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Article THE FREEMASONS' LEXICON. ← Page 3 of 8 →
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The Freemasons' Lexicon.
remind him of purity of mind and morals , white amongst the ancients being considered as an emblem of purity of soul . It is well known that formerly none but those of mature age were baptized , ancl they had to be dressed in white , to show that they had laid aside the lusts of the flesh . Those brethren who prove by their active benevolence and industry that they are worthy receive promotion in the Order , and their aprons have proper decorations for each
degree-Sehweden . Sweden . —Freemasonry has here received uninterrupted protection , ancl the brethren are held in the highest respect . The Order has distinguished itself by its benevolence to the public , of which the Orphan-house supported by it in Stockholm since 1753 affords the best proof . There is a Grand Lodge in Stockholm , and in the country there are a number of St . John ' s lodges , which work according to an old and much respected ritual . King Gustavus III ., who was murdered in
1792 , was an active member of the Order . On his birth , in 1746 , the Order caused a medal to be struck ; and the late King Charles XIII . was , as Duke of Sudermannland , for a long time Grand Master . He was installed into this high oflice on the 15 th March , 1780 , when King Gustavus III ., who was present at the ceremony , gave to the new Grand Master an ermine mantle , at the same time he assured the Grand Lodge of his protection by a diploma drawn out by himself . There was a medal
struck upon this occasion also . On the 26 th March , 1803 , Gustavus IV . published a decree , subjecting all the secret societies which were in the kingdom to the surveillance of the police ; but at the end of the order it is said— " The Freemasons , who are under the especial protection of the king , are alone exempted from this police inspection and general order . "
Still more remarkable is the order of knighthood founded by Charles XII I . at Stockholm , 27 th May , 1811 . The cross of the order has in its centre a white enamelled ball , with a doubleunited cypher C , and the number XIII . On the other side of the ball is a black enamelled masonic triangle , with a small gold ring , within which is the letter B ; the four arms " of the cross are formed of rubies , with facettes and gold rings . The cross is suspended below a gold crown by a watered fire-coloured ribbon round the neck . In the introduction to the statutes it is saidin the name of
, the king , that those who exercise virtue in private deserve a public mark of approbation , and then it goes on to state : — " We at least cannot but choose to recall to our most gracious favour , amongst those who exercise it ( virtue ) , an ancient ancl honourable Swedish society , at the head of which we ourselves have stood , and whose exertions to promote the welfare of mankind we have endeavoured to encourage , promote , and extend , by this means assuring to ourselvesancl to our successors upon the
, Swedish throne , the active co-operation of its members in promoting true religion , patriotism , benevolence , and every other virtue among mankind . As a proof of our gracious favour to this society , we do hereby declare ancl command , that its chief officers , to the number which we shall determine , shall in future openly wear the symbol , which is amongst themselves the distinguishing mark of the highest dignity , and of our perfect confidence ; ancl we herebdeclarethat in future they are and
y , shall form a public order of knighthood , known by the name of the Order of Charles XIII ., of which order we are Grancl Master . " The king further says , that he has appointed his son , Charles John , to assist him in leading those with whom he has so long associated as a brother , and deputes him to protect and continue the order he has founded . The number of the knights is fixed at thirty , besides the princes of the blood
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Freemasons' Lexicon.
remind him of purity of mind and morals , white amongst the ancients being considered as an emblem of purity of soul . It is well known that formerly none but those of mature age were baptized , ancl they had to be dressed in white , to show that they had laid aside the lusts of the flesh . Those brethren who prove by their active benevolence and industry that they are worthy receive promotion in the Order , and their aprons have proper decorations for each
degree-Sehweden . Sweden . —Freemasonry has here received uninterrupted protection , ancl the brethren are held in the highest respect . The Order has distinguished itself by its benevolence to the public , of which the Orphan-house supported by it in Stockholm since 1753 affords the best proof . There is a Grand Lodge in Stockholm , and in the country there are a number of St . John ' s lodges , which work according to an old and much respected ritual . King Gustavus III ., who was murdered in
1792 , was an active member of the Order . On his birth , in 1746 , the Order caused a medal to be struck ; and the late King Charles XIII . was , as Duke of Sudermannland , for a long time Grand Master . He was installed into this high oflice on the 15 th March , 1780 , when King Gustavus III ., who was present at the ceremony , gave to the new Grand Master an ermine mantle , at the same time he assured the Grand Lodge of his protection by a diploma drawn out by himself . There was a medal
struck upon this occasion also . On the 26 th March , 1803 , Gustavus IV . published a decree , subjecting all the secret societies which were in the kingdom to the surveillance of the police ; but at the end of the order it is said— " The Freemasons , who are under the especial protection of the king , are alone exempted from this police inspection and general order . "
Still more remarkable is the order of knighthood founded by Charles XII I . at Stockholm , 27 th May , 1811 . The cross of the order has in its centre a white enamelled ball , with a doubleunited cypher C , and the number XIII . On the other side of the ball is a black enamelled masonic triangle , with a small gold ring , within which is the letter B ; the four arms " of the cross are formed of rubies , with facettes and gold rings . The cross is suspended below a gold crown by a watered fire-coloured ribbon round the neck . In the introduction to the statutes it is saidin the name of
, the king , that those who exercise virtue in private deserve a public mark of approbation , and then it goes on to state : — " We at least cannot but choose to recall to our most gracious favour , amongst those who exercise it ( virtue ) , an ancient ancl honourable Swedish society , at the head of which we ourselves have stood , and whose exertions to promote the welfare of mankind we have endeavoured to encourage , promote , and extend , by this means assuring to ourselvesancl to our successors upon the
, Swedish throne , the active co-operation of its members in promoting true religion , patriotism , benevolence , and every other virtue among mankind . As a proof of our gracious favour to this society , we do hereby declare ancl command , that its chief officers , to the number which we shall determine , shall in future openly wear the symbol , which is amongst themselves the distinguishing mark of the highest dignity , and of our perfect confidence ; ancl we herebdeclarethat in future they are and
y , shall form a public order of knighthood , known by the name of the Order of Charles XIII ., of which order we are Grancl Master . " The king further says , that he has appointed his son , Charles John , to assist him in leading those with whom he has so long associated as a brother , and deputes him to protect and continue the order he has founded . The number of the knights is fixed at thirty , besides the princes of the blood