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          THE ROYAL SOCIETY AND MASONRY
          by
          Bobby J. Demott, M.P.S.
          
          Universities during the 13th and 14th centuries taught the
          "Natural Philosophy" as handed down from Aristotle (384 to
          322 B.C.) and the assumed facts as promulgated by the
          popes. However, men of science were collecting data,
          making calculations and conclusions regarding the universe,
          some of which were at odds with the teachings of the
          Catholic Church. Roger Bacon, in about 1280 A.D.
          emphasized that learned people should look more toward
          experimentation and observations from nature, and less on
          books of the old philosophers if mankind was to progress.
          Some university professors were opposed to the new
          movement, maintaining that such action would tear down the
          centuries-old teachings of the old philosophers. 
          Nicolaus Copernicus, a distinguished churchman, lawyer
          and physician, concluded that the sun was the center of the
          universe and that the earth and stars revolved around it.
          Though he reached this conclusion possibly as early as
          1513, he knew it was contrary to church teaching. His book,
          "The Revolution of the Heavenly Orbs," was printed in 1543,
          a few days before his death. This book, being contrary to
          church teachings, was rejected by both Catholics and
          Protestants. 
          In 1564 two great men were born: William Shakespeare in
          England, and Galileo Galilei in Italy. Though they worked in
          different areas, both had a profound influence upon society.
          Galileo learned of a Flemish invention, a spy-glass, which
          magnified objects to three times their size. He improved on
          this and used it for the advantage of merchants in Venice
          who used it to see approaching merchant ships when they
          were still far at sea. He also began to observe the stars, the
          moon and the sun. He used the scientific method of building
          a machine to do a job, collecting the data, doing the
          calculations and drawing a conclusion. He soon concluded
          that Copernicus was correct in his assumption regarding the
          universe. The Church began as early as 1611 to collect
          information on Galileo for a possible inquisition. Galileo
          went to Rome in 1624 and conferred with the pope on six
          different occasions. The pope refused to by-pass the
          church's prohibition of Copernicus' theory. But Galileo
          hoped that the pope would merely permit these new findings
          to flow quietly into the church, as had happened with other
          theories. However, the good scientist was well blessed with
          faith that the truth would prevail and little blessed with
          knowledge of the practical side of politics.
          Finally in 1632 Galileo's book " Dialogue of the Great World
          Systems", was printed, not in Latin, but in Italian, the
          language of the people. On September 4, 1632 he was
          summoned for an inquisition. Galileo was threatened with
          torture and finally wrote (though it is not signed) a
          recantation of his findings. He was sentenced to spend the
          rest of his days in his villa near Florence under house
          arrest. He died in 1642, the same year that another great
          scientist, Isaac Newton was born in England on Christmas
          Day.
          The fate of Galileo, especially in the minds of scientists
          around the Mediterranean area, caused a quietness of the
          activities of others, though persons discussed their findings
          in manners and places which would not be evident to the
          Church. 
          By the mid 1600's the center of commerce of the world
          shifted to northern Europe, as Galileo had predicted. These
          countries were not ruled by autocratic methods, as was Italy.
          King Charles I who had ruled with the thought that he was
          responsible only to God, not Parliament nor the people, was
          executed on January 30, 1649, and on May 19, 1649
          Parliament declared England a Republic. Oliver Cromwell
          commanded the army of some 50,000 men who kept order.
          He was the Lord Protector, practically the king of England,
          the most powerful man in Europe. He died in 1658. The new
          parliament, in 1660, called upon exiled Charles II, son of the
          executed sovereign, to become king.
          Francis Bacon (1561-1626) in 1620 wrote "Novum
          Organum" (The New Organon) in which he proposed a new
          method as to how science should be conducted. Though his
          contribution was philosophical and not scientific, he was the
          formative influence in the minds of men who would form the
          "Royal Society." Bacon was convinced that learned men
          should do experiments in various disciplines, yet coordinate
          and report their activities to others. Bacon mentioned
          experiments of "light" and experiments of "fruit." Today we
          might call these basic research and applied research. The
          light refers to scientific facts applicable to many situations.
          The fruit refers to the applications of these basic facts to the
          benefit of man. Bacon mentioned astronomy, optics,
          medicine and "human philosophy," the latter term alluding to
          the fields of psychology and sociology. Bacon also
          encouraged the tabulation of data so that natural laws might
          be derived from them. 
