Freemasonry In Germany.

it is much less known and esteemed in England and America than it deserves , and we shall feel happy if the ] iresent sketch which we try to give of it and which we are conscious of drawing as faithfully as possible , were favourably received by our Anglo-Saxon brethren . After first considering the outward frame of German

Masonry , we shall afterwards examine the striving and doings of the brotherhood- in the lodges and in the Masonic press . A fondness of invidualizing , which is a feature peculiar to the German nation , without impairing the typical conformity ,

led in Masonry , as it did in politics , and manners , to a variety of forms . Besides five isolated lodges appertaining to no Grand Lodge , we have eight Grand Lodges which by no means are confined within the political limits of states and provinces .

Thus the Eclectic Grand Lodge at Francfort o / M ., has Lodges in Bavaria ( Erlangen and Nurnberg ) and at Hamburgh ; the Bavarian Grand Lodge " of the Sun" at Bayreuth , has lodges in Baden ; and of the lodges working peacefully and

fraternally side by side in Wurtemberg , some belong to the Grand Lodge of Bayreuth , some to that of Hamburg . Setting the highest value on individual freedom , we neither know nor like a ri ght of Masonic jurisdiction circumscribed by political

frontiers . The five isolated lodges , two of which are at Leipzig , and the rest at Altenburgh , Gera , and Hildburghausen , originate in the disordered state in which the last century had left Masonry . The newly created confederation of German Grand Lodges will probably induce them to give up their isolation as far as to submit themselves to this national

authority . The eight Grand Lodges are the following : 1 , the Grand National Mother Lodge " of the three Globes" at Berlin ( founded in 1740—1744 ) , with 110 daughter lodges and 60 Scotch lodges *; 2 , the Grand Lodge of Germany ( of the Swedish system ) at Berlin ( founded in

1770 ) , with 77 St . John ' s Lodges and 25 St . Andrew ' s Lodges *; 3 , the Grand Lodge of Prussia , called Royal York of Friendshi p at Berlhi ( founded in 1760 ) , with 47 lodges ; 4 , the Grand Lodge of Hamburgh ( an English Provincial Lodge since 1740 , an independent Grand Lodge since 1811 ) , with 30 lodges ; 5 , the Grand Lod ge of Saxony at Dresden ( founded in

1811 ) , with r & 4 oi 3 ges ; 6 , the Grand Lodge " of the Sun" at Bayreuth ( founded in 1741 ) , with 17 lodges ; 7 , the Grand Lodge of the Eclectic confederation at Francfort o / M . ( founded in 1783 ) , with 12 lodges ; 8 the Grand Lodge " of Concord "

, at Darmstadt ( founded in 1846 ) , with 9 lodges . The number of all these lodges is 325 with about 35 , 000 members . Besides , in places where there are no lodges , there are several Masonic clubs , where isolated brethren meet to enjoy Masonic

intercourse and instruction , and most of which , sooner or later , develop themselves into lodges . In the German provinces of Austria , Freemasonry is not allowed by

the political authorities ; however in spite of this , many candidates getting initiated in the bordering lodges of Hungary ( Oedenhm-gh and Neudb ' rfl ) , Saxony , and the Prussian part of Silesia ^ the number of Austrian brethren is still increasing . These eight Grand Lodgeshitherto

, connected with each other by no other means than mutual representatives , have since last year united into a National Confederation of German Grand Lodges , the presidence of which is annually alternating—the Grand Masters and for

each Grand Lodge two freely chosen deputies meet every year , to deliberate and resolve in the common affairs . This Confederation of German Grand Lodges , pointed out long ago as an imperative requirement by the " Association of German Freemasons" will in all

probabi-, lity prove a means of narrower union and firmer consolidation of German Masonry , and , respectfully preserving the legitimate peculiarities of the allied corporations , will undoubtedly lead to gratifying results in furthering the common interests .

Independently of the lodges , some of then- members formed in 1861 the "Association of German Freemasons , " meeting every year at . a different place under the presidence of a freely chosen committee . Charging its members with only a trifling annual contributionfrom

, very small beginnings it rapidly increased , and now , among its nearly 1 , 000 members , numbers the most intelligent , able and active brethren in Germany , nay even in Hungary , Italy , Great Britain and America . The most prominent among

the British brethren , as David Murray Lyon , Woodford , Hughan , Peck , and others , are its corresponding members .