Freemasonry: documented origins and legends
This page separates the documented history of Freemasonry from legends about its origins.
Established Records of operative stonemasons' lodges survive from medieval Britain. In Scotland the Schaw Statutes (1598 and 1599) regulated lodges. A Grand Lodge was formed in London in the early eighteenth century, and James Anderson's Constitutions were printed in 1723.[1][2] Scholarly debate The traditional founding date of 1717 for the London Grand Lodge rests on Anderson's later account (1738); some recent historians argue the body was formed around 1721.[3] Tradition / belief Masonic ritual tells of the building of Solomon's Temple and the master builder Hiram Abiff.[4] Speculation Claims that Freemasonry descends directly from the Knights Templar or from ancient Egyptian priests lack documentary support.[5]
References
- ↑ James Anderson, The Constitutions of the Free-Masons (1723). public domain; Internet Archive.
- ↑ R.F. Gould, The History of Freemasonry (1882–1887). public domain.
- ↑ Andrew Prescott and Susan Mitchell Sommers, "Searching for the Apple Tree" (2017). Cited only.
- ↑ Anderson (1723), historical preface.
- ↑ Gould (1882–87) on the legendary histories.
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