Jews and Freemasons in Europe 1723-1939

By Jacob Katz
Translated rom t!e "ebrew by #eonard $sc!ry "ar%ard &ni%ersity 'ress( )ambrid*e( +assasc!usetts( 197,

Preface to the English Edition The theme of this book-the relation between Jews and Freemasons-has been the subject of countless books written, mainly in German and French, by propagandists of anti-Jewish or anti- asonic leanings or by apologists in counterargument! "istorians, howe#er, ha#e paid little if any attention to this subject! This is not surprising, for to the scholar presumed connection between Jews and Freemasons seemed little more than myth$ any sources that could ha#e clarified the assumption were hidden in the libraries and archi#es of the asons, and usually inaccessible to the probing historian! y own interest in this subject arose from studying the emergence of Jews into modern society, and my attempts to trace the routes by which these former ghetto-dwellers found their way into the social circles of their neighbors! %t occurred to me that the semi-clandestine societies of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries might ha#e been among these! y initial in&uiries indicated that % had come upon an important but unknown facet of a social process$ but only later in#estigations, which took me from country to country, library to library, and archi#e to archi#e, re#ealed the wealth of material on the subject and its significance to modern Jewish history-indeed, to the history of modern Europe! y work on this subject was begun in '()*-)+ when % was a #isiting professor at "ar#ard ,ni#ersity! The treasures of -idener .ibrary afforded me the first clues on the subject! % thank the personnel of this and of many other libraries where % pursued my research! % should like to make special mention of the asonic libraries of /erne, 0urich, Frankfurt, and Paris, which assisted me with great courtesy! ost significant was my ac&uisition from the library of the Grand .odge of "olland in The "ague, where % was graciously admitted and where % spent many fruitful hours in research! % e1tend my gratitude to r! /! 2roiset 3an ,chelen, the 2urator of the .ibrary, a great e1pert in asonic bibliography, who assisted me in sol#ing many problems related to my work! Jacob 4at5 The "ebrew ,ni#ersity of Jerusalem January ', '(67

2hapter ' The Problem and %ts /ackground T!e two names( Jews and Freemasons( -oined to*et!er will most li.ely arouse di erent associations in di erent minds( eac! association re lectin* t!e indi%idual/s cultural and national bac.*round0 1lt!ou*! almost e%eryone !as !eard o t!e name 2Freemasons3/ only to a ew will t!e term denote more t!an t!e ima*e o a selecti%e secret society( acti%e at one time or anot!er in !istory( and still claimin* t!e alle*iance o some indi%iduals0 4et( i t!e

Freemasons t!emsel%es constitute a puzzle( t!eir bein* coupled wit! Jews seems e%en more astonis!in*0 1re t!e two in any way connected5 1ny person o European e6traction 7'olis!( 8umanian( "un*arian0 9erman( or Frenc!:;or anyone amiliar wit! t!e recent !istory o t!ese countries durin* t!e rise o anti-<emitism in Eastern Europe and 9ermany in t!e years between t!e two =orld =ars( and be ore and durin* t!e >rey us 1 air in France( will recall t!at t!e combination o t!e two names became a popular slo*an0 1nti-<emites .ept reiteratin* it in t!eir speec!es( in t!e press( and in in lammatory tracts0 T!ey tried to con%ey t!e impression t!at t!e Jews and t!e Freemasons !ad ormed an alliance to endan*er t!e states w!ere t!ey !appened to li%e0 1 special notoriety was ac!ie%ed by t!e broc!ure T!e 'rotocols o t!e Elders o ?ion( w!ic! purported to contain t!e proceedin*s o a session o t!e elders o t!e Jews( w!o were plottin*( in lea*ue wit! t!e +asonic lod*es( to seize control o t!e world0 T!is pamp!let( w!ic! irst appeared in 8ussia( circulated widely in a 9erman translation prepared in 1919( and subse@uently was disseminated in millions o copies in a %ariety o lan*ua*es0 1s or t!e 9erman Freemasons( t!eir outcry was moti%ated by a special consideration0 "it!erto t!ey !ad been more readily suspected o an a%ersion to( rat!er t!an sympat!y or( Jews0 For t!e most part( t!eir lod*es were considered !i%es o anti-<emitism-and not wit!out reason0 Andeed( wit! t!e rise o political anti-<emitism in 9ermany durin* t!e 1BB,/s( Jews ound t!eir position in t!e +asonic lod*es becomin* precarious0 E%en suc! lod*es w!ic! !ad !ereto ore been accustomed to acceptin* Jews as members or admittin* t!em as %isitors now barred t!em0 1ctually Jews !ad ne%er *ained ree access to t!e 9erman lod*es-not e%en durin* t!e period o *reatest social ad%ances( t!e si6ties and se%enties o t!e nineteent! century0 An some lod*es( members!ip was made conditional upon ad!erence to t!e )!ristian ait!0 Cor was t!e stipulation rescinded durin* t!e years w!en liberalism reac!ed its pea.0 <uc! were t!e lod*es o 'russia( or t!e most part( wit! t!eir centers in Berlin and t!eir branc!es e6tendin* beyond its borders0 <tartin* at t!e be*innin* o t!e nineteent! century( a lon* and protracted stru**le( a war o words and ideas re lectin* a social con lict( ra*ed incessantly between t!e up!olders o t!e )!ristian restriction and t!eir opponents0 1mon* t!e participants were( irstly( all t!ose Jews w!o !ad been initiated into +asonry in ot!er countries( or w!o !ad t!emsel%es ounded lod*es in 9ermany under t!e auspices o t!e Frenc! and En*lis! branc!es o t!e mo%ement0 T!ey were -oined by non-Jews as well and( durin* t!e t!irties and orties( by entire lod*es w!o ar*ued t!at +asonry stood abo%e all reli*ious di erences0 T!e up!olders o t!is principle en-oyed t!e support o t!e +asonic associations abroadD in "olland( En*land( France( and e%en t!e &nited <tates o 1merica0 From t!is act( it becomes e%ident t!at t!e +asons o t!ose countries ne%er ac@uiesced in any restriction based on reli*ion0 An act( i we trace t!e !istory o t!e Freemasons bac. to its %ery inception( we ind t!at t!e principle o reli*ious toleration was already incorporated in t!e %ery irst constitution compiled in En*land in t!e 172,/<0 "istorical researc! will !a%e to ind t!e answer to t!e @uestionD !ow ar was t!is principle en orced in t!e areas w!ere it was accepted in t!eory( and !ow and w!y was it re-ected in ot!er areas( in bot! t!eory and practice5 T!is brie sur%ey !as proceeded in t!e re%erse direction( rom t!e present to t!e past0 At !as brou*!t to li*!t t!e c!an*es and trans ormations in t!e attitudes o Freemasons to Jews0 T!at t!e +asons ound it necessary to ta.e a stand a*ainst Jews s!ows t!at t!e latter .ept on pressin* to enter t!e order0 =e s!ould bear in mind t!at t!e irst( t!e #ondon 9rand #od*e( was ounded in 1717( and t!at lod*es in t!e continental countries spran* up rom 173, to 17E,0 1t t!at time a new type o Jew was emer*in*( one w!o !ad ac@uired some =estern education and !ad ad-usted !is be!a%ior to con orm to t!e standards accepted amon* *entiles( to t!e e6tent t!at !e now could aspire to ull members!ip in t!eir society0 T!is new Jew irst made !is appearance amon* t!e <ep!ardim o En*land( "olland( and France and a terward amon* t!e 1s!.enazim o all =estern countries0 1 ter t!e 17B,/s !e became a

permanent eature o European social li e as becomes e%ident rom t!e number o Jews w!o .ept .noc.in* at t!e doors o t!e +asonic lod*es0 From t!en onward( t!e stream o entry see.ers lowed incessantly0 1ll t!e e orts to bloc. t!eir admission ailed to deter t!em0 1s a result( stru**les and con licts ensued between t!ose clamorin* or t!e lod*e doors to be opened and t!ose w!o stro%e to .eep t!e doors closed0 1s ar as t!e !istory o t!e relations between Jews and t!e Freemasons is concerned( t!ere can be no doubt /w!ere t!e topic belon*s0 "ere we !a%e an unobser%ed sides!ow o t!e process o Jews becomin* absorbed in European society0 $ne aspect o t!is p!enomenon is t!e desire o Jews to ind a common social ramewor. unitin* t!em wit! non-Jews( usually re erred to as assimilation0 Cor was t!is in trut! t!e unilateral aim o Jews0 Co assimilation can be e ecti%e unless t!e absorbin* body is willin* to assimilate t!e orei*n body0 Andeed( many se*ments o t!e surroundin* society encoura*ed t!e assimilation o Jews( and e6emplary instances o t!is attitude can be ound amon* t!e Freemasons0 4et t!e readiness to accept Jews into European society was not uni%ersal( and e%en Freemasons imposed restrictions( o ten s!owin* distinct reser%e and e%en open !ostility0 T!is aspect o t!e p!enomenon belon*s in t!e cate*ory usually re erred to as social anti-<emitism w!ic!( as is common .nowled*e( consists o many types and %aryin* de*rees o intensity0 An our account o t!e relations between Jews and Freemasons( we s!all encounter %arious orms o reser%ations a*ainst Jews( ran*in* rom outri*!t re-ection( t!e utter re usal to establis! any social contact wit! t!em( to a%oidance o t!em on account o t!e reli*ious attitudes separatin* Jews and )!ristians0 8eli*ious anta*onism produced its e ects( e%en t!ou*! bot! *roups !ad( at t!at time( abandoned t!e do*matic and be!a%ioral patterns o t!eir c!urc!es and con*re*ations0 T!e acceptance o Jews into European society was conditioned by t!e c!an*e in t!eir ci%il status0 're%iously re*arded as orei*ners w!o were *ranted residence pri%ile*es by special decree( Jews !ad now( as a result o t!e emancipation( ac@uired ci%il ri*!ts0 4et suc! ri*!ts were not con erred upon t!em automatically0 An most localities( Jews were orced to en*a*e in a protracted stru**le0 T!ey ac!ie%ed ull citizens!ip step by step( !a%in* to wrest eac! new position in turn0 <urprisin*ly( t!e Jewis! e ort to secure emancipation ran parallel wit! t!e !istory o t!eir relations wit! t!e Freemasons0 At could not by any means !a%e been oreseen t!at met!ods suited to t!e state-an institution w!ic! coerces by t!e aut!ority o law - s!ould also ma.e t!eir appearance wit!in t!e ramewor. o a %oluntary mo%ement( w!ere members!ip in t!e association o a iliated societies was a matter o ree c!oice0 "istorical acts( !owe%er( de y reason( and our description will s!ow t!at t!ere was a close and arreac!in* correspondence between t!e stru**le o t!e Jewis! community to ac@uire ci%il ri*!ts and Jews stri%in* or e@uality amon* t!e Freemasons0 =e can discern t!e initial e6planation or t!is p!enomenon i we .eep t!e nature o t!e +asonic order in mind0 1lt!ou*! t!e association is basically %oluntary( ne%ert!eless its laws and re*ulations are absolutely bindin* upon all its members0 <ince t!e ori*inal constitution !ad laid down t!at in t!e lod*es no man could be discriminated a*ainst on t!e *rounds o !is reli*ion( t!e stri%in* or t!e implementation o t!e rule( w!ere%er it was assailed or %iolated( was ully -usti ied0 $n t!e ot!er !and( t!at t!is principle( permanently recorded in t!e written constitution( could be %iolated( s!ows w!at obstacles lay in t!e pat! o its practical implementation0 An all t!ese respects( t!ere is a close resemblance between +asonic emancipation-a term coined and used by t!e +asons t!emsel%es( in t!eir time-and t!e o%er-all ci%il emancipation0 T!e !istory o +asonic emancipation is a mirror clearly re lectin* t!e problems in!erent in ci%il emancipation0 A we !a%e spo.en o assimilation( anti-<emitism( and emancipation in t!e *eneral community and in t!e +asonic society as mani estin* similarities( we can also spea. o a ourt! p!enomenon in w!ic! a direct( reciprocal in luence was e6erted by bot!0 =e re er !ere to t!e 8e orm mo%ement( w!ic! rose and de%eloped at t!e same time as an e%er-increasin* number o Jews directed t!eir steps toward t!e +asonic lod*es0 1re t!ese two mo%ements( t!en(

connected by some common bond5 Andeed( t!e +asonic lod*es did not merely constitute some mere social ramewor.3 t!ey represented a =eltansc!auun* borderin* on reli*ion0 T!e !umanistic lod*es( w!ic! !ad opened t!e doors to Jews( adopted a uni%ersalistic position( claimin* t!at t!ere was undamentally only one reli*ion common to all man.ind0 T!is %iew coincided to some e6tent wit! t!e tenets o t!e 8e orm mo%ement0 T!e @uestion arises w!et!er some o t!e ad!erents( in word and deed( o t!e mo%ement were not also acti%e in t!e +asonic lod*es0 To t!is @uestion my boo. will *i%e an une@ui%ocal answer0 From w!at A !a%e written so ar( we ind t!at t!e !istory o Jewis!-Freemason relations will lead us into t!e t!ic. o all t!e problems claimin* t!e attention o t!e !istorians o JewryFs recent pastD assimilation( t!e 8e orm mo%ement( emancipation( anti-<emitism0 1 complete literature dealin* wit! t!ese topics !as been produced3 yet( t!eir connection wit! t!e +asonic mo%ement !as !ardly been paid any notice0 T!is curious act may be accounted or by t!e peculiar circumstances a ectin* t!e biblio*rap!y o +asonic literature( a conse@uence o t!e nature o t!e mo%ement itsel 0 <ince t!e lod*es conducted t!eir acti%ities in complete( or semisecrecy( t!eir a airs did not attract t!e attention o researc! sc!olars0 1s or t!e e6istin* !istories o certain( speci ic lod*es( as well as t!e accounts o t!e mo%ement as a w!ole( t!ese were compiled( or t!e most part( by lod*e members w!o alone possessed ree access to t!e rele%ant source material0 +ost o t!ese writers were amateur !istorians0 $nly %ery ew o t!e studies in t!e !istory o t!e mo%ement were written by sc!olars o any competence and in accordance wit! t!e canons o scienti ic( !istorical criticism0 Furt!ermore( li.e ot!er wor.s on +asonry( t!ese !istory boo.s !a%e not been disclosed to t!e scrutiny o ordinary readers0 +ost +asonic wor.s contain t!e note t!at t!ey 2!a%e been publis!ed as manuscripts or bret!ren2 -not or distribution in t!e boo. mar.et( but or circulation amon* t!e members o t!e +asonic lod*es only0 From time to time Freemasons publis!ed wor.s e6plainin* t!e nature o t!e mo%ement( desi*ned or t!e *eneral readin* public0 T!ese writin*s( !owe%er( were apolo*etic in nature( aimin* only to re ute ad%erse criticism0 Bot! t!e attac.s and t!e rebuttals are a%ailable to anyone interested in tracin* t!e !istory o t!e Freemasons0 4et bot! are rat!er dubious sources or t!e construction o an aut!entic !istorical account0 Co wonder t!at most( and especially Jewis!( !istorians !a%e o%erloo.ed t!e problems connected wit! t!e !istory o t!is mo%ement0 =it! t!e e6ception o a small boo. in 8ussian( describin* t!e irst encounters between Jews and Freemasons at t!e end o t!e ei*!teent! and be*innin* o t!e nineteent! century( no boo. on modern Jewis! !istory !as e%er *rappled wit! t!is problem0 T!e same di iculties encountered in t!e past continue to impede researc! to t!is %ery day0 True( t!e compre!ensi%e biblio*rap!y prepared by 1u*ust =ol stie* in 1923( w!ic! alone contains 23(,,, entries( is at t!e disposal o t!e researc! sc!olar0 At !as been enlar*ed by se%eral supplements since t!en0 4et( or t!e reasons mentioned abo%e( t!e wor.s listed in t!e biblio*rap!y !a%e not been placed in public libraries0 E%en t!e lar*est collections( as( or instance( in t!e Berlin <taatsbibliot!e. 7now !oused in +arbur*: or t!e )ornell &ni%ersity #ibrary( are ar rom complete0 T!e person desirous o studyin* any topic in +asonic a airs must o necessity !a%e recourse to t!e +asonic libraries t!emsel%es and t!e arc!i%es o t!e lod*es0 T!ese sources are usually totally barred to non-+asons0 Furt!ermore( in t!e last *eneration t!e @uantity o e6tant +asonic material !as been *reatly reduced( especially in 9ermany0 T!e Cazis con iscated t!e libraries on t!e prete6t t!at t!ey were *oin* to e6pose t!e !istoric trut! !idden in t!ese sources0 T!ey ailed to accomplis! %ery muc!( e%en in t!e carryin* out o t!is desi*n0G An t!e meantime( t!e materials were scattered ar and wide3 no one .nows w!et!er t!ey were destroyed durin* t!e war or !idden away somew!ere0 1 more a%orable situation obtains in France0 T!e 9rand $rient arc!i%e !as been entrusted to t!e Bibliot!e@ue Cationale and is open to readers0 1 number o sc!olarly wor.s on %arious aspects o t!e "istory o t!e Freemasons in France could t!ere ore be written( alt!ou*! in t!at country( e%en now( t!e sub-ect arouses stron* eelin*s between t!e ardent ad!erents and t!e %e!ement opponents o +asonry0 An En*land t!e arc!i%es o t!e 9rand #od*e are still

closed to outsiders0 1mon* t!e Freemasons o t!at country( !owe%er( t!ere are a number o *enuine !istorians( or at least indi%iduals w!o !a%e ac@uired some pro iciency in !istorical researc!0 T!ese members !a%e -oined to*et!er in a sin*le lod*e and t!eir publications approac! proper pro essional standards0 "olland( amon* all t!e countries( pro%ides t!e outstandin* e6ception0 T!e lod*e library located in T!e "a*ue( w!ic! comprises a lar*e collection o boo.s and manuscripts( is open to t!e inspection o sc!olars0 T!is library was con iscated durin* t!e Cazi occupation( but by ar t!e ma-or portion o t!e material was subse@uently reco%ered0 1mon* t!ese items is t!e 2Kloss )ollection(2 t!e le*acy o 9eor*e Kloss 717B7-1BEH: o Fran. urt( one o t!e *reat +asonic !istorians o t!e nineteent! century0 Kloss participated acti%ely in t!e stru**le between t!e !umanistic and )!ristian currents in masonry and collected t!e documents pertainin* to t!e contro%ersy0 )omplete c!apters o t!is boo. are based on materials disco%ered in !is collection3 nor could it !a%e been written alto*et!er !ad not t!e ric! resources o t!e library o t!e 9rand #od*e o "olland been a%ailable0 T!e materials or t!is wor. !a%e been culled rom sources scattered abroad in se%eral countries0 For t!e most part( t!ese materials touc! upon t!e !istory o one particular country( 9ermany0 1lt!ou*! t!e Jews constituted a problem in t!e lod*es o all countries -and we s!all in%esti*ate t!e underlyin*( compellin* causes - now!ere did it reac! suc! a pitc! o intensity or create suc! disturbances as in 9ermany0 An En*land and "olland t!e problem was sol%ed in principle w!en t!e irst candidates applied or admission0 From t!en on t!e @uestion( t!ou*! not disappearin* entirely( only arose at inter%als0 An France( t!e 8e%olution !ad inculcated t!e ideal o e@uality amon* t!e +asons as well( and t!e problem %anis!ed almost entirely0 $n t!e ot!er !and( t!e Jewis! problem claimed t!e attention o t!e 9erman lod*es t!rou*!out t!eir entire e6istence( created wide sc!isms amon* t!em( and at times erupted into ierce( disrupti%e contro%ersy0 T!e ob-ect o t!eir concern was w!et!er Jews were it to be accepted as members( or else admitted as %isitors once t!ey !ad been accepted as +asons elsew!ere0 9eneration a ter *eneration in 9ermany continued to debate t!e @uestion and an entire literature( pro and con( accumulated0 Cow( -ust as t!e 9erman attitude is t!e e6ception amon* t!e countries in Jewis!- +asonic relations( so is it uni@ue( too( in t!e second topic comin* into t!e pur%iew o t!is boo.( t!e spurious Jewis!-+asonic plot0 T!e alle*ation t!at suc! a plot e6isted *ained wide credence in many countries0 4et in none( was t!e belie so widespread or so decisi%ely in luential as in 9ermany0 $nly in t!at country did a mo%ement arise and adopt t!e slo*an 2Jews and Freemasons2 as t!e point o departure in a campai*n to destroy bot!0 T!e !istorian is not -usti ied in pro-ectin* rom t!e present to t!e past0 "ence !e cannot re*ard t!e ate o t!e Freemasons and especially t!e Jews in t!e T!ird 8eic! as an indication o an in!erent wea.ness in t!eir position in earlier times0 =!en t!e !istorian does see. to e6plain later e%ents by t!eir roots in t!e past( !e must irst unco%er t!e roots as t!ey e6isted be ore( and t!en proceed to s!ow t!e causal connection between earlier and later e%ents0 T!e @uestions o !ow suc! e%ents could ta.e place in 9ermany durin* t!e t!irties and orties o t!e twentiet! century( and w!et!er t!ey were conditioned by past 9erman-Jewis! relations will occupy t!e attention o !istorians or many *enerations to come0 Co well-*rounded answer can be *i%en wit!out a prior( meticulous e6amination o t!e relations t!at arose w!en Jews were irst becomin* absorbed in 9erman society0 1pparently t!e !istory o t!ese relations in t!e +asonic mo%ement could pro%ide a not insi*ni icant contribution to t!e understandin* o t!e problem rom two di erent points o approac!0 $n t!e one !and( t!e Jewis! stru**le to *ain entry to t!e +asonic lod*es e6empli ies t!e di iculties encountered by Jews in becomin* absorbed in 9ermany( as compared wit! t!e rest o =estern society0 $n t!e ot!er !and( a similar( t!ou*! not identical( ate su ered by Freemasons in t!e T!ird 8eic! s!ows t!at !ere a pro ound re%olution trans ormed 9erman society itsel ( to t!e e6tent t!at

