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N A L G R
I O
G E AND LODGE
The Ashlar R Vol. XV Issue IV
regulation of the mason craft in Scotland.
Another set ordinances, issued by Schaw in In the year 1534 AD King Henry VIII declared
1599 appears to lay down the precedency of himself the head of the Church of England.
the Scottish Lodges, with Edinburgh being This was the beginning of the English
named to the 'first and principal' place, Reformation; and the King struck against the
Kilwinning to the second and Stirling to the established church by sacking monasteries
third. and confiscating the properties of the
religious fraternities (Many of these
Admission of gentlemen into Scottish fraternities were built upon ancient esoteric
masons' lodges: Very early in Scottish practices or the so-called mysteries:
Masonic history, the non-operative mason Perhaps King Henry feared opposition from
makes his appearance. For example, John these fraternities; or perhaps he coveted
Boswell, Laird of Auchinleck, a prominent their large funds derived from gifts and
landowner, was present at the meeting of the endowments). Thus suppressed and
operative Lodge of Edinburgh in June 1600; disendowed, the religious guilds and
and had attested the minutes of the meeting fraternities having an independent existence
along with all others present on that day! The of their own simply disappeared. However,
same lodge records the admission of three this was not to be the end of the craft
gentlemen as Fellows of the Craft in 1634. organization. The purely craft gilds
There are many other such instances. It is continued to function, at least in the matter of
possible that these locally prominent and regulating their own profession of trade, but
powerful gentlemen were looked upon for became weaker; and much less active in
patronage and support. politics and religion.

The English Reformation and the decline of The London livery companies: In London,
the guilds: Even as operative masonry the gilds slowly evolved into another
evolved as an organized institution within institution called the Livery company. The
Scotland, England was passing through the institution of the London Livery companies
throes of the Reformation. Based on Tudor continues to exist even today; with over 80
King Henry VIII's confrontation with the such companies having a total membership
Pope, in his desire for an annulment of his of about 15000 being recorded in the mid
childless marriage with Catherine of Aragon 1960s. Their power and influence is so
(so that he could marry Anne Boleyn and great, that they have the unique privilege of
beget a heir to the English throne) the nominating the only two candidates for
English Reformation was, at the outset, election as the Mayor of London.
more of a personal than a theological
dispute. The real political differences Initially, the Livery companies were very
between the Pope in Rome and England at similar to the Craft Gilds. However, they had
that time nonetheless allowed growing all obtained Royal sanction by what was
theological disputes to come to the fore.ç called their Charter of Incorporation. They
These events were, in part, associated with had also obtained another Royal sanction,
the wider process of the European viz; each company to wear a distinctive
Protestant Reformation, a religious and dress of peculiar cut and colour called the
political movement which affected the Livery. The powers of these Livery
practice of Christianity across the whole of companies were considerable. Each
Europe during this period. company had complete jurisdiction on its

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