AD 926 - ENGLAND'S MOST ANCIENT GRAND LODGE IS CONSTITUTED BY ROYAL CHARTER

King Athelstan

"Edward was succeeded, in 924, by his son, Athelstan, whose brother, Edwin, procured from the king a charter for masons, by which they were empowered to meet annually in a general assembly, and to have power to regulate their own order.  And, according to this charter, the first grand lodge of England met at York, in 926.  But here it is to be remarked that the grand lodge is not to be understood as the same in those times that it is now; it was not then restricted to the masters and wardens of private lodges, but was open to as many of the fraternity as could attend: for, until late years, the grand lodge as now constituted did not exist, but there was but one family of masons; and any sufficient number of masons met together, with the consent of the civil magistrate, to practice the rites of masonry, without warrant of constitution as a lodge.

"On the death of Prince Edwin, Athelstan himself presided over the lodges; but after his decease, we know little of the state of the masons in Britain, except that they were governed by Dunstan, Archbishop of Canterbury, in 960, and Edward the Confessor in 1041.  But in 1066, William the Conqueror appointed Gondulph, Bishop of Rochester, to preside over the society.  In 1100, Henry the First patronised them; and in 1135, during the reign of Stephen, the society was under the command of Gilbert de Clare, Marquess of Pembroke.

"From the year 1155 to 1199, the fraternity was under the command of the grand master of the knights templars.

"In 1199, Peter de Colechurch was appointed grand master; and the society continued to increase and flourish in the successive reigns of Henry III., Edward I., Edward II., and Edward III.  This last prince revised the constitutions of the order, and appointed deputies to superintend the fraternity, one of whom was William à Wykeham, afterwards Bishop of Winchester.  He continued grand master under the reign of Richard II.; was succeeded by Thomas Fitz Allen, Earl of Surrey, in Henry IV.’s reign; and on Henry V.’s accession, Chichely, 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." 

(SOURCE: A Freemason's Pocket Companion Containing a Brief Sketch of the History of Masonry, A Chronology of Interesting Events, etc. etc., by a Brother of the Apollo Lodge, 711, Oxford, Constitution of The United Grand Lodge of England, published by Henry Washbourne: London, also independently reported by The Mirror of  Literature, Amusement and Instruction, Vol. 17, Issue 491, May 28 1831)

"And after that was a worthy king in England that was called Athelstan, and his youngest son loved well the science of geometry, and he wist well that hand-craft had the practice of the science of geometry so well as masons, wherefore he drew him to council and learn-ed practice of that science to his speculative, for of speculative he was a master, and he loved well masonry and masons.  And he became a mason himself, and he gave them charges and names as it is now used in England, and in other countries.  And he ordained that they should have reasonable pay and purchased a free patent of the king that they should make assembly when they saw a reasonable time and come together to their councillors of which charges, manners, and assembly, as it is written and taught in the book of our charges, wherefore I leave it at this time.  (SOURCE: The Matthew Cooke Manuscript, British Museum: 'Additional M.S. 23,198'.  "A transcript of a much older document written by a speculative Mason c.1450")

AD 933 - Prince Edwin, brother of King Æthelstan, is drowned in mysterious circumstances en route to France and buried at l'Abbeye Saint-Bertin in Flandres.   (SOURCES : Historical Chronology of Saxon England, Part 7: AD 899-953 by David Nash Ford, BA Hon.; Annals of Saint-Bertin, edd. f. Grat. et al (Paris, 1964) tr. J.L. Nelson, Manchester, 1991)

"Edward died in 924, and was succeeded by Athelstane his son, who appointed his brother Edwin, patron of the masons.  This prince procured a charter from Athelstane, empowering them to meet annually in communication at York, where the first Grand Lodge of England was formed in 926, at which Edwin presided as Grand Master.  Here many old writings were produced, in Greek, Latin and other languages, from which the constitutions of the English lodges are derived.

"The activity and princely conduct of Edwin qualified him, in every respect, to preside over so celebrated a body of men as the masons, who were employed under him in repairing and building many churches and superb edifices, which had been destroyed by the ravages of the Danes and other invaders, not only in the city of York, but at Beverley, and other places.  On the death of Edwin, Athelstane undertook in person the direction of the lodges, and the art of masonry was propagated in peace and security under his sanction."   (SOURCE: Illustrations of Masonry by Dr William Preston, 1772)

"After the establishment of the Kilwinning (c. AD 1140) and York Lodges (AD 926) the jurisdiction and antiquity of the Grand Lodge of York over other English Lodges has invariably been acknowledged by the whole Fraternity, the principles of Freemasonry rapidly spread throughout both Kingdoms and several Lodges were erected in different parts of the island."   (SOURCE: A Brief History of Lodge Mother Kilwinning No. 0, Grand Lodge of Scotland, June 1944)

