Anderson book of constitution of the grand lodge

The original anderson s constitutions was published in 1723. When in 1738, the grand lodge changed its name from grand lodge of london and westminster into the grand lodge of england. Rituals teach basic lessons of human duty and responsibility, duty to ones faith, country, community, family and oneself. The importance of the constitutions of anderson sun yat. On june 28, 1826, the founders of the grand lodge of free and accepted masons of michigan decided upon the format and contents of the book of constitutions of the grand lodge. The grand lodge of england replied that it stood by every word of the declaration, and has since asked for the opinion of the grand lodges of ireland and scotland. 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.

Anderson, in a muchquoted passage, describes the steps taken, after the suppression of the 1715 jacobite rising, by four old london lodges to establish themselves under a grand master in order that regular joint meetings of their officerscalled the grand lodgemight be revived. 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. The library and museum is opened to all individuals, including those with physical challenges. 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. Is the work that contains the rules and regulations of the order as decided by grand lodge. The constitutions of the ancient and honourable fraternity of free and accepted masons, in the state of newyork. Collected and digested by order of the grand lodge from their old records, faithful traditions and lodge books, for the use of the lodges. The constitution, history, laws, charges, orders, regulations, and usages of the right worshipful fraternity of accepted freemasons 7 the charges of a freemason 47. This is an online electronic edition of the the first masonic book printed in. Rev james anderson wrote this to attempt to regularize the workings of lodges of speculative masons as distinct from trade guilds of operative or stone. The book of constitutions of the grand lodge of british columbia, ancient, free and accepted masons microform. Book of constitutions of the grand lodge of free and accepted masons of the state of new york. Lodge, and from thence you may appeal to the grand lodge, at the quarterly communication and from thence to the.

Any number of master masons, not less than seven, being desirous of forming a new lodge, having previously obtained a dispensation from the grand master, must apply by petition to the grand lodge of the state in which they reside, praying for a charter, or warrant of constitution, to enable them to assemble as a regular lodge. 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. The grand lodge of england has been asked if it still stands by this declaration, particularly in regard to paragraph 7. James anderson, the authorcompiler of the constitutions ii of 1723.

Wonderful that copies of this little book are still in circulation for any freemason or historically or philosophicallyminded reader to peruse. 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 constitutions of the ancient and honourable fraternity. This is the seminal work of american masonry, edited and pub. Founding of grand lodge of england in 1717 andersons. The constitutions of the freemasons unl digital commons. This book contains the constitutions of the freemason lodges in victoria. The book is actually indirectly descended from andersons constitutions. The grand lodge was founded by eleven delegates, of whom andrew g. Print, book of the lodge, 1855 grand lodge of free.

The constitutions of the united grand lodge of england when the united grand lodge of england was created with the union of the ancients and moderns, a new version of the constitutions was drafted. Anderson, in 1738, omits all reference to this incident, but asserts that in 1718 payne desired the brethren to bring to grand lodge any old writings and records, and that several copies of the gothic constitutions as he calls them were produced and collated. Book of constitutions of the grand lodge of kentucky. 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. Andersons constitutions was the original guide for freemasons who were part of the grand lodge of england. 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. Franklin in 1734, and was a reprint of a work by james anderson who is identified as the. 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 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. The masonic grand lodge library and museum of texas, located at 715 columbus in waco, texas, is a 501 c 3 nonprofit organization. Rituals teach basic lessons of human duty and responsibility, duty to. Contains illustrations of all authorised jewels,chains collars and aprons. The grand lodge that was brought into existence in 1717 did not find it necessary to possess a constitution of its own for some years.

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. The constitutions of the freemasons james anderson. Andersons constitutions of 1723 grand lodge of ancient. A mason is obligd by his tenure, to obey the moral law. Andersons constitutions of 1723 masonic service association on. Hardcover january 1, 1949 see all formats and editions hide other formats and editions. The book of constitutions is the rule book of the united grand lodge of england that regulates all lodges and freemasons. A variety of stories and irregularities exist about its legitimacy and its foundation, yet, it remains an early canon of masonic history.

And that hawkins demitted is merely anderson s allegation. The constitutions of the freemasons was a constitution written. It was taken by the grand lodge of ireland as the model for their book of constitutions in 1730. Grand lodge of ancient, free and accepted masons of the state of illinois. Benjamin franklin, grand master of masons of pennsylvania. The constitutions of the freemasons, free pdf global grey. Book constitutions of the united grand lodge of the ancient. 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. When in 1738, the grand lodge changed its name from grand lodge of london and westminster into the grand lodge of england, the constitution was rewritten by anderson. And that hawkins demitted is merely andersons allegation. Andersons constitutions of 1723 grand lodge of british. Constitution of the grand lodge preamble whereas, a grand lodge is the sovereign, legislative, judicial, and executive power of a territorial jurisdiction of ancient, free, and accepted masons, with an inherent power to form a constitution as its fundamental law and to prescribe such other laws and regulations for good. It also contains accounts of the rights of lodges and members, and details of ceremonies, such as funerals, consecrations, installations, etc.

