History of Freemasons from 18th to 20th century
From About Freemasons
Contents |
19th century Freemasonry
Freemasonry in the 1800s was a time of political conflict, union, and controversy. A number of changes made to lodges during this time period in France and England continue to have an impact on today’s Masons.
Union
A number of important changes took place in the 1800s. One was the 1813 amalgamation of The Premier Grand Lodge of England and the Antient Grand Lodge of England into the United Grand Lodge of England (UGLE). The two lodges had several disagreements about the direction of Freemasonry. The Moderns wanted to innovate some rituals and practices while the Ancients wanted to keep forms and ceremonies unchanged. This was resolved with "The Articles of Union" which outlined the agreements made. Additionally, a Lodge of Reconciliation (1813-1816) was created to help make the transition after the union and to resolve outstanding issue. By 1823 a Emulation Lodge of Improvement was established to bring the lodges forward into the 19th century. After the union, the UGLE formed a new Constitution, which was based on the Ahiman Rezon of the Antients and the Constitution of Anderson of the Moderns.
This 19th century amalgamation explains why lodges today have so many different rituals. Before the amalgamation, the Moderns and the Ancients both had daughter Lodges all over the world. Some of these still exist and have continued to practice some of the pre-1813 traditions. However, most lodges follow a single Rite.
Decline
William Morgan had been threatening to expose the secrets of Freemasonry when he went missing in 1826. What actually happened to the man was never actually determined but his anti-Mason stance and the fact that his kidnappers received light sentences led many to think that Masons had murdered him. The case sparked many anti-Mason protests in the US. At the same time, politician Andrew Jackson was a Mason, so many of his political opponents adopted an anti-Mason stance.
Schism in 1877
After 1877, a schism occurred between the English Freemasons (known as the United Grand Lodge of England or UGLE) and the French Freemasons (known as the Grand Orient de France or GOdF). This occurred when the GOdF began to accept atheists without restrictions as Freemasons and also recognized Women's Masonry and Co-Masonry. Also, while English Freemasons banned discussions of religion and politics in the Lodges, French Freemasons allowed such debates. Anderson's Constitutions of the Free-Masons, 1723, one of the oldest constitutions of Freemasonry clearly states that a Freemason "will never be a stupid Atheist nor an irreligious Libertine" so that UGLE opposed the French innovations. However, in 1815 UGLE itself had changed Anderson's constitutions to read: "Let a man's religion or mode of worship be what it may, he is not excluded from the Order, provided he believes in the glorious Architect of Heaven and Earth, and practices the sacred duties of morality."
Taxil and anti-Mason movements
Between 1885 and 1897, a man named Léo Taxil stirred up anti-Mason feelings by making fictitious claims against Freemasonry. In 1897, at a press conference, he admitted that his claims were not true. Nevertheless, the claims he had made developed a life of their own and were used by many to justify anti-Mason sentiment. In fact, some of his claims are still used today.
