Page 15 - ASHLAR - Oct-Dec 2019

N A L G R
I O
G E AND LODGE
The Ashlar R Vol. XV Issue III
century ago, following the publication in subordinate to its provincial Lodge and the
1848 of the writings of Fallou who however, chief Lodge of Straassburg was prey
failed to submit any evidence in support of dominant over all. There is no evidence of
his claim. His lead was followed uncritically any direct connection between the
by later writers, including several of much Steinmetzen and Freemasonry.
greater eminence. The Abbot Wilhelm, of The Compagnonnage.
Hirschau, is said to have introduced an Turning to France we find an association
institution of lay 'brothers but examination of much more closely akin to Freemasonry
the records shows that these were not than the Steinmetzen, one curiously
connected with the building trades. Another overlooked by many French authorities. The
claim, like that of the Comacines, is that the French guild system has a much greater
Steinmetzen were established by papal bulls antiquity than anything in Britain, in fact, of all
but these have never been traced. As in parts of Europe the shadow of the dark ages
other countries, Lodges (Bauhiitten) were passed over none so lightly as the South of
set up in connection with the building of the France. There were many trade fraternities
great cathedrals and their rules and customs and we hear of an organisation of
tend to follow a common pattern. it must be stonemasons as early as 1365, while a code
remembered that for several reasons there of the masons of 1407 is preserved in the
was a constant interchange of staff and there archives of Amiens. A still earlier code, of
would be a tendency for the best ideas 1260, of an organisation of masons,
evolved in one place quickly to spread to stonemasons, plasterers and mortarers is
others. The earliest known text of their rules especially interesting as it refers to a
was drawn up at Regensburg in 1459 and privilege granted by Charles Martel, who
the Torgau Statutes of 1462 record the also figures in the English Old Charges.
acceptance by masters from several places But there was another organisation in
of the ordinances previously drawn up. France, among the journeymen Masons &
These regulations were confirmed by members of allied trades and, curiously, its
imperial authority in 1498 and again in 1563. very existence was only known by the fact
Translations may be found in Gould's History that encounters between members of rival
of Freemasonry but we may here mention sections were generally the prelude to the
briefly that though some of their provisions outbreak of bloody fighting, hardly kept in
are found in the Old Charges of England the check by the threat of the galleys. In 1841,
latter do not in the main follow those one Agricol Perdiguier published the Livre du
documents. The Apprentice, when declared Compagnonnage the first really detailed
free, was required to enter into an obligation account to appear. The Compagnonnage
among other things not unlawfully to contained three great divisions, the Sons of
communicate the mason's greeting and grip Solomon, the Sons of Maitre Jacques and
and not to alter without permission the mark the Sons of Soubisse. Maitre Jacques,
conferred on him. The Torgau Ordinances according to his legend, was one of the first
contain detailed instructions on the masters of Solomon and a colleague of
conferment and use of the mark and even on Hiram. He was the son of Jacquin, a
its loan to an apprentice when his master has celebrated architect and his life was
no work for him. The nature of the "greeting" attempted and, after one rescue, a further
is unknown today, but was probably a attempt was successful.
formula rather than a Word such as was The newly-admitted journeyman was
given in Scotland. expected to make the tour de France in
There was in the organisation a chain of search of employment and wider experience
authority not established in England, a much and measures were taken for the reception
more compact country. The Lodge was of travelling craftsmen who were provided

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