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Document under Free Document Dissemination Licence. |
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Document under Free Document Dissemination Licence. |
Freemasonry has legendary and symbolic origins which serve as the basis for the initiatory work of its members. It also has historic origins, which will be described here.
Modern Freemasonry has as its ancestors the ancient operative associations of builders and stone cutters of the Middle Ages. They themselves inherited traditions going back to antiquity. These associations combined what we would today call the "professional", "philosophical" and "religious" realms. Indeed, until the time of the birth of so-called "modern" or "speculative" Masonry, these three realms were not separate entities, but all converged under the mantle of religion.
Traces of professional groups, and particularly those of builders, are found in Egypt and Greece. Under the Roman Empire, the "collegia" had their titular gods and rites. Their worship as well as their techniques underwent the influence of neighbouring peoples, and of "mystical" religions which were extremely popular at the time. Entry into one of these crafts entailed a veritable initiation.
It is quite possible that the rites of the "collegia" survived under the Late Empire in spite of the triumph of Christianity, as was the case of other rites of pagan religions, where patron saints little by little took the place of titular gods and rituals became christianised.
After the fall of the Western Roman Empire, the "collegia" disappeared. Paul Naudon writes "During the feudal period, the judicial framework no longer permits the existence of autonomous professional associations, and no such group can be envisaged without taking into account the bonds of lordship or vassalage which characterise this society".
The vestiges of the "collegia" found asylum under the protection of the Church and became monastic associations.
From the 11th century on, new associations emerge, the "corporations" and "guilds". Later still, certain craftsmen enjoy the freedom to travel about unhindered. They are the "free-mestiers", composed of free men who went on to build the cathedrals.
Around 1400 the "Regius" and "Cooke" Manuscripts recount the history of Free-Masons and set down a list of professional and moral rules. They are the Old Charges which inspired Anderson and Désaguliers in 1723.
The Renaissance sees the appearance of the printing press, the Reformation, and the Religious Wars.
Everywhere in Europe intellectuals begin to free themselves from dogma. Men such as Bossuet, Leibniz, Spinoza, Locke and Newton enlighten the 17th century. Numerous more or less secret schools of though seek a solution to the wars and religious quarrels which are tearing the Continent apart. Many thinkers devote themselves to the search of lost wisdom, which, if it were found, would permit a new understanding of the Divine, the Universe and Man. Mathematics, and particularly geometry, are considered to be the foremost of sciences. Architecture enjoys immense prestige.
This is the era in which English Lodges begin to welcome members who are not craftsmen but who are searching for a new spirituality and a debate on tolerant ideas. They are "accepted" masons. Thereupon "operative" Freemasonry progressively evolves into "speculative" Freemasonry.
Very early in the 18th century English Freemasonry, which has become "speculative", gains considerably in importance. Members of the nobility take up the cause, the spirit of tolerance grows.
On June 24 1717, four London Lodges unite to found the first Masonic body, the Grand Lodge of London, increasing by 1725 to 63 member Lodges.
In 1723 Anderson's Constitutions by the Duke of Wharton, Grand Master, are published. It is the foundation text of modern Freemasonry. (To read them, click on the link) Within a few years, speculative Freemasonry will spread all over Europe as well as to its colonies.
During the second half of the 18th century, a division takes place in English Freemasonry into two Masonic Bodies, the "Antients" and the "Moderns", as well as the flourishing in England, but especially in France and Germany, of "Higher Degrees". Just as in non-Masonic society, the ideals of Enlightenment and Romanticism oppose and complete each other.
The 19th century is a period of "bringing the house in order ". Grand Lodges are formed and the Higher Degrees are structured into Rites.
In England, the "Antients" and the "Moderns" are reconciled in 1813 with the foundation of the United Grand Lodge of England and the unanimous election of the Duke of Sussex as its Grand Master. On this occasion a new version of the "Constitutions" is promulgated with considerably increased theistic overtones.
In France, the Grand Orient of France undertakes de federation of all rites. However, The Supreme Council of France of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite, founded in 1804, almost immediately declares its independence.
The end of the 19th century bears the mark of political involvement by the Lodges in France and Belgium, and the increased contention between the Catholic Church and Freemasonry.
These tensions culminate in a major event in the history of French-speaking Freemasonry. In 1872 the Grand Orient of Belgium abrogates the invocation of the Great Architect Of The Universe. It is followed in 1877 by the Grand Orient of France which, however, abolishes only the obligation of the invocation, leaving each Lodge free to make its own choice. The United Grand Lodge of England reacts by severing all relations with these Grand Lodges.
World War II witnesses the rise in Europe of a great many dictatorships which persecute Freemasonry, their natural enemy. The persecutions have left deep wounds wherever they have been experienced. In these countries their memory creates more profound ties between most Freemasons than all the inevitable quarrels between Grand Lodges can rend asunder.
The 20th century also saw a happier event with the development of Co-Masonry and feminine Grand Lodges. The fact that a large number of masculine Lodges prefer to continue working without female members in no way detracts from the high quality of Co-Masonic or strictly feminine Masonic work, which today is unanimously recognised.
In these final days of the 20th century, we are witnessing everywhere in Europe an end to the school of though
which places in opposition distinctive and separate "blocks", and the advent of more "synthetic", or some would
even say "systemic" concepts. The geopolitical and technological upheavals we are presently experiencing are
certainly not unrelated in this respect. It seems self-evident that Freemasons, whatever their rites or Masonic
Bodies, are particularly well equipped to accompany this new mutation.