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Article HISTORY OF MASONIC IMITATIONS. ← Page 2 of 3 Article HISTORY OF MASONIC IMITATIONS. Page 2 of 3 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
History Of Masonic Imitations.
Craft , and to give them a chance to exercise their fascination within the sacred walls of the Temple . At the same time they served to gratify the curiosity of the French women , and thus to strengthen the Order in general . The doctrines
they inculcated tend more particularly to remind the members of their especial duties in this world , and the words addressed by the Grand Priestess to the aspirant , clearly show the nature of the trials and of the instruction which awaits her in
the successive degrees into which she seeks to be initiated . She is warned against entering' from curiosity ) and is told that the object of the Order is to render human society perfect . She is to love justice and charity ; to be free from prejudice
and bigotry ; to hate artifice and falsehood , and by her virtue to gain the universal esteem of her brothers and sisters . The following is the oath administered : " In the presence of the Grand Architect of the Universe , I swear faithfully to
keep the secrets intrusted to me j if I betray them may I be for ever dishonoured and despised : and in order that I may have strength to keep my promise , may a spark of divine li ght illumine and protect my heart , and lead me in the paths of
virtue . " This promise was sealed by three kisses bestowed on the neophyte by the Grand Mistressthe kiss of peace on the forehead : the kiss of faith on the right cheek ; and the kiss of friendship on the left cheek . Iu Oliver ' s " Revelations of a
Square , " Bro . McGillevray mentions having been present when all of the five degrees were conferred in Paris . Their names were , 1 . Apprentice ; 2 . Compagnone ; o . Maitresse ; 4 . Parfait ; 5 . Elue . The jewel of the Order was a Golden Ladder with five rounds or staves . Our readers will find a
curious anecdote in the fifteenth chapter of the book referred to , which will afford an insi ght into the working of the degrees . We have by no means enumerated even a majority of the varieties of the rite of female
Freemasonry . Long before the Grand Orient adopted it , in 1730 , we Had parties of French Masons associated with ladies in lodges . They had even attracted so much attention , that in 1741 the Jesuits , ever fearful of the tendency of secret
societies which were not influenced by their authority , attempted hy public plays and miracle shows to turn them into ridicule . They succeeded however in producing an effect very different from that intended ; for they heightened the curiosity of the French ladies , and greatly multiplied the
History Of Masonic Imitations.
number of applicants . Bro . Macoy mentions that in 1747 a Mr . Blanchaine , Master of a lodge in Paris , founded an Order called the Order of "Woodcutters . " The ceremonies were chiefly borrowed from the Society of " Carbonari / ' or
Coal-burners , which had been recently established in Italy . This became a very popular society . The " Woodyard" was frequented by the mostdistinguished ladies ancl gentlemen of France , who thronged to hear the instructions of " Father-Master / ' and enjoy the social intercourse of their " Cousins . "
The Order of Fidelity , and of the Hatchet ; of of the Sacred Sisters , and of the Egyptian-Priestesses , were probably simple imitations of the others , having the same series of imitations and plans of work .
To pass , however , to secret societies formedmore especially for the purpose of benevolence andcharity . Among the earliest in France , is the-Ordre des Dames et des Chevaliers de la Perseverance , supposed to have been founded by the
Princess Potowski in 1769 ; which as a spur and incentive to good deeds , had a rule that the noble actions of its members should be inscribed in a-
Golden Book , preserved for the purpose . In Denmark arose the Society of the Chain ,, which founded and maintained the Asylum for the Blind in Copenhagen . The Order of the Companions of Penelope was
established early in this century , the ceremonies , and trials of which tended to impress on the sisters that work was the true palladium of women . The association which did most good , and had thelongest existence of all of them—for it was only
disolved in 1828 , after having exercised welltimed charity , fed the hungry , clothed the naked , and warmed the poor for eighteen years , was that , called , " L'Ordre des Dames Ecossais de I'Hospice du Mont Thahor . " This , in imitation of the Order
of the Illnminati , was divided into greater and . lesser mysteries . The instructions to each was to strive which should do the most good , and to shun all idleness and dissipation . All the objects of such associations , might ,
however , just as well be earned on without the aid of secret leagues , ceremonies , and signs . It may be , however , that that the idea of being banded together for a holy object , and of being bound by a solemn oath , gave an additional impulse to their charity , just as some Sons of Temperance believe that the mere fact of secret weekly meetings and
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
History Of Masonic Imitations.