"In the west of England there is a magnificent chain of cathedrals without parallel elsewhere: Exeter, Wells, Gloucester, Worcestershire, and Hereford, as well as many abbeys and castles, on which building was carried out almost continuously during the five centuries before A.D. 1500.  The Regius MS and the Cooke MS, based on the lost 1360 manuscript, are the only pre-Reformation versions of the Old Charges still extant.  Both say that Athelstan, grandson of Alfred the Great gave charges to masons for he was the King of Wessex before he became King of All England (C.895-939), and he is reputed to have been the founder in 932 of the monastic house which was the fore-runner of the cathedral at Exeter.  According to the Cooke MS, Athelstan's youngest son, 'loved well the science of Geometry' and he became a mason himself.  He, in turn, gave charges to masons 'as it is now in England'.  Moreover he obtained a patent from the King that they should 'make assembly when they saw reasonable time to come together'."   (SOURCE: The Old Charges by J.R. Clarke, 1982)

"The early history of Freemasonry is linked to the history of the trade groups, Roman Collegia, brotherhoods and corporations.  The trades started to organise themselves in the thirteenth century.  The first mention of Freemasonry is to be found in an English document of 1376, and again in 1396 in a document of the Archbishop of Canterbury.  Freemasonry was never exclusively operative.  Religious and initiatory aspects always went alongside the concrete, professional transmission of technical skills and the defence of the interest of members, as we know them today as trade unions.  The organisations also helped the members in distress, provided charity, and looked after the good behaviour of the initiates.  This dual nature of the movement became more visible with the admission of "accepted", non-operative members.  As a result the lodges became meeting points for the trade people and men of culture.  The decrease in the number of big building sites, such as those for new cathedrals, and the Renaissance, led to the decline of the brotherhoods, leaving more room for the speculative Masons in the Lodges."   (SOURCE: An Outsiders View of Freemasonry, Annex 2 by Gilles C H Nullens)

1155-1199  "The order of Knights Templar was instituted during the crusades, in the year 1118, by Hugo de Paganis, and Geoffrey of St Omers ... Though the professed object of this religious association was to protect those Christian pilgrims, whose mistaken piety had led them to the Holy City; yet it is almost beyond a doubt, that its chief and primary intention, was to practise and preserve the rites and mysteries of Masonry.  We know at least, that the Kinghts Templars, not only possessed the mysteries, but performed the ceremonies, and inculcated the duties of Free Masons.  (SOURCE: p.59, The History of Freemasonry Drawn from Authentic Sources of Information, by Alexander Lawrie, 1804)            

"From the year 1155 to 1199, the fraternity was under the command of the grand master of the knights templars.  (SOURCE:  A Freemason's Pocket Companion Containing a Brief Sketch of the History of Masonry, A Chronology of Interesting Events, etc. etc., by a Brother of the Apollo Lodge, 711, Oxford, Constitution of The United Grand Lodge of England, published by Henry Washbourne: London, also independently reported by The Mirror of  Literature, Amusement and Instruction, Vol. 17, Issue 491, May 28 1831)

1425 - Act of Parliament in the reign of Henry VI

"There are frequent references to the annual assemblies of Freemasons in public documents.  The preamble to an act passed in 1425, during the reign of Henry VI., just five centuries after the meeting at York, states that, "by the yearly congregations and confederacies made by the Masons in their general assemblies, the good course and effect of the statute of laborers were openly violated and broken."  This act which forbade such meetings, was, however, never put in force; for an old record, quoted in the Book of Constitutions, speaks of the Brotherhood having frequented this "mutual assembly," in 1434, in the reign of the same king."  (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)

"At the beginning of the reign of Henry VI, in 1425, a ban was placed on holding them on the ground that they contravened the Statutes of Labourers.  The masons protested that they were as loyal and law-abiding as other trades and objected to being singled out for attack.  Condor (The Hole Craft and Fellowship of Masons) observes that 'we do not hear of this Act being put into force' and he gives high legal opinion that it was repealed in 1562."  (SOURCE: The Old Charges  by J.R. Clarke, 1982)

"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)

1561 - General Assembly of Masons in the reign of Queen Elizabeth I

"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.

"The Queen being this assured that the Fraternity were composed of skilful architects, and lovers of the Art, and that the state of affairs were points in which they never interfered, was perfectly reconciled to their assemblies, and Masonry made a great progress at this period." (SOURCE: Illustrations of Masonry by Dr William Preston, 1807) 

1567 -  Lord Francis Russell, 2nd Earl of Bedford, Grand Master of the Grand Lodge at York sanctions the appointment of Sir Thomas Gresham as Grand Master for the South to superintend the government of all London Lodges on behalf of the Grand Lodge at York.

"In the year 1567, the increase of Lodges in the South of England being so great as to require some NOMINAL PATRON to superintend their government, it was resolved that a person under the title of Grand Master for the South should be appointed for that purpose, with the approbation of the GRAND LODGE at YORK, to whom the whole Fraternity at large were bound to pay tribute and acknowledge subjection."  (SOURCE: The Manifesto of the Lodge of Antiquity, formerly the Old Lodge of St Paul, 1778)

"In 1688 Wren was elected Grand Master of the order, and he nominated his old fellow-workers at St. Paul's, Cibber, the sculptor, and Strong, the master mason, Grand Wardens.  In Queen Anne's reign (1665-1714) there were 129 lodges—eighty-six in London, thirty-six in provincial cities, and seven abroad."  (SOURCE: British History Online, Chapter XXII - St Paul's Churchyard.  British History Online is the digital library containing core printed primary and secondary sources for the medieval and modern history of the British Isles created by the Institute of Historical Research and the History of Parliament Trust)

