Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Address To All The Grand Lodges Of The Globe.
Iu the course of the last century centrifugal tendencies came up , which led to a splitting up of the whole , and the isolation of the individual Grand Lodges to each of which a province , confined within geographical and political boundaries , was allotted . To this decentralisation the fact is
clue , that at the present day the different Grand Lodges follow different systems and pursue different objects , as regards constitution and doctrine , rituals and practice , and that there exists hardly any but a very loose connection amongst them .
It is the object and the duty of the Masonic Craft to be a federation , allied with mankind for the good of mankind ; but such a federation it cannot be truly and fully as long as its unity remains merely ideal , produced , as it has been
hitherto , by the mutual spirit of fraternity and the connecting link of a few forms of worship common to all , as long as this unity does not recline in the face of the outer world , in proper platform and adequate representation by means
of a joint federal law and joint institutions . The Association of German Freemasons , animated by the desire to realise aggregation designed to promote unitarian tendencies in freedom and love , a rational organisation of the Craft and its
development in conformity with spirit and the ideas of the time—has been seriously engaged , for several years past , in working out the project of a general constitution , and at its annual meeting at Worms , on the 8 th and 9 th of Juno last , it has
adopted the draft of such a constitution . The undersigned officers of the association have been deputed to submit this fundamental law to your kind examination , and propose its adoption to you , honoured and beloved brethren . It cannot escape
your notice that this platform—starting from actual facts , and aiming at nothing but- what is attainable , with due regard to the historical development of the Order—is designed to bring about unity in things essential only , but in everything else
adhere throughout to the Masonic principles of liberty , equality , aud fraternity , of local selfgoveinment and general worship ; and that it may consequently be safely adopted by every Grand Lodge .
We need not dwell upon the desirability of the establishment of international Masonic congresses and the foundation of a Board of Management { Verwaliunqsausschuss ) , or universal Grand Lodge for the whole federation , and it is useless to expatiate upon the beneficial results the Fraternity
and mankind at large mi ght derive from the foundation of such institutions . However bold this idea may appear , its realisation belongs no more to the province of mere phantasmas , by reason of the vast development of the means of
communication between all countries ; nations being thus brought nearer to one another , and the idea alluded to having already received its incarnation by international exhibitions of industry . What could be done for the advancement of
material interests , may and must be no less practicable for the promotion of the intellectual and moral interests of mankind ! The one thing
needful is that every individual and every corporate body evince a firm goodwill , as due to this great and good cause , that everyone set about to work courageously and without prejudice , and that personal inclinations an d opinions be freely
waived in the interest of the Avhule . Seeing that the influence of the lodges has been beneficial hitherto , and that , wherever they worked in the proper animus , they fostered and promoted morality , brotherly love , and the good of mankind ,
at large , this will evidently be the case to a much greater extent if the individual links of the chain of the Order be drawn closer together , if they improve their institutions , breathe the breath of new life into the Masonic body , keep pace with the
progress of the century , _ md Avork throughout , upon one plan and in one spirit . In the confident expectation that you , honoured and beloved brethren , will gladly and freely join us in our endeavour to bring about internal and
external unity and a rational organisation of the-Craft and therewithal a new era of prosperity of Masonry , we earnestly entreat you to adopt theannexed "fundamental law" ( Grundgesetz ) which is drawn up in the spirit and upon the ground of
the " ancient charges , " and to foster and promoteall aspirations calculated to establish an international tie amongst all lodges ancl all Masons of the world .
In tins hope we hereby send you the greeting , of the initiated . Respectfully aud affectionately yours , By order of the Association of German Masons ,. The Directors : DE . RUDOLPH SEYDELof LeipziPresident
, g , , REINHAED KAMP , of Elberfeld , Vice-President ,. J . G . FINDEL , of Leipzig , Secretary and . Keeper of the Archives , DE . GAEL AOIN DALEN , of Berlin , HEINKICH WILHEL _ > I FLASCIIE , of Barmen . Worms , Whitsuntide , 18 b 7 .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Address To All The Grand Lodges Of The Globe.
