VOLUME 24 THE ILUNOIS LODGE OF RESEARCH PAGE IS lodge are the three great lights in Masonry and Master of the lodge. However, even more the three lesser lights. important is the fact that the three lesser lights illuminate the three greater lights. This allows Let us first look at what the greatest of the three usto better visualize the information imparted greater light teaches us. The greatest of the three in the book of holy law and to better envision greater lights is the holy book that rests upon the meaning of the square and compass. It is the the altar. The contents of the holy book teaches aura sent out by the lesser lights that illuminate us the difference between right and wrong and the teachings of the holy book on the altar. gives information leading to the formation of proper character of mankind. Thus, the holy A quotation that I read states that, “knowledge book is enlightening the brother asto the is the greatest of all luxuries”. It is the never principles and standards of our brotherhood. ending search for light, also defined as knowledge that has given long lifeto our Our ritual teaches us that the square is to square Masonic fraternity. The look for Masonic our actions and that it is the square of virtue. knowledge is a search for what it means to truly The square is also anemblem of morality. The be a Mason in more than name only. That hunt compass circumscribes us and keeps us within can make a manmore than just a Mason in due bounds. Here, again, the new brother is name only. It willmake him atrue and just being inoculated into the principles and upright Mason. standards of . He is learningwhat it means to not only be aMason, but what it To paraphrase the Book of Genesis, “Let there means to be a man. belight, not only in the visual sense, but in the knowledge that is imparted by the holy book The ritual goes onto tell usthat the three lesser and by our Masonic teachings.” lights represent the sun, the moon, and the

BritishFreemasonry at the Valley of Chicago by HiltonKaufman,RM.

The , Valley of Chicago used a involved, and the Freemasons Guide and Britishtheme for its Spring, 2015 reunion. As Compendium by Bernard E. Jones. part of the decoration for this reunion, posters with information about some aspects of British MASONRYBEFORE THE GRAND Freemasonry were displayed. This information LODGES was gathered rapidly, so meticulous research (About 11005 to 17003) methods were not always used. The text on each poster had to stand on its own for casual reading Duringthe Middle Ages and somewhat beyond, by individuals unfamiliar with the subtleties of skilled workmen were employed in the Masonic history. The text of the posters is construction of large stone buildings, such as presented here asused, except for minor cathedrals, churches, and castles. When one corrections. project was finished, these workmen were free to leave the area to seek work elsewhere. While the scholarship for this project might not be of the highest standards, it does give a decent There was a system of recognition and local general picture of BritishFreemasonry and how Lodges among these workers, or Operative it differs from practices in the United States. Masons. They had aritual for initiating or accepting new members into the trade. This The information was obtained from various included reading something known asthe Old websites, including those of the bodies Charges, which contained legends asto the VOLUME 24 THE ILUNOIS LODGE OF RESEARCH PAGE I6 origins of the trade. Of course, there was also an brethren are thought to have brought Masonry oath or obligation complete with vicious and to England and thus formed Speculative Lodges bloody penalties. there.