This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the original. Anderson himself did not appear again in grand lodge for nearly. The book of constitutions of the grand lodge of british. 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. 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 was written by james anderson, a presbyterian clergyman, at the request of john theophilus desaguliers, the third grand master of the grand lodge of england. The constitutions was edited and reprinted by benjamin franklin in philadelphia in 1734, becoming the first masonic book printed in america. Andersons constitutions of 1723 general regulations, compiled first by m. The masonic hall in kepler street was built in 1870. 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. The title of the second, rewritten, edition of 1738 was the new book of constitutions of the antient and honourable fraternity of free and. The new book of constitutions of the ancient and honourable fraternity of free and accepted. 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. This is the seminal work of american masonry, edited and published by one of the founding fathers, and of great importance to.

Rev james anderson wrote this to attempt to regularize the workings of lodges of speculative masons as distinct from trade guilds of operative or stone masons. Regardless of the other forces that affected the formation of the constitution during the constitutional convention in 1787, the fact remains that the federalism created is identical t the federalism of the grand lodge system of masonic government created in andersons constitutions of 1723. Collected and digested by order of the grand lodge from their old records, faithful traditions and lodgebooks, for the use of the lodges. He was also deputy grand master in 1856 and 1857, as well as being recognized as a past grand secretary by. Discussion in history and research started by bulldozer harrell, feb 17, 2017. Civil war era apron that belonged to william millard alsobrook from north. Moves were made in the 1860s to establish a masonic lodge in warrnambool with the first lodge being st. Collected and digested by order of the grand lodge from. Price new from used from hardcover, 1949 please retry. The manner of constituting a new lodge 75 approbation 78. For some background this excerpt from wikipedia offers some insight to its history.

The book is actually indirectly descended from anderson s constitutions. The original andersons constitutions was published in 1723. And there shall be a book kept by the grand master, or his deputy, or rather by some brother whom the grand lodge shall appoint for secretary, wherein shall be recorded all the lodges, with their usual times and places of forming, and the names of all the members of each lodge. Andersons constitutions of 1723 freemason information. Book of constitutions united grand lodge of england. Masonic code of south dakota constitution and bylaws of the grand lodge of ancient, free and accepted masons of south dakota revised and ordered printed by. 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. The united grand lodge of englands ugle response was a resolution in march 1878 that that the grand lodge, whilst always anxious to receive in the most fraternal spirit the brethren of any foreign grand lodge whose proceedings are conducted according to the ancient landmarks of the order, of which a belief in t. The old constitutions of freemasonry grand lodge of iowa.

My freemasonry freemason information and discussion forum. This is the seminal work of american masonry, edited and published by one of the founding fathers. Like anderson s 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. Book of constitutions of the grand lodge of free and.

Exactly what went on between 1717 and 1721 we do not know. Further it is very clear from the grand lodge minutes that the appearance of the book caused a good deal of dissension in grand lodge itself, and it brought the craft into ridicule from outside. 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. Printed one year before the constitutions of the grand lodge of england, and being, as hughan holds, an exclusively operative document, it stands at the parting of the ways between operative and speculative masonry. The importance of the constitutions of anderson sun yat sen.

Anderson was a freemason, the master of a masonic lodge, and a grand warden of the. It was a synthesis of the constitution of anderson of the moderns and the ahiman rezon of the ancients. Andersons constitution is the basis of modern freemasonry and its foundation of operation. Anderson was a freemason, the master of a masonic lodge, and a grand warden of the grand lodge of london and westminster. The book of the lodge was printed in 1855, by robert macoy b. Book of constitutions of the grand lodge of free and accepted. Regardless of the other forces that affected the formation of the constitution during the constitutional convention in 1787, the fact remains that the federalism created is identical t the federalism of the grand lodge system of masonic government created in anderson s constitutions of 1723. 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. Anderson s constitutions was the original guide for freemasons who were part of the grand lodge of england. Welcome to the grand lodge of missouri masonry provides a setting and context in which men can seek spiritual development, personal growth, selfcontrol, and selfdiscovery. The grand constitutions have for many years referred to opinions given in moores freema sons monthly, a magazine published in boston between 1841 and 1873 and edited by charles w. 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.