Grand lodge of england book of constitutions 1723

Andersons constitutions of 1723 freemason information. 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. I do not make my claims lightly, and i hope this article will lead others into researching this important topic further. The grand lodge of england was formed, as the first grand lodge in the world, by the coming together of four london lodges at the goose and gridiron tavern, st. The old constitutions of freemasonry grand lodge of iowa. United grand lodge of england, its lodges and members operates to a rule book the book of constitutions, which was first published in 1723. Working together to increase their membership, the lodges formed the first grand lodge in the world, aptly named the grand lodge of london and westminster. Lionel vibert, of marline, lansdowne, bath, england, is author of freemasonry before the existence of grand lodges and the story of the craft and is editor of miscellanea latomorum. The old constitutions belonging to the ancient and. The museum, owned by the scottish rite northern jurisdiction in lexington, massachusetts, has. The regular grand lodge of england was formed by freemasons who no longer found what they were. For some background this excerpt from wikipedia offers some insight to its history. The grand lodge of england is a sovereign and independent body practising freemasonry only within the three degrees and only within the limits defined in its. This was the first masonic book known to have been published in the american colonies, printed in philadelphia in 1734.

At the end of the 1723 book of constitutions, there is a list of other. This union led to a great deal of standardisation of ritual, procedures and regalia. 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. I visited the ancient city of york in northern england a number of times and i wanted to visit the places that the york masons of the eighteenth century visited, places like the punch bowl tavern and the merchant adventurers hall.

The book of constitutions is the rule book of the united grand lodge of england that regulates all lodges and freemasons. Book of constitutions of the grand lodge of free and accepted masons of the state of new york. The date 1670 on the lid of the box and in the mark book are remarkably similar in style and suggest that the individual who describes himself as glazier and maker of this book 1670 james anderson senior father of the author james anderson junior of grand lodge of england constitutions, 1723 was not only responsible for creating. A celebration of the craft, edited by john hamill and robert gilbert, with a forward by hrh, the duke of kent. 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. The first grand lodge the early years of organized freemasonry date back to england in 1717. James anderson, the authorcompiler of the constitutions ii of 1723. Grand lodge of england internet sacred text archive home. It started with desaguliers dedication to the previous grand master, john montagu, 2nd duke of montagu.

The 1723 edition of the constitutions was edited and reprinted by benjamin franklin. United grand lodge of england ugle was founded in 1717 and is the oldest masonic grand lodge in the world. Anyway, the most important historical event for the freemasonry is its transformation in a public and organized association, namely the foundation of the first grand lodge in the world, in london at june 24, 1717, today as united grand lodge of england as well as the publishing of the first rule book the book of constitutions of masonry in. After four years of negotiation, the two grand lodges in england united on 27 december 18 to form the united grand lodge of england.

Southern regalia book of constitutions united grand lodge of england rb040 book of constitutions for united grand lodge of england, including the constitutions for the supreme grand chapter. United grand lodge of england, london, united kingdom. 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. Lodge, and published in 1723, entitled the book of constitutions of the. The second edition of andersons constitutions sets forth that in 1731 the grand master, the duke of norfolk, presented to the grand lodge of england. In 1723, by authority of the grand lodge, james anderson published the constitutions of masonry for the purposes of regulating the craft and establishing the grand lodge s authority to warrant lodges to meet. Constitutions of the freemasons of the premier grand lodge of england, 17231784, and of the united grand lodge of england, 18151896, by william james hughan. The grand lodge of british columbia and yukon ancient free and accepted masons website contains philosophy, symbolism and history textfiles, printquality graphics, biographies, international links and local information. The ancient grand lodge of england, as it is known today, or the grand lodge of the most.

Dermott gave them a book of constitutions, inexplicably entitled ahiman rezon, or a help to a brother. Aug 03, 2015 dissecting the 1723 constitutions of free masons. Entick also reverted to the charges as drawn up in 1723 into which, especially the first, anderson had introduced various modifications in 1738, and those charges are the basis of the ancient charges to be found today in the constitutions of the united grand lodge of england, the only differences, except as regards the first charge, not. The book includes a fanciful history of the craft, which nevertheless contains much interesting material. Founding of grand lodge of england in 1717 andersons. 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, scotland and ireland. Andersons constitutions of 1723 andersons constitutions of 1723 by bro. In 1725 the grand lodge of ireland was formed in a public dinner reminescent of the english grand lodge formation. Dogged by conspiracy theories, implicated in countless political intrigues and long seen as a secretive, shadowy. Studies in honor of the tricentennial of the establishment of the grand lodge of england murphy, christopher b. In 1751 a book of constitutions, properly revised for irish uses. 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.

The complete text is now available online of benjamin franklins reprint of james andersons constitutions of 1723. This is the seminal work of american masonry, edited and published by one of the founding fathers, and of great importance to. Much of the genealogical matter in the book has been pronounced to be. By 1723 they had published their first rule book titled the book of constitutions of masonry extending its authority outside of london. Studies in honor of the tricentennial of the establishment of the grand lodge of england. The site features general information on freemasonry for those interested in becoming a freemason. 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 york grand lodge book was a pleasure to research. Lionel vibert, past master quator coronati lodge no.

