208:
documents established that the fraternity of the Free
Gardeners had 'Words' and 'Secrets'. An 1848 document mentions a teaching, in the form of 'Signs, Secrets and Grips'. Historians have at their disposal complete rituals of the Apprentice, Companion and Master dating from 1930. Minutes of the lodges show that the ritual of the order progressively developed, from a fairly basic ceremony of transmission of the 'Word' at its very beginnings, to a system of three grades similar to that of
329:. The following years saw a fairly large number of aristocrats initiated in Free Gardening in the Dunfermline lodge, even while they remain on the edge of the Haddington lodge, which remains mainly active. Most of these people possess famous gardens. Starting from 1736, the date of the creation of the (Masonic) Grand Lodge of Scotland, this tendency ceased and there were no more initiations of aristocrats in the Dunfermline lodge.
216:
167:, the number of deaths exceeded the number of admissions to the lodges. In 1939, the minutes of the Haddington lodge were interrupted until 1952, when its eight last members attempted in vain to relaunch it. Despite the recruitment of new members, the Haddington fraternity pronounced its dissolution on 22 February 1953. The Dunfermline lodge lasted until the middle of the 1980s.
88:
149:
22:
126:. From its origin, it admitted numerous non-gardeners as members. It created a charitable society to benefit the widows, orphans, and poor of the lodge, sponsored a horse race and organised an annual horticultural fair before transforming itself little by little into a mutual aid society. It reached a membership of 212.
359:. In the case of the Order of Free Gardeners, the first Grand Lodge only formed in 1849, and 15 lodges remained independent until the disappearance of the order. In both cases, it is in particular the lodges founded before their Grand Lodge that remain the most reluctant to renounce their independence.
246:
could thus symbolically be the first Free
Gardener. Use is made of the compass and the square, to which is added the pruning knife, presented as 'the simplest tool of gardening', allowing 'pruning the vices and propagating virtues by cuttings'. At the end of this ceremony, the apprentice received the
207:
The oldest known mention of the existence of an initiation secret in this order appears on 28 January 1726, when the fraternity studied an internal complaint that accused one of its members of defaming certain of its officers in saying they could not correctly give its words and signs. In 1772, other
343:
Those two orders present important similarities concerning their organisation and development. Both were born in
Scotland in the middle of the 17th century among groups of professional workers who very quickly accepted members from other professions. In both cases, members of the original profession
303:
On numerous objects of the order dating from the very beginning of the 20th century, one finds an emblem composed of a square, a compass and a grafting knife. As there is not a trace of this emblem in the earlier documents, it is probable that it had also been inspired lately by that of
Freemasonry.
344:
became minorities from the beginning of the 18th century. In both orders also, certain lodges open very rapidly to 'accepted' members and in particular to the local nobility, whereas others, like that of
Haddington for the Free Gardeners and that of Edinburgh for the Freemasons, are more reticent.
324:
The first record of the
Dunfermline lodge was established in 1716 with the signatures of 214 members. At this time the membership was composed of a majority of gardeners by trade, but also numerous artisans and two members of the local aristocracy. Rapidly, the membership grew and the social level
316:
lodge included merchants, tailors and clerks as well as gardeners. All the members of the lodge were originally from the county. On the other hand, the lodge at
Dunfermline, former capital of Scotland, prided itself on counting among its members "numerous renowned persons of Edinburgh, as well as
367:
Ancient Free
Gardeners, an indie-rock band in Melbourne, Australia, takes its name from the Free Gardeners, though the group has no association. The inspiration came from a visit to the Melbourne branch of the Free Gardeners, situated in Elizabeth Street, one block north of the Victoria Market.
