Q
How and where did Freemasonry start?


A
It is not known. The earliest recorded 'making' of a
Freemason in England is that of Elias Ashmole in 1646.
Organised Freemasonry began with the founding of the
Grand Lodge of England on 24 June 1717, the first
Grand Lodge in the world. Ireland followed in 1725 and
Scotland in 1736. All the regular Grand Lodges in the
world trace themselves back to one or more of the
Grand Lodges in the British Isles.
There are two main theories of origin. According to
one, the operative stonemasons who built the great
cathedrals and castles had lodges in which they
discussed trade affairs. They had simple initiation
ceremonies and, as there were no City and Guilds
certificates, dues cards or trade union membership
cards, they adopted secret signs and words to
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