These menwere expected to follow the No formal Operative Lodges existed in England prevailing religion. Depending on the time and after the reign of His Glorious Majesty Henry place, this might be Roman Catholicism, VIII,who ordered them to be disbanded and Anglicanism, Puritan Protestantism, or seized their property. There were, however, men Presbyterianism. (and maybe a few women) Who did such work. Once anOperative Mason was sufficiently By the end of the period, there were architects skilled, hereceived signs and words to indicate and others who supervised the work, rather than that hewas aqualified worker. These signs and coming up through the ranks of the Masons. words enabled himto prove himselfto be a The London Company of Masons was permitted Masonwhen seeking work elsewhere. to operate asatrade association of construction workers, although not asa Lodge. While the Lodges were independent, some of the more prominent ones, such asKilwinning Elias Ashmole records in his diary of being Lodge in Ireland, constituted and supervised made a Mason in 1646, probably in apurely other Lodges. Apparently some Lodges in Great Speculative Lodge. He next records an entry Britain,prior to 1717, were self-constituted by about Masonry in 1682. When the list of those groups of Masons. There were also Masons who he says were present is analyzed, it is found to were not members of any Lodge. There was have amix of both gentlemen and Operative even apractice in some places of one Mason Masons. The mixture at that time was such that simply making another a Mason. a prominent stonemason who had been knighted A number of such independent Lodges for his work asan architect aswell asaskilled continued to exist after the Modern Grand stone cutter, was later accepted into a Lodge Lodge of England system was established and with a mix of members. were considered legitimate to allow visitation in Lodges on Modern rolls well into Evenwhen we look at the formation of the first the 18th century. or Modern Grand Lodge in 1717, three of the four Lodges had many, if not allmembers, who OPERATIVE T0 SPECULATIVE were actual skilled construction workers. Only MASONRY one of these Lodges was purely Speculative. (15005 to mid-1700s) THE MODERN GRAND LODGE OF There are several theories as to the origins of ENGLAND modern Speculative Masonry. These include (1717 to 1813) things like secret clubs where Royalists could meet during the Commonwealth period of the In 1717, three largely Operative Lodges from middle 16005 to an offshoot of a society of London and one purely Speculative Lodge from astrologers. Westminster formed the Modern Grand Lodge of London and elected a Grand Master. This The most commonly accepted theory is that Modern Grand Lodge claimed authority over Speculative Masonry was developed from Masonry for a seven mile radius, or roughly the Operative Masonry, or that of the construction London metropolitan area. (The metropolitan trade. According to this theory, Scottish area generally known asLondon consists of the Operative Masons accepted gentlemen and City of London, the City of Westminster, and 31 nobility into their Lodges. Some of these separate boroughs. The City of London is a VOLUME 24 THE ILLINOIS LODGE OF RESEARCH PAGE I7 commercial and financial hub with headquarters Notable admissions into membership were for many trades. Westminster is the seat of published for all to see, thus giving the Modern government with Royal Palaces and Houses of Grand Lodge an appearance of being elite. Parliament.) This seven mile limit covered the area over which the Operative London Dissension Among the Masons Company of Masons had authority. (early to mid 17003)

There were previously prominent individual or There were many Masons besides those who local Lodges, such asKilwinningLodge in were members of Lodges that were part of the Scotland, that constituted and supervised other Modern Grand Lodge of England. There were Lodges in their areas. KilwinningLodge served Lodges which had existed for many decades as as a Grand Lodge for at least part of Scotland. ‘Operatives’. They were known as ‘Time The thing that was unique about this Modern ImmemorialLodges’. Some Lodges had Grand Lodge is that several existing Lodges received charters or warrants from older gave up authority to anew body with authority Lodges. Stillothers had been formed by several to make rules and together elect its leaders, Masons according to ancient tradition. On top of rather than one Lodge being dominant over the this, some Masons independently made others others. Masons and there were brethren who were not affiliated with any Lodge. Many independent Lodges affiliated with this Modern Grand Lodge and were issued charters The exposé in 1730 showed that the Modern or warrants. New Lodges formed and were also Grand Lodge was making changes in ritual and issued charters. However, many ‘Time practice aswell asexposing the secret means of Immemorial Lodges’ remained independent of recognition. Because they had been revealed, this Modern Grand Lodge. the words and signs used to gain admittance were changed, thus excluding the other Masons. Eventually the Modern Grand Lodge of London and Westminster called itselfthe Grand Lodge Innovations that were made by the Modern of England and claimed Masonic authority over Grand Lodge greatly upset the others, even all of country. By 1726, there were Lodges when of littlereal consequence. For example, throughout England with allegiance to this the form of a Lodge would beput on the floor Grand Lodge. ‘ of the taverns where the Lodges met with chalk and then washed offwith a mop and water when In 1730, Pritchard's Masonry Dissectedwas the meeting was over. The Modern Grand published. This indicated changes made by the Lodge used tape and metal letters instead. Modern Grand Lodge asto ritual aswell as revealing the secret method of proving The ModernGrand Lodge did not permit its membership. Because of this, the Modern Grand Lodges to confer the Royal Arch or various side Lodge changed the way the recognition tests degrees aspart of craft Masonry. Many of the were done, thus excluding visits from those who other Lodges did so. In fact, many thought that not where not members of Lodges it considered one was not fully a Masonuntilreceiving that ‘regular’. By 1732, the ModernGrand lodge degree. accepted Jews asmembers. Other differences in practice, such asthe banning of processions and Apparently the Lodges of the Modern Grand limitinglodges to only working the three craft Lodge did not read the Old Charges as part of degrees, also occurred. the ceremony of making a Mason. This had long been part of the tradition. VOLUME 24 THE ILLINOIS LODGE OF RESEARCH PAGE I8

