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Famous Masons

Dr. T. J. Barnardo (1845-1905). Philanthropist, and founder and director of homes for destitute children. His work is continued today by the charity Barnardo's.

Robert Burns (1759-1796). Scottish poet and lyricist. He was regarded as a pioneer of the Romantic movement and after his death became an important source of inspiration to the founders of liberalism and socialism.

Sir Winston L. S. Churchill (1874-1965). British politician known chiefly for his leadership during World War II. He served as Prime Minister from 1940 to 1945 and again from 1951 to 1955.

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1859-1930). Author noted for his stories about the detective Sherlock Holmes, which are generally regarded as a major innovation in the field of crime fiction.

Sir Alexander Fleming (1881-1955). Biologist and pharmacologist who published many articles on bacteriology, immunology and chemotherapy. His best-known achievements include the discovery of the enzyme lysozyme and the antibiotic substance penicillin.

Rudyard J. Kipling (1865-1936). English author and poet, best known for his works The Jungle Book, Just So Stories and Kim. He was the first author writing in the English language to be awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature and remains its youngest ever recipient.

Sir Leonard Hutton (1916-1990). English cricketer who dominated the national and international cricket scene for the decade following the Second World War. He was honoured with the England team captaincy, breaking an age-old tradition that the position could be held only by an amateur.

Latest News

July 25th: The Freemasons' Grand Charity announces £1 million in major grants. More...

July 12th: Appeal 2011, held in support of the Royal Masonic Trust for Girls and Boys, has so far raised the magnificent sum of £891,330. More...

Mar 7th: The Freemasons' Grand Charity approves £20,000 in relief for the Chile earthquake. More ...

Jan 15th: The Freemasons' Grand Charity approves £30,000 in relief for the Haiti earthquake. More...

Nov 25th: The Freemasons' Grand Charity awards £10,000 for Cumbrian flood relief efforts. More...

Oct 15th: The Freemasons' Grand Charity awards £400,000 to non-Masonic charities. More...

Oct 15th: The Freemasons' Grand Charity donates £50,000 to the Red Cross Asia Pacific Disasters Appeal. More...

Sept 4th: Are you thinking of becoming a Freemason? More...

Sept 4th: The United Grand Lodge of England's new website is revealed. More...

Aug 10th: Malvern's Freemasons donate £1,000 to Community Action! More...

June 16th: The Freemasons' Grand Charity gives £2 million to national charities. More...

June 10th: The Malvern Hills Lodge website goes live! More...

June 10th: The Freemasons' Grand Charity donates £5,000 in emergency aid to flood stricken Namibia. More...

June 5th: The Freemasons' Grand Charity presented grants totalling £550,000 to ten charities at a special event commemorating the anniversary of the installation of His Royal Highness The Duke of Kent, KG, as Grand Master. More...

[News Archive]

Freemasonry's External Relations

Introduction

The following information is intended to expand a topic mentioned in the leaflet 'What is Freemasonry'. It explains the United Grand Lodge of England's relations with other Masonic bodies.

Freemasonry is practised under many independent Grand Lodges with principles or standards similar to those set by the United Grand Lodge of England throughout its history.

Standards

To be recognised as regular by the United Grand Lodge of England, a Grand Lodge must meet the following standards.

It must have been lawfully established by a regular Grand Lodge or by three or more private Lodges, each warranted by a regular Grand Lodge.

It must be truly independent and self-governing, with undisputed authority over Craft - or basic - Freemasonry (i.e. the symbolic degrees of Entered Apprentice, Fellow Craft and Master Mason) within its jurisdiction and not subject in any other way to or sharing power with any other Masonic body.

Freemasons under its jurisdiction must be men, and it and its Lodges must have no Masonic contact with Lodges which admit women to membership.

Freemasons under its jurisdiction must believe in a Supreme Being.

All Freemasons under its jurisdiction must take their Obligations on or in full view of the Volume of the Sacred Law (i.e. the Bible) or the book held sacred by the man concerned.

The three 'Great Lights' of Freemasonry, (i.e. the Volume of the Sacred Law, the square and the Compasses) must be on display when the Grand Lodge or its subordinate Lodges are open.

The discussion of religion and politics within its Lodges must be prohibited.

It must adhere to the established principles and tenets (the 'Ancient Landmarks') and customs of the Craft, and insist on their being observed within its Lodges.

Irregular and Unrecognised Grand Lodges

There are some self-styled Masonic bodies that do not meet these standards, e.g. which do not require a belief in a Supreme Being, or which allow or encourage their members to participate as such in political matters. These bodies are recognised by the Grand Lodge of England as being Masonically irregular, and Masonic contact with them is forbidden.