About Freemasonry
Freemasonry is one of the world’s oldest secular fraternities with some 17,500 members in Ireland and around 4 million members worldwide.
Freemasonry is a society concerned with moral and spiritual values. Its members are taught these precepts by a series of ancient forms, using the customs and tools of the stonemason as allegorical guides.
Origins of Freemasonry
Welcome to the fascinating world of Freemasonry, a tradition steeped in history and intrigue. According to the legends that have been passed down through generations, Freemasonry traces its origins to the time of King Solomon's Temple. During the construction of this monumental structure, a highly organized workforce emerged, comprised of skilled stonemasons, architects, and other craftsmen, each assigned specific roles and responsibilities.
In the late 19th century, an exciting discovery by British archaeologist and Egyptologist Sir William Petrie shed light on the ancient roots of this fraternity. While excavating in the Libyan Desert, he unearthed papyrus records dating back to around 2000 BC. These records not only detailed practical matters like working hours, wages, and labour rules but also emphasized the importance of providing relief and support to workers facing hardship, as well as to widows and orphans.
During the Middle Ages, the focus of these skilled craftsmen turned to the construction of magnificent cathedrals across England and Europe. To tackle these grand projects, masons organized themselves into guilds, fostering the exchange of knowledge in geometry, arithmetic, and engineering. These guilds ensured the qualifications of their members and safeguarded the secrets of their trade. As a result, the Guild of Stonemasons became not only a sanctuary for its members but also a hub of learning that educated apprentices and enhanced the craft's reputation. In those times, credentials couldn't be verified through modern means like union cards or phone calls. Instead, signs and words were used for identification and recognition. Much of the extraordinary work of these craftsmen still stands today, serving as a living inspiration for the creation of a brotherhood, not built of bricks and mortar, but of like-minded men of goodwill.
The status and reputation of these Craft Guilds soared to such heights that prominent citizens began to join as honorary members. They were known as 'Speculative' Freemasons, distinct from the 'Operative' masons who originally built physical structures. As Freemasonry grew, national-level regulations governing education and qualifications transformed the guilds, leading to the emergence of Lodges exclusively composed of 'Freemasons.' One of the earliest references to the term 'Freemason' can be found in a City of London manuscript from 1375. This manuscript outlined regulations for society, emphasised duties to God, church, and country, and highlighted the enduring concept of brotherhood that continues to define Freemasonry to this day.