Masonry And Its Origin.

style of architecture was changed into the Gothic style , and an association was formed which had nothing in common with the mother societies . Its organisation is essentially Germanic , and closely resembles other guilds , especiall y the " Vehme . " It probably originated in the eleventh century , or say about 1000 or so , when the taste' for building first began to show in Germany and

France . "The erection of these edifices , " says J . G . Findel , in his "History of Masonry , " " united masons , especially stone masons " together in large numbers . As they were so long together engaged in the same building , the workmen were brought together into very close contact , whilst the practice of the same art , their uniting together to carry out the same design , and the combination of their artistic faculties united them still more , and was the cause that gradually arose from their body the fraternity of German Stone Masons . "

According to an old tradition , the handicrafts were first formed into a brotherhood at Madgebnrg Cathedral , to which event the date of 876 is erroneously fixed , whereas the building was not commeneed till 1211 . The first really organised lodge or hiitte was during the construction of the Cathedral of Cologne , in the thirteenth century , when the fraternity got real laws and a new organisation . During all the Middle Ages these fraternities used to flourishand they recognised as the mother and chief lod the one of

Stras-, ge burg , to which they were all subordinated . They were divided in Three Degrees—Apprentices , Fellow Craft , and Master Masons ; the ' latter , the designers of plans ; the Fellow Crafts , the executors and instructors of the younger brethren ; and the apprentices , as their name says , had during seven years to learn the art before they are raised . It was necessary to be free born and of good report in order to be admitted into the fraternit As the art of

y . Gothic architecture at that time of general ignorance was reall y something out of the common , and naturally required higher faculties and a better education than was then the common lot , it is evident that the men belonging to the fraternity were of a higher standard than the other burghers , and reall y

iniew secrets wlncn it was neither their wish nor their interest to communicate to others . And as they had to be men of a really high moral standard , it is evident that the moral and intellectual life of these Masons and then ' fraternity must have been an exceptionally high one . They travelled singly and in groups from place to place ; where their services were required ; and wherever they had to work , the Master Masons chose a chairman , who had to direct the business . They had their -words and si whereby they

pass gns , recognised each other whenever they met . They usually met at sunrise and again at sunset , and once every month was a meeting held , when new brethren were initiated , this ceremony being followed by a banquet . The organisation as such closely resembles that of the guilds , and has much in common with the "Vehme" or secret tribunal , so much talked about and so little known by

many . From Germany numbers of Masons were called to England , where they brought their organisations ; and there is little doubt that most of the cathedrals now adorning the United Kingdom were built by the German stone-masons under the direction of English prelates and princes . But whilst in Germany they enjoined all kinds of privileges , and had royal charters granted themeven as late as 1498 these associations were never

, , much favoured by the ruling powers in this country , and were very closely watched by them ; in fact , several kings issued decrees against them . Queen Elizabeth , amongst others , is said to have been opposed to ' them . It is said tha , t during all times lay brethren , or not operative masons , were enrolled as patrons of the fraternit y , and I have no doubt that especially in England during the Middle Ages men of the highest standing belonged as

patrons to the society . Some say they were placed there by the kings to watch the Masons , who often struck for wages and were rebellious ; others say they joined really bond fide . It seems that later on there was a division , and