The members of the Modem Grand Lodge The Ancient Grand Lodge strongly insisted that tended to bemore elitist than many of the other the RoyalArch degree was an essential part of Masons. Eventhough the first Grand Master Masonry and that Masters of Lodges must be was from one of the Operative Lodges, he was properly installed before serving in office. This described asa gentleman. The following Grand differed from the Modern Grand Lodge of Masters were clearly gentlemen or nobility. It England which did not permit its Lodges to has been claimed that the membership of the work the RoyalArch degree and did not require Modern Grand Lodge tended to be Protestant, that Masters of Lodges be formally installed. while many of the outsiders tended to be Roman Catholic. To emphasis that it did not accept the innovations made by the Modern Grand Lodge The Ancient GrandLodge of England of England, The Most Antient and Honourable (1751to 1813) Society of Free and Accepted Masons According to the Old Institutions referred to Economic conditions in Irelandin the early itselfasthe ‘Ancients’ and the Grand Lodge off 1700s resulting from the Industrial Revolution, England asthe ‘Modems’. This did seem to caused many Irishmento move to London. bother its rival, and the terms seemed to stick. Masons among them found that they could not join or form Lodges under the Modern Grand The UnitedGrand Lodge of England Lodge of England, asthe rituals had been (1813 to present) changed after the publication of apopular expose’ in 1737. To continue meeting as The United Grand Lodge of England was Masons, they formed their own Lodges, formed by a merger of two rival Grand Lodges sometimes with an Irishwarrant. commonly known asthe ‘Modems’ and the ‘Ancients’ on December 27, 1813. Each had a Six Lodges not on the rolls of any Grand Lodge history of somewhat different ritual and met on July 17, 1751 and established The Most practices. By this date, the differences had Antient and Honourable Society of Free and largely been resolved. The UnitedGrand Lodge Accepted Masons According to the Old of England then became the governing body for Institutions, better known asthe Ancient Grand most Lodges of Freemasons with England and Lodge of England. Of the total of eighty men Wales aswell some outside of the United among the membership of these Lodges, only Kingdom. It can trace its foundations back to two were professional men. The rest were the first Modern Grand Lodge which was various workmen of low income, although they formed in 1717. may have had some education. The Modern Grand Lodge had made some Grand Masters were eventually recruited from innovations which differed from the practices of the nobility to lend prestige to the organization. many Lodges in England aswell asthose The first, William Stewart, the 1st Earl of belonging to the Grand Lodges of Ireland and Blessington, previously Grand Master of Scotland. Even some of the Lodges that were on Ireland, accepted the office of Grand Master on the rolls of the ‘Modems’ did not adopt all of December 27, 1756. Only three menwith any the innovations. other sort of titles served in the higher offices of the Ancient Grand Lodge other than the Grand Cadwallader Blaney, the 9th LordBlaney Masters. This tendered to be an organization of became the Grand Master of the ‘Modems’ in men of lesser status and wealth. 1764 and started seeking reconciliation. As he had been raised in amilitary Lodge, it is most probable that he was actually amember of the VOLUME 24 THE ILLINOIS LODGE OF RESEARCH PAGE I9

