induced the leading members to petition for leave to substitute

therefore the first legal working day in January ; and it is on the latter day that the anniversary of the lodge has been celebrated ever since 1814 .

The first ordained officers of the St . Christopher Lodge were Bros . K . 0 . Freiherr von Barnekow , Grand Equerry , W . M .,- Lieut .-Colonel Hitter Baltzar Wederwar , S . W . ; Colonel Bitter Eudolph Stjernsward , J . W .

They were all brethren of chivalrous spirit , animated with firm loyalty and love for king and fatherland , who did not spare either time or pains to promote the welfare of the lodge , and the archives of the latter contain many evidences of their laudable efforts . Of material difficulties and

losses the lodge has been subject to , we may mention more particularly the fire from which it suffered on the nights of the 7 th and Sth of October , 1777 , not much more than one year after its erection . Scarcely three weeks previous to

this disaster , the lodge had been honoured by a visit from the then Grand Master of Sweden , Bro . Charles , Duke of Sodermannland , who was very much pleased with the activity and the fraternal and affectionate spirit prevailing in the lodo-e . A

fire having broken out in the house adjoining the building in which the lodge used to hold its meetings , both were totally destroyed , and nothing remained of the property of the lodge . But as early as the 17 th of the same month the brethren

met again in the home of Bro . Col . Gustavschiold , and resumed their labours with increased zeal and alacrity—they submitted to many sacrifices in order to secure their object . The supreme authorities

of the Order of the province gave them credit for their commendable efforts , and when , on June Sth of the following year , King Gustave III ., the illustrious protector of the Masons of Sweden , accompanied by his brother , Duke Charles . of

Sodermannland , and the then Grand Master , Bro . Widskofle , visited Christianstad and held a Grand Lodge there , he expressed his great satisfaction Avith the noble aspirations and great assiduity of the brethren of the St . Christopher Lodge .

As a token of his benevolence King Gustave gave leave to the officers of the lodge to work also upon the Scottish system ; they soon availed themselves of this permission to establish the

Scottish Cubic Stone Lodge , which at first worked in the Hall belonging to the St . Christopher Lodge , but afterwards received a constitution , and commenced working in a temple of its own ( Nov . 26 th , 1778 ) .

Bro . the Duke of Sodermannland , having become King of Sweden , visited the lodge several times previous , and subsequent to his ascension of the throne ; King Charles XIV ., John , visited it three times . ' The late King Oscar , who was a

Freemason in the truest and noblest meaning of the word , visited it more frequently still , both while Crown Prince ancl in his capacity of Supreme Protector of the Province . More than once he

raised , from the chair of K . S . of this lodge , his clear and loving eye , and his soft voice in addressing the brethren of the West , South , and North , and , as a brother , exhorted them to the practise of true Masonic virtue , and the

maintenance of peace and harmony ; his simple Avords were responded to in each breast , for they came from the noblest heart that ever beat for the good of mankind , and conceived the fundamental idea of Freemasonry in its noblest and most

liberal meaning . The present King also has visited this lodge , in 1852 , as Crown Prince , and S . P . of the Province , and attended several of its labours and festivities ; and in a like manner it has been honoured by Bro . H . R . H . the Duke of Osfcergothland , and Prince Oscar , the present S . P . of the ninth Province .

In this manner the St . Christopher Lodge has steadily advanced in vigour and efficiency , and enjoys at present the happiest prospects for the future . In the obituary with which Bro . Ahlfeld concluded his oration , he first alluded to the death of Bros . Barnekow , Balamb , and Axel de la Gardie ,