w!eels o ortune turned on a *roup li.e t!e Freemasons w!ic! !ad been !ostile to Jews( and now t!e +asons were attac.ed and( in *reat measure( crus!ed alon* wit! t!e Jews0 T!e abundance o topics touc!ed by t!e sub-ect o t!is boo. re@uires a care ul balancin* o t!e material so as to a%oid t!e omission( as ar as possible( o rele%ant details( and yet permit t!e establis!in* o certain *eneralizations0 +y presentation is c!ronolo*ical0 An t!e end( !owe%er( we s!all !a%e to return( sum up our indin*s( and place t!em in proper perspecti%e( and at t!e same time analyze t!eir !istorical si*ni icance0 A s!all irst present t!e problem arisin* rom t!e con rontation o Jews and Freemasons0 =e !a%e already establis!ed t!at t!e emer*ence o t!e Freemasons and t!e entry o Jews into European society too. place almost simultaneously0 T!e @uestion is w!et!er t!is was a pure coincidence o discrete social e%ents( or w!et!er t!e two processes were in some way connected0 T!e two e%ents-t!e oundin* o a new society( a community o lod*es3 and t!e acceptance o a re-ected *roup( namely Jews-are t!e symptoms o t!e *rowin* trans ormation o t!e old European society0 T!e mind o ei*!teent!-century man could no lon*er ac@uiesce in t!e ri*id di%ision o society into estates0 <imilarly( to e%aluate man by re erence to !is ori*in or reli*ion seemed absurd0 Ei*!teent!-century man( t!ere ore( proceeded to ound lod*es open to members o all *roups0 T!e indi%idual Jew-or t!e Jewis! *roup-!ad now ac@uired a new de ender( and was !ere and t!ere e%en welcomed into t!e surroundin* society0 T!ese de%elopments were not mere ortuitous e%ents0 T!ey were lo*ically -usti ied by t!e principle w!ic! !olds( as its main t!eme t!at man is to be -ud*ed by !is indi%idual wort! and not by t!e social collecti%e to w!ic! !e belon*s0 T!is appraisal o a person in accordance wit! !is indi%idual( !uman c!aracteristics is t!e point o ori*in or t!e establis!ment o uni%ersal rules %alid or e%ery man as man0 T!e principle o uni%ersality was t!e -usti ication or most o t!e social trans ormations o t!e ei*!teent! century( amon* t!em t!e oundin* o t!e +asonic lod*es and t!e openin* to Jews o t!e doors o European society0 "ad t!e principle o uni%ersality been applied wit! complete consistency( Jews would !a%e been *ranted ree access to all sectors o society and abo%e all to t!e +asonic lod*es0 An reality( t!e doctrine only pro%ided Jews wit! t!e opportunity to demand t!e practical implementation o a principal accepted by all in t!eory0 T!e narrati%e o t!is boo. will s!ow !ow ormidable were t!e obstacles obstructin* t!e attainment o t!is *oal0 T!e sur%i%al power o preconcei%ed ideas and t!e burden o t!e reli*ious !erita*e o t!e recent and distant past( and on t!e part o bot! )!ristian and Jew( combined to impede t!e ul illment o t!e principle0 T!e .ey to understandin* t!e subse@uent e%ents lies in t!e act t!at e%en in t!e a*e w!en t!e doctrine o uni%ersality recei%ed *eneral assent it was not con%erted into a practical *uideline or public conduct0 T!e c!aracteristic eature o t!e latest period-t!e topic o my inal c!apter-is t!e retro*ression occurrin* on t!e plane o social reality and( e%en more so( on t!e ideolo*ical plane( An 9ermany t!e direction was re%ersed and e%en suc! lod*es as !ad pre%iously admitted Jews now barred t!em0 Jews w!o !ad considered t!emsel%es socially inte*rated were t!rust bac. into t!eir own con ines0 )onditions were di erent in France0 T!ere t!e +asonic mo%ement maintained its alle*iance to t!e ideal o uni%ersality0 Co barriers were erected in t!e way o Jews see.in* to enter t!e lod*es0 4et a directional c!an*e occurred in bot! countries0 An t!e broad stretc!es o public li e( a !alt was called to t!e pro*ress o t!e ideal o absolute uni%ersality0 "ere and t!ere its %alidity( by %irtue o w!ic! Jews were( at least ormally( inte*rated into t!e community( was now c!allen*ed0 An France( as in 9ermany( demands to abolis! t!e emancipation o Jews and to abandon its underlyin* principle o uni%ersality made t!emsel%es !eard0 =it!in t!is conte6t( !owe%er( Jewis!-Freemason relations di ered in bot! countries0 T!e Freemasons in 9ermany were di%ided amon* t!emsel%es3 t!ere were t!e proponents and opponents o t!e principle o uni%ersality0 An France( by contrast( Freemasons ormed a united ront in a%or o absolute uni%ersality0 T!ere( clearly( t!e +asons stood

to*et!er on t!e side o t!e Jews0 T!is is t!e bac.*round( t!en( or t!e cry( 2Jews and Freemasons02 An tracin* its rise we will be concerned wit! t!e conscious e6ploitation o a political instrument0 A ( in t!e irst part o t!e boo.( attention is concentrated on w!at transpired between Jews and Freemasons inside t!e lod*es( our attention( in t!e last section( will be directed outward to t!e public( political arena w!ere t!e sub-ect o Jews and Freemasons !ad been dra**ed by t!e propa*andist/s brutal !and0

2hapter * Early Encounters asonic literature de#otes considerable attention to the history of the mo#ement! "ere legend, wild speculation, and serious historical studies are mi1ed indiscriminately, The asonic e1positors were interested in tracing the mo#ement back to some genealogical tree rooted in the human past! They attached their mo#ement to similar groups, like the Templars, which had emerged in the iddle 8ges, or e#en ascribed its beginnings to anti&uity, to early /iblical times$ 4ing 9olomon, the builder of the Temple and "iram, 4ing of Tyre, who assisted in its construction, became central figures in asonic history! :et factual historical considerations as well ga#e rise to numerous discussions and in#estigations! 8fter all, the Freemasons did not constitute the first e1clusi#e society e#er to be formed$ societies, more or less secret, beginning with the craft guilds and ending with the 8lchemists, Theosophists, and ;osicrucians in the se#enteenth century had preceded them! -hether the Freemasons were no more than a #ariation of these groups was a &uestion that could &uite seriously be asked! The answers, howe#er, were not always based on serious research or factual studies, but stemmed instead from indi#idual preferences for a particular point of #iew! 9ome attempted to blacken the mo#ement by associating it with former groups like the 8lchemists or Theosophists! The Freemasons themsel#es were interested at times in disco#ering or in#enting some ties binding them to guilds pre#iously e1isting in their own country, thereby demonstrating that the mo#ement was a local outgrowth, French or German as the case might be, and not a transplant from a foreign country, namely England! "istorically, the truth is that the mo#ement did originate in England, the year '6'6, from which the annals of the Freemasons are normally counted, being particularly significant! <b#iously certain noteworthy e#ents had occurred prior to that date, e#ents which were the precursors of what took place in that year! .ong before them, craftsmen in the building as in other trades had banded together to promote higher standards of workmanship and to protect their common interests! 8t the same time, these associations or lodges ser#ed as the framework for the culti#ation of social relations, education, and discipline which were not without some spiritual significance! These masons were di#ided into three classes or degrees= apprentices, fellow-crafts, and masters! Their respecti#e rights and obligations were defined by the constitutions of their societies ! embers of the same class would assist one another, and be recogni5ed by one another through certain secret signs and passwords! "ere and there, too, opportunities presented themsel#es for spiritual and religious edification by the transmission of specific traditions, legends, and concepts and by the obser#ance of ceremonies on certain, appointed occasions! %n the se#enteenth century e#ents occurred which decisi#ely influenced the history of these guilds! 8ttracted by the side benefits of the associations, indi#iduals who were not craftsmen sought and gained admission to the guilds! These new members were accorded a special designation= speculati#e, as distinct from the regular or operati#e asons! 8pparently circumstances inherent in the technological or economic history of England, but which are not &uite clear to us, influenced the guilds progressi#ely to reduce their professional functions and benefits to the e1tent that the speculati#e asons outnumbered and finally completely displaced the operati#e asons!

Then, in '6'6, the four lodges of .ondon met together and elected an o#er-all e1ecuti#e, known as the Grand .odge, 8ll four had pre#iously di#ested themsel#es of any professional character and had become Freemason lodges in the later denotation of the term! >ignitaries of the city of .ondon, including clergy and noblemen, were among the members, The aster of Grand .odge was John, >uke of ontague, and he appointed, four years later, the ;e#! James 8nderson to frame a new, asonic constitution which would become binding upon all the lodges, This work was completed in '6*+ and the results were published in the same year! The e1istence of a printed constitution ratified by the Grand .odge of .ondon induced other lodges to accept its rules, and new lodges, conforming to these by-laws, were established first in England and! during the thirties and forties, in continental countries as well! The Grand .odge of .ondon was recogni5ed as the body empowered to authori5e new lodges, %t was referred to as the other .odge$ those founded under its auspices, as daughter lodges! %n the course of time, Grand .odges were established in other countries as well! <ccasionally se#eral Grand .odges e1isted side by side, each granting independent authori5ation to indi#idual daughter lodges! The constitution compiled by 8nderson was not entirely in#ented by him and the colleagues collaborating with him! uch of what had been incorporated in it was part of the tradition preser#ed in the lodges, and this tradition, in turn, was permeated with 2hristian concepts and symbols! 9o, for instance, June *?, John the /aptist@s day, was appointed a asonic holiday on which the members were to assemble, perform certain rites, and partake of a common mea'! Ae#ertheless, the influence of ideas current in England at the time is perceptible, and this is clearly e#ident in the opening paragraph, BThe First 2harge,C where the relation of the Freemason to God and religion is defined! 9ince the contro#ersy on whether Jews were or were not fit to become Freemasons later hinged on this clause, its te1t should be e1amined! %! 2oncerning G<> and ;E.%G%<A! 8 ason is obliged by his Tenure, to obey the moral .aw= and if he rightly understands the 8rt, he will ne#er be a stupid 8theist, nor an irreligious .ibertine! /ut though in ancient Times asons were charg@d in e#ery 2ountry to be of the ;eligion of that country or Aation, whate#er it was, yet itDs now thought more e1pedient only to oblige them to that religion in which all en agree, lea#ing their particular opinions to themsel#es$ That is, to be good en and true, <r en of "onour and "onesty, by whate#er >enominations or Persuasions they may be distinguished$ whereby asonry becomes the 2enter of ,nion, and the eans of conciliating true Friendship among Persons that must ha#e remainDd at a perpetual >istance! 8t first sight, this paragraph appears to place Freemasonry beyond the confines of any particular, positi#e religion! The moral law based on the Ereligion in which all en agreeE was to be the sole condition determining the worthiness of any indi#idual to become a Freemason! 9uch a formulation rests upon the premise that belief in God is the natural heritage of e#ery man and is a sufficient guarantee of his obedience to the moral law! "ere we find oursel#es within the atmosphere of eighteenth-century deism which adopted an attitude of indifference to the particular, historical religion claiming the allegiance of any specific indi#idua'! The author of the constitution assumed that Freemasons had belonged to #arious religions in the past, and so Freemasons could belong to any religion, including the Jewish, at present as well! This last conclusion is a logical conse&uence of the wording of the paragraph! :et there is no e1plicit proof, or e#en an allusion, in the words of the author that he had such an idea in mind at the time of writing! "is purpose was to transcend the indi#idual differences of the 8nglo-2hristian sects= 8nglicans, 2atholics, and Puritans, and their #arious denominations! "e wanted them to join together in a single association which would o#erlook indi#idual dogmas and rites! "ence his formulation was couched in the terminology current in deistic thinking which claimed that not only the 2hristian denominations, but all religions, possessed a common foundation! 8t that time Jews had been li#ing in England for the past two generations! Their numbers were small and they li#ed as recently arri#ed immigrants on the fringe of /ritish society! :et, e#en if some of them did aspire to become integrated in English society, it must not be assumed that an e1clusi#e group like the Freemasons regarded Jews as constituting a problem which re&uired the wording of the constitution

to be adjusted to accommodate them! That certain doubts did arise concerning the deistic basis of the constitution is e#ident from the amended #ersion of the second edition published in '6+F! % shall &uote the sentences in which the original formulation has been changed= 8 ason is obliged by his Tenure to obser#e the oral .aw as a true Aoachide G %n ancient Times the 2hristian asons were charged to comply with the 2hristian ,sages of each 2ountry where they tra#ellDd or workDd= /ut asonry being found in all Aations, e#en of di#erse ;eligions, they are now only charged to adhere to that ;eligion in which all en agree Hlea#ing each /rother to his own particular <pinionsI that is, to be Good en and True en of "onour and "onesty, by whate#er names, ;eligions or Persuasions they may be distinguished= For they all agree in the + great 8rticles of Aoah, enough to preser#e the 2ement of the .odge! The E;eligion of that countryE is now replaced by Bthe 2hristian ,sages of each 2ountryC with which 2hristian asons had been obliged to comply in the past! :et e#en this second formulation assumes the e1istence of non-2hristian asonic lodges! The author regards the adherents of all religions as being subject to the moral law but, in the later #ersions, these religions are held to subscribe to a common concept= the three Bgreat 8rticles of Aoah!C The author responsible for the wording of the constitutions of '6+F wrote as if the concept, BAoachideC and the Bgreat 8rticles of Aoah,C were uni#ersally known! 8s the learned opponents of the asons in the nineteenth century pointed out, howe#er, these terms were culled from John 9eldenDs >e jure naturali et gentium ju1ta disciplinam Ebraeorum, which had described the se#en Aoachide laws as part of the ancient Jewish legal heritage! 2hristian tradition had ne#er known of any such concept as Aoachide commandments! %t was, howe#er, current in Talmudic and medie#al Judaism as the grounds for tolerance toward such gentiles as Jews considered deser#ing of respect! %f a prior re#elation had occurred in the time of Aoah and this re#elation was #ouchsafed to all mankind, then all who acknowledged and obeyed the commandments gi#en at the time would attain sal#ation! 2hristianity lacked a principle of this nature and so found difficulty in according any positi#e religious status to those beyond its pale! The introduction of this concept, culled from ancient Jewish jurisprudence, into European thought by identifying it with the law of nature pro#ided non-Jewish thinkers with an intellectual instrument which allowed them to justify toleration without abandoning their belief in di#ine re#elation! "ere is the train of thought behind the amended te1t of the asonic constitutions! Far remo#ed as these constitutions were from any intention of making pro#ision for Jews, they ne#ertheless, consciously or unconsciously, absorbed some traces of Jewish teaching! The amended formulation pro#ided the basis for the German #ersion prepared in '6?'! <n the other hand, the later English editions of the constitutions restored the original te1t, which was based on pure, formal, deistic foundations and was no longer tied to any particular, theological concepts! 8s has been stated, there is no reason to assume that the authors of the English constitutions intended, in their uni#ersal tolerance, to pro#ide for Jewish candidates in the flesh! :et, when such candidates did apply for admission, the principle was followed in practice! The first instance of a Jew@s being admitted to a asonic lodge took place, as far as we know, in '6+*! <ne, Edward ;ose, was initiated into the .ondon lodge in the presence of Jews and non-Jews! This e#ent was a no#elty and e1cited attention! 9oon afterward the lodges began debating the propriety or otherwise of admitting this Jew! That the final decision was not unfa#orable is conclusi#ely pro#ed by the fact that Jews in significant numbers were admitted to membership in the ensuing years! <b#iously Jewish names are found among the participants in the affairs of the Grand .odge of .ondon e#en before '6?7, and se#eral of these indi#iduals rose to high office! <ne, 8llegri by name, declared before a lodge in Frankfurt that he had been initiated in .ondon as early as in '6+J! %n '6J( a petition was presented to the same Grand .odge asking that authori5ation be granted to a new lodge$ about half of the twenty-three signatures on the petition seem to ha#e been Jewish names! %t is e#ident that at least some of these Jews sought to retain their own religious principles within the framework of the lodges! %n '6J) an anthology of asonic prayers appeared in print, among

them one to be recited Bat the opening of the lodge meeting and the like for the use of Jewish Freemasons,C while the other prayers were addressed to the Father, the 9on, and the "oly Ghost, the Jewish prayers contained nothing at #ariance with the Jewish tradition! oses is referred to here as the aster of a .odge in his time, teaching the Torah to 8aron, his sons, and the elders-an allusion to a Talmudic passage! 2learly the prayer was composed by a Jew! The title page of the book containing the prayer offers the information that this prayer was intended for the use of EJewish lodges!E This would indicate that the number of Jewish asons had increased so greatly that they had already formed a lodge of their own by that date! 8nother source re#eals the e1istence of a Jewish lodge some ten years later! <ne of the first countries where the asonic mo#ement gained a foothold and then spread was "olland! There the local lodges followed /ritish leadership and adopted the same attitude toward Jews as had pre#ailed in England! %n principle, the lodges were open to Jews, and Jewish members were accepted in practice! 9ome e#idence, by no means sufficiently clear and belonging to a later date, seems to indicate that a Jewish lodge did e1ist in "olland! The earliest Jewish Freemasons in both "olland and England were 9ephardim! The participants in the Grand .odge of .ondon, mentioned abo#e, included the ende5, >e edina, >e 2osta, 8l#ares, and /aruch Hthe last named may possibly ha#e been an 8shkena5iI families! 8mong the petitioners of '6J(, such names appear as Jacub oses, .a5ars .e#y, and Jacub 8rons, all of whom may ha#e been 8shkena5im! -e know the e1act te1t of a membership certificate, dated '6J), of a Jew, Emanuel "arris, a nati#e of "alle, Germany, who had changed his name from enachem endel -olff! The te1t of this certificate was published in '6)( by the research scholar <lof Gerhard Tychsen, who mentioned as a commonlyD known fact that in England, as contrasted with Germany, Jews were admitted to the asonic lodges as a matter of course! Tychsen was e#en able to relate that one of the affiliates of the Grand .odge of .ondon was referred to as EThe Jewish .odgeE on account of the composition of its membership! The admission of Jews into the lodges of England and "olland is a sign that tensions between Jews and their surrounding en#ironment, at least for some segments of both populations, were abating! ;ational principles had not entirely eliminated the 2hristian elements in asonry, but had so tempered e1tremism that the brethren were now ready and accustomed to allowing Jews to mi1 in their company! Aaturally, Jews also were affected by similar processes! Participants in the predominantly 2hristian lodges and especially those who shared in the common meals were forced to make compromises at the e1pense of their Jewish traditions! They were able to justify their beha#ior as conforming to the mood pre#ailing among the 2hristians-and this was one of the main forces impelling the spread of asonry-the feeling that the specific precepts of a particular religion did not constitute its significant feature, nor its ideological content its e1clusi#e possession! embership in a asonic lodge, on the other hand, offered great ad#antages! %t was surely worthwhile to belong to an association composed of prominent members of society! /elonging in their company would enhance oneDs prestige, and sometimes e#en confer tangible benefits! %t afforded opportunities to be introduced to, and establish contact with, circles which Jews could ne#er otherwise ha#e reached! embership was especially desirable for those whose business affairs took them to other cities and e#en abroad, -here#er the ason might happen to be, his membership in one lodge opened the doors of all the others to him! These social considerations must certainly ha#e contributed to the spread of Freemasonry throughout Europe! 8nd all these incenti#es were especially attracti#e to Jews! Ae#ertheless, the e1istence of separate Jewish lodges indicates some hesitancy which presumably was felt on both sides! The e1istence of a principle as such that admission should not be denied to Jews did not guarantee that no restraints would be imposed in practice! The application of any candidate for admission had to be #oted on by the members of the particular lodge, and they enjoyed the right to reject his application without stating any reason for their action! 8n indi#idualDs Jewishness could concei#ably ha#e pro#ided the prete1t for his rejection without any objection being raised in principle against Jews as such! %t is difficult to belie#e that French and >utch

asons always stood abo#e the pre#ailing anti-Jewish prejudices, and not in respect of religion alone! -e do find that a lodge in .ondon decided in '6(+ not to allow the recommendation at any Jew for membership since there was no possibility of his being accepted! -e also learn of an e1plicit complaint emanating from "olland at the beginning of the nineteenth century against antijewish discrimination in the admission practices of certain lodges! 8lleged or real discrimination, howe#er, did not imply that complete rejection or discrimination was enforced! %n principle, the /ritish and >utch lodges still remained open to Jews as the occasion re&uired! 8 sudden change turned the de#elopment of the asonic mo#ement in France in a new direction! There, too, the first lodges founded in the '6+7Ds followed the English e1ample, and as long as they adhered to original asonic conceptions they could not cast any doubt upon the acceptability of Jews as members! -ithin the first generation of the penetration of Freemasonry into that country, howe#er, a new attitude became e#ident in France, one which sought to find the basis of asonic ideology in 2hristian foundations! The upholders of this #iew tried to trace the genealogical roots of Freemasonry back to the medie#al 2hristian orders, and argued that the lodges were only a reincarnation of the 4nights of 9aint John of crusader times! 8 new, 2hristian element was introduced into asonry, and a new rule stated that only 2hristians were worthy of being brethren in the lodges! %n '6?*, a book entitled 8pologie pour l@ordre des Franc- acons appeared! <ne of its paragraphs asserts= EThe order is open to 2hristians only! %t is neither possible nor permissible to accept any person outside the 2hristian church as a Freemason! "ence Jews, oslems and pagans are e1cluded as nonbelie#ers! The constitution of the Grand .odge of France, which was ratified in '6JJ, contained an e1plicit passage which made baptism a prere&uisite for membership! This identification of Freemasonry with the 2hristian faith emerged from a group which owed allegiance both to Freemasonry and the 2hurch, and sought to affect some compromise between them! The #ery title, 8pologie, indicates the point of departure of the book$ its underlying moti#e was the need of Freemasons to defend themsel#es against the charges le#eled at them by churchmen! %n fact, from the #ery inception of the mo#ement, Freemasons had been subjected to se#ere attacks! They were suspected of harboring intentions to sub#ert the foundations of the 2hurch! The neutrality of their first constitution to the patterns of positi#e religion, e#en if this was interpreted as indifference to the #ariations of dogma and modes of worship, was sufficient of itself to pro#oke antagonism, especially by the 2atholic 2hurch! Aor was the reaction slow in coming= on 8pril *F, '6+F, Pope 2lemens Kl% issued his bull against the Freemasons! Their principal transgression was their willingness to accept members of all religions and sects, and their adoption of Enatural righteousnessE as a substitute for the true faith! The 2hurch regarded the banding together of a group in membership based on pyre humanistic principles as threatening to remo#e the indi#idual 2atholic from the sphere of %nfluence of his 2hurch! "ence it forbade its adherents to join the association under pain of e1communication! %f the abo#e-mentioned 8pologie, which appeared four years later, was not actually a direct reply to the Papal bull, it did at least answer the arguments presented in that document! The bookDs emphasis on the 2hristian character of Freemasonry was intended to dull the edge of the contention that the asons were drawn from di#erse religions! <n the contrary, the mo#ement was declared to be e1clusi#ely 2hristian! Jews being non-2hristians, it was possibly on these, not on personal, grounds that they were denied admission! %t is difficult to concei#e that Jews should ha#e constituted any real problem in France at the time with regard to Freemasonry-any more than could oslems or pagans! %t may be assumed that the three religions were declared unacceptable only to emphasi5e the 2hristian character of the brotherhood! E#en during the succeeding decades we hear nothing about Jews struggling to enter, or of efforts to bar them from entering, asonic lodges! %nstead Dwe find one source upholding the 2hristian character of the mo#ement and at the same time declaring Jews acceptable in e1ceptional cases! asons were obliged, at least, to be Efamiliar with the sacred mysteries of the 2hristian faithDE E<nly as an e1ception, as an e1pression of deference to the <ld Testament, is a Jew able, on rare occasions, to take part in it!E These obser#ations appeared in the