"It is worth noting again, as remarked earlier, that the Lodge records that are dated from 1705 are unquestionably regarded as being those of a Grand Lodge.  Moreover they are nowhere referred to as being the first or early minutes and accounts.  They are simply the earliest extant."  (SOURCE: York Mysteries Revealed, Page 354  by the Revd Neville Barker Cryer, 2006)

"In fact, is it possible that here, as in Chester, there is evidence of an organised Lodge in 1666 and by 1705 there was a York Lodge behaving as only an older type of Grand Lodge was expected to behave at that time?  I have discovered hard proof that this is so."  (SOURCE:  Freemasonry Today, House Magazine of The United Grand Lodge of England, Issue 37, Article "The Question of The First Grand Lodge", 2006)

"We know from evidence ... that it was customary for the York Lodge to convene, or create, a lodge in other places than York, thus already acting as if it were a 'Grand Lodge' ......... exerting an authority to extend Freemasonry in its area of influence, as an extension of itself.

"One of the 'Grand Lodge' claims that marked this Lodge in York as being more than a private lodge with a pretentious name was its undoubted right to authorize the holding of other private lodges on receipt of a constitution or warrant from 'the Right Worshipful Grand Lodge'."  (SOURCE: York Mysteries Revealed by the Revd Neville Barker Cryer, 2006)

1717 -  THE MYTH OF THE GOOSE AND GRIDIRON

Despite overwhelming evidence proving it to be a total fallacy, it is still claimed, and often repeated by Moderns freemasons that organised Free Masonry began in 1717 during an alleged meeting in the tiny back room of a London Ale-house under the chairmanship of "a nameless person".  Remarkably, this spurious claim for Masonic regularity and recognition is solely based upon the proceedings of an unauthorised, profane meeting for which there is no historical record.

"Upon enquiry it would appear, that all their boasted supremacy is derived from an obscure person, who lived about sixty-two years ago, and whose name is not to be found on record amongst Ancient or Modern Masons." ... "Such are the words of the most authentic history amongst Modern Masons, and beyond contradiction prove the origin of their supremacy to be a self-created assembly.  Nor was a self- creation the only defect: They were defective in numbers.  (SOURCE: Ahiman Rezon, by Laurence Dermott, Grand Secretary of the "Antients" Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons According to the Old Institution, published by Southwick & Hardcastle, 2 Wall Street, New York, 1805)

"Who will show me the Mother Lodge? Those of London we have discovered to be self-erected in 1716. Ask for their archives. They tell you they were burnt. They have nothing but the wretched sophistication of the Englishman Anderson and the Frenchman Desagulliers. (SOURCE: Freemasonry - Its Pretensions Exposed In Faithful Extracts Of Its Standard Authors, 1828)

"Ancient Craft Masonry consisted of a single degree, the Fellow-Craft.  The Master's degree is little more than one hundred and fifty years old, if, indeed, it has been a degree, and not merely a ceremony of investiture with office, so long as that." (SOURCE: Albert Pike, 1868)

"The 1717 movement was not a "revival," as Anderson has it, and recent writers contend it to have been.  REVOLUTION is the proper term, as it was the culmination of revolutionary movements commenced more than one hundred and fifty years prior, and continued through all those years to gain the end aimed at.  The movements subsequent to 1717 prove it, as the course pursued by the new Grand Lodge towards the York Grand Lodge was of the same character as before the revolution.  The York Grand Lodge cannot be ignored, as Anderson and some writers of the present day aim to do.  It has a record prior to 1717 and subsequent ..."  (SOURCE: Freemasonry in England from 1567 to 1813, London Grand Lodges, p.17, by Leon Hyneman, 1877)

"It admits of little doubt, that in its inception the Grand Lodge of England was intended merely as a governing body for the Masons of the Metropolis (London).  The minutes of the Grand Lodge sufficiently attest to this ..."  (SOURCE: Four Old Lodges by Robert Freke Gould, 1879)

"It is to be regretted that the records of the "Four Old Lodges" do not antedate those of the 'Grand Lodge', they brought into existence, as fortunately happens in the case of the single lodge which blossomed into the 'Grand Lodge of all England, held at York,' "  (SOURCE:  The History of Freemasonry, Vol. IV by Robert Freke Gould, 1884)

"No records of any of the "Four Old Lodges" have been made known of a date prior to the London Grand Lodge era ..." (SOURCE: Freemasonry in the Early 1600's and 1700's by W.J. Hughan, Leicester, 25th January 1904)

"... in a room at a tavern about 22 feet long by 16 feet wide the first Grand Lodge in London was, according to the account given by Dr Anderson, in his "New Book of Constitutions" thus formally "Constituted".  Whilst it is now recognised that Dr Anderson's "Story of the Craft", based on mythical tales and legendary traditions is quite untrustworthy, yet his version of the actual origin of the Grand Assembly, or Grand Lodge at London may or may not deserve some credence, for, after all it is only available for our consideration as there are no records prior to 1723, so what ever may or may not have happened in 1717 is left only to imagination."  (SOURCE: Paper read before the Manchester Association for Masonic Research in May 1924, by Bro. Heiron, author of Ancient Freemasonry and the Dundee Lodge No.18 1722-1920)

"Hiram Abiff was probably never heard of in a Lodge until after 1717...   The legend of the Third Degree was introduced by the newcomers into Masonry ... (SOURCE:  Albert Pike 1886, Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry by Charles Sumner Lobingier, 1932)

"Many learned Brethren believe that Freemasonry with its Three Degrees was created by Bros. Anderson and Desaguliers out of a crude operative Rite of One Degree from 1717 - 1723 - 1728.   "The 1717 Theory" is no longer tenable in view of the evidence that the Elizabethan Brethren "moralised on Tools and spiritualised Temples" in 1589.  (SOURCE: Shakespeare Creator of Freemasonry by Alfred Dodd, London: Rider & Co, 1933.)   