102:
for their vast estates. The first members of the
Haddington lodge were not gardeners by profession, but small landowners and farmers who practised gardening for pleasure. Not practising an urban profession, they could not obtain the status of an incorporation (similar to a guild in England) and
110:
This organisation set up in
Haddington could be viewed as a primitive form of trade union. It organised co-operation between members, provided practical training and ethical development, and supported the poor, widows, and orphans. The lodges of gardeners were also the first to organise floral
354:
Freemasonry expanded rapidly in England and, after creation of the Grand Lodge in London in 1717, across the entire world. On the other hand, the Order of Free Gardeners remained principally Scottish. In both cases, the Scottish lodges seemed to have difficulties grouping together into larger
186:
As of 2013, The Grand United Order of Free Gardeners still operates in Victoria, Australia from the East Kew Masonic Centre. It meets monthly under the auspices of the Victorian Grand Lodge No. 1, and is the only known lodge operating in the southern hemisphere. In the 2020s, Free Gardeners
58:, South Africa. In September 2005, the Ancient Order returned to Scotland when the Countess of Elgin Lodge no. 105 received its Charter to meet in Dysart, Fife. 2006 sees the return of the Grand Lodge of Free Gardeners Scotland from Cape Town to Scotland.
144:
Encouraged by this success, competing horticultural societies appeared during the 19th century. Unlike the Free Gardeners, they did not have a charitable role, mutual help, or rituals, and they would accept anybody, male or female, who paid their dues.
203:
Fraternity documents from the end of the 17th century reveal no trace of secret knowledge or rituals. However, the interest rapidly shown by the members of the aristocracy suggests this association did not exclusively deal with mutual assurance.
325:
rose—to the point that the professional gardeners no longer formed the majority of new members—but the recruitment remained local. In 1721, 101 new members of all social statuses were admitted into the lodge, from gardeners and butchers to the
170:
These disappearances were part of a wider social change. In 1950 there were around 30,000 Friendly Societies in the UK, while in 2000 there were fewer than 150. In 2000, the research of R. Cooper counted no more than a single lodge (in
133:
During the 18th century, about twenty other lodges were created, always in Scotland, and on 6 November 1849, they organised a meeting with a view to create a Grand Lodge. Establishments then accelerated, and in 1859, in
129:
The lodges of Haddington and Dunfermline expanded their recruitment area widely without authorising creation of new lodges. It was only in 1796 that three new lodges were created: at Arbroath, Bothwell, and Cumbnathan.
158:
In the 20th century, the two World Wars called up most of the members. The economic crisis of 1929 weakened their charitable capacities. The social protection laws weakened the attraction of mutual aid, before the
340:
In the 1720s, Scotland had a profusion of societies, fraternities, and clubs. Freemasonry and the Order of Free Gardeners are merely those that spread the furthest and lasted the longest.
65:, the history and organisation of the two orders show numerous similarities. Some commentators have pointed to possible mutual influences in the ancient history of the two organisations.
276:
Shorter aprons, with a semi-circular bib, strongly resembling the aprons of the Freemasons of Scotland. That of the president is embroidered with the letters P, G, H, E, initials of
840:
347:
Almost all known members who belonged to the two orders were Free Gardeners before becoming Freemasons. The largest group of Free Gardeners who later became Freemasons joined the
234:
A conference of 1873 indicates that Free Gardening used the cultivation of soil as the symbol of the nurturing of the spirit in intelligence and virtue and made reference to the
351:
Masonic lodge founded in 1729. There were nine members of the free gardeners Dunfermline lodge. None of them were gardeners by trade; they were aristocrats and soldiers.
98:
Scotland was, in the 17th century, subject to civil unrest and intermittent famines. Rich landowners were interested in Renaissance architecture and the design of formal
830:
845:
47:
became predominant. By the end of the 20th century, it had become almost entirely extinct, but that can be revised due to some growth in the early 21st century.
332:
Religiously, all the members of this time were Protestants and belonged to the Church of Scotland. Politically, on the other hand, there were all types.
35:
is a fraternal society that was founded in Scotland in the middle of the 17th century and later spread to England and Ireland. Like numerous other
292:(the four rivers of the Garden of Eden) and A, N, S, initials of Adam, Noah and Solomon, to which is added the letter O, probably for 'Olive'.
