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Ancient Free & Accepted Masonry
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Lodges and
Grand Lodges whose charters' roots derive from the United Grand
Lodge of Ancient Freemasons of England , The Grand Lodge of
Ireland or the Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons
of Scotland use the expression, A.·.F.·.& A.·.M.·.
Those Grand Lodges that
don't use the appellation "Ancient", claim descent from the
"Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons under the constitution
of England" during the period from 1717 until 1813.
This Grand Lodge was
constituted from four lodges on June 24, 1717 and was designated
"Modern," although the preferred term is "Premier." The
"Moderns" and "Ancients" united in November 25, 1813 to form the
United Grand Lodge of Ancient Freemasons of England [now styled
the United Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of
England].
The choice of style is
not universal as some Grand Lodges simply chose one or other
title for reasons of their own. The usage has no bearing on
regularity or recognition. |
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Ancient
or Antient Freemasons
Mostly Irish
freemasons formed this Grand Lodge in London in 1751. Properly
titled the "Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of England
according to the Old Institutions," it is also called Atholl
freemasons, after the third and fourth Dukes of Atholl.
Free
"It is quite
likely that the word 'freemason' represented at least three
distinct meanings, each having respect to a different century."
1
Skilled mediaeval builders worked with an even-grained
limestone or sandstone called freestone, first mentioned in 1212
in Normandy. The term free-stone mason is recorded in 1375 and
the term was easily condensed to free mason. Centuries later
this meaning became secondary, if not forgotten, when town mason
guilds became more powerful.
It is hypothesized that a Free Mason was free of his Guild; he
had the freedom of its privileges and was entrusted with certain
rights. The London Company of Freemasons changed its name to
that of Masons in 1655-56, perhaps recognizing that the term had
undergone yet another change in meaning.
Members who were not stonemasons could be accepted in the
Company and were termed speculative, free or accepted. In time
the terms became synonymous and "free" then referred to an inner
fraternity of speculative masons.
There are many other discredited theories. The tradition that
sixth and seventh century builders travelled France and Italy
freely by authority of Papal bull is unfounded. Another theory
has it that a mediaeval freemason was either not tied to the
land or else, being attached to a monastery or ecclesiastical
order, was free from the guilds. During the height of the abbey
and church building period, there were few, if any, town mason
guilds so this derivation is suspect.
Free and
Accepted
This term was first
used in 1722 in J. Roberts', The Old Constitutions belonging
to the Ancient and Honourable Society of Free and Accepted
Masons.
Accepted
"Acception" was an
Inner Fraternity of speculative freemasons found within the
Worshipful Company of Masons of the City of London. Operative
members were "admitted" by apprenticeship, patrimony, or
redemption; speculative members were "accepted". First recorded
use of the term dates from 1620.
1. Bernard E. Jones. Freemasons' Guide and
Compendium. London: George G. Harrap & Company Ltd., 1950.
p. 152 [note pp. 147-61.]
Reference:
Encyclopedia of Freemasonry. Albert G. Mackey. Macoy
Publishing: Virginia. 1966.
Ars Quatuor Coronatorum. vol. x .
G. W. Speth (1847/04/30-1901/04/19), ed. pp. 10-33, 155-7,
159.
Ars Quatuor Coronatorum. vol. xi. G.W. Speth, ed. pp.
166-8.
Ars Quatuor Coronatorum. vol. xlviii. W.J. Williams, ed.
pp. 140-98, 253-84.
Ars Quatuor Coronatorum. vol. xliii. Lionel Vibert, ed.
pp. 195-226.
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