History of the Ancient Order

Hidden deep within the vault beneath Blackthorn Tower lies the sole surviving record of the Elderbloom Conclave. Its first entry, dated to the spring equinox of 1603, is a list of twelve edicts known as the "Bloom-Vows," the sacred tenets of the order's inner circle, passed down through generations of those who understand the secrets of the flourishing world.

The 17th century in Scotland was a time of hardship, marked by civil unrest and the ever-present threat of famine. Despite these challenges, the land held a powerful allure. While the wealthy pursued the fashion of formal gardens, a more humble form of cultivation flourished.

A Legacy of Fellowship

Roots in Scotland

The Haddington Lodge, established in 1676, was a testament to this. Its members, small landowners and farmers, were not driven by profession, but by a deep-seated love for gardening. They found both practical sustenance and personal fulfillment in nurturing their plots, a quiet act of defiance against the uncertainties of the age.

From Ms. rituals it would appear that the lodge officers were the Master, two Wardens, Chaplain and Inside and Outside Tylers. There were three degrees: Apprentice (based on Adam in the Garden of Eden), Journeyman (based on Noah’s Ark) and Master Gardener (based on King Solomon). Each ceremony included an obligation, passwords, signs and a catechism.

Aprons, collars and jewels of the Order show a similar symbolism to Freemasonry. The principal emblem has the square and compasses conjoined as in the Craft with, laid over them, a pruning knife open at an angle of sixty degrees. Painted aprons and certificates include scenes such as Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, Noah’s Ark, the main emblem just described and representations of gardeners' tools. The latter were symbolized in the ritual catechisms in the same way that the operative masons' tools are symbolized in Freemasonry. The letters P.G.H. and E. also appear prominently displayed and refer to the four heads of the river running through the Garden of Eden (Pison, Gihon, Hiddekel and Euphrates; see Genesis Chapter 2 vv. 10-14) and the letters A.N.S. and 0 which refer to the three Grand Master Gardeners (Adam, Noah and Solomon) and the Olive sign and grip of a Master Gardener.

In recent times branches of the Order of Free Gardeners were still listed on the Register of Friendly Societies, including (in England) the National Order and (in Scotland) the British United and St. Andrew’s Orders.

ST. ANDREW ORDER OF ANCIENT FREE GARDENERS

The Ancient Order of Free Gardeners formed a Lodge on 12th Dec. 1919 in Stonyburn, West Lothian. This was at the request of Stoneyburn men who were members of the Order in Bathgate. Stoneyburn Olive Lodge promised to become one of the largest in the shire at that time but apart from the report of its founding in the local press, no other mention of it has come to light but it is believed to have existed for several years before it and its Grand Lodge became dormant. The first R.W. Master was David Strickland and the Secretary was Peter Walker, an Addiewell man.

The State Archives: Registry of Co-operative and Friendly Societies of New South Wales, Australia, contains 6 boxes of files (information relating to the appointment of trustees, closure, dissolution, and transfer, as specified under the Friendly Societies Act of 1899) of nine defunct friendly societies dating from 1902-75 (Kingswood 19/17378-83), including the Grand Unity of Free Gardeners.

NEW SOUTH WALES, AUSTRALIA

DEGREES

Arturo de Hoyos, in his "Collectanea," an official publication of the Grand College of Rites of the United States of America dedicated to the study of masonic and quasi-masonic ritual, includes a chapter on "Sarsena" and The Ancient Order of Free Gardeners (1996)

Contents:
- Sarsena Introduction (by Art deHoyos);
- IV° Scots Apprentice and Fellow;
- V° Scots Master;
- VI° Scots Past Master and Kt. of St. Andrew, - VII° Grand Cross of the Knights of St. John;
- The Ancient Order of Free Gardeners: Synopsis (by T.W.R. Proctor);
- The Apprentice Degree with Instructions for the R.W.M.;
Apprentice Lecture;
- The Second Degree (Journeyman);
- The Master’s Degree;
Master’s Lecture;
- Garden Lecture; Apron Lecture;

Source: https://freemasonry.bcy.ca/texts/gardeners.html