Freemasonry english books of constitutions pietrestones. Digital masonic library greetings, at the library tab suggested reading of the website of the valley of schenectady, aasr, nmj, usa, is the below listing of interesting books for masonic readers and researchers. The constitutions of freemasons andersons constitutions. The present revision will constitute the 17th edition of the blue book, which has governed freemasons in michigan since the erection of the grand lodge in 1826.
The constitutions of the freemasons classic reprint. The masonic book of constitutions guarded by the tylers. In presenting an american edition of andersons constitutions to the masonic fraternity, the publisher feels confident that there are but few readers in the order who have not dwelt with interest and delight on the pages of this most popular work popular at least with masons, and esteemed by them as. Lodgequatuorcoronati, authorofthestoryofthecraft,etc. His newest book, heritage endures was published in january 2018. Lodge, and published in 1723, entitled the book of constitutions of the freemasons, containing the history, charges, regulations, etc. This having been done, the same year, in december, fourteen learned brethren were appointed a committee to examine the result of his labours, and the following march his work was, with some trifling amendments, adopted by grand lodge, and published in 1723, entitled the book of constitutions of the freemasons, containing the history, charges. George payne, when in his second term as grand master in 1720 he compiled the general regulations. William prestons illustrations of freemasonry enlarged and expanded on this masonic creation myth. Everyone who enters freemasonry is, at the outset, strictly.
At the beginning, instead of andersons history, is an extended. Modeled on spratts irish constitutions, the regulations are comprehensive and well written, and are followed by an extended section devoted to songs. The constitutions of the freemasons, free pdf global grey. James anderson, the authorcompiler of the constitutions ii of 1723. All your masonic questions answered plus lodge info, news, events, diary, whats on and much, much. This book, uniform in style and presentation with my earlier freemasons guide and compendium, which, in the main, dealt with craft masonry, is an attempt to provide a simple explanation of the origin, rise, and development, and the customs, ritual, and symbolism, of royal arch masonry so far as present knowledge and considerations of masonic. Appears in 171 books from 17462007 page 157 brethren, and reform what gives them offence, he shall be dealt with according to the bylaws of that particular lodge, or else in such a manner as the quarterly communication shall in their great prudence think fit. It was taken by the grand lodge of ireland as the model for their book of constitutions in 1730. In 1793 doctor anderson published the first edition of the book of constitutions, in which the history of the fraternity of freemasons is, he save, collected from their general records and their faithful traditions of. Every candidate is required to take his obligation on that book or on the volume which is held by his particular creed to impart sanctity to an oath or promise taken upon it. Book of constitutions and code of procedure of the grand lodge of free and accepted masons of the state of new york, ordered to be kept in the archives of each lodge. Former editions were prepared by right worshipful grand. The book of constitutions is the rule book of the united grand lodge of england that regulates all lodges and freemasons.
The key event in the development of freemasonry into the one of the largest and most influential social organisations in the world was the establishment of a grand lodge in london in 1717, and the fundamental starting point for investigations into the early history of the grand lodge remains the book of constitutions of the freemasons published in london in february 1723. Freemasons, founding fathers and the secrets of washington d. It was edited by the presbyterian clergyman, james anderson, to the order of john theophilus desaguliers, and approved by a grand lodge committee under his control. Another edition was issued in 1738, and again in 1754 and 1767, when. Andersons constitutions of 1723 masonic service association on. Constitutions of the ancient fraternity of free and accepted masons, under the united grand lodge of england, containing the general charges, laws and regulations etc. Rise and progress of freemasonry in illinois by e turnbull. Henry clausen, the head of freemasonry in the 60s and 70s, said this in his book, masons who helped shape our nation pp 1416. He is the author of the bestselling freemasons for dummies, and solomons builders. Book of constitutions general index may 2016 258 kb book of constitutions grand charity dec 2015 52 kb also available for download is the current edition of the booklet entitled information for the guidance of members of the craft 2015 399 kb. This is the seminal work of american masonry, edited and published by one of the founding fathers, and of great importance to. The constitutions of the freemasons james anderson.