"... the first Annual Assembly of the four London Lodges that came together on 24th June 1717 did not constitute in any sense a regulatory body."  (SOURCE: Jeremy Pemberton, President of the Board of General Purposes of the United Grand Lodge of England in his address to the Centenary Conference of the Grand Lodge of Adelaide, 13 April 1984)

"The history of the Order seemed to be one of its best kept secrets.  I soon realised that little was known about what happened before 1717.  The more I found out about the local history of Freemasonry in Yorkshire the more evidence I saw that it had been around for a long time before that first meeting at the Goose and Gridiron in London.  York had a Grand Lodge of its own long before 1717.  I found copies of Ancient Charges from well of over a hundred years before Freemasonry was supposed to have begun.  None of the Craft’s own stories of its origins fitted the facts.  (SOURCE:  Freemasonry by Dr Robert Lomas, Website of Bradford University)

"The reality is that we have no written documents about the foundation of the first Grand Lodge in 1717, no evidence that the members of the four lodges meeting at the Goose and Gridiron Tavern were the successors of the operative stonemasonry which transmitted them its rituals.  John Hamill (Chief Librarian of The United Grand Lodge of England) says that "the analysis of the context in England at 1717 demonstrates that the operative lodges had disappeared since a long time.  Whatever the four London lodges were at that time, it is established that they could not have been the successors of the Stonemasons' Lodges".  (SOURCE: The Scottish Key. An Investigation into the Origins of Freemasonry, by Tristan Bourlard and François De Smet, SimonGo! Productions, 2007)

The Grand Lodge of London publishes a Book of Constitutions written by Dr. James Anderson simply dated 1723.  It takes upon itself the authority to legislate for Lodges "... in or near London".

"This Constitution is based upon the charter of York, which, of all others, has served as a guide for all those which have been established since A.D. 926.  Into this constitution were carried otherwise the changes and the developments which were rendered indispensable by the new object of the society, and properly above all was caused to predominate the supremacy of the Grand Lodge of London.  This last tendency, so much to be, in this our own day, deprecated, but proves that the authors were not penetrated by the true spirit of the Charter of York."   (SOURCE: A General History of Freemasonry in Europe, Page 96, translated and compiled from the Masonic Histories of Emmanuel Rebold, M.D., by J. Fletcher Brennan, Editor of The American Freemasons Magazine, 1869)

"The date of the earliest entries in the existing minutes of "Grand Lodge", and the first "Book of Constitutions" - it must be as frankly admitted, that the evidence forthcoming, upon which alone any determinate conclusion can be based, is of too vague and uncertain a character to afford a sure foot-hold to the historical inquirer."  (SOURCE:  Robert Freke Gould, Ars Quatuor Coronati Lodge, London) 

"The 'General Regulations' of the Grand Lodge at London, printed in the year 1723, was for the use of "the Lodges in and about London and Westminster," being thus orginally a Metropolitan organisation.  At the time they were printed, there was an older authority at work in the City of York, as a "time immemorial" Grand Lodge, whose preserved records date from 1705, but the Grand Lodge was a very old one at that time." (SOURCE: Freemasonry in the Early 1600's and 1700's by W.J. Hughan)

"Bro. Anderson, having acquitted himself of the task, in 1722 submitted his work to the commission, who approved it, and caused it to be sanctioned by the Grand Lodge on the 25th March, 1723.  This constitution is entitled 'The Book of Constitutions of Freemasons, containing the History, Charges, and Regulations, etc., of that Most Ancient and Right Worshipful Fraternity, for the use of the Lodges." ... "Further it is very clear from the Grand Lodge minutes that the appearance of the book caused a good deal of dissension in Grand Lodge itself, and it brought the Craft into ridicule from outside;"   (SOURCE: Anderson's Constitutions of 1723 by Lionel Vibert, published in The Builder Magazine, August 1923)

"Preston is decidedly more full and clear than Anderson, although both wrote in the interests of the London Grand Lodge, yet not with the same bias of feeling.  Anderson was one of the originators of the London Grand Lodge, and as a man of strong prejudices he was biased in all his inditings, evidences of which are seen throughout his two publications on every possible occasion, in the omission of historical facts, or giving the contrary construction to, and diverting attention in cases reflecting unfavourably upon the New Grand Lodge.  The Books of Anderson, however, are almost universally accepted by the Masonic fraternity as containing a true history of Freemasonry, at least from the time our review commences, and the Ancient Charges, especially those contained in the 1723 edition, are as generally adopted as the fundamental law and basis of Masonic principles.  But notwithstanding Anderson's Books of Constitutions were published by order of the London Grand Lodge, with its approval and sanction, yet no more untrustworthy, unreliable books were ever printed under the direction of any organised association.  We affirm that Anderson is not to be credited.  The Books of Constitutions were written purposely to deceive, to mislead and misrepresent facts as they existed; and if his reports of Grand Lodge Proceedings are true copies of Grand Lodge Records, then the records were corrupted with the design to mislead the reader."  (SOURCE: Freemasonry in England from 1567 to 1813, Ancient York and London Grand Lodges , pages 15 and 16,  by Leon Hyneman, 1877)

