﻿Ever wondered about the mysterious origins of Freemasonry? With no definitive founder or
founding date, Freemasonry's evolution is a captivating journey that spans centuries and
continents. In this video, we'll delve deep into the murky beginnings of this
fascinating organisation. Discover the distinct forms that emerged in Scotland,
England, and Ireland around the 1600s, and the intriguing existence of different traditions
side by side. From the 'Moderns' to the 'Antients' and beyond, we'll explore the
complexity and diversity within Freemasonry, a journey filled with more questions than answers.
Stay tuned, as we unravel the enigmatic relationships and traditions of this cryptic
institution. Welcome to a world where there wasn't one Freemasonry, but a spectrum of Freemasonries!
You may have watched many other videos on the
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Let the Symposium begin…
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Hello Symposiast, I’m Dr Angela Puca – Religious Studies PhD and this is your online resource for
the academic study of magic, esotericism, Paganism, shamanism and all things occult.
Freemasonry, a society shrouded in mystery, does not trace its roots to any particular founder or
date of inception. Its evolution has been gradual, leading to the point where it is recognized today,
and it still continues to evolve. There is no single, authoritative form of Freemasonry.
Instead, around the year 1600, we can clearly see at least two unique forms that emerged, one
in Scotland and another in England. Fast forward a century and a half, and we see the development
of an Irish form, and concurrently in England, three distinct forms co-existing: the 'Premier'
Grand Lodge, also known as the 'Moderns', the 'Athol' Grand Lodge or the 'Antients',
and a third tradition that includes, among others, the 'Harodim' and the 'Grand Lodge of All England,
held at York'. Even with the assumption that the 'Antients' were a blend of the Irish and
'Moderns', we are looking at a minimum of four forms existing concurrently. However, the nature
of the relationships between these forms remains a mystery. From the earliest point that we can
trace, Freemasonry has always been a collection of diverse forms rather than a singular entity.
Let’s now look at the Origins and Early History in Scotland and England.
In the intriguing world of Freemasonry, one theory that has garnered significant attention over the
years is the Gould Thesis. This theory, first posited by Robert Freke Gould and his companions
in the 1880s, suggested a simplistic origin of Freemasonry. It proposed that the society
began with 'operative' stonemasons, individuals who practised their craft with diligence but
without symbolic interpretation. According to the Gould Thesis, it was only with the influx
of 'gentlemen masons' in the 18th century that the art of speculative thought was introduced
into the craft, giving rise to the modern, 'speculative' Freemasonry we know today.
However, this theory, held as fact for about a century, has since been disputed. Historical
evidence suggests that Freemasonry has a much more storied past, dating back well before
1717. Furthermore, early Freemasons were far from being simple folk. The term 'Freemason' refers to
'freestone masons', the highest trained craftsmen, including sculptors and architects, who worked
with the most precious material: freestone. The fascinating twist in the tale comes
with the revelation that these freestone masons did, indeed,
'speculate' about their craft and its tools. Freemasonry, it turns out, was speculative right
from its inception. The 'gentlemen masons' did not introduce speculative thought but were attracted
to Freemasonry because of it. They learned from the stonemasons, not the other way around.
So, we should no longer oppose speculative to operative Masons, but rather gentlemen Masons
to stone Masons, all of whom were speculative Masons, while the last ones were also operative.
The history of the movement takes us back to some of the oldest known documents
associated with Freemasonry. These are the 'Old Manuscript Constitutions' or 'Old Charges',
some of which date as far back as the mid-14th century. Despite their age,
these documents provide a rich tapestry of information, including prayers, legendary
histories of the craft, and even the text of the oath to be administered to new members.
The contents of these documents are explicitly Christian. Saying that you should serve God,
the Roman Catholic Church, your Master, and the members of your lodge. You should behave properly,
that is, bury the dead, support widows, attend church regularly,
and so on. The Craft and its tools are interpreted symbolically.
Moving forward to the late 16th century, we come across new 'statutes' for Masonic
lodges in Scotland. These statutes name three specific lodges - Edinburgh St Mary’s Chapel,
Kilwinning, and Stirling. The existence of these lodges confirms beyond doubt that Freemasonry,
as we understand it today, was already in existence during this period.
