Solid facts supporting the history of Freemasonry prior to the 18th Century is hard to find and as such, it has no commonly accepted ancient history. Most historians though agree that Freemasonry in its current form probably evolved from the medieval stonemasons that eventually spawned the Operative Stone Masons Guilds. This transition from Operative Guild Free Stone Masonry to Speculative Intellectual Freemasonry probably took place between 1600 and 1700.
The following shows the probable timeline of the ancient history of Freemasonry as gleaned from various perspectives:
7100 BC-2500 BC. Probable beginnings from the Megalithic Tribes of what is now England who were knowledgeable in astronomy which is said to have been explained in the Book of Enoch from the Dead Sea Scrolls that were brought to the East before a great flood in 3150 BC.
945 BC. Masons from the Tyre in Phoenicia built King Solomon’s Temple, and Masonic words and meanings were said to have originated from the Egyptians of this period.
70 AD. The tradition as contained in the Book of Enoch was probably practiced by the Enochian-Zadokite priests who were expelled from Jerusalem by the Romans. It is said that they hid their scrolls and treasures under the ruins of King Solomon’s Temple.926 AD. Athelstan was said to have established York Rite Masonry when he granted them a Royal Charter.
1118. Hugues de Payens established a military order of fighting monks that became known as the Knights Templars who were said to be descended from the Enochian-Zadokite priests. These Knights were said to have returned to Jerusalem in 1140 AD and retrieved the hidden scrolls and treasures.
1057-1220. Operative Masonic Guilds were said to be in existence in Scotland and England during this period.1307. The Knight Templars were said to have settled in Scotland to escape their persecution in France.
1600s. Another theory claims that Masonic lodges evolved from the box clubs of this period who provide charitable services for their members.
1446. Sir William St. Clair, who was said to be a direct descendant of Hugue de Payens, started building Rosslyn Chapel which were adorned with Templar, Enochian, and Masonic imagery which include the Apprentice Pillar. St. Clair was said to have been granted by King James II a charter in 1441 recognizing the hereditary character of the position of Grand Master of Scotland to the St. Clairs.
1737. Ramsay in his Oration attributed the origins of Freemasonry to the Crusaders and the Knights of St. John.FOOTNOTE: Almost all information in this article is from the web site of the Old Epsomian Lodge. Any errors in the interpretation of their work are the Blog Administrator’s alone. The image of King Solomon’s Temple was downloaded from Pietre-Stones Review of Freemasonry, that of the Knights Templar from HubPages, and that of Rosslyn Chapel’s Apprentice Pillar from National Galleries of Scotland.
