The formation of the first Grand Lodge in London in 1717 marks the beginning of the Modern (or “Speculative”) era of Freemasonry, when members were no longer limited to actual working stonemasons. These “Accepted” Masons 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.
Hi all,
i am a brethren of Mother Kilwinning “No 0” in Scotland UK. I was reading on the homepage of “ask a freemason” about the history of freemasonary and read the above remark. I have always known of the history of my own beloved lodge was much older than the above London lodge and wondered if anyone agreed with me that masonic Lodges was in Scotland when french templars came over to build abbeys around the 1100’s. We have minutes of every meeting since 1642, and we uncovered a minute of a meeting from just the turn of the 1600’s. We were a Grand Lodge before the grand lodge of edinburgh was set up in 1736. So if anyone wants to check this out, feel free. I’m sure i’m not wrong.
