The Origin of Freemasonry and Knights Templar ... - Lodge Prudentia

FREEMASONRY AND KNIGHTS TEMPLARances of the revolution, which placed William III.on the throne (1689), and the subsequent warmthof political feelings, gave the Order a wound fatalto its success. Sir Christopher Wren,* long activeas a Master-builder and Grand Master in the reignof Queen Anne (1702-1714), the last of his royalpatrons, had become aged, infirm and inactive,and hence the general assemblies of the GrandLodge had ceased to take place. In 1715 there werebut four Lodges in the south of England and allworking in the city of London. These Lodges,being desirous of reviving the prosperity of theOrder, determined to unite themselves under a newGrand Master, and revive the communications andannual festivals of the society. They therefore"met at the Apple-tree Tavern" and constitutedthemselves a Grand Lodge, pro tern pore, in dueform. They resolved to hold the annual assemblyand feast, and then to choose a Grand Master fromamong themselves. Accordingly on St. John theBaptist's day (June 24) in 1717,the annual assemblyand feast were held and Mr. Anthony Sayerwasduly proposed and elected Grand Master. Astatute was enacted which entirely changed theFrom an operative soci-objects of the institution.ety it became wholly speculative in its character.It ceased to build material temples, and devoteditself to the erection of a spiritual one.It retainedthe working tools and technical terms of art ofthe original operative institution, simply becauseof the religious symbolism which these conveyed.They became the Freemasons of the present day,and established on an imperishable foundation thatsublime institution which presents all over the hab66