From Whence We Came

A Genealogy of Nebraska Masonry

By

Worshipful Brother Ed Nolte

Masonic Origins--Speculation

•      Egypt before the pyramids, protectors of the Ark of the Covenant, a Jewish orthodox sect with whom Jesus Christ lived for several years, Knights of the Temple during Crusades, or Stone Masons? All speculation

•      The early evidence of Freemasonry is very scarce. There are some 130 versions of what are now known as the Old Charges, dating from circa 1390. These are parchment rolls up to nine feet in length or paper sheets formed into notebooks containing a legendary history of the mason trade and Charges reciting the duties of a mason to his God, his master, his craft and his fellows.

Masonic Origins--Evidence

•      1646 was first evidence of Lodge of non-operative Masons

–   Elias Ashmole, Antiquary and Founder af the Ashmolean Museum at Oxford

•      24 June 1717 Goose and Gridiron Ale House at St Paul’s Churchyard was first meeting of Grand Lodge of England--Anthony Sayer was 1st GM

•      That time was unique to what was happening with the English Monarchy, the Roman Catholic Church, and the Industrial Revolution

Grand Lodge Activities

•      For several years, the Grand Lodge was merely an annual feast

•      In 1721, the Grand Lodge of England became a regulatory body

•      In 1725, the Grand Lodge of Ireland was formed

•      By 1730, 100+ English Lodges existed including Spain and India and a Book of Constitutions was written

•      In 1731, first Lodge in America was formed

•      In 1736, the Grand Lodge of Scotland was formed

•      In 1751, a younger, rival Grand Lodge, known as the Ancients, formed to challenge the “Modern” policies of the older Grand Lodge of England

So What Was The Issue?

•      The Grand Lodge of England

–   older of the two Grand Lodges

–   Primarily from London proper

–   Known as Moderns,

–   Membership limited to wealthier townspeople (bankers, professionals, business, aristocracy)

•      A Rival Grand Lodge

–   Younger of the two

–   Primarily from rural north and Ireland

–   Known as Ancients

–   Membership open to farmers and craftsmen

England or Scotland

•      Grand Lodges of the world were derived from the English or the Scottish model
•      Today, there are no longer any Scottish Grand Lodges outside Scotland, but there are some individual Lodges that trace their history and practice Scottish Freemasonry
•      English Lodges are the generally accepted norm, but some Lodges still retain their Scottish heritage
•      Nearly all Masonic Lodges in the world trace their heritage to the English (Modern or Ancient), Scottish, or Irish Grand Lodge

Ancients and Moderns (cont’d)

•      Both Grand Lodges co-existed for 63 years from early 1751 until late 1813
•      In 1813, HRH Augustus Frederick, Duke of Sussex became Grand Master of the “Moderns” and HRH Edward, Duke of Kent became Grand Masters of the rival “Ancients”
•      Duke Freddie and Duke Eddie were brothers
•      On December 27, 1813, these brothers united the rival Grand Lodges and created the United Grand Lodge of England

Which State Is Which

•      AF & AM
•      AL, CA, CO, CT, DE, ID, IL, IA, KS, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, OK, OR, SD, TX, VA, WV, and WY
•      24 States
•      F & AM
•      AK, AZ, AR, FL, GA, HI, IN, KY, LA, MS, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NC, ND, NY, OH, PA, RI, TN, UT, VT, WA, and WI
•      25 States

Ancient Or Modern Heritage

•      Ancient Heritage
•      AL, AK, AZ, AR, CA, CT, DE, DC, FL, HI, ID, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, NV, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, TX, VT, & WA
•      30 States/District
•      Modern Heritage
•      CO, GA, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, MS, MO, MT, NE, NM, NC, ND, SD, TN, UT, VA, WV, WI, & WY
•      21 States

Matrixed Tally

•      AF & AM Ancient Heritage
–    AL, CA, CT, DE, ID, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, OK, OR, TX
13
•      AF & AM with Modern Heritage
–    CO, IL, IA, KS, MO, MT, NE, NM, NC, ND, SD, VA, WV, WY
14
•      F & AM with Ancient Heritage
–    AK, AZ, AR, FL, HI, LA, NV, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, VT, WA
15
•      F & AM with Modern Heritage
–    GA, IN, KY, MS, TN, UT, WI
7
•      Other with Ancient Heritage
–    DC,  SC
2
•      Other with Modern Heritage 0
•      Total 51

Masonic Family Tree

Grand Lodges “Related to Nebraska

I. Moderns of England--> GA, SC, MA, NY
I. Scotland--> MA, NY
II. NC--> AL
II. VA--> DC, WV
III. TN--> AL, MS, AR
III. KY--> OH, IN, IL, MS
IV. IA--> ND, SD, NE
IV. IL--> MN, WI, NE
IV. MO--> KS, NM, CA, WI, OR, NE
•      Only 6 Grand Lodges are “unrelated” to Nebraska
–  PA, NJ, DE, MD, LA, TX (All ancient)

Conclusions

•      The term “antient” in the title does not signify descent from the Ancient Grand Lodge
•      Nebraska traces its descent to the Modern Grand Lodge of England and the Grand Lodge of Scotland
•      Nebraska is “related to 44 of the other 50 Grand Lodges in the US, either as a sibling, cousin, or lineal descent
•      Only 6 Grand Lodges “unrelated to Nebraska trace their descent solely to the Antient Grand Lodge of England through Pennsylvania