Lodges around the globe will be celebrating the 300th Anniversary of Freemasonry this year. Worshipful Brother Matthew Tripp, Worshipful Master of Mount Zion Lodge #9, Free & Accepted Masons of Ohio, puts the Anniversary into perspective. “On June 24th, 1717, in London, England, four Lodges decided to create the Grand Lodge of England,” WB Tripp explained. “And this structure of organization has continued for three centuries and spread around the world.”
“Masonic Lodges existed before that time,” WB Tripp said. “But, the 1717 date represents the basic, creative step in the overall continuity and agreement of principles that still govern the international fraternity we have today.” The United Grand Lodge of England’s celebration of 300 years will be held in the Royal Albert Hall, London, England on October 31, 2017. Invitations to the Grand Masters of all Grand Lodges recognized by the UGLE have been sent.
The first Lodge in South Carolina, Solomon’s Lodge #1, was chartered by the Grand Lodge of England in 1735. The Grand Lodge of Ancient Free Masons of South Carolina was granted a charter just one year later. The Grand Lodge of South Carolina, with its 288 Lodges, will be celebrating its 280th Grand Lodge Communication this April.
The Ancient Free Masons Club of Spartanburg County will be celebrating the 300th Anniversary by conferring a Master Mason’s Degree on Saturday, June 24th, at Saint John’s Masonic Lodge #333 AFM, 190 West Main Street in Spartanburg, at 7 PM. The degree will be conferred in “traditional observance” form, with candlelight and classical music. A meal will be served at 6 PM, and it is recommended, but not required, that all who attend wear a shirt and tie.