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

FREEMASONRY AND KNIGHTS TEMPLARthe lesson in asymbols and legends, which conveypeculiar mode. And now, after thousands of yearshave elapsed, we find tfye same symbolic and legendarymethod of instruction for the same purposepreserved in the depository of what is comparativelya modern institution. And between thesetwo extremes of the long past and the present now,we find the intervening period occupied by similarassociations, succeeding each other from time totime, and spreading over different countries; but.all engaged in the same symbolic instruction, withsubstantially the same symbols and the same mythicalhistory. During this intervening period, wefind that the building corporations of the MiddleAges coming from the Roman Colleges of Architects,as in England, 1 in France, 2 3in Italy, and inGermany, 4 from the cloistered brotherhood ofmonks devoted themselves principally to the constructionof religious edifices. They consistedmainly of architects and skillful operatives, controlledby the highest principles of their art. Theywere in possession of important professional secrets,were actuated by deep sentiments of religiousdevotion, and united with themselves in their laborsmen of learning, wealth and influence. 5Theyassumed from the very first the name of Free-Masons.6Subsequently, in the beginning of the eighteenthcentury, they threw off the operative elementof their institution, and adopting an entirely speculativecharacter, they became the Freemasons ofthe present day. The best authorities of to-day advancethe theory that "Freemasonry is the succes-1 See page 62. 4 See page 68.2See page 72. 5See pages 65 and 71.3See page 73. 6 See pages 61 and 70.75