Both masonic and non-masonic historians and scholars alike have been unable to trace the exact origins of freemasonry and have since concluded that our order has existed from time immemorial, dating back thousands of years to the ancient days of antiquity. The earliest historical record of freemasonry trace our origins to the medieval stonemasons of the 12th century, who built the beautifully desi
gned cathedrals across Europe. These Stonemasons initially formed Lodges at or close to their respective building sites, for which the main objectives were to safeguard their design and construction secrets of sacred geometry, to train apprentices in the secrets of their craft, to prevent the infiltration of imposters, to support widows, their children and each other, and to hold themselves true to a moral and ethical code of behaviour. In Scotland, the introduction of non-Stonemasons into these Stonemason Lodges started sometime between the 16th and 17th centuries, and was to forever change the face of Masonry as it was then known. This gradual change in the composition of the Lodges from Stonemasons to non-Stonemasons, gave birth to the term Speculative Freemasons, which resulted in the evolution of the craft over the next 300 years from the operative Stonemason rites to the rites of Speculative Freemasonry, and the eventual formation of the Grand Lodge of Scotland. The Grand Lodge of Antient Free and Accepted Masons of Scotland is the governing body of Scottish Freemasonry, founded in 1736, and headquartered in Edinburgh. It is led by a Grand Master Mason. The structure of the Grand Lodge of Scotland includes 32 Provincial Grand Lodges in Scotland, 26 District Grand Lodges overseas, two Superintendents overseeing Lodges in smaller territories and individual Lodges that are under the direct supervision of the Grand Lodge of Scotland. The Grand Master Mason commissions Provincial and District Grand Masters who assist him in the overseeing of the Lodges in their provinces and districts worldwide. The District Grand Lodge of Trinidad and Tobago, was erected and consecrated on Wednesday 19th March 1958 and included Grenada in 1992. In 2008 it's name was changed to the District Grand Lodge of Trinidad & Tobago and Grenada, which was more inclusive of all the Lodges under it’s jurisdiction. At present the District is comprised of; Lodge United Brothers 251, Lodge Eastern Star 368, Lodge Rosslyn 596, Lodge Arima 899, Lodge Alexandra 1044, Lodge Caribbean Light 1391, Lodge Royalian 1605, Lodge Tobago Kilwinning 1643, Lodge Felicity 1681, Lodge Trinity 1733, Lodge Hesperus 1738, Lodge Saint Andrew 1794 and Lodge Bi-Centennial 1812. The Principle Tenets of Freemasonry; Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth has resulted in the formation of a number of charitable organisations dating back to 1897, with the formation of the Trinidad Masonic Provident Society, and continuing with many others including a Memorial Scholarship Board, a Hospital Aid Fund, a Friendship Fund etc. Currently, our two main Charitable arms are the Trinidad & Tobago Masonic Provident Society and The Trinidad & Tobago Masonic Charitable Organisation, through which Charity is dispensed to needy individuals and organisations. For Freemasons, the incorporation of one’s family (i.e.. wife or girlfriend, kids, etc.) is very important, and as such we have several activities which support this integration including a Family Fun Day, the October Fair, the Chefs Delight and our marquee event for the year the Masonic Ball. Each of our 13 Lodges, their members and families, actively support promote the tenets of Freemasonry in all their activities and their daily lives. As the District Grand Lodge of Trinidad & Tobago and Grenada under the superintendence of the Grand Lodge of Scotland, our fraternal bonds of Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth are extended to the two other Masonic constitutions that operate within Trinidad and Tobago, namely the District Grand Lodge of Trinidad and Tobago English Constitution, and the 8th Masonic District of the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, as well as to our sister Districts throughout the Caribbean based in Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica and Bahamas, and indeed to all other Districts and Provinces under the Grand Lodge of Scotland and also to all other Grand Lodges in amity with the Grand Lodge of Scotland, that are located throughout the world. With over six million members worldwide of all different ethnicities, religions, nationalities and educational and professional backgrounds, Freemasonry is the world’s oldest existing fraternal organisation and there is no other that comes close to our ancient and honourable heritage. Freemasonry however has long been shrouded in mystery and has faced several challenges over its many centuries of existence mainly due to a lack of understanding of who we are and what we do. However despite these challenges, Freemasons have continuously made outstanding contributions across a broad spectrum of areas to the world at large. A brief list of some of our more well known members include fourteen Presidents of the United States, such as the 1st President George Washington, the 26th President Theodore Roosevelt, the 32nd President Franklin D Roosevelt, and the 33rd President Harry S Truman, as well as one of the founding fathers of the United States Benjamin Franklin, British Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill, South American liberator Simon Bolivar, music composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, writers Rudyard Kipling and Mark Twain, inventor and automobile magnate Henry Ford, basketball legend Shaquille O’Neal, singer Nat King Cole and the Reverend Jesse Jackson, just to name a few. It is often said that we are a secret society, but to phrase it more accurately, we are a society with secrets! Our secrets make us who we are. Freemasonry is here to stay and though the journey for each individual member may be different, the destination is the same for all. We enjoin you to be part of something special, to experience the learning, growth and development that only Freemasonry can offer you!