          Robert Boyle (1627-1691), the first person to distinguish
          between an element and a compound, was also a member
          of the experimental club. He coined the phrase "Invisible
          College" to denote a small society which existed in London
          in 1646-47. John Evelyn, a member of the group, was the
          person who suggested the title "Royal Society." Christopher
          Wren began his studies at Wadham in 1649 at age 17,
          receiving his training from Wilkins. 
          According to Sprat, John Wallis, an mathematician in
          London, described meetings in London which began about
          1645 designed to incorporate the objectives of the Invisible
          College into a Royal Society. Several other societies or
          clubs preceded the formation of the Royal Society. Galileo
          was a member of one such group in Italy.
          In response to criticism of university professors to the
          movement, Joseph Granvill told a story of a man who was
          having an argument with his wife, during which he said "I
          saw it. Shall I not believe my own eyes?" to which the
          woman replied "will you believe your own eyes before your
          own wife?" Granvill then suggested that the critic would
          have us believe Aristotle in preference to our own eyes.
          ("Plus Ultra")
          "The wonder is, that, working without even elementary
          instruments of modern accuracy, and confronted on all sides
          by hostility - academic, religious and political - they were
          able to keep their eye on the object and achieve what they
          did." (Sprat) Granvill, a Fellow in the Society and a
          clergyman, was accused of atheism and wrote a book "Plus
          Ultra," in which he defended the many actions of the
          Society.
          The Society was sometimes looked upon as devoting its
          time to foolish wisdom. Gay King Charles once stayed an
          hour or two at Gresham College laughing at men for
          spending time only in the weighing of air. ("Plus Ultra" p v)
          The Royal Society was engaged in a war against ignorance
          and false opinions and showed no favoritism on the basis of
          country, interest or profession of religion. The Royal Society
          was without distinction of class, party, creed or race. This
          came at a time when public office and the learned
          professions were barred to all those who did not conform to
          the Established Church of England. The Royal Society had
          publicly repudiated such a limit on its membership. (Purver
          p. 152)
          The group proposed to publish their findings, but required
          all members to take an oath of secrecy for those findings
          deemed by the Society not appropriate to be made known to
          the public.
          In 1664 committees were assigned as: Mechanical,
          Astronomical and Optical, Anatomical, Chemical,
          Agricultural, Histories of Trades (Accounts of Craft), Library,
          and Correspondence. Basic experiments were conducted on
          animals, air, wind, sea water, fresh water, specific gravity,
          water pressure and sound transmission in water.
          Tradesmen were admitted to membership, but the nature of
          their activities were not such as would be amenable to
          craftsmen, therefore the far greater number were
          'Gentlemen', free and unconfined.
          In 1646, twenty years after Bacon's death, a group began to
          meet as the Oxford Experimental Science Club, usually in
          the home of one of the members, in the Quarter for Soldiers,
          or in the King's Return. Other predecessors to the Royal
          Society met at Gresham College, and Wadham College.
          Dr. John Wilkins, a professor at Wadham College and a
          member of the Club, had a magnetic personality and a
          stature which attracted others and commanded attention. He
          married Oliver Cromwell's sister in 1656. In 1638 Wilkins, at
          age 26, published a book on the moon and predicted that
          man would some day journey to that place. Wilkins was the
          "Architect" for the Royal Society as he had been a strong
          member of the Oxford Club, which in 1652 had 30 members. 
          Wilkins and Christopher Wren used a telescope 80 feet
          long, 'to see the whole moon'. Wren's drawings of magnified
          flies, fleas and lice were received with delight even in
          foreign countries. He studied the effects of infusing Liquors
          into the veins of animals. Had Wren not made such a
          contribution to the rebuilding of London after the great fire of
          1666, he might well have been remembered for his research
          in biology. Matthew Wren, a cousin of Christopher, and a
          member of the group, published a report in 1659 on Popular
          Government.
          Wilkins was indeed familiar with the Society, but inasmuch
          as he was a brother-in-law to Cromwell who had served as
          Protector (king) of England between the time of the
          execution of Charles I in 1649 and the coronation of his son
          Charles II, he was in no position to approach the king in
          regard to a charter for the Royal Society. These were
          conducted by Sir Robert Moray, a Royalist, who was with
          Charles II during his exile. On November 28, 1660 in
          Laurence Rooke's room at Gresham College, the Society
          was formerly constituted. 
