Who was the first freemason in the world?

Answer 1

Nobody. Freemasonry evolved in part from the Stonemasons' guilds in medieval Britain, and from various speculative societies. The complete history of its origin is very obscure, but there is no point in history which can be pointed to as a founding point.

Modern Masonry dates from 1717 when four Lodges in London formed the Grand Lodge of England at the Goose and Gridiron pub. But those Lodges were already in existence at that time.

Answer 2

This is nearly impossible to answer. Some believe that Freemasons come from the operative guilds of Masons in medieval Europe, but this is typically a "for-public" explanation that has many difficulties as an origin.

Others link Freemasons to the Knights Templar, based on the rituals and words still in use today.

There is currently a line of thought that Freemasonry descends from the Roman Collegium of builders.

Still others link Freemasons back to ancient Egyptian Mystery schools.

Here are some facts: reference to the "Mason's Word" (a cornerstone of Freemasonry) was mentioned in the poem "The Muses' Threnodie" in 1638 CE, which contradicts a 1717 CE origin as held by many. Still more interesting, the Oldest surviving Masonic document is the Regius Manuscript, written around 1390 CE.

The fact that a Masonic code of conduct is still extant from 1390 makes it not impossible that there is at least a Knight Templar origin. The Knights Templar were officially disbanded on Friday 3, 1307 CE. Therefore, prior to 1390 CE (some 620 years prior to the writing of this response), one must speculate based on linguistic evidence and continuity of thought and ritual.

Answer 3

Freemasonry was not "made up" or invented by anyone. It has been around for many centuries, for so long, in fact, that its origins are unclear. The most usual explanation is that Freemasonry originated with the stonemasons' guilds in the Middle Ages. I'm talking about the people who built the gothic cathedrals of the 12th and 13th centuries here.

Answer 4

There is not much information about early Freemason history because the records have not survived. The earliest record of a person being initiated is on may 20th 1641 of a Sir Robert Moray. There is no information about the "first" Freemason.

Answer 5

There is one answer agreed upon by all freemasons, but some recent research point fingers to Hiram of Tyr, the guy responsible for building Solomon's temple

Answer 6

There wasn't one. Freemasonry grew gradually, over many centuries, to acquire the characteristics which distinguish it. It is impossible to pinpoint a specific time when it started.