"The Moderns, (I mean their writers) cunningly call those transactions a revival of the Grand Lodge.  Plausible as this story of a supposed revival, &c. may appear, yet one minute's reflection will shew (an Ancient Mason) the fallacy of this part of their history.  This will be done, by considering, that had it been a revival of the Ancient Craft, only, without innovations or alterations of any kind, the Free and Accepted Masons in Ireland and Scotland, where no change has yet happened, nay, Freemasons in general would agree in secret language and ceremonies with the members of the Moderns Lodges. But daily experience point out the contrary.  And this I say, is an incontrovertable proof of the fallacy of their history."  (SOURCE: The True Ahiman Rezon, by Laurence Dermott, Grand Secretary of the "Antients" Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons According to the Old Institution, published by Southwick & Hardcastle, 2 Wall Street, New York, 1805)

"The other thing that we have to remember is that Catholics, in those days, could be Freemasons.  In fact, it was the only organization in England that afforded them equality within society since the day King James VII of the Scots (James II of England) had been deposed.  (He had wanted everyone within the boudaries of his kingdoms to worship according to their own conscience.)  With the Stewarts out of the political picture in Britain, "liberty of conscience" and the concept of equality were firmly ousted.  This meant that politics reverted back to the status quo, and no one but Anglicans had any rights at all.  In order to retain this status quo, all lodges in England, or as many as possible, were to be taken over, subverted, even eradicated if necessary.  Although 1717 saw a new, London-based Masonic impetus, working to restore the Stewarts to their rightful inheritance, the plan was foiled after the failure of the Atterbury plot to overthrow George I in 1722.  In 1723, at the end of the Duke of Wharton's grand mastership, the Grand Lodge of England was taken over by Hanoverian infiltrators.  (... It is interesting to note, in passing, that the lodge's archival records, from its inception in 1717 to June 24, 1723, have totally vanished.)   (SOURCE: The Knights Templar of the Middle East by Michael James Alexander Stewart and Walid Amine Salhab, published by Weiser, 2007)

"Politics and religion were not discussed, as the masons seemed to be following the advice of "that Author" (a reference to Anderson, whose Constitutions had been published...).  But at one point the band had begun to play "Let the King enjoy his own again," a popular Jacobite (and thus seditious) tune.  The Tories were getting cheeky, talking politics might be banned, but music could make a political point.  The band was "immediately reprimanded by a Person of great Gravity and Science," which surely means Desaguliers.  After that, Hanoverian decorum was restored - and indeed emphasized."  (SOURCE: Report of the Feast of The Grand Lodge of London, 1722,   James Anderson: Man and Mason, Volume 10, by David Stevenson, 2002)

1725 - THE GRAND LODGE OF ALL ENGLAND AT YORK

In order to preserve the uniquely English form of Freemasonry handed down since the days of King Athelstan, The Grand Lodge at York moves to secure its inheritence by proclaiming its sovereignty over English Freemasonry.  It adopts the name "The Grand Lodge of All England".  This name change was necessary because of the attempts by the Moderns to appropriate genuine Anglo-Saxon Freemasonry for its own nefarious political and dynastic ends.

"The Earl of Crawford seems to have made the first encroachment on the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge in the city of York, by constituting two lodges within their district; and by granting, without their consent, three deputations, one for Lancashire, a second for Durham, and a third for Northumberland.,  This circumstance the Grand Lodge of York highly resented ..."  (SOURCE: Illustrations of Masonry by Dr William Preston, 1772)

"In 1735, the Earl of Crawford, Grand Master of England, constituted two Lodges within the jurisdiction of the York Grand Lodge and granted, without its consent, Deputations for Lancashire, Durham and Northumberland.  (SOURCE: Encyclopaedia of Freemasonry Part 1, page 327, by Albert Gallatin Mackey and H.L. Haywood, 1909)

Thirteen years have passed since the Grand Lodge of All England issued its warning to the London Grand Lodge against expansion outside of the bounds of London and Westminster.

Anderson publishes his "New Book of Constitutions" which claims jurisdiction over Masonic Lodges outside of the bounds of London and Westminster.  In a cynical and dishonest act of the re-writing of English history, references to The Assembly of Masons at York, King Athelstan, his brother Prince Edwin of York, the Royal Charter and the original "Constitutions of Masonrie" are removed.