          The first Charter, written in Latin, issued by Charles II for the
          Society was obtained in 1662, but, characteristically, the
          members found it unsuitable. The second, issued in 1663,
          named the group as "The Royal Society of London For
          Promoting Natural Knowledge" and the King declared
          himself its Founder and Patron. On May 20, 1663 there were
          115 members, 12 of whom had the rank of baron or above.
          By 1667 there were 191 members, including the King. The
          group was generally known as The Royal Society, a name
          which it has used for over three centuries.
          During this period of time the Royal Society flourished with
          members such as John Locke, Isaac Newton, and Sir
          Christopher Wren. Their efforts were a continuation of those
          of Bacon, Copernicus and Galileo. 
          During the formative years of the Society, religious divisions
          were prominent in England. The Society took a neutral
          stand, was without distinction of class, party creed or race.
          Coming at a time of strong discrimination against Non-Aglicians, the Royal Society was the only learned society
          which admitted men of all religious faiths. It attracted to itself
          many of the gifted and powerful minds of the time.
           Sir Christopher Wren, a founding member of the Society,
          thought by some writers to be a Freemason, but disputed by
          others, gave his services to the city of London following the
          great fire of 1666. Wren was able to attract craftsmen from
          all over England to come to London and help rebuild the
          city. Wren was the architect of St. Paul's Cathedral which
          was completed in 1711, six years before Freemasonry
          became public.
          The constitution of the Grand Lodge of England was written
          in London by these men of science and architecture. The
          early sign of the Freemasons was the Seal of Solomon, later
          changed by omitting the horizontal bars. When the
          speculative Masons entered the group, the letter G, for
          geometry, was added because so many of the teachings of
          the group were related to mathematics, the builders trade,
          and their moral implications. 
          On July 29, 1714, John Theophilus Desaguliers, Grand
          Master of England in 1719, was elected as a Fellow in the
          Royal Society. He published many research papers between
          1714 and 1743 which are printed in the "Transactions" of
          the Society. He published books which were the substance
          of his lectures with descriptions of the most useful machines
          and philosophical (physical) instruments. One such device,
          The Planetarium, a model of the solar system, is pictured in
          the book by Hamill and Gilbert. Desaguliers served as
          Chaplain for several members of royalty and died on
          February 29, 1744. On one occasion he was in the company
          of a man who was prone to use vulgar words and on each
          utterance he would apologize to his distinguished guest.
          Finally the old Mason responded as : "Sir, you have taken
          some pains to render me ridiculous, if possible, by your
          pointed apologies; now sir, I am to tell you, that if God
          almighty does not hear you, I assure you, I will never tell
          him." 
          Sir Francis Drake was born in 1695 and died in 1770. He
          was a surgeon and was made a Fellow in the Royal Society
          on June 10, 1736. He published several essays in the
          "Transactions" of the Royal Society. In 1726, when he was
          Jr. Grand Warden of the Grand Lodge of York, he delivered
          an oration in which he noted three classes of Masons: 1.
          Working Masons, 2. Persons of other trades and
          occupations, and, 3. Gentlemen. To the first group he
          advised the reading of the constitutions; to the second he
          admonished obedience to the moral precepts of the Society
          and to attend to their own business - "Let not Masonry so far
          get the ascendant as to make you neglect the support of
          yourselves and families." To the third group he admonished
          the acquiring of a knowledge of the arts and sciences,
          particularly geometry and architecture. 
          According to John Robinson, when Freemasonry became
          open in 1717, virtually every member of the Society was
          found to be a Mason. Gould makes many references to the
          Royal Society in Volume 2, which is the story of early British
          Freemasonry.
          Many persons (at least 36) mentioned by Purver in her
          book, are also mentioned by Gould in his book. Several are
          also mentioned by Denslow, though in the 17th century, the
          Masonic membership lists were very scarce. Denslow
          mentions several who were Rosicrucians.
          Robert Boyle, Christopher Wren, John Locke (1632-1704),
          Elias Ashmole, Robert Moray and others who were more or
          less addicted to Rosicrucian studies, enjoyed the distinction
          of being Fellows in the Royal Society.
          John Valentine Andrea (1586-1654) was a theologian at
          Wurtemberg who wrote the book "Fama" and is thought to
          have founded the Rosicrucian Society in about 1610. This
          group is believed by some writers to be closely associated
          with the Freemasons in the years after 1616. Robert Fludd
          was initiated as a Rosicrucian in about 1616 and wrote an
          "Apology" for it in 1617. One author quoted by Gould (Vol I p
          8) says "that Fludd must be considered the immediate father
          of Freemasonry as Andrea was its remote father."
