At the beginning, instead of andersons history, is an extended. The constitutions of the freemasons was a constitution written for the premier grand lodge of england, to standardize the rituals and practices of freemasonry among lodges of london and westminster operating under that grand lodge. Mark masons combined book of constitutions and yearbook. Masonic regalia raob regalia orange regalia civic chains of office masonic books ritual and constitutions allied ritual craft ritual royal arch ritual knight templar ritual. Book of constitutions masons, illinois 195859, intender.
Benjamin franklin, grand master of masons of pennsylvania. Anderson was a freemason, the master of a masonic lodge, and a grand warden of the grand lodge of london and westminster. This is an online electronic edition of the the first masonic book printed in. 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. 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. Book of constitutions united grand lodge of england. In 1756 he published the antients own book of constitutions, entitled the ahiman rezon, for which no meaning is known. Henry clausen, the head of freemasonry in the 60s and 70s, said this in his book, masons who helped shape our nation pp 1416. The current edition, which includes all updates, is available for download in three sections. The masonic book of constitutions guarded by the tylers. Anderson whose constitutions is the groundwork of our laws, is not only interesting but useful. 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. Freemasonry english books of constitutions pietrestones.
The constitutions of the freemasons james anderson. Andersons constitutions of 1723 freemason information. 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. The masonic book of constitutions guarded by the tylers sword. Scotlands early lodges and their members aberdeen university press, 1988 external links. The constitutions of the free masons classic reprint. 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. Having been raised to the sublime degree of master mason, we are told that we have access to all the tools of masonry, indiscriminately. Printed by william hunter, for john senex at the globe, and john hooke at the flowerdeluce overagainst st. 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. 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. Jan 21, 2003 the constitutions of the free masons book. The first meeting of the grand lodge of mark master masons was held on monday, 23 june 1856.
The freemasons wanted a central bank which must have a central government to enforce it. This was in 1670 and this james anderson is no doubt another person. Andersons constitutions of 1723 masonic service association on. 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. Obviously, it was not meant to apply to other lodges in other parts of england. However, a minute book dated 1599 of the lodge of edinburgh states that several speculative brethren had appended their marks after their names. The book of constitutions is the rule book of the united grand lodge of england that regulates all lodges and freemasons. Mason, the horrors of an outraged conscience, and the just and awful anger of the infinite deity whose pres ence was invoked as a witness on the holy contents of this book. Book of constitutions masons, 195859, intender handbook, 1963 plus. Includes booklets information for the guidance of members of the craft 2019 edition and new information about masonic charities. Digital masonic library onondaga and oswego masonic. Mark masons combined book of constitutions and yearbook 20182019. This is the seminal work of american masonry, edited and published by one of the founding fathers, and of great importance to. All your masonic questions answered plus lodge info, news, events, diary, whats on and much, much.
The constitutions of the free masons was a constitution written for the premier grand lodge of england, to standardize the rituals and practices of freemasonry among lodges of london and westminster operating under that grand lodge. 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. 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 free masons published in london in february 1723. This is the official book of constitutions and yearbook of the grand lodge of mark master masons and the ancient and honourable fraternity of royal ark mariners.
It does not recognize or admit the existence of any superior. As with any such collections of this nature on the internet, there is no telling how long these works or links will remain. Ben franklin was a master mason in philadelphia when he published the first masonic publication in the new world, the book of constitutions, in 1734. When hughan and woodford began their re searches into the constitutions of the operative ma sons, about 1866, hardly more than a score of such doc uments had then been recovered and traced. 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. 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. Lot of 7 masonic mason freemason freemasonry lodge ritual master books etc. 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. The book is actually indirectly descended from andersons constitutions. To us american masons, who live under fortynine grand jurisdictions and to whom masonic jurisprudence is an almost necessary preoccupation, any new light on that formative and critical period, and especially on dr. Masonic papers by dr andrew prescott the production of the english books of constitutions in the eighteenth century.
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. He was commissioned in september 1721 by the grand lodge to write a history of the free masons, and it was published in 1723 as the constitutions of the free masons. 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. The grand lodge was founded by eleven delegates, of whom andrew g. A fascinating account of the freemason traditions, and a crucial source document for founders of the masonic lodges, this book offers insight into both the historic and social qualities of freemasonry. New listing kjv holy bible master reference red letter edition masonic heirloom 1964. In 18 the ancient grand lodge was dissolved by the union of the two grand lodges of england, and a new book of constitutions having been adopted for the united body, no subsequent edition of the ahiman rezon was ever published.