first asonic Eencyclopedia to be published in France in '6)) and con#ey the impression of being an attempt to justify the fact-infre&uently as the phenomenon may ha#e occurred-of Jewish membership in the lodges, a fact which was in conflict with the basic principles of Freemasonry, as it was now interpreted in France! The &uestion of Jewish acceptability assumed much more serious proportions in Germany! %ts cities, at least some of the larger centers, had larger Jewish populations than the English or French Hthough not as large as the >utchI! "ad many Jews begun all at once to knock on the gates of the lodges, then granting them membership would ha#e constituted a gra#e problem for the asons! This did happen at a later date, as we shall see in due course, when the process of social change had massproduced a type of Jew who sought to enter 2hristian or Judeo-2hristian society! :et during the first decades of the widespread emergence of asonic lodges in Germany Hthat is, until the '667DsI, German Jews were, with few e1ceptions, too securely tied to and concentrated within their own society and culture! -e hear of three Jews #isiting one of the "amburg lodges in '6?(, that is to say, they came armed with membership certificates ac&uired elsewhere and were permitted to take part in the proceedings of the lodge! They were BPortuguese Jews,C presumably belonging to lodges in England or "olland, like those cases referred to earlier! -e must, howe#er, re#ert to those instances since they afford an indication of the infre&uency of such occurrences! That same 8llegri, who claimed to ha#e been admitted to membership in .ondon in '6+J, spent some time in Germany in the si1ties! "e recounted that he had #isited lodges in annheim and other German cities, but had refrained from doing so in Frankfurt because of the Eprejudices of the German Jews!E 9imilarly, <! G! Tychsen noted in '6)( that the few Jews who had become Freemasons were constrained to hide the fact from their coreligionists for fear of being branded as Eheretics!E "e likewise remarked that, when the Jewish Freemason who had printed his certificate passed through his city of /Lt5ow, his religiosity was &uestioned by local Jews! "is asonic affiliation had rendered him suspect in their eyes! 8pparently, in the si1ties, membership in the mo#ement Dwas still regarded as a breach of the Jewish faith, and this fact is both the reason for, as well as an indication of, the rarity of the phenomenon! %t may reasonably be assumed that Jewish candidates for admission to the mo#ement appeared more fre&uently in Germany than in France! :et no need had arisen as yet to treat them differently there than in France! The German mo#ement had also stemmed from English roots$ 8ndersonDs constitutions had been translated into German in '6?+ and this #ersion was reprinted se#eral times thereafter! 8n appendi1 had been added to the by-laws, but this was nothing more than a German translation of the French 8pologie! The two documents, as we ha#e seen, di#erged from one another in their aims, and were in direct contradiction in their respecti#e attitudes to the candidateDs loyalty to a particular religion! %n its original, English #ersion the constitutions had laid down that adherence to any particular positi#e religion was a matter of no conse&uence! :et the supplement asserted that adherence to the 2hristian religion was an essential precondition for membership! The incompatibility of the two statements now brought together in the same #olume did not escape the notice of some of the members! Ae#ertheless, in those times the problem did not loom so large as to re&uire an authoritati#e and decisi#e solution, as Jews were only admitted here and there into asonic membership! -ith the passage of time, howe#er, the tendency grew increasingly stronger to regard Freemasonry as a 2hristian institution where a Jew had no business to be found! The oldest and the pre-eminent /erlin lodge was the Grosse Aational- utterloge 5u den drei -eltkugeln! Together with the Grosse .andesloge #an >eutschland, it later waged a bitter and unrelenting struggle to bar the entry of Jews! 8t first, howe#er, no definite policy was adopted! <n February 6, '6)+, the application of a Jew, /ruck by name, was considered and rejected! %n spite ofor perhaps on account of-his offer to pay '77 guilders to the lodge treasury, some blemish in his character or conduct was disco#ered! "is Jewishness was not held to dis&ualify him! The by-laws which were adopted three years later set down the same &ualifications for membership stipulated in the French 8pologie= E<nly a 2hristian is eligible for membership in our respectable MehrwurdigenN order, but on no account Jews, oslems, or pagans! .odges which ha#e admitted any of these to

their community ha#e thereby clearly pro#ed that they ha#e no knowledge of the nature of the Freemasons!E The last sentence is polemical in tone and is directed against those lodges who had shown leniency in practice and had admitted Jews! 8ctually % ha#e e#idence that the ;oyal :ork, the lodge competing in /erlin with the utterloge, accepted a Jew a year later! "is name was oses Tobias, and the minutes we ha#e report his initiation, noting that the candidate swore his asonic oath on the Pentateuch! This precise designation was ob#iously meant to e1clude the Aew Testament, the book used for this purpose at the initiation of gentile candidates! Tobias, who subse&uently left /erlin, was presented with his membership certificate by the ;oyal :ork as late as in June '66? with the e1press appro#al of the other other .odge, the .andesloge, with which it had been connected for some time! %n the course of time, the ;oyal :ork too succumbed to the pre#ailing anti-Jewish pressure, e#en though in theory it still maintained the principle of Jewish acceptability! %n %6F? its Essingen affiliate in&uired of the leaders of the /erlin lodge whether it was permissible to grant entry to wealthy Jews as members, in the same way as they were being admitted in England! The /erlin lodge replied that it was true that Jews from England bearing membership cards had made their appearance at inter#als, for indeed there were Jews worthy to be admitted to all lodges, were it not for the prejudice against Jews in general which was not entirely baseless! The ad#ice offered to the in&uirers was that the Jewish applicants should be most carefully scrutini5ed and that, in any e#ent, appropriate initiation fees should be le#ied on them! 8nother precondition for the admission of Jews was that they be clean-sha#en! There were similar di#isions of opinion in Frankfurt and #icinity at that #ery time! 8 lodge founded in 4assel applied for authori5ation to the 0ur Einigkeit lodge in Frankfurt! -hich, in turn, acted on behalf of the Grand .odge of .ondon! <ne of the signatories to the application was a Jew-a clear indication that his townsmen found him worthy to mi1 in their company! "is name, howe#er, pro#ided the Frankfurt lodge Dwith the prete1t to deny the lodge the authori5ation it sought! Two Jews, /aruch and Tonsica, were admitted to membership in a -inkel'oge Hone not officially recogni5ed by the other .odgeI in '6JF! -hen this lodge finally recei#ed its authori5ation, the Jews were forced to resign! These e1amples reflect the state of affairs that came into being and continued until the '6F7Ds, 8 description written by one of the leading German asons sums up the e#ents of those years! The author, Johann 8ugust 9track, compiled this apologetic work in '667 and republished it in an enlarged edition in '66F! ;eplying to the accusation of indifference on the part of the asons to the 2hristian faith, 9track repeated the answer already ad#anced in the French 8pologie= that asons adhere to the 2hristian religion is attested to by the fact that no member of any other faith, be he Jew, oslem, or pagan, is accepted by them! E8nd e#en if e1amples are cited of Jews who were Freemasons, no responsibility de#ol#es on us! %t should fall instead upon those spurious MunachteN lodges which ha#e, at times, formed such unnatural connections! %t is essentially impossible for any persons other than 2hristians to be Freemasons!E Those lodges, then, which sought to represent the main or official outlook of Freemasonry e1pressed their uni&ueness by emphasi5ing their 2hristian e1clusi#eness! E#idence to this effect is found in the contemporaneous asonic classic, .essingDs Ernst und Falk H'66F-'6F7I, whose contents will be e1amined in some detail further on! E8llow enlightened Jews to come and seek admissionOE The author aims this challenge at the Freemasons! "e himself formulates the answer= E8 JewO The Freemason is at least obliged to be a 2hristian=C Jews stri#ing for admission were forced to content themsel#es with membership in one of the nonauthori5ed lodges, which by their #ery nature ne#er ac&uired more than a marginal and doubtful status by the side of the central and Grand .odges! %n the same period Jews aspiring to asonic membership occupied a marginal status in their own community! The Jewish names listed in the asonic rosters of those days are not known to us from any other source! -e must assume that, if they were not doubtful and unprincipled characters, like some mentioned before, they were at least uncon#entional persons who were an1ious to find their way indi#idually into the non-Jewish world! 9ocially, the #ast majority of Jews were at this stage certainly confined within their own community! :et, by the se#enties at the latest, a circle of

enlightened Jews becomes discernible, concentrated especially round oses endelssohn, a group of peop'e who looked longingly for some social and intellectual contact with the surrounding society! The asonic lodges, howe#er, hardly seemed to suggest themsel#es as the suitable and effecti#e instrument for social integration! endelssohn was somewhat critical of his friend .essingDs membership in the asonic mo#ement! %t is related that endelssohn taunted his friend, whether seriously or in jest, about the secrets he had unlocked as a result of the re#elations #ouchsafed to him as a ason! EFrom our earliest youth, we ha#e been seeking for the truth! From the beginning of our ac&uaintance, we ha#e searched together Dwith all the effort and earnestness such a search fittingly re&uires! :et, is it now possible that truths e1ist which .essing has solemnly sworn not to di#ulge to the person who has been his faithful friend for these twenty-fi#e yearsOE 8pparently endelssohn resented his friendDs presuming, as a Freemason, to possess certain knowledge which he was not permitted to share with one who had been his faithful ally in the #ery search for truth! %n his Dwritten remarks on .essingDs Ernst und Falk, endelssohn dealt with the more serious issue of principle! The book itself is apologetic and consists of the con#ersations of the two friends whose names form its title! "ere Freemasonry is presented, at times, as the area where uni#ersal brotherhood in all its purity is aspired to in theory$ and at others, as it e1ists in reality, as an association of persons belonging to a specific class and religion, as a society protected against intrusion from without and embroiled within, and as a group the members of which are more interested in satisfying their mystic curiosity and cra#ing for a'chemistic ad#enture rather than in culti#ating human perfection! :et, despite .essingDs inclusion of such criticisms in his work, his intention was, understandably, to judge Freemasonry by its lofty ideals and not as it e1isted in practice! endelssohn accordingly pointed out that here .essing resembled the modern /erlin theologians, and all the criticism le#eled at them applied to him as wel'! The implication of the analogy was apparently that Freemasonry was similar to rational theology, in proclaiming uni#ersal principles without following them in practice! -hether endelssohnDs criti&ue was e1pressing the resentment of the Jew at ha#ing been e1cluded from the asonic association is not clear! "is philosophical detachment kept him from aspiring to goals beyond his reach! %n any e#ent, he remained outside, while all his friends belonged - as did anyone who had made a name for himself in the intellectual world P to some asonic lodge or other! -hate#er moti#es may ha#e inspired endelssohn were uni&ue to him and could not furnish any e1ample for the many in the succeeding generations!

2hapter %%%! The <rder of the 8siatic /rethren T!e *eneration *rowin* up in t!e s!adow o +endelsso!n accepted !is ideal o t!e remo%al o all barriers separatin* Jews rom )!ristians( but did not in!erit !is %irtues o patience and moderation0 "is disciples and ollowers desired to attain in practice w!at t!ey !ad been tau*!t to belie%e in( and sou*!t to !asten t!e process o absorption into t!e cells o t!eir social en%ironment-and !ere t!e +asonic cells were !eld to be o basic importance0 1lt!ou*! t!ese indi%iduals were unable to crus! t!e opposition( t!ey would support e%ery e ort on t!e part o t!e Freemasons to create new ramewor.s w!ere t!e principle o e@uality o Jews and nonJews would be up!eld0 T!ree or our suc! attempts too. place around t!e end o +endelsso!n/s li etime 717BG:( t!e period o t!e enactment o t!e irst laws aimed at t!e remo%al o ci%il disabilities rom Jews and o t!e irst a*itation or t!e inte*ration o Jews into t!e *eneral society0 T!e initial attempt led to t!e larin* up o t!e irst contro%ersy o%er t!e acceptance o Jews in +asonic lod*es0 T!e earliest attempt to ound a +asonic order wit! t!e a%owed purpose o acceptin* bot! Jews and )!ristians in its ran.s was t!e ormation o t!e $rder o t!e 1siatic Bret!ren or( to *i%e it its ull name( >ie BrIder <t0 Jo!annes des E%an*elisten aus 1sien in Europa0 =e are

ully amiliar wit! t!e !istory o t!is society w!ic! was more important t!an all t!e ot!ers because o t!e scope o its acti%ities and its in luence0 Founded in Jienna in 17B,-B1( its central i*ure and promoter was "ans "einric! %on Ec.er und Ec.!o en( o Ba%arian e6traction0 "e and !is youn*er brot!er "ans )arl 7w!om we s!all meet a*ain: !ad be!ind t!em a ric! past in t!e !istory o t!e +asonic societies in 9ermany0 T!e Ec.ers were o t!e type o aristocrats w!o !ad lost t!eir property and ore eited t!e economic support o t!eir class0 4et( because o t!eir illustrious name( t!eir amily connections( and t!eir con ident bearin* t!ey !ad succeeded( at least outwardly( in preser%in* t!eir associations wit! t!e rulin* classes0 T!ey were not at all discriminatin* in t!eir c!oice o occupation-so lon* as it allowed t!em to maintain t!eir standard o li%in*0 T!is could best be ac!ie%ed t!rou*! association wit! t!ose w!o wielded t!e real power in t!e statesD t!e absolute princes( and t!e risin* capitalists w!o en-oyed t!eir patrona*e0 +embers o +asonic societies were at times drawn rom t!e upper and propertied classes( but because t!ese or*anizations o ten !ad need o indi%iduals ready to per orm remunerati%e unctions( t!ey also ser%ed as a re u*e or t!ose searc!in* an easy( but not always !onest( li%eli!ood0 "einric! was a man o t!is type0 "e !ad been acti%e amon* t!e 8osicrucians in Ba%aria and 1ustria( w!ose dabblin* in alc!emy ser%ed as con idence sc!emes to swindle money out o t!e nai%e and rec.less0 1s a result o some @uarrel( !e se%ered !is connections wit! t!em and( in 17B1( publis!ed a boo. denouncin* t!em0 1t t!at %ery time !e was busy ormin* a new order( later to become renowned as t!e $rder o t!e 1siatic Bret!ren but .nown in its irst mani estation as >ie 8itter %om wa!ren #ic!t0 A !a%e no irst!and e%idence on t!e immediate causes or t!e emer*ence o t!is order0 An ormation !as been culled rom statements o members w!o became acti%e later0 1ccordin* to t!em( an erstw!ile Franciscan mon.( Justus( w!ose ci%il name !ad been Bisc!o ( !ad ta.en a prominent part in its oundin*0 Justus !ad spent years in t!e $rient( especially in Jerusalem( w!ere !e !ad struc. up an ac@uaintance wit! Jewis! )abalists0 "e studied t!eir disciplines and e%en obtained rom t!em manuscripts w!ic! constituted t!e source or t!e $rder/s t!eosop!ic doctrines and ceremonial re*ulations0 1lt!ou*! t!ese details !a%e not been corroborated( t!e traces o suc! a personality are %ery real( so t!at little i any doubt can be cast on !is e6istence0 $n anot!er i*ure( 1zaria! by name( w!o is reputed to !a%e *i%en Justus t!e manuscripts( t!e e%idence is rat!er doubt ul0 1ccordin* to t!e testimony 7w!ic! we s!all e6amine presently: o Ep!raim Josep! "irsc! eld( 1zaria! belon*ed to a cabalistic sect identi ied( accordin* to anot!er %ersion( as a %esti*e o t!e <abbatai ?e%i mo%ement0 "e entrusted all !is a airs to !is sons( w!ile !e !imsel tra%eled rom place to place as an emissary o t!e sect0 Ce%ert!eless( e%en t!ou*! t!e connection o t!e 1siatic bret!ren wit! t!e <abbatian mo%ement is conclusi%ely pro%ed by anot!er source( as we s!all soon see( t!e personality o 1zaria! lac.s substance3 in ormation about !im is too mea*er and ull o contradictions0 At seems t!at !is e6istence was in%ented by members o t!e $rder to lend credence to t!e assertion t!at t!eir tradition !ad come rom t!e $rient0 T!e participation o a t!ird person is beyond all doubt0 "e was Baron T!omas %on <c!oen eld( an apostate Jew( w!o !ad made a name or !imsel as a proli ic writer0 "is participation is prominently eatured in t!e !istorical description o t!e $rder( and !is s!are in its oundin* is .nown rom anot!er source0 <c!oen eld !ad muc! o t!e c!aracter o an ad%enturer( in bot! t!e intellectual and common connotations o t!e term0 "e turned up in 'aris durin* t!e Frenc! 8e%olution and was e6ecuted durin* t!e 8ei*n o Terror0 For t!e $rder o t!e 1siatic Bret!ren( <c!oen eld ul illed t!e unction o copyist and translator o Jewis! )abalistic wor.s0 T!e $rder/s !istorian( Franz Jose +olitor( !ad it by tradition t!at <c!oen eld was a *randson o 80 Jonat!an Eybesc!Itz( w!ose collection o <abbatian cabalistic wor.s !e !ad in!erited0 =e( !owe%er( are better ac@uainted wit! <c!oen eld/s pedi*ree0 "e was a member o t!e >obrusc!.a amily o BrInn and was in no way related( eit!er by blood or marria*e( to Eybesc!utz0 Ce%ert!eless( t!e assertion was not alto*et!er ortuitous or +os!e! >obrusc!.a( alias T!omas %on <c!oen eld( actually !ad been an acti%e ad!erent o t!e <abbatian

mo%ement0 1s we s!all see later( !e incorporated liberal portions o <abbatian doctrines in t!e teac!in*s o t!e $rder0 A t is doubt ul w!et!er Ec.er und Ec.!o en was capable o distin*uis!in* between t!e %arious )abalistic systems o t!ou*!t( and it is improbable t!at !e was especially interested in t!e $rder/s possessin* a speci ic <abbatian c!aracter0 4et it is e@ually ob%ious t!at !e wanted to tie t!e $rder to a tradition deri%ed( in some manner( rom t!e $rient( as t!e name( 2T!e 1siatic Bret!ren in Europe(2 clearly s!ows0 T!e $rder !ad to possess some no%el trait to set it o rom t!e ot!er lod*es and orders( and its no%elty was t!e tracin* o its descent to some $riental source0 Justus/ connections wit! t!e East and <c!oen eld/s pro%ision o )abalistic source material *a%e t!is contention some semblance o aut!enticity0 $n t!e ot!er !and( it is also doubt ul w!et!er Ec.er !ad e%er intended to ma.e !is order t!e catc!-all or a mi6ed society o Jews and *entiles0 An !is abo%e-mentioned boo. !e !ad ta.en issue wit! t!e 8osicrucians or sinnin* a*ainst Jews by not acceptin* t!em as members unless t!ey were e6tremely a luent0 "is present( .ni*!tly order was presumably prepared to accept Jews-yet too. no steps to pa%e t!e road or t!em to enter0 True( t!e doctrines o t!e 8itter %om wa!ren #ic!t contained elements deri%ed rom )abalistic sources0 1t t!is sta*e( !owe%er( t!e ideas were still clearly sub-ect to )!ristian interpretation( and no syncretistic tendencies are discernible or mer*in* t!e two reli*ions0 Ec.er !ad intended to present !is pro*ram or t!e new order to an assembly o all t!e Freemasons w!ic! was to !a%e *at!ered in =il!elmsbad near "anau in 17B20 T!e assembly !ad been con%ened by t!e !ead o all t!e 9erman +asons( >u.e Frederic. o Brunswic.( or t!e purpose o re%i%in* t!e mo%ement by introducin* impro%ements in t!e conduct o its business0 An t!is endea%or( !e recei%ed t!e cooperation o t!e #and*ra%e )arl %on "essen( w!o administered t!e pro%ince o <c!leswi* on be!al o t!e >anis! monarc!y0 T!rou*! #and*ra%e )arl( Ec.er !oped to e6ert some in luence in t!e ort!comin* con erence0 "e tra%eled to <c!leswi* at t!e be*innin* o 17B2 and tried to *ain an audience wit! t!e #and*ra%e0 =!at occurred between t!em is not .nown0 Ec.er did not( !owe%er( succeed in !is @uest( since a protest was iled a*ainst !is appearance in =il!elmsbad rom a prominent @uarter in t!e Berlin lod*e0 "ad Ec.er( e%en t!en( included in t!e openin* o !is constitution any para*rap! pro%idin* Jews wit! t!e prospect o bein* accepted on an e@ual le%el wit! )!ristians( !e could ne%er !a%e !oped to !a%e !is constitution rati ied by t!e con erence at lar*e0 T!e tenor o t!e Berlin protest( too( pro%es t!at t!e Jewis! @uestion !ad now!ere been placed on t!e a*enda0 "ere t!e purity o )!ristianity( w!ic! t!e +asons were obli*ed strictly to up!old( was at issue0 Ec.er !ad been !eld to !a%e contaminated )!ristian purity( not by attemptin* to open t!e *ates o !is proposed order to Jews( but by !is 8osicrucian acti%ities w!ic! were still !eld a*ainst !im( and because !e !ad been denounced as a ma*ician consortin* wit! occult powers0 'ossibly Ec.er/s ailure to impose !is patterns upon t!e e6istin* lod*es impelled !im to build new or*anizational units o !is own and( in so doin*( !e encountered Jewis! candidates see.in* to -oin !is *roup0 T!ese were( a ter all( t!e years w!en t!e Edict o Toleration !ad been promul*ated 7in Bo!emia( in $ctober 17B1( and in 1ustria( in January 17B2:0 An t!e ot!er 9erman principalities as well( t!e ei*!ties constituted t!e period w!en !opes ran !i*! or a c!an*e in t!e political status o t!e Jewis! community( as an e%er *reater number o Jews wit!drew rom t!e social and reli*ious ramewor. o t!eir own people0 T!e time seemed opportune or t!e remo%al o t!e barriers .eepin* Jews rom -oinin* *entile company and or t!e oundin* o a society composed o members o bot! ait!s0 T!e irst para*rap! o t!e *eneral constitution o t!e 1siatic Bret!ren( w!ic! was completed in Co%ember 17BH( announced t!e remo%al o t!ese barriersD 1ny brot!er( irrespecti%e o !is reli*ion( class( or system( may -oin t!e $rder( pro%ided !e is an upri*!t person in t!ou*!t and deed0 <ince t!e *ood and wel are o man.ind are t!e sole purpose o our approac!( t!ese cannot be dependent on any ot!er circumstance( be it a man/s reli*ion( !is birt!( or t!e class into w!ic! !e !as been bred0