Book of constitutions freemasons lodge under united grand lodge. Freemasons today in masonic history john james audubon. Constitutions of the ancient fraternity of f and am by j hervey. In presenting an american edition of andersons constitutions to the masonic fraternity, the publisher feels confident that there are but few readers in the order who have not dwelt with interest and delight on the pages of this most popular work popular at least with masons, and esteemed by them as the written landmarks of masonry. Quarterly magazine of the united grand lodge of england, featuring freemasons news, interviews, and features. The date and place of his birth have not yet been discovered with certainty, but the date was probably 1680, and the place, aberdeen, in scotland, where he was educated and where he probably took the degrees of master of arts. It suggests that there was at the heart of english freemasonry a powerful nexus of hack historians, engravers, artists, map makers and scientific instrument makers who were fascinated by the implications of the discoveries of english scientists in the late. Apr 25, 2020 book of constitutions general index 254 kb also available for download is the current edition of the booklet entitled information for the guidance of members of the craft 2018 591 kb.
Book of constitutions of the grand lodge of kentucky. Andersons constitutions of 1723 general regulations, compiled first by m. The current edition, which includes all updates, is available for download in three sections. Constitutions ancient fraternity free accepted masons abebooks. As all authorities agree, the tiny, faded, time stained booklet which we herewith present, is the oldest masonic book, the earliest printed copy of the constitu tions of the operative freemasons. Laws and constitutions of the grand lodge of ireland. This is a new edition of the the first masonic book printed in america, which was originally produced in philadelphia by benjamin franklin in 1734, and was a reprint of a work by james anderson who is identified as the author in an appendix printed in london in 1723. The code of constitutions downloadable pdf the code of the grand lodge of a.
The constitutions of the freemasons 1734 by james anderson. Masonic collection is a onestop destination for all kinds of masonic books. A second london edition, much expanded, appeared in 1738. Masons of colorado, hereinafter referred to as the book of constitutions. It suggests that there was at the heart of english freemasonry a powerful nexus of hack historians, engravers, artists, map makers and scientific instrument makers. Book of constitutions general index 270 kb masonic charities freemasons make a major contribution to society through their own charities, as well as through donations. Foulabook download the constitutions of the freemasons. The masonic book of constitutions guarded by the tylers sword masonic service association on. Andersons constitutions were based on the old masonic manuscripts also called gothic constitutions and on the general regulations which had been compiled first by george payne in 1720. This was in 1670 and this james anderson is no doubt another person. Page 109 they and some old brothers met at the said appletree, and having put into the chair the oldest master mason now the master of a lodge they constituted themselves a grand lodge pro tempore in due form, and forthwith revived the quarterly communication of the officers of lodges calld the grand lodge resolvd to hold the annual assembly and feast, and then to chuse a grand master. The constitutions of the freemasons, containing the history, charges, regulations and of that most ancient and right worshipful fraternity, for the use of the lodges contains a number of standard masonic commandments and rules including obedience to the rule of a higher power in this iteration the interpretation is strictly christian however.
Constitutions ii bpocketcompanions 20 cexposures 24 dhistorical 29 esermonsandspeeches 33 fmiscellaneous 37. An encyclopedia of freemasonry and its kindred sciences by albert gallatin mackey for the first time online on a masonic site the real two volumes of such a basic work on freemasonry by mackey. Remarks on some masonic book plates vol ii by pope in 1911. Of that most ancient and right worshipful fraternity, for the use of the lodges classic reprint anderson, james on. Includes booklets information for the guidance of members of the craft 2019 edition and new information about masonic charities. There is a remarkable similarity between his entry in the constitutions of his name as master of a lodge and author of this book, and in entry in the aberdeen mark book, of james anderson, glazier and mason and writer of this book. We have an unwavering reputation for supplying over 500 masonic titles covering ritual books for all degrees, general books, books of constitutions, masonic humour, handbooks and esoteric. This constitution and the laws enacted thereunder shall be designated as the book of constitutions of the most worshipful grand lodge of ancient free and accepted masons of colorado, hereinafter referred to as the book of constitutions. The official website of freemasonry in nottinghamshire. The constitutions was edited and reprinted by benjamin franklin in philadelphia in 1734, becoming the first masonic book printed in america. Book of constitutions united grand lodge of england. One of hundreds of traditional and original masonic designs available on my cafepress store bytheplumb. The recorded history of grand lodge dates only from 1723 when the first minute book was commenced, and so for a contemporary account of the formation of grand lodge, and of the first six years of its existence, we have to depend almost exclusively on dr.
