Freemasonry book of constitutions 1723

Anderson was a freemason, the master of a masonic lodge, and a grand warden of the grand lodge of london and westminster. The report was followed by the list of 39 rules, which formed the basis of the rules printed in the first edition of the book of constitutions published in 1723. The constitutions was edited and reprinted by benjamin franklin in philadelphia in 1734, becoming the first masonic book printed in america. 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. Library directory listing freemasonry constitutions, bylaws, laws file size last modified a historical inquiry in regard to the grand constitutions of 1786 1883. The book of constitutions grand lodge of colorado page 1 constitution preamble we, the grand lodge of ancient free and accepted masons of colorado, in order to form a more perfect fraternal union, and to provide for and promote the general welfare of the masonic craft, do ordain and establish this constitution. Dont waste your money on cheap reproductions of famous masonic books when you can download them here for free. 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. 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. 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. Today we value the doctors labours less highly, but the constitutions of 1723 is nevertheless one of the most important records of the craft. He was commissioned in september 1721 by the grand lodge to write a history of the freemasons, and it was published in 1723 as the constitutions. Book of constitutions freemasonry in nottinghamshire.

This is the seminal work of american masonry, edited and published by one of the founding fathers, and of great importance. 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. American facsimile edition of 1855, is the only english complete reproduction of the constitutions of 1723. Aug 03, 2015 yet, by dissecting the 1723 constitutions of freemasons, the document these revisionist pundits claim proved their point that freemasonry began in 1717, i learned their allegation is unsupportable. Benjamin franklins reprint of andersons constitutions of 1723. I do not make my claims lightly, and i hope this article will lead others into researching this important topic further. The history of freemasonry encompasses the origins, evolution and defining events of the fraternal organisation known as freemasonry. 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. Anderson is a figure of central significance whose importance lies in providing a history stressing the antiquity and importance of the.

It was in 1723 that the society of freemasons published its first book of constitutions in london. There probably were freemasons among the earliest settlers of lancaster county, pennsylvania especially the english, and scotsirish. Colorado, hereinafter referred to as the book of constitutions. Woodford, hughans collaborator, edited an edition of the constitution book of 1723 as volume i of kennings masonic archeological library, under date of 1878. In its chronicle of freemasonrys early history, the 18thcentury constitutions, written by scottish minister james anderson and first published in 1723, stands as a pivotal, groundbreaking work. The current edition, which includes all updates, is.

Jun 14, 2017 the report was followed by the list of 39 rules, which formed the basis of the rules printed in the first edition of the book of constitutions published in 1723. This is an online electronic edition of the the first masonic book. Some masonic writers term itd esaguliers constitutions. Freemason collection offers a lot of masonic e books in english and some in french. 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. This is the first edition of the book of constitutions. 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.

Some have questioned why there were no press reports of the event in 1717, but they have been looking at the past with the eyes of the present. The constitutions of the freemasons by james anderson. For others its about being able to help deserving causes making a contribution to family and for society. He was commissioned in september 1721 by the grand lodge to write a history of the freemasons, and it was published in 1723 as the constitutions of the freemasons. Henry clausen, the head of freemasonry in the 60s and 70s, said this in his book, masons who helped shape our nation pp 1416. Firstly, the emergence of organised lodges of operative masons during the middle ages, then the admission of lay members as accepted masons a term reflecting the ceremonial acception process that made non stone masons members of. Including an analysis of andersons constitutions of 1723 and 1738 by hyneman, leon and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Lodgequatuorcoronati, authorofthestoryofthecraft,etc. 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.

George payne, when in his second term as grand master in 1720 he compiled the general regulations. The constitutions of the freemasons, free pdf global grey. The grand secretary was instructed to purchase twelve copies of it 1802. Andersons constitutions 1723 abebooks shop for books. This is the seminal work of american masonry, edited and published by one of the founding fathers, and of great importance to. The book of constitutions, guarded by the tilers sword before the door of all lodges stands a tiler with a drawn sword in his hand.

Andersons constitutions of 1723 online the complete text is now available online of benjamin franklins reprint of james andersons constitutions of 1723. Andersons constitutions of 1723 freemason information. Freemasonry means different things to each of those who join. 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.

