D. W. Brown

These are great questions Joe, I'm glad to see you took my advice. We all know, not all the information you receive on the Internet, is entirely accurate. So, I implore you to keep up the research before making any decision. I am not an expert on the entire history of the Modern and Antient schism. I suggest you read about the schism in our Essay section. You don't hear the term "Modern" very often any more but you'll see many "Modern" style lodges in Masonic federations like in the "Grand Orients", for one.


I am a " Antient" Scottish Rite Mason, that is why you see the 32 behind my name. However, there are Scottish Rite Degrees within the "Modern" systems of Masonry also. Do more research on the Grand Orients.


Well this is a great question and I know I may take some flack for this but here is the simplest way I can explain. Antient lodges are predominantly lodges that formed off of the United Grand Lodge of England, all of their lodges do not recognize any Mason outside of their Hierarchical model. The Modern lodges do not exclude many, there are the radicals or ones performing illegal activities, for which I’m certain are on a list somewhere. So, I venture to say most UGLE derived ( Antient) Masons are not allowed by their Grand Lodges to be members of a lodge that follows the Modern path of Freemasonry. Hope this helps..


Traditional Observance lodges do very closely, from what I’ve seen, resemble many Modern lodges. I can also say a Modern lodge can very closely resemble Antient “standard” lodges, even down to the rituals. The primary difference I’ve seen between them is the power the Grand Lodge wheels over their TO lodges verses the Freedom the Modern lodges have.


Not sure on this one myself.


Antient lodges do not allow women period in any lodge. Modern lodges can be either male, female only or mixed, it is up to the lodge members. However, modern lodges do often sit together as Unions or at Grand Lodge events to discuss ideas or issues, as one. There is a huge diversity within Modern lodges but all take their Humanism very seriously. Their numbers of course are smaller because of their high standards for entry and does take awhile to become a Master Mason 3°, as it should.

Again, understand I am by far not an expert on Moderns or Antients. I think they both have their positives and negatives. It is however my opinion the Moderns more closely represents what I envisioned Freemasonry was when growing up.

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Dale Brown, 3° (apostatised my 32°)
TBL Staff

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