In the heart of London, the Mason's Company kept meticulous records dating back several
centuries. After a gap in the records, likely due to the Great Fire of London in 1666,
the chronicles continue from 1619. Interestingly, new terms such as 'the making of Masons',
'accepted', and the 'acception' started to appear. This language
suggests that Freemasonry was not a static practice but a dynamic and evolving craft.
We can also find that the historical lineage of Freemasonry extends to the four lodges,
which, according to James Anderson in his 1738 edition of his Constitutions,
united in 1716. This union marked the genesis of the 'Premier Grand Lodge', setting the stage
for the continued evolution and expansion of this captivating and enigmatic society.
Now, how did Freemasonry develop in England?
The narrative begins with the Great Fire of London in 1666, after which craftsmen flocked to the
capital to contribute to the city's rebuilding. Many of these workers joined London lodges,
leading to a boom in Freemasonry. However, the decline in construction activity after
1714 resulted in many of these craftsmen moving elsewhere, leaving the lodges with fewer members.
According to James Anderson’s Constitutions of 1738, Sir Christopher Wren was the
Grand Master from 1685 to 1695 and again from 1698. However, due to his old age,
Wren became inactive after 1708, causing the lodges to feel neglected. In 1716, the lodges
decided to hold a meeting to address their issues. They met at the Apple-Tree Tavern and formed a
temporary Grand Lodge, later resolving to hold an annual assembly to choose a new Grand Master.
Four London lodges convened on St John's Day, 24th June 1717 and selected Anthony Sayer as
their new Grand Master. In the following years, the Grand Lodge was reorganized and
began to operate independently from the London Company of Masons. They also simplified their
ceremonial practices to appeal to their new target group, the gentlemen Masons.
During the late 17th and early 18th century, Scottish and English forms of Freemasonry began to
influence each other, leading to the development of a two-degree system. Around 1725, this system
was further restructured into three degrees, a transformation solidified by Samuel Prichard’s
publication, “Masonry Dissected,” in 1730. This development introduced the three degrees: Entered
Apprentice, Fellow Craft, and Master Mason, which would become a standard in Freemasonry.
Freemasonry expanded beyond the British Isles, establishing Grand Lodges in Ireland and Scotland,
and lodges in various European cities and British colonies. Different traditions within Freemasonry,
such as the Harodim/York tradition, emerged, contributing to the richness of the craft.
A rival Grand Lodge, known as the 'Antients', was established in the mid-18th century by Irish
labourers in London. After decades of rivalry, the 'Moderns' and 'Antients' merged into the
United Grand Lodge of England and Wales in 1813. A new set of rituals was introduced,
and several Lodges of Instruction were formed to teach these rituals across the country.
And we are about to see how Freemasonry goes international.
Freemasonry indeed started spreading globally post-1725, with France being the first foreign
country it reached. The presence of British exiles, including the deposed King James II
and his successors known as 'the Old Pretender' and 'the Young Pretender,' in France might have
facilitated this due to the popularity of Freemasonry in Scotland during their reign.
The first lodges in France were founded from 1726 onwards, and the initial Grand
Masters were British Jacobites. The first French Grand Master was elected in 1738.
In Holland, the first lodges were founded in 1734 and 1735. However,
Freemasonry faced an interdict from the States of Holland and West Friesland in
1735 due to allegations of political bias, inciting riots, and practising sodomy,
which were later debunked. The interdiction might have stemmed from the fear that the
Order was operating as a 'state within a state' and promoting democratic practices.
In 1737, the French police officer Hérault published a ritual used by one of the Paris
lodges, leading to increased demand for better-printed rituals. Consequently,
several 'exposures' were published in 1744, including Le Secret des Francs-Maçons and
Le Catéchisme des Francs-Maçons, which established a new style of presentation
and provided more information about the actions to be performed. This led to the rapid spread of
the French version of the rituals of the tradition of the Moderns throughout the European continent.
Thank you for joining us on this exploration of Freemasonry's journey from its inception through
the 18th century. But our journey isn't over yet! Stay tuned for our next episode,
where we'll dive into late 18th and 19th-century Freemasonry up to the 20th century, uncovering
more fascinating insights into the evolution of Freemasonry. From expanding into colonial
territories to intertwining with feminist movements, we've got a lot more to explore!
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