Secret societies Freemason's headquarters "England / Union Grand Lodge" was a welcome campaign so I wrote a report

Freemasonry has a meeting place called multiple lodges all over the world and its de facto headquarters are located in London, EnglandUnited Grand Lodge of England (England · Union Grand Lodge)It is said that it is. Freemasonry called a secret society is attached with images of conspiracy and mystery, but England / Union Grand Lodge was unexpectedly open so that anyone could observe the inside of the building for free, so in fact the inside of the lodge I have been exploring.

United Grand Lodge of England - About Freemasonry
http://www.ugle.org.uk/about-freemasonry

The address of the Grand Lodge in London is "Freemasons Hall, 60 Great Queen St, London WC 2 B 5 AZ".Covent GardenIt is located in the insanely central location & sightseeing spot called Close to.


The building's appearance isCheck with photosBecause I was doing it somewhere ... and ...


When I look back I found a Grand Lodge. It was much bigger than I expected, so I did not notice, despite walking next door.


Compared to passers-by who walk in front of the building, I can understand the enormity.


Looking from another angle it is like this. The head protrudes from the surrounding building with Pocon.


On the front of the building there are black doors and glass windows, above which the numbers "1717" and "1967" are shown on the left and right of the clock. This 1717 number is the year when England / Union Grand Lodge was founded as the first "Grand Lodge" to oversee each lodge. And the number 1967 is the top of FreemasonryGrand MasterAs an incumbentPrince Edward Prince Duke of the 2nd KentIt shows the year when it took office.


Compass which is one of Freemason's symbols next to the number.


The stained glass used in buildings and halls is a bit dull ... ...


Below that is a statue of an angel. Here are two numbers "1914" and "1918". This is a former Grand MasterWinston ChurchillIs overlapping with the time when he was appointed the president of Aberdeen University, is there anything to do with the relationship ... and just looking at the exterior is overflowing with symbols or symbolic things.


There was also the letter "AVDI VIDE TACE" (Let's see, listen, shut up) "in Latin that is a slogan of England / Union Grand Lodge. The one standing on both sides embodies all of human beings, lions, bulls and eagles as a single "Cherubim". Four creatures are east, west, north and south, four major elements, four seasonsFour gospel historiansIt shows.


When approaching and looking up, it looks like this with such feeling, you can see that there are fine patterns in it.


A golden star on the top of the building.


Looking at the building from the side is like this.


Vertical windows are lined up on the first floor and the second floor, respectively, and various symbols are carved on the windows. Keys showing 'secret, guardian, silent, warning', books in triangular marks ... ...


Marks symbolizing Freemasonry, such as protractors, feather pens, parchment papers, etc., once used as guilds of masonry craftsmen are engraved.


Because there are so many symbolism, I wonder if it is also a symbol of something ... ... and every place I see it.



The library and the museum were open from 10 o'clock to 17 o'clock from Monday to Saturday, so we came a little earlier, so we were closely watching the exterior, but since people started entering and leaving before 10 o'clock I tried to.


There is reception desk on the first floor, you can receive explanation etc. of admission here, but because members of Freemasonry frequented in and out, it was forbidden to take photographs around reception desk. When I visited, a man who had a tie of Freemasonry talking to the receptionist "I should have my luggage ...", he realized that "This is a secret society ... ..." It was.

So to the second floor where there is a library & museum. I will go through the bright corridor of the sunlight.


On the other side of the window is a picture of the people who serve as Master. Photographs are supposed to be illuminated just by sunlight.


For example, Sunny Sandhu was the first person in 2008 to be in the "Master Mason" position. A thing like a message card is affixed to the side of the photo, and it is spelled out with "a feeling of becoming a partner is the most exciting experience of life!" With a high tension. In 2006, Mr. Sandhu passed a philosophical conversation about life when a friend visited, and it seems that it became a seed and was curious and joined Freemasonry. Freemasonry was like a family member and gave us the sense and purpose of being "a part of a big picture" and the "brothers" who trusted and faithfully followed the same principle. It was spelled that Freemasonry for himself said, "It means" integrity and love towards people, great impact on a larger community ".


Go through the gate like this ... ....


To library museum.


There is a bookshelf on the left and right of the room, and exhibits are arranged in the middle.


As we go a little, like this, a number of Freemasons are exhibited here and there.


Here as well as the exterior of the building, the symbol was hidden everywhere in the room.



As I was looking around as to what kind of thing it was, first of all I found outKnights of TemplarYaKnights of MaltaCostume etc. There are various opinions in the origin of Freemasonry, but there is also a theory that the survivor of the Knights Templar was built in one of them.


A white cloak red cross-shaped costume is a Knights Templar ......


A white mark on the red outfit is the emblem of the Knights Malta. Although it has various opinions, it seems to me that the fact that the original headmaker decorates in the museum is almost official information ... ....


Sword and hat.


Books and accessories.


"Night · Grand · Cross(The Great Cross Knight) "such as the crests given to the high ranking knight and the hexagonal star given to the finest Grand Master. Button is also used by Grand Master, but the symbol mark attached to the baton is a cross motif of the Knights Templar.


The black cloth with the same symbols as Button is apron of the Knights Templar.


