Freemasonry Part II

   In its present form Freemasonry dates specifically from the seventeenth century. It was a time in history of change, not just social change but also with the sciences, religion, philosophy, culture and politics.

  It was from all these effects of change which Freemasonry was bonded in. Freemasonry stepped in to be the glue that bonded the changes of the multiple concepts that changed English Society, in the seventeenth century, which the Catholic Church could not.

  The thirty year war in Europe was the longest war in world history. It was many different wars or conflicts fought throughout central Europe.

  This war was the most destructive conflict in European history. This was a religious war, where the Catholic countries were trying to wipe-out the Protestant countries.

  It later became part of the general power structure of the Holy Roman Empire, specifically the Bourbon-Hapsburg conflict, which in turn led to further conflict between France and the Hapsburgs.

   Freemasonry became closely associated with Rosicrucianism. As the thirty year war was taking place in England and Catholic victory was threatening the very existence of Protestantism, the Stuart Monarchy became the refuge, a haven for Protestant believers.

  Frederick V, Electorate Palatine, King of Bohemia, (winter King)  of the Rhine and his wife the daughter of James I, Elizabeth, took refuge at the Prague. They established a Rosicrucian refuge, which the German refuges made a mainstream to, where the Rosicrucian’s had established an underground railway to England. King Frederick was a Calvinist, and leader of the Protestant Union.

  In 1618 the predominantly Protestant estates of Bohemia rebelled against their Catholic King Ferdinand. They asked Frederick to be their King because he was leader of the Protestant Union, which was formulated by his father, it was a militaristic organization.

   Frederick was also asked to be King of Bohemia to gain the support of his father in law King James I of England. King James didn’t lend his support because he was opposed to the takeover of Bohemia by the Hapsburg’s and the members of the Protestant Union. Frederic's reign as King lasted only a short while and he was frequently referred to as the ‘winter king’. Thus started the 30 year war.

   A civil war followed the 30 year war in England. This civil war was nothing more than an extension of the 30 year war. The English and Scottish parliament sided against the monarchy; King Charles I of England was executed and Cromwell dour Protectorate was established.

  This was a time of religious intolerance in England, the secret society which was open to religious, philosophical and scientific thoughts that didn't fare well under the protectorate maintained a low profile.

  Modern Freemasonry maintains that they are apolitical, however in seventeenth and eighteenth century Europe this absolutely wasn't true.

  The roots of Freemasonry lay in family and guild ancient allegiances to the Stuart dynasty. King James I was a Freemason, Freemasonry traveled with him from Scotland to England. Freemasonry had the protection of the Monarchy of Scotland and England.

  In the Sinclair Charters it specifically states that… “that you bee true men to the Kinge without any treason or falsehood but you shall amend it or else give notice thereof to the Kinge.” Therefore Freemasons were bound to the monarchy.

  Freemasonry was under constant surveillance because of its liberal views on religion, politics and the sciences as compared to the intolerant political regime of the Protectorate.

  Although Freemasonry remained committed to the Stuart Monarchy, it also voiced opposition to its abuses, sometimes to the point of armed protest.

  In 1629 Charles I had dissolved parliament, the Nobility in Scotland responded by presenting a document called the “National Covenant” in 1638.

  This protested the Monarch’s arbitrary rule and reaffirmed the Parliament. The signatories began to organize an army in their defense. In 1639 a meeting of the Parliament took place at Edinburgh.

  Charles I considered this an act of defiance and mobilized a force to enter Scotland. However before they reached Scotland an Scottish Army under the command of the Earl of Montrose engaged a contingent of English and defeated them and occupied Newcastle until a peace settlement was signed, in June of 1641.

  Freemasons consider this a landmark of their history—the first recorded conflict on English soil. By this time Freemasonry was still maintaining a low profile but Lodges were already established and operational.

  On May 20^th, 1641 Sir Robert Moray was inducted into the Lodge of Old Mary’s Chapel of Edinburgh. General Alexander Hamilton who had been inducted the year before was present and a witness of this induction.

  Sir Robert Moray has become known to history as the first fully inducted Freemason, although he wasn't.