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Freemasonry Explained
The History of Freemasonry
18th Century
| 1717 | Grand Lodge convened. Anthony Sayer becomes Grand Master. 'First Assembly' of the Grand Lodge, 24 June. | |
| 1723 | Book of Constitutions published. Secretary to Grand Lodge first appointed. | |
| 1729 | Grand Stewards first appointed. | |
| 1730 | Duke of Norfolk, Grand Master, presented sword of Gustavus Adolphus to Grand Lodge. | |
| 1751 | Atholl or Ancient Grand Lodge formed. | |
| 1765 | HRH Prince Edward Augustus, Duke of York and Albany, initiated, 27 July. | |
| 1766 | HRH Prince William Henry, 1st Duke of Gloucester and Edinburgh, initiated, passed and raised, 16 February. | |
| 1767 | HRH Prince Henry Frederick, Duke of Cumberland and Strathearn, initiated, passed and raised, 16 February. Charter of Compact under which the Grand Chapter was constituted, signed 22 July. | |
| 1771 | 3rd Duke of Atholl installed Grand Master, Antient Grand Lodge. | |
| 1773 | Freemasons' Hall, Great Queen Street, London committee appointed. | |
| 1775 | Freemasons' Hall foundation stone laid. | |
| 1776 | Freemasons' Hall dedicated. | |
| 1782 | HRH Duke of Cumberland and Strathearn elected Grand Master. | |
| 1786 | HRH Prince William Henry (later King William IV) initiated 9 March. | |
| 1787 | HRH George, Prince of Wales (afterwards Prince Regent and George IV) initiated, 6 February. | |
| 1788 | Royal Masonic Institution for Girls founded. | |
| 1789 | HRH Prince Edward Augustus (later Duke of Kent and Strathearn), initiated 5 August | |
| 1791 | HRH Prince George, Prince of Wales (later Prince Regent and George IV), installed as Grand Master, May. | |
| 1793 | HRH Prince William Frederick (later 2nd Duke of Gloucester and Edinburgh), initiated 12 May | |
| 1796 | HRH Prince Ernest Augustus (later Duke of Cumberland and Teviotdale and King Ernest I of Hanover), initiated 11 May. | |
| 1798 | HRH Prince Augustus Frederick (afterwards Duke of Sussex), initiated 20 December. Royal Masonic Institution for Boys founded. | |
19th Century | ||
| 1813 | HRH Duke of Kent elected Grand Master. HRH Prince Edward, Duke of Kent and Strathearn, elected Grand Master of the Atholl or Antients Grand Lodge. Both Grand Masters signed the Articles of Union on 25 November, subsequently ratified by each constitution on 1 December. Both signed the Warrant of the Lodge of Reconciliation on 7 December. HRH Duke of Sussex elected Grand Master of the United Grand Lodge of England, 27 December. | |
| 1814 | HRH Duke of Sussex installed as Grand Master of the United Grand Lodge of England, 2 May. | |
| 1815 | Constitutions of the United Grand Lodge published. | |
| 1817 | Union of the Grand Chapter with Antient Royal Arch Masons, 18 March. | |
| 1830 | Charity Jewel instituted. William IV became Grand Patron. | |
| 1842 | Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution founded. | |
| 1843 | Duke of Sussex died. Fund in his memory started in his memory and devoted to the Royal Free Hospital, Gray's Inn Road, London. | |
| 1852 | Queen Victoria became patroness of the Masonic Boys' School. | |
| 1868 | HRH Albert Edward, Prince of Wales (later Edward VII), initiated in Sweden, 21 December. | |
| 1874 | HRH Albert Edward, Prince of Wales (later Edward VII), elected Grand Master. | |
| 1875 | HRH the Prince of Wales installed at the Royal Albert Hall as Grand Master, 28 April. | |
| 1880 | Foundation stone of Truro Cathedral laid by the Prince of Wales, Grand Master. | |
| 1882 | Queen Victoria became Chief Patroness of the Masonic Girls' School. | |
| 1885 | HRH Prince Albert Victor (later Duke of Clarence and Avondale), initiated 21 March. | |
20th Century | ||
| 1910 | George V became Grand Patron of the three Masonic institutions. Queen Mary became Grand Patroness and Queen Alexandra Chief Patroness of the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls. | |
| 1917 | Bi-centenary of the United Grand Lodge of England. | |
| 1919 | HRH Edward, Prince of Wales (later Edward VIII and then Duke of Windsor), initiated 2 May. HRH Prince Albert, (later Duke of York and George VI), Initiated, 21 December. Appeal for a Masonic Peace Memorial and subsequent Establishment of the Masonic Million Memorial Fund. | |
| 1921 | Hall Stone Lodge Medals first conferred, 7 December. | |
| 1927 | Foundation stone of Peace Memorial Building at Great Queen Street laid (by electrical connection) in the Royal Albert Hall. | |
| 1928 | HRH Prince George (later Duke of Kent), initiated 12 April. 1933 George V, accompanied by Queen Mary, opened the new Freemasons' Hospital and Nursing Home, later named, by Royal authority, the Royal Masonic Hospital. | |
| 1934 | Visit to the Masonic Peace Memorial by George V and Queen Mary. | |
| 1937 | George VI invested as Past Grand Master at the Royal Albert Hall. | |
| 1939 | HRH Duke of Kent installed as Grand Master by George VI, at Olympia, 19 July. | |
| 1942 | HRH Duke of Kent killed on active service, 25 August. | |
| 1943 | Earl of Harewood installed as Grand Master by George VI, at Freemasons' Hall, London. | |
| 1953 | HRH Duke of Edinburgh initiated, 5 December. | |
| 1963 | HRH Duke of Kent initiated, 16 December. | |
| 1966 | Bi-Centenary of Supreme Grand Chapter. | |
| 1967 | HRH Duke of Kent elected Grand Master. 250th anniversary of United Grand Lodge of England. Trust fund set up for surgical research under the direction of the Royal College of Surgeons. | |
| 1974 | HRH Prince Michael of Kent initiated, 13 March. | |
| 1975 | Masonic Housing Association registered as an exempt charity. | |
| 1980 | Grand Charity established. | |
| 1986 | Physical penalties removed from Obligations, 11 June. | |
| 1990 | New Masonic Samaritan Fund established. | |
| 1992 | 275th anniversary of Grand Lodge held at Earls Court. | |