Freemasonry *********** This is how Freemasonry is described in their books: "...a peculiar system of morality, veiled in allegory, and illustrated by symbols..." Other descriptions are... "the largest charitable, secular organisation in the world" "a dining club with a bit of dressing up" "a chance to catch up with good friends...." Their many lodge websites explain the organisation with this, and variations of it: "Freemasonry is one of the world's oldest secular fraternal societies and is a society of men concerned with moral and spiritual values. Its members are taught its precepts by a series of ritual dramas, which follow ancient forms, and use stonemasons' customs and tools as allegorical guides. It teaches moral lessons and self-knowledge through participation in a progression of allegorical, or extended metaphorical, two-part plays which are learnt by heart and performed within each lodge."" We don't know what all this really means, but we might assume it is a style of roleplay to gain a spiritual awareness through a progression of ceremonies that is designed to teach self-knowledge through participation. Principles ********** Freemasonry offers its members an approach to life which seeks to reinforce thoughtfulness for others, kindness in the community, honesty in business, courtesy in society and fairness in all things. Members are urged to regard the interests of the family as paramount but importantly Freemasonry also teaches and practices concern for people, care for the less fortunate and help for those in need. For many years Freemasons have followed their own three great principles: Brotherly Love: Every true Freemason will show tolerance and respect for the opinions of others and behave with kindness and understanding to his fellow creatures. Relief: Freemasons are taught to practise charity, and to care, not only for their own, but also for the community as a whole, both by charitable giving, and by voluntary efforts and works as individuals. Truth: Freemasons strive for truth, requiring high moral standards and aiming to achieve them in their own lives. Freemasons believe that these principles represent a way of achieving higher standards in life. Lodges ****** The basic, local organisational unit of Freemasonry is the lodge. The lodges are usually supervised and governed at the regional level (usually coterminous with either a state, province, or national border) by a Grand Lodge or Grand Orient. There is no international, world-wide Grand Lodge that supervises all of Freemasonry. Each Grand Lodge is independent, and they do not necessarily recognise each other as being legitimate. The lodge meets regularly (typically once or twice a month) to conduct the usual formal business of any small organisation (pay bills, organise social and charitable events, elect new members, etc.). In addition to business, the meeting may perform a ceremony to confer a Masonic degree or receive a lecture, which is usually on some aspect of masonic history or ritual. At the conclusion of the meeting, the lodge might adjourn for a formal dinner, or festive board, sometimes involving toasting and song. The bulk of Masonic ritual consists of degree ceremonies. Candidates for Freemasonry are progressively initiated into Freemasonry, first in the degree of Entered Apprentice. Some time later, in a separate ceremony, they will be passed to the degree of Fellow-craft, and finally they will be raised to the degree of Master Mason. In all of these ceremonies, the candidate is entrusted with passwords, signs and grips peculiar to his new rank. Another ceremony is the annual installation of the Master and officers of the lodge. In some jurisdictions Installed Master is valued as a separate rank, with its own secrets to distinguish its members. In other jurisdictions, the grade is not recognised, and no inner ceremony conveys new secrets during the installation of a new Master of the lodge. History ******* One version of the origins, not widely recognised as correct, but included for interest: "After the Norman conquest, England was invaded by a perfect army of ecclesiastics; and churches, monasteries, cathedrals and abbeys were commenced in every part of the country. Where these buildings were being erected in towns the work could be undertaken by the local guild, but when they were far from the populous places a difficulty as experienced in procuring sufficient skilled labour. To meet this, it is supposed that many experienced members of the guilds were induced to sever their connection with the local body and accept service under the new ecclesiastical authority, thus becoming free from the restrictions and limitations to which they had previously been subject, and henceforth being designated 'Freemasons'. The church building 'Freemasons', being a national organisation whose members travelled throughout the length and breadth of the land, wherever employment was obtainable, ofttimes found it impracticable to refer to their late employers for their character and qualifications. Hence arose the necessity for sign, token and word, with which our ancient brethren went to and fro. Whence came this sign, token and word? We do not know. We read of an assembly at York, 926 A.D., of which, however, no record remains. But there must have been a meeting held somewhere, at which regulations were adopted, which served to bind the brotherhood together for many generations... (John A. Thorp, P.A. Gr. D.E., England). The actual origins of Freemasonry are the subject of great debate and are clouded in the mists of time. It is now generally accepted by most Masonic historians that there is a connection with the operative stonemasons who built the great medieval cathedrals and castles - but whether that connection was direct or indirect is the subject of some speculation. The first known authenticated record of the 'making' of an English Freemason is Elias Ashmole, the