Freemason
Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)
a member of an ancient secret order or fraternity now designated as "Free and Accepted Masons." order is of such ancient origin that even the derivation of its name is in doubt. The most reasonable theory is that the name owes its origin to the practice of the ancient masons of giving the passed apprentice his freedom as he was sent forth to seek employment on some great and worthy structure in process of erection to complete his mechanical education. It was early in the 17th century that the word was first used in the sense in which it is now universally understood. At that time the ancient guilds of practical masons began to admit as a mark of especial esteem certain worthy persons whom it was intended to honor, not regular members of the guild through apprenticeship and occupation. To these was given the appellation "accepted." They were afterward given the title of "freemasons." In the year 1717 J. T. Desaguliers, a man of scientific knowledge and attainments, brought a number of scattered "lodges " or guilds of London "Grand Lodge," and it is to this ancient under a single jurisdiction called the and august body that all the regular lodges of the ancient craft to-day trace th Lodge in America was established at their origin. The first Provincial Grand 1734, was made Grand Master over all Boston in 1733 by Henry Price, who, in North America. The order has atthe world, and especially in the United tained a remarkable growth throughout grand lodges of these two countries for States and Canada, the returns of the 1919 showing 2,056,596 members. of Stephenson co., Ill.; on the Pecatonica
What Has Changed in the Last Century
Collier's counted 2,056,596 members in the United States and Canada in 1919 and called the order's growth "remarkable"; American membership went on to peak at around four million in the late 1950s and has since fallen to roughly one million, with lodges consolidating or closing across the country. The 1717 founding of the London Grand Lodge is still the conventional starting date, though modern historians credit its organisation to the four lodges that met at the Goose and Gridiron rather than to Desaguliers alone, who became Grand Master only in 1719. The "secret order" is far less secret: rituals and signs have been printed and are freely available online, and most grand lodges now advertise for members. The colour bar that Collier's passed over in silence also broke down late — mainstream American grand lodges began formally recognising the historically Black Prince Hall lodges only from 1989.
Written for this edition, 2026.