T!e permission to enter presumably was intended or t!e ric! Jews o Jienna and t!e enli*!tened Jewries o ot!er cities( w!o were attracted to Ec.er/s company or social reasons0 At is e%en more astonis!in* t!at Ec.er s!ould also !a%e ound a Jewis! associate w!o assisted !im in promotin* t!e spiritual acti%ities w!ic! were to -usti y t!e e6istence o t!e *roup0 "a%in* ailed in <c!leswi*( Ec.er returned to 1ustria and too. up residence in Annsbruc.( in t!e Tyrol0 T!ere !e wor.ed to spread t!e $rder until !is return to Jienna in 17BH( and t!ere !e became ac@uainted wit! Ep!raim Jose "irsc!el 7later "irsc! eld: w!o was introduced to !im as a rat!er unusual youn* Jew( well-educated but persecuted by !is coreli*ionists on account o !is ideas0 "irsc! eld !ad been li%in* in Annsbruc. since 17B20 "e was employed as a boo..eeper by t!e wealt!y Jew( 9abriel & en!eimer( to w!om t!e Tyrolian salt mines !ad been armed out0 #ater( employee and employer @uarreled( liti*ation ensued( and "irsc! eld was awarded a considerable sum o money by t!e court0 =!ile t!e proceedin*s were still in pro*ress( !e entered t!e local institution o !i*!er learnin* and also accepted occasional( parttime employment as teac!er and boo..eeper wit! t!e local aristocratic amilies0 T!rou*! !is wor.( !e was brou*!t into contact wit! t!e Baron w!o !ad !im copy t!e writin*s o t!e $rder( only to disco%er t!at t!e copyist !imsel !ad( in t!e meantime( become interested in t!eir contents0 =e are now amiliar wit! "irsc! eld/s ori*in and early li e0 "e !ad been born in Karlsru!e0 "is at!er was a cantor and Talmudic sc!olar( aut!or o a wor. on rabbinic law 7no%ellae on treatises o t!e Babylonian Talmud:( learned in )abalistic literature( and !ad produced a 4iddis! translation o 8abbi +os!e! 1ls!e.!/s commentary on 9enesis0 T!e elder "irsc! eld was !i*!ly ambitious0 "e did not li%e at peace wit! t!e local rabbi( Cat!aniel =eill( w!ose commentary !e set out to attac. in !is own wor.0 "owe%er( !e recei%ed t!e written approbation o prominent rabbinic aut!orities in ot!er cities( amon* t!em t!e renowned 8abbi Eze.iel #andau o 'ra*ue0 +ost e6traordinary o all was t!e act t!at !e !ad pre aced !is wor. wit! a dedication in 9erman( addressed to t!e +ar*ra%e( Karl Friedric! o Badenindicatin* t!at t!e at!er sou*!t to attract t!e attention o people o !i*! station0 "is son( Ep!raim( reaped t!e bene it o t!e at!er/s endea%ors( Jo!ann 9eor* <c!losser( 9oet!e/s brot!er-in-law and a leadin* o icial in t!e +ar*ra%e/s ser%ice( pro%ided or t!e son/s education( per!aps a ter t!e elder "irsc! eld !ad died0 "e enrolled !im in t!e local *ymnasium and later sent !im to t!e &ni%ersity o <trasbour* to study medicine0 "irsc! eld did not complete t!is course o studies3 instead !e ac@uired a *roundin* in lan*ua*es( p!ilosop!y( and literature and became accomplis!ed in t!e social *races( a rat!er unusual eat amon* !is Jewis! contemporaries0 An addition to t!e !abits ac@uired t!rou*! education and trainin*( "irsc! eld possessed unusual innate traitsD on t!e one !and !e tended to isolation and solitude( w!ile on t!e ot!er !e e6celled in t!e art o con%ersation( e6uded c!arm and con idence( and stoutly de ended !is considered opinions0 T!is combination o eatures drew attention to !im as an ori*inal( t!ou*! somew!at odd( person0 1 ter !is so-ourn in <trasbour*( "irsc! eld mo%ed to Berlin( ta.in* wit! !im t!e recommendation o !is bene actor( <c!losser( to +oses +endelsso!n0 T!ere !e obtained employment as tutor and boo..eeper in t!e !ouse!old o >a%id Friedlander0 1ccordin* to t!e testimonial *i%en to !im by +endelsso!n( w!en !e le t Berlin two years later( "irsc! eld !ad been a re@uent %isitor in t!e +endelsso!n !ome as well as in t!e !omes o t!e city di*nitaries0 1ccordin* to Friedlander/s brot!er-in-law( Asaac >aniel Atzi*( +endelsso!n too. an interest in "irsc! eld and tried to ind an e6planation or !is stran*e conduct0 71t times !e would sit speec!less( e%en in company( be!a%ior w!ic! +endelsso!n ascribed to e6treme !ypoc!ondria0: +endelsso!n be riended "irsc! eld -ust as !e !ad be riended ot!ers w!o !ad entered !is !ouse and !ad subse@uently de%eloped into admirers and disciples0 "irsc! eld( !owe%er( was an e6ception0 1pparently !e ne%er !ad subscribed to +endelsso!n/s rationalistic doctrines( e%en w!en !e was closely associated wit! !is mentor( and !e later openly turned a*ainst t!em0 1t all e%ents( !e re used to t!row in !is lot wit! t!is circle o intellectuals( w!ic! apparently is

t!e reason t!ere is no record o !is stay eit!er in Berlin or Jienna amon* t!e written remains o t!at *roup0 From Berlin( "irsc! eld went to Annsbruc. w!ere( as we !a%e seen( !e struc. up an ac@uaintance wit! Ec.er0 T!ere too !e was admitted to t!e $rder o t!e 1siatics and its spiritual world0 "irsc! eld re@uently accompanied Ec.er on !is tra%els( and so made t!e ac@uaintance o ot!er leaders o t!e $rder0 An t!e sprin* o 17BE( !e -oined Ec.er in Jienna and became attac!ed to !is !ome0 T!ey became irm riends and constituted( as one o t!e Jienna circle dubbed t!em( 2a pair o ori*inals02 By t!e time "irsc! eld -oined it( t!e $rder already possessed a written( rati ied constitution( and t!e Jienna *roup at least was *o%erned by t!ese laws0 At is wort!w!ile to cast a *lance o%er t!is *roup and see w!o 7in addition to t!e ounders we !a%e met be ore: participated in its acti%ities0 T!ere were outstandin* di*nitaries amon* t!e non-Jewis! members0 +olitor mentions t!e >u.e o #ic!tenstein( )ount =estenbur*( )ount T!un( and( anonymously( t!e 1ustrian +inister o Justice 7C0C0:0 1not!er source( relyin* on !earsay( lists t!e ollowin*D +a6 Josep! Frei!err %on #inden( $tto Frei!err %on 9emmin*en( Frei!err %on <tubitza( and ot!ers0 T!e documents in my possession mention se%eral ot!er members by nameD J0 B0 '0 "arten els( Franz +eltzer( Josep! %on Ju!Ksz( Jo!ann 9ottlieb =alstein( Franz de Ce%oy( Fr0 %an $st( Jacob J*0 ?uz0 T!ree o t!ese were army o icers3 two( court o icials3 one( a doctor o medicine3 neit!er t!e status nor occupation o t!e one remainin* is .nown0 1s or t!ese )!ristian members o t!e $rder( Jews would !a%e been only too proud to associate wit! t!eir class on intimate social terms0 T!ree wealt!y Jiennese Jews did belon* to t!e $rderD 1rnstein( Es.eles( and "Lni*( and t!ere is no reason or presumin* t!at t!ere were no ot!ers0 T!e in ormation concernin* t!is $rder comes to us purely incidentally0 =e !a%e no roster o its members( nor do we .now w!en eac! indi%idual was initiated into members!ip and w!et!er it was be ore or a ter t!e arri%al o "irsc! eld0 Ce%ert!eless( t!e e%idence is clear t!at "irsc! eld acti%ely endea%ored to attract Jews to t!e $rder( and t!at t!e t!ree !onorable *entlemen were accepted t!rou*! !is intercession0 "e maintained connections wit! wealt!y ban.ers and en*a*ed in inancial transactions t!rou*! t!e a*ency o Atzi* in Berlin( 1rnstein/s brot!er-in-law( to t!e e6tent t!at !is operations not only bene itted t!e co ers o t!e $rder but illed !is own poc.ets as well0 "e became inancially independent as a result0 An spite o !is continuin* to li%e in Ec.er/s !ome( credence s!ould be accorded !is statement-made a ter t!e dissolution o t!eir association-t!at !e *a%e !is !osts more t!an !e too. rom t!em0 1s time pro*ressed "irsc! eld/s unctions in t!e $rder o t!e 1siatics increased0 True( t!e constitution !ad been completed be ore !e arri%ed in Jienna and( accordin* to +olitor( w!o deri%ed !is in ormation directly rom "irsc! eld( t!e ot!er( basic writin*s o t!e $rder were not compiled by !im but by Baron <c!oen eld0 T!ere were current needs( !owe%er( to attend to0 Anstructions !ad to be written down( w!ic! would *uide t!e members in t!eir 2wor.23 t!ese consisted o re lecti%e interpretations o t!e symbols( word and letter combinations( and so on0 )onsistent wit! t!e ori*in o t!e doctrine o t!e 1siatics as a w!ole( t!e material or t!is spiritual acti%ity( too( !ad been culled rom )abalistic literature0 Jery ew members were at all amiliar wit! t!ese writin*s( and t!e *roup !ad been orced to rely on Justus and Baron <c!oen eld0 "irsc! eld claimed to !a%e recei%ed !is instruction in *ainin* understandin* o t!is literature rom t!e ormer( but it is possible t!at !e !ad ac@uired t!e rudiments rom !is own at!er0 <ome time later( !e wrote a boo. incorporatin* )abalistic concepts0 At s!ould not be assumed !owe%er t!at !e really understood )abalistic systems wit! any pro undity0 4et !e was a 2disco%ery2 as ar as Ec.er was concerned0 &ntil t!en( Ec.er !ad been utterly dependent on <c!oen eld( w!o !ad e6ploited !is ad%anta*e by e6actin*( w!ate%er remuneration !e wis!ed0 Cow <c!oen eld was c!allen*ed by a competitor0 "irsc! eld/s abilities( !owe%er( ell s!ort o t!e wor. !e was re@uired to per orm( and so !e concei%ed t!e idea o in%itin* !is youn*er brot!er( 'ascal-w!o was apparently better @uali ied( since !is education !ad centered mainly in studyin* t!e Jewis! traditional sources-to -oin !im0 7'ascal

was( !owe%er( !is brot!er/s in erior in personality traits and mental powers0: 1s a result o t!e presence o t!e two brot!ers( <c!oen eld was rele*ated to an insi*ni icant position in t!e $rder0 <ome time later !e was e6pelled rom t!e Jienna circle( t!ou*! as we s!all see( !e did not se%er !is connections wit! t!e members alto*et!er0 From 17BE to 17B7( t!e two brot!ers ser%ed more or less as secretaries to t!e $rder( and Ep!raim Josep! was di*ni ied by t!e title o Oker Harim 7literally( 2uprooter o +ountains:0 T!e %arious o ices( too( were desi*nated by "ebrew terms( and t!e members were addressed by names culled rom "ebraic sources0 "einric! %on Ec.er was called 1bra!amD !is brot!er( AsraelD Justus( As! ?addi. 7ri*!teous person:( and Baron %on <c!oen eld( Asaac ben Josep!0 T!e use o t!e "ebrew lan*ua*e was no no%elty( since t!is !ad been an accepted practice amon* Freemasons0 T!e latter( !owe%er( *enerally restricted t!eir c!oice to Biblical e6pressions( w!ile t!e ormer drew upon t!e %ocabulary o rabbinic literature( an indication t!at Jews w!o !ad recei%ed a traditional education e6ercized a considerable in luence0 An t!eir use o alien concepts( t!e 1siatics di ered rom t!e ot!er Freemasons( w!ose reliance on "ebrew was intended only to surround +asonic acti%ities wit! an e6otic aura0 "ere it was intended to *i%e prominence to t!e Jewis! element incorporated in t!e $rder0 T!e ull purpose o t!is custom is e6posed by t!e act t!at "ebrew names were assi*ned to )!ristian members only( w!ile Jews were *i%en names wit! )!ristian o%ertones0 An t!eir decision to admit Jews( t!e 1siatics relied upon t!e well .nown para*rap! o t!e En*lis! +asonic constitution( w!ic! limited t!e reli*ious @uali ications or members!ip to t!e uni%ersal principles common to all t!e sons o Coa!0 An contradistinction to t!e En*lis! lod*es( !owe%er( Jews and )!ristians were not accepted !ere wit!out re*ard to t!eir denominations0 T!e two reli*ions were not i*nored0 T!e intention was to e6tract principles rom bot! ait!s and to create rom t!e combination a composite pattern o ideas w!ic! would ser%e as a basis on w!ic! t!e ceremonial procedures in w!ic! )!ristian and Jewis! symbols bot! played t!eir parts could be constructed0 An t!eory( t!e $rder o t!e 1siatics !ad not been ounded as a substitute or Freemasonry but to construct an upper le%el abo%e t!e re*ular +asonic structure0 T!e assumption was t!at t!e members !ad already become amiliar wit! t!e t!ree main le%els o +asonic lore and t!at a new order !ad come into bein* w!ic! promised to open doors to additional mysteries0 An t!is respect( t!e 1siatics were ollowin* t!e e6ample o ( amon* ot!ers( t!e <cottis! rite( w!ic! also !ad been constructed o%er and abo%e t!e t!ree ori*inal de*rees o t!e +asonic order0 T!is is t!e implication o t!e sentence( @uoted abo%e( rom t!e irst para*rap! o t!e constitution t!at members would be accepted re*ardless o t!eir reli*ion( class( or 2system2-t!e last term re errin* to t!e 2system2 o t!e +asonic lod*e t!rou*! w!ic! t!e candidate !ad pre%iously passed0 4et( to ollow t!is procedure in practice was @uite di icult0 Jews !ad not been permitted to become Freemasons3 t!ey s!ould t!ere ore !a%e been ineli*ible or members!ip in t!e $rder o t!e 1siatics0 At appears eit!er t!at Ec.er e6erted considerable e ort to pa%e t!e way or Jews to enter t!e +asonic brot!er!ood( or t!at !e deluded Jewis! di*nitaries into belie%in* t!at !is e orts mi*!t meet wit! some success0 4et anyone w!o mi*!t !a%e *i%en credence to !is assurances was doomed to disappointment0 T!e re*ular lod*es were still barred to Jews0 A t!e leaders o t!e $rder o t!e 1siatics desired to ollow t!e practice o admittin* only ormer +asons( t!ey would !a%e to ind some substitute to ser%e t!e needs o t!e Jews0 1 solution was ound0 <pecial +elc!izede. lod*es( so called to distin*uis! t!em rom t!ose named a ter Jo!n t!e Baptist( were ounded0 T!e writin*s o t!e $rder o t!e 1siatics spea. o t!e +elc!izede. rite as well-.nown( t!e proo bein* t!at 2Jews( Tur.s( 'ersians( 1rmenians( and )opts labor in it02 4et( as we s!all see later( t!is was an in%ention( a ma.es!i t measure( but su icient to s!ow t!at some e ort was bein* made to include Jews in t!e same order as *entiles0 Jewis! admission was made conditional( !owe%er( in practice i not in t!eory( on t!e candidate/s relin@uis!in* t!e Judaism pre%ailed at t!at time0

T!e ideolo*y o t!e 1siatic Bret!ren !as been sub-ected to a critical analysis by 'ro essor 9ers!om <c!olem0 "is study !as re%ealed t!at on its t!eoretical le%el t!is ideolo*y was a con*lomeration o principles drawn rom )!ristian and Jewis! sources0 )abalistic and <abbatian ideas were -umbled to*et!er wit! )!ristian t!eosop!ic doctrines0 T!e same applied to symbols and esti%e and memorial days( w!ic! were undamental to t!e acti%ities o t!e %arious de*rees o t!e $rder0 1lon* wit! )!ristian !olidays( suc! as )!ristmas and Jo!n t!e 1postle/s >ay( Jewis! esti%als( suc! as t!e anni%ersaries o t!e birt! and deat! o +oses( o t!e E6odus( and o t!e 9i%in* o t!e #aw( were celebrated0 T!e )!ristian 1siatic( !owe%er( did not !a%e to su er pan*s o conscience0 "e could easily !a%e re*arded !imsel as completely ait! ul to t!e tenets o !is reli*ion-and e%en loo. upon !imsel as re%ertin* to t!e same pristine orm o )!ristianity w!ic! was preser%ed wit!in Judaism0 T!e Jew( on t!e ot!er !and( could !ardly remain obli%ious to t!e act t!at !e was trespassin* beyond t!e boundaries o !is own traditions0 T!e adoption o )!ristian symbols could on no account be reconciled wit! t!e doctrines o Judaism0 1nd( i t!ese acts were not a su iciently serious breac! o !is ait!( !e was also re@uired( as a member o t!e $rder( to eat por. wit! mil. as part o some solemn celebration0 E%en t!e most i*norant o Jews was ully aware t!at !e was t!ereby %iolatin* a law o !is own reli*ion0 <uc! antinomian tendencies could only be ound in <abbatian conceptions( and t!is in luence( as we !a%e seen be ore( was clearly pre%alent0 T!e apostate and <abbatian +oses >obrus!.a-<c!oen eld ser%ed as t!e transmission line( carryin* t!is in luence to t!e $rder o t!e 1siatics0 $t!ers too may !a%e possessed a similar <abbatian bac.*round( and t!eir sectarian past pa%ed t!e way or t!eir participation in a Judeo-)!ristian society w!ic! !ad adopted t!eir pre%ious doctrines and obser%ances0 T!e readiness o t!e Jewis! members to trans*ress t!e boundaries o t!eir reli*ion mi*!t !a%e been deri%ed rom anot!er source0 "irsc! eld !ad become estran*ed rom Jewis! obser%ance e%en be ore !e made t!e ac@uaintance o t!e 1siatic Bret!ren0 "is so-ourn amon* t!e 2enli*!tened2 Berlin Jews and !is earlier academic career at t!e *ymnasium and uni%ersity mi*!t %ery li.ely !a%e led !im away rom !is past0 T!e ot!er members o t!e $rder were not .nown as past <abbatians( but rat!er as ad!erents o t!e disinte*ratin* tendencies o t!e "as.ala! w!ic!( e6plicitly or tacitly( pro%ided t!e -usti ication or abandonin* Jewis! traditions0 T!e !istories o t!e Atzi* and 1rnstein amilies in Berlin and Jienna respecti%ely urnis! a clear e6ample o t!is process o alienation( w!ic! impelled many to orsa.e Judaism alto*et!er and le t ot!ers be!ind( wit! t!eir bearin*s lost and t!e security o t!eir en%ironment destroyed0 T!e lost souls o t!e latter *roup were easy tar*ets or recruitment in orders o t!e 1siatic Bret!ren %ariety( since suc! an association o ered t!em a new social !a%en( beyond t!e borders o Judaism( but w!ere t!ey were not called upon to se%er t!eir ormer connections and to adopt )!ristianity0 T!e reli*ious syncretism o t!e $rder( w!ic! mi*!t be interpreted as accordin* a status to Judaism wit!in )!ristianity( was less o a restraint and more o a stimulus and an attraction0 T!e +asonic orders were not local or*anizations0 T!eir tentacles penetrated into numerous cities and countries0 Followin* suit( t!e ounders o t!e new order also sou*!t to spread beyond t!e limits o Jienna0 But Ec.er ailed in !is attempt to establis! !is order as a superstructure or all 9erman Freemasons( and was orced to di%ert !is e orts to t!e oundin* o new societies in %arious localities0 =e !a%e already met !im between 17B3 and 17BE( tra%elin* t!rou*! 1ustrian and 9erman cities( conductin* !is propa*anda tour0 1s to t!e measure o !is success( we !a%e no reliable in ormationD still( it seems to !a%e been considerable0 T!e center o t!e mo%ement remained in Jienna until t!e end o 17BG or t!e be*innin* o 17B70 T!ere t!e 2<an!edrin2 w!ic! *o%erned t!e order !ad its seat0 At was a body composed o se%en members as well as se%eral o ice!olders and salaried employees0 T!e 2<an!edrin2 dele*ated powers to t!e !eads o t!e districts- our in number- or all o Europe and t!ese !eads con erred aut!orization on t!e indi%idual cells in t!eir respecti%e re*ions0 An t!eory( restricti%e entrance re@uirements and a certain measure o super%ision were

supposed to be en orced by t!e 2<an!edrin02 An practice( !owe%er( members!ip and new lod*e aut!orizations were *ranted wit! t!e utmost *enerosity0 =e .now o t!e e6istence o 1siatic lod*es in 'ra*ue( Annsbruc.( Berlin( Fran. urt( and "ambur*0 T!e Encyclopedie der Freimaurerei( publis!ed in 1B22( mentions t!at t!e cities o =etzlar and +arbur* were teemin* wit! de%otees o t!e $rder0 1 stron* c!apter must !a%e e6isted in 'ra*ue( alt!ou*! we !a%e almost no in ormation on it0 An Annsbruc. t!e society was composed o t!e local aristocracy0 1s or Berlin( t!e sources yield only t!e name o Atzi*( but ot!er rele%ant literature mentions Bisc!o swerder( =Lllner( and e%en t!e )rown 'rince( w!o was later to become Kin* Frederic. =illiam0 From "irsc! eld/s 17B7 %isit to Fran. urt we learn o a lod*e in t!at city3 its members are not re erred to by t!eir real names( but by t!e pseudonyms con erred on t!em by t!eir lod*es( better .nown are t!e "ambur* bret!ren0 "ere li%ed )arl( Ec.er/s youn*er brot!er0 "e !ad been an acti%e +ason e%en be ore t!e $rder o t!e 1siatic Bret!ren came into e6istence0 An !is attitude toward Jews !e s!owed !imsel ready to ollow in !is brot!er/s ootsteps0 An 17B3 !e ounded a lod*e w!ic! admitted two Jewis! membersD Asaac $ppen!eimer and 9ottsc!al. <amson0 T!is society was s!ort-li%ed( but two years later )arl %on Ec.er ounded a new lod*e( w!ic! was ormally initiated in >ecember 17BE0 "is older brot!er( w!o li%ed in Jienna( !appened to be in "ambur* on t!at occasion and !e persuaded t!e *roup to -oin t!e $rder o t!e 1siatics0 T!e 17BG members!ip roster *i%es t!e names( a*es( occupations( and class o twenty- our persons( no distin*uis!ed persons are included( or( unli.e Jienna( "ambur* was not t!e residence o !i*! nobility0 Ei*!t o t!e names( !owe%er( bore t!e pre i6 2%on23 t!e ot!ers too seem to !a%e been borne by men o substance( to -ud*e by t!eir occupationsD ban.ers( merc!ants( p!ysicians( and e%en a cler*yman0 <i6 can de initely be identi ied as Jews0 Beside <amson( mentioned pre%iously( t!ey are Asaac 9u**en!eimer( Jacob 9Ltz( =ol Cat!an #iepmann( "irsc! =ol ( and +arcus Jacob <c!lesin*er0 Two were ban.ers3 two merc!ants3 one a court a*ent3 one a p!ysician0 =it! t!e e6ception o t!e p!ysician( "irsc! =ol ( t!ese Jews were not amon* t!e culturally distin*uis!ed o t!e *eneration0 T!eir principal title to members!ip rested on t!eir readiness to support t!e $rder inancially and t!eir aspirations to rub s!oulders wit! non-Jews0 From data on t!e "ambur* and Jienna *roups( we can pro-ect conclusions about t!e ot!er cities w!ere branc!es o t!e $rder were establis!ed0 Ats swi t spread is a clear indication o t!e internal disinte*ration o a speci ic stratum o Jewis! society in =estern Europe0 =e must also ta.e notice o t!e act t!at a certain section o non-Jewis! society was ready to establis! social and spiritual contact wit! Jews0 4et we s!ould not e6a**erate t!e dimensions o t!is section( e%en or t!e period o *reatest social pro*ress( t!e ei*!ties and nineties o t!e ei*!teent! century0 $nly a ew years a ter t!e $rder o t!e 1siatics !ad been ounded( its declared policy o includin* Jews and *entiles to*et!er in a sin*le *roup ramewor. was c!allen*ed0 T!e irst public attac. on t!e principle o e@uality in Freemasonry was launc!ed in "ambur* in an ei*!t-pa*e broc!ure0 1ccordin* to its title( it purported to con%ey 2unbiased and basic in ormation on Jewis! +asonic lod*es and ot!er secret societies in "ambur*02 T!e aut!or describes t!e admission o Jews into t!e local lod*es as a startlin* inno%ation0 &ntil t!at time e%en unaut!orized lod*es !ad cate*orically re used to accept Jews( since t!ese lod*es too assented to t!e basic +asonic doctrine t!at Jesus )!rist was t!e cornerstone o t!eir structure0 4et now certain lod*es wis!ed to en-oy t!e bene its o Jewis! wealt!( and w!ispered in Jewis! ears t!at( in return or 1,, reic!st!aler( admission to t!e +asonic order could be obtained0 1ccordin* to t!e aut!or( t!is !unt or souls was underta.en in t!e name o a certain prince( a +asonic Grossordensmeister( w!o !ad ordered t!at Jews be accepted rom now on( 2since su erance and tolerance now pre%ailed uni%ersally02 "ardly any doubt remains t!at t!e prince in @uestion was )arl %on "essen( w!o( as we s!all soon see( became t!e 9rossmeister o t!e 1siatics( and w!o could be described as tendin* to s!ow tolerance to Jews0 T!e ounder o t!e lod*e open to Jews must !a%e been Ec.er0 Essentially t!e obser%ations o

