NON-MASONIC ORGANIZATIONS
Even seasoned Freemasons can be confused by the various
degrees and Orders within the Family Tree of Masonry. Imagine how the general
public feels. This page was inspired by some auction listings trying to sell
various items claimed to be Masonic. The items were not Masonic at all. On this
page we explore some of the organizations in Australia that look like
Freemasonry, and sound like Freemasonry, but are not Freemasonry.
We should say from the outset that Freemasonry does see these
groups as "competitors", nor are we passing any judgment, either positive or
negative, on these fraternal groups. At the same time, we may not necessarily
agree with all their doctrines. Some are based on religious or political issues
- subjects which Freemasonry sees as the great dividers of humankind. Others are
based on the principles of goodwill, charity, and integrity - the grand
principles of Freemasonry, and may viewed as our cousins. There are many
Freemasons who are also members of these groups. Many of these groups arose
after the recognized establishment of Freemasonry in 1717 and merely copied
certain aspects and terminology of Freemasonry in order to gain acceptance and
recognition. In order to render as accurate account as possible, much of the
information on this page has been taken directly from web sites of the groups
themselves. No plagiarism intended, but as I am not a member of these groups it
seemed only fitting to let them describe themselves in their own words. Where
possible we have included pictures of the aprons, collars, sashes, and other
regalia of these orders. This may help you identify those old items that
grand-father left to you and your family.
If you have any information or
questions on fraternal orders that you would like to share, please send an
email from here.
The Grand United
Order of Free Gardeners & Other "Free"
Orders
It may surprise many Freemasons to know that they
are not the only "Free" Order based on old trades and guilds. Over the centuries
we have seen the Free Shepherds, Free Gardeners, Free Colliers, and Free
Carpenters among many others. Of these, the only one which seems to have
survived the ravages of time are the Free Gardeners. Among all the major
Orders on this page, this is the only one which seems to pre-date Freemasonry,
and one of the most difficult to gain information about. The earliest records of
the Free Gardeners go back to a "Fraternite of the Gairdener's of East
Lothian" in 1676. This original Fraternity was to be joined by another
"Fraternite" at Dunfermline in the early eighteenth century. Like Masonic
Lodges, the Free Gardeners lodges began as operative bodies but soon began to
accept nonoperatives. It was not until the late eighteenth century that the
Gardeners began to take off as independent lodges. In the mid-19th century there
were various attempts to form a national Grand Lodge, resulting in an Eastern
and a Western Grand Lodge being formed but with many lodges remaining without
the authority of either. The Free Gardeners spread into England and across the
sea to the United States and Australia. In the early 1980's the Curator of the
Museum & Library of the Grand Lodge of Scotland, Robert Cooper, noticed that
much of the regalia stored for the museum did not appear to be Masonic at all.
After much research into the matter he wrote a book entitled "A History of
the Ancient Order of Free Gardeners" which is taken as the authoritative
work on this Order. Today, the Free Gardeners operate in Australia as a Friendly
Society in Western Australia.
Royal Antediluvian
Order of Buffaloes
The first recorded meeting of this
Order was in 1822 at the Harp Tavern near the Drury Lane Theatre. It comprised a
group of stage hands and theatre technicians who had been denied a long held
privilege formerly extended to them. These privileges involved an Order called
"The City of Lushington" which was mostly for entertainment and social purposes.
While the stage hands and technicians were formerly allowed attendance at the
City's meetings, the privilege was later withdrawn and the City Order became a
closed shop to actors and artists only. The stage hands and theatre staff
therefore starting holding their own exclusive meetings that excluded the actors
and artists. As the theatre staff moved around the country in pursuance of their
profession, Lodges would have been founded in the various cities, towns and
villages. Over the years there have been a number of internal differences of
opinion leading to break away formations operating under the same principles and
still using the name of the Buffaloes. These groups or 'constitutions' are
generally referred to as Banners. As in Masonry the Seditious and
Riotous Assembly Acts of 1799 had a profound effect on Buffalo meetings, as it
will have done on many clubs, societies and other bodies of the day. In April
1866 the then known Lodges formulated a Grand Primo Lodge to control the
movement, to set laws, to establish procedures and administration. This body
later became known as the Grand Lodge of England. Why "Buffaloes"? One theory is
that an aim of the very early group was to an hitherto neglected ballad 'We'll
chase the Buffalo'. Apparently this ballad was sung by many members at meetings
right up until the 1950's. There are four degrees or rank of membership.
