This is an online electronic edition of the the first masonic book printed in. Summary a very scarce, beautifully bound copy of the constitution of the freemasons. James anderson, the authorcompiler of the constitutions ii of 1723. The constitutions was edited and reprinted by benjamin franklin in philadelphia in 1734, becoming the first masonic book printed in america. 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. Jan 07, 2008 this section appeared in the constitutions of the united grand lodge as late as 1873. Though some have questioned the actual existence of the old charges to begin with, the resulting work of brother anderson, referred to as the book of constitutions of 1723. The constitutions of the free masons, containing the history, charges. The new book of constitutions of the ancient and honourable fraternity of free and. Though some have questioned the actual existence of the old charges to begin with, the resulting work of brother anderson, referred to. 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.
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. 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. Edicts of the grand lodge of kentucky, and a list of the amendments to the book of constitutions since the adoption of the present constitution, october 22,1908. It went through eight editions, the last edition being published in 18. Lionel vibert, past master quator coronati lodge no. 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. This section appeared in the constitutions of the united grand lodge as late as 1873. The constitutions of the freemasons james anderson. That the membership of the grand lodge and individual lodges shall be composed exclusively of men. 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. Benjamin franklin, grand master of masons of pennsylvania. The book of constitutions grand lodge of colorado page 2 section 4. 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.
Anderson was a freemason, the master of a masonic lodge, and a grand warden of the. Book of constitutions of the grand lodge of kentucky. Grand lodge of ancient, free and accepted masons of the state of illinois. The constitutions of freemasons andersons constitutions. Print, book of the lodge, 1855 grand lodge of free. The importance of the constitutions of anderson sun yat. Anderson s constitutions was the original guide for freemasons who were part of the grand lodge of england. Andersons constitutions of 1723 grand lodge of british.
It was taken by the grand lodge of ireland as the model for their book of constitutions in 1730. 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. An unknown group of masons forestalled the grand lodge by having j. The following are the principal editions of the book of constitutions to have been published since the formation of the united grand. This was in 1670 and this james anderson is no doubt another person. 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 of 1723 grand lodge of british columbia.
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 grand lodge is a body of masons in which is inalienably vested the government of the masonic craft within its jurisdiction. 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 second edition of andersons constitutions sets forth that in 1731 the grand master, the duke of norfolk, presented to the grand lodge of england. Constitutions of the antient fraternity of free an accepted masons, containing their history, charges, regulations, etc.
A chartered lodge is a body of masons congregating and working by virtue of a charter granted by the grand lodge. Published in the late eighteenth century and in a fine binding from the lodge of harmony farehams library. The book of constitutions of the grand lodge of british. The original anderson s constitutions was published in 1723. 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. From the lodges in favor of the grand lodge plan fourteen veteran masons acted as an advisory committee. Collected and digested by order of the grand lodge from. The constitutions of the freemasons unl digital commons. 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 andersons constitutions of 1723 by bro. The old constitutions of freemasonry grand lodge of iowa. These references are exclusively in the commentary sections. Collected and digested by order of the grand lodge from their old records, faithful traditions and lodge books, for the use of the lodges.
Founding of grand lodge of england in 1717 andersons. United grand lodge of england, 1970 grand lodge on. For sale is the ahiman rezon or book of constitutions of ancient free masons of south carolina 26th edition, published in 1965. 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. Grand lodge of london to be errors in the old manuscripts, anderson researched and attempted to update the document for modern use 1. Details about ahiman rezon 1965 grand lodge south carolina book book of constitutions.
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. This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the original. On the 29th of september, 1721, he was commissioned by the grand lodge to collect and compile the history, charges, and regulations of the. 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. 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 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 importance of the constitutions of anderson sun yat sen. 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. From the lodges in favor of the grand lodge plan fourteen veteran masons acted as. On the 29th of september, 1721, he was commissioned by the grand lodge to collect and compile the.
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 is actually indirectly descended from andersons constitutions. 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. Constitutions of the antient fraternity of free and accepted masons james anderson 1784 j rozea. Roberts print a version, now called the roberts constitutions, dated 1722 of the two existing copies one is in the iowa masonic library. Andersons constitutions of 1723 freemason information.
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 the seminal work of american masonry, edited and published by one of the founding fathers, and of great importance to. Andersons constitutions of 1723 general regulations, compiled first by m. This was the first masonic book known to have been published in the american colonies, printed in philadelphia in 1734. In the book itself are printed a formal approbation by grand lodge and the masters and wardens of twenty lodges with the. 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. Andersons constitutions was the original guide for freemasons who were part of the grand lodge of england. Andersons constitutions of 1723 masonic service association on. James anderson the constitutions of the freemasons 1859. Anderson in 1738 alleges that he was directed to add this section to the work at the meeting of january 17 and he then speaks of it as the ancient manner of constituting a lodge. 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. Franklin in 1734, and was a reprint of a work by james anderson who is identified as the.