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A Brief History of Freemasonry
There are two accepted theories in respect of the origin of modern Freemasonry. According to one, the operative stonemasons who built the great cathedrals and castles occupied Lodges in which they discussed trade affairs.
They adopted simple initiation ceremonies and, since there were no recognised trade certificates or trade union membership cards, they adopted certain signs and words to demonstrate that they were skilled masons when they moved from site to site.
During the 1600's, these operative Lodges began to accept non-operatives as 'gentleman masons' who gradually took over the Lodges and turned them from operative into 'free and accepted' or 'speculative' ones.
The second suggestion is that in the late 1500's and early 1600's, there was a group which was interested in the promotion of religious and political tolerance in an age of great intolerance when differing opinions on these subjects were to lead to bloody civil war.
By the creation of Freemasonry, their hope was to make better men and build a better world. Teaching in those days was by metaphor and symbolism and they took the idea of building as the central theme on which to base their system.
The main source of allegory was the Old Testament of the Bible, the contents of which were known to everyone even if they could not read. The only building described in detail was King Solomon's Temple which thus became the basis of ritual.
Many now believe that it was a combination of the two that brought about Freemasonry as we know it.
North Wales Masonic
Benevolent Association
The North Wales Masonic Benevolent Association is a Registered Charity, Number: 212691 and, as such, is independently active in it´s own right. It was founded in 1874 and today provides an essential link between the Province´s charitable activities and those at National level.
The objective of the Association
is the advancement of Masonic Charity by means
of three funds supporting:
A) The main National Masonic Charities.
B) Masonic Charity in general and more specifically
the needs of those in the Province.
C) The immediate relief and assistance to
deserving Masonic and Non-Masonic cases of distress.
Each Lodge and Chapter throughout the Province is represented at the Annual General Meeting which is held on the second Saturday in November of each year.
The Trustee´s Report together with the Annual Accounts, Balance Sheet and Auditor´s Report are published in the Masonic Year Book.
For more information on the work of the Association please contact the Secretary (Hint) at the address below.
President
R.W.Bro. Ieuan Redvers Jones, Provincial Grand Master
Vice-Presidents:
V.W.Bro. Owen Wheldon Williams, G.Swd.B.,
Deputy Provincial Grand Master
W.Bro. John Tudor Morris, P.S.G.D.,
Assistant Provincial Grand Master
W.Bro. Gerald John Charles Edwards, P.S.G.D.,
Assistant Provincial Grand Master
Vice Chairman
W.Bro. Norman Venner P.A.G.D.C.
Provincial Grand Charity Steward
Treasurer:
W.Bro. Brian William Goldsmith, P.A.G.D.C.
Secretary:
W.Bro. Hywel Wyn Jones, PProvJGW
8 Mostyn Avenue, Craig-y-Don, Llandudno. LL30
1YS
Telephone: 01492.860223
e-mail: prov.info@nwmasons.org
Interested in joining?
Would you like to join Freemasonry?
On 24th June 1717, four London Lodges which had existed for anything up to thirty years, came together at the Goose and Gridiron Ale House in St Paul's Churchyard, formed themselves into a Grand Lodge, the first in the world.
In 1723, the Grand Lodge began to act as a regulating body appointing a secretary with Quarterly Communications being held and Minutes recorded. The first Book of Constitutions was soon published and, by the mid 1730's, Grand Lodge had over 150 Lodges in London and the Provinces; overseas Lodges were formed in Spain in 1728 and in Bengal in 1729. These were soon followed by English Lodges in continental Europe, the North American colonies, the West Indies, the Caribbean and the sub continent of India. In order to establish some sort of control over them and promote the formation of new Lodges, the Grand Master appointed Provincial and District Grand Masters.
At the same time, Grand Lodges were formed in Ireland in 1725 and Scotland in 1756 which, although sharing the same principles as English Freemasonry, incorporated various differences of working and customs.
The period leading to the outbreak of the Second World War was to have consequences for today. A great deal of anti-Masonic propaganda came out of Nazi Germany and Franco's Spain in the late 1930s.
In both countries Freemasonry was banned and many Freemasons were imprisoned and killed. Plans were laid by the Nazis to seize prominent Freemasons when they occupied Britain.