t!e anonymous aut!or a*ree wit! w!at is .nown to us rom ot!er @uarters0 "e must !a%e drawn !is in ormation rom irst!and sources and was e%en aware t!at t!e initiation ceremony was concluded wit! a meal at w!ic! por. was ser%ed0 T!e aut!or was not as muc! interested to in orm as to condemn0 "e scorned t!e Jews or !a%in* accepted t!e o er( as t!ey usually did( but re usin* to pay t!e price0 "is bitterest resentment was reser%ed or t!e ounder o t!e lod*e w!o !ad remo%ed t!e restrictions a*ainst Jews enterin* t!e +asonic mo%ement0 "e wanted to ocus t!e attention o t!e city *o%ernment on w!at !ad ta.en place in t!e !ope o !a%in* an end put to t!is state o a airs0 T!at same year a reply was issued0 T!e rebuttal did not deny a sin*le alle*ation o t!e broc!ure0 At re-ected t!e slurs on Jewis! be!a%ior as bein* applicable only to t!e crude masses0 An de endin* t!e e6istin* practice( t!e rebuttal points to t!e custom o t!e En*lis! lod*es w!ic! !ad ne%er discriminated between Jew and *entile0 At is most reasonable to assume t!at t!e aut!or o t!e reply was none ot!er t!an )arl %an Ec.er !imsel 0 T!is minor contro%ersy w!ic! occurred in "ambur* in 17BG may be re*arded as t!e openin* s!ot in a crus!in* barra*e w!ic! rained down upon t!e !eads o t!e $rder o t!e 1siatics a year later0 =e !a%e already noted t!at "einric! %an Ec.er !ad come rom Jienna to "ambur* to attend t!e induction ceremony o !is brot!er )arl/s lod*e0 T!e older brot!er/s -ourney to nort!ern 9ermany !ad a clear( deliberate purposeD !e was see.in* t!e protection or !is $rder o one o t!e princes w!o !ad some sympat!y or Freemasonry and its mystic rami ications0 <uc! persons were 'rince Ferdinand o Brunswic. and t!e #and*ra%e( )arl %on "essen( and "einric! tried !is luc. wit! bot!0 "e was in sore need o t!is protection( since !is personal standin* and t!e e6istence o t!e entire $rder in Jienna !ad been put in -eopardy0 T!e !eads o t!e Freemasons 7t!ey belon*ed to t!e uppermost classes and !ad in luence in *o%ernment circles: !ad ou*!t t!e $rder o t!e 1siatics rom its %ery inception0 By t!e end o 17BE t!ey !ad succeeded in persuadin* Kaiser Josep! AA to promul*ate a law w!ic! would !a%e placed all +asonic lod*es under strict *o%ernment super%ision0 Ec.er sou*!t to nip t!is t!reat in t!e bud by indin* re u*e in royal patrona*e elsew!ere( and in <c!leswi* !e ound a sympat!etic response on t!e part o t!e #and*ra%e( )arl %an "essen( wit! w!om !e !ad e6c!an*ed words pre%iously0 1ll !is li e )arl !ad lon*ed to unco%er t!e secrets !idden in +asonic doctrine( and !e belie%ed Ec.er/s assertion t!at t!ese were .nown to t!e members o t!e 1siatic $rder0 "e t!ere ore consented to become t!e !ead o t!e $rder( and in%ited Ec.er( and t!rou*! !im( "irsc! eld( to come and settle in <c!leswi*0 "irsc! eld/s brot!er( 'ascal( remained or t!e time bein* in Jienna0 <ome time later( 'rince Ferdinand too responded( and )arl( t!e youn*er o t!e brot!ers( le t "ambur* to -oin t!e 'rince/s court in Brunswic.0 T!e remo%al o t!e center o t!e $rder to <c!leswi* alerted t!e +asons outside o "ambur*0 1t t!e time( <c!leswi* was under >anis! tutela*e and )arl %on "essen e6ercised !is o ice as t!e deputy o t!e >anis! Kin*0 Freemasons in )open!a*en( a raid lest t!e $rder o t!e 1siatics ac@uire in luence in t!eir territory( resol%ed to oppose it openly and e6pose its nature in public0 T!is was not di icult to do0 T!e members o t!e $rder !ad not been at all particular in w!om t!ey admitted0 T!eir constitution was t!ere ore not properly *uarded and was passed rom !and to !and0 T!e )open!a*en +asons decided to publis! t!e entire constitution to*et!er wit! an introduction and critical notes( so as to s!ow !ow ar t!e new $rder !ad strayed rom t!e aut!entic principles o Freemasonry0 1 person capable o !andlin* t!e assi*nment was ound( and t!e boo.( Authentische Nachrichtl von den Ritter und Bruder --Eingeweihten aus Asien, Zur Beherzigund ur !re"maurern( was publis!ed anonymously in 17B70 T!e aut!or( !owe%er( son o a local 'rotestant cler*yman( is .nown to !a%e been Friedric! +Inter( a Freemason( w!o a terward became amous as an $riental sc!olar and t!e Bis!op o )open!a*en0 An !is introduction( inter associated t!e $rder o t!e 1siatics wit! t!e occult current in 8osicrucianism w!ic! !ad ac!ie%ed notoriety or its e6tortion o money rom t!e *ullible and

or its rauds and swindles0 1dmittedly( t!e members o t!e $rder o t!e 1siatics !ad !eld t!emsel%es out as opposed to t!e 8osicrucians( but t!e two were( in trut!( o t!e same type0 T!eir common eature was t!eir pursuit o spurious( secret doctrines w!ic! con used minds and dulled senses0 +unter spo.e in t!e name o reason( o t!e sciences and p!ilosop!y o t!e enli*!tenment( w!ic! alone were t!e *uarantees or t!e reedom( trut!( and !appiness o man.ind0 "and in !and wit! t!ese disciplines went rational t!eolo*y( w!ic! stood in no need o any alle*orical or mystical interpretation o t!e "oly <criptures( w!ic! claimed aut!ority 2in spite o !uman intelli*ence02 +unter represented t!e position o t!e educated and enli*!tened )!ristian0 =!at does occasion surprise is t!at t!is position( w!ic! !ad normally ser%ed as t!e startin* point or a closer approac! to Jews( now became !is prete6t or opposin* t!e openin* o t!e lod*e doors to Jews0 +unter appended !is notes to para*rap! a ter para*rap! o t!e constitution o t!e $rder o t!e 1siatics0 1s or t!e para*rap! w!ic! allowed Jews to be accepted in +elc!izede. lod*es rom w!ere t!ey would become eli*ible or members!ip in t!e $rder o t!e 1siatics( !e attac.ed it rom all sides0 Jews were ne%er( accordin* to !im( admitted into le*itimate lod*es conducted in accordance wit! t!e laws o t!e 9rand #od*e o #ondon0 T!e e6ceptions were a ew lod*es in "olland( and t!ey !ad acted ille*ally in t!is instance0 T!e ot!er lod*es w!ic! !ad accepted Jews !ad ne%er been *ranted aut!orization0 "e asserted t!at it was an establis!ed rule amon* all Freemasons( re*ardless o t!eir rite( t!at only )!ristians were eli*ible( 2and t!e entire constitution o t!e $rder is predicated on t!is principle02 1s or t!e +elc!izede. lod*es( t!ey were a pure in%ention o t!e $rder o t!e 1siatics0 T!eir story t!at suc! lod*es e6isted in $riental countries and included 2Jews( Tur.s( 'ersians( 1rmenians( and )opts2 was a i*ment o t!e ima*ination( intended to le*alize t!e entry o Jews into t!e +asonic lod*es in t!e European countries0 T!orou*!ly amiliar( wit! +asonic a airs( +unter possessed in addition a .een sense or !istorical criticism0 An t!is remar.( !e !ad undoubtedly !it upon t!e trut!0 "irsc! eld !imsel later conceded t!at t!e +elc!izede. lod*es e6isted only in t!e mind o "einric! %on Ec.er0 +unter/s %i*orous attac. produced its e ect0 T!e Ec.er brot!ers too. t!e attac. to be directed at t!em0 "einric!/s name !ad been mentioned e6plicitly by +unter as one w!o !ad been an acti%e member o t!e $rder in Jienna and was now li%in* in <c!leswi*0 "ereto ore t!e brot!ers !ad always been mentioned in t!e same breat! and eac! was made to su er or t!e sins o t!e ot!er0 Bot! depended or t!eir positions on t!e e6istence o t!e $rder -"einric! because !e !ad been in%ited by >u.e )arl o <c!leswi* as a result o t!e latter/s belie in t!e trut! o t!e 1siatic doctrines( and )arl because t!e *roup louris!in* in "ambur* pro%ided !im wit! !is .eep0 Cow( !owe%er( t!e representati%es o t!e $rder !ad been portrayed as money *rubbers and t!e $rder itsel as possessin* a alse and con used ideolo*y0 At was not surprisin* t!at bot! elt constrained to reply0 "einric! compiled a boo. o one !undred pa*es to w!ic! !e appended !is ull name( w!ile )arl publis!ed !is ei*!ty-pa*e reply anonymously0 'ossibly t!e brot!ers deliberately di%ided t!e unctions between t!em0 $n t!e ot!er !and( eac! mi*!t( on !is own( !a%e replied to t!ose accusations w!ic! a ected !is personal circumstances0 "einric!( w!o !ad made !is uture dependent upon >u.e )arl/s belie in t!e spiritual bene it lyin* !idden in t!e ideolo*y o t!e order( denied +unter/s accusations on t!is aspect0 "e admitted t!e e6istence o t!e $rder openly and e%en proudly0 "e delineated its !istory durin* t!e past *eneration and alluded to a prior *enealo*y rom w!ic! t!e $rder( as it now e6isted( !ad descended0 1ll t!is ar*ument was ob%iously intended to support t!e contention t!at t!e $rder o t!e 1siatics indeed !ad access to t!e true interpretations o all +asonic symbolism0 <uc! interpretations also entailed unco%erin* t!e %ery secrets o nature itsel ( and( alt!ou*! t!e 1siatics were not alc!emists see.in* to produce *old( t!ey were ne%ert!eless 2 ar-seein* in%esti*ators o nature( possessin* pro ound insi*!ts02 T!ey sou*!t to be no more t!an a *roup 2en*a*ed in t!e ultimate decip!erin* o all +asonic !iero*lyp!ics(

and as a *roup t!ey occupied t!emsel%es( wit! all t!e trut!s and co*nitions o natural t!in*s ollowin* rom t!at02 T!is modest claim ad%anced on be!al o t!e $rder was calculated to paci y its ad!erentsD as or >u.e )arl( t!ere was no limit to !is credulity0 For i it was true t!at t!e 1siatics possessed .nowled*e o t!e secrets o t!e world( t!en all ot!er possible de iciencies( were o no account in comparison0 "einric! %on Ec.er dealt only cursorily wit! +unter/s ot!er accusations0 "e re erred in passin* to t!e Jewis! @uestion0 "e denied( t!ou*! not too %i*orously( t!at t!e 1siatics !ad ounded lod*es o t!eir own to pro%ide t!emsel%es wit! members0 But !e latly contradicted +unter/s alle*ation t!at Jews !ad ne%er been accepted in le*itimate lod*es0 "e !imsel cited t!e names o t!ree Jews w!o !ad been admitted into t!e mo%ement-one in #ondon( one in 'aris( and one in 9ibraltar( w!ere many Jews %isit t!e lod*es02 =!at was o minor importance to "einric! was o ma-or si*ni icance to !is brot!er0 )arl !ardly touc!ed on t!e @uestion o t!e 1siatic $rder0 "e contented !imsel wit! t!e assertion t!at t!ere did indeed e6ist !i*!er de*rees t!an t!e basic t!ree o t!e +asonic mo%ement( and t!at t!ose w!o reac!ed t!ese !i*!er le%els were %ouc!sa ed re%elations not disclosed e%en to t!e best amon* t!e +asons0 At was t!ere ore @uite possible t!at t!e $rder o t!e 1siatics did in act contain t!ese !i*!er de*rees0 Ce%ert!eless( preparation in t!e t!ree +asonic le%els was a precondition or ascendin* to t!e !i*!er de*rees0 4et w!at were t!e prere@uisites or t!e acceptance o members in t!e +asonic lod*es t!emsel%es5 +unter !ad asserted t!at suc! acceptance depended upon t!e candidate/s ad!erence to t!e )!ristian ait!( and so Jews were ipso acto e6cluded0 T!is contention )arl %an Ec.er undertoo. to dispute( as t!e title o !is wor. e6plicitly s!owsD #erden und konnen $sraeliten zu !re"maurern au genommen werden% 7=ould and s!ould Asraelites be accepted as Freemasons5:0 T!is was t!e irst time t!at t!e problem !ad been aired in public( and Ec.er/s boo. was t!e be*innin* o a w!ole series o publications w!ic! too. up t!e @uestion durin* t!e succeedin* *enerations0 Ec.er/s a irmati%e answer to t!is @uestion was t!e ruit o t!e pre%ailin* circumstances o !is time and !is locality0 #i.e "einric!( )arl re uted +unter/s contention t!at lod*es usin* t!e En*lis! rite !ad ne%er accepted Jews0 An En*land Jews !ad been and were still bein* *ranted members!ip0 "e mentioned t!e names o Jews .nown to !im personally( w!ic! !ad appeared in t!e publications o t!e En*lis! lod*es0 For added support( !e reprinted t!e aut!orization con erred by an En*lis! lod*e on a Jew named >a%id "ertz( in #ondon( on July 2H( 17B70 T!ose lod*es w!ic! !ad accepted Jews conducted t!emsel%es in accordance wit! t!e ori*inal principle o Freemasonry( and !ere )arl %on Ec.er @uoted t!e para*rap!s o t!e constitutions discussed in )!apter AA0 At was true t!at most o t!e lod*es in 9ermany and some in France and Ataly !ad de%iated rom t!is principle0 At !ad been ac.nowled*ed by t!e 9erman Freemasons t!at no lod*e could le*ally unction unless it !ad been aut!orized by t!e 9rand #od*e o #ondon0 4et t!ey !ad adapted t!eir constitutions to t!e conditions e6istin* in t!eir respecti%e states( and t!ese circumstances !ad been responsible or Jews bein* e6cluded rom t!e lod*es since( in 9ermany( discrimination a*ainst Jews was pre%alent e%en amon* Freemasons( occasioned by reli*ious anaticism or !ypocrisy or rom ear o attac.s by anatics0 T!e barrin* o Jews and t!e pre-udice a*ainst t!em also stemmed rom t!eir in erior political status( or Jews !ad not been *ranted citizens!ip in t!e states w!ere t!ey li%ed0 <o ar t!e de ense rested on blamin* t!e opponents o t!e Jews0 4et 9erman Jews t!emsel%es were *uilty to some e6tent0 T!ey la**ed be!ind t!eir bret!ren in En*land( France( and Ataly0 T!ey did not ollow t!e law o +oses( but obser%ed absurd rabbinical customs0 )arl ound ault e%en wit! t!e enli*!tened Jews0 T!ese ostentatiously paraded t!eir culture( yet ound di iculty in liberatin* t!emsel%es rom t!eir ori*inal mentality0 T!ey orced t!emsel%es to discuss scienti ic topics( w!ile t!eir attention remained ri%eted on mort*a*e oreclosures and bad debts0 T!eir %ery sin*son* intonation set t!em apart rom t!e rest o ci%ilized society0 At is wort!w!ile to e6amine t!is ar*ument in its %arious aspects0 "ere we !a%e a description o

an intense emotional re%ulsion in w!ic! elements o actual impressions are mi6ed wit! stereotyped ima*ination0 <uc! portrayals emer*e @uite re@uently in contemporaneous literature( w!ic! dealt e6tensi%ely wit! t!e Jewis! problem and t!e possibility o Jews bein* allowed to enter )!ristian society0 1mon* t!ose in a%or o *rantin* ci%il ri*!ts to Jews( re%ulsion was coupled wit! t!e rational re lection t!at a c!an*e could occur in t!e uture0 )arl %on Ec.er adopted t!is attitude( and so !e was able to -usti y openin* t!e doors o t!e lod*es to Jews0 1t bottom !uman nature was t!e same0 2)!ristians and non-)!ristians ali.e are suitable or t!is instruction Mo t!e FreemasonsN w!ic! includes( basically( w!at is .nown as t!e law o nature w!ic! is impressed on t!e !eart o man by 9odD2 )!ristians( !owe%er( must ta.e t!e irst step0 <ince t!ey !a%e oppressed t!e Jews or so many *enerations( t!ey are now obli*ed to restore !uman di*nity and ci%il ri*!ts to Jews and to remo%e rom t!e latter all t!e blemis!es( w!ic! !ad become attac!ed to t!em as a result o t!eir e6clusion rom society0 1 special responsibility de%ol%es upon t!e Freemasons0 2=!y bar t!e way to Freemasonry a*ainst t!is people-t!e only way per!aps to enli*!tenment( t!e way t!rou*! w!ic! t!ey will more easily become reconciled wit! t!e rest o t!e !uman amily and t!rou*! w!ic! t!ey will mend t!eir !abits and re ine t!eir ways o t!in.in*52 "ambur* Jews( w!o belon*ed to t!e lod*e !eaded by Ec.er( could t!en see t!emsel%es as marc!in* steadily orward( as a result o t!eir +asonic members!ip( toward inte*ration in t!e *eneral( !uman society0 1nd so t!ey certainly did re*ard t!emsel%es at t!e time0 )arl %on Ec.er pointed to t!e anomalous situation0 'recisely t!ose lod*es w!ic! ac.nowled*ed no ot!er +asonic aut!ority t!an t!at deri%ed rom t!e 9rand #od*e o #ondon were t!e ones to deny t!e principles o t!at %ery 9rand #od*e in matters a ectin* Jews0 At is no less parado6ical to see t!e representati%es o t!e $rder o t!e 1siatics( so utterly remo%ed rom t!e rationalism o En*lis! Freemasonry( -usti y t!e admission o Jews by re erence to t!at rite0 An actuality( principles( tendencies( belie s( and ulterior moti%es( all to*et!er in utter disorder( in luenced +asonic attitudes toward Jews( so it s!ould not be surprisin* to ind in t!e !istory o t!e 1siatic lod*es twistin* and %acillatin* and a lac. o consistency0 T!e representati%es o t!e $rder apparently stood t!e test success ully0 T!ey !ad publicly de ended t!e ri*!t o Jews to be admitted to t!eir society and to all +asonic lod*es0 T!e Jewis! participant in t!e leaders!ip o t!e or*anization( Ep!raim Josep! "irsc! eld( maintained !is position in <c!leswi*( and we ind !im t!ere ul illin* an important part in t!e unctionin* o t!e $rder0 <ent in l7B7 by >u.e )arl( !e !ad underta.en an e6tensi%e tour on be!al o t!e $rder0 "e tra%eled to Fran. urt and rom t!ere( by way o Curember* and 8e*ensbur*( to 'ra*ue and Jienna0 1 ter !is return( !e settled in <c!leswi*( but still maintained contact wit! "ambur*0 T!e center o t!e mo%ement was now located in nort!ern 9ermanyD in <c!leswi* under t!e patrona*e o )arl %on "essen( and in Brunswic. under t!e patrona*e o >u.e Ferdinand0 <enior o icials in )arl/s administration were acti%e in t!e $rder( and "irsc! eld made riends e%en on t!is le%el o society0 T!ere( as in Jienna( !is unction was to pro%ide t!e $rder wit! e6ercises in meditation culled rom )abalistic printed wor.s and manuscripts0 1lt!ou*! !e !ad drawn upon ot!ers and !ad e%en accepted assistance rom !is brot!er w!en !e was in Jienna( in <c!leswi* !e relied( at least durin* t!e earlier years( upon !is own resources0 To t!is end( !e orti ied !imsel durin* !is Fran. urt so-ourn wit! t!e necessary te6tboo.s0 At is doubt ul w!et!er anyone else in <c!leswi* was capable o readin* a "ebrew boo. or o e6poundin* t!e te6ts o t!e $rder w!ic! !ad been compiled by t!e ounders in Jienna and were based on )abalistic writin*s0 T!e members needed to understand t!e doctrines o t!eir $rder( and so t!ey( and >u.e )arl( t!eir leader( were orced to depend on "irsc! eld0 "is position now seemed secure because !e was indispensable0 Ce%ert!eless( "irsc! eld did not en-oy peace and @uiet in !is new !ome0 "e was ob%iously more isolated in <c!leswi* t!an !e !ad been in Jienna0 "ere !e was an alien( a orei*ner(

