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

58
Chapter 2 – Historical Background
[...]. [...] Les obédiences, Grandes Loges ou Grands Orients, sont très
disparates et parfois opposées les unes aux autres. Elles ont toutes, en
principe, la même origine, mais un grand schisme les a séparées en 1815
et, sœurs ennemies, elles ne forment plus entre elles la chaîne
d'union, dont leurs adeptes continuent parfois de rêver. 132
Consideration of the conditions in France at the time of birth of Freemasonry
will give a better understanding of these radical and disuniting developments.
They were substantially different from the social and political background in
other European countries or in the United States. The Catholic church, la
religion d'État, openly opposed Freemasonry, and also tried to influence the
government to take measures against this secretive society. French Masonry,
which always had to defend itself, has retained much of its fighting spirit until
today. The battle of the French people against absolutism with the French
Revolution at its climax also had a strong impact on the brotherhood. Since this
time, French Masonry has assimilated a concept of humanity and developed a
political character trait. The political and economic situation in France was not
the only difference - apparently, the background of an operative trade of
stonemasons was not given in France. As Corneloup states, contrary to England
or Germany, France did not provide the basis of an operative masonry out of
which speculative Freemasonry emanated in other countries:
Qu'est, d'ailleurs, une tradition sans hommes pour la pratiquer et la
transmettre? Et on ne voit pas ces hommes, en France, en 1730. Aussi,
cette absence de fondement opératif a conduit les Francs-Maçons
anglais qui ont contribué à la création de la Grande Loge de France en
1736 à lui donner une Constitution qui est la traduction de celle
d'Anderson, mais amputée justement des prescriptions relatives au
'Métier' (Craft), parce que ces prescriptions n'avaient plus de sens dans
notre pays.
Cela constitue aussi la preuve implicite que le fondement opératif
n'est pas absolument indispensable à la Maçonnerie spéculative. 133
This view is refuted in Coil's Masonic Encyclopedia insofar as it records the
fact that the French masons of the Middle Ages were as gifted as those of other
European countries and even more daring in their Gothic style of architecture.
They enjoyed a favored standing in comparison to other guilds: "The French
cathedral builders, like those in other nations, occupied a position above that of
common masons, layers, or wallers, and it was not unusual for them to receive
royal authority to enact regulations for the government of the Craft." 134 They
132 Mitterrand, p. 43. Bold print added.
133 Corneloup, p. 16/17.
134 CME, p. 257.