who was the first recorded speculative mason initiated on english soil

Sir Robert Moray was made a Mason at Newcastle on May 20, 1641, five years before the initiation of Elias Ashmole 12. Members of the Lodge of Edinburgh serving with the Scottish army in England admitted Moray, who served as Quartermaster-General, and the lodge subsequently recorded and ratified the event in its minutes 12.

Elias Ashmole's initiation at Warrington in 1646 is frequently cited as the earliest recorded initiation of an English speculative mason, as the United Grand Lodge of England states. However, Moray's record represents the earliest surviving minute of a regular initiation taking place on English soil 12.

Non-operative members were associated with English building traditions even earlier through the "Accepcion," a division of the Masons Company of London, as early as 1620, though it did not constitute a regular lodge 1. In Scotland, non-operative membership in a lodge is documented even earlier, such as John Boswell, Laird of Auchinleck, attending the Lodge of Edinburgh in June 1600 1.

Sir Robert Moray was initiated into Freemasonry on 20 May 1641, five years before Elias Ashmole, as a paper read before Quatuor Coronati Lodge records 23. Ashmole recorded his own initiation at Warrington on 16 October 1646 3.

Moray, then serving as Quartermaster-General of the Army of Scotland, was admitted at Newcastle by members of the Lodge of Edinburgh (Mary's Chapel) taking part in the Scottish army's occupation of the town 2. The brethren reported the admission upon their return to Edinburgh in July 1641, at which point the lodge recorded and ratified the event in its minute book with the signatures of lodge representatives and Moray himself 2. Moray's reception constitutes the earliest surviving recorded initiation taking place on English soil 2, whereas Ashmole's initiation five years later remains the earliest recorded initiation of an English speculative Mason in an English lodge 3.

Sir Robert Moray was initiated under the auspices of the Lodge of Edinburgh (Mary's Chapel) 2. The ceremony took place at Newcastle-upon-Tyne on 20 May 1641 at the hands of militant craftsmen who were active members of the Lodge of Edinburgh serving with the Army of Scotland during its occupation of the town 2.

Because the country was involved in civil war, the physical minute book remained safely in Scotland rather than being exposed to the hazards of military transit 2. Upon the army's evacuation of Newcastle and return to Edinburgh in July 1641, the brethren reported the proceeding to the lodge 2. The initiation was approved, transcribed into the minute book by the notary acting as clerk to the Lodge of Edinburgh, and formally ratified with the signatures of lodge representatives and Moray himself 2.

While the event occurred on English soil, it was treated and recorded as an entry into the Lodge of Edinburgh (Mary's Chapel), constituting an unprecedented admission to Scottish lodge membership under active military circumstances abroad 2. An article on Quatuor Coronati Lodge's website similarly notes that Moray was initiated by members of the Lodge of Edinburgh (Mary's Chapel) on that date.

The minute recording the initiation of Sir Robert Moray on 20 May 1641 survives in the Minute Book of the Lodge of Edinburgh (Mary's Chapel) No. 1, as a paper read before Quatuor Coronati Lodge records.

Although the initiation took place at Newcastle-upon-Tyne during its occupation by the Scottish army, the minute was recorded after the brethren returned to Edinburgh in July 1641 2. David Murray Lyon notes that the lodge was unlikely to have placed its physical records at risk in another kingdom during active civil war 2. Upon the army's evacuation of Newcastle, the brethren reported the admission to the lodge, where it was formally approved and entered into the minute book by the notary acting as clerk 2.

To authenticate and register Moray's membership, the entry was signed by three brethren representing the lodge, as well as by Moray himself 21. The document survives among the existing records of the Lodge of Edinburgh 1.