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a petition was presented by several London Brethren, applying for a warrant, which was, however, refused, as "the Grand Lodge of Scotland did not wish, by a grant of the kind, to interfere with the authority vested in the Grand Lodge of England." She had previously in 1755 declined to mix herself up in the differences then agitating the London Grand Lodge, although the so-styled "Ancient Masons" in their disputes with the regularly constituted Grand Lodge had submitted the matter to her for arbitration. While Sir W. Forbes was Grand Master in 1778, there was a Grand Funeral Lodge held, February 14th, in consequence of the death of William St. Clair, in which Sir W. Forbes in a Funeral Oration of some length enumerated the virtues and merits of the deceased. Above four hundred of the Brethren were assembled on this occasion. The constitution of the Grand Lodge in Scotland differs but very slightly from the constitution of the modern English Grand Lodge. The same may be said of the "Charges", which are, in a few points, somewhat more stringent as for example in Edinburgh and its suburbs. twenty-one Brethren were necessary to form a Lodge, and in the country, seven. Calcott particularly notices the energy, dignity, and decorum which characterised the proceedings of the Fraternity in Scotland.

1778 and 79 the Duke of Athol. 1780 and 81 Alexander, Earl of Balcarras. 1782 and 93 David, Earl of Buchan.

FRANCE.

(From 1725-1783.)

I. THE INTRODUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT OF FREEMASONRY IN FRANCE.

It is impossible to determine with any certainty the period of the introduction of Freemasonry into France, as the accounts handed down to us are very contradictory, varying from the years 1721, 1725, 17271, to 1732. In a historical notice of the Grand Lodge of France, addressed to her subordinate Lodges, there is a statement specifying that Lord Derwentwater, squire Maskelyne, a lord of Heguerty, and some other English noblemen, established a Lodge in Paris in 1725, at Hurre's Tavern. Lord Derwentwater is supposed to have been the first who received a Warrant from the Grand Lodge of England. It is recorded that other Lodges were established by these same authorities, and amongst others the Lodge d'Aumont (au Louis d'Argent) in 1729, in la Rue Bussy at Landelle's tavern, the documents bearing the date of 1732 as that of their foundation. Anderson in his Book of Constitutions makes no mention of the former Lodge, but only of the latter. The Lodge l'Anglaise at Bordeaux (No. 204) had

1 See Sceau rompu, 1745, and Rebold, Histoire de la Franc-maçonnerie. Paris, 1851.

Thory, Histoire de la fondation du Gr. Or. de Paris, 1812, p. 10. Thory and the Grand Lodge copy one account, viz: that of the celebrated astronomer, Brother de Lalande, in the Encyclopaedia (1773).

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an English constitution granted it, either in 1732 or in 1746, and in 1735 Charles Lennox, Duke of Richmond, obtained permission to assemble a Lodge in his castle d'Aubigny in France: at least so says Anderson's Book of Constitutions.

The laws against The introduction and first development of Freemasonry. Masonry in France was very silently carried on, as nothing was heard of it till the year 17362. Lalande says that in this year Lord Harnouester was chosen Grand Master of the French Masons, by the four Lodges at that time existing, and Lalande calls him the first regularly chosen Grand Master. At first only the nobles solicited and obtained admittance into the Lodges, and as long as this was the case, Freemasonry remained unmolested; but when the middle classes began to take an interest in it, and the Lodges were gradually formed of less immaculate materials, the expediency of suppressing them altogether began to be debated. Louis XV. urged thereto, as is alleged, by his Father Confessor and his mistress published an edict in 1737, in which he declared that, as the inviolable secrets of the Masons might cover some dreadful design, he prohibited all his loyal subjects from holding any intercourse with them. All Freemasons belonging to the nobility were forbidden to appear at court. But instead of being discouraged by this prohibition, curiosity was only the more awakened. Lodges were assembled in secret, and the number of candidates for initiation increased daily. The wealthy Englishmen resident in Paris warmly defended the

This is according to the register of the English Grand Lodge in London; see also Calendrier maç. of the year 1851, and Kloss, History of Freemasonry in France, I, p. 21, and with regard to the improbability of the date 1688 (a secret sign of the order), p. 23 &c.

