Most regular Masonic lodges and members are refered to as either Free & Accepted Masons (F. & A.M.) or Ancient Free & Accepted Masons (A.F. & A.M.). So why is South Carolina the only state in the U.S. that refers to its lodges and members as Ancient Free Masons (A.F.M.)?

Before December 26, 1818, there where two grand lodges in South Carolina - the Grand Lodge of Ancient York Masons and the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of South Carolina. They took the name Grand Lodge of Ancient Free Masons of South Carolina as one of the compromises made to merge the two bodies.

So while all South Carolina Masons are regular Free & Accepted Masons, they are officially known as Ancient Free Masons.