Jan 21, 2003 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 constitution is the basis of modern freemasonry and its foundation of operation. This was the first masonic book known to have been published in the american colonies, printed in philadelphia in 1734. The complete text is now available online of benjamin franklins reprint of james andersons constitutions of 1723.
James anderson, the authorcompiler of the constitutions ii of 1723. The constitutions of the freemasons, compiled by james. The text of the 1723 edition was reset and published in philadelphia by m. 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. On the 29th of september, 1721, he was commissioned by the grand lodge to collect and compile the history, charges, and regulations of the. Il est, en effet, ne a cote daberdeen, en ecosse, dune. A new edition of the constitutions was published in 1754, by john entick. Buy andersons constitutions of 1723 by masonic service association isbn. 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 of nebraskalincoln, february 14, 2006. Including an analysis of anderson s constitutions of 1723 and 1738 paperback or softback by hyneman, leon and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. 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. 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.
In the book itself are printed a formal approbation by grand lodge and the masters and wardens of twenty lodges with the exception of two masters, which is. An american facsimile of the first edition of 1723 was issued at new york city. Buy andersons constitutions of 1723 by masonic service association online at alibris. The foundation book of british and international freemasonry. I do not make my claims lightly, and i hope this article will lead others into researching this important topic further. Anderson s constitutions of 1738 by james anderson, may 30. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. 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.
The constitutions of the freemasons 1734 by james anderson. 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. 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. Andersons constitutions of 1723 general regulations, compiled first by m. This is an online electronic edition of the the first masonic book printed in america. Andersons constitutions of 1723 masonic service association on. On the 29th of september, 1721, he was commissioned by the grand lodge to collect and compile the. The constitutions of the freemasons was a constitution written for the premier grand lodge of england. Aug 24, 2017 freemasonry in england from 1567 to 18. Anderson s 1723 constitutions seem to recognise only the grades of entered apprentice, and the fellowcraftmaster. Andersons name does not appear on the title page, but his authorship is declared in an appendix.
Andersons 1723 constitutions seem to recognise only the grades of entered apprentice, and the fellowcraftmaster. Andersons constitutions were based on the gothic constitutions and on the general regulations which had been compiled first by george payne in 17207. Please take your time reading and understanding this important article. Last week, around 30,000 people downloaded books from my site 8 people gave donations. Anderson whose constitutions is the groundwork of our laws, is not only interesting but useful. 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. As i was researching this, it seemed far too unexplained as to why this date was chosen and what its intended significance was to the craft. The first 1723 and second 1738 edition were written by rev. Lionel vibert, past master quator coronati lodge no. The constitutions of the freemasons, free pdf global grey. Andersons constitutions of 1738 may 30, 2004 edition.
Thanks to the national heritage museums blog for the heads up. Andersons constitutions of 1723 freemason information. The toc and indexes in this file have been compiled for the mps, and were not part of the originals. There was in 1722 an informal issue of the old regulations, in a copy of a ms. 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 amounting to more than verbal modifications. This may be intended for anderson s as yet unprinted manuscript, or, more likely it indicates that a version of the old constitutions was regarded at the time as part of the grand masters equipment. His works were to set the standards of british freemasonry for nearly a century andersons constitutions were to be of central importance to freemasonry, supplying a foundation and agreed traditions and regulations stevenson, heredom, 93, 121. 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. 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 of nebraskalincoln, february 14, 2006. Andersons constitutions were based on the old masonic manuscripts also.
The 1723 edition included musical scores, which were not reproduced in the 1734 version. 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 of the freemasons by james anderson. And now, by the command of our said right worshipful grandmaster montagu, the author of this book has.
The books did not include any table of contents, and the songs were not included in the indexes. The constitutions of the freemasons james anderson. Hence the third degree emerged sometime between 1723 and 1730, and took some time to spread within the craft. In 1784 john noorthouck published by authority this fifth edition. He reverted to the charges as drawn up in 1723 into which. Jan 07, 2008 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 spectator s left carries cloaks and pairs of gloves. 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. According to anderson, he was commissioned to digest the old gothic constitutions of freemasonry. However, formatting rules can vary widely between applications and fields of interest or study. Andersons constitutions of 1723 by masonic service. This is the seminal work of american masonry, edited and pub.
Constitutions of the grand lodge of massachusetts by author unknown in 1857. Andersons constitutions of 1738 by james anderson, may 30, 2004, kessinger publishing edition, paperback in english. 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. 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. 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. Including an analysis of andersons constitutions of 1723 and 1738 paperback or softback by hyneman, leon and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. In presenting an american edition of anderson s 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. Andersons constitutions of 1723 grand lodge of british columbia. Buy anderson s constitutions of 1723 by masonic service association isbn. May 27, 2010 open library is an initiative of the internet archive, a 501c3 nonprofit, building a digital library of internet sites and other cultural artifacts in digital form.
As i was researching this, it seemed far too unexplained as to why this date was chosen and. Reproduction of the constitutions of the freemasons or. Buy anderson s constitutions of 1723 by masonic service association online at alibris. This is the seminal work of american masonry, edited and published by one of the founding fathers, and of great importance to. This is now the wellknown book of constitutions, which contains the history of freemasonry or, more correctly, architecture, the ancient charges.
Anderson s constitutions of 1723 masonic service association on. Andersons constitutions of 1723 paperback september 10, 2010 by masonic service association author. Book of the a and a scottish rite by c t mcclenachan. Ebscohost serves thousands of libraries with premium essays, articles and other content including freemasonrys contribution to the u.
Plus, free twoday shipping for six months when you sign up for amazon prime for students. It was taken by the grand lodge of ireland as the model for their book of constitutions in 1730. 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. The original anderson s constitutions was published in 1723. 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. A variety of stories and irregularities exist about its legitimacy and its foundation, yet, it remains an early canon of masonic history. Of that most ancient and right worshipful fraternity, for the use of the lodges. The orthography of the original london edition of 1723, of which this work is a reprint. 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. Anderson s name does not appear on the title page, but his authorship is declared in an appendix. My freemasonry freemason information and discussion forum. Open library is an initiative of the internet archive, a 501c3 nonprofit, building a digital library of internet sites and other cultural artifacts in digital form. 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.