Timeline

1717

Alleged founding date of the Grand Lodge of London and Westminster, the ’Moderns’.

1723

Publication of The Constitutions.

1730

Publication of Masonry Dissected, the first exposure on masonic ritual.

1736

Ramsay’s ’Discours’ links freemasonry to Chivalric orders of the Crusades. Between 1740 and 1760, a number of Chivalric degree systems in freemasonry are developed, most prominent being the ’Strict Observance’ (1751—82).

1738

First papal condemnation, In Eminenti.

1745

Publication of L’Ordre des Franc-maçons trahi, first full-text (and visual) exposure, which also contains mention of the female quasi-masonic Order of Mopses.

1751

Foundation of the ’Antients’ grand lodge.

1772

Foundation of the Grand Orient de France (GODF).

1770s

First female lodges that are fully accepted.

1790s

Conspiracy literature targets freemasonry as precursor of revolutionary and violent political change, which leads to governmental prohibitions and regulations.

1813

Union of the two English grand lodges, ’Antients’ and ’Moderns’, to form the United Grand Lodge of England and Wales (UGLE).

1820s—80s

Intensified papal condemnation of and Catholic agitation against freemasonry.

1822

Prohibition of freemasonry in Russia.

1826

The so-called ’Morgan Affair’ unleashes two decades of anti-masonic sentiment in the USA (Anti-Masonic Party 1828—38).

1877

The GODF leaves it to its individual members’ consciences to decide whether or not to take an oath on the Great Architect of the Universe, which causes a schism in international freemasonry.

1893

’Le Droit Humain’, a mixed gender masonic order, is founded in Paris.

1903

Publication of the Protocols of the Elders of Zion, targeting freemasonry as a tool for alleged Jewish world dominance.

1929

Principles of grand lodge recognition agreed by UGLE cementing the schism in international freemasonry.

1920s—40s

Wave of anti-masonic feeling in European totalitarian states and intensified persecution during Nazi rule and occupation. Prohibition in place in Eastern Europe until 1989.

1990s

Political change in Europe leads to re-establishment of freemasonry in Eastern Europe and restitution of seized source material.

1997—9

Publication of two British Home Affairs Committee reports on freemasonry.

2010

The GODF accepts female members.

2000—16

Renewed scholarly interest in freemasonry.