Bro. Lessing And His Masonic Conversations.

BRO . LESSING AND HIS MASONIC CONVERSATIONS .

BY WAYOF COMMENTARY .- —PARTTHJ ; ^ Euoxn . BY BRO . CRYPTOXVMLS . Before we al ) solutely begin to examine the Third Conversation , it is very desirable 10 cast a g lanceattheperiod in which Bro . Lessing lived and worked , and the arena in which he exercised his

critical and social influences . Preceded by the theosophical poet , Klopstock , and by the classical Wieland , men , both of them , who exercised a power only to be less than that of Lessing , and subsequently Schiller and Goethe , and especiall y the last of these , Lessing took rather the

practical and moral nature of his countrymen for his seed field . He was essentially human , though actually his labours were rather dedicated to the emancipation of his countrymen from the false French taste , from mere rhetorical flourishes . As Gervinus Tersely . ' -ays ( History of German

Literature , vol . iv ., page 290 ) , " Lessing wrote German ; betook his speech from the stock of our ( their ) own literature , and returned to the natural speech of the people ; he wrote as he spoke . ' But in his researches into Art he must unquestionably be allowed the pre-eminence of pointing

to its moral side , and its immediate effects upon the life of the people . While the two other writers had severally embodied Hebraic traditions , and the mythological legends of A 11-tiquity and the Middle Age , Lessing clothed his creations with ilesh and blood , and he

likewise possessed one distinctive peculiarity , not even attributable to Goethe himself . In Goethe , we more or less , ever see Goethe in some form . Not so in Lessing , he could , with a rare capacity , vanish from the reader ' s sight , and leave his Nathan , his Saladin , his

Sitta , his Ernest and Falk , to stand and talk as substantive beings , a rave capacity he shared with Shakspcre . 'J'he spirit of his age breathes in his writings , and hence they become useful indices for those who would fain look upon his times . While other writers set out with a given

set of axioms , theorems , and principles , Lessing was especially distinguished bv having no fixed method of looking at things . Thai which appeared practical and plain to his insight , lie set down in epigrammatic language , so that all who ran might read . No plan is \ isible in his

method ol portravnig things and men ; nor did lie write w iihoul being urged thereto by a sharp instinct . -Many ol his essays bear marks ol bibliographical research and dilettantism , yet , taken as a whole , the writings wc have of his , breathe a true spirit of intense humanity . His

view of social life was not that exhibited b \ Goethe in " Wcrthcr . " Far other , and more concrete . Memorable — very memorable-- are- certain words of his which my readers would do well gravely lo weigh . Thev are ihe index to the

man . In his " Duplik gcgen Gocze , " he passionatel y exclaims , "The worth of man does not consist in the truth which man pos » essc-, or believes himself to possess , but in the sincere labour he has exercised to attain the truth , for it is not by the possession of truth , but in the search lor it , that his energies are widened ,

wherein consists his ever growing perfectibility . Possession causes case , idleness , pride . 11 God held in his right hand all truth , in his left the sole inward active desire for truth , even with the addition that I should err always and lor ever , and said to me : Choose ! 1 would humbly bend to the left hand , and answer : Father , give that to me ; pure truth is for Thee alone !"

And will not the more thoughtful of my Brother Masons agree with him , and recognise in such an aspiration the true feeling of a sincere and devout Brother ? At the time in which Lessing wrote and lived , stirring events were not wanting to agitate society in its moral sphere , The suppression of the

Order ol Jesuits lent an impetus to many wild theorists in the field of Masonry , and supplied ample food for enthusiasts and system builders . The secret Commanders of all the different sects or societies were eagei'Iv sought after , whether those of the Illuminati , ; he Freemasons , or the Rosicrucians ; ii was even

Bro. Lessing And His Masonic Conversations.

then lound that Jesuitism had gained access to some of these secret societies , especially among the theosophical Rosicrucians . Here , it was affirmed , the machinations of Popery were being carried on . Works , to cite only one , such as the " Pastoral Letters to the real and true

Freemasons of the Antient system . Hirtenbriefc an die wahren und aechten Freimaurer alten Systems , ( 1785 ) appeared , and in these the guardians of Protestantism , such as Nicolai , Sender , and others , detected , or thought to detect , Jesuitical attacks for the support of the Roman

Catholic hierarchy . To neutralise these , it was proposed to purify and improve the secret societies . Adam Weishaupt , Professor of Canonical Jurisprudence at Ingolstadt , formed the Society of Jlluminati into a consistent body , by which to encounter the hierarchy and the lesuits . The

latter , however , perceived the weakness of the Illuminati , and obtained the suppression of that body in Bavaria , ever a stronghold of the Catholic party , in the year i / Sj . These societies passed like meteors over the surface of Society , and the Masonic Order was the only one which remained impassibly triumphant . The chiefs

or the Order calmly and constantly asserted the principle of non-interference with reli g ion and politics , and , as my readers will have seen , Lessing has attributed to Freemasonry in these Conversations , a far deeper and noble aim , resting entirely on the humanitarian aspect of the century , and an aim to which the most zealous and acute

. Masons of the age eagerly attached themselves . All earnest and sincere men of thought sought refuge in the lodges of the time from the stress of religious faction , and political confusion . Within the precincts of the lodge alone could fearlessly be proclaimed the doctrines of Brotherly Love ,

Relief , and Truth , and it is fortunate for the Order , that the ruling powers in the State so completel y identified themselves with the social objects of Freemasonry as to lend no unwilling countenance to the Fraternity .