"In 1738 Anderson brought out a second edition which was intended to replace the earlier one altogether, but it was a slovenly performance and the regulations were printed in so confused a manner, being all mixed up with notes and endorsements (many inaccurately stated), that it was difficult to make head or tail of them and to ascertain what was the law of the Craft.  He also re-wrote the history entirely and greatly expanded it, introducing so many absurdities that Gould has suggested that he was deliberately fooling the Grand Lodge, or in the alternative he was in himself in his dotage.  He died very shortly after.  But this same ridiculous history has done duty in all seriousness till comparatively recent years, being brought up to date by Preston and others who were apparently quite unconscious of its true value.  Unfortunately that portion of the history which professed to give an account of the proceedings of Grand Lodge and for which the official minutes were at Anderson's disposal is full of what one must consider wilful inaccuracies and misstatements."  (SOURCE:  Anderson's Constitutions of 1723 by Lionel Vibert)

"Whosoever doubts the truth hereof, let him examine Dr. Anderson's Constitutions (printed in 1738) page 109, where it is written, "that four lodges;" that is to say, some persons who were wont to meet "At the Goose and Gridiron ale-house, in St. Paul's church-yard, "At the Crown ale-house, in Parker's Lane, "At the Apple-tree in Charles-street, Covent Garden. "And at the Rummer and Grapes, in Channel-Row, Westminster, did meet at the Apple-tree aforesaid, in the year 1716, or rather 17, and having chosen (the nameless person before hinted) a Chairman, they constituted themselves a Grand Lodge.  Such are the words of the most authentic history amongst Modern Masons, and beyond contradiction prove the origin of their supremacy to be a self-created assembly."  (SOURCE: Ahiman Rezon by Laurence Dermott, Grand Secretary of the "Antients" Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons According to the Old Institution, published by James Bedford, at London, 1756)

"In 1746, however, Grand Lodge decided it would be simpler to recite its history and derive its authority from its own foundation in 1717, so a fascinating and spiritually rewarding chapter of Freemasonic history was consigned to the dustbin."  (SOURCE: Freemasonry Today, Autumn 1998, Article - Henry Jermyn, Grand Master of the Freemasons?)

1751 - GRAND LODGE OF FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS ACCORDING TO THE OLD INSTITUTION (THE ANTIENTS)

Freemasons in London form themselves into the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons according to the Old Institution, popularly known as Antients Grand Lodge.  The founders of the Antients Grand Lodge vehemently dissapprove of the arbitrary changes and innovations made to the Ancient Charges, Regulations and Landmarks of the Order introduced by the Grand Lodge of London.  They brand them "The Moderns".

"Tradition has placed the City of York as the birthplace or seat of Masonic Government in England, and fairly substantial documentary evidence has been found that Prince Edwin, son of King Athelstane, obtained from his father a Charter A.D. 926, by virtue of which all Masons were convened to a General Assembly in York, and again in the reign of Queen Elizabeth A.D. 1561, she having heard of the admission of many noblemen and gentlemen into Masonry, caused her to send an armed posse to raid a meeting of the Lodge, which having taken place on a St John's Day, and as no use of arms was necessary, "the deputation returned to the Virgin Queen a most honourable account of the Ancient Fraternity, whereby her political fears and doubts were dispelled and she let them alone as a people much respected by the Noble and Wise of all the polite-nations".  It appears that the presiding Master, Sir Thomas Sackville, was a party to select the raiders, and initiated into the mysteries of Freemasonry the very men sent by Queen Elizabeth to raid the meeting.  Our reason for introducing this historical reference to York is to remind you that in mid 18th century, York was the centre of an influential Grand Lodge ...".  (SOURCE: Ahiman Rezon, by Laurence Dermott, Grand Secretary of the "Antients" Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons According to the Old Institution, published by James Bedford, at London, 1756)

1779 - GRAND LODGE SOUTH OF THE RIVER TRENT

In its Manifesto of 1778 the Lodge of Antiquity, the sole survivor of the "Four Old Lodges" acknowledges in unequivocal terms the primacy and the antiquity of The Grand Lodge of All England which continues to work at York.  It carefully places on record the circumstances surrounding the formation of the Grand Lodge of London.

"WE do, therefore, hereby solemnly avow, acknowledge, and admit the Authority of the said Most Worshipful GRAND LODGE at YORK, as the truly ancient and only regular governing Grand Lodge of Masons in England, to whom the Fraternity all owe and are rightly bound to pay allegiance."

The Lodge of Antiquity formally withdraws all authority granted to The Grand Lodge of London by the "Four Old Lodges".

"WE do by these presents retract from, and recall all such rights and powers, as We, or our predecessors, did CONDITIONALLY give to the said nominal Grand Lodge in London; and do hereby disannul and make void all future Edicts and Laws which the said grand Lodge may presume to issue and enforce, by virtue of such sanction, as representatives of the ancient and honourable Society of FREE and ACCEPTED MASONS. "

The Grand Lodge South of the River Trent is established under the authority of the Grand Lodge of All England at York.

1794-1801 GRAND LODGE OF ALL ENGLAND AT YORK

Between 1794 and 1801, The Grand Lodge of All England and its members are subjected to a catalogue of repressive legislation beginning with the suspension of the Habeas Corpus Act (1794) and culminating in the Combination Acts of 1799 and 1800.  This legislation includes the: Treasonable Practices Act (1795); Seditious Meetings Act (1795); Unlawful Oaths Act (1797); Newspaper Publications Act (1797); Corresponding Societies Act (1799); Unlawful Societies Act (1799).