          Other men listed by Gould and Poole include: John Aubrey
          (1626-1696) who was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society
          in 1662. He wrote, among other items, a Memorandum in
          which he tells of Christopher Wren's adoption into Masonry.
          Sir Francis Bacon (1561-1626) authored "The New Atlantis"
          and was a proponent of inductive philosophy, upon which
          the Royal Society was developed. He is listed by Denslow
          as a probable Rosicrucian. Thomas Campanella (1568-1639) was a philospher who wrote "Civitas Solis", desribing
          an ideal society. King Charles II, who reigned from 1660 to
          1685, issued the charter to the Royal Society and in the
          earliest "Book of Constitutions", the authors say "we have
          much reason to believe that King Charles II was an
          Accepted Freemason." Other persons who were active in
          the Royal Society as well as zealous Freemasons were Dr.
          Desaguliers, Martin Folkes, Martin Clare and Richard
          Rawlinson, all of whom were Officers in the Grand Lodge of
          England.
          Early philosophers in the 15th and 16th centuries each had
          an idea slightly different from the next, but all were pointed
          to a better way of life. Among these were alchemists,
          astrologists, magicians and practioners of witchcraft. They
          were most active in those countries touched by the
          Reformation. Among these were Francis Bacon, Joseph
          Granvill, Nostradamus, Wallenstein, Dr. Dee, Sir Kenelm
          Digby, Dr. Lamb, Lilly, Elias Ashmole, Johann Reuchlin,
          Henry Cornelius Agrippa, Landolfo, Brixianus, Xanthus,
          Jerome Cardan, Thomas Campanella, Henry More,
          Cudworth and, for a time, John Locke.
          Other philosophers who were less prone to astrology and
          magic included Philippus Aureolus Theophrastus Paracelus,
          Jacob Behmen, John Baptista van Helmont and Robert
          Fludd, a leader in the Rosicrucians, or Brothers of the Rosy
          Cross. 
          In view of the several common objectives of the Freemasons
          and the members of the Royal Society, the membership
          would be expected to overlap. Both groups made efforts to
          find the truth and both were open to persons of all religious
          persuations. Both groups had experienced antagonism from
          the Roman Catholic Church and some interference from the
          government, at least before the time of the reign of Charles
          II. Both groups were desirous of having members of royalty
          within their ranks. Purver's book shows the frontispiece of
          the Royal Society's presentation copy of Sprat's "History of
          the Royal Society" (1667). Prominent in the picture is the
          checkered floor and several compasses.
          The commonality of objectives and membership of the Royal
          Society and the Freemasons of the 17th and 18th centuries
          might be somewhat paralleled by the Freemasons and those
          in quest of freedom in America in the late 18th century.
          
          
          
                                                 REFERENCES
                            
          Bacon, Francis. 1620. "Novum Organum." I. Aph XXX,
          London. (Quoted by Purver)
          Bacon, Francis. "New Atlantis " (Quoted by Purver).
          Bronowski, J. 1973. "The Ascent of Man." Little, Brown and
          Company, Boston.
          Denslow, W. R. 1959. "10,000 Famous Freemasons."
          Transactions of the Missouri Lodge of Research. Copyright
          by the Author. Box 529. Trenton, MO. 
          Granvill, Joseph. 1668. "Plus Ultra or The Progress and
          Advancement of Knowledge Since the Days of Aristotle. "
          Reproduced by Jackson I. Cope. Scholars' Facsimiles and
          Reprints, Delmar, N.Y. 1978.
          Hamill, John and Robert Gilbert. 1992. "Freemasonry, a
          Celebration of the Craft." MacKenzie Publishing, Limited.
          Poole, Herbert. 1954. "Gould's History of Freemasonry,"
          Four Volumes. The Masonic History Company. Chicago, Ill.
          Purver, Margery. 1967. "The Royal Society: Concept and
          Creation." Rutledge and Kegan Paul, London.
          Robinson, John. 1989. "Born in Blood, The Lost Secrets of
          Freemasonry." M. Evans and Company, New York.
          Robinson, James Harvey, James Henry Breasted and Emma
          Peters Smith. 1951. "History of Civilization, Earlier Ages."
          Ginn and Company, Boston.
          Spat, Thomas. 1667. "History of the Royal Society of
          London, for the Improving of Natural Knowledge. " (Quoted
          by Purver)
          
          
          
          