PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION. To write a Universal History of the Freemasons' Fraternity, founded upon precise dates and authentic facts, was formerly considered as a task presenting so many difficulties, that the Chevalier de Bonneville deemed ten men's lives a period scarcely equal to the undertaking. And indeed, the literature of Freemasonry is so profuse, yet withal so defective in many respects, that for several divisions of the subject reliable data are wanting altogether; the historical materials have been hitherto scattered about in so many different places, or so mixed up with dubious and contradictory statements, and above all, the origin of the Order has been so veiled in the darkness of mystery, that the observation above quoted has some foundation in truth. After the many and meritorious works in which Anderson, Preston, Laurie, Krause, Kloss, Keller, and others have elucidated single sections of Masonic History, thus involuntarily paving the way to a more comprehensive narration, Br. J. G. Findel, author of a History of German Literature and editor of the "Bauhütte", which of all the German Masonic periodicals enjoys the widest circulation, has been the first to collect the rich materials accumulated by his predecessors. These he has brought to the test of a sound and sober criticism, and has reduced them to order, so that the reader has for the first time a complete and reliable Universal History of Freemasonry. More than many others we could mention, Br. Findel is possessed of the requirements necessary for such an undertaking. Besides possessing a considerable amount of learning, of which he has given many proofs, his connection with Masonic Brethren all over the world, and the having had placed at his disposal the rare treasures hitherto buried in various Libraries, have furnished him with the facts necessary to ensure completeness in his compilation, while his enthusiastic ardour for the welfare of the Fraternity, tempered by a most impartial love of truth, has produced a style, as worthy the dignity of science as it is clear and attractive to the general reader. No wonder that such a book, delineating as it does the most important and powerful instrument of civilization, which has materially improved social life and contributed to raise the moral tone and culture of the people, should greatly interest the minds of the serious and thinking public; and this has been more signally the case, since the Holy See at Rome has lately spread a new halo of light around it, instead of annihilating it in the destructive fire of its wrath, as was intended: no wonder that such a book was received with general applause, and that its first edition was speedily sold. Many and loud are the voices proceeding from the interior of the Fraternity itself, declaiming against the Masonic Institution, because injurious to the welfare of the Union; and though we do not agree with all advanced by them, we readily allow that but few, and they among our less intelligent and instructed Brethren, continue to desire that Masonic History should be kept secret from the public at large. How would it be possible to make any portion of historical science keep pace with the progress observable in the rest of human information, if the scrutinizing eye of sound criticism were excluded from it? And is it not contrary to the leading idea of the Fraternity, which invites all mankind fully to participate in its blessings, to keep the world in general ignorant of the origin of this benevolent Institution and of the events which have marked its progress, and to leave it to adopt the errors disseminated by our enemies, together with all the fabricated legends of the High Degrees at the very head of the Order? Convinced that these questions must be answered in the affirmative, Br. Findel has written his book not only for the more limited circle of initiated readers, but has rendered it accessible to any person desirous of instructing himself following herein the example of the Grand Lodge of England, who published in 1723 the Book of Constitution, and the works of Masonic writers most in repute, some of whose names we have already cited above. If the history of our Order, as it is called by many, is interesting to any person of good education, it ought to be preeminently so to an Englishman. The flower of the nobility, the greatest excellence and genius amongst the commoners in the three United Kingdoms, have belonged to it, and played a conspicuous part in its pages, so that in fact its history may be said to form no inconsiderable portion of the History of England. This influence of Masonry has been deservedly appreciated by modern writers, and Hermann Hettner, one of the best among the German authors who have written on English Literature, has devoted a chapter of his book to the subject. As in England Freemasonry developed itself into a union embracing all mankind, so England has been the cradle of Masonic History. As in those German Lodges which preserved the Old Charges intact, the spirit of Masonry prevails over the mere rehearsing of the ritual more than it does in the country to which we are indebted for those landmarks, and as, it must be confessed, for the last 30 or 40 years historical science has been somewhat neglected by our English Brethren, they doubtless will thank Br. Findel for imparting to them the fruits of his. own and his predecessors' indefatigable studies. By a happy coincidence the following translation was made by a descendant of two dignitaries of the Grand Lodge of England, now residing in Berlin, who has brought to the task an inherited interest in the subject of the treatise, and who, with a sufficient knowledge of the German language combines that fluency of style without which even the richest contents could not attract a reader of cultivated taste. It may then be hoped that this general and satisfactory survey of the History of Freemasonry offered in the present translation of Br. Findel's ably written volume, will enable numbers to accomplish with ease that which hitherto has been vouchsafed to only a few, and to these only after the most painstaking exertions. No better service could be rendered to the cause of Masonry. Those who by this work have gained an insight into the very essence, form, and significance of our Order, cannot do otherwise than enrol themselves henceforth among the list of its warm friends and admirers; and those who are already adepts in the Royal Art, must try to preserve for it that pure and simple dignity of form which has been handed down to them by their forefathers. CHARLES VAN DALEN. Berlin, November, 1865. Various Opinions in regard to its origin; Anderson; Oliver; Ramsay; THE EARLY HISTORY Of FREEMASONRY. Indications of a close connection with Freemasonry; the Middle Ages; the Roman and Gothic Style; the Guilds; the Bauhütten or Lodges; the The English Lodges; the masonic Constitutions; history of the building The first germ of a general confederacy including all mankind The Examination; Scotland and the Legend of Kilwinning; history of the 16th and 17th century; state of civilisation; the Augustan style; In. Jones; Val. Andreae and the Rosicrucians; the Accepted Masons: El. Ashmole; the English Deism; Comenius; Dr. Plot; Sir Christ. Wren. The first Grand Lodge; the book of Constitutions; the old Lodge at The first lodge; Frederic the Great; Francis of Austria; Baron Hund and the Strict Observance; Stark and the Clerici; Weishaupt, Knigge and |