254:, the 'second Gardener' and made the Companion symbolically accomplish a voyage that led him towards the Garden of Eden then towards that of
572:
752:
738:
724:
141:
At the peak of the movement there were more than 10,000 Free Gardeners for the Lothians alone, belonging to more than 50 lodges.
296:
Generally, the symbolism used by the Free Gardeners seems to have been strongly influenced during the 19th century by that of
103:
modelled their organisation on the masons, who had an organisation, additional to and independent of their incorporation: the
653:
625:
614:
553:
532:
513:
494:
757:
312:
There is little information on the professions of the members before the end of the 17th century. During this period the
183:
with aims of research and conservation of the traditions of this Order and some lodges were revived on this occasion.
160:
808:
242:
The admission ritual of the Free Gardeners' apprentices shows many similarities to that of Freemason apprentices.
835:
221:
790:
54:
formed at Penicuik. In 1956, due to falling attendances in Scotland, the Grand Lodge charter was transferred to
313:
195:, Canada and elsewhere, with a lineage back to the Scottish Grand Lodge (but not directly affiliated with it).
74:
475:
443:
368:
Whilst the Free Gardeners no longer meet at that location, the building still bears its logo and inscription.
138:, the Grand Lodge gathered representatives from more than 100 lodges, including three established in the USA.
825:
179:(Caribbean British Order of Free Gardners) and in Australia. In 2002, a conservation society was created in
688:
273:
Long aprons, reaching the ankle, embroidered with numerous symbols relating to the legends of the order.
123:
227:
318:
569:
39:
of the time, its principal aim was the sharing of secret knowledge linked to the profession and
748:
734:
720:
812:– web site of the Melbourne, Australia band taking its name from the Order of Free Gardeners.
382:
164:
44:
36:
657:
629:
618:
576:
557:
536:
517:
498:
479:
447:
40:
215:
387:
326:
235:
175:) for Great Britain, but mentioned the survival of the Order of Free Gardeners in the
77:
lodge, opened 16 August 1676, which begins with a compilation of fifteen rules called
819:
765:
A Historical Sketch from the Records of the Ancient Society of Gardeners, Dunfermline
119:
104:
91:
356:
243:
188:
80:
778:
801:
650:
622:
611:
548:
529:
510:
491:
377:
297:
209:
115:
62:
794:
255:
21:
289:
135:
55:
317:
East Lothian including the Marquess of Tweeddale, the count of Haddington (
87:
148:
192:
180:
176:
73:
The most ancient evidence of the order is a record of the minutes of the
187:
experienced a significant growth spurt, with new lodges being formed in
262:
172:
99:
16:
Fraternal society founded in Scotland in the middle of the 17th century
285:
277:
472:
440:
281:
214:
147:
86:
20:
716:
251:
61:
Although the Free Gardeners have always remained independent of
419:
Interjunctions for ye Fraternity of Gardiners of East Lothian
265:, the 'third Gardener', and to the symbol of the olive tree.
118:, supported by two members of the local aristocracy, the
114:
About 1715, a lodge similar to Haddington was founded in
797:, South Lanarkshire, Scotland (consulted 13 March 2007).
760:
website at HistoryShelf.org (Consulted 18 March 2007)
713:
The Origin and History of the Order of Free Gardeners
689:"Album reviews of rock band – Ancient Free Gardeners"
607:
605:
595:
593:
591:
589:
587:
585:
530:The Society of Gardeners in and about Dunfermline
79:Interjunctions for ye Fraternity of Gardiners of
468:
466:
464:
462:
460:
458:
456:
436:
434:
432:
430:
428:
426:
94:'s walled garden, Scotland, dates back to 1604.
163:removed their entire purpose. Even before the
841:Organizations established in the 17th century
660:at HistoryShelf.org (consulted 18 March 2007)
153:Free Gardener regalia on display in Edinburgh
8:
501:at HistoryShelf.org (consulted 8 April 2007)
52:The Ancient Order of Free Gardeners Scotland
511:The Fraternity of Gardeners of East Lothian
560:at HistoryShelf.org (checked 8 April 2007)
539:at HistoryShelf.org (checked 8 April 2007)
520:at HistoryShelf.org (checked 8 April 2007)
784:Grand Lodge of British Columbia and Yukon
43:. In the 19th century, its activities of
831:17th-century establishments in Scotland
492:Free Gardeners of the Lothians and Fife
398:
26:Insignia of the Order of Free Gardeners
846:Secret societies in the United Kingdom
802:Hanging Gardens of Babylon Lodge No 13
804:of Free Gardeners of England, London.
