The "Constitutions" Of 1767.

The quarto volume bears the following inscri p tion ; the lodge noted was formed in 17 6 9 , ancl erased in 18 31 , but enjoyed the rig ht for its W . M . to wear the "Freemasons' Hall Medal " attached tothe Square , from the year 17 8 3 to its finale . " William Underwood , Whitney ,

Past Master of the Lodge of Virtue 311 To Brother James Hiscocks Also Past Master of the ' Lodge of Virtue

Free Masons Hall Bath . " In Bro . Kenning ' s Vol . 2 of the " Archaeological Library ( 18 99 ) will be founci my " Constitutions of the ! Freemasons ,

. 1723-17 84 ^ 1 x 11815-18 9 6 , " in whicb full particulars are given of all the editions of the Regulations published for the Grand Lodge of England from the first ( quarto ) in 1723 to the last in 32 mo ancl Svo , A . D . 18 . 96 .

The second edition was issued in 173 8 , ancl in 174 6 appeared the same work , with another title page . These were followed in 1756 by the third edition , and the . fourth in 17 6 7 . The latter was [ prepared by a Committee appointed b y the Grand Lodge

held on gth April , 17 66 , and 500 were printed for sale in 17 6 7 . It is rarely met with now in good condition , and should be one of the special features of any Masonic library . W . J . HUGHAN . [ TITLE !

THE Constitutions OP THE

ANTIENT AND HONOURABLE FRATERNITY OF tfvee anb Hcceptcb flDasons , CONTAINING

tbetv Distort , Gbatocs , 'IRcoulations , & c , C OLLECTED AND D IGESTED , BY ORDER 01 * THE ( Brand XoDOC FROM THEIR OLD RECORDS , FAITHFUL TRADITIONS , AND LODGE-BOOKS , FOR THE USE OF THE LODGES , Bv JAMES ANDERSON , D . D .,

AND CAREFULLY REVISED , CONTINUED , AND ENLARGED BY JOHN ENTICK , M . A . A NEW EDITION , WITH ALTERATIONS AND ADDITIONS , BY A COMMITTEE APPOINTED BY THE GRAND LODGE . XonDon : PRINTED FOR BROTHER W . JOHNSTON , IN LUDGATE STREET MDCCLXVII . IN THE VULGAR YEAR OF _ H _ nS 01 U ** v > 5767 .

[ DEDICATION . ] TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE CADWALLADER LORD BLAYNEY BARON BLAYNEY OF MONAGHAN LORD LIEUTENANT And CUSTOS ROTULORUM of the said County in the kingdom of Ireland .

And Major General in His Majesty's service GRAND MASTER of MASONS . Right Honourable and Right Worshipful SIR ! The Committee appointed by and with the Consent of your Worship to revise alter and make Additions to , and to continue this book of the history and Regulations of MASONRY , having examined and complected the same , according to the trust in them reposed by the GRAND LODGE take this opportunity of assuring your Lordship , that

duly sensible of the great honour done the bKA I EKNI 1 Y by your presiding over them , they are commanded by the diffusive Body of Masons to testify their Gratitude , Brotherly Love , and sincere Obedience to your Lordship , and to these Regulations published by your Command . In Token whereof we most dutifully request your permission to inscribe this Edition of the History and Constitutions of Masonry to your Worshi p , and to subscribe ourselves , Right Honourable Sir ! Your Lordship ' s Ttue and faithful Brethren , THE COMMITTEE . 1

The "Constitutions" Of 1767.

[ AUTHORITY . ] THE SANCTION

WHEREAS on November 25 1723 , the Grand Lodge in ample form resolved , That no alterations shall be made in their printed Book of Constitutions , without Leave of the Grand LODGE . And whereas on June 27 1754 the Most Noble Marquis of CAR . NARVAN , Grand Master , with his Deputy and Wardens and the Grand Lodge , did appoint a Committee to review and make such alterations and

Additions , consistent with the Laws and Rules of Masonry as they the said Committee should find necessary to be made to the former Editions of the Book of Constitutions for the use of the regular lodges ; which said alterations and additions were made accordingly and approved of , and recommended , by the Grand Master , Deputy and Wardens to the Fraternity as the only Book of Constitutions ;

And whereas on the ninth day of April 17 ( 16 it was thought necessary by the Right Honourable Lord Blayney , Grand Master , with his Deputy and Wardens and the Grand Lodge , to appoint a Committee to revise alter , and make some additions to the last mentioned Book of Constitutions , consistent with the Laws and Rules of Masonry , for the use of regular Lodges : and whereas the said necessary alterations and Additions have been made and this new Edition of the Book of Constitutions has been published with great care and Fidelity , under the inspection of our said Committee :

