Cologne Charter

Use in the book

The quoted account names supposed signatories and describes an organization older than the Templars. Clymer’s source acknowledges that the document has provoked contention, then uses its statements within the wider hidden-tradition argument. The document’s alleged date is therefore doing important work: it would move the attested fraternity far earlier than the modern Grand Lodge narrative.

Places to read

1. Foundations of Mystic Masonry · Block 123… “of dissension, amongst Masons, is the celebrated ' Cologne Record,' which is dated 1535, and in which an Order of St. John is noticed. This Charter has been a veritable bone” …
2. Foundations of Mystic Masonry · Block 124“159. "In the record there is the name of Philip Melancthon — the friend and co-worker of Martin Luther — who appears as a Brother in the Order of Freemasons. This” …
3. Foundations of Mystic Masonry · Block 127“161. "Amongst other deeply interesting matter, the 'Charter of Cologne' contains the following passage:”
4. Foundations of Mystic Masonry · Block 128“162. " ' The Brotherhood, or the order of Freemason Brothers, bound together according to St. John's Holy rules, traces its origin neither from the Templars nor from any other spiritual” …
5. Foundations of Mystic Masonry · Block 129“163. "According to the record, the following reason was given for the adoption of the name: The Masters of this confederation were called the St. John's Brethren, as they had chosen” …

In this edition

Cologne Record and Charter of Cologne are treated as names for the document discussed here. The entry does not silently authenticate its signatures.

Reading the argument

The date claimed within or for a document is not the date of its authenticated manufacture. The charter should be described as disputed rather than treated as secure proof of a sixteenth-century institutional chain.

Related texts

The later expanded Mackey encyclopedia’s Cologne Charter article, credited to E. L. Hawkins, reports substantial doubts about authenticity. This critical comparison is distinguished from Mackey’s own earlier Symbolism of Freemasonry.¹⁹

Cologne

“Cologne” — 3 occurrences in 3 text blocks: F.107, 123, 127.

Cologne Record

“Cologne Record” — 1 occurrence in 1 text block: F.123.

Charter of Cologne

“Charter of Cologne” — 1 occurrence in 1 text block: F.127.

Charter

“Charter” — 3 occurrences in 3 text blocks: F.123, 127; R.15.