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

Chapter 2 – Historical Background 59
were even exempt from paying taxes, according to the Boileau Ordinances of
1260, and allegedly, Charles Martel had patronized them. 135
The French operative masons also made up their own laws. For example,
pursuant to royal decree, in 1585 the Master Mason Architects of Montpellier
enacted a code that required, among other things, contributions for destitute
masters, fellows, and the widows and orphans of masters. 136 This shows the
benevolent character of the old French stonemasons' guilds, and is moreover
reminiscent of the Gothic Constitutions, in which the operative stonemasons of
England had laid down their rules.
To claim that France had no operative masonic background is, therefore, not
an accurate statement. A peculiar development in France was the
"compagnonnage," which means that the young craftsmen of the guilds traveled
France and abroad as "journeymen" (derived from "journée" meaning "day;"
hence, as workmen being paid by the day), in order to work under different
masters and acquire a broader knowledge. Thus, different prominent crafts arose
that included members of three or more trades, each claiming to stem from a
traditional founder who provided them with a "Devoir," comparable to the
English Gothic Constitutions. For example, there were the "Sons of Solomon"
(which included the stonemasons), the "Sons of Master Jacques," and the "Sons
of Master Soubise." These groups, like several others, were old enemies and had
the custom of fighting each other, the most sanguinary contest occurring in
1730. 137 The guilds were extremely secret and provided their own myths. They
already used a legend evolving around King Solomon's temple, which should
later become the principle of speculative Masonry:
The fraternities in the Compagnonnage possessed several legends, the
principal one being that of Master Jacques and possibly one about
Hiram, the former being a French mason, who, according to the legend,
went to Jerusalem to work on Solomon's Temple, undergoing severe
travails in escaping from his enemies. Some of the legends even appear
to have some reference to the Knights Templar and Jacques de Molai. 138
Although, as has been proven, operative organizations including masons
existed in France, Freemasonry as a speculative art was imported from across the
English Channel. The exact date of the introduction of Freemasonry into France,
as well as the name of the first lodge, cannot be verified since the French
distorted the English names, and most records were destroyed during the
Revolution. According to Henderson and Pope, around 1726, English and
Scottish exiled Jacobites founded "la Loge Saint Thomas" in Paris. It received an
135 As cited in CME, p. 258, the Boileau Ordinaces provided: "The Masons and the Plasterers owe the
watch duty and the tax and the other dues which the other citizens of Paris owe the King. The
Mortarers are free of watch duty, and all Stonemasons since the date of Charles Martel, as the
wardens have heard tell from father to son."
136 Cf. ibid.
137 Cf. CME, p. 258.
138 Ibid.