"Ancient Masons," was the name assumed by a body
of Masons who, in 1738 seceded from the regular or legal Grand
Lodge of England. They did this because of changes the Institution
made on the ritual work.
The Ancients called themselves "Ancient Free and Accepted
Masons" and were the new Lodges. They practiced the old ritual
work and condemned the Moderns, as they called them, for changes
made in that work. The Moderns, were called "Free and accepted
Masons" and were the old Lodges of England. They adopted
the new style of ritual work formed by Anderson, Preston, and
others.
These differences kept the two bodies apart to the extreme,
that there would be both in the same community and sometimes,
side by side. They would clam the same jurisdiction and argue
over who was right and who was clandestine.
In 1813 the two bodies resolved their differences and joined
hands, but the Lodges were spread through out the world, and particularly
in America. They turned out to be impossible to align. Both are
recognized by the Grand Lodge of England and both have the same
rights and benefits which are accorded a legal Lodge of Master
Masons. Although you will find the different Lodges in United
States their jurisdictions are limited to each state. This is
why we have:
Ancient Free and Accepted Masons
Ancient Free Masons
Free and Accepted Masons
and on and on.
Back To Short Talks
No © Copyright.
"Corky" .
Free To Use.
All material in this site may be used
to educate everyone, Masons and
non-Masons alike about Freemasonry