Lodge Inverell No.48 ... Freemasons NSW & ACT
The Origins on Modern Freemasonry:
The Origin of Freemasonry is not definitely known, although some believe that it may have originated in ancient Egypt.
It is well known that from very early times guilds or companies of craftsmen such as carpenters, builders, blacksmiths, etc., have existed in the community.
Modern Freemasonry may safely be said to originate from these craftsmen.
The Merchants Guilds:
In the Middle-ages Merchants Guilds became very well organised. They admitted apprentices, and they gave charters of proficiency to their members from whom they sometimes asked high fees for membership.
On Corpus Christi day each year each guild used to parade in a dress peculiar to itself and present an Allegory in the streets:
An Allegory is a teaching play or story.
The Guild of Masons (or Builders) differed from all the others: whereas, for example, the blacksmith would ply his trade in his own town."
A mason frequently had to travel long distances, even to the other end of the country, to engage in his work.
i.e. He had to prove his proficiency by his rank in the guild from which he came.
This he did by showing that he was in possession of certain secrets which he learned from his guild.
The Guilds, or Companies of Craftsmen, at first contained only Operative Masons (i.e. Builders).
From the Sixteenth century and onward, Speculative Masons (i.e. Non-Builders), were admitted.
Over time Freemasonry became entirely Speculative.
The Origins of Freemasonry in Australia
The first lodges that met in Australia were military lodges with travelling warrants.
Initially under warrants of the Grand Lodge of Ireland, followed by Grand Lodge of England military lodges then to a lesser extent military lodges with warrants issued by the Grand Lodge of Scotland. This followed soon after the arrival of Captain Phillips Fleet in 1788.
There are records of men being initiated into Freemasonry in 1814 under the Irish Military Constitution and in 1820 under the Grand Lodge of England Constitution.
The United Grand Lodge of New South Wales was established in 1888. It resulted from a Union of Irish, English and Scottish Grand Lodges. Later it became the United Grand Lodge of New South Wales and Australian Capital Territory.
A Masonic Lodge is a body of men who regularly meet together in a Spirit of Peace, Love and Harmony.
There are many symbols associated with Freemasonry.“The Square and Compasses” is the most well known.
This depicts a Builder’s Square joined by a Designer’s Compasses:
Lodge Inverell No.48 was the 48th lodge that was established in New South Wales Australia following the establishment of Lodge Glen Innes No.44
Open pdf: The origins of Freemasonry
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The link below will enable you to learn more about the Origins of Freemasonry in Scotland...