Lane List: Masonic Records 1717-1894

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The statutes besides reinforcing the “Old Charges” of the trade and their traditional histories were designed to bring formal rules of the crown directing the industry in its performance. Schaw constantly refers to the “Ludge” or Lodge as being the place of meeting. The government of the craft was vested in the Warden, Deacons and Masters for whom the Fellow-crafts and apprentices took their instructions. These statutes ensured that the building trades via the masons was now regulated by government,

The Cooke Manuscript continues to strongly support the religious views of the period but unlike the Halliwell Manuscript which could be said to be a Roman Catholic inspired document, the Cook and indeed others that followed could be said to be Protestant. This document details the origins of the craft of masonry linking it to the seven liberal arts along with a number of biblical persons and events including Nimrod the architect of the Tower of Babel , and the construction of the Temple of Solomon.

A general assembly of masons at the City of York in 926 resulting in the adoption of a constitution. Much of this original constitution is believed to have been incorporated in the later Regius Poem. A rival Grand Lodge is formed principally by Irish Freemasons living in England. Dissatisfied with the actions of the 1717 Grand Lodge masons, whom they dubbed “The Moderns” because of what was perceived as a betrayal of the original rituals of Freemasonry. The Moderns were essentially well to do men of position and title. The Antients on the other hand were largely Irish freemasons, Shopkeepers and tradesmen who practised a more traditional form of masonry perhaps more aligned with those of the earlier trade based craft of masonry. For about 63 years the two Grand Lodges co-existed both in England and abroad.

in his capacity as the Kings Master of works, Schaw produced a number of statutes and whilst not the earliest Scottish record of the craft of masonry it is certainly recognised as the first state control and regulation of the masons trade.From these earliest times masonry combined the mysteries of mathematics, geometry, architecture, and all aspects of labour both physical and managerial, to create a professional building trade that those outside the industry would envy.