SWEDEN. Freemasonry was in troduced into this country in 1735, oy charter from the Grand Orient of France, granted to the Governor, Count Sparre. But little is known of this Lodge, as its operations were closed in 1738 by royal de cree, forbidding Masons to meet on pain of death. This prohibition was rescinded in 1740, when the Order spread and flourished. It soon enjoyed a position that the brethren did not hesitate to publicly acknowledge their association with the institution. In 1762 King Adolphus Frederick declared him self the protector of the Swedish lodges, and desired to participate in the labors and expenses of the Fraternity. In 1765 Lord Blaney, Grand Master of England, granted a deputation to Brother Charles Fullman, secretary to the English embassy at Stockholm, to establish a Provincial Grand Lodge for Swe den. In 1799 a union of the Grand Lodges of Sweden and England was effected, which was the cause of great rejoicing among the Fra ternity. In 1809 Charles XILL ascended the throne of Sweden, who, May 27, 1811, founded an order of knighthood under the title of Charles the Thirteenth," for the purpose, as is stated in the manifesto establishing the Order, to do honor to those virtues which are not prescribed by law, and which are seldom offered to the notice of the public. The statutes exacted
that this Order, the distinctive badges of which were to be worn openly, should only be communi cated to Freemasons; it, therefore, formed the highest degree of Swe dish Freemasonry. The reigning king was always to be Grand Master of the Order, and beside the princes of the royal house, the Order could only consist of twenty-seven secular end three ecclesiastical members. Charles XM. remained an active and zealous member of the Order during his life time. Freemasonry is still protected by the crown, and is, therefore,one of the most respect able institutions in the country.