223:Paradisi in Sole Paradisus Terrestris
7:
250:The second degree made reference to
261:The third degree made reference to
786:website (consulted 13 March 2007).
745:Freemasons, Templars and Gardeners
14:
212:at the end of the 19th century.
779:Ancient Order of Free Gardeners
678:R. Cooper, op. cit., pp. 47–77
669:R. Cooper, op. cit., pp. 42–46
599:R. Cooper, op. cit., pp. 27–40
1:
651:Free Gardeners and Freemasons
269:The aprons are of two types:
791:Adelphi Bluebell Lodge No. 4
336:Comparisons with Freemasonry
733:, Ivoire Clair (ed) (2000)
409:Ivoire Clair (ed)(2000) 2–8
161:National Insurance Act 1946
862:
641:R. Cooper, op. cit., p. 45
321:), Lord William Hay etc".
656:24 September 2015 at the
628:24 September 2015 at the
579:(consulted 13 March 2007)
747:ANZMRC (Melbourne 2005)
575:18 February 2007 at the
111:exhibitions, from 1772.
632:(checked 19 March 2007)
226:(1629) by Swiss artist
33:Order of Free Gardeners
809:Ancient Free Gardeners
717:Quatuor Coronati Lodge
570:Adelphi Bluebell Lodge
231:
155:
95:
28:
793:of Free Gardeners in
731:Les francs-jardiniers
556:6 August 2007 at the
535:6 August 2007 at the
516:4 August 2007 at the
497:6 August 2007 at the
482:, op. cit., pp. 87–93
450:, op. cit., pp. 11–24
407:Les francs-jardiniers
349:Kilwinning Scots Arms
218:
151:
124:Marquess of Tweeddale
90:
24:
743:Robert L. D Cooper.
729:Robert L.D. Cooper.
711:Robert L.D. Cooper.
617:14 June 2014 at the
405:Robert L.D. Cooper,
478:29 May 2014 at the
446:29 May 2014 at the
247:apron of his grade.
228:Christopher Switzer
758:The Free Gardeners
623:Ritual and symbols
550:Friendly societies
355:structures called
319:Earl of Haddington
232:
156:
96:
37:friendly societies
29:
719:, No.2076 (2000)
473:Robert L D Cooper
441:Robert L D Cooper
308:The first members
853:
836:Fraternal orders
700:
699:
697:
695:
685:
679:
676:
670:
667:
661:
648:
642:
639:
633:
609:
600:
597:
580:
567:
561:
546:
540:
527:
521:
508:
502:
489:
483:
470:
451:
438:
421:
416:
410:
403:
383:Friendly Society
220:Frontispiece of
165:Second World War
45:mutual insurance
861:
860:
856:
855:
854:
852:
851:
850:
816:
815:
800:Website of the
789:Website of the
774:
708:
706:Further reading
703:
693:
691:
687:
686:
682:
677:
673:
668:
664:
658:Wayback Machine
649:
645:
640:
636:
630:Wayback Machine
619:Wayback Machine
610:
603:
598:
583:
577:Wayback Machine
568:
564:
558:Wayback Machine
547:
543:
537:Wayback Machine
528:
524:
518:Wayback Machine
509:
505:
499:Wayback Machine
490:
486:
480:Wayback Machine
471:
454:
448:Wayback Machine
439:
424:
417:
413:
404:
400:
396:
374:
365:
338:
310:
230:
201:
154:
71:
27:
17:
12:
11:
5:
859:
857:
849:
848:
843:
838:
833:
828:
826:Free Gardeners
818:
817:
814:
813:
805:
798:
787:
773:
772:External links
770:
769:
768:
761:
755:
741:
727:
707:
704:
702:
701:
680:
671:
662:
643:
634:
601:
581:
562:
541:
522:
503:
484:
452:
422:
411:
397:
395:
392:
391:
390:
388:Secret society
385:
380:
373:
370:
364:
361:
337:
334:
327:Duke of Atholl
309:
306:
294:
293:
274:
267:
266:
259:
248:
236:Garden of Eden
219:
200:
197:
152:
70:
67:
25:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
858:
847:
844:
842:
839:
837:
834:
832:
829:
827:
824:
823:
821:
811:
810:
806:
803:
799:
796:
792:
788:
785:
781:
780:
776:
775:
771:
766:
762:
759:
756:
754:
753:0-9578256-2-5
750:
746:
742:
740:
739:2-913882-05-6
736:
732:
728:
726:
722:
718:
714:
710:
709:
705:
690:
684:
681:
675:
672:
666:
663:
659:
655:
652:
647:
644:
638:
635:
631:
627:
624:
620:
616:
613:
608:
606:
602:
596:
594:
592:
590:
588:
586:
582:
578:
574:
571:
566:
563:
559:
555:
552:
551:
545:
542:
538:
534:
531:
526:
523:
519:
515:
512:
507:
504:
500:
496:
493:
488:
485:
481:
477:
474:
469:
467:
465:
463:
461:
459:
457:
453:
449:
445:
442:
437:
435:
433:
431:
429:
427:
423:
420:
415:
412:
408:
402:
399:
393:
389:
386:
384:
381:
379:
376:
375:
371:
369:
363:Miscellaneous
362:
360:
358:
352:
350:
345:
341:
335:
333:
330:
328:
322:
320:
315:
307:
305:
301:
299:
291:
287:
283:
279:
275:
272:
271:
270:
264:
260:
257:
253:
249:
245:
241:
240:
239:
237:
229:
225:
224:
217:
213:
211:
205:
198:
196:
194:
190:
184:
182:
178:
174:
168:
166:
162:
150:
146:
142:
139:
137:
131:
127:
125:
121:
120:Earl of Moray
117:
112:
108:
106:
101:
93:
92:Edzell Castle
89:
85:
83:
82:
76:
68:
66:
64:
59:
57:
53:
48:
46:
42:
38:
34:
23:
19:
807:
783:
777:
764:
744:
730:
725:0-907655-475
712:
692:. Retrieved
683:
674:
665:
646:
637:
565:
549:
544:
525:
506:
487:
418:
414:
406:
401:
366:
357:Grand Lodges
353:
348:
346:
342:
339:
331:
323:
311:
302:
295:
284:, Hiddekel (
268:
233:
222:
206:
202:
189:Schwetzingen
185:
169:
157:
143:
140:
132:
128:
113:
109:
97:
81:East Lothian
78:
72:
60:
51:
49:
32:
30:
18:
378:Freemasonry
298:Freemasonry
210:Freemasonry
191:, Germany,
116:Dunfermline
63:Freemasonry
820:Categories
795:Uddingston
394:References
314:Haddington
256:Gethsemane
75:Haddington
41:mutual aid
290:Euphrates
136:Edinburgh
56:Cape Town
50:In 1849,
782:on the
763:W. Gow.
654:Archived
626:Archived
615:Archived
573:Archived
554:Archived
533:Archived
514:Archived
495:Archived
476:Archived
444:Archived
372:See also
193:Edmonton
181:Scotland
177:Antilles
122:and the
694:11 June
612:Regalia
263:Solomon
173:Bristol
100:gardens
69:History
767:(1910)
751:
737:
723:
288:) and
286:Tigris
278:Pishon
199:Ritual
282:Gihon
105:lodge
749:ISBN
735:ISBN
721:ISBN
696:2008
621:and
252:Noah
244:Adam
31:The
822::
715:,
604:^
584:^
455:^
425:^
300:.
280:,
238:.
107:.
84:.
698:.
258:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