Ancient Grand Lodge or had been a member of similar in Irelandand Scotland, but not exactly a Lodge under the . the same. Some of the bodies in England and Wales are described below. There were extremists and moderates in both groups. The ‘Moderns’ had what were known as The in England and Wales is ‘Traditionalists’ that worked the ancient rituals practiced as a stand-alone degree, separate from preferred by its rivals. There was visiting, back Craft Freemasonry. Members meet in Royal and forth, with remaking when needed. While Arch Chapters, which are each attached to a the Modern Grand Lodge was in control of Craft Lodge and also bear the same number. practices in and near London, its changes and Masons are actively encouraged to seek innovations were often ignored in the more exaltation into the HolyRoyal Arch before distant areas. considering membership of any further Masonic organization. Relations started improving in the 17905. In 1799, there was a fear that French spies were The Order of Mark Master Masons degree is hiding among various organizations that only conferred in Mark Masons' Lodges, which imposed oaths of secrecy upontheir members. are independent from the United Grand Lodge The two Grand Lodges found it necessary to act of England. Within the Order, members may together to obtain an exemption for Freemasons alsojoin the Royal Ark Mariners. from the Unlawful Societies Act which was passed by Parliament because of this fear. The Order of the Secret Monitor meets in Conclaves, each with a Supreme Ruler at its A “Lodge of Promulgation” was appointed in head. Within the Order, members may also join 1809 to return the ‘Moderns’ ritual to the older the Order of the Scarlet Cord. form that would be acceptable to the ‘Ancients’ and the Grand Lodges of Scotland and Ireland. The Ancient and Accepted Rite for England and In 1811, the formal return to the old ritual was Wales is the equivalent of the Ancient and declared and the process of union began. Royal Accepted Scottish Rite in the United States and princes became the Grand Masters of the two Canada. Under the English Constitution, the rival lodges. The United Grand Lodge of Rite meets in Rose Croix Chapters and is open England came into existence on December 13, only to Master Masons who believe in the 1813, with HRHthe Duke of Sussex as Grand Christian Holy Trinity. Candidates are Master. 'perfected' in the 18th degree, with the preceding degrees awarded in name only. The UnitedGrand Lodge of England now has Continuing to the 30th degree and beyond is about 250,000 members, in over 8,000 Lodges. restricted to those who have served in the chair of the Chapter. BritishRelatedMasonic Bodies (17008 to present) Membership in the Knights Templar. is by invitation only. Candidates are required to be Whilst the United Grand Lodge of England only Master Masons, Royal Arch Masons, and to formally recognizes the Royal Arch asa believe in the Christian Holy Trinity. Knights separately administered order or degree that Members may also join the Knights of Malta Master Masons can obtain after receiving the and/or the Knight Templar Priests. third, there are many other orders and degrees available to its members. Many of these bodies The Order of the , the and their degree are strictly invitational or have Holy Sepulchre and of St John the Evangelist, is other special requirements. The situation is colloquially known asthe "Red Cross of VOLUME 24 THE ILLINOIS LODGE OF RESEARCH PAGE 20

Constantine". Candidates are required to be Members of the Company often served as Master Masons, Royal general contractors rather than working stonemasons. Arch Masons, and to believe in the Christian Holy Trinity. Members meet as a Conclave. The When St. Paul's Cathedral was rebuilt after the Order works three degrees, and also fire, members of the London Company of administrates two distinct appendant orders Masons laidthe first and last stone. Even which are both Christian in character though the Company was involved, the vast much majority of the work was done by non! The , a group of five members. formerly independent degrees, are conferred by invitation only. Candidates are required to be The stonemasons that came from outside of Master Masons, RoyalArch Masons and Mark London largely did notjoin the London Masons. Members may also be invited to join Company of Masons. They tended to form the Order of Knight Masons. lodges as was the custom elsewhere. These lodges may well have had construction workers The LondonCompany of Masons from other crafts. (1356 to present)

