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LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
OF THE UNITED GRAND LODGE OF ENGLAND

FREEMASONS’ HALL
GREAT QUEEN STREET LONDON WC2B 5AZ

9th July 1990

Dear Sir,

I refer to your enquiry regarding Lord Baden-Powell. There have been two complete searches of the Grand Lodge Registers for the name of Lord Robert Baden Powell, but there has been no trace of him having been initiated in or having been a member of a lodge under the United Grand Lodge of England. Nor is there any record of him having been initiated in a Lodge under any other Grand Lodge.

However, the following information may be of use to you:

Lord Baden-Powell

Robert Stephenson Smyth Powell, Baron of Gilwell, founder of the Boy Scout movement was born 22nd February 1857 and died on 8th January 1941. Despite the similarities in the philosophies of Freemasonry and the Scouting movement, we have been unable to trace any evidence that Lord Baden-Powell was a Freemason.

In this country we have a number of lodges, the membership of which is predominantly made up of brethren with connections in Scouting. They have an annual reunion in London every year at which one of the lodges holds a meeting in this building and invites the members of the other lodges to attend. On this particular occasion the brethren often wear their Scout uniforms as well as their regalia.

I regret not being able to help you further.

Yours sincerely,

J. MACDONALD, Secretary

K.A. McQuillan,
Assistant Librarian.

		"Lord Baden-Powell: Benefactor of Boyhood," an article on B-P and Freemasonry
		Excerpt from a letter from a Belgian Scouter and Freemason in Antwerp citing an article "Origines de Scoutisme" ("Origins of Scouting") in a French Masonic research journal, September 25, 1994.
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