what is

Freemasonry

Freemasonry is one of the world’s oldest and largest non-religious, non-political, fraternal and charitable organisations. For many, its biggest draw is the fact that members come from all walks of life and meet as equals whatever their race, religion or socio-economic position in society.

Through the Ages

Famous Freemasons

Through history, there have been many famous Freemasons, from Kings, heads of state and actors, here is a list that is by far from complete of some of those famous Freemasons.

List from the United Grand Lodge of England

Kings

  • HM King George IV
  • HM King George VI
  • HM King Edward VII
  • HM King Edward VIII
  • HM King William IV

Presidents & Prime Ministers

  • Sir Winston Churchill
  • George Washington
  • Cecil John Rhodes
  • George Canning

Artists

  • Sir James Thornhill
  • Sir John Soane
  • William Hogarth
  • ​John Zoffany

Army

  • Field Marshal Lord Methuen
  • Field Marshal Sir Claude Auchinleck
  • ​General Sir John Moore

Philanthropists

  • Dr. T. J. Barnardo
  • Lord Leverhulme
  • Sir William Bultin

Musicians

  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
  • Sir William S. Gilbert
  • Sir Arthur Sullivan
  • Nat ‘King’ Cole
  • Edward ‘Duke’ Ellington

Sportsmen

  • Clive Lloyd
  • Arnold Palmer
  • Jack Dempsey
  • ‘Sugar Ray’ Robinson

Scientists

  • Sir Alexander Fleming
  • Sir Joseph Banks
  • Sir Bernard Spilsbury
  • Joseph Lister
  • Dr. Edward Jenner (smallpox vaccination)

Royal Navy

  • Admiral Sir Sidney Smith
  • Admiral The Lord Beresford
  • Admiral of the Fleet The Earl Jellicoe

Key Historic Figures

  • Sir Arthur Wellesley – 1st Duke of Wellington
  • Henri Dunant (founder of the Red Cross)
  • Dr. Barnardo

Writers

  • Rudyard Kipling
  • Robert Burns
  • Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
  • Sir William S. Gilbert
  • Alexander Pope

Explorers

  • Sir Ernest Shackleton
  • Sir Richard Burton
  • Captain Robert Falcon Scott
  • Edwin ‘Buzz’ Aldrin (Astronaut)

Actors and Entertainers

  • John Wayne
  • William Cody (‘Buffalo Bill’)
  • Harry Houdini
  • Peter Sellers
  • Clark Gable

Royal Air Force

  • Marshal of the Royal Air Force Lord Newall
  • Squadron Leader Henry “Dinghy” Young 

Businessmen

  • Andre Citroen
  • Henry Ford 

about

Royal Arch Masonry

The Royal Arch is the continuation of Craft Freemasonry. Its members, called Companions, meet in Chapters under a Grand Chapter. Chapters are ruled over by three Principals, who rule conjointly, and the Grand Chapter is ruled over by three Grand Principals, with a Pro First Grand Principal when the First Grand Principal is a Royal Prince.

In England, the Royal Arch is considered to be the completion of “pure ancient Masonry”. In the Craft the candidate is presented with a series of eminently practical principles and tenets which if he practises them he may hope to live a life pleasing to his God, however he worships him, and of service to his fellow man. But man is not simply a practical being, he has an essential spiritual aspect to his nature. That spiritual aspect is introduced in the Third Degree, in which the candidate is led to a contemplation of man’s inevitable destiny, and becomes the central message of the Royal Arch. In that sense, “pure ancient Masonry” can be seen as a journey of self – knowledge and discovery with the Royal Arch completing the practical lessons of the Craft by a contemplation of man’s spiritual nature, not replacing but reinforcing and supporting what he has learned from his religion.