About Karl Christian Friedrich Krause The Freemason.

Introduction to the English Translation of twelve Lodge Lectures

Presented to the Lodge "zu den drei Schwerdtern" in Dresden from 1808 to 1810

by Brother

Karl Christian Friedrich Krause

about the

Höhere Vergeistigung der echt überlieferten Grundsymbole der Freimaurerei

(Higher Spiritualization of the True Traditional Fundamental Symbols of Freemasonry)

(Translated by Brother Vincent Lombardo)

From the Translator

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About Karl Christian Friedrich Krause

(May 6, 1781 - September 27, 1832, German Freemason)

I first came across the works of this remarkable Brother in late November of 2006, while researching the works of Bro. Johann Gottlieb Fichte. My research regarding Fichte led to a book published in 1953 by Supreme Council 33° Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, Northern Masonic Jurisdiction, as a collection of Masonic Writing and Addresses of Bro. Roscoe Pound. This book includes the translation of Fichte's Masonic Lectures titled Letters to Constant and also a reference to Krause and his works. The Supreme Council has given us permission to utilize, for Masonic research and education, the material contained in that publication. Most of the information that follows is copied from that book.

Karl Christian Friedrich Krause was born at Eisenberg, not far from Leipzig, in 1781. He was educated at Jena where he studied philosophy under professors Friedrich W. Schelling, Georg Hegel and (Brother) Johann Gottlieb Fichte, and where he taught for some time as privatdozent. In 1805, he moved to Dresden to teach philosophy of law. In the spring of that year, he was initiated into Masonry in the Lodge "Archimedes zu den drei Reißbretern" in Altenburg and later, on the 31st of October 1805, on the recommendation of Lodge Archimedes, he affiliated with the Loge zu den drei Schwerdtern und den wahren Freunden in Dresden, whose members elected him "Redner" (Lecturer of the lodge) in the spring of 1808. Upon entering Freemasonry, he immediately embarked on a critical and philosophical study of the institution, reading every Masonic work then available. As a result of his studies, he delivered twelve lectures before his lodge in Dresden, which were published in 1809, under the title:

Höhere Vergeistung der echt überlieferten Grundsymbole der Freimaurerei

(Higher Spiritualization of the True Traditional Fundamental Symbols of Masonry)

A year later he published the first volume of his great work:

Die drei ältesten Kunsturkunden der Freimaurerbrüderschaft

(The Three Oldest Craft Records of the Masonic Fraternity)

This book, one of the most learned ever issued by the Masonic press, immediately caused him great grief.

The limits of permissible public discussion of Masonic symbols were then uncertain, and the liberty of the individual was not wholly conceded by the German Masons of that day. The very rumor of Krause's book produced great agitation. Extraordinary efforts were made to prevent its publication, and, when these failed, the mistaken zeal of his brethren was exerted toward expelling him from the Order. Not only was he excommunicated by his lodge, but the persecution to which his Masonic publications gave rise followed him all his life and prevented him from receiving public recognition of the position he occupied among the thinkers of his day.

In his philosophy of Masonry and his philosophy of law Krause makes the distinction between the natural order, the social order, and the moral order.

To Krause the natural order is typified by the ceaseless and relentless strife in which all individuals, races, and species are inevitably involved. He uses as example the struggle of every weed at war with one another for room to grow, but must contend for their existence against the ravages of insects, the voracity of grazing animals, and the implements of men. Thus, the staple of life, under pure natural conditions, is conflict.

If we turn to the artificial conditions of a garden, the contrast is extreme. Even exotic species, planted carefully, so as not to interfere with each other, carefully tended, turn their whole energies to more perfect development, and produce forms and varieties of which their rude, uncultivated originals scarcely convey a hint.

To Krause, society and civilization are, like a garden, an artificial order. As in the garden, so in society, the characteristic feature is elimination of the struggle for existence.

To him, religion governs men by supernatural sanctions; morality governs them by the sanction of private and public opinion; the state governs them by the sanctions and force of the organized law.

To Krause, the Masonic order is the most suited institution in cultivating morality worldwide – respecting every honest creed, but requiring adherence to none.

Thus, he conceives that Masonry is working hand-in-hand with church and state, in organizing the conditions of social progress; since each and all, held up by the three pillars of the social order – Religion, Law, and Morals; Wisdom, Strength, and Beauty – are making for human perfection.

As to the fundamental questions of Masonic learning:

(1) What is the nature and purpose of Masonry as an institution? The answer we find in Krause is: The perfection of humanity.

(2) What is (and what should be) the relation of Masonry to other human institutions? Krause says: each of these organizations should work in harmony and even in co-operation with the others toward the perfection of all Humanity.

(3) What are (or what should be) the fundamental principles by which Masonry is governed in attaining the end it seeks? Krause answers: Masonry must deal with the internal conditions of life governed by reason. Hence its fundamental principles are measurement and restraint – measurement by reason and restraint by reason – and it teaches these as a means of achieving perfection.

Recently the German Masonic authorities have posthumously rescinded the expulsion of Bro. Krause from the Craft. His bust in white marble found at the Archimedes zu den drei Reißbretern lodge, together with the most distinguished Masons who have been members of that lodge from its inception in 1742 to this day.

Reasons for this Translation »

Lecture I - Freemasonry and Masonic Fraternity Nature Defined

Lecture II -Understanding Freemasonry, the Fraternity Development Goals

Lecture III -Understanding Masonic Symbolic Meanings

Lecture IV -Freemasonry, Constitution, Origin, Symbolic Language, Customs

Lecture V -Freemasonry Purpose and Nature

Lecture VI -Definition of Human Spiritual Life of a Master

Lecture VII -Masonic Lecture for the Reception of a Master

Lecture VIII -Spiritualization of the Three Great Lights

Lecture IX -Spiritualization of the Three Lesser Lights

Lecture X -Spiritualization of the Form of a Lodge

Lecture XI -Spiritualization of the Three Great Pillars Supporting a Lodge