Andersons constitutions of 1723 paperback september 10, 2010 by masonic service association author 4. This was the first masonic book known to have been published in the american colonies, printed in philadelphia in 1734. In england of the eighteenth century a permanent association or society was required to have a sponsor, the more exalted in the rank the better, who was named as its patron as the king himself was patron of the royal scientific society. Another edition was issued in 1738, and again in 1754 and 1767, when revised editions were issued, since. When in 1738, the grand lodge changed its name from grand lodge of london and westminster into the grand lodge of england, the constitution. 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. The 1723 edition of the constitutions was edited and reprinted by benjamin franklin in philadelphia in 1734, becoming the first masonic book printed in america. The importance of the constitutions of anderson sun yat. To us american masons to whom masonic jurisprudence is an almost necessary preoccupation, any new light on that formative and critical period, and especially on dr. Andersons constitutions of 1723 by masonic service association. Please take your time reading and understanding this important article. The grand lodge of british columbia and yukon ancient free and accepted masons website contains philosophy, symbolism and history. The constitutions of 1723 has greater importance in freemasonry than any of its successors, either for the grand lodge of england, the united grand lodge of england, or any other grand lodges which came into existence since then. Aug 24, 2017 freemasonry in england from 1567 to 18.

James anderson, the authorcompiler of the constitutions ii of 1723. In its chronicle of freemasonry s early history, the 18thcentury constitutions, written by scottish minister james anderson and first published in 1723, stands as a pivotal, groundbreaking work. This is a correct and detailed reproduction of the book exactly as anderson first published it, and is valuable accordingly. According to mackey it should have a snakelike shape in. Pundits of the 17171723 narrative often refer to the 1723 constitutions of freemasons as the document that proves their theory.

Freemasonry english books of constitutions pietrestones. Andersons constitutions of 1723 masonic service association on. For some, its about making new friends and acquaintances. The frontispiece to the constitutions of 1723, which was used over again without alteration in 1738, represents a classical arcade in the foreground of which stand two noble personages, each attended by three others of whom one of those on the spectators left carries cloaks and pairs of gloves. The firstknown use of the word freemasons in the form free masons occurs in city of london letterbook h of 9 august. It is commonly known as andersons constitutions of 1723. This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of th. One of hundreds of traditional and original masonic designs available on my cafepress store bytheplumb. Gendering the role of women in eighteenthcentury english.

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. By 1723 they had published their first rule book titled the book of constitutions of masonry extending its authority outside of london. Buy andersons constitutions of 1723 by masonic service association online at alibris. Book of constitutions united grand lodge of england. Throughout the document, the authors repeatedly wrote that they were simply compiling a new constitutions, which was based on old constitutions.

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. Andersons constitutions of 1723 by masonic service. Transactions of the quatuor coronati lodge, volume 84 1971, pp. Freemasonry timeline please take a moment to appreciate the history of freemasonry. When freemasonry actually began will perhaps always be debated, but lets not create false narratives in order to satisfy immediately wanted answers. The constitutions of freemasons andersons constitutions. In 1725 the grand lodge of ireland was established and in 1736 scotland formed their very own grand lodge.

Anderson whose constitutions is the groundwork of our laws, is not only interesting but useful. The ashlar company masonic shop for the good of the craft. The book of constitutions is the rule book of the united grand lodge of england that regulates all lodges and freemasons. Digital masonic library onondaga and oswego masonic. See all 7 formats and editions hide other formats and editions. 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. Jan 07, 2008 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.

Indeed, the new constitutions in 1723 confirmed that centralised control was. An entry dated august 31, 1734, in a ledger kept by benjamin franklin, shows that three reprinted copies of the masonic book of constitutions, published by the grand lodge of england in 1723, were sent to. This is now the wellknown book of constitutions, which contains the history of freemasonry or, more correctly, architecture, the ancient charges. 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 general regulations, compiled first by m. Claudy tells us that the book of constitution s, guarded by the tilers. The following are the principal editions of the book of constitutions to have been published since the formation of the united grand lodge of england. A new edition of the constitutions was published in 1754, by john entick. The constitutions of the freemasons unl digital commons. On making in quiry i learn that the work is unknown at the british museum, the bodleian, and other public libraries.