History of Freemasonry
Building a better society theory
It is in England that the first evidence of a
Lodge completely made up of non-operative Masons is found.
Elias Ashmole, the antiquary and founder of the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford, records in his diary for 1646 that he was made a Free Mason in a Lodge held for that purpose at his father-in-law's house in Warrington.
He records who was present at the meeting: all have been researched and found to have no connection with operative Masonry. English evidence through the 1600s points to Freemasonry existing separately from any actual or supposed organisation of operative stonemasons.
This lack of evidence for the existence of operative Lodges but evidence for Lodges of accepted masons has led to the theory of an indirect link between operative stonemasonry and Freemasonry.
Those who support the indirect link theorise that Freemasonry was brought into existence by a group of men in the late 1500s or early 1600s.
History of Freemasonry
Growth of Freemasonry in popularity.
After 1717 and the establishment of the Premier Grand Lodge (as it was known), Freemasonry grew in popularity, spreading across much of the world (expanding as the British Empire grew), attracting many famous and notable personalities.
When Grand Lodge was formed in 1717, Anthony Sayer was elected as the first Grand Master. Initially, the Grand Lodge was an annual feast at which the Grand Master and Wardens were elected.
But in 1721 other meetings began to be held and Grand Lodge began to be a regulatory body. In 1723, as the membership grew, Grand Lodge produced a Book of Constitutions which outlined the rules and regulations governing Freemasonry.
Expansion
By 1730 Grand Lodge had more than 100 Lodges under its jurisdiction, including one in Spain and another in India. It had begun to operate a central charity fund and had attracted a wide spectrum of society into its Lodges.
Provincial Grand
Mentor
Newsletter No. 1 Spring 2009
Welcome to our Newsletter written particularly for those of you who have volunteered to be Mentors.
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Telephone 01492 860223
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Provincial Mentor (Hint)
I have delivered a short talk on Mentoring and the importance of appointing a Lodge Mentor to Lodge Secretaries at the Provincial Grand Secretary´s forum.
It has been my privilege also, having attended a number of Lodges, to deliver a presentation on the “Practical Application of Mentoring”
The majority of Lodges in this Province have appointed a Lodge Mentor and it is my hope to meet them at a “Workshop” environment sometime during the close season.
To those Lodges that have not to date appointed a Mentor I urge you to do so. The Order must retain its new and existing members by making Freemasonry a rewarding and lifelong experience.
It is envisaged that the success of this scheme will be measured by the reduction in the number of members resigning and that as many Candidates as possible enjoy a lifelong association of the Order.
There are three stages to consider when contemplating new members, which are :-
Recruitment; Retention; Retrieval.
The Mentoring scheme consists of two parts.
Local Delivery backed up by Central Support.
The Lodge is to implement the system and appoint a Lodge Mentor.
The role of the Province is pivotal to the success of the scheme. Its role is to manage the system locally.
The role of Grand Lodge would be to provide continuing sponsorship of the system.
It is often said that everyone in the Lodge is an Almoner. It can also be said that everyone in the Lodge is a Mentor.
The role of a Mentor is to ensure that the new brother becomes “engaged” into the ideas and aims of our Order.
Being “engaged” we mean someone who is committed to their Freemasonry; regularly attends Lodge and takes an active role in Lodge life.
“…it calls on you to afford assistance and instruction to the Brethren in the inferior Degrees. ”
A. W. Evans.
Provincial Grand Mentor.
(Hint)
History of Freemasonry
A charitable framework theory
A more recent theory places the origins of
Freemasonry within a charitable framework. In the 1600s there was no welfare state, so anyone falling ill or becoming disabled had to rely on friends and the Poor Law for support.
In those days many trades had what have become known as box clubs. These grew out of the convivial gatherings of members of a particular trade during meetings of which all present would put money into a communal box, knowing that if they fell on hard times they could apply for relief from the box.
From surviving evidence these box clubs are known to have begun to admit members not belonging to their trade and to have had many traits of early Masonic Lodges.
They met in taverns, had simple initiation ceremonies and passwords and practiced charity on a local scale. It is possible that Freemasonry had its origins in just such a box club for operative Masons.
History of Freemasonry
Structure of the United Grand Lodge of England
The United Grand Lodge of England (UGLE) is the ruling and governing body of Freemasonry in this country. It is based at Freemasons' Hall, Great Queen Street, London.
For administrative purpose, Lodges around the country are grouped under either the Metropolitan Grand Lodge of London or Provincial Grand Lodges (all other areas), depending upon their geographical location.
UGLE is governed by The Grand Master, The Most Worshipful His Royal Highness the Duke of Kent. A number of senior executive officers and selected senior Brethren assist him.
Because the Grand Master is a member of the Royal Family, there is also a Pro Grand Master appointed to act on his behalf when the Grand Master needs to attend to his Royal duties.
The Grand Master is also assisted by a Deputy Grand Master and an Assistant Grand Master. Grand Lodge meets four times a year at what are known as Quarterly Communications.
