in the ennobling and improvement of it; the sovereign sway of mind over matter in their works, and the purification of the form from all that was extraneous and heterogeneous; proposals of improvement emanating from the superior authorities, i. e., from the Grand Lodges, and the successful struggle for more liberty and independence by individual brethren and Lodges, these and the like were the characteristic signs and principal aims of the Fraternity, especially in Germany, in the period between 1784-1813, and thence down to the present time. - Thus the alliance of Freemasons is not founded upon external forms or dogmas of any kind whatsoever, but simple upon the pure edifying union of men of independent principles, combined for the purpose of promoting the most sacred interests of mankind. Men of worth and renown have gradually been brought to acknowledge that if the Fraternity is to remain faithful to its original design and to fulfil its sublime task, it must valiantly press onward, perpetually freshening up its regulations, correcting its judgments, improving and enlarging its works, by the restoration of the strictest and severest unity in principle, being inspired to all this by love, that fountain whence issue all our voluntary efforts for what is good and right. This, then, is the summing up of the whole: Union in essential matters, liberty in every thing unimportant and doubtful, love under all circumstances; one bond, one universal law, one Brotherhood in spirit and in truth! INTRODUCTION. In the history of the world, as one nation drops off, another takes its place. So is it likewise in the history of Freemasonry. One country takes upon itself the task of promoting its further culture, where another, having ful-' filled its mission, has just laid it down. The important position acquired by England in the former period, belongs to Germany in this one. To England belongs most indisputably the merit of having spiritualized and elevated Operative Masonry into one of the liberal arts, and established the Fraternity in its present form, by bringing prominently forward the idea which it has ever possessed from its first institution, and propagating it far and wide. It is the fate of every thing human, that the perfect realisation of its ideas is never attained all at once. In essential particulars, England remained stedfast to the stand originally taken. With sober perseverance and practical aptitude she kept firmly to the simple and moderate views laid down; .yet, while especially reverencing the principle of usefulness, the English neglected to grasp Masonry in all its depth and comprehensiveness, and to work out a superior mental refinement of the doctrines, customs, and usages. They were not deeply interested investigating its history, and struggling to restore that brotherly unity which had been lost. This work was given to Germany to perform, and we shall see hereafter how she fulfilled it. In consequence of the manifold errors and convulsions, with which we are already acquainted, she was compelled to deliberate and to investigate deeply. Early habituated to scrutinise with the closest attention, with a spirit ever young, she found out for herself the ultimate purpose of all knowledge. Accustomed to rise above every inaccessible height, and borne aloft on the pinions of superior intelligence, to the German Brethren was conceded the honour of developing the yet unfolded bud of Freemasonry into full blossom. In former periods we saw how a spirit of centralisation had loosened the bonds of the Confederation; we shall in the succeeding epochs see how this radiating principle became its most characteristic and distinguishing feature. In former periods all the members of the Order assembled more or less closely around the Mother Lodge of all Masons, the English Grand Lodge, as round a general centre, and thus the unity of the Fraternity was in some measure kept up. But there was wanting to this Masonic unity that most necessary accompaniment, liberty, which is as indispensable a requisite as is that other component feature of a confederation, love. It is true that the price required for the attainment of this liberty was the renunciation of unity. The principle of propagation was powerfully supported, partly caused, by outward circumstances and the universal desire for independence, and this, as we shall see further on, found expression in the Provincial Grand Lodges separating themselves from the English Mother Lodge, and in the formation of independent Grand Lodges, especially in America and Gesmany. The reforms which were set on foot towards the end of the last century, the inward purification, the ardent desire to effect greater improvement in and extension of the Order, still continued in the period we are now about to consider, but were attended with many and varied fluctuations, and interrupted by multifarious struggles and retrogressions. A considerable increase in the number of |