Meissen Freemason Group Represents The Order Of The Pug

Meissen porcelain group representing a Freemason couple of the Order of the Pug. The symbols are hidden in the decoration and at the feet of the couple is a pug. Model created by Johann Joachim Kaendler in 1744. Marked with the blue crossed swords (second choice) and numbered 551. Listed in the Meissen - Bergmann catalog. This porcelain group is full of meanings about the history of the Order of the Pug. This order dates back to the mid-1700s and essentially began by banning Freemasonry. At the time, being a Freemason was a big thing, but religion did not play a central role in their group spirit. Because of this, the Catholic Church considered the fraternity a breeding ground for dangerous political ideas. In 1738, Pope Clement XII banned Catholics from joining the Freemasons. After the decree was passed, a man named Clemens August von Wittelsback, the Elector of Cologne, had an idea. He created a group of Freemasons in Germany, but revised the format to facilitate their recently banned activities. To become a member, aka "mop," which means pug in German, you had to get on your hands and knees, scratch at the door, and wear a collar around your neck. Once the group decided to let you in, you would be frantically chased by the assembled group. The pug was chosen as the official symbol of this offshoot group because of its loyalty, reliability, and consistency of character. Another important aspect that distinguished the Order of the Pug was that it allowed female members.