Consolidation and growth 1723-1730

The years 1721-1723 mark a dramatic change in both the public perception and indeed, the history of freemasonry, in just about every possible way.

By 1724 a number of publications had mentioned FreeMasonry; some constructive, some satirical and some damning. Our meetings were publicised and our rituals were exposed.

Alongside the new public awareness of freemasonry, 1723 seems to have seen a marked change in the attitude and activity of the London Grand Lodge. Prior to 1723, only three lodges had received a warrant from the Grand Lodge: by the end of the year, a further fifteen lodges had received warrants, with a further thirty one lodges appearing in the first official list produced by the Grand Lodge. In 1724 a further twelve lodges were constituted, including the first lodge not within a few miles of the centre of London, in Richmond, Surrey; and by 1730, over seventy lodges had been constituted and Grand Lodge feasts began to be preceded by a Grand Procession of freemasons through
London, in full masonic regalia.

Clearly the spread of London Masonry had reached York as although their records predate London by a dozen years, in 1725 they changed their Constitutional title to “The Old Grand Lodge of York Grand Lodge of All England”. York was enjoying solid membership and had an established constitution so this can only be because they perceived the London Grand Lodge (now renamed “Grand Lodge of England”) as attempting to become the Premier Lodge under the noble leadership of three successive Dukes.

In 1730, The Grand Lodge of Ireland published, via Bro. Spratt, their own constitutions.

Records are unavailable for the York Grand Lodge between 1735 and 1740 and it appears to have lain dormant until resurrected by Bro. Francis Drake under the guise of “Grand Lodge of All England” .

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