A study of freemasonry in Malta : history of the Lodge of St. John & St. Paul, 1815-1915

Abstract

The Catholic Church failed in destroying Freemasonry. It could not understand that Freemasonry is more of an esoteric society than a secret one. On the other hand, it succeeded in giving a different perception of Freemasonry. In Malta, different expressions are used referred to Freemasonry. Often these are evilly expressions that were dictated by the clergy and Catholic Church in Malta and that deviated from the true meaning. In the past Freemasonry was used a political propaganda. On one occasion, the leader of the Constitutional Party Sir Gerald Strickland was accused of being a Freemason. By this study, I want to give the whole picture of Freemasonry. I want to change wrong perceptions on the subject. This dissertation studies the facts of Freemasonry in Malta with a particular interest on the Lodge of St. John & St. Paul. This lodge still exists and the members of it are anxiously waiting for its 200th anniversary from its foundation. This lodge gave birth to English Freemasonry in Malta. It started a district in Malta under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of England. This work covers a century of the lodge's activity. Interesting cases and events came up during the first 100 years of the lodge. I dedicate the first chapter for the Masonic activity prior to the foundation of the lodge of St. John & St. Paul. I felt that it is important to understand and examine what happened prior to 1815. Freemasonry in Malta started in parallel lines that started in the rest of Europe. The wave of the enlightenment struck Malta with the help of individual knights. The brief period of the French in Malta is characterised by a current debate about Napoleon Bonaparte. This dissertation goes 80 years before the foundation of the oldest lodge that remained active to date. I have to notify that in order to study a history of 100 years of the Lodge of St. John & St. Paul it was very important to research the minutes' books of the lodge. Unfortunately, minute book II that cover the records from 1824 until 1839 is lost. However, some secondary sources refer to this period. In the minutes' books' the common records that are found are motions, names and ballots for initiations, elections for officers and other cases. The minutes' books does not report any secrets of the craft. This work is based on facts of Freemasonry in Malta prior to 1815 and the development of English Freemasonry in Malta with a particular history of the Lodge of St. John & St. Paul from 1815 to 1915. It is not my intention to be bias on this subject. I want everyone know that Freemasonry in Malta had strong roots in Malta that survived and dates back to almost three centuries.