Old Olavians' Lodge No. 5758 - Information about Freemasonry

Old Olavians Lodge No. 5758

Information about Freemasonry

The Grand Lodge System

Freemasonry is governed by a series of totally separate and independent Grand Lodges around the world. There are over 150 Grand Lodges which the United Grand Lodge of England recognizes as "regular" Freemasonry.

Note: There are probably several hundred societies around the world entitling themselves as a "Grand Lodge" (or sometimes "Grand East" or "Grand Orient"). Not all of these bodies adhere to the basic principles for Grand Lodge recognition, for example some engage in political or religious activities (which is not acceptable in true Freemasonry). For this reason, only those Grand Lodges which adhere strictly to these basic principles are considered "regular" Grand Lodges and accepted (or "recognized") as such by the United Grand Lodge of England. This issue of regularity and recognition is explained more fully in the document An Introduction to Freemasonry.

A Grand Lodge is responsible for administering the affairs of Freemasonry within its territory, for warranting new lodges, for erasing defunct lodges, for regulating the activities of Lodges and their members, and for determining which other Grand Lodges are to be recognized (see note above).

Each Grand Lodge has a publicly available Constitution, providing rules and regulations governing its administration, the election and appointment of Grand Lodge officers, the management of Lodges and conduct of members. Both whole Lodges and individual Freemasons who act in breach of the rules of the Grand Lodge can be admonished, suspended or expelled.

In addition to the United Grand Lodge of England, which covers Freemasonry in England and Wales, there are two other Grand Lodges operating in the United Kingdom:

The Grand Lodge of Ireland (covers both Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic)
The Grand Lodge of Scotland

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