Clerical system
The clerical system or Klerikat is a masonic high-degree system of the 18th century. Johann August von Starck (1741–1816) is considered to be the founder in Germany, but is said to have received the documents for this Christian-mystical system, which sometimes extends into the occult , from abroad. The clergy was closely associated with the Strict Observance .
The founder
Johann August von Starck was the son of the preacher at the Schwerin Cathedral Samuel Christfried Starck (1688–1769). From 1760 to 1763 he studied theology , philosophy and oriental languages in Göttingen . In 1763 Starck went to St. Petersburg as a teacher of Roman antiquities and oriental languages at the St. Petersschule, the school of the German Lutheran St. Petri Church (St. Petersburg) . In 1765 he traveled to Paris and was unexpectedly offered a position as a translator for oriental languages. Due to a serious illness in his father, he went back to Wismar as early as 1767 and worked as vice rector. In 1768 he received an offer to work with Prince Wačzenskoy and moved back to St. Petersburg.
Stark published several essays and dissertations during his time in St. Petersburg:
During the first time in Petersburg he wrote: De varietatibus ad codices Ebraeos VT caute colligendis , during his second stay Et Observat. philol . criticarum .
In 1776 he became court preacher and general superintendent and in 1777 he settled first in Königsberg and finally in Mitau .
In 1761 Starck was accepted into the Freemasons' Union.
The system
A letter from Starck's lodge master to the army master of the Strict Observance is dated March 31, 1767 , in which the clergy of the Strict Observance is touted. Literally it says: “There is a certain lodge outside of Germany, from which I wish that it will be sent in a skilful manner to strict obedience and especially to the province of Ew. Grace would be brought. "
Apparently the letter did not fail to have its effect, as negotiations between the two systems began shortly afterwards. While the negotiations were still in progress, Starck founded a clerical chapter in Wismar with the Brothers of the Strict Observance, who converted with the master's approval. On July 12, 1767, the master's approval file followed.
In return, Starck wrote a letter of appreciation to the army master Karl Gotthelf von Hund and Altengrotkau , which is dated Thursday, July 2, as the Feast of the Visitation of Mary 5453.
The two now connected Masonic systems exchanged liaison men and just as the Strict Observance saw itself as a resurrected Templar order , the clerical system was now its clergy , modeled on the chaplains of the historical Templar order .
However, the two systems never actually merged.
The rule of the order stipulated that there could be 28 clerics under 4 priors, who were distributed in 4 congregations over the entire 7th order province (Germany). The next generation should be recruited from the ranks of academia, Catholic clergymen should be admitted as little as possible and Jesuits not at all. The priors of the clergy were on an equal footing with the knight priorities of the Strict Observance and were also potential successors to the army master.
As emerged from an end note by Starck on a manuscript by Friedrich Gualdo, a Freemason brother named Lorenz Natter brought the original files of the clergy from Florence to St. Petersburg. There they should then have gone to Starck.
literature
Ferdinand Runkel: The History of Freemasonry . Volume 1, Edition Lempertz, Bonn 2006, reprint from 1932, ISBN 3-933070-96-1