Grand Lodge of Scotland

The Grand Lodge of Antient Free and Accepted Masons of Scotland is the governing body of Freemasonry in Scotland. It was founded in 1736. About one third of Scotland's lodges were represented at the foundation meeting of the Grand Lodge.

History
The oldest records held by the Grand Lodge of Scotland are minutes of Lodge Aitcheson's Haven which commence on 9 January 1599.

The connection between the craft of stonemasonry and modern Freemasonry can be readily established in Scotland.

Scottish Freemasonry has developed a distinct and unique character, even by comparison with the other British Grand Lodges. The Grand Master of the constitution bears the unique title Grand Master Mason, an office which has been held by many distinguished members of Scottish society. Unlike other Regular Masonic jurisdictions all members, of whatever rank, are addressed simply as "Brother". The usual and more complex masonic titles are used in Scotland, but attach to the office, not the individual.

Lodges under the Scottish Constitution are sovereign bodies in their own right, with a considerable degree of control of their own affairs. Many Lodges pre-existed Grand Lodge, all zealously guarding their traditions, and were permitted to retain their own procedures, regalia, and distinctive rituals. Having accepted the principle of independence of old Lodges, it was impossible to deny Lodges founded after 1736 the same level of independence. Of course the rituals must contain the principal points of each degree, but the scope for elaboration is considerable, with numerous interesting additions. Since Scottish Lodges have the right to choose the colours of the Lodge regalia, meetings are very colourful, especially if visitors from other Lodges are present.

Structure
The Grand Lodge of Scotland has 32 Provincial Grand Lodges in Scotland itself, and 26 District Grand Lodges overseas, each headed by a Provincial Grand Master or District Grand Master. Private lodges belong to a Province or District, through which they report to the Grand Lodge in Edinburgh.

Grand office-bearers
The current grand master mason is The Rev. Canon Joseph Morrow, who was installed in November 2023. he is also the current Lord Lyon King of Arms.

The grand secretary is Brother William M. S. Semple.

International cooperation
The Grand Lodge of Scotland, together with the United Grand Lodge of England and the Grand Lodge of Ireland, is one of the three senior Regular Masonic jurisdictions, commonly known as the Home Grand Lodges.

In many parts of the world local lodges operate under all three of the Home constitutions (Scottish, English, and Irish). By Masonic convention, no Lodges are ever founded in an overseas jurisdiction once it possesses its own Grand Lodge, although lodges which pre-date the local Grand Lodge may continue to operate under their original constitution. In 1953 the Grand Lodge of Scotland chartered the Grand Lodge of the State of Israel as a sovereign Grand Lodge.