Masonic papers by dr andrew prescott the production of the english books of constitutions in the eighteenth century. The royal arch regulations taken from the 2019 edition of the book of constitutions are available for download in pdf format as a read only document. Andersons constitutions of 1723 freemason information. A biographical study of those involved in the production of the various editions of the book of constitutions published by the premier grand lodge reveals a great deal about the cultural context and concerns of early english freemasonry. Book of constitutions freemasons lodge under united. Freemasons today in masonic history we discuss the. The masonic book of constitutions guarded by the tylers sword paperback september 10, 2010. Book of constitutions craft plates jan 2017 944 kb book of constitutions general index jan 2017 254 kb also available for download is the current edition of the booklet entitled information for the guidance of members of the craft nov 2018 592 kb. Our book of constitutions, you know, is our masonic fundamental law, just as the constitution of the united states is the fundamental law of our nation. And yes, there has been a great deal of change in the ancient fraternity since it emerged from the shadows in 1717. Welcome grand lodge of nc freemasons of north carolina.
The bible, referred to by freemasons as the volume of the sacred law, is always open in the lodges. Notwithstanding the way in which grand lodge received the work after its publication, it took its place as the official manual, so that the fact that it was not official but essentially a private affair was entirely lost sight of. Ritual and illustrations of freemasonry by key to phi beta kappa. Book of constitutions of the ancient and honorable fraternityof free and accepted masons containing their history, charges, regulations, etc collected and digested by order of the grand lodge from their old records, for use of the lodges. This is an online electronic edition of the the first masonic book printed in. Prestons work was exceptionally influential and was, together with the book of constitutions, one of the books owned by freemasons in england. The constitutions of freemasons andersons constitutions the constitutions of the freemasons, for the use of the lodges in london and westminster, was published in 1723. In 1756 he published the antients own book of constitutions, entitled the ahiman rezon, for which no meaning is known. Freemasonry and external relations relations with other masonic bodies. By the solemn act of union between the two grand lodges of freemasons of england in december 18, it was. This is an online electronic edition of the the first masonic book printed in america, which was produced in philadelphia by benjamin franklin in 1734, and was a reprint of a work by james anderson who is identified as the author in an appendix printed in london in 1723. A new edition of the constitutions was published in 1754, by john entick. The constitutions of the freemasons unl digital commons. Expanded, revised, and republished, andersons 1738 constitutions listed the grand masters since augustine of canterbury, listed as austin the monk.
Sep 04, 2008 this is a new edition of the the first masonic book printed in america, which was originally produced in philadelphia by benjamin franklin in 1734, and was a reprint of a work by james anderson who is identified as the author in an appendix printed in london in 1723. Digital masonic library onondaga and oswego masonic. The freemasons wanted a central bank which must have a central government to enforce it. He reverted to the charges as drawn up in 1723 into which, especially in the first charge, anderson had introduced various modifications in the 1738 edition. As with any such collections of this nature on the internet, there is no telling how long these works or links will remain. A major difference between the ahiman rezon was that dermott placed in the front of the book, instead of the history of freemasonry found in andersons constitutions, a parody of the histories of freemasonry that had been around at the time. Masonic designs master mason emblem designs masonic book of constitutions. Image 4 of constitutions, 4 thirtythird and last degree of the ancient accepted scottish rite of freemasonry, and whose powers, privileges, and duties shall be as hereinafter defined. The book of charges which forms the second part of the document is certainly of the 14th century, the historical or first part, of quite the beginning of the 15th.
Index to andersons constitutions of 1723 until a full transcription of the 1723 edition is completed, researchers are directed to the text of the 1734 edition, transcribed by paul royster, university of nebraskalincoln, february 14, 2006. Ahiman rezon was adopted from spratts irish constitutions, which was adopted from andersons constitutions. So you see how naturally it becomes the symbol of constitutional government. Benjamin franklin, grand master of masons of pennsylvania. Collected and digested by order of the grand lodge from their old records, faithful traditions and lodgebooks, for the use of the lodges.
In 1793 doctor anderson published the first edition of the book of constitutions, in which the history of the fraternity of freemasons is, he save, collected from their general records and their faithful traditions of many ages. Download the constitutions of the freemasons pdf by james andersonfrom the preface. The word lodge or lodges, unless otherwise specifically defined, shall be construed to mean a lodge or lodges under the jurisdiction of this grand lodge. Masonic articles book of constitutions guarded by the. Freemasons recognized as regulars by the united grand lodge of england or by a grand lodge of the united states of america, prince hall masonry included.