Ancient Order of Free Gardeners Scotland

AOFG Scotland

The Grand Lodge of Free Gardeners Scotland (historically the Ancient Order of Free Gardeners) is an ancient fraternal and friendly society that originated in 17th-century Scotland.

Early Roots: Traces back to Scottish operative gardener guilds and mutual-aid societies, with the oldest documented lodge being the Haddington Lodge in East Lothian, founded on August 16, 1676.

National Formation: An attempt to create a unified national governing body occurred in 1849 at Lasswade, Midlothian, leading to the Ancient Order of Free Gardeners Scotland. Internal disagreements later split it into eastern and western grand lodges.

Relocation & Return: In 1956, due to declining attendance in Scotland, the Grand Lodge charter was transferred to Cape Town, South Africa. The order officially returned to Scotland in September 2005, when the Countess of Elgin Lodge No. 105 received its charter to meet in Dysart, Fife.

History of

Grand Lodge of Free Gardeners Scotland

In 1849, The Ancient Order of Free Gardeners Scotland, (a Grand Lodge similar to those of Freemasonry) was formed at Lasswade, Midlothian. The stated purpose of this body was to bring all existing lodges, in Scotland, under its control. It failed in this aim. Another attempt was made to create a single national governing body in 1859 at Edinburgh to which all known Free Gardeners lodges had been invited. That also was a failure but resulted in the formation of two Grand Lodges one for the east of Scotland and another for the west of the country.[2]

In 1956, due to falling attendances in Scotland, the Grand Lodge charter was transferred to Cape Town, 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.

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 2026 Most Worshipful Iain Vincent accepted the application of Most Worshipful Grand Master Rupert Corpuz of IAOFG to have a full transition to Grand Lodge of Ancient Order of Free Gardeners Scotland and they have the pending transition on February 12th and Feb 13th 2027 in the Philippines, the Grand Lodge of Ancient Order of Free Gardeners Scotland will visiting Philippines and conduct a Lodge Consecration ceremony to all the members of IAOFG to become a Ancient Order of Free Gardeners Philippines & Asia Pacific