Ritual , Secrecy , and Civil Society
London , such as Robert Freke Gould , pioneered work on the history of freemasonry using the latest antiquarian techniques of documentary criticism .
In clearing away such historical detritus as Oliver ’ s Revelations of a Square , Gould was confronted by many problems . If later works by people like Oliver and Preston were put to one side , the only narrative of 1717 was in Anderson ’ s 1738 Constitutions , compiled twenty years after the event by a man who wasn ’ t involved in any of the events described . While some bits of Anderson are contemporary , and may be regarded as a primary source , others are fanciful . Where do we draw the dividing line which marks the division between Anderson the unreliable secondary source and Anderson the primary source ? The best answer is probably the point at which Anderson was an eye witness for the events described , which would be free about 1722 onwards . However , Gould decided to draw the line earlier , at 1717 , with fateful consequences . In his key discussion of the Four Old Lodges , published in 1879 , Gould argues that Anderson is reliable as a source from about 1715 but completely discounts all the earlier sections of Anderson ’ s work . 67 The result is that 1717 emerges as the fundamental moment of masonic history and the creation of Grand Lodge the decisive act in the creation of modern freemasonry . Gould describes the London Grand Lodge as the ‘ premier grand lodge of the world ’ which has become a wonder and pattern to the craft . 68 Gould leaves his readers in no doubt of the primacy of the English Grand Lodge and its central role in the creation of modern freemasonry .
Gould was writing shortly after the French Grand Orient had revised the first article of its constitution to remove references to the Great Architect of the Universe . The Irish and Scottish Grand Lodges ( and even Mother Kilwinning ) quickly protested against this move , but the United Grand Lodge of England was anxious to demonstrate its claim to be the arbiter of regularity . It duly barred visitors from constitutions which did not require a belief in the Great Architect of the Universe . This bought accusations that the English Grand Lodge was excommunicating other freemasons .
Gould himself had been involved in the dispute which led to the English Grand Lodge withdrawing recognition from the Grand Orient of France . He had served on the committee of the English Grand Lodge which examined the actions of the Grand Orient of France and recommended that relations between the two Grand Lodges cease . 69 Gould ’ s study of the events of 1717 was clearly designed to provide an exhaustive analysis of the available evidence supporting the claims of the English Grand Lodge to be the Premier Grand Lodge of the world . Gould ’ s portrayal of 1717 as a pivotal moment in the history
67 R . F . Gould , The Four Old Lodges , Founders of Modern Freemasonry , and their Descendants ( London : Spencer , 1879 )
68 Gould , Four Old Lodges , p . 47 . 69 Freemasons ' Chronicle , 8 December 1877 .
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