We arose from the stonemasons’ guilds during the Middle Ages, this is where we know our language and symbols used in our rituals come from. It is believed, we go back even further to the time of King Solomons Template as alluded to in our ritual. 

 

The oldest document that refers to Masons is the Regius Poem, printed about 1390, which was a copy of an earlier work. In 1717, four lodges in London formed the first Grand Lodge of England, and records from that point on are more complete.

 

Within thirty years, our fraternity spread throughout Europe, then to America. Freemasonry became very popular in America. 

 

George Washington was a Mason, Benjamin Franklin served as the head of the fraternity in Pennsylvania, as did Paul Revere and Joseph Warren in Massachusetts. Other well-known Masons involved with the founding of America included John Hancock, John Sullivan, Lafayette, Baron Fredrick von Stuben, Nathanael Greene, and John Paul Jones. Another Mason, Chief Justice John Marshall, shaped the Supreme Court into its present form.

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During the late 1700s it was one of the organizations most responsible for spreading the ideals of the Enlightenment: the dignity of man and the liberty of the individual, the right of all persons to worship as they choose, the formation of governments, and the importance of public education. Masons supported the first public schools in both Europe and America.

 

During the 1800s and early 1900s, Freemasonry grew dramatically. At that time, our government had provided no social “safety net.” The Masonic tradition of founding orphanages, homes for widows, and homes for the aged provided the only security many people knew.

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Today in North America, our Masonic Fraternity continues this tradition by giving almost $2 million each day to causes that range from operating children’s hospitals, providing treatment for childhood language disorders, treating eye diseases, funding medical research, contributing to local community service, and providing care to Masons and their families at Masonic Homes.

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The four million Masons worldwide continue to help men and women face the problems of the 21st century by building bridges of brotherhood and instilling in the hearts of men ideals for a better tomorrow.