The first is called Brother, but usually known as the Kangaroo. The second is
Primo (or Certified Primo), the third is Knight of Merit, and the 4th the Roll
of Honour or Right Honourable. The Second Degree is awarded as result of a
mixture of time, attendance and an examination on the ability to take the chair
of a Lodge while third and fourth degrees are based on length of membership and
a proven attendance record. The purpose of the Order is often freely and aptly
described as "the pursuit of Brotherhood". The conception of Brotherhood is
firmly based on the family principle, that the total power and strength of the
family shall be available to the individual in accordance with his need. The
R.A.O.B. is a philanthropic and charitable body. Lodges and Provinces are at
liberty to undertake whatever activity they consider appropriate for the needs
of the community in which they work and live. Charitable funds exist at Lodge,
Province and Grand Lodge levels to assist members of the Order and/or their
dependants who are in necessitous circumstances.
The Independent
Order of Oddfellows & Manchester
Unity
The earliest printed record of an Odd Fellows Lodge
appears in a reference to a lodge meeting at a Globe Tavern in England, in 1748.
This lodge was numbered nine, so apparently there were at least nine associated
Odd Fellows lodges at that time. Other evidence suggests that our origins were
in an organization known as the Ancient Order of Bucks which thrived in England
in the 18th Century, and had as its emblem three bucks with their antlers
intertwined. These men had as their leader a "Most Noble Grand" and met in club
rooms and taverns. One of their principal emblems was "a bundle of sticks,"
familiar to modern Odd Fellows as signifying strength in union. They dropped
"Bucks" from the name in 1802. Whatever the origin, solid evidence begins to be
found in the late 18th Century. By 1796 Odd Fellow organizations were numerous
in England, and each was independent from the others. Fraternal groups such as
the Odd Fellows were suppressed in England for a time, but by 1803 the Odd
Fellows were revived by an organization called "London Union Odd Fellows," which
later became known as the "Grand Lodge of England" and assumed authority over
all Odd Fellow lodges in that country. Victory Lodge in Manchester declared
itself independent of the Grand Lodge of England in 1809. In 1814, the six Odd
Fellows lodges in the Manchester area met and formed The Manchester Unity of the
Independent Order of Odd Fellows, which elected officers and proceeded to
standardize degree work of the lodges. Odd Fellows are also known as the Three
Link Fraternity which stands for Friendship, Love and Truth. Today in Australia,
IOOF and MU are better known for their role as Friendly Societies offering
financial solutions and health care benefits, respectively, to the public. These
roles are in reality not too far distant to those envisaged by the original
founders.
The United Ancient
Order of Druids
The original Druids existed in remote
ages in Britain and Europe as a ruling order of priests, who not only presided
over the religious celebrations of the people, but were also the judges,
legislators, lawyers, philosophers, physicians and instructors of youth. They
rendered themselves beloved by their countrymen due to their justice and
benevolence, and it is these grounds that the modern Druids model themselves
upon the Druids of long ago. The Ancient Order of Druids was founded on 29th
November 1781 in England. The first Druids' Lodge was set up in Australia in
Melbourne in 1851. The UAOD Lodges operate under the Australian Druidic Ritual,
with a European-derived Seven Degree Ritual also in use. The Order was created
for the purposes of fostering social and intellectual communication amongst its
members, as well as to promote general benevolence. The
motto of the Druids the world over is "United To Assist", while their aim is
stated as Unity, Peace and Concord. Today in Australia, the Druids are
better known for their role as a Friendly Society offering health care benefits
and retirement village living to the public.
The Independent
Order Of Rechabites
The Order began in Salford, England
in 1835. These original Rechabites took their name from the Old Testament
leader, Rechab, who instructed his tribe to refrain from drinking alcohol. It is
recorded that the tribe was tested and remained loyal to its principals. During
the Industrial Revolution these ideals came to the fore once again and people
joined together to help each other prevent the damage to families caused through
the abuse of alcohol. Eventually, with migration, the order came to Australia in
the mid 1800's and became established first in Tasmania, next in Victoria in
1847 and then across the other States. Applicants for membership to the Order
were required to sign a pledge of Total Abstinence in order to gain
admission. Throughout the years, members of the Society relied upon the
Order for assistance during times of sickness and death and enjoyed the feeling
of security knowing that in the face of misfortune, help would be extended. IOR
today operates in a very different environment to that of the previous century.
