When was mason founded

Rudyard Kipling, who was a member of a masonic lodge in Lahore, wrote a number of poems about his fellow masons who were Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs and Jews. In theory, all discussion of religion and politics is prohibited within lodges. No, individual masons can declare themselves if they wish , and the names of senior officers of the brotherhood in England and Wales can be found in a masonic year book. The grand master is the Duke of Kent.

Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, is a member of a navy lodge. However, a great many masons do not disclose their membership outside the brotherhood. This article is more than 3 years old.

In a contingent of American Masons and Mexican War veterans invaded Cuba to foment a rebellion against the Spanish crown.

The group failed to gain a foothold and retreated after suffering heavy casualties. Its leaders were later tried in New Orleans for violating U.

Today, its reputation is buttressed by an affilation with the Shriners, a related fraternal group noted for its charity and health work. JSTOR is a digital library for scholars, researchers, and students. Privacy Policy Contact Us You may unsubscribe at any time by clicking on the provided link on any marketing message.

By: Peter Feuerherd. August 3, June 8, Share Tweet Email Print. The Masons have been both criticized and praised for their influential role in U. Have a correction or comment about this article? Please contact us. Filibusters and Freemasons: The Sworn Obligation. Journal of the Early Republic, Vol. Review of Religion Research, Vol. Find out more in our recent story about the Knights Templar.

For all of the tradesmen, having some sort of organisation was a way not only to make contacts, but also to pass on tricks of the trade — and to keep outsiders out. But there was a significant difference between the tradesmen. Those who fished or gardened, for example, would usually stay put, working in the same community day in, day out. Not so with stonemasons. Particularly with the rush to build more and more massive, intricate churches throughout Britain in the Middle Ages, they would be called to specific — often huge — projects, often far from home.

They might labour there for months, even years. Thrown into that kind of situation, where you depended on strangers to have the same skills and to get along, how could you be sure everyone knew the trade and could be trusted? By forming an organisation.

How could you prove that you were a member of that organisation when you turned up? By creating a code known by insiders only — like a handshake. Edinburgh's Lodge of Journeyman Masons No. Even if lodges existed earlier, though, the effort to organise the Freemason movement dates back to the late s. In , he sent these statutes out to every Scottish lodge in existence. One of his rules?

Shortly after, lodges began to keep their first minutes.