Ancient Mystic Oriental Masonry

87.When Frederick II. came to the throne, seeing that Freemasonry was no longer what it had been, and appreciating what it might be, he conceived the plan of ^[69] an Inner Order or Circle, which might at the same time take the place of a Masonic Academy. He made choice of a certain number of Masons capable of comprehending his ideas, and charged them with the organization of this body. Among these were to be noticed the brothers Stahl, de Gone, Meyerotto and du Bosc. They instituted the Order under the name of an extinct society, The Architects of Africa, and established statutes in accordance with the views of the King, who on his side granted privileges, and in 1768 had erected in Silesia, by his architect, Meil, a building specially designed for the Grand Chapter, and en-dowed it with an ample fund, with a choice library and rich furniture, the whole being of an elegance worthy of the Order and of the Kind.

88.This Order, without pretending to dominion, teaching tolerance, professing the primitive principles of Freemasonry, and making a special study of its history, prospered in silence and in complete freedom. Its chief statutes were to fear God only, to honor the King and to be discreet, to exercise universal tolerance towards all Masonic sects without ever affiliating itself to any. It was for this reason that they never submitted to the act of obedience of the Baron de Hund, notwithstanding all the entreaties that were made to them to do so. In the admission of candidates they observed the strictest caution. It is said that Duke Ferdinand of Brunswick was refused because he meddled with sectarian affairs. They devoted themselves to active researches into the history of the mysteries, the secret societies and their various ^[70] branches, and cultivated the sciences, chiefly mathematics. In their works, carried on often in Latin, reigned morality, a high tone, a solid and unostentatious teaching.

89.Their library and their archives obtained through the protection of the King and of persons of distinction, among others the Prince von Lichtenstein, at Vienna, some real treasures of manuscripts and documents, which no Masonic branch can boast.

90." Few monarchs have more thoroughly protected the Mystic Schools within the Masonic body than Frederick II., King of Prussia, well named 'The Great. ' Not only did he protect them, but he also actively sympathized with them. While still Crown Prince, he was initiated as a Mason at Brunswick in August, 1738, and was from that period the staunch protector of the Masonic Fraternity; nor did he omit to penetrate very deeply into the early traditions of Masonry, far more so, indeed, than many who have fewer duties to engage their time.

91."Frederick the Great, was, however, by no means, the vague and dreamy Mystic of popular representation; his Academy and Schools were the centers of the most brilliant intellects of the period, while the choice of his friends, literary, philosophical, and mystic, testifies to the breadth of his knowledge, and it also illustrates the manifold sympathies of his nature, both as a soldier and mystic, philosopher and scholar; though not saintly, by any means, he was thoroughly appreciative of ideals that were beyond him.

92." His sympathy with mystics is evidenced by his ^[71] selection of a librarian, for he gave that post at the Royal Public Library in Berlin, with the title of Academician, to Don Anroine Joseph Pernetty, or Pernty, a man who had been a Benedictine monk of the Congregation of Saint-Maur, but having become — like many others — dissatisfied with the Order, he applied to the Pope for a dispensation from his vows. This was no obstacle in the eyes of the King, deeply interested as he was in the researches of this well-known Hermetist and Alchemist.”

93.That the opinions of Don Pernty were publicly known is demonstrated by a writer of the period, who says: *