It is this edition of the charges which forms the basis of the ancient charges to be found today in the constitutions of the united grand lodge of england, with only small verbal modifications, except with regards to the first charge on god and religion. United grand lodge of england the grand lodge having approved of this revised edition of the book of constitutions, the board of general purposes has accordingly superintended its publication. The first 1723 and second 1738 edition were written by rev. 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. The old constitutions belonging to the ancient and honourable. Freemasonry english books of constitutions pietrestones. Book of constitutions united grand lodge of england online. If grand lodge or a particular individual had paid for the printing, this would have. Because it was the first masonic grand lodge to be created, convention calls it the premier grand lodge of england in order to distinguish it from the most ancient and honourable society of free and accepted masons according to the old constitutions, more usually referred to as the ancient grand lodge of england, and the grand lodge of all. Reproduction of the constitutions of the freemasons or. With a complete facsimile of the rare appendix of a. Setting the scene in the royal arch staines st marys lodge, no.

The minutes of the grand lodge of freemasons of england, 17231739 19. Origin and founding of grand lodge of england in 1717, james andersons. The constitutions of the freemasons was a constitution written for the premier grand lodge of england. 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. The constitutions of the freemasons by james anderson. Please take your time reading and understanding this important article. Many brethren have asked for a copy of this article and it is hereunder reproduced, with some minor amendments. Andersons constitutions were based on the gothic constitutions and on the general regulations which had been compiled first by george payne in 17207. The constitutions of the freemasons james anderson. The book of constitutions of the grand lodge of british. The close relations between english and irish freemasonry at that early date is shown by the first book of constitutions published in ireland. Contains illustrations of all authorised jewels,chains collars and aprons.

In 1734 benjamin franklin was made grand master of the provincial grand lodge of pennsylvania, and later. Thanks to the national heritage museums blog for the heads up. The new book of constitutions of the ancient and honourable fraternity of free. Ugle also publishes directories of office bearers, committees and lodges. It went through eight editions, the last edition being published in 18. The book of constitutions of the grand lodge of british columbia, ancient, free and accepted masons microform. United grand lodge of england ugle is the governing body of freemasonry in england, wales, the channel islands, the isle of man and some districts overseas. The importance of the constitutions of anderson sun yat. Vibert the constitutions of freemasons 1723 facsimile london 1923 anderson, james the constitutions of freemasons 1723. Andersons constitutions of 1723 grand lodge of british.

Masonic etiquette and scottish usage grand lodge of scotland year book 2011. 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. It was a reprint of what is known as andersons constitutions, which was published in 1723 under the authority of the grand lodge of england, and entitled. The following account is an excerpt from the newly released book, freemasonry. The importance of the constitutions of anderson sun yat sen. The first masonic book published in america was printed in philadelphia by brother benjamin franklin in 1734. 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 book was submitted for approval to grand lodge, and published by order of the grand master in 1723, with the addition of the outgoing grand masters method of constituting a new masonic lodge. However, if not an actor in the scene, he was in a position to know the facts from eyewitnesses, and his book.

Reproduction of the constitutions of the freemasons or andersons constitution of 1723 also titled. The grand lodge of antient free and accepted masons of. United grand lodge of england, 1970 grand lodge on. Anderson was a freemason, the master of a masonic lodge, and a grand. In the 1966 year book an article entitled masonic etiquette and scottish usage, by brother george draffen, was published. The minutes of the grand lodge of freemasons of england, 17231739, quatuor coronatorum antigrapha,vol 10, 19. The book of constitutions rule book has been in the public domain since the first edition was published in 1723 and can also be purchased from freemasons hall. The following are the principal editions of the book of constitutions to have been published since the formation of the united grand. The historical portion of andersons constitutions consists in essence of a. Book of constitutions of the grand lodge of free and accepted. Constitutions of the freemasons andersons constitution of 1723 constitutions of 1723 author. Unfortunately the minutes of the grand lodge only commence on june 24, 1723, and our only history of the events is that found in the new book of constitutions, by dr.

Its author, laurence dermott, was grand secretary of the antient grand lodge from 1752 to 1771. Book of constitutions united grand lodge of england. Ahiman rezon, of the grand lodge of england according to the old institutions, also known as the antient grand lodge of england or the grand lodge of the antients, was first published in 1754. Hardbound cloth cover pasted title repeated on spine. 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.

This is an online electronic edition of the the first masonic book printed in america. Constitutions of the united grand lodge of england 1908. The united grand lodge of england ugle is the governing body of freemasonry in england, wales and the channel islands. In the book itself are printed a formal approbation by grand lodge and the masters and wardens of twenty. The book was submitted for approval to grand lodge, and published by order of the grand master in 1723, with. 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. Also included is the booklet information and guidance for members of the craft and the the central masonic charity booklet. The united grand lodge of england ugle is the governing masonic lodge for the majority of freemasons in england, wales and the commonwealth of nations.