Most numerous are the old charges or constitutions. For example, when visiting the grand lodge of texas building in waco you may notice the. Contains illustrations of all authorised jewels,chains collars and aprons. A lodge under dispensation is a temporary body of masons congregating and exercising certain limited functions by virtue of a dispensation granted by authority of the grand lodge. Collected and digested by order of the grand lodge from. Texas masons also helped establish more than 100 other unchartered schools. Book of constitutions of the grand lodge of kentucky. There follows the tale of the children of lamech, expanded from the book of. Ohio pennsylvania tennessee texas virginia west virginia wisconsin. A treatise on the constitutional laws, usages and landmarks of freemasonry see other formats.
The convention elected anson jones the first grand master of masons in texas. The history of freemasonry encompasses the origins, evolution and defining events of the fraternal organisation known as freemasonry. The constitution and laws of the grand lodge of texas a. My lord, by order of his grace the duke of wharton, the present right worshipful grandmaster of the free masons. One of hundreds of traditional and original masonic designs available on my cafepress store bytheplumb. Masons have always embraced the emblems of death, however, these images have been largely purged from texas freemasonry for a variety of reasons. There are a number of masonic manuscripts that are important in the study of the emergence of freemasonry. 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. This is the seminal work of american masonry, edited and published by one of the founding fathers. Mark masons combined book of constitutions and yearbook 20. The masonic society is organized exclusively as a center of union for freemasons who desire to study and promote the mystic art, its history, philosophy, rites, customs, and practices while promoting the common good and general welfare of its community by espousing and promulgating those tenets of freemasonry that bring about civic betterment. It should be noted that anson jones was the fourth and final president of the republic of texas, prior to becoming a state.
The previous six were the 1827 constitution of the state of coahuila and tejas, the 1836 constitution of the republic of texas, and different versions of the constitution of texas for the years. Texas code book my freemasonry freemason information. About the grand lodge of texas the grand lodge of texas. Ray, director of the texas advisory commission on intergovernmental relations, states that the principal reason for the publication was to make the information available to the public. 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. You are now a member, with all the rights and privileges, of the oldest and largest fraternal organization in the history of the world. 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. For example, when visiting the grand lodge of texas building in waco you may notice the seal on the wall that bears the skull and crossbones. This book is indispensable to any texas mason who needs to catch up or keep fresh. Texas democrats gained control of congress in 1873 and decided it was time to draft a new constitution for texas.
By 1846, when texas was approaching statehood, thirtytwo lodges had been constituted under the texas grand lodge, and there were approximately fifteen hundred masons in texas. Nov, 2016 the word code is confusing as very many jurisdictions use the word for their book of constitutions and by laws. Texas code book my freemasonry freemason information and. Please take your time reading and understanding this important article. The constitutions of the freemasons james anderson. Benjamin franklin, grand master of masons of pennsylvania. I have copies of the california masonic code and the illinois masonic code that are the constitution and by laws. Carter, it was founded as the grand lodge of the republic of texas, a. 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. Masonic designs master mason emblem designs masonic book of constitutions. Of that most ancient and right worshipful fraternity, for the use of the lodges james anderson. Collected and digested by order of the grand lodge from their old records, faithful traditions and lodge books, for the use of the lodges.
It is completely meaningless to anyone outside masonry and thus is a true code book. These books will surely prove beneficial for you by upgrading your knowledge of freemasonry world. In craft masonry it was quite a late innovation making its appearance during the mid1700s. 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. Soon after the publication of the edition of 1769 of the book of constitutions, the. All of the presidents, vice presidents, and secretaries of state were masons. In the twentieth century texas masons have broadened the scope of their philanthropic efforts. Jan 21, 2003 the constitutions of the free masons book. The united grand lodge of england book of constitutions of the united grand lodge of england. In addition, there were probably some 1,100 masons from other jurisdictions living in texas at this time. Background, history, and influence to 1846 james david carter. Constitution and bylaws of the most worshipful prince hall grand lodge of free and accepted masons of the commonwealth of massachusetts. The grand lodge of texas, ancient free and accepted masons is the largest of several governing bodies of freemasonry in the state of texas, being solely of the ancients tradition and descending from the ancient grand lodge of england, founded in 1751. This situation is familiar to many texas masons that study the politics of grand lodge.
