Reference Library
Eighteenth Century Masonic Literature
Organized chronologically, with an emphasis on works that are available online.
Books
| 1723 | James Anderson | Constitutions of the Free Masons, first edition (facsimile) |
The first work published by the Grand Lodge of England. A useful analysis of this work may be found in J. David Chariton's paper, James Anderson and the 1723 Constitutions of the Free-Masons, with a Theory Regarding Freemasonry and Religion (PDF). |
| 1734 | James Anderson | Constitutions of the Free Masons, first American edition (facsimile) | The first Masonic book published in the United States, printed by Benjamin Franklin. Nearly identical to the 1723 edition. |
| 1738 | James Anderson | Constitutions of the Free Masons, second edition | This revised edition is a crucial and neglected source. The best edition to obtain is the one published in 1978 by the Masonic Book Club, sadly out of print. |
| 1754 | John Entick | Scott's Pocket Companion and History of Free-Masons: Containing their Origine, Progress, and Present State | See Shawn Eyer's study of the frontispiece of this edition. |
| 1756 | James Anderson and John Entick | The Constitutions of the Ancient and Honourable Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons, third edition | The first major revision of the Constutions since Anderson's death. |
| 1756 | Laurence Dermott | Ahiman Rezon: or, A Help to a Brother, first edition | The first printing of the Constutions of the Antients. This work presents the Antients' answer to Anderson and contains a large amount of interesting material. Reprinted by the Masonic Book Club; out of print and expensive to obtain. |
| 1764 | Laurence Dermott | Ahiman Rezon: or a Help to All that are (or would be) Free and Accepted Masons, second edition | The second edition is greatly expanded. |
| 1767 | John Entick | The Constitutions of the Ancient and Honourable Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons, fourth edition | Summary... |
| 1769 | Wellins Calcott | A Candid Disquisition of the Principles and Practices of the Most Ancient and Honourable Society of Free and Accepted Masons | A source for much of our ritual today. |
| 1772 | William Preston | Illustrations of Masonry, first edition | The easiest way to obtain this and other editions of Preston is on a CD-ROM published by the Centre for Research into Freemasonry and Fraternalism at the University of Sheffield. |
| 1775 | William Preston | Illustrations of Masonry, second edition | Completely revised, now featuring material for the Fellow Craft and Master Mason degrees. This edition formed the basis for all future versions of Preston's Illustrations. |
| 1775 | William Hutchinson | The Spirit of Masonry, first edition | Reprinted by Aquarian Books in 1987, with an important introduction by Trevor Stewart. |
| 1778 | Laurence Dermott | Ahiman Rezon: or a Help to All that are (or would be) Free and Accepted Masons, third edition | Unavailable. |
| 1787 | Laurence Dermott | Ahiman Rezon: or a Help to All that are (or would be) Free and Accepted Masons, fourth edition | Unavailable. |
| 1795 | William Hutchinson | The Spirit of Masonry, second edition | Significantly expanded edition. |
| 1797 | Thomas Smith Webb | The Freemasons' Monitor, or Illustrations of Masonry in Two Parts, first edition | Webb's adaptation of Preston's work strongly influenced all American Masonic rituals. Reprinted by the Masonic Book Club. |
Early Masonic Periodicals
| The Sentimental and Masonic Magazine |
Edited by John Jones of Dublin. The Sentimental and Masonic Magazine was the first Masonic magazine in the English language. Most of the articles were not Masonic in nature, but were probably conceived to have been of interest to Freemasons. Topics included science and republicanism. In 1795, the editor sent a bound set of the magazine (pictured above) to George Washington and asked for his permission to dedicate volume 6 of the series to the American president. This permission was not denied, as vol. 6 was indeed dedicated to Washington and carried an impressive engraving of him surrounded by Masonic and republican symbols. This was the first Masonic magazine to feature a portrait of Washington. Note Washington's signature on the title page of his copy of volume 2, shown above. Available Volumes |
| The Freemasons' Magazine, or General and Complete Library |
Available Volumes
- Volume 1, 1792
|
"A Freemason must likewise be a good man, one who duly fears, loves, and serves his heavenly Master, and, in imitation of the operative Mason, who erects a temporal building according to therules and designs laid down for him by the Master Mason, on his tressel-board, raises a spiritual building, according to the laws and injunctions laid down by the Supreme Architect of the Universe in the book of life, which may justly be considered in this light as a spiritual tressel board."
W∴ Bro∴ Alexander Shedden, 1767
Union Lodge, Bristol