Iu the course of the last century centrifugal tendencies came up , which led to a splitting up of the whole , and the isolation of the individual Grand Lodges to each of which a province , confined within geographical and political boundaries , was allotted . To this decentralisation the fact is
clue , that at the present day the different Grand Lodges follow different systems and pursue different objects , as regards constitution and doctrine , rituals and practice , and that there exists hardly any but a very loose connection amongst them .
It is the object and the duty of the Masonic Craft to be a federation , allied with mankind for the good of mankind ; but such a federation it cannot be truly and fully as long as its unity remains merely ideal , produced , as it has been
hitherto , by the mutual spirit of fraternity and the connecting link of a few forms of worship common to all , as long as this unity does not recline in the face of the outer world , in proper platform and adequate representation by means
of a joint federal law and joint institutions . The Association of German Freemasons , animated by the desire to realise aggregation designed to promote unitarian tendencies in freedom and love , a rational organisation of the Craft and its
development in conformity with spirit and the ideas of the time—has been seriously engaged , for several years past , in working out the project of a general constitution , and at its annual meeting at Worms , on the 8 th and 9 th of Juno last , it has
adopted the draft of such a constitution . The undersigned officers of the association have been deputed to submit this fundamental law to your kind examination , and propose its adoption to you , honoured and beloved brethren . It cannot escape
your notice that this platform—starting from actual facts , and aiming at nothing but- what is attainable , with due regard to the historical development of the Order—is designed to bring about unity in things essential only , but in everything else
adhere throughout to the Masonic principles of liberty , equality , aud fraternity , of local selfgoveinment and general worship ; and that it may consequently be safely adopted by every Grand Lodge .
We need not dwell upon the desirability of the establishment of international Masonic congresses and the foundation of a Board of Management { Verwaliunqsausschuss ) , or universal Grand Lodge for the whole federation , and it is useless to expatiate upon the beneficial results the Fraternity
and mankind at large mi ght derive from the foundation of such institutions . However bold this idea may appear , its realisation belongs no more to the province of mere phantasmas , by reason of the vast development of the means of
communication between all countries ; nations being thus brought nearer to one another , and the idea alluded to having already received its incarnation by international exhibitions of industry . What could be done for the advancement of
material interests , may and must be no less practicable for the promotion of the intellectual and moral interests of mankind ! The one thing
needful is that every individual and every corporate body evince a firm goodwill , as due to this great and good cause , that everyone set about to work courageously and without prejudice , and that personal inclinations an d opinions be freely
waived in the interest of the Avhule . Seeing that the influence of the lodges has been beneficial hitherto , and that , wherever they worked in the proper animus , they fostered and promoted morality , brotherly love , and the good of mankind ,
at large , this will evidently be the case to a much greater extent if the individual links of the chain of the Order be drawn closer together , if they improve their institutions , breathe the breath of new life into the Masonic body , keep pace with the
progress of the century , _ md Avork throughout , upon one plan and in one spirit . In the confident expectation that you , honoured and beloved brethren , will gladly and freely join us in our endeavour to bring about internal and
external unity and a rational organisation of the-Craft and therewithal a new era of prosperity of Masonry , we earnestly entreat you to adopt theannexed "fundamental law" ( Grundgesetz ) which is drawn up in the spirit and upon the ground of
the " ancient charges , " and to foster and promoteall aspirations calculated to establish an international tie amongst all lodges ancl all Masons of the world .
In tins hope we hereby send you the greeting , of the initiated . Respectfully aud affectionately yours , By order of the Association of German Masons ,. The Directors : DE . RUDOLPH SEYDELof LeipziPresident
, g , , REINHAED KAMP , of Elberfeld , Vice-President ,. J . G . FINDEL , of Leipzig , Secretary and . Keeper of the Archives , DE . GAEL AOIN DALEN , of Berlin , HEINKICH WILHEL _ > I FLASCIIE , of Barmen . Worms , Whitsuntide , 18 b 7 .