"The amendment (to the Unlawful Societies Act) envisaged a system whereby the Grand Secretaries would each year deposit with the clerks of the peace a certificate containing details of the time and place of meeting of all approved lodges in the county, together with a declaration that the lodges were approved by the Grand Master. All lodges were to keep a book in which each member was to declare, on joining, 'that he is well affected to the constitution and government of this realm, by King, Lords, and Commons, as by law established'. This book was to be kept open for inspection by local magistrates. The Grand Lodges were thus to be made responsible for policing freemasonry; lodges whose names did not appear on the return made by the Grand Secretaries would be criminal conspiracies."  (SOURCE: The Unlawful Societies Act 1799 by The Centre for Research into Freemasonry)

"I have pledged myself to His Majesty's ministers that should any set of men attempt to meet as a lodge without sanction, the Grand Master, or Acting Grand Master (whomsoever he might be), would apprise parliament."  (SOURCE: statement by Lord Moira, Pro Grand Master, Grand Lodge of London, Acting Grand Master, Grand Lodge of Scotland)

The Grand Lodge of All England at York, outlawed and branded " a criminal conspiracy" is forced underground, its Lodges suspended, its Free Masons under threat of seizure of property, bankruptcy, prosecution, imprisonment, exile.

1813 - UNITED GRAND LODGE OF ENGLAND

The Unlawful Societies Act paves the way for Articles of Union (27th December 1813) between the "Antients" Grand Lodge and the unrecognised "Moderns" Grand Lodge of London.  Under the leadership of brothers of the Hanoverian Blood Royal, Edward Duke of Kent and Augustus Frederick, Duke of Sussex, the Articles provide for the final capitulation of the Grand Lodge of London in favour of the Antients "Grand Lodge of England".  The United Grand Lodge of England is formed.

With the Duke of Sussex now at its head as Grand Master, the United Grand Lodge of England represents the Hanoverian approach to all English constitutional structures including the Church and Parliament: hegemony; rationalisation; rigid control and the ruthless elimination of any opposition to its edicts.

The Articles of Union of 1813 enable the bogus doctrine of Grand Lodge "recognition" together with the novel claim for exclusive territorial jurisdiction over English Freemasonry.

"It was by unequivocal surrender on the part of the Moderns that fraternal intercourse between them and the other Grand Lodges of the United Kingdom was restored after an interruption of many years." ... "The INTERNATIONAL COMPACT (1814) can claim to be the most important official document promulgated among English-speaking Freemasons during the current century.  Nothing can be more suggestive than the implied admission, or rather assertion, in the second Resolution, of the legitimacy of the Antients' claim to be regarded as the Grand Lodge of England.  In that resolution it is expressly recited that the fraternal recognition in 1772 took place  "between the Three Grand Lodges of England, Ireland and Scotland."  Now, the only recognition of that year exclusively concerned the Antients.  It would almost seem as if the limitation by the numeral "three" was designed by the framers of the Resolution to put an end to any claim that the Grand Lodge unrecognised in 1772 (The Moderns Grand Lodge of London) might have made to the title of Grand Lodge of England.  Most certainly, the Grand Lodge of Ireland did not officially recognise, in 1772, or at any other time, the claim of the Grand Lodge of the Moderns to the title of Grand Lodge of England."  (SOURCE: Pietre Stones Review of Freemasonry, International Compact between the Grand Lodges of England, Ireland, and Scotland, Concluded July 1814.)

1823 - GRAND LODGE OF FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS OF ENGLAND

The Articles of Union only last ten years before a significant number from amongst the northern ranks of the "United" Grand Lodge of England break away in order to free themselves from the repressive controls of the London Grand Lodge.  They reform as an "Antients" Grand Lodge.

The Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of England, also known as The Grand Lodge held at Wigan, otherwise the Liverpool Grand Lodge, warrants and constitutes several Lodges.  This Grand Lodge enjoys a great deal of success, but also experiences some hard times, but it continues to work continuously until the outbreak of World War One - 1913.

"The Old Lodge at York was the most ancient Speculative Masonic Body in this Country".  (SOURCE:  Relics of The Grand Lodge at York, Vol xiii, pp. 93, et seq, by T. B. Whytehead, 1899)

2005 - THE GRAND LODGE OF ALL ENGLAND AT YORK

1,079 years after King Athelstan granted the Charter of York to the Masons of England, the Assembly of Masons meets in Mason's Loft, York Minster, the cradle of Freemasonry and reclaims Anglo-Saxon Freemasonry to its rightful custodians according to English Law.

A date is set to meet in Convocation to revive The Grand Lodge of All England by an act of constitutional restitution.  This to take place strictly in accordance with the terms of the Charter of York, the pure and original "Constitutions of Masonrie", and to continue the working traditions of the Ancient and Honourable Society and Fraternity of Freemasons meeting at York since Time Immemorial.

The Grand Lodge of All England is revived by process of constitutional restitution in accordance with English law, European law, Masonic law, Masonic practise and tradition, the Ancient Landmarks, Charges, and Regulations of a Free Mason.

2007 - The Grand Lodge at York exchanges Treaties of Amity with La Grande Loge de France (GLdF) marking the unshakeable historic ties that have existed between the Free Masons of England and France since time immemorial.

2008 - The Grand Lodge at York traces the final resting place of its first Grand Master Prince Edwin of York (AD926).

