Authentic Craft History In Britain.

Masonic art , or the rules of architecture , were also produced upon French soil by a Grecian or Byzantine operative . It is none the less singular or significant , that the Parisian stone-cutters , in the year 1254 , asserted their independence of certain civil duties , by reason of an exemp . tion or prescriptive right , which they traced , through all the intermediate changes of time , directly to the same Charles Martel . Forty-nine years after the death of William , the Norman King , Moreau laid the foundation walls of that gorgeous fabric , Melrose Abbey , and , in a lasting record , alleged himself to be the Master of all Masonic work along the river Tweedon the south border of Scotlandand in Glasgow . Whatever traditions and

, , usages the French stone-masons possessed at this epoch , without doubt , passed over with them into England , and through them obtained currency in that kingdom . The translation of the legend of Charles Martel , and a knowledge of Naymus Graceus , together with such usages and customs of the fraternity as were practised by the Freemasons of France in Great Britain , may be placed at this era . This view of the subject under consideration has an undoubted weight of reason and evidence , both legendary and historical , over the visionary assumption that allor nearlallMasonic rites and ceremoniesbesides the mediaeval art

, y , , knowledge of the Craft , are the lineal descendants of the ancient Eoman building colleges , especially when it is stated that the relentless power of the early Emperors of Soma crushed out the vital forces of these associations , and actually forbade them co-operate existence . Mention is also made of other French Master Masons who followed in the tide of travel towards England . The erection of the most important Cathedrals on British soil was conducted by French architects . "

We agree with the writer as to the effect of the Roman building colleges , but , as we said before , they were christian sodalities which came with Augustine , which Wilfred , and Benedict Biscop , and Alfred , and others brought over from Rome . Undoubtedl y the old laws of the French Mason guilds , as published by Depping , confirm our tradition of Charles Martel . But there is not much evidence available of foreign builders until the Norman conquestwhen

, the " Novum cedificandi genus , " according to William of Malmesbury , came in with Gundul ph and others . Probabl y then Gallic ancl Teutonic guilds came into England , though some of the earlier chronicles seem to attest the fact that the monks were mainl y their own builders , masons , and architects at that special epoch . It is not correct to assume that the legend of the Quatuor Coronati was of Teutonic use mainl y . It was really of cosmopolitan use , as

" Hagioli gies" are mentioned containing it in the seventh century , and it is in the Saruin Missal of the tenth century , long before any use of it can be traced in Germany . All that you can say trul y is , that the German operative guilds emphasized the legend . Neither is it correct to talk of a sort of invasion of England b y Teutonic workmen . Those who came after the conquest came principally from Normandy , and in the Fabric rolls we have undoubtedl y

German names , but they are the exception to the rule . Most of the great master Masons were Englishmen . English Masons also went into Germany , and so far we have never been able to trace any remains of German teaching or German customs . The German rules are subsequent to the earl y ones in the Masonic poem and Matthew Cooke ' s MS ., and there is a wide difference between those of our prose constitutions and those of the German constitutions . On the whole it is a pretty idea , but it is not a realistic one , and gives way to a careful criticism .

" That the German Masonic fraternity exercised a decided influence upon architecture in Great Britain at an early age is undeniable . The earliest records now extant , relating to the stonecutters of Germany , allude to four Christian engravers , who had receivod the crown of martyrdom under Diocletian for refusing to perform certain work to be used in the decoration of a heathen temple . When the German Masons arrived in England , they brought with them a thorough and practical knowledge of the secret details of that art which constitutes the chief attractions of Gothic architecture . They also naturally carried over the usages ,

customs , and traditions which were current among the fraternity in their native country , and doubtless many things still practised in the tiled recesses of Masonic Lodges , at all traceable to German or Teutonic sources , are evidently the contribution of both the Gallic and German Masons , who , thus early in the history of Freemasony had imparted their several legends to their British brethren . " It will be seen that on the whole we go with the writer and think that , despite some excusable mistakes , he has given us a good glimpse of early