Craft , and to give them a chance to exercise their fascination within the sacred walls of the Temple . At the same time they served to gratify the curiosity of the French women , and thus to strengthen the Order in general . The doctrines
they inculcated tend more particularly to remind the members of their especial duties in this world , and the words addressed by the Grand Priestess to the aspirant , clearly show the nature of the trials and of the instruction which awaits her in
the successive degrees into which she seeks to be initiated . She is warned against entering' from curiosity ) and is told that the object of the Order is to render human society perfect . She is to love justice and charity ; to be free from prejudice
and bigotry ; to hate artifice and falsehood , and by her virtue to gain the universal esteem of her brothers and sisters . The following is the oath administered : " In the presence of the Grand Architect of the Universe , I swear faithfully to
keep the secrets intrusted to me j if I betray them may I be for ever dishonoured and despised : and in order that I may have strength to keep my promise , may a spark of divine li ght illumine and protect my heart , and lead me in the paths of
virtue . " This promise was sealed by three kisses bestowed on the neophyte by the Grand Mistressthe kiss of peace on the forehead : the kiss of faith on the right cheek ; and the kiss of friendship on the left cheek . Iu Oliver ' s " Revelations of a
Square , " Bro . McGillevray mentions having been present when all of the five degrees were conferred in Paris . Their names were , 1 . Apprentice ; 2 . Compagnone ; o . Maitresse ; 4 . Parfait ; 5 . Elue . The jewel of the Order was a Golden Ladder with five rounds or staves . Our readers will find a
curious anecdote in the fifteenth chapter of the book referred to , which will afford an insi ght into the working of the degrees . We have by no means enumerated even a majority of the varieties of the rite of female
Freemasonry . Long before the Grand Orient adopted it , in 1730 , we Had parties of French Masons associated with ladies in lodges . They had even attracted so much attention , that in 1741 the Jesuits , ever fearful of the tendency of secret
societies which were not influenced by their authority , attempted hy public plays and miracle shows to turn them into ridicule . They succeeded however in producing an effect very different from that intended ; for they heightened the curiosity of the French ladies , and greatly multiplied the
History Of Masonic Imitations.
number of applicants . Bro . Macoy mentions that in 1747 a Mr . Blanchaine , Master of a lodge in Paris , founded an Order called the Order of "Woodcutters . " The ceremonies were chiefly borrowed from the Society of " Carbonari / ' or
Coal-burners , which had been recently established in Italy . This became a very popular society . The " Woodyard" was frequented by the mostdistinguished ladies ancl gentlemen of France , who thronged to hear the instructions of " Father-Master / ' and enjoy the social intercourse of their " Cousins . "
The Order of Fidelity , and of the Hatchet ; of of the Sacred Sisters , and of the Egyptian-Priestesses , were probably simple imitations of the others , having the same series of imitations and plans of work .
To pass , however , to secret societies formedmore especially for the purpose of benevolence andcharity . Among the earliest in France , is the-Ordre des Dames et des Chevaliers de la Perseverance , supposed to have been founded by the
Princess Potowski in 1769 ; which as a spur and incentive to good deeds , had a rule that the noble actions of its members should be inscribed in a-
Golden Book , preserved for the purpose . In Denmark arose the Society of the Chain ,, which founded and maintained the Asylum for the Blind in Copenhagen . The Order of the Companions of Penelope was
established early in this century , the ceremonies , and trials of which tended to impress on the sisters that work was the true palladium of women . The association which did most good , and had thelongest existence of all of them—for it was only
disolved in 1828 , after having exercised welltimed charity , fed the hungry , clothed the naked , and warmed the poor for eighteen years , was that , called , " L'Ordre des Dames Ecossais de I'Hospice du Mont Thahor . " This , in imitation of the Order
of the Illnminati , was divided into greater and . lesser mysteries . The instructions to each was to strive which should do the most good , and to shun all idleness and dissipation . All the objects of such associations , might ,
however , just as well be earned on without the aid of secret leagues , ceremonies , and signs . It may be , however , that that the idea of being banded together for a holy object , and of being bound by a solemn oath , gave an additional impulse to their charity , just as some Sons of Temperance believe that the mere fact of secret weekly meetings and