300 YEARS OF ANCIENT FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS
On June 4, 1717 four of the Masonic lodges of London created what is now the Grand Lodge of England as their governing body. Since then many Grand Lodges have been formed around the world, usually per country, and in the United States by State. Each Grand Lodge is completely independent. The Grand Lodge of Texas, initially “The Grand Lodge of the Republic of Texas”, was founded on April 16, 1838.
The fundamental principle of Masonry is belief in the Supreme Being. The objective of Masonry is to make a good man better. In the fraternity of Masonry men of all backgrounds and creeds can meet together as friends.
OUR STORY
The Ancient Guilds
Masons were trade guilds in Europe, beginning in the 1100’s. Their principal endeavor was building cathedrals. Up until then, the work was done by monastic orders. There were two types of masons, “hard hewers” or “rough masons” being those who built the basic structure – and “freestone masons”, which was often shortened to “freemasons” who did the ornamental work, using softer, more workable stone. The freemasons were essentially sculptors.
In medieval cities, craftsmen tended to form associations based on their trades: fraternities of textile workers, masons, carpenters, carvers, glass workers, each of whom controlled secrets of traditionally imparted technology, the "arts" or "mysteries" of their crafts. Usually the founders were free independent master crafstmen (journeymen) who hired apprentices. Of these guilds, the masons were the most esteemed because of the immensity and difficulty of their work and their skill with geometry.
In the guilds of masons, the principle members were journeyman (fellow of the craft) masons, who brought in and trained apprentices. The design and supervision of the construction of masonry buildings required gifted designers and supervisors, who were very few in number. These virtual architects are considered master masons.
Speculative Masonry
Since medieval times, society all over Europe was stratified: aristocracy, landed gentry, clergy, and the class of farmers, tradesmen, clerks and other laborers. Some of the intellectual gentry were intrigued by the guilds and their crafts, especially the masons, asked to affiliate with them, and were accepted. This affiliation increased over the years and also included academic intellectuals and aristocracy. Thus the lodges had operative masons and speculative masons.
The upper classes of the British Isles differed from their continental counterparts in the willingness of many to know and befriend individuals of the lower classes. This comes in part from their biblical beliefs, and also from their nature. This certainly enhanced the growth of speculative masons. Modern Masonry is entirely speculative.
Religious Institutions
In Europe from the early 1500’s began the Protestant Reformation, divesting the rigors of the Roman Catholic Church. However, these Protestant movements – including The Church of England (Anglican, Episcopal), Presbyterian Church (Scotland) – developed their own rigorous doctrines, and as the Roman Catholic Church, also dealt harshly with “heretics”. This was problematic in England, because religious tolerance and preference was at the disposition of each king, individually.
The Enlightenment
In the 1500’s there also emerged the Scientific Revolution, which embraced observed phenomena and theories and experiments to explain these phenomena. In essence, Science revered reason and logic, and exulted in its revelations.
In line with and following the Scientific Revolution came the philosophic Age of Enlightenment, which expanded the application of reason and logic to faith and society, and espoused tolerance. Modern Freemasonry can be considered as a Child of the Enlightenment.
In 1660 the enlightened King Charles II of England chartered the Royal Society, devoted to the several sciences, with the intent to promote, educate, and acknowledge achievements in science. But his successor and brother James II became Catholic, which was a threat to Enlightenment in England. This was of great concern in England at the time because the King of England was also the head of the Anglican Church. This was of particular concern to the many Masonic Lodges in England and Scotland, as they were secret societies and because in their lodges only the one God was recognized, independent of formal religion.
The Glorious Revolution and the English Bill of Rights
Life in England was precarious due to swings in royal attitude towards its subjects’ beliefs and conduct. This precipitated the ouster of King James II, in what is known as the Glorious Revolution in November of 1688, which was successful. This was a nearly bloodless revolution conspired and executed in large part by John Churchill (Winston’s ancestor) and the Dutch King William of Orange. William and his wife Mary were grandchildren of King Charles I and were installed as co-monarchs of England.
The important consequences of this revolution were:
- Parliament was supreme in England, and had the power to approve successors to the throne, and was answerable to the People
- Any successor to the throne must be protestant
- The English Bill of Rights (Dec. 1689) was drafted and approved by Parliament, as follows:
- Laws should not be dispensed with or suspended without the consent of Parliament;
- No taxes should be levied without the authority of Parliament;
- The right to petition the monarch should be without fear of retribution;
- No standing army may be maintained during peacetime without the consent of Parliament
- Subjects who are Protestants may bear arms for their defense as permitted by law;
- The election of members of Parliament should be free;
- The freedom of speech and debates or proceedings in Parliament should not to be impeached or questioned in any court or place out of Parliament;
- Excessive bail should not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishment inflicted;
- Jurors should be duly impaneled and returned and jurors in high treason trials should be freeholders;
- Promises of fines or forfeitures before conviction are void;
- Parliaments should be held frequently.
This Bill of Rights preceded our Bill of Rights (1st ten Constitutional Amendments) by a century!
Thus the Glorious Revolution, which perpetuated Parliament’s dominance over the throne, promoted Peace and Harmony among the people, and in so doing ensured the perpetuation of the Enlightenment and thus Freemasonry. It was under this condition the Grand Lodge of England was established and Masonic lodges and their members were recognized openly.
The King of England has been the Master of the Grand Lodge of England.
Establishment of Freemasonry in the United States
Masonry carried the torch of The Enlightenment to this Land. The bearers of this torch were Ben Franklin, George Washington and many other of our founding Fathers. The spirit of The Enlightenment is in our Declaration of Independence and Constitution, and is the essence of our national character. As of 2016, there are over one million Masons in the U.S.A.
Establishment of Freemasonry in Texas
Texas was essentially founded by Masons, including those depicted below.