Collected and digested by order of the grand lodge from their old records, faithful traditions and lodge books, for the use of the lodges. Jun 12, 2012 the constitutions of the free masons classic reprint anderson, james on. The constitution, history, laws, charges, orders, regulations, and usages of the right worshipful fraternity of accepted free masons. Masons hold that god, the great architect, founded freemasonry, and that it had as patrons, adam and the patriarchs.
Masonic designs master mason emblem designs masonic book of constitutions. For the seventh year in a row, the area deputies and other leaders have worked hard on planning a full year of degree schools, leadership training events and other. I believe that most masons know him well and, after i describe him, you will easily recognize him. Constitutions ancient fraternity free accepted masons abebooks.
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. The title of the second, rewritten, edition of 1738 was the new book of constitutions of the antient and honourable fraternity of free and accepted masons, containing their history, charges, regulations, etc. Johnson, passed to the celestial lodge on april 21, 2019. 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. The constitutions of the freemasons by james anderson. On the 29th of september, 1721, he was commissioned by the grand lodge to collect and compile the history, charges, and regulations of the fraternity from the then existing ancient constitutions of the lodges. It went through eight editions, the last edition being published in 18. On the 29th of september, 1721, he was commissioned by the grand lodge to collect and compile the. Each of our orders offers a different masonic experience to members. So you see how naturally it becomes the symbol of constitutional government. James anderson, the authorcompiler of the constitutions ii of 1723. Let me introduce the speaker of the evening, although, as presiding officers so often say, he hardly needs an introduction. Masonic articles book of constitutions guarded by the. Collected and digested by order of the grand lodge from.
One of hundreds of traditional and original masonic designs available on my cafepress store bytheplumb. The constitutions of the freemasons, free pdf global grey. 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. 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. Book of constitutions of the grand lodge of kentucky. The constitutions of the freemasons classic reprint.
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. The ancient grand lodge of england, as it is known today, or the grand lodge of the most ancient and honourable fraternity of free and accepted masons according to the old constitutions granted by his royal highness prince edwin, at york, anno domini nine hundred and twenty six, and in the year of masonry four thousand nine hundred and twenty six as they described themselves on their. The book of constitutions grand lodge of colorado page 2 working by virtue of a charter granted by the grand lodge. Masons played an important part in the formation of the united states and especially in the revolutionary war and the events that led up to this war. Ritual and constitutions masonic books crest regalia ltd. Mark masons hall, 86 st jamess street, london, sw1a 1pl is the administrative headquarters of ten orders in freemasonry.
Modeled on spratts irish constitutions, the regulations are comprehensive and well written, and are followed by an extended section devoted to songs. The grand secretary was instructed to purchase twelve copies of it 1802. Contains a mythicalbiblicalhistorical account of the order, as well as charges and general regulations for members and lodges. Listing all the provincial grand lodges of mark master masons in england and wales and its districts and lodges overseas. This edition unites the masonic constitution together with other regulations, plus a selection of freemason songs traditionally sung in the lodges. Like andersons constitutions before it, it is meant as a guide to new masons on how to conduct the affairs of their lodge and how to conduct themselves per the constitution of the antient grand lodge of england. The constitutions of the freemasons by james anderson and. The masonic book of constitutions guarded by the tylers sword masonic service association on. A lodge under dispensation is a temporary body of masons congregating and exercising certain limited functions by virtue of a dispensation granted by authority of the grand lodge. Obviously, it was not meant to apply to other lodges in other parts of england, scotland and ireland. This is now the wellknown book of constitutions, which contains the history of freemasonry or, more correctly, architecture, the ancient charges, and the general regulations, as the same were in use in many old lodges. Anderson was a freemason, and when, in 1721, on the revival of freemasonry in england, the grand lodge determined to produce an authoritative digest of the constitutions of the fraternity, the task was assigned to him enticks edition 1747 of the constitutions, p. The official website of freemasonry in nottinghamshire. 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.
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