Our rich collection of freemasonry books includes the bestselling book of constitutions united grand lodge of england and mark masons combined book of constitutions and yearbook 2014 2015. Between 1850 and 1873 the legislature chartered seventeen masonicsponsored schools. Masons of england, and is hereinafter referred to as the. Aug 03, 2015 dissecting the 1723 constitutions of free masons.
Constitutions of the antient fraternity of free and accepted masons a new edition. Freemasonry the handbook of texas online texas state. Jun 12, 2012 the constitutions of the free masons classic reprint anderson, james on. The tsha profile of elisha marshall pease states that he wrote part of the texas constitution although he was only a 24 yearold assistant. 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. Two deacons with black rods, one on the right and another on the left, attend a grand warden, and when a grand master is present, or deputy grand master, the book of constitutions is borne before him. The previous six were the 1827 constitution of the state of coahuila and tejas, the 1836 constitution of the republic of texas, and different versions of the constitution of texas for.
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 free masons published in london in february 1723. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that. Austin, to every single president of the republic of texas, and often over half of the elected and appointed officials of the republic, masons held offices in texas government. I have copies of the california masonic code and the. Forums masons of texas freemasonry in texas texas code book. 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. I do not make my claims lightly, and i hope this article will lead others into researching this important topic further. Collected and digested by order of the grand lodge from their old records, faithful traditions and lodgebooks, for the use 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. The book of constitutions, guarded by the tilers sword reminds us that we should be ever watchful and guarded in our thoughts, words and actions, particularly when before the enemies of masonry. It was founded as the grand lodge of the republic of texas, a. Discussion in freemasonry in texas started by plustax, nov, 2016. Grand lodge of mark master masons of england and wales and its districts and lodges overseas lewis masonic on. One may contend that texas postcivil war history has little to do with the current arrangement between the grand master and grand secretary and that this situation reflects masonic tradition i. The application for membership shall be open to any master mason in good standing of lodges chartered by a grand lodge that is a member of the conference of grand masters of masons in north america or grand lodges recognized by a grand lodge that is a member of the conference of grand masters of masons in north america. Masons of texas is an online social networking page to promote freemasonry in texas and abroad. The word code is confusing as very many jurisdictions use the word for their book of constitutions and by laws.
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. Coderitual books my freemasonry freemason information. 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. Do you promise, upon your honor, to strictly adhere to and be governed by the constitution and laws of the grand lodge of. The texas constitutional convention of 1875 met in austin with the purpose of replacing the constitution of 1869 it was believed that the new constitution should restrict the state government and hand the power back to the people. My lord, by order of his grace the duke of wharton, the present right worshipful grandmaster of the freemasons. The constitutions of the freemasons classic reprint. 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. In tennessee, the code book is the laws of the grand lodge and should be on or near every secretarys desk. Still i think it should be required for every mason both new and old. Whether a book is still in varies from country to country, and we cant offer guidance on whether any speci.
The constitutions of the free masons classic reprint. Today there are over 90,000 masons in texas and more than 900 lodges. Printed by william hunter, for john senex at the globe, and john hooke at the flowerdeluce overagainst st. Texas constitution researchers, then and now, find this publication an invaluable resource. An unknown group of masons forestalled the grand lodge by having j.
This website, hosted by the university of texas school of law, showcases digital scans of all the original texas constitutions from 1824 to 1875. This is the seminal work of american masonry, edited and published by one of the founding fathers, and of great importance to. The current texas constitution is the seventh constitution in texas history. However we do know that operative masons, without any kind of ceremony, were taking marks. The book of constitutions grand lodge of colorado page 2 working by virtue of a charter granted by the grand lodge.
In addition, many of the early public schools initially met in lodge buildings. Andersons landmark constitutions of the freemasons, 1784 freemasonry anderson, james. Chairman committee on masonic jurisprudence, prepared and published by. It seems to be a big deal among texas masons about code books. Additional lodge light handbook introduc tion on behalf of the grand lodge of texas and masons everywhere, we want to congratulate and welcome you into our great fraternity. The book of constitutions is the rule book of the united grand lodge of england that regulates all lodges and freemasons. Mark masons combined book of constitutions and yearbook.
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