probably t!e only Jew in t!e *roup0 1lt!ou*! t!e Ec.er brot!ers !ad de ended t!e principle o e@uality in t!eir $rder( t!e <c!leswi* members were reluctant to accept its %alidity0 <ome were o t!e opinion t!at( alt!ou*! Jewis! members already in t!e $rder s!ould not be e6pelled( new applicants s!ould not be admitted in lar*e numbers0 1ccordin* to "irsc! eld/s own account( t!e <c!leswi* 2<an!edrin2 re-ected a Jewis! candidate on t!e *rounds o !is reli*ion( and "irsc! eld undertoo. t!e de ense o t!e principle and t!e stru**le to !a%e it implemented in practice0 T!is in ormation is corroborated by anot!er source w!ic! recounts an incident occurrin* in "ambur*0 )arl %an Ec.er sou*!t to obtain +asonic aut!orization or !is $rder rom Ferdinand o Brunswic.( and t!e latter made t!e *rantin* o !is aut!orization dependent upon t!e e6pulsion o Jewis! members rom t!e *roup0 >u.e )arl( w!o wanted to sa%e t!e Jewis! members( proposed t!at t!ey be or*anized in a separate lod*e named +elc!izede.( suc! members!ip bein* intended to con er t!e ri*!t on Jews to %isit )!ristian lod*es0 )arl t!ereby ac.nowled*ed t!e distinction instituted between two types o lod*es by t!e $rder o t!e 1siatics( but wit!out raisin* t!e status o Jews to e@uality wit! )!ristians0 T!e Jewis! members o t!e $rder( w!ose number !ad risen to twenty( re-ected t!e proposal and le t t!e $rder0 >u.e )arl tried to placate t!e Jews( but not at t!e e6pense o !is connections wit! )!ristianity0 T!ou*! !e lon*ed to learn t!e meanin*s o t!e secrets by !a%in* recourse to Jewis! sources( !e belie%ed t!at suc! re%elations would lead !im to trut!s t!at were basically )!ristian0 "einric! %on Ec.er( too( adapted !imsel to t!e <c!leswi* atmosp!ere and made sure t!at !e was seen readin* <cripture wit! all due )!ristian er%or0 9i%en t!ese circumstances( it is not surprisin* t!at "irsc! eld be*an to eel t!at !e was a %ictim o discrimination0 1lt!ou*! rumors spread upon occasion t!at !e !ad been or !ad appeared to be con%erted to )!ristianity( t!e trut! is t!at !e re rained rom ta.in* t!is step0 E%en in !is reli*ious position !e remained an e6ception( as we s!all see later0 Cot e%eryone considered t!is a ault( and se%eral persons in <c!leswi* were attracted to !is uni@ue personality0 Ce%ert!eless( !ere as in e%ery court society( social standin* was determined by t!e mere act o a man/s belon*in* to a particular class or reli*ion0 )arl %on Ec.er/s riends!ip or t!e Jew a%ailed !im not!in*0 T!e !onors con erred on Ec.er( t!e noble( were denied to "irsc! eld( t!e Jew0 <ocial discrimination strained t!eir relations and in t!e end led to an open breac! between t!e two old riends0 >etails and minutiae o t!e @uarrel and t!e resultin* liti*ation do not all wit!in t!e scope o t!is discussion0 An brie ( "irsc! eld sued Ec.er or t!e payment o debts owin* to !im( and Ec.er( in turn( accused "irsc! eld o t!reatenin* !is li e in t!e presence o >u.e )arl0 1s t!e trial pro*ressed( it became e%ident t!at Ec.er =as e6ertin* an increasin*ly stron* in luence on t!e >u.e and t!e o icials conductin* t!e proceedin*s0 >istraint was le%ied on "irsc! eld/s personal e ects and t!e manuscript in !is possession( and !e was placed under !ouse arrest0 T!e $rder o t!e 1siatics( too( turned its bac. on t!e %ery person w!o !ad once been its central spiritual pillar0 At was resol%ed to e6pel "irsc! eld rom t!e $rder( and a circular was sent to all branc!es e6plainin* w!y t!is disciplinary action !ad been ta.en0 T!e le*al proceedin*s and t!e act o e6pulsion clearly re%eal anti-Jewis! o%ertones and warrant our attention as e%idence t!at t!e social status ac@uired by Jews0 E%en in a mar*inal *roup suc! as t!e $rder o t!e 1siatics( was o a doubt ul nature0 An t!e course o t!e trial bot! parties *a%e accounts o t!e !istory o t!eir association and cooperati%e e orts0 Ec.er did not ail to relate !ow !e !ad promoted "irsc! eld( e%en in Annsbruc.( despite !is Jewis!ness0 To re ute "irsc! eld/s contention t!at !e !ad *i%en !im inancial assistance in Jienna and Annsbruc.( and not %ice %ersa( Ec.er in%ited !i*!-le%el ac@uaintances to submit t!eir testimony in writin*0 +any o t!ese letters ree. wit! contempt or t!e Jew( "irsc! eld--and undoubtedly ec!o Ec.er/s call or aid in !is suit as a wron*ed

noble a*ainst a Jewis! e6tortioner0 $ne o t!e Annsbruc. writers stated @uite bluntly t!at in !is locality no Jew would !a%e t!e audacity to institute le*al proceedin*s a*ainst a nobleman o t!e social eminence o Ec.er und Ec.!o en0 1 similar tone is sounded in t!e noti ication o t!e $rder o "irsc! eld/s e6pulsion0 "e was accused( amon* ot!er t!in*s( o !a%in* imposed a Jewis!( )abala-deri%ed pattern on t!e rites o t!e $rder0 T!e aut!ors o t!e circular ac.nowled*ed t!e %alue o )abala as a source or +asonic meditation( but ar*ued t!at t!e ob-ect o t!ese intellectual e6ercises s!ould !a%e been to lead t!e )!ristian ar beyond t!e limits attainable by a Jew0 Cor was t!is all0 A do not !a%e t!e complete te6t o t!e circular( but t!e reaction to it --ot!er t!an on t!e part o "irsc! eld-s!ows clearly t!at its ar*uments could !a%e pro%ed in-urious to all t!e Jewis! members o t!e $rder0 =!at is most interestin* about "irsc! eld as a person and t!e stand !e too. is( t!at( alt!ou*! !e was most sensiti%e to( and would de end !imsel most %i*orously a*ainst( any a ront to !is !onor( !e did not re*ard !imsel as bein* attac.ed as a Jew0 Cor apparently did !e eel t!at !is Jewis!ness !ad played any part in t!e deterioration o !is position0 $nce !is doom !ad o%erta.en !im and !e was imprisoned( !e turned w!ere%er !e could to pro%e t!at !e was innocent and !ad not committed any crime0 4et now!ere is t!ere any indication t!at !e !ad been made to su er because !e was a Jew0 T!is mi*!t !a%e been s!eer simulation( yet it is possible t!at !is er%ent desire to re*ard !imsel abo%e any Jewis!-)!ristian con lict may !a%e in!ibited !im psyc!olo*ically rom identi yin* !is lot wit! t!at o !is people0 T!is neutral attitude may !a%e crystallized wit!in "irsc! eld o%er t!e course o years0 An !is reply to t!e circular/s accusation !e denied t!at t!e )abala was dependent on any positi%e reli*ion( and ar*ued t!at anyone( be !e )at!olic( +oslem( or Jew( w!o occupied !imsel wit! it would t!ereby pass beyond t!e con ines o !is speci ic reli*ious tradition and reac! 2t!e one and only( true( pure( and o%er-all reli*ion0 At is also true in t!is instance t!at !e was !ere *i%in* )arl %on "essen( to w!om !e !ad addressed !is reply( t!e *rounds to belie%e t!at t!e )!ristian would e%entually ind( in t!e aut!entic wisdom o t!e )abala( t!e trut!s o )!ristianity !ereto ore concealed rom t!e ordinary member o t!at reli*ion0 An !is distress( "irsc! eld went so ar as to deny !is own conception( w!ic! !ad been based on t!e belie t!at t!ere was a sin*le( mystic wisdom common to all reli*ions0 "irsc! eld/s obli%ious attitude to t!e attac.s upon !im as a Jew was not s!ared by all t!e Jewis! members o t!e $rder0 =e .now o t!e reaction o one o t!e more important members( t!e wealt!y Berlin ban.er( Atzi*( pre%iously mentioned as bein* acti%e0 "e was one o t!ose to w!om "irsc! eld !ad appealed to e6tricate !im rom !is present predicament0 By usin* !is in luence wit! t!e royal court( Atzi* could !a%e obtained a 'russian *o%ernment position or "irsc! eld w!o would t!en !a%e en-oyed diplomatic immunity0 Anstead o t!is wild plan( Atzi* tried a more direct approac!0 "e addressed a lon* letter to )arl %on "essen to intercede on be!al o t!e distressed "irsc! eld0 "e praised "irsc! eld/s c!aracter and cited +oses +endelsso!n/s encoura*ement o !im as a youn* man in Berlin0 Atzi* also indicated t!at !e was prepared to de ray any costs in%ol%ed in settlin* "irsc! eld/s a air wit! Ec.er( i inancial considerations were in act in%ol%ed0 Atzi*/s plea did not re er to t!e personal instance o "irsc! eld alone0 "e also submitted !is own claims to t!e >u.e in respect to t!e anti-Jewis! accusations w!ic! !ad risen abo%e sur ace in t!e publications o t!e $rder dealin* wit! t!e "irsc! eld a air0 Atzi* protested most %e!emently a*ainst t!e insults !urled a*ainst 2t!e entire Jewis! people( and especially t!e Jewis! bret!ren2 o t!e $rder02 "ow can a ew indi%iduals !a%e t!e e rontery to cast aspersions or t!e second time upon a people wit! w!om t!ey !a%e no ac@uaintance and w!ic! !as no ac@uaintance wit! t!em52 <uc! an attempt !ad in act been made once be ore in t!e wort!less pamp!let #erden und konnen $sraeliten zu !re"maurern au genommen werden% Atzi*/s remar.s pro%e t!at t!e ne*ati%e portrayal o Jewis! c!aracter by )arl %on Ec.er at t!e time in !is broc!ure !ad not *one unnoticed( at least by t!e Jewis! members o

t!e $rder0 At also pro%es t!at t!e circular contained some o t!e %ery alle*ations disseminated by t!e pamp!let( and t!at bot! !ad issued rom a common source--t!e !ands o t!e Ec.er brot!ers0 T!e w!ole a air t!rows a lurid li*!t upon t!e true nature o t!e tolerance o t!e Ec.ers and t!eir li.e0 T!is was a product o cold( intellectual calculation to be destroyed by t!e irst( emotional outburst anned by personal considerations0 =e do not .now w!et!er Atzi*/s protest made any impression on t!e >u.e0 "elp reac!ed "irsc! eld rom an une6pected @uarter0 "is anta*onist( "einric! %on Ec.er( suddenly died in 1u*ust 179l( be ore t!e trial !ad ended0 E%en be ore t!at( !elp !ad been e6tended to "irsc! eld in t!e ield o communication by t!e publication o a boo. entitled &er Asiate in seiner Blosse oder grundlicher Beweis dass die Ritter und Bruder Eingeweihten aus Asien aechte Rosenkreuzer sind 7T!e 1siatic in !is na.edness( or a t!orou*!*oin* demonstration t!at t!e initiated Kni*!ts and Bret!ren rom 1sia are *enuine 8osicrucians:0 T!is ser%ed as t!e last sta*e o t!e contro%ersy o%er t!e acceptance o Jews into +asonic lod*es( at least at t!is period o t!e !istory o t!e problem0 T!e boo.let was anonymous bot! in respect o its aut!or and t!e place o publication0 T!e aut!or proceeds to attac. t!e $rder and especially t!e Ec.er brot!ers on t!e basis o new material w!ic! !ad not been a%ailable to t!e aut!or o t!e 1ut!entisc!e Cac!ric!ten0 "e adduces numerous proo s or t!e assertion t!at t!e 1siatics merely constitute a mani estation o t!e ormer 8osicrucians0 "e re%erts to t!e @uestion w!et!er Jews are it or members!ip( not in t!e Freemasons t!is time( but in t!e 1siatic brot!er!ood0 "e ar*ues t!at t!ey !ad been decei%ed( since t!ey !ad been induced to swear alle*iance to Jesus t!e 8edeemer and !is laws0 Cow t!e aut!or !ad ailed to detect t!e syncretistic intent o t!e $rder( and so !e !oped t!at some Jew would come orward( di%est !imsel o t!e alse oat! !e !ad been unwittin*ly tric.ed into swearin*( and e6pose t!e $rder/s secrets in public0 At is almost certain t!at !e !ad *ood reason to belie%e t!at t!is would !appen0 Ta.in* a de inite stand on t!e "irsc! eldEc.er contro%ersy( !e ar*ued t!at all t!e wisdom o t!e 1siatic $rder !ad been deri%ed rom +arcus ben Bina!( alias "irsc! eld( w!om in t!e end t!e %ery 1siatics t!emsel%es !ad persecuted and imprisoned0 "e called upon t!e )!ristian Freemasons to rally to t!e rescue o t!e %ictim( but at t!e same time indicated anot!er means to secure !is release0 'ascal( "irsc! eld/s brot!er( was still ali%e0 #et !im t!reaten to disclose all t!e secrets o t!e $rder unless !is brot!er was reed0 Ec.er/s deat! put an end to "irsc! eld/s con inement0 "e proceeded to ma.e peace wit! t!e >u.e( and later e ected reconciliation wit! )arl %on Ec.er as well0 T!e >u.e *ranted !im an annuity in lieu o t!e debt owed !im by t!e deceased Ec.er( and still too. an interest in )abalistic material supplied by "irsc! eld( as well as in !is ad%ice on t!e times( a%orable and un a%orable( or en*a*in* in its study0 But "irsc! eld ne%er was restored to !is ormer standin* in t!e $rder( t!e >u.e !imsel stipulatin* t!at !e was to .eep away0 An addition to t!e pre%ious resentment a*ainst !im( "irsc! eld was now suspected o !a%in* been t!e aut!or o t!e e6pose( &er Asiate( w!ic! !ad sub-ected t!e $rder to suc! %icious attac.0 To clear !imsel o t!e suspicion( !e undertoo. to write a pamp!let w!ic! would demolis! all t!e ar*uments o &er Asiate0 =or. on t!is reply became bo**ed down( and "irsc! eld( was called upon to e6plain !is inaction0 T!e trut! is t!at !e was probably not t!e aut!or( but !ad only supplied t!e aut!or wit! t!e material in !is brot!er/s possession to prepare !is de ense0 Co wonder !is stay in <c!leswi* !ad become uncom ortableO But !e !ad become burdened wit! debt--probably because o t!e e6pense o t!e liti*ation--and was unable to lea%e0 "e relied on !is tested meansD an ur*ent call or !elp went out to !is ormer *roups in Berlin and Jienna( and t!ey !astened to !is rescue0 An February 1792 t!ere appeared in <c!leswi* a person re erred to as A0 Ben Jos0 "e was introduced by "irsc! eld as a leadin* member o t!e order0 "a%in* !eard o ( but ne%er !a%in* seen !im( t!e <c!leswi* bret!ren ound it di icult to belie%e t!at !e e6isted0 T!is leadin* brot!er paid EE, t!aler to disc!ar*e "irsc! eld/s debts( and now all barriers to departure

were *one0 "irsc! eld wanted to ta.e ad%anta*e o t!e presence o !is *uest to *ain presti*e0 &n ortunately t!e #and*ra%e )arl was not !ome at t!e time0 <o "irsc! eld introduced !im to all t!e ot!er important members( and t!en too. !im to Brunswic.( !opin* to introduce !im to >u.e Ferdinand0 T!ere t!ey dined at t!e table o )arl %on Ec.er0 >urin* t!e meal t!e *uest was identi ied as a Jew0 T!ou*! !e neit!er denied nor admitted t!e act( all !ope or an audience wit! t!e >u.e %anis!ed0 T!ereupon( "irsc! eld and t!e leadin* brot!er le t nort!ern 9ermany( and we ind t!em in <trasbour* in +ay or t!ereabout0 T!ere t!ey parted company0 "irsc! eld returned to 9ermany( arri%in* in Karlsru!e( !is birt!place( in t!e middle o June0 T!ere !e waited or t!e promised return o t!e leadin* brot!er0 =!o was t!is obscure person5 +olitor/s account *i%es t!e solution by relatin* t!at "irsc! eld !ad accompanied T!omas %an <c!oen eld to <trasbour*D 7w!ere t!ey made t!e ac@uaintance o t!e amous spiritualist <t0 +artin( aut!or o &es erreurs et de la verite:0 From anot!er source we learn t!at <c!oen eld arri%ed in <trasbour* in +arc! 1793( and t!at rom t!en onwards !e appeared under t!e name o Junius Frey0 T!e data a*ree( and t!e acts lea%e no room or doubt0 =!at can reasonably be deduced rom t!em is t!at "irsc! eld/s appeal to t!e %eteran members o t!e *roup led t!em to summon t!e aid o t!e arc!-ad%enturer T!omas %on <c!oen eld0 "e came to <c!leswi* rom t!e city o 2'0(2 t!at is( 'ra*ue( by way o Jienna( Berlin( and "ambur*0 )ertainly !e did not draw t!e money to disc!ar*e "irsc! eld/s debts rom !is own poc.et0 T!e money !ad been raised amon* t!e ric! bret!ren in Jienna and Berlin( w!o !ad in%ol%ed t!emsel%es in t!e issue and rallied to "irsc! eld/s aid0 <c!oen eld too. t!e opportunity to cross into France--or else t!is was !is ori*inal destination( and !is mission to <c!leswi* was later incorporated into !is itinerary0 At is a act t!at !is brot!er and sister -oined !im in 'aris w!en !e arri%ed t!ere in t!e middle o June0 "irsc! eld waited or !im in Karlsru!e0 >eclarin* later t!at !e !ad seen !is bitter end in a dream0 "irsc! eld claimed t!at <c!oen eld mi*!t !a%e been en*a*ed in a mission on be!al o t!e 1ustrian *o%ernment0 T!is suspicion may !a%e been well ounded3 yet it is e@ually possible t!at t!is was a post acto supposition0 $ne t!in* is clearD t!e leadin* brot!er !ad abandoned !is spiritual( or t!e muc! !i*!er sta.es o t!e *reat political ad%enture t!at !ad seized 'aris0 "e died on t!e *uillotine on 1pril E(17930 "irsc! eld/s rescue was t!e last acti%ity( as ar as we .now( o t!e Jewis! *roup wit!in t!e $rder o t!e 1siatics0 T!ere are *rounds to assume t!at Jews continued to lea%e t!e $rder( and t!at t!e $rder itsel went into decline0 <oon a ter "irsc! eld/s departure rom <c!leswi*( t!e $rder lost one o its patrons wit! t!e deat! o >u.e Friedric! o Brunswic. 7July 1792:0 )arl %on "essen li%ed on0 "e did not re-ect t!e doctrines o t!e $rder but turned to ot!er *roups and ideolo*ies or e6planations o t!e +asonic secrets0 "e maintained some contact wit! !is spiritual mentor( "irsc! eld( as or t!e latter( !e settled in $ enbac!--near Fran. urt--t!e center o t!e Fran.ist mo%ement0 From time to time !e tried to interest people in !is spiritual( conceptual system( and in t!e ne6t c!apter we s!all meet t!ese two remnants o t!e $rder o t!e 1siatic Bret!ren in a new conte6t0

)!apter H T!e Fran. urt Judenlo*e T!e $rder o t!e 1siatic Bret!ren was a broad attempt to erect some type o +asonic ramewor. wit!in t!e borders o w!ic! bot! Jews and *entiles would be included0 But it was not t!e only attempt0 An 179,( e%en be ore t!e $rder !ad inally ceased to e6ist( two )!ristians( "irsc! eld and )atter( !ad ounded t!e Toleranzlo*e in Berlin wit! t!e a%owed ob-ect o admittin* bot! *entiles and Jews0 T!ese two men were by no means ori*inal t!in.ers0 T!eir conceptions were a diluted solution o !umanistic principlesD belie in trut!( brot!er!ood( and beauty( mi6ed wit! t!e %esti*es o certain )!ristian doctrinesD t!e all o

man and t!e necessity o !is moral re*eneration0 T!ey e%en retained some o t!e )!ristian symbols current in +asonic usa*eD Jews too. t!eir oat! on t!e 9ospel o <aint Jo!n( not 2on a "ebrew $ld Testament02 Ce%ert!eless( t!e ounders proclaimed t!at 2Freemasonry is obli*ed to brin* Jews and )!ristians closer to*et!er and to eliminate outworn pre-udices0 At is t!eir duty to ma.e Jews( i one may say so( more !uman and to raise t!em to !i*!er le%els o culture02 At was admitted( !owe%er( t!at only suc! Jews were wort!y o members!ip as !ad already approac!ed more closely to )!ristianity and w!ose open ad!erence to t!at reli*ion was only obstructed by amily circumstances0 An t!e eyes o t!e ounders( men li.e t!e Atzi* brot!ers( 'ro essor "erz( and #e%i( t!e ban.er( were considered to it into suc! a cate*ory0 At may be presumed t!at t!ese Jews( and especially Asaac >aniel Atzi*( !ad a !and in establis!in* t!e lod*e0 Ats oundin* possibly may !a%e been rom t!e %ery be*innin* a reaction to t!eir disappointment at t!e anti-Jewis! mood t!en per%adin* t!e 1siatic $rder0 1t all e%ents( Atzi* became busily en*a*ed in searc!in* or a patron or t!e new lod*e0 T!e ounders !ad approac!ed t!e 9rand #od*e o 9ermany to *rant t!em an appro%ed constitution0 T!eir re@uest was re used0 Anstead( Atzi* was able to procure a letter o appro%al rom Kin* Frederic. =illiam--w!ose trusted ban.er !e was-- statin* t!at t!e Kin* consented 2to tolerate t!e lod*e in @uestion and to protect it as lon* as it !arbored no tendencies toward illuminatismus Man order w!ic! !ad *ained notoriety or its social and political e6tremismN and toward Enli*!tenment02 T!is royal patrona*e was not t!e e@ui%alent o actual reco*nition( but at least it allowed t!e lod*e to unction or more t!an ten years and to earn t!e praise o t!e cultured as an or*anization wit! an e6emplary !umanistic *oal0 1 second attempt occurred t!at %ery year 7179A-92:--t!is time in "ambur*0 T!e initiati%e was ta.en openly by a Jew named Asrael0 Co details can be elicited rom any ot!er source( and t!e in ormation on t!e lod*e itsel is mea*er0 Asrael( w!o !ad been initiated as a +ason in #ondon( now wanted to bestow t!e bene it on !is Jewis! bret!ren o an education 2by social contact wit! t!e )!ristians02 "is lod*e was called Toleranz und Eini*.eit( and amon* its members ec!oes o slo*ans o t!e Frenc! 8e%olution could be !eard0 "e ound Jews w!o wanted to belon* to !is lod*e 7we do not .now w!et!er t!ey were ormer members o t!e 1siatic $rder or not: and e%en obtained t!e support o *entile di*nitaries0 4et !e could not *ain reco*nition rom a +ot!er #od*e0 An "ambur*( Berlin( and #ondon !is applications were re used0 T!e e6cuse *i%en by t!e #ondon lod*e or its re-ection was rat!er ironicD aut!orization s!ould not be *ranted to a Jewis! lod*e( since reli*ious @uestions were beyond t!e scope o Freemasonry0 Bot! t!e Berlin and "ambur* lod*es represented a direct attempt to absorb Jews into t!e +asonic raternity0 T!ere were ot!er lod*es( not ounded wit! t!is speci ic purpose in mind( w!ic! accepted Jews de acto0 T!ese lod*es paid no special !eed to t!e accepted +asonic rules and were branded as unaut!orized0 "a%in* until t!en su ered complete e6clusion rom t!e surroundin* society( Jews could loo. upon t!eir admission( e%en to t!ese mar*inal associations( as a si*ni icant social ad%ance0 4et i one aspired to acceptance as an e@ual in t!e surroundin* society( !e could not ail to consider !is admission to a =in.ello*e as a moc.ery rat!er t!an a ul illment0 1 case !istory t!rows li*!t on t!e pre%ailin* state o a airs0 <i*ismund 9eisen!eimer( later to ound t!e Fran. urt lod*e 7to be discussed soon:( described in a letter 7a copy in !is !andwritin* is still e6tant: to >r0 #udwi* Baruc! 7Borne: !ow !e irst made !is way into t!e Freemasons0 "e was a nati%e o Bin*en( and was subse@uently employed by t!e "ouse o 8ot!sc!ild in Fran. urt as !ead cler.0 "e !ad read about t!e Freemasons( and it occurred to !im t!at t!e lod*es mi*!t ser%e as t!e most use ul instrument or unitin* Jews and )!ristians( or at least brin*in* t!em closer to one anot!er0 "e was by nature a %ery practical man( as !e demonstrated later by !is oundin* o t!e Jewis! lod*e( and earlier by oundin* t!e '!ilant!ropin Jewis! sc!ool( w!ic! earned !im e%en *reater renown0 An t!is instance( too( 9eisen!eimer immediately too. steps to carry !is idea into practice0 First !e sou*!t to become

