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questions of the mediaeval lodge of Kilwinning and its Scotch degrees； on
the seven Templars； who； after poor Jacques Molay was burnt at Paris；
took refuge on the Isle of Mull； in Scotland； found there another Templar
and brother Mason； ominously named Harris； took to the trowel in earnest；
and revived the Order；on the Masons who built Magdeburg Cathedral in
876； on the English Masons assembled in Pagan times by 〃St。 Albone； that
worthy knight；〃 on the revival of English Masonry by Edwin； son of
Athelstan； on Magnus Grecus； who had been at the building of Solomon's
Temple； and taught Masonry to Charles Martel； on the pillars Jachin and
Boaz； on the masonry of Hiram of Tyre； and indeed of Adam himself； of
whose first fig…leaf the masonic apron may be a typeon all these matters
I dare no more decide than on the making of the Trojan Horse； the birth of
Romulus and Remus； or the incarnation of Vishnoo。
All I dare say is； that Freemasonry emerges in its present form into
history and fact； seemingly about the beginning of George I。's reign；
among Englishmen and noblemen； notably in four lodges in the city of
London： （1） at The Goose and Gridiron alehouse in St。 Paul's
Churchyard； （2） at The Crown alehouse near Drury Lane； （3） at The Apple
Tree tavern near Covent Garden； （4） at The Rummer and Grapes tavern； in
Charnel Row； Westminster。 That its principles were brotherly love and
good fellowship； which included in those days port； sherry； claret； and
punch； that it was founded on the ground of mere humanity； in every sense
of the word； being （as was to be expected from the temper of the times）
both aristocratic and liberal； admitting to its ranks virtuous gentlemen
〃obliged；〃 says an old charge； 〃only to that religion wherein all men agree；
leaving their particular opinions to themselves： that is； to be good men
and true； or men of honour and honesty； by whatever denominations or
persuasions they may be distinguished； whereby Masonry becomes the
centre of union and means of conciliating true friendship among persons
that otherwise must have remained at a distance。〃
Little did the honest gentlemen who established or re…established their
society on these grounds； and fenced it with quaint ceremonies； old or new；
conceive the importance of their own act； we； looking at it from a distance；
may see all that such a society involved； which was quite new to the world
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just then； and see； that it was the very child of the Ancien Regimeof a
time when men were growing weary of the violent factions； political and
spiritual； which had torn Europe in pieces for more than a century； and
longed to say： 〃After all； we are all alike in one thingfor we are at least
men。〃
Its spread through England and Scotland； and the seceding bodies
which arose from it； as well as the supposed Jacobite tendency of certain
Scotch lodges； do not concern us here。 The point interesting to us just
now is； that Freemasonry was imported to the Continent exclusively by
English and Scotch gentlemen and noblemen。 Lord Derwentwater is said
by some to have founded the 〃Loge Anglaise〃 in Paris in 1725； the Duke
of Richmond one in his own castle of Aubigny shortly after。 It was
through Hanoverian influence that the movement seems to have spread
into Germany。 In 1733； for instance； the English Grand Master； Lord
Strathmore； permitted eleven German gentlemen and good brethren to
form a lodge in Hamburg。 Into this English Society was Frederick the
Great； when Crown Prince； initiated； in spite of strict old Frederick
William's objections； who had heard of it as an English invention of
irreligious tendency。 Francis I。 of Austria was made a Freemason at the
Hague； Lord Chesterfield being in the chair； and then became a Master in
London under the name of 〃Brother Lothringen；〃 to the discontent of
Maria Theresa； whose woman's wit saw farther than her husband。
Englishmen and Scotchmen introduced the new society into Russia and
into Geneva。 Sweden and Poland seem to have received it from France；
while； in the South； it seems to have been exclusively an English plant。
Sackville； Duke of Middlesex； is said to have founded the first lodge at
Florence in 1733； Lord Coleraine at Gibraltar and Madrid； one Gordon in
Portugal； and everywhere； at the commencement of the movement； we
find either London or Scotland the mother…lodges； introducing on the
Continent those liberal and humane ideas of which England was then
considered； to her glory； as the only home left on earth。
But； alas！ the seed sown grew up into strange shapes； according to the
soil in which it rooted。 False doctrine； heresy； and schism； according to
Herr Findel； the learned and rational historian whom I have chiefly
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followed； defiled the new Church from its infancy。 〃In France；〃 so he
bemoans himself； 〃first of all there shot up that baneful seed of lies and
frauds； of vanity and presumption； of hatred and discord； the mischievous
high degrees； the misstatement that our order was allied to the Templars；
and existed at the time of the Crusades； the removal of old charges； the
bringing in surreptitiously of a multitude of symbols and forms which
awoke the love of secrecy； knighthood； and； in fact； all which tended to
poison Freemasonry。〃 Herr Findel seems to attribute these evils
principally to the 〃high degrees。〃 It would have been more simple to
have attributed them to the morals of the French noblesse in the days of
Louis Quinze。 What could a corrupt tree bring forth； but corrupt fruit？
If some of the early lodges； like those of 〃La Felicite〃 and 〃L'Ancre；〃 to
which women were admitted； resembled not a little the Bacchic mysteries
of old Rome； and l