Webb was born on october 30th, 1771 in boston, massachusetts. Nov 10, 2014 the alchemical keys to masonic ritual timothy hogan duncans ritual of freemasonry malcom c. A few manifest typographical errors have been corrected. Webbs masonic monitor phoenixmasonry masonic museum and.
In 1797 he attracted attention through a book titled freemasons monitor or illustrations of masonry. My masonic library my freemasonry freemason information. Exmasons for jesus is a fellowship organization of men and women who have left the masonic lodge and appendant bodies, such as the order of the eastern star, jobs daughters, the order of rainbow for girls and the order of. Modern masonic usage of the word degrees relates to ceremonies of. This electronic edition of carliles manual of freemasonry is based on a facsimile of an unspecified printing, issued by kessinger publishing in kila, montana. Today in masonic history thomas smith webb passes away in 1819.
For to thomas smith webb and his system of masonic work, american freemasons owe a large part of the ritual of the american rite often miscalled the york. While masonic lodges serve their communities, their most important. Essential to the consecration of every masonic lodge. Thomas smith webb published his first the freemasons monitor or. Freemasons monitor by thomas smith webb ebook lulu. It was at this time, and while studying the old preston lectures, that he saw the need for a revision of the ritual for american use. Without our beautiful ritual and the timehonored lessons it holds, our fraternity would be just another service club. Ritual masonic scholars have been trying for two hundred years to solve the crafts greatest mystery, the origin of the ritual. Thomas smith webb founding father of the york rite.
Thomas smith webb submitted by edgar fentum 02172003. Overview of freemasonry prepared by wanda alger, september 20 to become a mason, the initiate goes through the lue lodge which is 3 separate degrees of advancement. Almost every jurisdiction, except pennsylvania, adopted some or all of smiths modifications of preston. Thomas smith webb was an american author and founder of the york or american rite. Richard carlile published the manual of freemasonry, republished in 1836 and. The premier grand lodge of england, formed in 1717 introduced organized freemasonry to america. As most of you will now guess thomas smith webb had something to do with our ritual but he was more than that he was the father of american masonic ritual. Ritual is the glue that holds a lodge together and binds freemasons throughout the world. The whole squaring with the national work of the baltimore convention, as taught by the late bro. The webb lectures have their exact counterpart in the ritual of the antients, evidence of which exists as early as 1760, or before preston was even made a mason. Webbs freemasons monitor by missouri freemasons issuu. The conservators ritual has a place in michigan masonic history as well. Thomas smith webb, who published his first freemasons monitor in 1797.
The blue lodge is the foundation of all freemasonry organizations. Duncan freemasonry and the birth of modern science robert lomas look to the east ralph p. Oct 30, 2012 thomas smith webb was the author of freemasons monitor or illustrations of masonry, which had a very significant impact on the development of the masonic ritual, particularly the york rite degrees and orders, in the united states. Thomas smith webb october, 1771 july 6, 1819 born and educated in massachusetts, thomas smith webb was either a bookbinder or printer whose trade first took him to new hampshire and then to albany, new york. Kentucky uses a webb form ritual, there are many local lodges that prefer to use the work of rob morris, past grand master of kentucky. The first degree is the entered apprentice where the initiate is entered. The tradition arose about 1858, and has no basis of fact. Leyland, his biographer, was born october 30, 1771, in boston. Thomas smith webb, 17711819 brother webb, a printer, got into touch with freemasonry quite early.
Very little is written about brother david vintons life. The freemasons monitor, or, illustrations of masonry author. The publishers introduction from that edition is omitted for reasons. The freemasons monitor, or, illustrations of masonry.
He created the monitor which is the basis of ritual for our craft and york rite degrees. Jazz and freemasonry, by gulsoy and hutchison pdf the roots of masonry modern freemasonry emerged during the enlightment era a time when writers, thinkers, statesmen championed the virtues of freedom of conscience, rational thought, and honest inquiry. Digital masonic library greetings, at the library tab suggested reading of the website of the valley of schenectady, aasr, nmj, usa, is the below listing of interesting books for masonic readers and researchers. He was an active and tireless promoter of concordant bodies and is considered to be the founder of the american system of chapter and encampment freemasonry. He holds the rare distinction of being actively connected with the formation of two large national masonic bodiestestimony to the respect in which he was held by. From our membership agreement lulu is a place where people of all ages, backgrounds, experience, and professions can publish, sell, or buy creative content such as novels, memoirs, poetry, cookbooks, technical manuals, articles, photography books, childrens books, calendars, and a host of other content that defies easy categorization. In 18 he became grand master of the grand lodge of rhode island. The symbolism of freemasonry is found throughout the masonic lodge, and contains many of the working tools of a medieval or renaissance stonemason. Webb s seminal work that was to become the historic standard for most american masonic jurisdictions. Webb derived his monitor directly from the works of preston.
He attended boston public schools, it was there that he developed a love for and a study of music. Thomas smith webb received the lectures from hammer, but determined them unsuitable for american ma sonry. Aug 02, 20 webb s freemasons monitor smith webb, thomas. New listing kjv holy bible master reference red letter edition masonic heirloom 1964. Thomas smith webb october 30, 1771 july 6, 1819 was the author of freemasons monitor or illustrations of masonry, a book which had a significant impact on the development of masonic ritual in america, and especially that of the york rite.
Pioneers of our early rituals wilkerson college lodge. John barney, grand lecturer by webb, thomas smith, 17711819. A joint report recommending the adoption of the webb lectures to the grand lodges of. Lot of 7 masonic mason freemason freemasonry lodge ritual master books etc. Freemasonry is described in its own ritual as a beautiful or peculiar system of morality, veiled in allegory and illustrated by symbols. This most important work, compiled in 1865 by james fenton, can be seen as the father of the u. There is an implied obligation that officers memorize all work, lectures, charges and grand lodge instructions associated with their office and that of the next office.
It includes the three basic degrees of the ancient york rite, and four additional advanced. Thee, o lord god, to bless our present assembling, and to illuminate our minds, that we may walk in the light of thy countenance. The following exposures of masonic ritual are provided in a cooperative effort between exmasons for jesus and ephesians 5. Yet no such evaluation of thomas smith webb, no consideration of the effect of his labors, could be made which did not put both the man and his works near the head of any list. For to thomas smith webb and his system of masonic work, american freemasons owe a large part of the ritual of the american rite often miscalled the york rite. The webb lectures do not even remotely resemble the preston lectures. This most important work, compiled in 1865 by james fenton, can be seen as. Our masonic forefathers were told imaginative stories. The materials of the lessons and lectures pertaining to the. Duncan 1866 this book presents details of masonic initiation rituals, along with grips, passwords and regalia. Or illustrations of masonry by thomas smith webb, robert morris. Ritual and the masonic lodge ritual is the heart and soul of freemasonry. Digital masonic library onondaga and oswego masonic.
This pdf file may be redistributed for nonprofit use, provided it is unaltered and includes this cover page. Thomas smith webb, the founding father of ihe york or american rite as he is appropriately describe by herbert t. Today in masonic history thomas smith webb passes away. Thus it was that he came to publish in 1797, the now famous webb freemason monitor, in which he resystematized, and often rewrote, the entire blue lodge ritual, adding some new material to it. The purpose of the following is to serve as an aid in using the code and in following the instruction notes contained in the ritual and the. Written in the 19th century, duncans ritual, as it is known, has been republished numerous times. Rituals of american freemasonry the masonic trowel. I know preston wrote his major works in the late 18th century 1774 is the year i found, webb around 1800 and duncan in 1866. As with any such collections of this nature on the internet, there is no telling how long these works or links will remain.
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