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Welcome to the official website of The Grand Lodge of All England at York, the Ancient and Honourable Society and Fraternity of Free Masons meeting since time immemorial in the City of York. The Grand Lodge at York is the original exponent of pure, and genuine Anglo-Saxon Free Masonry. The Grand Lodge of All England retains its jurisdiction over the Craft of Free Masonry in England, Wales, the Channel Islands, its Territories and Lodges Overseas. It promulgates and defends the traditions and principles of Anglo-Saxon Free Masonry and stands as the possessor and inheritor of those Masonic ideals which are not represented elsewhere. The Grand Lodge at York confers degrees and orders as follows : Apprentice; Fellow; Mark Mason; Passed Master; Installed Master; Ark Mason; Order of the Grand High Priest. Warranted Lodges in England: St John's Lodge at York (2006); The Talbot Lodge at Halifax (1738); French Lodge at York (1762); Three Tuns Lodge at Scarborough (1762); Royal Oak Lodge at Ripon (1769); Crown Lodge at Knaresborough (1769); Duke of Devonshire's Flying Childers Lodge at Macclesfield (1770); Hovingham Lodge at North Yorkshire (1773); New Inn Lodge at Snainton (1778); Druidical Lodge at Rotherham (1778); Lodge of Perseverance and Triumph at London (1779); Lodge of Perfect Observance at London (1779); Fortitude at the Sun Lodge at Hollinwood (1790); Renaissance Lodge at London (2007); Kipling Lodge at Staines (2007). The United States of America - St John's Lodge at Ohio; St John's Lodge at Texas. Lebanon - Lodge Al-Shams of St John at Lebanon. Paraguay - St John's Lodge at Paraguay Appointed Representatives in: Greece; Italy, Turkey, State of Georgia United States of America. Grand Lodges in Amity: La Grande Loge de France (GLdF) comprising over 700 Lodges and 26,300 members. The United Grand Lodges of India comprising 4 Grand Lodges: The Grand Lodge of Upper India based in Chandigarh with 23 Lodges; The Grand Lodge of South India based in Coimbatore with 14 Lodges; The Grand Lodge of Western India based in Mumbai with 3 Lodges; and The Grand Lodge of Eastern India based in Lucknow with 5 Lodges.
 King Athelstan Free Masonry in England was formally recognised at York in AD 926 by Royal command of King Athelstan. He granted a Royal Charter which conferred upon the Free Masons of England the right of assembly at York. He appointed his brother Prince Edwin of York to be their Grand Master. The City of York remains the location of the Chair of the Grand Master, as required by the Royal Charter, which was granted in perpetuity. Of course there were Free Masons in England prior to AD 926. King Athelstan provided them with the invaluable right of congregation as a single body. Anglo-Saxon Free Masonry cannot be separated from its religious context, which has existed since time immemorial. The religious context of genuine Free Masonry remains an essential mark of the true Free Mason. "As free
Make I thee,
As heart may think, or eye may see." (Athelstan) "Struck his enemies with fear, by terror of his name alone. A royal son prolonged a noble line, when a splendid gem lit up our darkness. Great Athelstan, glory of the country, way of rectitude, noble integrity, unswervable from the truth." (King Athelstan c.895-939) The original Charter at York is recorded as having been kept in the archives of the Old Lodge at York City until it was destroyed in the Wars of the Roses (1453-1487). Fortunately, hand written manuscript copies, dating from c.1390, have been carefully preserved and may be found in the Royal Library of The British Museum.  King Henry VI "On Henry VI's accession, Chicheley, Archbishop of Canterbury, presided over the society. We have records of a lodge held at Canterbury, under his patronage, where Thos. Stapylton was master, and the names of the wardens and other brethren are given. This was in 1429, four years after an act of parliament, passed early in the reign of Henry VI against the meetings of the society, which was caused by the enmity of Cardinal Beaufort, Bishop of Winchester, towards Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester, the king's uncle, a great patron of the craft. But this act was never enforced, and in 1442 the king was himself initiated, and he patronised the society." (SOURCES: The Tanner Manuscript, 1429, The Bodleian Library; The Freemasons' Pocket Companion, History of Freemasonry in England by Apollo Lodge No.711 Oxford, United Grand Lodge of England independently reported in The Mirror of Literature, Amusement and Instruction, Vol. 17, Issue 491, May 28 1831) "In 1442 King Henry VI developed several questions for Masons regarding the mysteries of their reception and the object of their studies. Satisfied with their answers, he was admitted to the Fraternity, protected it, constituted old charters