Quatuor Coronati
The **Quatuor Coronati Lodge No. 2076** is the world's premier research lodge in Freemasonry. Founded in 1884 in London, it is dedicated to the scholarly study of the history, symbolism, and practices of Freemasonry. The lodge is named after the "Four Crowned Martyrs" (Latin: *Quatuor Coronati*), a group of Christian stonemasons from the 4th century who were martyred for refusing to make idols for pagan gods, a story that holds significance in Masonic tradition.
Quatuor Coronati Lodge was created by a group of Masons who sought to bring a more academic and historically accurate approach to Masonic studies, challenging some of the myths and legends that had persisted within the fraternity. They pioneered what is often called the "authentic school" of Masonic research, relying on documentary evidence and critical historical methods.
The lodge publishes an annual journal, **Ars Quatuor Coronatorum** (AQC), which contains papers on various aspects of Freemasonry, including its origins, rituals, symbolism, and its role in society. Members of the lodge include prominent historians, researchers, and scholars, both Masons and non-Masons, who contribute to its research.
While Quatuor Coronati Lodge is part of the United Grand Lodge of England (UGLE), its research and publications are influential across the global Masonic community.