We the present Grand Master , DEPUTY and Wardens do hereby recommend this our printed Book , as the only Book of Constitutions , to the Free and Accepted Masons ; and disclaiming all others Books that have not the Sanction of the Grand Lodge we warn all the brethren against being employed or concerned in writing , spreading , printing or publishing any other Books relating to Masons or Masonry , and against using any other book in any Lodge , as a Lodge Book , as they shall be answerable to

the GRAND LODGE . BLAYNEY , GRAND MASTER John Salter Deputy , GRAND MASTER SatifR 5 ey ( GRANDWARDENS SAMUEL SPENCER , Secretary .

Consecration Of The Saint Andrew's Chapter, No. 1817.

CONSECRATION OF THE SAINT ANDREW'S CHAPTER , No . 1817 .

A Royal Arch chapter , to be attached to the St . Andrew ' s Lodge , No . 1817 , was consecrated at the Masonic Hall , Cambridge Hotel , Shoeburyness , on Tuesday , the 23 rd ult . ( St . George ' s Day ) , in the presence of a large gathering of members of the Order . The proceedings were to have been conducted by his Honour Judge Philbrick , K . C , Grand Superintendent of Essex ( Recorder of Colchester ) , but his Honour is confined to

his bed suffering from an acute attack of sciatica , and his place was filled by the Provincial Grand Scribe E ., Comp . T . J . Ralling , those who assisted in the ceremony being Comps . Claude E . Egerton-Green ( Mayor of Colchester ) , E . H . Baily , John J . C . Turner , Richard Clowes , Albert Lucking , and W . Hayman Cummings , Mus . Doc . In opening the proceedings , the CONSECRATING OFFICER said he was

sure they would all sincerely regret the absence of the Grand Superintendent , whose interest in this Degree of Freemasonry was well-known , and it was , he knew , a matter of keen disappointment to the learned Judge himself . It was about six years since a chapter had been added to the roll of the province , and as the chapter then consecrated was the 13 th , it might be that that proverbially unUicky number had been blocking the way . To

those who , like themselves , felt the value of this Degree , it was a matter for hope that the ceremony of to-day would lead to further occasions of this kind , as thers were several strong lodges in the province that should aspire to the possession of a Chapter Charter , and the Grand Superintendent would , he knew , welcome any legitimate opportunity of extending the Order in a district where the Craft had , under the beneficent rule of the Earl of

Warwick , so greatly prospered . As regarded the St . Andrew ' s Chapter , he was sure he might , on behalf of the Consecrating Officers and visitors present , say that they trusted the founders would realise the responsibilities of their position , and exercise great care in the admission of members . In their desire to extend the benefits of the Order , let them remember that the

strength of a chapter did not consist in numbers only—a small and harmonious chapter , where each companion knew and respected all the others , was infinitely to be preferred to a large membership , in which there might be discordant elements . In conclusion , the Consecrating Officer trusted that they might be spared to visit the chapter from time to time , and find the traditions of the Order were being faithfully carried out .

The solemn ceremony of consecration was then performed in accordance with ancient custom . In the course of the proceedings , Comp . E . H . BAILY , Prov . G . J ., gave an earnest and thoughtful oration on the nature and principles of the Institution . Starting with the assumption that as Craft and R . A . Masons they had entered upon a progressive science , he urged that the circumstances of their admission

laid upon them the responsibility , not only of living their own lives , by the help of God , according to the promises and professions they had solemnly made , but required them to apply the knowledge they had gained to the welfare of others , and they could do that in part by affording opportunities for the extension of truth and Masonic instruction in . centres where those opportunities do not sufficiently exist . It was with that object that they were assembled to-day , and being

authorised by the Supreme Grand Chapter , were proposing to establish a house —a resting place—a centre of light and instruction—to those who sought after light . Comp . Baily continued . * Certain companions are to take upon themselves the responsibility of conducting this chapter , and to be succeeded in due course by others ; and it is very largely to them that the companions as a body will look for the increase of the knowledge of R . A . Masonry and its application to the welfare of those who . ire exalted . Those Masonic secrets which are to be

communicated and applied within this chapter will , I doubt not , be fully and faithfully made known from time to time by the oflicers of the chapter , and I would oiler these general suggestions : Let us never lose the dignity of Masonry—discip lin 6 * deference—couitesy—those marks of training—order , organisation , authority and obedience to authority , for some must rule and teach and others must learn to submit and obey . That the interest in the work of the chapter may not flag the ceremonies should be rendered impressively , with dignity and with accuracy ) not