concerning its privileges, and approved them, in the opinion of his council. He applied to the study of art and all the lords of the court followed his example. He appointed, in 1443, as Grand Master William Wanafleet, bishop of Winchester: who built at his expense the college of Magdalene, in Oxford, and a great number of religious buildings." (SOURCE: Acta Latomorum ou Chronologie de l'Histoire de la Franche-Maçonnerie Française et Étrangére by Claude Antoine Thory (1784) "That the charges and laws of the Free Masons have been seen and perused by our late Sovereign King Henry VI and by the Lords of his most honourable council, who have allowed them, and declared, 'That they be right good and reasonable to be holden, as they have been drawn out and collected from the records of auncient tymes.' &c. &c." (SOURCE: Stowe's Survey, ch.V., p.215, Published According to Act of Parliament, 1754)  Queen Elizabeth I In the year A.D. 1561, assurances were given to Queen Elizabeth I by Sir Thomas Sackville, Privy Councillor and Grand Master of The Grand Lodge at York (1560-1566). She confirmed rights previously granted to The Grand Lodge and gave her permission for it to continue in Grand Assembly at York.  Sir Thomas Sackville "We have another record of the General Assembly, which was held in York on the 27th December, 1561, when Queen Elizabeth, who was suspicious of their secrecy, sent an armed force to dissolve the meeting. A copy is still preserved of the regulations which were adopted by a similar assembly held in 1663, on the festival of St. John the Evangelist; and in these regulations it is declared that the private lodges shall give an account of all their acceptations made during the year to the General Assembly. Another regulation, however, adopted at the same time, still more explicitly acknowledges the existence of a General Assembly as the governing body of the fraternity. It is there provided, "that for the future, the said fraternity of Freemasons shall be regulated and governed by one Grand Master and as many Wardens as the said society shall think fit to appoint at every Annual General Assembly." (SOURCE: The Principles of Masonic Law, A Treatise on the Constitutional Laws, Usages and Landmarks of Freemasonry, Historical Sketches by Dr Albert Gallatin Mackey, 1807)  Sir Thomas Gresham "The Queen being assured that the Fraternity were composed of skilful architects and lovers of the arts, and that state-affairs were points in which they never interfered, was perfectly reconciled to their assemblies, and Masonry made a great progress during her reign. Several Lodges were held in different places of the Kingdom, particularly in London, and its environs, where the Brethren increased considerably, and many great works were carried on under the auspices of Sir Thomas Gresham, from whom the Fraternity received every encouragement."  Charles Howard, Earl of Effingham "Charles Howard, Earl of Effingham, succeeded Sir Thomas in the office of Grand Master, and continued to preside over the Lodges in the south, till the year 1588; when George Hastings, Earl of Huntingdon, was chosen, who remained in that office till the death of the queen in 1603." (SOURCE: Illustrations of Masonry by William Preston with additions to the present time by George Oliver, Sect. 5, p.156, Progress of Masonry in the South of England from the Reign of Elizabeth to the Fire of London in 1666, printed for Whittaker Treacher & Co., Ave Maria Lane : London 1829.) The Old Grand Lodge at York, the Ancient and Honourable Society and Fraternity of Freemasons meeting since time immemorial in the City of York was renamed The Grand Lodge of All England at York in A.D. 1725. It has retained this title ever since. "If he wishes to partake of Masonry in its Original Purity, he will turn his attention to that source, where it hath been Inviolably maintained and continued for Successive Ages to this Day, and where the Legislature of Masonry for this Kingdom stands fixed by its true Title 'The Grand Lodge of All England, Established at the City of York.' " (SOURCE: Statement of York 1779) SOURCES: Halliwell's or Regius Manuscript, British Library Royal Manuscript Collection, catalogue reference 17 A.I. (c.1390); The Matthew Cooke Manuscript, British Museum, "Additional M.S. 23,198" (1420); The Tanner Manuscript 165, Register of William Molart, Prior of Christ Church, Canterbury from 1427, including the Registrum angliae de libris doctorum et auctorum ueterum, Bodleian Library (1427); The Ashmole Manuscript written for King Henry VI by John Laylande (c.1436); The Dowland's Transcript, reprint in The Gentleman's Magazine 1815 (c.1500); The Lansdowne Manuscript, British Museum (c.1560); The York Manuscript No.1 (1600); The York Manuscript No.3 (1630); The Grand Lodge Manuscript (c.1632); The Sloane Manuscript 3848, British Museum, transcribed, finished