According to anderson, he was commissioned to digest the old gothic constitutions in palatable, modern form and, for the first time, all of freemasonry, except for the ritual, was available in a printed book. Collected and digested by order of the grand lodge from their old records, faithful traditions and lodgebooks, for the use of the lodges. This is the book of constitutions hands candidate a copy and these are our bylaws hands candidate a copy both of which i recommend to your serious perusal, as by one you will be instructed in the duties you owe to the craft in general, and by the other in those you owe to this lodge in particular. This book will take you on an imaginative journey deep into that inner part of your consciousness that freemasonry calls your soul. 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. Albert pike later published copies of the two documents based on transcriptions from earlier manuscripts, in a single publication titled the grand constitutions of freemasonry. Every brother upon initiation shall be supplied with a copy of the book of constitutions, and his acceptance thereof shall be deemed a declaration of his submission to its contents. 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. Masonic symbolism is that which is used to illustrate the principles which freemasonry espouses.
Franklin in 1734, and was a reprint of a work by james anderson who. The book of lies, by aleister crowley illustrated html at. 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. Books ive found useful in explaining freemasonrys history, aims and meanings. Masonic ritual is the scripted words and actions that are spoken or performed during the degree work in a masonic lodge. In craft masonry it was quite a late innovation making its appearance during the mid1700s. It offers initiation to all good men and provides the brotherhood, rich literary tradition and educational resources necessary for the new master mason to, as we say, improve himself in masonry.
By this time the new grand lodge had published its first rule book the book of constitutions of masonry and was meeting quarterly and recording its meetings. Masons of colorado, hereinafter referred to as the book of constitutions. History of freemasonry united grand lodge of england. Hailed as the worlds oldest masonic ritual, the edinburgh register house. United grand lodge first degree or ceremony of initiation. Freemasonry remains dedicated to this great tradition of initiation and mentoring, essentially alone in the 21 st century. The masonic book of constitutions guarded by the tylers. Freemasonry 1st degree rituals and ceremonies forum skeptic project. Constitutions of the free and accepted masons by w h white. This is an online electronic edition of the the first masonic book. This union led to a great deal of standardisation of ritual, procedures and regalia. Freemasonry was the center of male bonding and social activity. The book of constitutions grand lodge of colorado i. It also contains accounts of the rights of lodges and members, and details of ceremonies, such as funerals, consecrations, installations, etc.
Score a books total score is based on multiple factors, including the number of people who have voted for it and how highly those voters ranked the book. 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 degrees of freemasonry retain the three grades of medieval craft guilds, those of apprentice, journeyman or fellow now called. In the book of human history freemasonry has a chapter of its own. Skeptic project is a web site dedicated to investigating the internets most common conspiracy theories, hoaxes, and so on. Book of constitutions freemasonry in nottinghamshire. Catholics and freemasonry catholic education resource center. What happens behind the scenes of a freemasons initiation. Andersons constitutions claim that the history of freemasonry is ancient, tracing the fraternity back to biblical roots. Such a book dated as of today bears on the face of it little resemblance to the edition of 1723.
For the book of constitutions of 1738 there is a new approbation altogether. The masonic book of constitutions guarded by the tylers sword masonic service association on. Over the course of successive publications, carliles com. Although this is the first written evidence of speculative masonic initiation, the men mentioned would have had to be masons in order to conduct the ceremony suggesting speculative freemasonry existed. 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.
Masonic designs master mason emblem designs masonic book of constitutions. Information for the guidance of members of the craft by ugle issuu. This is the book of constitutions hands candidate a copy and these are our bylaws hands candidate a copy both of which i recommend to your serious perusal. By 1723 they had published their first rule book titled the book of constitutions of masonry extending its authority outside of london.
These documents are the constitutions and regulations of 1762 and the grand constitutions of 1786. The templar orders in freemasonry the text book of freemasonry unknown the textbook of cryptic masonry j chase the theocratic philosophy of freemasonry g oliver the tradition of the old york t i lodge bro c j scott the trials and tribulations of a masonic apologist the true ahiman rezon 1805 dermott the true esotery of masonry 1912. The explanation of the whole business appears to be that anderson in 1738 was not anxious to emphasize his associated with wharton, who after his term of office as grand master proved a renegade and jacobite and an enemy to the craft. Masonry like all religions, conceals its secrets from all except the adepts and sages, or the elect and uses false explanations and misinterpretations of its symbols to mislead. When you become a member of a symbolic lodge, it is a chapter you will wish to read, as much for its own fascination as.