Whilst its services have been greatly extended, the basic principles of
mutuality and self help, on which IOR was founded, are just as evident. Today
the Order operates as a Friendly Society offering services in the areas of
retirement villages, holiday units, nursing homes, investments, funeral
benefits, social activities through the fraternal membership, temperance
education and scholarships, and a health benefits funds.
The Ancient Order Of
Foresters
The Ancient Order of Foresters or as it is
known today, Foresters, originated in England, the first recorded Foresters
meeting being held in Leeds in 1834. The Order established its first branch
(court) in Australia in Victoria in 1849. Foresters was set up as a non-profit
organisation. The founding principles of the society being to provide financial
and social benefits as well as support to members and their families in times of
unemployment, sickness, death, disability and old age. Foresters played a
particularly active role in the lives of members and their families during times
of crisis in the Depression and both World Wars. Foresters membership growth was
significant during and up to the mid 1940's. At this stage the society had
nearly one hundred branches (courts) spread throughout Victoria, with
representation in all states of Australia. During this period funds raised by
Foresters contributed to the construction of approximately twenty Foresters
halls throughout the state. These facilities were utilised for meetings and
community purposes and halls were used as refuges in times of trauma such as
bushfires and floods. In the post Second World War period membership began to
decline as the social circumstances improved due to the growth of the economy
and an abundance of work and improvement in the provision of government
benefits. Although the importance of such groups as the Ancient Order of
Foresters has declined in recent years, the society through a core of loyal and
dedicated members, has never wavered from its original objectives and mission to
"serve the community and deserving groups by involvement in social activities
and fund raising for charities."
The Grand Orange
Lodge
Essentially, this is a pro-British and
Protestant group. The Orange Order was formed in County Armagh, Ireland in 1795
and was named after the protestant King William III of England (William of
Orange) who, on 12th July 1690 at the Battle of Boyne, defeated James III, the
deposed catholic monarch of England, Scotland, and Wales. In 1836 the Order's
activities were severely curtailed by the British government, but when the
English parliament in 1885 ruled in favour of Irish home rule, the Order was
revived and drastically increased in membership. The Order is today most well
known for its members' annual march through the streets dressed in their orange
sashes, bowler hats, white gloves, and canes. These marches are the cause of
much friction between the Order and both the IRA and Sinn Fein, and draw much
media attention. A great deal has been written about a supposed relationship
between this order and Freemasonry. No doubt much of this supposed link derives
from the strong protestant stance of the Order and the (supposed, but totally
untrue) anti-catholic stance of Freemasonry. It is not hard to imagine that
there were Freemasons involved in the Order, however, to say that it is a
Masonic creation is totally wrong and is based on one of the biggest fallacies
regarding Freemasonry. The Order today operates worldwide in places far removed
from the initial England-Ireland conflict.
Ancient Mystical Order Rosaecrucis (AMORC)
Of all
the groups on this page, this one appears the most often linked with
Freemasonry. In fact, the UGL of NSW & ACT book Freemasonry's Family
Circle (1993) mentions two groups under the name of Societas Rosicruciana
that are related to Freemasonry. As regards its history, the Order says:
The lineage of the Rosicrucian movement can be traced from
its beginnings in the mystery schools of ancient Egypt founded by Pharaoh
Thutmose III (1500 to 1477 B.C.), and more particularly from his grandson
Pharaoh Amenhotep IV (also known as Akhnaton) - through to the Greek
philosophers such as Thales and Pythagoras, the Roman philosopher Plotinus,
and others, who journeyed to Egypt and were initiated into the mystery schools
- through to the symbolism hidden in the love songs of Troubadours, the
formularies of Alchemists, the symbolical system known as the Qabala, and the
rituals of Orders of Knighthood during the dark and dangerous times of
medieval Europe. In 17th century Germany, two publications called 'Fama
Fraternitatis' and 'Confessio Rosae Crucis' written by Christian
Rosenkreuz were printed. This heralded a renewed interest in Rosicrucianism
throughout Europe.
