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

FREEMASONRY AND KNIGHTS TEMPLARsignatures, to the charters and other documentswhich they issued, and from the time of Charlemagne,in the eighth century, to the middle of thetwelfth all knowledge and practice of architecture,painting and sculpture were exclusively confined tothe monks; and bishops personally superintendedthe erection of the churches and cathedrals in theirdioceses, because not only the principles, but thepractice of the art of building, were secrets keptwithin the walls of cloisters, and were unknown tolaymen. Many of the founders of the monasticorders made it a peculiar duty for the monks* todevote themselves to architecture and church building.In the year 716 A. D. the English monk, St.Boniface, went into Germany 1 and organized aspecial class of monks for the practice of building,under the name of Operarii, or Craftsmen, andMagestri Operum, or Masters of the Works. Thelabors and duties of these monks were divided andunder the same system or organization as theRoman Colleges of Artificers. 2Some of them designedthe plan of the building, others were paintersand sculptors, and then there were those who werecalled ccementarii, or stonemasons, who performedthe practical labors of construction. In large buildings,where many workmen were required, laymenwere also employed under the direction of themonks. Among the laymen who were employed inthe monasteries as assistants and laborers, manywere possessed of superior intelligence. The constantand intimate association of these with the1See page 63, first paragraph.2See page 59.69