An organization of stonemasons, known asthe The Grand Lodge of Ireland London Company of Masons, existed prior to (1725 to present) the creation of the first Grand Lodge of Freemasons. This organization still exists, with The Grand Lodge of Ireland came into existence a slight change of name, and denies any sometime prior to June 24, 1725. The first connection to the fraternity. record of it is in a newspaper report of the installation of anew Grand Master, the 1st Earl The Company has records indicating that it of Rosse. While it probably is a bit older, the regulated the craft of stonemasonry in the Grand Lodge of Ireland celebrates 1725 as its London area since 1356. In 1677 the Company anniversary. was formally incorporated by Royal Charter under the Seal of KingCharles II giving it There are strong indications that there were power to control the work of stonemasons in the Lodges in Irelandprior to the 18th century. Cities of London and Westminster and seven Many new Lodges were founded throughout miles there from. Ireland during the 18th century. These met in taverns, inns, and coffee houses. Some of the With the Protestant Reformation, much of the specific locations in Dublinand Belfast are construction work on Churches and similar known today. The Grand Lodge of Ireland, stone structure decreased. After the Great Fire however, held its meetings in more formal and of London in 1666, many workers came in from sedate civic and guild buildings until it obtained the provinces of England, aswell as Scotland its own quarters in the 1820s. and Ireland, because of the need to rapidly rebuild London. These caused the Company to The number of Lodges increased dramatically lose control of the craft. Some of the by the end of the century with the popularity of construction work was being done by members the Volunteer Movement, which involved local of other crafts, such asplasterers. forces replacing regular British forces that withdrew to fight in the American colonies. There was often an association between specific Lodges and Volunteer Regiments. VOLUME 24 THE ILLINOIS LODGE OF RESEARCH PAGE 2|

There was some political influence by the Mother Kilwinning Lodge is probably older, but Volunteers toward democracy in Ireland. its oldest records were destroyed in a fire. Several Lodges, especially in the Anglican Scottish Lodges have aconsiderable amount of North, were vocal about this. Most who autonomy and control of their own affairs. proclaimed that the Constitution should be Many of the Lodges existed before the changed to have independence from Britain establishment of the Grand Lodge of Scotland disavowed violence. Some did advocate and insisted on the use their ownrituals and violence if necessary. Other Lodges dissociated procedure, and even regalia. Because this themselves from those that were advocating independence was established for the older revolution. The Grand Lodge of Ireland Lodges, it could not be denied to Lodges that reminded Lodges of the Grand Lodge law were warranted after the establishment of the forbidding religious or political quarrels to be Grand Lodge of Scotland. brought within the Lodge after it had received some pressure from the government. Eventhough the rituals are distinctive for each Lodge, they all contain the principal points of Eventhough previous Papal bulls were pretty each degree. There is plenty of room for much ignored in Ireland, the 1826 bull of Leo elaboration, and there are many additions XIIagainst secret societies was widely unique to each Lodge. The regalia that is worn published there. This caused even very can bequite colorful since each Lodge can prominent Irishmen, such asDaniel O'Connell, choose its owncolors. to resign under pressure from the Church. Because Mother Kilwinning Lodge was unable The Grand Lodge of Scotland to prove its ancient existence, it was offered the (1736 to present) Lodge number ‘2’,rather than be recognized as the eldest. It considered this an insult and The Grand Lodge of Scotland was founded in seceded from the Grand Lodge of Scotland. It 1736 with the full title of The Grand Lodge of had been chartering other Lodges from well into Antient, Free and Accepted Masons of Scotland. 1400s and resumed doing so acting as arival This Grand Lodge of Scotland is able to show a Grand Lodge in Scotland. It even issued a distinct connection between Operative Masonry warrantto one in the colony of Virginia in the and Speculative Freemasonry of today. The United States. In 1807, it rejoined the Grand Grand Lodge of Scotland has records going Lodge of Antient, Free and Accepted Masons of back to 1599, with the minutes of ameeting of Scotland, being issued the number ‘0’,and Mary’s Chapel Lodge No. 1in Edinburgh. brought the Lodges that it had chartered with it

Freemasonry and the HinduReligionby HiltonKaufman, PM Employees of a Britishtrading enterprise called the In looking at Freemasonry and the Hindu Religion, East India Company first introduced Freemasonry two things must be borne in mind. First, into India in 1730. Locals were not accepted for Freemasonry requires abeliefin a Supreme Being. membership until 1812, when aMuslimwas Second, Hindus appear to worship many different allowed to join. Since Hindus did not openly pray to deities. While this appears to present aconflict, it one deity, they were not even considered for actually does not. members. It was as late as 1857 untilthe first Hindu was accepted as amember.