Draft:Order of Athelstan

  • Comment: Fails WP:NORG, is heavily reliant on primary sources. Needs additional coverage in multiple independent secondary sources. Dan arndt (talk) 07:09, 27 November 2023 (UTC)


Masonic Order of Athelstan
Formation2005[1]
TypeFreemasonry
Location
  • England England
    Wales Wales
    United States USA
    France France
    Spain Spain
    Greece Greece
    Bolivia Bolivia
    Brazil Brazil
    India India
    Malaysia Malaysia
    Singapore Singapore
    Philippines Philippines
    Indonesia Indonesia
    Australia Australia
Websiteathelstan.org.uk

The Order of Athelstan (Masonic Order of Athelstan in England, Wales and its Provinces Overseas) or Masonic Order of Athelstan is a strictly invitational,[3][4] Masonic order[5] that has 'Courts' based around the world.[6] The order was founded in 2005[7]. It takes into account Æthelstan's history and legends surrounding the King[8], while also focusing on the History and development of Freemasonry.[9] The ceremonial rituals use allegory to encourage strong ethics, and surround the legend of Athelstan's York Assembly in 926.[10]

Units of the Order are called Courts, which are assigned to a Province. In England and Wales the provinces represent ancient kingdoms of the Anglo-Saxons.

History edit

The Masonic order was founded by a group of Freemasons who were focusing on early Masonic history[11] and the Ancient Charges of Freemasonry, over time this developed into a Masonic order with its own ceremonies and units known as 'Courts'.

The first court was established in 2005, with the first Court being consecrated on the 22nd of October in Newmarket. Since its foundation, the order has expanded beyond England and Wales, with courts now established in India, Australia, the United States from 2011[12], Spain and Romania there are close to 3,000 members worldwide.[13]

Membership Requirements edit

Candidates for 'Instruction'[14] (similar to an Initiation) must be invited to join and are required to meet the following requirements:

 
The Order of Athelstan among the Masonic appendant bodies in England and Wales

Ancient Masonic Order of Alfred the Great edit

Ancient Masonic Order of Alfred the Great is a separate, sovereign, and invitational Masonic order, which invites its members exclusively from the Masonic Order of Athelstan, based on merit and ability. The order gained its own sovereignty on 1 July 2023.[17]

The order is named after Alfred the Great, the grandfather of King Æthelstan[18].Members grades are as follows:

  • Knight (KAG)
  • Knight Commander (KCAG)
  • Knight Grand Cross (GCAG)

See Also edit

External links edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Athelstan Province of Lindsey - Overview of the order (homepage)". athelstan-lindsey.org.uk. Retrieved 24 November 2023.[non-primary source needed]
  2. ^ "Athelstan's [Grand Master] Signs Armed Forces Covenant". durhamfreemasons.org. 21 March 2023. Retrieved 25 November 2023.
  3. ^ "THE MASONIC ORDER OF ATHELSTAN - - "Membership of this Order is strictly by invitation"". masoniclodgeregalia.co.uk. Retrieved 25 November 2023.[non-primary source needed]
  4. ^ Keith B. Jackson, Beyond the Craft, 6th Edition, Lewis Masonic 2012 (ISBN 978-0853184058)
  5. ^ Richard Gan, The Full Spectrum of Freemasonry, 1st Edition, Lewis Masonic 1 May 2022 (ISBN 978-0853186205)
  6. ^ "Athelstan Provinces". athelstan.org.uk. Retrieved 24 November 2023.[non-primary source needed]
  7. ^ "Athelstan Province of Lindsey - Overview of the order (homepage)". athelstan-lindsey.org.uk. Retrieved 24 November 2023.[non-primary source needed]
  8. ^ "Freemasonry and King Athelstan". travelingtemplar.com. Retrieved 24 November 2023.[unreliable source?]
  9. ^ "King Athelstan - Masonic Order of Athelstan". northumberlandmasons.org.uk. 5 January 2023. Retrieved 25 November 2023.
  10. ^ "Order of Athelstan in Colchester". stgilescentre.org.uk. Retrieved 9 March 2024.
  11. ^ "The Masonic Order of Athelstan - History of the order". Fraternal and Masonic History. Retrieved 9 March 2024.
  12. ^ Hodapp, Christopher (2021). Freemasons For Dummies (3rd ed.). USA: John Wiley & Sons. p. 226. ISBN 9781119843429. Retrieved 9 March 2024.
  13. ^ Long, Ash (30 August 2020). Quo Vadis; A background to other orders in Freemasonry. Australia: Michael Cheshire. pp. 32–33. Retrieved 9 March 2024.
  14. ^ "Order of Athelstan in Colchester". stgilescentre.org.uk. Retrieved 25 November 2023.
  15. ^ "Bedfordshire Freemasons - Athelstan". bedfordshirefreemasons.org. Retrieved 25 November 2023.
  16. ^ Hodgkins, James. "Masonic Week for the Uninitiated". scottishrite.org. Retrieved 9 March 2024.
  17. ^ "The Ancient Masonic Order of Alfred the Great- Sovereignty Meeting". amoag.org.uk. Retrieved 24 November 2023.
  18. ^ "If King Alfred was great, was Æthelstan even greater?". historyextra.com. Retrieved 25 November 2023.

Category:Fraternal orders Category:Freemasonry Category:Freemasonry in the United Kingdom Category:Freemasonry in England