Freemasonry is the oldest fraternity in the world. No one individual or group can lay claim to knowing just how old it is because the actual origins have been lost in time. It most likely derived from the guilds of stonemasons who erected the magnificent stone castles and cathedrals of the Middle Ages. Possibly, they were influenced by the Knights Templar, a group of Christian warrior monks formed in 1118 to help protect pilgrims making trips to the Holy Land.
In 1717, Masonry created a formal organization in England when the first Grand Lodge was formed. A Grand Lodge is the administrative body in charge of Masonry in some geographical area. In the United States, there is a Grand Lodge in each state. Port Royal Lodge was chartered in 1899 by The Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Ancient Free Masons of South Carolina . Local organizations of Masons are called lodges. There are lodges in most towns, and large cities usually have several. There are currently about 13,200 lodges in the United States.
The word “lodge” means both a group of Masons meeting in some place and the room or building in which they meet. Masonic buildings are also sometimes called “temples” because much of the symbolism which Masonry endeavors to teach it's lessons derives from Biblical, as well as historical accountings of the building of King Solomon’s Temple in the Holy Land. The term “lodge” itself derives from the structures which the stonemasons built against the sides of the cathedrals during construction. In winter, when building had to stop, they lived in these lodges and worked at carving stone. Every Lodge of speculative Masons has as part of it's permanent furnishings an altar supporting the Volume of Sacred Law, or VSL. In the United States, that Volume is almost exclusively the Holy Bible.
In a time when travel was by horseback and sailing ship, Masonry spread with amazing speed. By 1731, when Benjamin Franklin joined the fraternity, there were already several lodges in the Colonies, and Masonry spread rapidly as America expanded west. In addition to Franklin, many of the Founding Fathers — men such as George Washington, Paul Revere, Joseph Warren, and John Hancock — were Masons.
Being that speculative Masonry came to America from England, we still use the English floor plan and English titles for the officers. For instance, The Worshipful Master is elected to lead his particular Lodge for a term of one year. The term “Worshipful” is an English term of respect which means the same as “Honorable.” He is called the Master of the Lodge for the same reason that the leader of an orchestra is called the “Concert Master.” It’s simply an older term for “Leader.” The Senior and Junior Wardens could be equivocated with the First and Second Vice Presidents, respectively. The Deacons are messengers and the Stewards have charge of refreshments.
Masonry teaches that each person has a responsibility to make things better in the world. Although men of great intellect, financial means or political loftiness have been and continue to be members of the Fraternity, most of the men that belong to the Order won’t be the ones to find a cure for cancer, eradicate poverty, or create world peace, but every man can do something to help his fellow man and to attempt make things better for those around him. Masonry is deeply involved with helping people. There are currently more than $1.4 million Masonic dollars spent every day in the United States to assist our fellow man in our communities. The Shriner's Hospitals for Burned and Crippled Children, The Tall Cedars of Lebanon Foundation for the cure of muscular dystrophy, The Scottish Rite Centers for Childhood Language Disorders and the Knights Templar Eye Foundations are just some of the more recognizable outlets of Masonic Charity. In fact, many of the charitable works performed by Masons are quietly done in our neighborhoods, such as helping a widow to pay her electric bill or buying coats and shoes for disadvantaged children. Whether the project is large or small, the Masonic Brotherhood provides an outlet for like minded men to pool their resources and talents to help make life just a bit easier for our fellow man.
