Short History of the District Grand Lodge of Jamaica & the Cayman Islands

1742 The Provincial Grand Lodge of Jamaica under the Premier Grand Lodge (or "Moderns") was formed, and the first Provincial Grand Master was Ballard Beckford.

1797 A Provincial Grand Lodge under the Atholl Grand Lodge (or "Antients") was formed.

1813 The two Grand Lodges were united to form The United Grand Lodge of England.

1865 All Provinces of the United Grand Lodge situated overseas were denominated "Districts" and the first District Grand Master was Dr Robert Hamilton.

1956 Bro. John James Mills's informative, "OVERSEAS LETTER – Freemasonry in Jamaica", published in the 1956 Year Book, at pages 68 to 70.

1967 Freemasonry was introduced into the Cayman Islands with the formation of the Cayman Lodge 8153 in Grand Cayman.

1972 On the 17th February 1972, R.W. Bro. Dr. Aubrey Shervington Jacobs was installed as District Grand Master of the District Grand Lodge of Jamaica, English Constitution, following the death of the incumbent, Bro. Dr. Francis Haddon Bowen.

1974 At the District Grand Lodge Communication in Jamaica, among the brethren appointed to Grand rank was R.W. Bro. Dr. Aubrey Shervington Jacobs, District Grand Master of the District Grand Lodge of Jamaica English Constitution, "for his promotion of the closeness and harmony between both Districts". He was appointed to the high rank of Honorary Junior Grand Warden.

1976 Bro. Lt. Colonel Frederick William Seal-Coon published, "An Historical Account of Jamaican Freemasonry". A work of great significance covering in detail every aspect of Jamaican Freemasonry.

1983 On February 12th 1982, R.W. Bro Dr. Aubrey Shervington Jacobs District Grand Master of the District Grand Lodge of Jamaica English Constitution dedicated the Masonic Building at 45-47 Barbados Avenue, New Kingston. All urban Lodges under the English and Irish Constitutions, at that time, were thereafter accommodated there.

1992 The District Grand Lodge of Jamaica became the District Grand Lodge of Jamaica & the Cayman Islands.
On the 25th of July 1992 Bro Afeef Assad Lazarus was installed by Dr. Bro. Aubrey Shervginton Jacobs as District Grand Master of the District Grand Lodge of Jamaica and the Cayman Islands with authority over 21 Lodges. The number has now been increased to 24, two of which are situated in the Cayman Islands.

1996 R.W. Bro. Dr. Aubrey Shervington Jacobs, Past District Grand Master, published his book "JACOBS' LADDER- One Man's Climb in Freemasonry", an excellent and well-received publication.

2009 On the  11th of July, 2009 WBro Walter Horatio Scott was installed by the Pro Grand Master, Peter Geoffrey Lowndes, as District Grand Master of the District Grand Lodge of Jamaica and the Cayman Islands.