Antient Grand Lodge of England
Encyclopedia
The Ancient Grand Lodge of England or Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of England, according to the Old Constitutions was a rival Grand Lodge to the Premier Grand Lodge of England
. It existed from 1751 until 1813 when the United Grand Lodge of England
was created. They called themselves the Antients. The Grand Lodge was also informally called the Atholl Grand Lodge because the Third and Fourth Dukes of Atholl
presided over them as Grand Masters for half of its 62-year existence.
, Soho
, London
- forming a rival Grand Lodge of England According to the Old Institution. They accused the Grand Lodge founded in 1717, which they called the Moderns, of not adhering to old customs of freemasonry and claimed that only themselves upheld the Craft's old customs.
wrote a constitution for the Ancients, the Ahiman Rezon
, as an alternative for the Constitution of the Moderns which was written by James Anderson.
Premier Grand Lodge of England
The Premier Grand Lodge of England was founded on 24 June 1717 as the Grand Lodge of London and Westminster and it existed until 1813 when it united with the Ancient Grand Lodge of England to create the United Grand Lodge of England. It was the first Masonic Grand Lodge to be created...
. It existed from 1751 until 1813 when the United Grand Lodge of England
United Grand Lodge of England
The United Grand Lodge of England is the main governing body of freemasonry within England and Wales and in other, predominantly ex-British Empire and Commonwealth countries outside the United Kingdom. It is the oldest Grand Lodge in the world, deriving its origin from 1717...
was created. They called themselves the Antients. The Grand Lodge was also informally called the Atholl Grand Lodge because the Third and Fourth Dukes of Atholl
Duke of Atholl
Duke of Atholl, alternatively Duke of Athole, named after Atholl in Scotland, is a title in the Peerage of Scotland held by the head of Clan Murray...
presided over them as Grand Masters for half of its 62-year existence.
History
The grand Lodge was founded in 1751 mainly by Irish freemasons, which were dissatisfied with the way freemasonry was practiced by the Grand Lodge of England. On 17 July 1751, representatives of five Lodges gathered at the Turk's Head Tavern, in Greek StreetGreek Street
Greek Street is a street in Soho, London, leading south from Soho Square to Shaftesbury Avenue. The street is famous for its restaurants and cosmopolitan nature.-History:...
, Soho
Soho
Soho is an area of the City of Westminster and part of the West End of London. Long established as an entertainment district, for much of the 20th century Soho had a reputation for sex shops as well as night life and film industry. Since the early 1980s, the area has undergone considerable...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
- forming a rival Grand Lodge of England According to the Old Institution. They accused the Grand Lodge founded in 1717, which they called the Moderns, of not adhering to old customs of freemasonry and claimed that only themselves upheld the Craft's old customs.
Constitution
Laurence DermottLaurence Dermott
Laurence Dermott was born in Ireland and became a Freemason in 1740. He held various offices before being installed as Worshipful Master of Lodge No. 26 in Dublin on the 24th of June 1746. He emigrated to London some time after this, possibly in the company of fellow journeymen painters for he is...
wrote a constitution for the Ancients, the Ahiman Rezon
Ahiman Rezon
The Book of Constitutions of this Grand Lodge or Ahiman Rezon was a constitution written by Laurence Dermott for the Antient Grand Lodge of England which was formed in 1751...
, as an alternative for the Constitution of the Moderns which was written by James Anderson.
Grand Masters
- 1753, Robert Turner
- 1754-1756, Edward Vaughan
- 1756-1760, William Stewart, 1st Earl of BlessingtonWilliam Stewart, 1st Earl of BlessingtonWilliam Stewart, 1st Earl of Blessington was an Anglo-Irish peer and member of the House of Lords, styled The Honourable William Stewart until 1728 and known as The Viscount Mountjoy from 1728 to 1745....
- 1760-1766, Thomas Erskine, 6th Earl of KellieThomas Erskine, 6th Earl of KellieThomas Alexander Erskine, 6th Earl of Kellie , styled Viscount Fentoun and Lord Pittenweem until 1756, was a British musician and composer whose considerable talent brought him international fame and his rakish habits notoriety, but nowadays is little known...
- 1766-1770, Hon. Thomas Mathew
- 1771-1774, John Murray, 3rd Duke of AthollJohn Murray, 3rd Duke of AthollJohn Murray, 3rd Duke of Atholl KT, PC , known as John Murray until 1764, was a Scottish peer and Tory politician.-Background:...
- 1775-1781, John Murray, 4th Duke of AthollJohn Murray, 4th Duke of AthollJohn Murray, 4th Duke of Atholl KT, PC, FRS , styled Marquess of Tullibardine 1764 and 1774, was a Scottish peer.-Background:...
- 1783-1791, Randal MacDonnell, 6th Earl of Antrim
- 1791-1812, John Murray, 4th Duke of AthollJohn Murray, 4th Duke of AthollJohn Murray, 4th Duke of Atholl KT, PC, FRS , styled Marquess of Tullibardine 1764 and 1774, was a Scottish peer.-Background:...
- 1813, Prince Edward Augustus, Duke of Kent and StrathearnPrince Edward Augustus, Duke of Kent and StrathearnThe Prince Edward, Duke of Kent and Strathearn was a member of the British Royal Family, the fourth son of King George III and the father of Queen Victoria...
Grand Secretaries
- 1751, John Morgan
- 1752-1770, Laurence DermottLaurence DermottLaurence Dermott was born in Ireland and became a Freemason in 1740. He held various offices before being installed as Worshipful Master of Lodge No. 26 in Dublin on the 24th of June 1746. He emigrated to London some time after this, possibly in the company of fellow journeymen painters for he is...
- 1771-1776, William Dickey
- 1777-1778, James Jones
- 1779-1782, Charles Bearblock
- 1783-1784, Robert Leslie
- 1785-1789, John McCormick
- 1790-1813, Robert Leslie.