KSIĘGA PROTOKOŁÓW LOŻY WOLNOMULARSKIEJ „PRZESĄD ZWYCIĘŻONY” W KRAKOWIE Z LAT 1820-1822 – KRONIKARSKA SKRUPULATNOŚĆ WOBEC BIUROKRATYZACJI ŻYCIA PUBLICZNEGO

Abstract

The Cracow Masonic Lodge „Przesąd Zwyciężony” („Prejudice Conquered”) has experienced a lot of ups and downs in the past. Perhaps its greatest failure would be its banning in 1822. This paper analyses the Minute-Book of the Lodge in terms of evident references to legal acts that outlawed freemasonry across the territories under Russian Empire. The content of these archives shows that despite a considerable degree of autonomy the Republic of Cracow had, the administrative actions of the neighbouring Powers seriously inter-fered the citizens’ lives. The documents preserved certainly are an admirable example of chronicle writings of those days. Furthermore, they provide some clues on the complexity of factors that put an end to Masonic activity in Cra-cow for 113 years.