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A Brief History

Middle Ages

 

The question of when, how, why & where Freemasonry originated is still the subject of intense speculation. The general consensus amongst masonic scholars is that it descends directly from the organization of operative stone masons who built the great cathedrals and castles of the middle ages.

 

 

1646

 

Elias Ashmole recorded his initiation with these words: 'October 16, 4:30pm – i was made a freemason at Warrington in Lancashire with colonel Henry Mainwaring (a roundhead parliamentarian friend related to his father-in-law)  of Karicham in Chesire. The names of those who were then at the lodge, Mr. Richard Sankey, Henry littler, Richard Elam and Hugh Brewer.'

 

This is the first evidence of the initiation of an English speculative mason – not withstanding that those present and listed would have certainly been initiated at an earlier date.

 

 

1660

 

From the 1660's more evidence exists of gentlemen being made masons in non-operative lodges

 

 

1717

 

On st. John's  day, 24  june 1717, four london lodges, which had existed for some time, came together at the goose and gridiron tavern in st. Paul's churchyard, declared themselves a grand lodge and elected anthony sayer as their grand master. This was the first grand lodge in the world.

 

 

1723

 

By this time the new grand lodge had published its first rule book – the book of constitutions of masonry – and was meeting quarterly and recording its meetings. It had extended its authority outside London.

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1725

 

The grand lodge of Ireland was established.

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1736

 

The grand lodge of Scotland was established. The three home grand lodges began to take freemasonry overseas and the development of freemasonry abroad mirrors the 18th and 19th  century development of the British empire.

 

 

1751

 

A rival grand lodge appeared in London. Its original members were Irish masons who claimed that the original grand lodge had made innovations. They dubbed the first grand lodge the moderns and called themselves the Antients.

 

The two existed side by side – both at home  and abroad – for nearly 63 years, neither recognising each other as regular.

 

 

1813

 

After 4 years of negotiation, the two grand lodges in England, united on 27 December 1813 to form the united grand lodge of England. This union led to a great deal of standardisation of ritual, procedures and regalia.

 

 

1814

 

Some 647 lodges were in existence. The 19th century saw a great expansion of freemasonry – both at home and abroad.

 

 

1900

 

2800 lodges had been established despite losses when independent grand lodges were formed in Canada and Australia in the later part of the century.

 

 

World Wars

 

The two world wars both had a great effect on English Freemasonry. In the 3 years after the first world war over 350 lodge new lodges were set up, and in the three years after the second world war nearly 600 new lodges came into being. In many cases the founders were servicemen who wanted to continue the camaraderie they had built up during their war service, and were looking for a calm centre in a greatly changed and changing world.

 

 

1967

 

On 14 June 1967 the 25oth anniversary of grand lodge was celebrated at the royal albert hall. Centrepiece of the celebration was the  installation as grand master of of his royal highness, the duke of kent, who still holds that office today.

 

 

1992

 

On 10 June 1992 over 12,500 freemasons and guests gathered at earl's court in west London to celebrate the 275th anniversary of grand lodge. For the first time press and television were present at a meeting of grand lodge and the event featured on television newscasts around the world.

 

 

2017

 

The tercentenary of grand lodge in June 2017 was celebrated in style throughout the year, culminating with an especial meeting of grand lodge in the royal albert hall, which was presided over by the grand master, his royal highness the Duke of Kent, kg, and attended by representatives of 136 sovereign grand lodges from around the world.

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