Subsequently, I found a big exhibition.


It is a sword with a wave type blade that is placed in the center. As such a zigzag blade looks like a flame when it moves, as many as Freemason's symbolsWhat was being used.


Below is a ceremonial Grand Director's assistant costume and a miniature inside the meeting room of the meeting room of one of Freemason's top floors, "Royal Arch".


A miniature where this is a ritual. A flag and an altar representing the tribe of Israel are placed, and the unique floor where the perspective is likely to go wrong is a symbol indicating "arch" of "Royal Arch". Why Israel? The name "Royal Arch"SolomonIt is derived from the anecdote of the ancient Israel from this miniature can read the connection between Freemason and Ancient Israel.


Looking closely from the color that the mannequin is wearingAlmighty eyesIt is hanging.


Walking further ... ...


Here too the omnibus eyes were engraved costumes. The serpent and the hand of a person are also embroidered, and it is thrilled that "What kind of ceremony was used ...?"Jean-Paul GaultierHe got inspiration from Freemasonry "and was a bit disappointed.


This was found in the Scottish lodge, thought to have been made between 1925 and 1959, but even Freemasonry "mysterious desk" is unclear what was used. It seems that there is a part with numbers written on the right, and it seems that it was used for some calculations, but it is a combination of figures unrelated to Freemasonry.


Plates with symbols engraved are kept in pieces ......


A symbol of Freemasonry was drawnTracing boardAlso. It seems that this was used as a teaching material when members of Freemasonry lecture to juniors.




Hammer was one of the symbol of masonry craftsmen, and it was lined up on the shelf.


A stone board removed from the hospital operated by Freemasonry after the war.


Exhibits of different decorations were also done for each class. This is a decorative item of "Royal Arch" which is the seventh place of the secret society "York · Wright" derived from Freemasonry.


A number of jewelry motifs with a hexagonal star which is one of the symbols.



It is Mark Master Mason's current Grand MasterMichael of Kent PrinceIt looks like you are receiving decorative items. When doing rituals it seems to put an apron along with the color.


There were various kinds also in the apron.





A box indicating the lodge's slogan "Look, listen, shut up."


Big paintings.


Anyway anything is a space full of Freemasonry. While being a secret society, I was surprised that the original goods were made so much ....







Also when I visited there was a special exhibition called "Three Centuries of English Freemasonry" (300 years of Freemasonry). Here, a fraternity association of America with connection with Freemasonry "Odd Fellows"The mystery mask used in the ritual ... ...


From 1792 to 1812 he served as Grand Master of the Allied Grand UnionGeorge IV of George IVChairs for. George IV is the first British king as Freemasonry on record.


The back is like this. It is quite huge although it is hard to understand from the photograph.


Various items of the lodge where former rituals were held.


The layout is like this. Lodge members and guests can sit on long sides of elongated rooms, senior · wardens who manage master in the east direction and masters in the west direction and operate together are located.


A picture of those days is Kore.


So, by watching the exhibits carefully, I went to a souvenir or something. Yes, the secret association England / Union Grand Lodge, there are souvenirs full of goods containing Freemason's symbols.


A ceremonial apron that becomes uneasy as opposed to "Is it okay to sell with such a casual feeling?"


A number of accessories as I have seen in the library & museum.


In this corner ... ....


A necktie or a bow tie.


If you look closely, they are ties of freemason patterns.



"Ceremonial today but I forgot my shirt and color!" A useful clothing relationship.


Pin badges were rich in variety.



Watch and cufflinks.


If you show yourself casually when you are in trouble "brother, when you are in trouble, they are mutually exclusive" Rings that may be able to extend their hands.


Necktie pin


Teddy bear, wallet, business card case etc. It seems that you can feel casual freemasonry in daily life if you have these.


By the way, when I walk a little after leaving the lodge ......


I found a pub called "FREEMASONS ARMS".


In this building you can see the symbols of Freemasonry here and there.


It is written as "the oldest breweries in the UK" and once used as a modern so-called "drinker" like a presence, it was a freemason, so after the ceremonies and gatherings it might have been a raft of such pubs I do not.


That's why England / Union Grand Lodge which was irresistible for people who liked free though it was free. In addition, I saw someone who is a member of Malaysia's Freemasonry while watching the exhibit, so when I heard the story for a while, the reason for joining was to "participate in the community and suit various people" It was. Even if you go to a strange land, if you go to the lodge, you will meet other members who call "Brother" and that relationship will spread more and more. Even when I met, I told that before joining the England / Union Grand Lodge I was participating in the rally at Edinburgh 's lodge. According to men, according to men, the most important thing to join is personality, and among members there are people of various professions such as doctors, accountants, teachers. Malaysia is a former British colony, so Freemasonry's activities are also active, but it seems a little different from the image in Japan, as it was laughing to say, "There is conspiracy theory in Japan." However, later, I made it a little more interesting, "What kind of laughter was that laugh?"

England / Union Grand Lodge also offers a free tour, and in November 2017Link from this pageThe schedule could be confirmed with, but it seems that the link has been removed now at the time of creating the article. In addition to the library & museum, there is a schedule and time zone where you can visit the hall, so if you want to see the tourfrom hereIf it contacts it is OK.