The Origins and History of the Order of Free Gardeners

Freemasonry only had one serious competitor and that was from Free Gardenery. Both came from the same roots, the former from the trade of stonemasonry and the latter, that of gardening. It was anticipated that membership of Lodges would be drawn from men working in those trades. But from the outset Free Gardeners initiated men who were not gardeners and this was specifically catered for in their first written rules of the order. What attracted these gentlemen gardeners to seeks admission to a Lodge is not clear but perhaps the elaborate rituals, regalia and practical advice cannot be ruled out.

The parallels between Free Gardenery and Freemasonry were remarkably similarity to Freemasonry in that both were created by operative Scottish gardeners and stonemasons respectively. A comparison between the two orders, their origins and development provides an unusual dimension for the study of both.

This book provides the reader and fantastic introduction to the fraternity of Free Gardeners outlining its history, showing its regalia and describing its degrees.

152 Pages, ISBN 978 0 85318 656 4

Highly Illustrated

Hardback