Part of the mystique of Freemasonry can be attributed to speculation about its roots. Over the years, researchers have never been able to conclusively determine exactly when, where, how, and why Freemasonry was born.

The order is thought to have arisen from the English and Scottish guilds of practicing stonemasons and cathedral builders in the Middle Ages, but certain Masonic documents actually trace the sciences of geometry and masonry to the time of ancient Egypt, and some historians say that Masonry has its real roots in antiquity.

The formation of the first Grand Lodge in London in 1717 could mark the beginning of the Modern (or “Speculative”) era of Freemasonry, when members were no longer limited to actual working stonemasons. These “Accepted” Masons eventually adopted more enlightened philosophies, and turned what was a tradesmen’s organization into a fraternity for moral edification, intellectual recitation, benevolent service, and gentlemanly socialization.

Freemasonry’s origins have always been shrouded in mystery because no written document exists at the time of its creation. The origin is now divided between two camps- we evolved from the stonemasons who traveled across Europe building the great catherdals and castle or we are decendants of the Knights Templars so cravingly destroyed by King Phillip IV of France. Each position can be defended.

Hello…I’m from Czech republic (I have been learning english just for 3years…so I’m sorry for my grammatical errors)

I’m a little bit confused about history of the Freemasons. I have read in the book by Maurice Cotterell, first “freemason” or esoterician was king Tutankhamen. Cotterell is in this book talking about freemasons sings in king Tut’s tomb.

But I’ve heard another theories.
Somwhere I found, freemasons arose in 1717. Or like secret branch of templars after Jaques Molay’s death.

Can you tell me something more about history?
Thank you
(I hope you understand my message)  :-)

Modern Freemasonry is dated from 1717 when four lodges in existance in London united to form the Grand Lodge of England. Orior to this lodges existed as independent enities.

The term Freemason comes from the fact that stonemasons in the 11-14th centuries were ‘Freemen’ and were not bound to the land or lord as a slave, serf, bondman under the Feudal system. Freemasons could travel through out Europe without restrictions. Building the great cathederals of Europe usually took 20 or more years, some over 100 years to build. Thus the stonemasons would build lodges to house the workers around the work site. They provided for their own thus adopted words, signs and tokens to recognize fellow stonemasons.

The Templar connection is shrouded in fog because no documents exist to show a direct connection of Templars and Freemasons. The first promotor of the Templar connection was the Chevalier Ramsay. The primeval Grand Lodge at Jerusalem is an example of the embellishments that the modern founders of the grand lodge system covered themselves. One has to remember that membership in early modern Freemasonry came from the ‘gentlemen’ class and aristrocracy. Ramsay felt it better to have the fraternity decend from Knights than men who worked with their hands.

The historical Templars were destroyed by King Philip IV of France, Knights Hospitalliers and the Papacy on Friday April 13, 1307. The reasons why they were destroyed are many and varied. The Templars rose from a band of 9 French knights to an organization that rivaled the wealth and power of the monarchs of Europe in a little more than 200 years of existance. Prior to 1307 the Templars and the Hospitalliers (Knights of Malta)had been driven from the Holy Land and the Templars were going to settle in Europe, not a pleasant thought for ruling monarchs with poorly trained Armies and drained treauries.

The Templars were effectively destroyed in France, but in other countries they changed their names and the King became Grand master, or absorbed into existing orders or destroyed. In England and Scotland the papal ban was ignored more or less but they and other survivors went underground.

John Robinson’s book “Born in Blood”, written before he became a mason, was intented to explain the reasons behind the Peasant Revolt in England in 1385. What evolved was the premise that the fugitive Templars embedded themselves with the stonemasons adopting their modes of recognitions to protect themselves. The decendants of the Templars continued the practise. John Robinson’s “Dungeon, Fire and Sword” is a history of the Templars which is good background.

Modern Masonic Knights Templars have no direct connections to the Historic Templars other that the name. During the great expansion of degrees in the 1730s the masonic Templars came into being. Ignoring historic truths they combined the Knights of Malta with the Templars despite the fact they hated each other.

I hope this helps

Eduard Benes, 1st President of Czechoslovakia, was a freemason.

Wayne W.Anderton

del.
Sorry, wrong topic.