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. 5 Summer 2011
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)
The annual Mentoring Seminar at Great Queen Street London was held on the 2nd March 2011. This was the third such meeting which I have attended, along with some 90 delegates from England and Wales and parts of the Commonwealth. I was accompanied this year by W. Bro Graeme Sutherland PADGC the Chairman of Ynys Mon Group.
There were some lively discussions throughout the day on all aspects of the Mentoring scheme but the highlight was to discuss, deliberate and share views on the position of the Lodge Mentor and the acceptance of him being appointed a Lodge officer – being invested at the installation meeting with a collar and jewel.
There were some Provincial representatives not in favour of this move but the majority present were in favour. Representing North Wales and having the support of the RWPGM I was able to voice my opinion in favour. The whole process will now have to go before the Board of General Purposes for approval. It will take time to have the process approved and the Book of Constitutions amended if the election of the Lodge Mentor is to be accepted.
Freemasonry is a wonderful organisation that does a great deal of good in the World and yet it has many detractors and has, in the past, received a lot of bad publicity. We therefore had discussions on being ‘Ambassadors’ for Freemasonry.
Objectives
That all our members and hopefully, their wives, partners and families, talk freely and knowledgably about Freemasonry. Not to be secretive but open. Not to be evasive but positive.
Obstacles
A lack of confidence and competence Solution The solution to both is understanding:
• Understanding - that they are able to talk about our ceremonies.
• Understanding - what if anything is secret.
• Understanding - that the teachings of Freemasonry are relevant in today's world.
One of the worst things that can happen is for an Initiate to go home to his family after a wonderful evening and when they ask him what happened, he answers "I am not permitted to tell you", this form of response is likely to turn his family against Freemasonry immediately.
I also attended a Regional Mentoring meeting at Cardiff on the 12th July 2011 when the Grand Secretary also attended the meeting which proved to be very instructive.
Chapter Mentoring
The M.E. Grand Superintendent has requested the same members of the steering committee that formulated the guidelines for Craft Mentoring in the Province of North Wales to adopt a similar process to introduce the role of Mentor into Royal Arch Chapters; the Deputy Grand Superintendent E.Comp. Allan Edgar Powell, PGSwdB has also joined the discussion group.
The meetings have been very constructive and it is hoped that a solution will be available by the end of the year.
The appointment of a Chapter Mentor is unlikely to be the same person appointed as the Chapter Representative in the Lodge. It is hoped that all new Master Mason’s will be encouraged to join Chapter.
Royal Arch is the natural step in progression and although the new Mason may be approached with the best of intentions to join other orders of which there are many – becoming a Royal Arch Mason after the obligatory twenty eight days following his Raising ceremony is an important milestone in his Masonic career.
A. W. Evans.
Provincial Grand Mentor.
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.