a Freemason !imsel 0 To t!is end( !e tra%eled to Berlin and enlisted t!e aid o Atzi*0 T!e latter recommended !im to a certain *roup--we may %enture t!e *uess t!at it was t!e Toleranzlo*e-and !e was initiated wit! all due ceremony0 1rmed wit! !is members!ip certi icate( 9eisen!eimer now approac!ed a re*ular +asonic lod*e( but !e was %ery politely re used admission0 <lowly t!e realization dawned on !im t!at t!e irst lod*e !ad recei%ed no real sanction and t!at its members!ip certi icate was utterly wort!less( meanin* not!in* to *enuine Freemasons0 "e considered !imsel c!eated( and t!e insult smarted or many years0 At may be assumed t!at t!e !urt impelled !im to press all t!e more ener*etically in !is stru**le to pa%e t!e way or Jewis! entry into t!e le*itimate +asonic lod*es0 =it! t!e spread o t!e Frenc! 8e%olution( new prospects opened up or Jews e%en( apparently( wit!in t!e ramewor. o t!e +asonic mo%ement0 An France itsel all restrictions a*ainst Jews seem to !a%e been li ted completely0 1s t!e con@uerin* Frenc! armies ad%anced into t!e %arious European countries( t!e soldiers( and t!e ci%ilians w!o ollowed t!em( opened +asonic lod*es3 and t!ese Frenc!men be!a%ed in t!eir new en%ironment as t!ey !ad at !ome0 T!e c!an*ed situation is re lected in t!e li%es o t!e ounders o t!e Fran. urt lod*e0 Be ore t!ey opened t!is lod*e( all twel%e o t!em 7ele%en were Jews: !ad been re*istered as members in ot!er lod*esD our 7amon* t!em 9eisen!eimer: !ad been members o #es 1mis Andi%isibles( and one o 1nacreon( bot! lod*es located in 'aris3 our( o two #ondon lod*es( "yram and Emulation3 one( o t!e Frenc!( Trois 'almes( in >armstadtD and one( o t!e Trinite in Fran. urt itsel 0 =e .now t!at 9eisen!eimer *ained admission to t!e 'aris lod*e durin* one o !is business trips to t!at cityD t!e ot!er members probably succeeded in enterin* lod*es outside t!eir !ome towns in t!e same way0 )ertainly members!ip in a distant lod*e was no more t!an a substitute or t!e true ul illment o t!eir desiresD t!ey still aspired to acceptance in t!e lod*es o t!eir own localities0 But t!e Fran. urt lod*es were not open to Jews( e%en w!en t!ey presented t!emsel%es wit! t!e certi icates o aut!orized out-o -town lod*es3 ot!erwise t!ey would ne%er !a%e underta.en to ound a lod*e o t!eir own0 =e accept as reliable t!e remar.s o >r0 Jacob =eil( one o t!e %eteran members( in t!e speec! !e deli%ered in 1B32 on t!e occasion o t!e semi--ubilee o t!e Fran. urt lod*eD 2$ur wor.s!op came about by t!e ounders/ .noc.in* on ot!er *ates in t!eir birt!place0 T!ese were not opened because t!e monopolists o t!e li*!t loo.ed upon t!e belie%ers in t!e $ld Testament as doomed to e%erlastin* dar.ness02 T!e ounders o t!e new lod*e could not( t!ere ore( entertain !ope o obtainin* reco*nition rom any local +asonic body0 1 district lod*e .nown as t!e ?ur Eini*.eit !ad e6isted in Fran. urt since 17B9( and it !as been empowered by t!e +ot!er #od*e in #ondon to open new lod*es in t!e %icinity0 But t!e members o t!e new lod*e !ad to see. aut!orization rom a ar and t!ey communicated( t!rou*! t!e medium o "ypolite )er beer( wit! t!e 9rand #od*e o 'aris0 T!e aut!orization was ormally *ranted on June 17( 1B,70 T!e solemn installation ceremony too. place on June 12( 1B,B( and t!e lod*e t!ereupon assumed t!e name o #o*e de <t0 Jo!n de #/aurore Caissante 7in 9erman( #o*e zur au *e!enden +or*enrot!e:0 8epresentati%es o lod*es rom 'aris( Toulouse( T!e "a*ue( +ayence( +etz( and Bonn--and e%en rom a Frenc! lod*e in Fran. urt itsel --attended t!e ceremonies0 T!e description o t!e installation and t!e te6ts o t!e speec!es --most in Frenc! wit! a ew in 9erman--deli%ered on t!at occasion were printed0 From t!ese records we can ascertain !ow t!e *uests and !osts e%aluated t!e e%ent in w!ic! t!ey !ad played a part( +ost o t!e speec!es were encomiums o Freemasonry--t!e soil destined or t!e culti%ation o brot!erly lo%e( or t!e promotion o %irtue( and so on0 "ere and t!ere( !owe%er( t!e remar.s are directed to t!e present and its bac.*round( as or instance t!e obser%ations o t!e dele*ates rom t!e Frenc! 1mis 8eunis o +ayence and rom one o t!e 'aris lod*es0 T!e irst spea.er described t!e occasion as a day o %ictory or reason( in t!at members o di erent *roupin*s( w!om pre-udice and reli*ious anaticism !ad dri%en apart( were now united0 T!e second praised 2t!e *reat nation( w!ic! !ad pre%iously possessed a ruit ul land(

but is now scattered o%er t!e %arious continents o t!e eart!(2 yet !ad ne%ert!eless succeeded in preser%in* its unity( its reedom( its mode o wors!ip0 +embers!ip in t!e Freemasons( !owe%er( rom now on obli*ed t!e sons o t!is nation 2to double and redouble t!eir e orts( so as to broaden more and more t!e dimensions o t!eir moral per ection Mles relations de la morale 'er ectionneeN by means o a deep eelin* o brot!er!ood0000 Cow all men are e@ual02 1 special si*ni icance was ascribed to t!e e%ent by a )!ristian member( Franz J0 +olitor( w!o !ad -oined t!e lod*e a ew mont!s a ter its inception0 An +olitor t!e lod*e !ad ac@uired a personality o intellectual stature( one able to %iew matters in t!eir p!ilosop!ical perspecti%e0 "is remar.s seem to %acillate between mournin* o%er t!e decline o t!e old world and re-oicin* at t!e dawn o t!e new0 T!e old world consisted o a uni ied e6istential totalityD state( reli*ion( and mysticism 7+asonry:0 T!e ad%anta*e o t!e new world lay in t!e abolition o t!e notion t!at t!ere e6isted 2a natural( absolute di%ision between men0 1ll classes are be*innin* to loo. upon eac! ot!er as brot!ers( and on t!e di erences orced upon t!em by circumstances as !a%in* no substance0 1nd so t!e Allumination o t!e Enli*!tenment penetrates to all classes o society( and estates t!at di%er*e in t!e <tate return united in t!e world o t!e spirit02 An t!e or*in* o t!is unity( +olitor assi*ned an important role to t!e Freemasons0 An t!e political e%ents o !is time--t!e Capoleonic !eyday--!e discerned t!e renewal o t!e ace o t!e eart!0 T!e initiation o t!e lod*e could !a%e been a source o *rati ication to t!e Jewis! members0 =!et!er t!eir re-oicin* was complete is rat!er doubt ul0 1s !as been s!own( t!e )!ristians present at t!e a air were eit!er t!e ew uncon%entional indi%iduals w!o !ad -oined t!e lod*e or else were representati%es rom abroad0 1s or t!e Fran. urt lon*-standin* lod*es( t!e #o*e zur Eini*.eit and t!e <ocrates zur <tand!a ti*.eit( t!ey !ad certainly been in%ited( but !ad sent no dele*ates( statin* e6plicitly t!at t!ey did not reco*nize t!e new lod*e as le*itimate0 'ermission to %isit ot!er lod*es was denied to t!e members o #/aurore Caissante( e%en i t!ey presented t!emsel%es as members o a di erent lod*e0 9eisen!eimer and Baruc! !ad obtained members!ip in a +ayence lod*e( w!ic! was subse@uently in%ited to attend a celebration o t!e <ocrates lod*e in Fran. urt0 T!e in%itation was accepted0 1mon* t!e ot!ers( t!e two Jews were also appointed to represent t!e +ayence lod*e on t!at occasion0 T!e Fran. urt !osts( !owe%er( re used to admit t!e dele*ation to t!eir meetin* !all on t!e *rounds t!at two o t!e representati%es belon*ed to t!e unacceptable #/aurore Caissante0 T!e dele*ates protested to t!e 9rand $rient in 'aris( and a *reat many letters were e6c!an*ed between Fran. urt and 'aris0 Cor was t!is an isolated instance0 Jewis! members o lod*es aut!orized by t!e Frenc! 9rand $rient were con ronted wit! re usals on t!e part o 9erman lod*es0 )omplaints reac!ed 'aris rom t!e 9rand #od*e o Baden and rom ot!ers under Frenc! patrona*e0 T!e entire matter was brou*!t up or discussion in t!e 9rand $rient( w!ic! rendered as its considered and aut!oritati%e rulin* t!at lod*es s!ould not occupy t!emsel%es wit! political or reli*ious @uestions0 1 candidate/s application or admission s!ould be considered on its merits( wit!out re erence to t!e person/s reli*ion0 An t!e deliberations precedin* t!e decision( t!e @uestion was put w!et!er a Jew could be raised to t!e ourt!( <cottis! de*ree( w!ic! possessed a de initely )!ristian c!aracter0 T!e opinion was e6pressed t!at a Jew could not( and would not want to( be accepted into t!at de*ree--but t!e 9rand #od*e members concurred t!at t!is de iciency s!ould e6ert no in luence in respect o t!e irst t!ree de*rees0 1 proclamation issued on June 19( 1B11( brou*!t t!e %iews o t!e 9rand $rient to t!e attention o t!e lod*es( but a%oided all mention o t!e problem o t!e ourt! de*ree0 At merely stated t!e principle t!at a man/s ad!erence to a particular reli*ion was not to a ect !is ri*!ts to members!ip in t!e +asonic mo%ement0 1lt!ou*! t!e course o e%ents w!ic! led to t!e ormation o t!e new lod*e is sel -e6planatory( its si*ni icance becomes e%en more pro ound w!en %iewed a*ainst t!e bac.*round o t!e !istorical e%ents a ectin* t!e Jewis! community at lar*e0 1B,7( w!ic! witnessed t!e oundin* o t!e 2Jewis! lod*e(2 was -ust one year a ter t!e old order in Fran. urt !ad been abolis!ed(

a ter an independent( royal city !ad become trans ormed into a minor principality under t!e tutela*e o Capoleon0 T!is c!an*e mar.ed t!e time or t!e Jews o t!at city to be*in t!eir stru**le or t!e same ri*!ts t!at Jews in France and t!e ot!er re*ions o%errun by t!e Capoleonic armies !ad be*un to en-oy0 "ampered( !indered( and delayed by t!e !esitancy o 'rince >alber* and t!e obduracy o t!e city council( t!e stru**le continued till 1B110 T!e years 1B,G and 1B,7 also saw t!e con%enin* o Jewis! di*nitaries and o t!e 2<an!edrin2 in 'aris0 Fran. urt Jewry participated by sendin* a letter o encoura*ement and by dispatc!in* a dele*ation o two members( one o w!om( Asaac "ildes!eim 7w!o later c!an*ed !is name to Justus "iller:( was a ounder o t!e new lod*e0 <ome o t!e Jewis! community %iewed t!e latest e%ents as !arbin*ers o a radical c!an*e in t!eir political and social status0 1mon* t!ese no doubt were t!e members o t!e new lod*e0 T!e proceedin*s o t!e *roup( li.e all ot!er +asonic acti%ities( were conducted wit! secrecy0 1t t!eir %ery irst meetin* t!e members !ad pled*ed eac! ot!er to silence0 T!e lod*e !ad ne%er entertained any declared political or social ob-ecti%eD ne%ert!eless( it/s oundin* was a si*n o t!e times( and it was so interpreted by t!e more conser%ati%e members o t!e Jewis! community0 1ccordin* to in ormation emanatin* rom 9eisen!eimer !imsel ( !e was placed under t!e ban by t!e rabbi o Fran. urt( ?%i "irsc! "orowitz( w!o li ted it only w!en !e became con%inced o t!e sincerity o 9eisen!eimer/s moti%es0 9eisen!eimer mi*!t !a%e e6a**erated in recountin* t!e di iculties !e !ad to surmount--no actual ban may !a%e been pronounced a*ainst !im0 "is account does( !owe%er( contain an audible ec!o o t!e opposition o t!e conser%ati%e elements to t!is bold inno%ation0 T!e period was one o radical c!an*e0 =!at !ad seemed most improbable be ore now became an accomplis!ed act0 >espite opposition rom wit!in and rom wit!out( t!e lod*e became consolidated wit!in a %ery s!ort time0 A !a%e a copy o t!e members!ip list or 1B11 and t!e roster o lod*es wit! w!om t!e #/aurore Caissante !ad succeeded in establis!in* contact( eit!er t!rou*! mutual reco*nition or t!rou*! t!e e6c!an*e o in ormation0 From t!ese lists( we can *au*e t!e measure o success ac!ie%ed by t!e lod*e on all ronts0 An t!at year t!e lod*e numbered ei*!ty members( t!e o%erw!elmin* ma-ority o w!om resided in or near Fran. urt0 T!eir pro6imity to t!e lod*e permitted acti%e participation in all its a airs0 1 si*ni icant part was played by t!ose w!o !ad settled m Fran. urt in t!e last *eneration( li.e 9eisen!eimer !imsel 0 T!e old( establis!ed amilies were also well representedD t!e 1dlers( <peyers( 8eisses( and <ic!els0 E%en t!e ric!est and most power ul Fran. urt amilies were includedD t!e Ellisons( "anaus( 9oAdsc!midts( and 8ot!sc!ilds0 MFootnoteD <ee t!e rele%ant entries in 1le6ander >ietz( (tamm)uch der !rank urt *uden 7Fran. urt am +ain( 19,7:N <olomon +eir 7w!o a terward mo%ed to Jienna:( t!e second o t!e i%e 8ot!sc!ild brot!ers( became a member i only or a s!ort time0 MFootnoteD 8ot!sc!ild !ad been initiated on June 1H( 1B,9 7Brull(Geschichte( p02H( and resi*ned on +ay H( 1B12 7ibid0 (p03E:0N <e%eral members were o%er orty- i%e years old at t!e time( but t!e ma-ority were between twenty- i%e and t!irty- i%e0 At may con idently be asserted t!at t!e lod*e possessed a particular attraction or a speci ic type amon* t!e youn*er *eneration0 1s or 9eisen!eimer( we !a%e already stated t!at !is moti%es in -oinin* t!e Freemasons were to create some ramewor. wit!in w!ic! Jews and )!ristians could approac! closer to one anot!er( and per!aps e%en become united0 Caturally not all t!e members entertained !is ar-reac!in* intentions0 <uc! aspirations were @uite typical( !owe%er( o intellectuals and ener*etic men o a airs w!o were ea*er to !asten t!e process w!ic! !ad be*un to trans orm t!e Jewis! community in t!e last *eneration or two0 $ t!ese( t!ere were two or t!ree in t!is lod*eD 9eisen!eimer( +ic!ael "ess( principal o t!e '!ilant!ropin sc!ool( and Justus "ildes!eim 7"iller:( w!o !ad raised !is %oice in t!e counsels o t!e 'aris 2<an!edrin2 and w!o !ad been appointed $rator to t!e #od*e0 ln t!e address !e deli%ered on t!e occasion o t!e oundin* o t!e lod*e !e too emp!asized t!e common oundation o all reli*ions( w!ic! di ered rom one anot!er as did t!e di%erse lan*ua*es wit! w!ic! all e6pressed t!e same t!ou*!ts0 1not!er( w!o -oined as early as in 1B,B( was >r0

#udwi* Baruc! 7later Borne:3 but !e wit!drew in 1B11 or some time( and so !is name does not appear on t!e roster o t!at year0 +ost o t!e members were en*a*ed in commerce0 "a%in* recei%ed a practical education( t!ey were well %ersed in worldly a airs0 =it!out bein* committed to any world-s!atterin* ideals( t!ey sou*!t new areas o social contact beyond( i possible( t!e barriers o t!e isolated Jewis! community0 An its social composition and in its spiritual *oals t!e lod*e di ered rom t!e ot!er mar*inal associations w!ic! !ad( in t!e pre%ious *eneration( sou*!t to include bot! Jews and *entiles0 At is almost ob%ious t!at( in c!oosin* between limitin* t!eir de*rees to t!e irst t!ree and institutin* t!e !i*!er ones( or between !umanistic aspirations and mystic or @uasi-mystic doctrines( t!e lod*e decided in a%or o t!e ormer in eac! instance0 >urin* t!e %ery irst sta*e o its e6istence( it was proposed t!at t!e <cottis! rite wit! its !i*! de*rees be instituted( but t!is idea was summarily re-ected0 T!e members e6perienced no special cra%in* eit!er or unra%elin* secrets or or attainin* spiritual ele%ation0 T!eir *oals were ar more modestD to disco%er some social en%ironment o erin* possibilities or associatin* wit! )!ristians( t!rou*! t!e culti%ation o brot!er!ood and riends!ip based on t!e belie in t!e brot!er!ood o man entailed in monot!eism0 T!e new lod*e ul illed t!is unction0 'recisely because it was rom its inception a reaction to t!e e6clusion o Jews rom ot!er lod*es( it stro%e to assume a nondenominational c!aracter0 =it!in a s!ort period o time it succeeded( durin* t!e Frenc! !e*emony( in ac!ie%in* its aims0 $ t!e ei*!ty members o t!e lod*e in 1B11( twenty- i%e were )!ristians0 T!e latter were accorded a distinct priority in t!e mana*in* o t!e lod*e/s a airs3 it was !eaded rom 1B,9 to 1B12 by a )!ristian( Jose <e%erus( and i%e ot!er )!ristian members occupied !i*! o ices in t!e nineteen-member e6ecuti%e committee0 T!e desire to accord t!e lod*e a nondenominational c!aracter is especially noticeable in t!e election o !onorary members( men li%in* elsew!ere w!om t!e lod*e c!ose--presumably wit! t!eir consent--to di*ni y wit! suc! an appointment0 $ t!e i ty w!o recei%ed t!is reco*nition( only i%e can positi%ely be identi ied as Jews0 1ll t!e rest were )!ristians( and we s!all presently ta.e account o t!eir national and social ori*ins0 T!e +or*enrot!e could -usti iably be proud o its connections wit! ot!er lod*es0 <e%enteen maintained reciprocal relations 7a ilies: wit! it( t!at is( t!ese lod*es were prepared to conduct -oint acti%ities wit! it or to allow eac! ot!er/s members to attend meetin*s as %isitors0 1ll se%enteen were located eit!er in 'aris or in =est 9erman capitals w!ic! !ad allen under Frenc! control 7suc! as +ayence( )olo*ne( and +ann!eim:0 Twenty-se%en ot!er lod*es corresponded wit! t!e +or*enrot!e( some rom as ar away as #eipzi*( >resden( Curember*( "anno%er( Bremen( 1msterdam( and e%en Berlin 7>u Bellier:0 =!et!er t!e lod*e was reco*nized as Jewis! or not( it succeeded in attractin* *entile members and in *ainin* access to *entile lod*es0 Ampressi%e as t!is success may !a%e been( it was only an out lan.in* maneu%er rat!er t!an a direct %ictory0 $nly one o t!e twenty- i%e )!ristian members was a nati%e o Fran. urt0 T!e !onorary members( w!o li%ed in ot!er areas( eit!er possessed Frenc! names or were Frenc! soldiers or o icials residin* in 9ermany0 An t!ose years a circle o admirers o France and o Capoleon in particular( !ad emer*ed in 9ermany0 T!ey belie%ed t!at t!e uture o t!eir country was bound up wit! t!e success o t!e new Emperor 'rince >alber*( t!e *o%ernor o Fran. urt rom 1B,G to 1B13( is an outstandin* e6ample o t!is circle0 T!ey adopted new( Frenc! attitudes and were prepared to conduct t!emsel%es accordin*ly in t!eir social relations0 T!is accounts or t!e ability o t!e Fran. urt lod*e to *ain t!e a%or o *entiles o t!e !i*!est ran.0 T!e new outloo. did not by any means penetrate to t!e *eneral citizenry0 Ats population was still loc.ed wit!in its traditional or*anizations and tied to conser%ati%e ideas0 T!e two older lod*es in Fran. urt also still persisted in t!eir stubborn re usal to reco*nize t!e Jewis! lod*e0 T!ey now e%en in%ented some de%ice speci ically aimed at orbiddin* t!e acceptance o Jews0 An 1B11 new ceremonial procedures were introduced in t!e Eclectic )o%enant( w!ic! was !eaded by t!e two Fran. urt lod*es0 1t t!e initiation ceremonies t!is @uestion was now

