THE ROMANTIC PERIOD EFFECT ON MASONRY

What were the influences? Regicide? Epidemics? The Great Fire? Or perhaps it was the by-product of what became the age of Enlightenment? The arts show us thinking was changing. It also shows for practical men, the purpose of values lie not in the thought but in there application. For that, the world would need to wait for society to be influenced, church and state. So in a way, we are taught the power of all estates is held by each individual subscriber. As their needs change, their support changes. Thankfully we are of an Order that thought to focus on enduring priniciples. Through time, men and their societies have adapted or not. Sustaining structures adapt. Rigid structure fails, leaving us a reminder. It never occured to me that the purpose of freemasonry was freemasonry but I suspect this is not wide spread. For many nice men that I encounter, their pride and purpose rests inside the social conviviality of. a mason lodge. It is naive to suggest masonry magically stopped being influenced by the greater society. We are after all, human. Legitimacy, authenticity, what we can tolerate changes over time. The struggle for some is to maintain the best parts of our past. That way we assciate what was, with what will be.