2 The "Gründlichen Nachrichten", published between 1738-40 tell us this, as does also, "Der sich selbst vertheidigende Freimaurer", 1744. 3 See the "Gründlichen Nachrichten" cited above, as well as the other pamphlet.

cause, nor could they be easily intimidated. One of them had the temerity boldly to announce publicly that a Lodge would meet for the purpose of electing a Grand Master.

This aroused the vigilance of the Police, who, September 10th, 177, surprised some Brethren assembled at the house of the wine-merchant Chapelot, who had had the usual entrance to the meeting room walled up, and had caused a concealed door to be made. He was condemned to pay a fine, and the Lieutenant of Police, Herault, published the Ritual, which was found amongst the confiscated papers. Notwithstanding this, the Lodges continued to be held, as many tavern-keepers were made Masters of Lodges (unfortunately the Warrants could be purchased!), and for a small indemnification were willing to run all risks.

Such Masters of Lodges as these could not do otherwise than introduce an element into Freemasonry somewhat derogatory to its dignity, as their chief care was to provide good cheer. We will not stop to determine whether the masonic appellations for the different things used at table originated at this period, and were then perfected according to the rules of art; suffice it to say, that those who assumed the lead at these Lodges were not of much account, and that the masonic meetings degenerated into assemblies wherein excess was frequently practised, for the number of the initiated was more considered than their personal worth, and any candidate was accepted if he could only pay the admission fees. The educated Mason kept himself aloof, and Freemasonry became the object of public reprobation. An opera dancer, named Salé, invented a dance, called the Freemason's dance, performed by 3×3 persons in the garb of shepherds.

The royal prohibition did not produce any very great effect, for we find it announced in a newspaper of Feb. 12th, 1738, that the Freemasons gave a Grand Festival at Luneville, June 24th, at which Harnouester resigned his office. of Grand Master, and the Duke of Antin was chosen in

his stead. Anderson's Book of Constitutions 1738, tells us that the laws, duties, and regulations of the French Brethren were in all important particulars similar to those of the English. The brethren worked then, as in 1740, and even later, in the three St. John's Degrees alone.

The Papal Bull. The flame of persecution which was kindled in France was not confined to the country where it originated, as we shall find as we proceed further in our history. It was the Papal See especially which threatened its very existence. On June 25th, 1737, the Pope and his Cardinals Ottobone, Spinola, and Zondedari held a conference at Rome, to which the Inquisitor of the Holy Office at Florence was summoned; and April 28th, 1738, a formi- . dable Bull was issued by Pope Clemens XII., beginning with the words "In eminenti apostolatus specula", wherein the authorities, both secular and ecclesiastic, were forbidden on pain of excommunication to enter the Society of Freemasons, or to propagate or favour their cause, either in their houses or palaces. In France, where, probably in consequence of several public manifestations of the protection of Frederick the Great of Prussia, &c., a less determined opposition had been shown to Freemasonry among the upper classes, this Bull1 was not registered, nor passed into a law, wherefore the French Fraternity did not consider either this one, or the one issued some years later by Benedict XIV., as binding in their country. One of the results of this Bull was the the Mopses. institution of a new association called the Mopses, which was followed by many other similar attempts of the kind. The customs of this society are contained in a work entitled "L'ordre des Francmaçons trahi &c." It is said to have originated in Germany (Cologne), in order to supply those delights of Freemasonry which

The Association of

1 Extracts from this Bull are to be met with in several masonic works; but the whole of it we only found in Ehrhardt's brief history, &c. (Latin), and in "Notuma nicht Exjesuit."

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