Our Organization

Ancient roots

No one knows exactly how Masonry started. Its traditions, however, can be traced directly to the guilds of stonemasons who built the stone cathedrals and castles of the Middle Ages.

With the decline of cathedral building in the 17th century, many guilds of “operative,” or practicing, stonemasons opened membership to those who didn’t practice the mason's craft. These members were called "accepted" masons. The groups were called lodges.

Modern Masonry was founded in England in 1717 when four lodges in London joined to form the first Grand Lodge of England. From Britain, Masonry spread over much of the world and today there are approximately four million Masons and some 150 Grand Lodges.

Modern GROWTH

Grand Lodges are independent of each other—there is no central governing authority but each Grand Lodge must maintain acceptable traditions, standards and practices to be acknowledged by other lodges.

In Ontario, the governing body is called the Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Canada in the Province of Ontario. It is under the leadership of the Grand Master, who presides over some 46,000 Masons belonging to one or more of the 560 lodges in Ontario.

VISION OF THE GRAND LODGE OF CANADA IN THE PROVINCE OF ONTARIO

“Ensure the timeless vitality of Freemasonry in Ontario”

MISSION STATEMENT OF THE GRAND LODGE OF CANADA IN THE PROVINCE OF ONTARIO

“Grand Lodge’s mission is to provide effective and sustainable leadership to Ontario’s Masonic community and preserve the timeless Masonic initiatory system as a framework for all good men to transform their lives through the ancient and enduring tenets of brotherly love, relief and truth.”