and attested for the initiation of Elias Ashmole at Kermincham, Warrington by Edward Sankey; The Harleian Manuscript No. 2054, British Museum (1650); The Sloane Manuscript 3323, British Museum, (certified "decimo sexto die Octobris Anno Domini 1659"); The Aitcheson-Haven Manuscript, Grand Lodge of Scotland (c.1666); The Harleian Manuscript 1942, British Museum (c.1670); The Edinburgh-Kilwinning Manuscript, Kilwinning Lodge, Scotland (c.1670); The York Manuscript No.5, York Lodge No. 236, York (c.1670); The York Manuscript No.6 (c.1680); Lodge of Hope Manuscript, Lodge of Hope, Bradford (c.1680); The Antiquity Manuscript, The Lodge of Antiquity, London (cert.1686); The Scarborough MS (1693); The York Manuscript No.4, York Lodge No 236, York (cert.1693); The Alnwick Manuscript (cert.1701); The York Manuscript No.2, York Lodge No. 236, York (cert.1704); Mr Wyatt Papworth's Manuscript (c.1714); Dr Rev. Rawlinson's Manuscript (c.1720); records of the Chapter of York Minster (from 1460); Stowe's Survey, ch.V., p.215, Published According to Act of Parliament (1754); Ahiman Rezon, 3rd Edition published by Laurence Dermott, Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons According to the Old Institution, (1756); The Manifesto of The Lodge of Antiquity, formerly the Old Lodge of St Paul (1778); Statement of York, Grand Lodge of All England (1779); Acta Latomorum ou Chronologie de l'Histoire de la Franche-Maçonnerie française et étrangére by Claude Antoine Thory (1784); The Principles of Masonic Law, A Treatise on the Constitutional Laws, Usages and Landmarks of Freemasonry, Historical Sketches by Dr Albert Gallatin Mackey, (1807); Illustrations of Masonry by William Preston with additions to the present time by George Oliver, Sect. 5, p.156, Progress of Masonry in the South of England from the Reign of Elizabeth to the Fire of London in 1666, printed for Whittaker Treacher & Co., Ave Maria Lane, London (1829); The Freemasons' Pocket Companion, History of Freemasonry in England by Apollo Lodge No.711 Oxford, United Grand Lodge of England, independently reported by The Mirror of Literature, Amusement and Instruction, Vol. 17, Issue 491 (May 28 1831); The Antiquities of Freemasonry by The Revd George Oliver (1854); Ancient Charges and Regulations of Freemasonry by Cornelius Moore (1855); Universal Masonic Library, Volume IV, by The Revd George Oliver and Thaddeus Mason Harris (1855); The History of Freemasonry by J.W.S. Mitchell M.D., published by the American Publishing House, Philadelphia (1858); Digest of Masonic Law by George Wingate Chase (1863); The Masonic Eclectic by John W Simons and Robert Macoy (1866); General History, Cyclopedia, And Dictionary of Freemasonry by Robert Macoy (1873); Ancient Freemasonry by Frank C. Higgins (c.1919); The Old Lodge at York by O. P. Thomas, United Grand Lodge of England, Grand Lodge Bulletin (1969).
 Choose from the relevant menu on this Welcome Page. Regularity: Grand Lodge policy and the latest report from The Conference of Grand Masters of Masons of North America. News and Announcements: Republic of Paraguay; Lebanese Republic الجمهورية اللبنانية; Initiation in Scotland; Scotland and Ireland; Prof. Nicolas Laos appointed representative to the Hellenic Republic of Greece, contact details in Athens; Assembly of Masons, Republic of Turkey; Assembly of Masons at Milan, Republic of Italy; The inauguration of St John's Lodge at Texas, United States of America; Treaties of Amity exchanged between The Grand Lodge at York and The Confederation of The United Grand Lodges of India; A Statement by The Grand Lodge of All England at York regarding the life and death of its first Grand Master, Prince Edwin of York; Grand-Master Mason invested with the Order of Service to Freemasonry; Appointment of Grand Chancellor; Inauguration of St John's Lodge at Ohio, United States of America. Grand Lodges in England: Updated. Statement at York 1779: A new webpage. Antiquities: A new webpage containing certain references to old manuscripts. This page is for the serious Masonic student. Full details on application to the Grand Secretary. Mackey's Masonic Law: Key extracts from Dr Albert Gallatin Mackey's "The Principles of Masonic Law". Articles and Papers: "Anderson's Constitutions of 1723" by Lionel Vibert. Addresses from the East: A response to the Pro Grand Master of the UGLE in respect of Regularity; Grand Master Mason's address to the Brethren, 15th December 2007 ; Grand-Master Mason's address to the Brethren of St John's Lodge at Ohio. York Grand Masters: Names and biographies of 82 (eighty-two) Grand Masters of The Grand Lodge at York from Prince Edwin of York (AD 926) to Edward Wooley Esquire (AD 1810). Your Questions Answered: "What is different about the Grand Lodge of All England", "Do I have to believe in God or Religion?".
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