antiquarian and herald, whose collections formed the basis of the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford. He recorded in his diary that he was made a Mason at a lodge held in his father-in-law's house in Warrington, Cheshire on 16th October 1646. Organised Freemasonry became established on 24th June 1717 when four London lodges met at the Goose and Gridiron Ale House in London and formed themselves into a Grand Lodge - the first Grand Lodge in the world. Initially the Grand Lodge was simply an annual gathering for London Lodges but in 1721 the Duke of Montague was elected Grand Master and the Grand Lodge began to establish itself as a regulatory body for Lodges meeting outside London. In 1723 the first rulebook - the Constitutions of Masonry - was published and by 1730 the Grand Lodge had over 100 lodges in England and Wales under its control and had begun to spread Freemasonry abroad. From the 1730s lodges were set up in Europe, the West Indies, North America and India. The Grand Lodge of England continued its development and 1737 the first Royal Freemason was made when the then Prince of Wales, son of King George II, joined the Craft. In 1809 all the rival Grand Lodges met to discuss union and, after four years of negotiations, they combined to form the United Grand Lodge of England on 27th December 1813 at Freemasons' Hall in London. His Royal Highness, The Duke of Sussex (younger son of King George III) was installed as Grand Master. The Union was a time of consolidation and standardisation, setting the basic administration of Freemasonry - which continues to this day. Lodges outside London were grouped into Provinces, based on the old Counties, each headed by a Provincial Grand Master appointed by the Grand Master. Additionally, standard patterns for regalia and jewels were introduced, which are still in use today. In 1847 the election of Albert Edward, Prince of Wales (later King Edward VII) as Grand Master gave great impetus to Freemasonry. Freemasonry was constantly in the public eye and Freemasons were known in their local communities. The Prince resigned the Grand Mastership on becoming King in 1901 but his patronage had helped Freemasonry such that, between 1814 and 1901, the Grand Lodge had grown from 637 to 2,850 Lodges. This growth continued in the 20th century, particularly in the years after the two World Wars. It seemed that after those two great cataclysms were over and as a result of the great social changes they brought about, large groups of men looked to Freemasonry as a calm centre of tradition and certainty in which they could continue the fraternity they had found in the services. In both Nazi Germany and Franco's Spain Freemasonry was banned and many Freemasons were unjustly imprisoned and killed. As a result of this, English Freemasonry turned in on itself and continued to be excessively private even after peace came. Allied to that, there was a deliberate policy of not dealing with the media, including correcting factual errors, and as a result a mythology grew up of Freemasonry as a secret society serving its own aims. From the four Lodges which formed Grand Lodge in 1717, Freemasonry under the United Grand Lodge of England has grown to an organisation of over 300,000 members which is a microcosm of the society in which it currently exists - reflecting the social, religious, and ethnic composition of our diverse society. At a modern Lodge meeting there are two parts. As in any association there is a certain amount of administrative procedure - minutes of last meeting, proposing and balloting for new members, discussing and voting on financial matters, election of officers, news and correspondence. Then there are the ceremonies for admitting new Masons and the annual installation of the Master and appointment of officers. The three ceremonies for admitting a new Mason are in two parts - a slight dramatic instruction in the principles and lessons taught in the Craft followed by a lecture in which the candidate's various duties are spelled out. Records ******* The persecution of freemasonry resulted in the Unlawful Societies Act operating 1799 to 1965, although in later years the Act fell into disuse. The Act forced Freemasons to register organisations and the names of members with the Clerk of the Peace and local Quarter Sessions. These returns can now be found at County Record Offices. In theory membership was open any man regardless of creed, class or race and by the 20th century a number of mixed sex lodges had been established. Finally the Order of Women Freemasons was founded in 1935. The names of individuals can be found amongst the annual returns sent from local lodges to the Grand Lodge. Staff at the Library and Museum of Freemasonry of the United Grand Lodge can search for a name if one is known for free but make a charge for a speculative search. Membership registers from 1768 to 1886 are available in digital format for public use at the Library and Museum. For some records a 70 year restricted access rule applies. The library contains many lodge histories and other information. The Quatuor Coronati Lodge which conducts research into the history freemasonry publishes research material under the name of Ars Quatuor Coronatorum. Some material is available to download from their website with some available to download at the Internet Archive or view on-line at Google Books. A full index to the transactions of Ars Quatuor Coronatorum is available on CD from the Lodge. A number of freemasonry journals have been published over the years and collections of these journals can be viewed at the Library and Museum of Freemasonry. Consider researching the records of non-Masonic friendly societies such as The Ancient Order of Foresters, the Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes or the Oddfellows... Sources: web.mit.edu/dryfoo/Masonry www.ugle.org.uk www.pgllincs.org www.genguide.co.uk