History of Freemasonry
There are several theories about the origins of Freemasonry, but specialists generally agree in tracing them back to the stonemasons of the Middle Ages who built our castles and cathedrals. It is in the British Isles that the origin and development of the Masonic Order, as we know it today, are found. It was there that modern or “speculative” Freemasonry—distinct from the “operative” Masonry of builders—emerged toward the end of the 17th century.
The “operative” Masons of the Middle Ages traveled from one construction site to another, gathering in lodges that served both as workshops and places of residence. There, they worked under the direction of a master builder, or “Master of the Lodge,” and underwent long apprenticeships before becoming skilled craftsmen, masters of their art and free men. This process involved the transmission of certain “secrets.” In England, lodges possessed manuscripts containing professional rules known as the “Old Charges.” These concluded with a set of moral and professional rules that formed a true code of ethics for the craft.
The gradual disappearance of major construction projects (cathedrals, abbeys, castles, etc.) reduced the role of operative lodges, while outsiders to the building trade—often intellectuals, aristocrats, or members of the bourgeoisie—began to join them. They were likely motivated by a desire for universality and a search for religious tolerance. This phenomenon helped shape the face of modern Freemasonry.
The lodges gave rise to a fraternity aimed at spreading a spirituality and an ethic, veiled in symbols and illustrated through legends. The tools of the Mason, and the very stone he worked, became symbolic supports for metaphysical and moral reflection.
From this encounter was born modern Freemasonry, which officially came into being in 1717, when four London lodges united to form what would become the Grand Lodge of England. Constitutions were published in 1723 under the signature of James Anderson, a Presbyterian minister. This compilation of the operative “Old Charges” affirmed the principle of religious tolerance, respecting all faiths. Freemasonry then experienced rapid growth in Great Britain, continental Europe—especially in our regions—and in America.
What is the history of Freemasonry in Belgium?
Introduced in Paris as early as 1726, Freemasonry gradually spread into our regions—then the Austrian Netherlands, the Principality of Liège, and the Dutch Netherlands—before the creation of the Grand Orient of Belgium in 1833. The shaping of the Masonic landscape in our country owes much to historical and political circumstances since its founding. Over time, the Grand Orient of Belgium, diverging from the “landmarks” of Universal Freemasonry, abolished in 1854 the ban on political and religious discussions in Lodge, and in 1872 removed the reference to the Grand Architect of the Universe.
Regretting this shift, five lodges created the Grand Lodge of Belgium in 1959, aiming to reconnect with universality and tradition. It was recognized by nearly all Grand Lodges worldwide thanks to its respect for the principles of Masonic regularity.
However, following certain departures from the rules of Traditional Masonry, the Grand Lodge of Belgium lost recognition from most Grand Lodges. Several of its members, remaining faithful to their commitments and attached to traditional rules, and wishing to maintain international recognition, founded on June 15, 1979, the Regular Grand Lodge of Belgium (RGLB).
As a result, Belgium finds itself in a unique situation with several Obediences. Together, they represent two Masonic currents: one traditional and regular—largely dominant worldwide—represented in Belgium exclusively by the RGLB and primarily spiritual in nature; the other more societal in character—present mainly in France and Belgium—which has moved away from traditional Masonic landmarks.