Page 88 - WM Manual Guide and Monitor 2024 - 2025

The Transition to Speculative Freemasonry

Any study of the history of Freemasonry cannot be attributed to a single
time, place, person or doctrine. As Speculative Masons, several key
events took place over several centuries and are noted as innovative or
first time occurrences.
The building of King Solomon's Temple believed to have been completed in
960 BC King Solomon's Temple believed to have been destroyed in 587 BC

Prince Edward presided over first Grand Lodge, Speculative, of York Rite
Masons in 926 In Germany, operative Masons publish regulations,
ceremonies and titles, 1080 Construction of Melrose Abby Church, traveling
Masons put marks on stones, 1136 Earliest known use of the term "Lodge" in
the records of Vale Royal Abby, 1278
York Minster Masonic Ordinance passed in English, using the word "Mason"
in 1370 Regius Poem or Halliwell Manuscript, (of moral duties) oldest
known manuscript 1390 The word Freemason appears for the first time in
Statutes of England 1487 William Schaw wrote Rules for Kilwinning, using
the term "Fellow of the Craft"1584 Oldest known existing lodge, Edinburgh
Lodge No. 1, Scotland 1599

John Boswell became the first Speculative Mason admitted to Edinburgh No.
1, 1600 Grand Lodge of London & Westminster formed by four Grand
Lodges, June 24, 1717 Dr. James Anderson published first edition of
Constitutions of the Freemasons 1723 Daniel Coxe appointed Provincial G M
of New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania 1730
Ben Franklin reprints Anderson's Constitutions, first Masonic book published
in US 1734 The Ancient Grand Lodge of Ireland founded to protest attitude
of Grand Lodge, 1751 Prince Hall and 14 others raised by Irish Lodge #441,
as African Lodge #459 in, 1775

Ancients and Modems unite to form United Grand Lodge of Ancient
Freemasons1813 Descendants of African Grand Lodge meet to become
Prince Hall Grand Lodges1847

Most Worshipful Hiram Grand Lodge Incorporated in Buffalo, N Y, August
20, 1908 The Fifty Year Souvenir Journal of M W Hiram G L archived in
Schomburg Library 1958
Centennial Souvenir Journal of M W Hiram Grand Lodge in Schomburg
Library 2013 PM