Most Masons do not realize that there is a very close connection between Athelstan and the Masonic Fraternity. Athelstan was the King of England from 925 to 939, the son of Edward the Elder and the Grandson of Alfred the Great.

After ascending to the throne, King Athelstan continued to consolidate the petty monarchies into one powerful kingdom, which was begun by his Grandfather, and he was therefore the first Saxon monarch to be called King of all England. King Athelstan was a lover of Masonry and a great patron of the arts of civilization and paid special attention to architecture and the art of building, and during his reign, many Abbies, Monasteries, Castles, and Fortresses were erected. Masonic history informs us that King Athelstan is said to have revived Masonry in the 10th Century. In 926 A.D he assembled a group of craftsman and knights from every part of the kingdom in the city of York, in an attempt to establish a code of regulations to be followed.

There is some confusion as to whether it was actually King Athelstan or his son Prince Edwin who actually established the articles and points. There is also some confusion as to whether Edwin was Athelstan’s son or brother. Having called the assemblage, after five days, the group could not come to any accord, as each felt that his peculiar secrets and vows were preeminent and would not yield. This dismayed Athelstan greatly. At this point, Prince Edwin who had been traveling in foreign lands for seven years had return to England. In meeting with his father, King Athelstan, he asked his father the nature of his distress and he explained of the failure to reach an accord that would determine the manner in which the craft might be regulated and governed. Edwin through his travels had been received into many of the orders and bodies of the craft. He believed that even though there were distinct differences among them, there were underlining principle and qualities common to all. King Athelstan charged Edwin to meet with the craftsman and knights. From these meetings, there were fifteen article and fifteen points established that were to regulate and govern the Craft. Many of the articles and points established are part of the oaths and charges we receive as we progress through the degrees In an address to the Grand Lodge of York in 1726, Francis Drake, then Junior Grand Warden stated “You know that we can boast that the first Grand Lodge ever held was in the City of York and that Prince Edwin was the Grand Master.

Information in this message has been derived in part from Albert Mackey’ s  "History of Freemasonry – The York Legend" and the York Rite Sovereign College of North America.

This passage was graciously provided by Laurel Lodge No.237 F & A M,  Laurel Springs, NJ