256 FROM THE ART OF BUILDING TO THE ART OF THINKING
to Anglicism from Catholicism but still enjoyed great credit in Catholic
milieus. Just like his father, who had been sponsor in 1695 of a freema-
sonry that mixed operative and speculative members, he was grand
master of the Grand Lodge of London in 1724, a time when this lodge,
in the midst of a full crisis of growth, sought, under an apperance of
tolerance, to take control of the lodges that remained independent and
orthodox, both English and Scottish.
Before it was housed in the duchess's chateau, the Lodge of
Aubigny had operated in its Parisian manor on the rue des Petits
Augustins (Rue Bonaparte) or rue des Saints Peres (on the corner of the
rue de Verneuil). It was established on August 12, 1735, by Lord
Weymouth, grand master of the Grand Lodge of London. Hence its
affiliation with that institution. This reveals how the opposition
between the two versions of Freemasonry was not completely black and
white. In fact, there was quite a bit of grey, evidence of the great spirit
of tolerance solemnly proclaimed by the Orangemen and Hanoverians
as well as by the Stuarts. This does not mean, however, that a spirit of
competitive bidding and self interest was not also evident.
From the beginning, which was around 1728, the Scottish Lodges
of France recognized as grand master Philip, duke of Wharton, former
grand master of the Grand Lodge of London, and supporter of the
Stuarts. At his death in 1731, Charles Radclyffe, Lord Derwentwater,
assumed the status of grand master, followed Hector MacLean, Baronet
of Scotland, from 1733 to 1735, and then Lord Derwentwater again in
1736.
The Radclyffes belonged to a very old family, which remained faith-
ful to the House of Stuart and to Catholicism until the extincton of its
line. It seems that Charles Radclyffe was inititiated by Sir Charles
Ramsay. In attempting to return to England in 1746, he was captured
and imprisoned. Condemned to death, he was executed on December
8, 1746. These were his final words:
I die a true, obedient, and humble son of the Catholic Apostolic
Church in perfect charity with all mankind and a true well-wisher
to my dear country as I desire that it know no happiness until he
treats with justice its king, the best and most slandered of sover-