It Mas just in these uneasy times of mutual recrimination , and bitter contention , that Bro . Lessing wrote these Conversations , probably with the object of more clearly setting forth his ideas as to what end the eil ' orts of Freemasons should

most wisely be directed . Nor did lie , as Falk clearly indicates in Conversation Three toErnest , limits this noble sphere of action to Masons alone . Does he not say that a study of the evils of Society , and the knowledge of there existing a means for combatting them , would render Ernest

" peaceful and happy , even without the name of Freemason ? " I . essing ' s clearest idea appears to be , that while nations , in different parts of the world , should be allowed their national customs and lorms of belief , induced by climate and by

historic traditions , and many other causes , there yet was something inherent in our common human nature , considered from a mental standpoint , that admitted of an interfusion of all these nations and races for the general

advantage . Surely , il must be an advantage , of almost inestimable value , to find , as the members of our Fraternity do , on every shore a home , in every city a friend , and be the esoteric mysteries of our ( ) nler what they may , it is very well known that

Freemasonry has contributed in a most marked degree to smooth away the acerbities arising in the outer world . It would be well for the Order to consider whether in the great emulative contest towards a better state of Society a yet more enlarged sphere of activity may not be found .

11 is not alone enough to point to the Charities , to the Schools , and to the Lodges , it is not enough to say here Jew and Christians , Parsee , Hindoo , Mahomedan , Guebre , ami Budhist , meet on the Level and part on the Square , it is not enough to point to the fact , excellent in itself , that

" Great Kings , Dukes and Lords , J lave laid b y their swords , This , our mystery , to put a good grace on . ' It is not enough to assume an antiquity , in consistent in itself , of time , not to be demon

strated as iaet at the present time . No ! The Freemason of to-day is blessed with a variety of almost innumerable ways by which he can aid in raising and improving the condition of his fellow-man whether an affiliated brother or

Bro. Lessing And His Masonic Conversations.

no , and it is his duty , as well as his privilege , to stand firm in well doing , and by the assistance of the T . G . A . O . T . U ., he may reasonably hope to exalt the Order in the eyes of the world by a thousand graceful acts , and thus confirm and consolidate the stones of the Temple of Humanity , at which it lias been his happiness to be allowed to labour .

Rich men can easil y open their pockets and give—but even those unable to aid by money , may assist in no mean degree , in the objects to which our lodges are consecrated . In the present portion of this commentary 1 do not propose to proceed further than the third

Conversation . We perceive that the eager , enthusiastic nature of Ernest has been awakened b y the words of his friend , Falk . With the impetuosity so frequently seen in ardent , sensitive , and noble , aspiring minds— he rushes away from the . scene , and , as so many have done under similar circumstances , with headlong rapidity , he seeks

admission into the Order that promises to him the realization of an ideal too vaguely poetical , I [ i .-: \ v . . even in our own bri ghter davs of enlightenment . One other word or two , and I will leave tin ' s part of ecr theme . When Lessing wrote , as J have said above , there was a forward and

backward current—an ebb and tide—a svstole and diastole going on . threatening all European human society . While the intellectual life of Germany was exhausting its energies in a gigantic mental conflict , there was silently , swiftly , surely , coming , in the neighbouring country of France , a

fearful retribution for centuries of mis-rule , and the quacks and wonder-mongers of the age were flocking Paris-ward , with bran new degrees , manu' actured from traditional figments and sorry mendacities , and while true Freemasonry kept the even

tenor ol its way , brilliant phantoms not yet flared out were visible . 'To these , may I ask in conclusion , would not every sincere brother prefer the calm common-sense views of our deceased 1 ' vo , I . ess ' mg ? CRYI ' TOVYM I : S .

Original Correspondence.

Original Correspondence .

PRACTICAL FREEMASONRY ( ';" ' / : ' v Editor of ihe Freemason . ) Dr . i : ; ' ¦ >;; .. 'Mi BROTJJKR—¦ Bro . " P . M . i . ^ emp loyed , " in his letter in your lasi imprcs .-ion , brings an accusation against our Order which is unjust and r . nirue . After speaking of his great love for our Ancient Order , he

z > o ... immediately does his best 10 prove he has mistaken his own sentiments with regard to Freemasonry . Sv . reiy no Brother , loving the Order , as our Brother says he does , would dare publicly to accuse that Order of want of sympathy for

brethren in his position . I am ol course unable to say wh y our Brother lias not succeeded in ob Uniting from Masonry , that which he requires ; but his own letter displays throughout , a spirit so utterly antagonistic to the true spirit of Freemasonry , that I , for one , am not surprised he has

not succeeded . I never supposed for a moment , that it is the : //// // of the Order to provide suitable employment for the brethren , but I have known many instances of worthy brethren being - assisted by their brethren in such cases . I cannot , therefore , understand our Brother ' s

suggestion , that there is a pressing necessity for the Craft to use a little exertion towards procuring employment for brethren who are unemployed . Worthy brethren who exert themselves are sure to succeed , but they must certainly not rely upon the Craft to use any exertion for them , when thev have not exerted themselves to the utmost .

I have very seldom seen advertisements from unemployed brethren in the Freemason . I believe it would be the best thing our Unemployed Brother could do , stating what he wants , and what his capabilities are . v . ith good references ; but he must rely more upon his own exertions , and a little less than he s-vms to do upon ihe

Craft . It is true , as our Brother remarks , we have indeed several noble charities . We provide , as