This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the original. The current edition, which includes all updates, is available for download in three sections. The official website of freemasonry in nottinghamshire. 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. Introduction to freemasonry entered apprentice by carl h.
Andersons constitutions of 1723 freemason information. The history of freemasonry encompasses the origins, evolution and defining events of the. There are a number of masonic manuscripts that are important in the study of the emergence of freemasonry. Collected together for the first time, a massive collection of 464 masonic books on 1 amazing data dvd. In the same book is another image of a woman holding a square and compasses as a symbol of perfect work.
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. The constitutions of the grand lodge of massachusetts. First of all, because i am a mason, you need to understand that there are certain things that i will not tell you. Imitative masonic organisations see rule 176 of the book of constitutions initiate. Full text of the masonic textbook of tennessee see other formats.
No lodge under the constitution of this grand lodge shall initiate. A free encyclopedia of freemasonry, a comprehensive tool for the freemason looking for more light and an open door to the world of the free masonry for. All your masonic questions answered plus lodge info, news, events, diary, whats on and much, much more. The moral symbolism of these working tools is something which was gradually introduced into masonic ritual.
A complete history of freemasonry is beyond the scope of a single article. Book of constitutions united grand lodge of england. Masonic ritual has appeared in a number of contexts within literature including in the man who would be king, by rudyard kipling, and war and peace, by leo tolstoy. However we do know that operative masons, without any kind of ceremony, were taking marks 150 years before the. Claudy early history many of freemasonrys symbols and teachings go back to the very childhood of the race. In his book morals and dogma accepted universally as the bible of freemasonry pike admits.
Through these a direct relationship may be traced, in mind and heart and ideal, if not in written document, to such diverse ages and places as china four thousand years ago. 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. This article traces the early development of freemasonry from organised bodies of operative stonemasons to the modern system of speculative lodges organised round regional or national grand lodges. Benjamin franklin, grand master of masons of pennsylvania. During the time of the american war for independence and indeed until approximately 100 years ago. There follows the tale of the children of lamech, expanded from the book of.
Most numerous are the old charges or constitutions. The book looks at one of the main sources of masonic history, andersons constitutions, which documents masonic practice and the masons mythical history back to hiram abiff, the first master mason in the reign of king solomon. Freemasons seek to become better people by memorising the moral lessons contained in these ritual books. The secret science of masonic initiation is different and revelatory. The secret science of masonic initiation by robert lomas. If an elected candidate shall fail to present himself for initiation within twelve months after he shall have. Is the work that contains the rules and regulations of the order as decided by grand lodge. One of hundreds of traditional and original masonic designs available on my cafepress store bytheplumb. In 1725 the grand lodge of ireland was established and in 1736 scotland formed their very own grand lodge. This is the first evidence of the initiation of an english speculative mason notwithstanding the fact that those present and listed would have certainly been initiated at an earlier date.
Freemasonry or masonry consists of fraternal organisations that trace their origins to the local fraternities of stonemasons that from the end of the fourteenth century regulated the qualifications of stonemasons and their interaction with authorities and clients. On the occasion of his initiation into freemasonry in. By initiation ceremony, im going to assume you mean either one or all three of the degrees a mason receives in the blue lodge. The book of constitutions is the rule book of the united grand lodge of england that regulates all lodges and freemasons. Masons hold that god, the great architect, founded freemasonry, and that it had as patrons, adam and the patriarchs. 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 19th century saw a great expansion of freemasonry both at home and abroad.
Gothic constitutions, early freemasonry in scotland, the formation of the first. History of freemasonry project gutenberg selfpublishing. The masonic book of constitutions guarded by the tylers sword paperback september 10, 2010. Mark stavish an exploration of freemasonry and its history, philosophy, symbols and practices. 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. A book of constitutions of the grand lodge of india was also adopted. The history of freemasonry encompasses the origins, evolution and defining events of the fraternal organisation known as freemasonry. After four years of negotiation, the two grand lodges in england united on 27 december 18 to form the united grand lodge of england.
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