addressed to t!e candidate or members!ipD 2>o you ac.nowled*e t!at reli*ion w!ic! was t!e irst to open t!e !eart o man to t!e desire M#ohlwollenN or !uman brot!er!ood and w!ic! we call( a ter its sublime ounder( t!e )!ristian M ait!N52 &ntil now Jews !ad been e6cluded de acto3 now t!ey were barred de -ure0 T!at year t!e citizens o Fran. urt !ad been compelled to consent to t!e *rantin* o ci%il ri*!ts to Jews0 T!ey were powerless to resist t!e orce o circumstances( t!e Frenc! con@uest0 4et t!ey made no e ort to conceal t!eir c!a*rin at t!e Jewis! success( and t!ey translated t!eir eelin*s into action in areas beyond state control0 $ne e6pression o t!is resentment was t!e de%ice o t!at year e6cludin* Jews rom t!e +asonic lod*es0 T!e members o t!e older lod*es e%en tried to re%erse t!e process o e%ents0 T!ey petitioned 'rince >alber* to *rant t!em t!e e6clusi%e ri*!t to maintain lod*es in t!e city0 2$nly so will it be possible to remo%e Frenc! in luence and to send t!e Jews bac. to t!e syna*o*ue02 "ow s!ort-li%ed t!e Jewis! success was became mani est wit! t!e political c!an*es t!at ollowed in t!e wa.e o Capoleon/s de eat0 1ll t!e circles t!at !ad emer*ed under t!e rule o t!e Emperor and on w!ic! t!e members o t!e Jewis! lod*e !ad pinned t!eir !opes %anis!ed in an instant0 E%en t!ou*! lod*es were obli*ed to .eep t!eir a airs ree o political in%ol%ement( t!e reliance o t!e Jewis! lod*e on t!e aut!ority o t!e 9rand #od*e o 'aris now appeared as a blemis!0 Co sooner !ad Capoleon su ered !is irst re%erses on t!e battle ield t!an t!e members !astened to eradicate t!e words 2under t!e patrona*e o t!e $rient o France02/ $nce t!e Frenc! retreated rom t!e con@uered territories it was decided ormally to se%er relations wit! 'aris0 E%en in t!e internal a airs o t!e lod*e attitudes became ad-usted to t!e new conditions0 A in pre%ious years t!e members !ad indul*ed in la%is!in* praise in speec! and son* upon !uman brot!er!ood( and e%en at times in mentionin* Capoleon as t!e unite o peoples( t!ey now trans erred t!eir !i*!est approbation to t!e con@uerors o Capoleon( t!e liberators o t!e 9erman at!erland0 E6pressions o patriotic pride in t!e 9erman =ar o #iberation stole into t!e son*s o t!e Jewis! +asons0 1ttac!ment to t!e 9rand $rient was no lon*er desirable0 At is not surprisin* t!at t!e members cast about or some connection( !owe%er tenuous( wit! 9erman patrona*e0 T!is was not easy0 T!ey !ad not!in* to !ope or as ar as t!e ot!er Fran. urt lod*es were concerned0 But li*!t seemed to emanate rom anot!er @uarter0 <ince 1B12 t!e lod*e !ad appointed as its !ead Franz Jose +olitor( a close personal ac@uaintance o Ep!raim Josep! "irsc! eld0 T!e latter still maintained !is connections wit! )arl %on "essen o <c!leswi*( w!o !ad been accepted as t!e !ead o all 9erman Freemasons0 "irsc! eld arran*ed or t!e two to meet( and +olitor set out or <c!leswi*( !is mission bein* to obtain a new constitution and aut!orization or t!e lod*e0 =!et!er )arl %on "essen .new t!at t!e lod*e represented by +olitor was or t!e most part composed o Jews later became a sub-ect or debate0 1t all e%ents( +olitor returned rom !is -ourney muc! more ric!ly rewarded t!an !is ellow members could !a%e dared to e6pect0 First o all( !e brou*!t wit! !im t!e constitution or a lod*e o t!e irst t!ree de*rees to be named a ter <aint Jo!n0 <econdly !e was *i%en a document aut!orizin* t!e ormation o a lod*e to be conducted accordin* to t!e <cottis! rite( to w!ic! t!e lod*e o <aint Jo!n would be subordinate0 An t!eory( t!e lod*e now !ad been raised to a de*ree !i*!er t!an t!at on w!ic! it was maintained durin* its Frenc! a iliation0 For t!e Jews( !owe%er( t!ere was an ob%ious disad%anta*e0 T!e <cottis! rite was distinctly )!ristian in c!aracter( and( t!ou*! t!e act !ad not been stated e6plicitly( it was understood t!at only t!ose w!o ac.nowled*ed )!ristianity could ind t!eir place in it0 1nd e%en t!e lod*e o t!e irst t!ree de*rees leaned toward )!ristianity0 >urin* t!e Frenc! a iliation( candidates or admission too. t!eir oat!( a ter t!e Frenc! custom( on t!e constitution o t!e Freemasons3 now t!ey were orced to swear alle*iance on t!e 9ospel o <aint Jo!n( in accordance wit! t!e practice obtainin* in t!e 9erman lod*es0 An addition( it was laid down t!at t!e two !i*!est o ices( t!e master o t!e lod*e and t!e $rator were to be reser%ed or )!ristians0 T!e Jewis!

members elt trapped0 T!ey were sub-ected to se%ere restrictions in t!eir own !ome0 <ome members were not prepared to submit to t!e directi%e t!at t!ey swear on t!e 9ospel o <aint Jo!n0 =!en +olitor submitted t!e constitution to t!e lod*e( t!ey *a%e notice o t!eir intention to c!allen*e many o its para*rap!s0 T!eir appeal was brou*!t to t!e notice o t!e 'rince0 Jery possibly it was only t!en t!at !e realized t!at !e !ad *ranted aut!orization to a lod*e w!ic!( in t!e composition o its members( was basically Jewis!0 "e was( !owe%er( prepared to compromise0 T!e restrictions in re*ard to t!e +aster remained in orce( but !e would allow a c!an*e in t!e administerin* o t!e oat!D )!apter 1H o 9enesis could be substituted or t!e 9ospel o <aint Jo!n0 At is not di icult to *uess at t!e cause o t!is c!oice0 An t!at c!apter o 9enesis( t!e name o +elc!izede. appears0 1s we !a%e seen be ore( t!is was t!e name *i%en to t!e lod*es ounded by t!e 1siatic Bret!ren( and t!ese lod*es di ered rom t!ose bearin* t!e name o <aint Jo!n in t!at t!ey were open to Jew and *entile ali.e0 )arl %on "essen !imsel !ad applied t!is distinction durin* !is connections wit! t!e 1siatic $rder0 "e !ad allowed a "ambur* lod*e composed o Jews to unction on t!e condition t!at t!e members be .nown as +elc!izede. +asons0 An c!oosin* t!e c!apter mentionin* +elc!izede. as a substitute or t!e 9ospel( !e was !intin* at t!at %ery condition0 T!e new proposal did not placate t!e Jewis! members0 T!ey saw t!emsel%es allin* rom t!e ryin* pan into t!e ire0 A t!e oat! on t!e 9ospel was an outra*e o t!eir reli*ious conscience( t!e new one branded t!em as Jews0 T!ey !ad ounded t!eir lod*e to create some ramewor. t!at would stand abo%e reli*ious di erence( and now t!e distinctions !ad been set ort! in all t!eir star. clarity in t!e %ery rites o t!e lod*e0 1n attempt was made to remo%e t!is obstacle0 1 dele*ation o t!ree members was sent to ne*otiate wit! 'rince )arl0 +olitor was t!e leader( and one o t!e t!ree( Fran. by name( was apparently Jewis!0 4et t!is dele*ation succeeded only in obtainin* concessions t!at were in e ect a urt!er compromise0 )arl a*reed t!at Jewis! candidates s!ould ta.e t!eir oat! on a Bible wit! t!e $ld and Cew Testaments bound to*et!er0 T!e Fran. urt lod*e was duly aut!orized to accept Jews and to raise t!em to t!e t!ird de*ree0 By contrast( t!e <cottis! rite was to be restricted( and it was e6pressly stipulated t!at !ere only )!ristians could enter0 T!e Jews were assured( !owe%er( t!at parallel de*rees would be instituted or t!em0 An addition( t!e document o aut!orization stated t!at t!e assent o t!e 'rince was *ranted wit! t!e !ope t!at( t!rou*! t!e acceptance o Jews in t!e lod*e( 2it would be possible to s!ow t!em t!e pat! to t!e li*!t2--t!e pat!( naturally( to t!e acceptance o )!ristianity0 )learly t!e 'rince and t!e )!ristian members o t!e lod*e( amon* t!em +olitor !imsel ( did not unreser%edly ac.nowled*e t!at Jews were ully it or +asonic acti%ities0 T!ey also apparently clun* to t!e opinion t!at or t!e leadin* positions in t!e Fran. urt lod*e only )!ristians could be eli*ible0 T!e conduct o )arl %on "essen in t!e a air is !ardly surprisin*0 1lt!ou*! !e !ad been an ardent member o t!e 1siatic $rder and !ad sou*!t to insert )abalistic elements into t!e +asonic pattern o symbolism( !e ne%er !ad yielded on t!e pre erred position o )!ristianity as compared wit! Judaism0 =!et!er t!e nature o t!e re@uest addressed to !im !ad been clear rom t!e irst( or w!et!er it only later became apparent t!at !e was dealin* wit! a Jewis! lod*e( !e could not now come to terms wit! t!e situation e6cept by way o concession and compromise0 +olitor/s attitude on t!e ot!er !and lac.ed consistency0 "e !ad ori*inally -oined t!e Jewis! lod*e and subscribed to its principles--t!e complete e@uality o Jew and *entile--on t!e assumption t!at wit!in t!e lod*e all reli*ious di erences would be i*nored0 An t!e address deli%ered at t!e openin* ceremonies in 1B,B( !e !ad up!eld !umanistic principles0 An t!e later period( !owe%er( +olitor came to %iew +asonry as a many--storied construction( t!e upper loors o w!ic! could only be reac!ed by an acceptance o t!e symbols o t!e )!ristian reli*ion0 "is position( t!en( !ad c!an*ed0 An t!e end( !e de%eloped a p!ilosop!ical !istorical system consistin* o a synt!esis o t!e Jewis! )abala and t!e belie s and ideas o t!e )at!olic )!urc!0 +olitor/s retreat rom a simple( !umanistic standpoint occurred between

1B,B and 1B1E0 "e !imsel !ad stated t!at !e !ad be*un to lean in t!e direction o )!ristianity e%en be ore !is trip to <c!leswi*0 "is meetin* wit! t!e #and*ra%e )arl 72only t!rou*! !im did A become a )!ristian2: completed !is c!an*e o !eart0 "ere is t!e e6planation or !is attitude toward t!e new +asonic constitution( w!ic! no lon*er maintained t!e complete e@uality o t!e ad!erents o t!e Jewis! ait! wit! t!e rest o t!e Freemasons0 "irsc! eld/s unction and position in t!e entire episode are somew!at mysterious( t!ou*! by no means ine6plicable0 1s !as been stated( !e was t!e intermediary between +olitor and 'rince )arl %on "essen( and !e did not cease !is be!ind-t!e-scenes manipulations e%en a terward0 "e reported to 'rince )arl on w!at was transpirin* in t!e lod*e and attempted to induce t!e Jewis! bret!ren to accept w!at( t!ey elt( con licted wit! t!eir reli*ious principles0 =e .now o t!is rom a letter written by "irsc! eld on 1pril G( 1B1G( addressed to one o t!e non-Jewis! members( and t!e in ormation is corroborated by +olitor/s testimony concernin* certain details o "irsc! eld/s bio*rap!y0 1ccordin* to t!is letter( "irsc! eld made an attempt to introduce t!e rites o t!e 1siatic $rder in t!e Fran. urt lod*e0 =e can t!ere ore accept as reliable t!e in ormation emanatin* rom a !ostile source t!at( w!ile ne*otiations wit! )arl %on "essen were still in pro*ress( "irsc! eld !imsel initiated se%eral members in t!e 1siatic rite( and t!at !is ailure illed !im wit! *rie 0 =e are amiliar wit! "irsc! eld/s weltansc!auun* rom !is letters 7in print and in manuscript:0 T!is was a Jewis!-)!ristian syncretism based on t!e )abalistic system o ideas( a conception w!ic! !ad ormed t!e oundation or t!e 1siatic $rder rom its %ery be*innin*0 "irsc! eld ad!ered loyally to t!is %iew( and w!en !e came into contact wit! t!e Jewis! lod*e in Fran. urt !e t!ou*!t t!at !e !ad disco%ered ertile soil w!ere !e could implant !is doctrines0 At is not surprisin* t!at !e was deeply disappointed w!en t!e members o t!e lod*e re-ected !is ideas and publicly disowned !im0 T!is disa%owal o "irsc! eld came as t!e result o a pamp!let publis!ed in 1B1G attac.in* t!e Jewis! lod*e w!ile t!e ne*otiations were *oin* on0 T!e anonymous aut!or( .nown to !a%e been >r0 Jo!ann )!ristian E!rmann o Fran. urt( was t!orou*!ly ac@uainted wit! t!e lod*e and its di iculties0 1s ar as !e was concerned( t!e %ery act t!at it was ounded as an a iliate o t!e 9rand $rient o 'aris durin* t!e Frenc! con@uest rendered it suspect( and !e insinuated t!at t!e lod*e !ad repaid( as it were( t!e Frenc! police or t!e courtesy e6tended to it0 "e -eered at t!e panic t!at !ad seized t!e Jews w!en Capoleon was inally o%ert!rown( and !e described t!eir rantic e orts to ind a 9erman patron or t!emsel%es t!rou*! "irsc! eld/s intercession0 Fully *raspin* t!e syncretistic nature o "irsc! eld/s conception( !e accused t!e latter o plottin* by t!is Jewis! admi6ture to contaminate bot! Freemasonry and )!ristianity0 T!e entire ar*ument was per%aded by a !atred o Jews and Judaism in *eneral( and was openly in lammatory in nature( a ter t!e manner pre%alent in anti-Jewis! publications in Fran. urt and t!e rest o 9ermany in t!at year0 E!rmann/s speci ic contribution to anti<emitic literature was to cast suspicion on t!e Jews as penetratin* into t!e +asonic mo%ement so as to con%ert it into an instrument or world domination0 T!e title o t!e broc!ure loudly proclaimed its purposeD &as *udenthum in der +aurere", eine #arnung an alle deutschen -ogen 7Jews in Freemasonry( a warnin* to all t!e 9erman lod*es:0 T!e members o t!e +or*enrot!e could not a ord to i*nore t!is attac.0 An reply t!ey publis!ed an e6cerpt o t!e minutes o t!e lod*e meetin* !eld on 1u*ust 13( 1B1G( w!ic! e6pressed t!eir %i*orous protest a*ainst t!e alle*ations o t!is a*itator0 )oncernin* t!e aims o t!eir lod*e( t!ey declared t!at it !ad con ined itsel to t!e t!ree basic de*rees( and !ad operated in con ormity wit! t!e principAes o t!e +asonic constitution( t!e purpose o w!ic! was to 2 oster true culture and !umanity amon* men02 T!e lod*e !ad ne%er occupied itsel wit! speculations or alc!emistic pursuits( rabbinic or ot!erwise0 Co indi%idual by t!e name o "irsc! eld was a member0 T!is declaration a%oided any re erence to pre%ious !esitations about introducin* t!e <cottis! rite( and it denied all .nowled*e o "irsc! eld as i !e !ad ne%er !ad any connection wit! t!e

lod*e0 True( t!e entire episode now belon*ed to t!e past0 By t!e time t!e reply to E!rmann was made public( all connections wit! )arl %on "essen !ad been cut o ( and t!ere was no lon*er any need or "irsc! eld to act as intermediary0 T!e dele*ation !eaded by +olitor !ad returned in t!e middle o June( and immediately a terward elections were !eld or t!e 29rand +aster o t!e )!air02 >espite t!e stipulation t!at t!is o ice be reser%ed or )!ristians( a Jew( )arl #eopold 9oldsc!midt( was elected to ill it0 An reaction to t!is c!oice +olitor brou*!t a notice rom t!e 'rince wit!drawin* !is aut!orization and orderin* t!e lod*e to disband0 T!e members re used to obey( and sou*!t to *ain time by endea%orin* to establis! direct contact wit! t!e 'rince0 An reality t!ey despaired o continuin* to unction under !is auspices( and were loo.in* about or !elp rom ot!er @uarters0 9oldsc!midt succeeded in communicatin* wit! t!e +ot!er #od*e o #ondon0 $n +ay 22( 1B17( !e was able to report to !is collea*ues t!e *ood news t!at !e !ad in !is possession a letter o aut!orization si*ned by 1u*ust Frederic.( >u.e o <usse6( w!ic! empowered t!e Fran. urt bret!ren to operate as a +asonic lod*e wit!out any restriction0 T!is reco*nition seemed a si*nal %ictory0 T!e con licts wit! )arl %on "essen !ad placed t!e %ery e6istence o t!e lod*e in -eopardy0 Cow( by %irtue o its connection wit! #ondon( it could sa ely continue to unction as ully aut!orized0 4et its bein* once more compelled to see. support rom abroad only ser%ed to emp!asize t!e wea.ness o its position0 =!at t!e lod*e really wanted to ac!ie%e( ultimately( was t!e reco*nition o t!e local lod*es in Fran. urt and nearby states( and t!e admission o its bret!ren as welcome *uests( per!aps e%en as ull- led*ed members0 4et t!e ?ur Eini*.eit ormally disputed t!e %alidity o t!e #ondon aut!orization0 T!is lod*e( as we !a%e seen( was *ranted t!e power by t!e +ot!er #od*e o #ondon to *rant aut!orization to ot!er lod*es in t!e Fran. urt re*ion0 T!e members ar*ued t!at by accedin* to t!e re@uest o t!e +or*enrot!e( t!e +ot!er #od*e !ad bro.en its si*ned a*reement and committed an ille*al act0 To t!is alle*ation( t!e +ot!er #od*e replied t!at t!e Eini*.eit itsel !ad e6ceeded its aut!ority by institutin*( in contra%ention o t!e principles o t!e +ot!er #od*e( t!e statute o e6clusion a*ainst Jews0 Cor did t!e contro%ersy end t!ere0 8elations between t!e two became pro*ressi%ely more strained until t!ey were inally sundered0 T!e Fran. urt ?ur Eini*.eit( to*et!er wit! t!e <ocrates lod*e w!ic! was bound to it by t!e Eclectic )o%enant( proclaimed itsel an independent +ot!er #od*e in 1B23( and was reco*nized as suc! by t!e ot!er 9erman +ot!er #od*es0 1 circular letter renouncin* connections wit! #ondon in conse@uence o t!e aut!orization *ranted t!e +or*enrot!e bristled wit! anti-Jewis! animosity t!at !ad inally succeeded in brea.in* t!rou*! to t!e ran.s o t!e Freemasons t!emsel%es0 T!e )!ristianity o +asonry was no lon*er ad%anced as t!e prete6t or denyin* access to Jews0 Cow Judaism was branded as t!e dis@uali ication0 At is common .nowled*e( t!e circular stated( 2t!at t!e essence o Judaism cannot be reconciled wit! Freemasonry(2 and it protested a*ainst 2Jewis! inter erence in Freemasonry2--a wordin* bot! %enomous and insultin*0 T!e strained relations between #ondon and t!e ?ur Eini*.eit on account o t!e Jewis! lod*e did not in*ratiate t!e Jewis! lod*e wit! its non-Jewis! counterparts0 E%en lod*es t!at !ad no ormal cause or complaint a*ainst t!e 9rand #od*e o #ondon resented its inter erence and re used to reco*nize its aut!orization0 9erman lod*es near and ar re used to !a%e anyt!in* to do wit! t!e Fran. urt +or*enrot!e( and protests and warnin*s not only emanated rom t!e district lod*e o Fran. urt but were issued in t!e name o t!e t!ree 9rand #od*es o Berlin0 )ondemned to utter isolation( t!e Fran. urt lod*e became almost totally Jewis!0 $nce t!e 'rince wit!drew !is patrona*e( +olitor and !is associates le t and ormed a lod*e o t!eir own0 1 ew )!ristians still remained be!ind0 T!ese ser%ed as a ront( symbolizin* t!e nondenominational c!aracter o t!e lod*e w!en t!e occasion arose0 An 1B2, t!e lod*e entertained an important *uest( +irza 1bdul K!an( t!e 'ersian ambassador0 T!e reception committee consisted o t!ree membersD a )at!olic( a 'rotestant( and a Jew0 T!e 9rand +aster o t!e )!air deli%ered an elo@uent address on t!e unction o Freemasonry( namely

2to unite in a brot!erly( purely !umanistic co%enant t!at w!ic! di erences o tribe( nation( and mode o wors!ip could di%ide but not split asunder02 But suc! e%ents and declarations could not rescue t!e lod*e rom isolation0 +embers w!o tried( by %irtue o t!eir belon*in* to t!is reco*nized lod*e( to -oin in t!e acti%ities o ot!er lod*es in t!eir city or elsew!ere( were met wit! a irm re usal0 T!e +or*enrot!e members were entitled to in%o.e t!e protection o t!e +ot!er #od*e in #ondon( w!ic! could !a%e repaid in .ind t!e re usal to admit members en-oyin* its patrona*e0 <uc! an attempt was made( and in 1B2, t!e +ot!er #od*e sent a warnin* to t!e i%e "ambur* lod*esD i t!ey persisted in denyin* admission to members o t!e Fran. urt lod*e( t!e same treatment would be meted out to t!eir members in En*land0 T!ese pressure tactics( !owe%er( ac!ie%ed no tan*ible results0 T!e members o t!e Jewis! lod*e ound some consolation in t!eir own acti%ities0 T!eir stron* co!esion con erred bene its upon t!em( e%en in areas beyond t!e scope o +asonic acti%ities( and t!eir dependence on t!eir own lod*e ser%ed as a basis or or*anized mutual aid0 1lready in 1B19( t!ey !ad ounded t!eir <ustentation-Fond 7mutual aid und: w!ic! was open to paidup members upon t!e additional payment o an entrance ee o 1,, *uilders0 T!e purpose o t!e und was to assist members in time o need( and to !elp support t!eir widows and orp!ans w!en t!ey died0 An t!e preamble to t!e constitution( t!e reason or restrictin* members!ip in t!e Fond to lod*e bret!ren was *i%enD +asons !a%e a special duty to !elp one anot!er0 Force o circumstances or ree c!oice limited t!e lod*e to intramural acti%ities0 At !ad abandoned or t!e time bein* any attempt to breac! t!e walls o alienation surroundin* it0 1nd i it did so by desi*n( t!is was wit! t!e ull reco*nition o t!e e6istin* reality0 T!e e6clusion o Jews permeated all public li e in 9ermany0 <tru**lin* a*ainst t!e status @uo o ered no prospects o success0 T!e student societies( .nown as )urschenscha ten( a ter many debates and muc! !esitation decided upon t!e e6clusion o Jews rom t!eir ran.s0 1ll types o or*anizations( rom learned societies to sports clubs and newspaper-readin* circles( enacted t!eir statutes o restriction0 1s or t!e Freemasons( t!e @uestion o )!ristian principle was ne%er absent rom t!eir deliberations and ound its way into all t!eir literary or*ans0 "ere t!e problem re%ol%ed round t!e %ery de inition o t!e aims and essence o t!e entire $rder0 4et e%en in t!at epoc!( t!ere was no complete deart! o wei*!ty opinion w!ic! sou*!t to base Freemasonry on elements independent o any positi%e reli*ion0 $b%iously t!e members o t!e Fran. urt lod*e deri%ed encoura*ement rom suc! openly e6pressed %iews( -ust as t!ey drew support rom t!e declaration o t!e #ondon +ot!er #od*e t!at t!e e6clusion o members rom lod*es on account o reli*ion was an 2un-+asonic act02 An 1B27 t!e Fran. urt lod*e issued a circular--t!e wor. o t!e intellectuals amon* t!e membersD +ic!ael "ess( Jacob =eil( +ic!ael )reizenac!( and #udwi* Borne--containin* an e6position o t!e principles ollowed by t!e lod*e in conductin* its +asonic acti%ities0 T!e circular protested %e!emently a*ainst t!e 2mysticism2 t!at was penetratin* +asonry( w!ere mysticism was e@uated wit! )!ristian content0 4et a*ain no perceptible results were ac!ie%ed0 Cor did any positi%e results emer*e in conse@uence o t!e %iews o )!ristian Freemasons w!o tried to draw a distinction between t!eir ad!erence to t!e +asonic mo%ement and t!eir loyalties to t!eir own reli*ion0 For all practical purposes t!e principle o )!ristian e6clusi%eness was securely entrenc!ed in t!e 9erman Freemason mo%ement durin* t!ose years0