"Observing Self To Manifest Change That Evolves Reality"
http://phoenixlodgeno3.org/
The Regius Poem / Halliwell Manuscript - c1390
The Halliwell Manuscript, also known as the Regius Poem, is the first known Masonic text.
The poems reference, “This craft came into England, as I you say, In time of good King
Athelstane's day” leads many to believe that Masonry existed before and during King
Æthelstan reigned (924/925 – 939 A.D. as King of England).
It consists of 64 written pages in poetic form. The poem begins by evoking Euclid and his
invention of geometry in ancient Egypt and then the spreading of the art of geometry in
“divers lands.” This is followed by fifteen points for the master concerning both moral behaviour (do not
harbour thieves, do not take bribes, attend church regularly, etc.) and the operation of work on a building
site (do not make your masons labour at night, teach apprentices properly, do not take on jobs that you
cannot do etc.). There are then fifteen points for craftsmen which follow a similar pattern.
The general consensus on the age of the document dates its writing to between the late 1300s and the
middle of the 15th century, and from internal evidence its author appears to have been a West of England
clergyman. The manuscript was recorded in various personal inventories as it changed hands until it came
into possession of the Royal Library, which was donated to the British Museum in 1757 by King George II
to form the nucleus of the present British Library.*
*Above text verbatim from http://masonicmatrix.com/the-halliwell-manuscript/#more-158
Matthew Cooke Manuscript - c1450
Next to the Regius/Halliwell manuscript, the oldest manuscript that is known is the
Matthew Cooke Manuscript (British Museum: "Additional M.S. 23,198"), a transcript of a
yet an older document, which was written by a Speculative Mason.
A transcription of Matthew Cooke’s 1861 version, with original line breaks and translation,
is also available at this website.
Anderson's Constitutions – 1723
Containing: The History, Ancient Charges and Regulations of Freemasonry
Anderson's 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 (ref: http://www.internetloge.de/arst/regula.htm).
The Constitutions of the Free-Masons was a constitution written for the Premier Grand
Lodge of England, to standardize the rituals and practices of Freemasonry among lodges of London and
Westminster operating under that Grand Lodge. The first and second editions were written by Rev. James
Anderson in 1723 and 1738.
ILLUSTRATIONS OF MASONRY - 1829
by William PRESTON
Past Master of the Lodge of Antiquity
First published in 1772 Preston had taken the old lectures and work of
Freemasonry, revised them and placed them in such form as to receive the
approval of the leading members of the Craft.
The True Masonic Chart, or Hieroglyphic Monitor – 1819 1st edition
Believed to be the first hieroglyphic Monitor using visual aids for memory work.
Jeremy L. Cross played a significant role in disseminating Bro. Thomas Smith Webb's
adaptation of William Preston's work throughout all Masonic jurisdictions in the United
States. His True Masonic Chart or Hieroglyphic Monitor is perhaps the best representation
of that work, in that it contains elaborate illustrations specifically developed to accompany
Webb's lectures. Apart from providing the foundation for the engravings in Masonic
monitors in the centuries that followed, Cross invented a number of composite symbols still utilized in
Masonic lectures today, perhaps the most significant being the broken column and weeping virgin that
appear on the cover. (commentary from Amazon.com).
The Ancient Landmarks of Freemasonry – 1858
Every Master Mason is obliged to abide by the Laws, Regulations and Edicts of his
Grand Lodge; the By-laws of the particular lodge of which he is a member, and to
maintain and support the "Landmarks and Ancient Usages and Customs of the
Fraternity." The problem is that The Landmarks (sometimes referred to as The Ancient
Landmarks) are the unwritten law of Masonry - the common law - which was
apparently so well understood and practiced in early Masonry (prior to formation of
the Grand Loge of England in 1717) that it was not thought necessary to record it. In
spite of this, throughout our history the "regularity" of a Lodge is judged according to
its observance of these Landmarks.
The first attempt to codify (or write) the unwritten law of Masonry was achieved by Albert G. Mackey as
an article in the October 1858 edition of the American Quarterly Review of Freemasonry and then later in
his Encyclopedia of Freemasonry. Mackey's compilation of these Ancient Landmarks is considered by many
to be one of the most authoritative sources of information on this topic.
Lightfoot's Commentaries - 1934
After an exhaustive comparison of Monitors from other jurisdictions in this country and
abroad, and noting missing and inaccurate information in the edition that was in use at
the time, R.W. Grand Master W. Steve Cooke made a comprehensive report regarding
the importance of issuing a new Monitor. During the Annual Grand Communication of
December 5th 1934, R.W. Cooke commended the labors of R.W. Brother Jewel P.
Lightfoot in restoring the Monitor and creating, what he called, "the most outstanding,
interesting and instructive Masonic book in decades".
http://www.tvl1048.org/resources.htm#comm
10,000 Famous Freemasons
Volume I - A- D
http://www.phoenixmasonry.org/10,000_famous_freemasons/Volume_1_A_to_D.htm
Foreword by Harry S. Truman, PGM, Past Master, Missouri Lodge of Research
Published by Macoy Publishing & Masonic Supply Co., Inc., Richmond, Virginia
Copyright, I957, William R. Denslow