Środowisko filomackie a wileńscy wolnomularze

Abstract

The article analyzes the Philomathic milieu in the context of the Vilna Freemasons. It argues that these two secret societies shared a common history two centuries ago. They inspired each other at the time; the first organization mentioned here did it to a much greater extent. They were shaped by the same ideological tradition, namely the Enlightenment. The idea of the so-called “grassroots activism” remained, from the end of 1818, the only option available to any social activists who did not directly resort to revolutionary methods. Therefore, the Philomaths met with Lithuanian Freemasonry and the so-called “Szubrawcy.” Patriotism and fraternity were important but by no means the only common traits of Freemasons and philomaths, the unions that became permanently inscribed in Polish history.