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The United Grand Lodge of England (UGLE) is the main governing body of Freemasonry within England, and certain jurisdictions overseas (normally ex-British Empire and Commonwealth countries). It is the oldest Grand Lodge in the world. Together with the Grand Lodge of Ireland and the Grand Lodge of Scotland they are often referred to as “the home Grand Lodges”. Unlike in many other jurisdictions around the world, the governing body of the Royal Arch is also The UGLE although the other appendant degrees in Freemasonry are controlled separately.
Organized Freemasonry in London became established on 24 June 1717 when four London lodges came together at the Goose and Gridiron Ale House, St Paul’s Churchyard and formed The Premier Grand Lodge of England. The Corporation of London have errected a Blue Plaque near the spot of the original Inn. Before this there is evidence of Freemasons entering The Craft in both England and Scotland, the earliest being in Scotland.
In 1751 a rival group of Freemasons formed a rival Grand Lodge. They claimed that The Premier Grand Lodge of England (PGLE) had made innovations and had departed from ‘the ancient landmarks’ whereas they claimed to be working ‘according to the old institutions granted by Prince Edwin at York in AD926’. For this reason they became known as the Antients Grand Lodge and referred to their older rival as ‘Moderns’. The rivalries between the two Grand Lodges waxed and waned for nearly 63 years. At the centre of both Grand Lodges there were members who were active in both.
In 1809 the rival Grand Lodges appointed Commissioners to negotiate an equable Union. The negotiations took four years to complete but on 27 December 1813 a great ceremonial was held at Freemasons’ Hall, London, at which the two combined to form the United Grand Lodge of England with HRH the Duke of Sussex (younger son of King George III) as Grand Master.
Today, The United Grand Lodge of England is organised into Provincial Grand Lodges which are approximately equivalent to the traditional counties of England. These form the local administration of the organisation. In London the province is known as a Metropolitan Grand Lodge. Overseas jurisdictions controlled by the UGLE are organised into districts.
Grand Masters:
- Prince Augustus, Duke of Sussex (1813 - 1843)
- Thomas Dundas, 2nd Earl of Zetland (1844 - 1870)
- George Robinson, 1st Marquess of Ripon (as Earl de Grey) (1870 - 1874)
- Edward VII of the United Kingdom (as Prince of Wales) (1874 - 1901)
- Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught (1901 - 1939)
- Prince George, Duke of Kent (1939 - 1942)
- Henry Lascelles, 6th Earl of Harewood (1942 - 1947)
- Edward William Spencer Cavendish, 10th Duke of Devonshire (1947 - 1950)
- Lawrence Roger Lumley, 11th Earl of Scarbrough (1951 - 1967)
- Prince Edward, Duke of Kent (1967 - present as of 2004)