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Freemasonry is afraternal order originating in Colonial Britain that now wields influence internationally. Freemasons traditionally meet in male-only societies called lodges to practice ethical improvement motivated by belief in a higher power. Their history includes exposure to many different cultural demographics and political opposition.
Freemasonry spread from the British Isles during theColonial Era when all of the originalGrand Lodges from England began to issue charters in North America. Starting in 1730, the"Modern" Grand Lodge of England began issuing warrants forProvincial Grand Lodges in the colonies. Initially, these warrants were issued to individuals to act as deputies for the Grand Master, and some confusion resulted due to overlapping jurisdictions. To confuse matters further, with the formation of the"Ancient" Grand Lodge of England, rival Provincial Grand Lodges were chartered under their jurisdiction. The two most influential Grand Lodges – the "Ancients" and the "Moderns" – quickly became the most prolific Freemason groups.
"Coxe" Provincial Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, & New York (Moderns) -Est. 1730. Warrant issued toDaniel Coxe. The Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania dates itself from the formation of this Provincial Grand Lodge.[1][2]Provincial Grand Lodge of New England (Moderns) -Est. 1733. Warrant issued to Henry Price. The Grand Lodge of Massachusetts dates itself from the formation of this Provincial Grand Lodge.Provincial Grand Lodge of South Carolina -Est. 1736.[3]Provincial Grand Lodge of North Carolina -Est. 1771.[4]Provincial Grand Lodge of New York (Moderns) -Est. 1738-1780s. Warrants issued toFrancis Goelet (1738–1753), toGeorge Harrison (1753–1771) and toSir John Johnson (from 1771). As Johnson was a Loyalist during theAmerican Revolution, he is believed to have taken his warrant with him when he fled to Canada, thus leaving the Moderns Lodges without a Provincial Grand Master.[5]Provincial Grand Lodge for North America (Scotland) -Est. 1757. Warrant issued to ColonelJohn Young.[6]Provincial Grand Lodge for Pennsylvania (Ancients) -Est. 1761. Warrant issued to William Ball.[7]Provincial Grand Lodge of New York ("Athol Charter" - Ancients) -Est. 1781-1784. Although warranted by the "Ancients", the final Provincial Grand Master, ChancellorRobert R. Livingston (PGM: 1784–87), was actually the Master of a Lodge under the Jurisdiction of the Moderns, thus uniting the two branches of English Freemasonry in New York State. Livingston continued in office as the first Grand Master of the independent GL of NY.[5]After the American Revolution, the various Provincial Grand Lodges were closed, and the Lodges in each state formed independent Grand Lodges. These, in turn, chartered lodges in the new territories and states. As each new state came into being, the lodges that had been chartered within its borders gathered together and formed new Grand Lodges.[8]
Masonic membership grew rapidly in the first quarter of the 19th century, especially in the Northeast. By the year 1800, America had 11 Grand Lodges, 347 subordinate lodges, and about 16,000 members. By 1820, New York alone had 300 lodges with 15,000 members, and adding another 150 lodges and 5,000 members by 1825.[9]
Internationally, Freemasonry gained traction in Latin America and continental Europe, where the French lodges predominated with active involvement in politics and religious opposition.[10]
Historian Mark Carnes argues that the Freemasons, along with other fraternal societies including theOdd Fellows, theImproved Order of Red Men, and theKnights of Pythias, contributed to cultural shifts in beliefs surrounding traditionalmasculinity through new secret rituals. Lodges designed initiation ceremonies featuring chains, skeletons, robes, masks, blindfolds, and torch lights in response to mainstream Protestant denominations moving toward feminized themes in religion. The result was a private set of attitudes and secret rituals that comprised an alternative counterculture.[11] A leading California Mason had a vision of Freemasonry that rejected "Dreaminess and Nambi-Pambyism," as well as "sloppy sentimentalism" or "a lady's sewing circle" or a "church pink tea," but rather sought "A Real Man's Organization."[12]
Although women were not members, their support contributed to the rapid recovery of Freemasonry after the 1830s as wives and even innovators.Sarah Josepha Hale in 1823, with the financial support of her late husband's lodge, published a collection of her poems titledThe Genius of Oblivion. The Masonic movement continued their support for Hale's promotion of traditional ladylike roles throughout her career, especially when she served as editor for forty years of the nation's most influential women's magazine,Godey's Lady's Book."[13]
Prince Hall Freemasonry was founded as a North American branch forAfrican Americans by black activistPrince Hall in 1784.[14] There are two main branches: the independent State Prince Hall Grand Lodges, most of which are recognized by White Masonic jurisdictions, and those under the jurisdiction of theNational Grand Lodge. Prince Hall Freemasonry is the oldest and largest (300,000+ initiated members) predominantly African-American fraternity in the nation.[15][16]
TheAnti-Masonic Party was asingle-issue party in the late 1820s that strongly opposedFreemasonry, but later aspired to become a major political party by expanding its platform to take positions on other issues. The party was founded following the disappearance ofWilliam Morgan, a former Mason who had become a prominent critic of the Masonic organization, fueling speculations of foul play and Anti-Masonic sentiment.[17]
The Anti-Masons believed that Masons posed a threat to Americanrepublicanism through government opposition and claimed they were hostile to evangelical Christianity. Fear of politicized Masonry soon coalesced into the Anti-Masonic Party. In New York, the Anti-Masons supplanted the National Republicans as the primary opposition to the Democrats.[citation needed]
The Masons claimed avoidance to state and national politics. They saw their role as facilitating the cooperation of political leaders of differing views and parties, so it would be fatal to endorse one party.[18] Historians agree that often, Masons were locally prominent, and perhaps did attempt a local cover-up of the Morgan case, but that the main conspiracy argument is largely unfounded.[19] Membership had grown rapidly, but then collapsed even faster. Of the 450 lodges operating in 1825, only 50 remained in 1834.[20]
As the 1830s progressed, most Anti-Masons switched to the new Whig Party, which united all voters opposed to PresidentAndrew Jackson. Jackson was a Mason, but so too was his leading opponentHenry Clay. The Anti-Masons brought to the Whigs an intense distrust of politicians, a rejection of automatic party loyalty, and innovative campaign techniques to excite voters. They invented the national convention in 1835.[21] By 1840, the Anti-Masons had ceased to function as a national organization, and local cells had disappeared. The few Anti-Masons who would become leading politicians, such asWilliam H. Seward,Thurlow Weed, andThaddeus Stevens, became leaders of the Whig and Republican parties.
In addition to connections with Masonic bodies in other countries, the Masonic movement provided a mechanism for international cooperation among national leaders and men of affairs. According to Joachim Berger, from the late 19th century, Masonic lodges spearheaded efforts to form permanent links between nations. They played an especially active role in 1914-1919, as the leaders who fought against Germany worked hard to promote public opinion favorable to their longstanding rivals, who were now military allies. Leaders in London and Paris were especially active in building support for the Allies in the United States. In 1918, Freemasons sought to gain support for theLeague of Nations, with New York Masons especially active. Political discussions were not allowed during lodge meetings. However, the Masonic networks brought together like-minded men who cooperated in promoting internationalism beyond their local lodges.[22]