Advancement in membership is through a progessive system of
lessons divided into two sections. The Neophyte section comprises an
Introductory lesson and three Atriums of either 3 or 4 months in duration, while
the Temple section comprises 9 degrees of between 3 and 9 months to complete. If
completed in the required timeframe, the entire sequence takes over 5 years.
What is the Order all about? Their own words are this ....
Our goal is to enable everyone to live in harmony with
creative, cosmic forces for the attainment of health, happiness, and peace. To
assist in this attainment, the Rosicrucian Order offers the world's foremost
system of instruction and guidance for exploring the inner self and
discovering the universal laws that govern all human endeavor. It is based on
the collective ancient wisdom and current knowledge of many of the world's
most respected philosophers, artists and scientists. Our teachings include
specific knowledge of metaphysics, mysticism, psychology, parapsychology and
science not taught by conventional educational systems or traditional
religions. This profound wisdom, carefully preserved by mystery schools for
centuries, is transmitted today through the Rosicrucian Order to every sincere
person with an open mind and a positive motive. We do not propose a belief
system, nor a dogmatic decree, but a personal, practical approach to living
that each student must learn and master through their own experiences. Our
teachings do not attempt to dictate what you should think -- we want you to
think for yourself. What we provide are simply the tools to enable you to
accomplish this.
Waite's Other Rites
In his
"Encyclopedia of Freemasonry", A.E.Waite includes a lengthy discussion
on Non-Masonic Rites. Many of these groups have now vanished into obscurity -
for example, the four degree Tobaccological Society which somehow derived "moral
instruction" from the art of smoking would hardly have a place in today's
society. Most were limited in their existence to the European continent and a
few in America. Some of these groups were founded by Freemasons, but their
rituals and purposes cannot always be seen as compliant with the ideals of
Freemasonry. The common thread that they have with Freemasonry is that most were
established to encourage fellowship among their members. Others, however, used
the veil of a fraternal organization for purely political motives, such as the
Order of the Sleeping Lion which intended to restore Napoleon. Many also used an
initiation and degree-based system of membership, such as the 36 degree system
of the Order of Ishmael. Some of the Orders are very old and their existence has
been inferred from historical texts, such as the Brethren of the Bridge which
was confirmed by Pope Lucius III in 1182 and existed until the end of the 16th
century (it's possessions were claimed to have been transferred to the Knights
of St John of Jerusalem - the Hospitaliers). Maybe some of these Orders still
exist in isolated pockets today. Below is a list of those Rites and Orders that
Waite describes in his Encyclopedia:
| The Academy of Ancients |
The Platonic Academy |
| The Order of Agathopaedes |
Alli Allahis |
| Almousseri |
The Order of Amicists |
| The Secret Order of Angelic Brethren |
The Confraternity of the Sacred Arch |
| The Society of Black Friars |
The Brethren of the Bridge |
| The Order of Carpenters |
The Constantinists |
| The Order of the Enlightened |
The Rite of Eons |
| The Exergetical & Philanthropical Society |
The Order of Harmony |
| The Order of Perfect Friends |
The Order of Harugari |
| La Santa Hermandad |
:L'Ordre Iatrique |
| The Invisibles |
The Order of Ishmael / The Order of Esau |
| The Order of Ishmaelites |
The Order of Jerusalem |
| The Order of Kadiri |
The Brothers of Kalends |
| The Knights of Liberty |
The Knights of the Redemption |
| Ordre des Lanturelus |
The Lay Brothers |
| The Seers of Light |
The Order of the Sleeping Lion |
| The Order of Magicians |
The Brotherhood of Manichaeans |
| The Modern Order of Illuminati |
The Order of Noachites |
| The Society of the Oak Apple |
The Society of True Patriots |
| The Confraternity of St Paul |
The Brothers of Purity |
| The Order of Regenerated Freemasons |
The Order of Universal Regeneration |
| The Society of Rodents |
The Sacred Order of Sophisians |
| The Society of Sun and Mercy |
The Tobaccological Society |
| The Fraternity of United Friars |
|
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