The Worshipful Master’s Work

Three Hundred Years Ago In the year 1723 a book was published that laid out the principles and aims of English Freemasonry. Ideas that included social equality, religious tolerance, self-improvement, reward and advancement for merit, charity and goodwill to all. These ideas were radical and challenging in a time characterised by religious conflict and when birth and wealth determined success and often even survival. This fascinating and beautiful book also provided a framework for Freemasonry, a rulebook that would be emulated by many other secular clubs and societies in Britain and around the world. Masonic practices introduced in the 1723 Constitutions include the election of officers subject to democratic accountability, with one member wielding one vote; majority rule; orations by elected officials; national governance; and written constitutions. Introduced by a beautiful symbolic frontispiece, this work was not just practical, but also inspirational, containing a traditional history of Freemasonry and many Masonic songs. Rich with Masonic insight and symbolism, there is as much to be found in this work for modern Freemasons as there was the day it was published. This book contains a faithful reproduction of the first edition of the Constitutions of the Free-Masons, printed in London in 1723. The text, word spelling and paragraph size has been maintained, original restored decorations have been used, and font and character typesets have been carefully replicated. The cover border and central design have been carefully reproduced from original copies in the archives of the Museum of Freemasonry held at the United Grand Lodge of England. Paperback 109 Printed Pages

Freemasons throughout the world are finally able to study a six-hundred-year-old manuscript of The Old Charges thanks to an unprecedented translation in modern English that has preserved the original rhyme scheme . For these Brothers, it may provide new and meaningful insight into the history of the Craft from a medieval perspective, which is more about the actual do s and donts for ancient stonemasons than tod ay s Brotherhood and its symbolism. Nonetheless, it offers a lot of recognition when it comes to the origin of modern Masonic practices. Ever since James Halliwell (1820 1899) discovered The Regius Poem in 1842, English-speaking Masons have had to make considerable effort to cope with its language, which dates back to approximately 1425. Until now, the manuscript could only be read in its original wording, in modern prose or in attempts that failed to qualify as poetry. This implies that, in actual practice, the earliest document of The Old Charges has mostly been appreciated for its wisdom and strength - at the expense of its beauty. To reinstall this trinity, Brother Harry G. de Vries has translated the old text from rhymed Middle English to rhymed Modern English for the first time. It was his aim, he says, to facilitate his English-speaking brothers with a version in which the essential literary ingredient of rhyme would be revived in order to rekindle the poem's 600-years-old beauty. As a result, it helps bring today's Masons much closer to the impact the poem would have had on its medieval audiences. In the foreword, the Dutch author explains why being a native speaker of Dutch may have been a considerable help to understand and translate the language of The Regius Poem. You can check the results of his labour in this edition, in which each left-hand page has the original text and each right-hand page displays the modern translation. Brother Harry takes you back to a medieval lodge where a travelling word artist served masons the history of their craft as it was seen at the time - after the day's work had ended. At Lewis Masonic we are sure that this unique version in rhymed modern English will provide Freemasons with a new perspective on the beauty of their Craft. Limited Edition of 500 only Printed on Artisanal Textured Italian Paper Cloth Bound Beautiful End Papers 152 pages 168 x 240