The Grand Lodge at York exchanges Treaties of Amity with the United Grand Lodges of India and establishes St John's Lodges at Texas in the United States of America, The Republics of Paraguay and Lebanon.  Representatives to Italy, Greece and Turkey are appointed.

SOURCES: The 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 Ashmole Manuscript written for King Henry VI by John Laylande (c.1436); The Dowland's Transcript (c.1500); The Landsdowne Manuscript (c.1560); The York Manuscript No.1 (1600); The Harleian Manuscript (1625); The Grand Lodge Manuscript (c.1632); The Sloane Manuscript 3848 (cert.1646); The Sloane Manuscript 3323 (cert.1659); The Harleian Manuscript 1942 (c.1660); The Aitcheson-Haven Manuscript (c.1666); The Edinburgh-Kilwinning Manuscript (c.1670); The York Manuscript No.5 (c.1670); The York Manuscript No.6 (c.1680); The Lodge of Antiquity Manuscript (cert.1686); The Trinity Tripos (1688); The Scarborough MS (1693); The York Manuscript No.2 (cert.1693); The Alnwick Manuscript (cert.1701); The York Manuscript No.4 (cert.1704); The Trinity Manuscript (1711); The Lady Freemason, by Elizabeth St Leger (1711); Mr Wyatt Papworth's Manuscript (c.1714); Dr Rev. Rawlinson's Manuscript (c.1720); The Inigo Jones Manuscript, Worcester Masonic Library (1725); The Levander York Manuscript (1740); Acta Latomorum ou Chronologie de l'Histoire de la Franche-Maçonnerie française et étrangére by Claude Antoine Thory, published 1784; Ahiman Rezon, 3rd Edition published by Laurence Dermott, Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons According to the Old Institutions, 1756; Anderson's Constitutions of 1723 by Lionel Vibert; An Outsiders View of Freemasonry, Annex 2 - Gilles C H Nullens; De Kinderen Van Hiram - Andries Van den Abeele, 1991; A Brief History of Lodge Mother Kilwinning No. 0, Grand Lodge of Scotland; British History Online; The Builders by Joseph Fort Newton (1914); Craft, Trade or Mystery, Part One, Britain from Gothic Cathedrals to The Tolpuddle Conspirators - Dr Bob James. 2001); The Complete Freemason or Multa Paucis, Anon, 1763; Fabric Rolls of York Minster - AD 1355; Freemasonry - Dr Robert Lomas, Bradford University; Freemasonry Today, Issue 37 - Article "The Question of The First Grand Lodge", 2006; Freemasonry in England from 1567 to 1813 by Leon Hyneman, 2003; A General History of Freemasonry in Europe, Page 96, Published in 1869, translated and compiled from the Masonic Histories of Emmanuel Rebold, M.D., by J. Fletcher Brennan, Editor of The American Freemasons Magazine; General History, Cyclopedia and Dictionary of Freemasonry by Robert Macoy, The Masonic Publishing Company, New York, 1872; The History of Freemasonry, Vol. IV - Robert Freke Gould; The History of Freemasonry by J.W.S. Mitchell M.D., published by the American Publishing House: Philadelphia (1858); Jacobitism and The English People 1688-1788 by Paul Kleber Monod (1989); James Anderson: Man and Mason, Vol. 10, by Professor David Stevenson (2002); A Freemason's Pocket Companion Containing a Brief Sketch of the History of Masonry, A Chronology of Interesting Events, etc. etc., by a Brother of the Apollo Lodge, 711, Oxford, Constitution of The United Grand Lodge of England, published by Henry Washbourne: London, independently reported by The Mirror of  Literature, Amusement and Instruction, Vol. 17, Issue 491, May 28 1831; The Hole Craft and Fellowship of Masons by Condor; Illustrations of Masonry - Dr William Preston, 1772; Latin Register of William Molart, Prior of Canterbury, in Manuscript, Pap. 88, entitled, "Liberatio Generalis Domini Gulielmi Prioris Ecclesiae Christi Cantuariensis, erga Fastum Matalis Domini", 1429; The Manifesto of 1778, The Lodge of Antiquity, formerly the Old Lodge of St Paul; Notes on the Orders of the Temple and St. John by John Yarker (Manchester 1869); Origin of The Royal Arch, p.20, by Dr Oliver DD; Stowe's Survey, ch.V., p.215; Tanner Manuscripts, Bodelian Library, Oxford; A Treatise on the Constitutional Laws, Usages And Landmarks of Freemasonry - Albert G. Mackey, M.D., 1856; Paper read before the Manchester Association for Masonic Research in May 1924, by Bro. Heiron, author of Ancient Freemasonry and the Dundee Lodge No.18 1722-1920; Jacobitism and the English Peoples by Paul Kleber Monod; Masonic Square Magazine - Article "Sussex v Sussex - The Case for Genuine Anglo-Saxon Freemasonry" by Richard Martin Young and Peter Clatworthy, 2007; The Old Charges - J.R. Clarke, 1982; The Unlawful Societies Act of 1799, Andrew Prestcott, Centre for Research into Freemasonry, University of Sheffield; World's Masonic Register by Leon Hyneman, p.477, Philadelphia 1860; York Mysteries Revealed by Revd Neville Barker Cryer, 2006.