FRANC-MAÇONNERIE - GUILLOTIN (Joseph Ignace). - Lot 97

FRANC-MAÇONNERIE - GUILLOTIN (Joseph Ignace). Born in Saintes. 1738-1814. Physician and politician, he had the Constituent Assembly adopt the use of the guillotine. Parchment overleaf Signed "Guillotin préfet". Fine engraved symbolic decoration, with two red wax seals (out of 4) held in place by silk ribbons. S.l., October 23, 1776. A very fine piece. Brevet awarded to François Chambon to join the LAnglaise de LAmitié de Périgueux lodge ...To the glory of the Great Architect of the Universe, under the auspices and in the name of the Serene Grand Master The desire we have to facilitate the entry of foreign Orients into regular Lodges in France, to those of our brothers who seem worthy of admission, leads us to note their Masonic status, in the full confidence that they will spread in all the towns they visit the spirit of liberty, concord and fraternal friendship, which is the essence of our order, for these reasons and on the advantageous testimony given to us by brother François Chambon [...a member of the Lodge of Saint-Jean regularly constituted in the Order of Périgueux under the distinctive title of LANGLAISE DE LAMITIÉ [...] Grant the present certificate, request all regular Masons to give him the fraternal welcome they themselves would desire in such circumstances, and to admit him after examination to the work of his age [...]. In witness whereof we have delivered the present certificate...In addition to Joseph Guillotin's signature, the certificate bears the signatures of more than twenty Masons, including the Duc du Luxembourg, the Comte de Stroganoff, Lamarque the American, etc...Initiated in 1772 at the La Parfaite Union Lodge in Angoulême, Guillotin became the Venerable of the La Concorde fraternelle Lodge in the Paris Orient in 1776. Throughout his life, he frequented these rational and free workshops, and played a key role in the formation of the Grand Orient de France. The L'Anglaise de l'Amitié Masonic Lodge was founded in an inn in the Chartrons [Chartreux] district of Bordeaux by three British or Irish subjects, Martin Kelly, Nichols Staimton and Jonathan Robinson. This first Freemasonry was exclusively maritime, allowing sailors to help each other. Gradually, all Bordeaux ship captains joined Freemasonry, and the "three whistles" sounded when ships entered port... In 1773, a new obedience was established under the name of Grand Orient de France, on the initiative of the Vicomte de Noé, then mayor of Bordeaux.