Antients Grand Lodge

The Antients Grand Lodge came into existence following a meeting at the Turk's Head Tavern, Greek Street, Soho, London on 17 July 1751, attended by about eighty freemasons, many of Irish extraction, from five lodges. These were lodges meeting at the Turk's Head [SN 275]; The Cripple, Little Britain [SN 276]; The Cannon, Water Lane, Fleet Street [SN 277]; The Plaisterers' Arms, Grays Inn Lane [SN 278] and The Globe, Bridges Street, Covent Garden [SN 279]. Those present decided to establish a rival to the Moderns (or premier) Grand Lodge, which had been formed in 1717, as the Grand Lodge of England 'according to the old institutions'. The new Grand Lodge, which referred to itself as a Grand Committee until 27 December 1753, claimed the first Grand Lodge in England had introduced innovations and that it was the only one to preserve the ancient customs of freemasonry. It claimed that the first Grand Lodge had changed words in the ceremonies and signs of recognition; had 'dechristianise​d' and abbreviated ceremonies and lectures; used the term Wardens not Deacons for certain Lodge officers; and removed an esoteric installation ceremony for Lodge masters. In consequence, the first Grand Lodge became known as the 'Moderns' (or premier) Grand Lodge, while the new one formed in 1751, assumed the name 'Antients'.

Rules and Orders agreed at the first meeting in 1751, included in the first Antients' Grand Lodge membership register, known as Morgan's Register, were signed by Philip McLoughlin, a member of Enoch Lodge, No. 6 [SN 355], who returned to Ireland by 29 July 1751; Samuel Quay, a member of Lodge of Fidelity, No. 2 [SN 338], a habit maker of Tavistock Street, London, first Senior Grand Warden; James Shee, a member of Royal York Lodge of Perseverance, No. 4 [SN 774], an attorney of Fetter Lane, London, who returned later to Ireland and John Morgan, a member of Antients' Lodge, No. 2 [SN 275], who resigned to join a 'stationed ship' on 4 March 1752, as Grand Secretary. One of the first members listed was Abraham Ardasoif [or Ardisoif], of Broad Court, Bow Street, Covent Garden, 'deemed unworthy' of membership on 17 July 1751 but readmitted the following year. By the end of 1755 over a thousand members had joined the Antients' Grand Lodge, including several members who had transferred across from the Moderns' Grand Lodge.

Considered by some to be more progressive, the Antients attracted as a member Laurence Dermott, a painter and decorator born in 1720, who was initiated as a freemason aged 20 in Good Lodge, No. 26, meeting in Dublin at the house of Thomas Allen (later Worshipful Master of Lodge, No. 2 [SN 275], Antients), under the Grand Lodge of Ireland. Having served as Junior and Senior Deacon in that Lodge, Dermott later served as its Worshipful Master. Dermott served as Secretary and Right Worshipful Master of the Grand Lodge of Ireland from 1746, before relocating to London two years later. On arrival he lived in Stepney, near the burial ground of the Portuguese Synagogue at Bevis Marks, and joined a Lodge meeting under the Moderns Grand Lodge or an independent Lodge, before joining the Antients' Kent Lodge, No. 9 [SN 284] and then a Lodge which became Royal Athelstan Lodge, No. 10 [SN 754]. He married Susannah Neale on 20 January 1759 at St Paul's church, Shadwell, witnesses Edward Newth and Ruth Rush. The couple, who lived at Broad Bridge, Shadwell, had at least three children, Susanna baptised at St Giles' church, Cripplegate on 28 February 1755; Susanna Mary, baptised at the same church on 4 April 1757 and Elizabeth, buried at the same church on 4 August 1758. His wife, Susanna, was buried there on 7 December 1764 and Laurence, a widower of St Clement Danes, described as a vintner, married a widow, Elizabeth Merryman of Bethnal Green on 13 November 1766 at St Matthew's Church in that parish, witnessed by Robert Pell and Isaac Laud(?). On 30 December 1767, their son Laurence was baptised at St Botolph's Church, Aldgate. Laurence Dermott was buried at St Olave's Church, Bermondsey on 8 July 1791, aged seventy one.

Dermott, who maintained that his Grand Lodge acted as the custodian of 'pure ancient freemasonry', served as Grand Secretary for the Antients Grand Lodge from 1752 to 1771; Deputy Grand Master between 1771 and 1777 and again between 1783 and 1787. He was appointed Grand Secretary on the recommendation of his predecessor, John Morgan, in preference to John Morris, Past Master of Lodge, No. 5 [SN 278]. Dermott wrote the first edition of the rule book of the Antients' Grand Lodge, referred to as Ahiman Rezon, or, A help to a brother, in 1756. Dermott encouraged John, 3rd Duke of Atholl, to serve as Grand Master of the Antients from 1771 until his death in 1774. The 3rd Duke was also elected Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Scotland on 30 November 1773. His son, John, 4th Duke of Atholl, was initiated, passed and raised aged nineteen in Grand Masters Lodge, No. 1 on 25 February 1775. He was installed as Master of this Lodge at the same meeting and was proposed as Grand Master of the Antients' at the next Grand Lodge meeting. He was installed as Grand Master on 25 March 1775, serving in this role until 1781, before returning as Grand Master from 1791 to 1813. Due to the significant involvement of both Atholl peers, the Antients' Grand Lodge is also referred to as the Atholl Grand Lodge.

Over time some Moderns' Lodges and members changed allegiance to the Antients' Grand Lodge and vice versa, with rivalry emerging between the two Grand Lodges both in England and Wales and overseas, where lodges sometimes competed to attract members. In 1813 HRH Augustus Frederick, Duke of Sussex became Grand Master of the Moderns' Grand Lodge. In the Antients' Grand Lodge, the 4th Duke of Atholl stood aside for the installation of HRH Edward, Duke of Kent (brother of the Duke of Sussex and son of King George III) as Grand Master. The brothers led meetings that year to consider and discuss arrangements for the union between the Antients' and Moderns' Grand Lodges to form the United Grand Lodge of England.