Mozart As A Freemason.

a union Avas formed of the most eminent minds of Vienna , under the guidance of thenoble and accomplished Ignaz von Born . The object of this union Avas to promote the advancement of the freedom of thought and of conscience favoured by tbe government , and to fight against superstition and fanaticism ; consequently , against the principal support of both , tbe monastic order .

Reiiihold and the friends of his youth , Alxinger , Haschka , Leon , Ratschky and Aloys Blumauer , formerly a Jesuit , then also Van SAvieten and Censor , were the most zealous participants in this league . To maintain the outward union of those AVIIO were joined in mind and heartthey

, made use of tbe forms of Masonry . Their lodge bore the name " Zur Avahren Eintracht , " ( The True Harmony ) , and they worked for a long time , indirectly supported by the government of Joseph , on the plan AvMch they had marked out , with much effect and a successful result . With

the Aveapons of learning and eloquence , now in earnest , now in jesting tones , they unitedly fought against those who , in this kind of contest , Avere by no means skilful adversaries .

From this circle ( to which other men of importance , such as Sonnenfels , Ratzer and Gemmingen belonged ) proceeded the satirical poems of Born ancl Blumauer against the monastic life , Avhich at that time had an extraordinary effect . The Vienna '' Realzeitung , '' edited b

y Blumauer , Avas the scientific organ through Avhich it Avas sought to remove in the slow manner by Avhich they came , superstition and prejudice , according to the principle of Blumauer , that the Avork of enli ghtenment advances sloAvlyand that the

, unlearning of things AVMCII ha \ 'e been once hammered into the head demands much more time than the leaiaiing . Naturally , Freemasonry became tbe mode in Vienna , and it was much misused . Caroline

Piebler accounts for this in her Memofrs , book 1 , page 105 , from the fact that the Order of the Freemasons Avas conducted Avith a very ludicrous publicity and ostentation . Freemasons' songs were composed , printed , and universally sung . Freemasons' jewels Avere worn as trinkets on the Avatch chains ; the women received white gloves from apprentices and fellows , and many articles of fashion were called " a la franc niacon . "

Many men alloAved themselves to be initiated out of curiosity , entered the Order and enjoyed at least the delights of the table-Lodge . Others had other objects . It Avas at that time not without profit to belong to this Brotherhood , which bad

members in all the colleges , and everywhere had influences to draAV into its bosom overseers , presidents and governors . Then one Brother helped the other . Tlie Brotherhood AVUS upheld everyAvhere . Those who did not belong thereto often

met hindrances : this fact allured many . Again , others , who Avere more honest or ' more circumscribed , sought with devout minds higher secrets , and thought to find in the Order information about secret sciences , about the philosopher ' s stone ,

about intercourse Avith spirits . Whether these criticisms of the profane Avere founded in truth , I leave to the opinion of every Avorthy Brother ; but that UOAV , and for a long time , Masonry , especially as purified after the system of Schroederhas made

, any further abuse of the kind impossible , is sufficiently evident . Charitable the Masons certainly were . Much Avas done in the Lodges for the poor ancl

unfortunate . . There were ei ght Lodges in Vienna in 1785 . The oldest , " Zur Gekronten Hoffnung" ( Crowned Hope ) , Avas the one to Avhich Mozart belonged . There were in the same Lodge many noble and rich members . But in December 1785-fter

, , the people in Bavaria ancl elseAvhere , in the pursuit of their investigations against the Illuminati , had also commenced to persecute Freemasonry , the Emperor Joseph issued a decree , in which , Avith the severe expression " that he kneAV not the

secrets of the Order , ancl did not Avish to experience the jugglery of the same , " he recognized Freemasonry on condition of certain reforms , ancl placed it under the protection of the state , —a thing Avhich was done according to the will of this wise

monarch from a particular motive , —to remove the many Lodges in small places ancl suffer them only in great cities . This decree , praised by some as a prooi of the hi ghest wisdom and favour , lamented by others as the ruin of true Masonrygave

, occasion for violent disputes , it moreover caused the accomplishment of another purpose , namely , the fusion of the eight existing lodges into three , by order of the