The Universal Language of Freemasonry - ArchiMeD - Johannes ...

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Chapter 2 – Historical Background
fifty-seven years of age, was spreading light and truth, especially of the
burgeoning knowledge of science and natural philosophy. The
fratricidal conflicts of religious sects were abating; dissenters were
tolerated, and churchmen were popularizing a latitudinarianism which
encouraged such toleration. Coffee houses were flourishing, and men
everywhere were developing the art of meeting regularly for social and
intellectual stimulation. A renaissance of classicism in the arts was
taking place. The Age of Reason was beginning to flower. 97
Freemasonry obviously entered the scene at the right time, and one could say
that "[t]he founders of the first Grand Lodge were true children of their time.
They speculated (i.e., philosophized); they experimented; they tried new ideas." 98
Together with Freemasonry, imitative societies were created. Some of the newly
founded clubs burlesqued Freemasonry, for example the Gormogons who
ventured on mock processions. Others were fun societies and without any serious
pretensions such as formulated by the Craft. For example, there existed the No
Nose Club founded by an admirer of flat faces. At their dinners, the members
had as their favorite a young pig whose snout had been cut off by the cook.
There also was the Ugly Club, or Ugly-faced Club, composed of bachelors,
all men of honor with a facetious disposition. When a member got married, he
had to pay a certain sum for the use of his society. Such clubs met once or twice
a week, usually in a tavern, and it can be supposed that Masonic gatherings in
their early days were similar to other club meetings of the period. In 1709, The
Secret History of Clubs was published that listed 31 clubs then existing in
London. The contemporary press also offered descriptions of club activities, for
example the Gentleman's Magazine for January, 1732, in which an account is
given on a society calling themselves the Free Sawyers. These allegedly claimed
priority to the Freemasons, dating themselves back to the Tower of Babel and
pretending to have cut the stones for the builders, the Freemasons. At their
meeting, a silver saw laid on their table, and their motto was "Let it work." 99
To return to the history of the Craft, it has to be mentioned that English
Masonry very early experienced dissention. Thus, several years after the
formation of the first Grand Lodge, whose adherents were called the "Moderns"
by their opponents, the "Ancients" came up who pretended to be the real
institution adhering to the original principles of the Craft, hence their name
which does not seem chronological at first glance, since the "Moderns" were
followed by the "Ancients." The latter accused the former to have introduced
unacceptable changes in ritual and customs. In spite of this, both organizations
persisted with substantial following.
97
Cook (ed.), Colonial Freemasonry, p. 3-4.
98
Ibid, p. 4.
99
Cf. "Studies in the Ars Quatuor Coronatorum, II. Some Old-Time Clubs and Societies" ed. by Bro.
Walter Dorsey; cited in The Master Mason, Dec. 1925, p. 990. Refer to these pages for more
information on English clubs (with illustrations).