Constitutions of Anderson

The Constitutions of Anderson owe their name to the reverend James Anderson (1678-1739), Pasteur Presbytérien which wrote them in collaboration with the Huguenot Jean Theophilus Désaguliers to be used as rule with the Big room that had constituted for the first time in 1717 four London cabins in order to start a unification of all the Franc-maçonnerie.

This text which testifies to a great religious tolerance for the time was adopted in 1723; he however knew in England various rehandlings - in 1738 in 1813. Who were perceived by certain freemasons like a tendency towards larger Dogmatisme, in particular with regard to the assertion of the existence of a God revealed, which definitively closed the door with the atheists and agnostics.

Even if the frankly ‑ French Maçonnerie did not use it in reference as delivers crowned before second half of the 20th century, certain French cabins are claimed heiresses of the Constitutions of 1723 .

Item 1 that concerning the religion, is the imperative reason of the dissension between traditional masonry with liberal masonry.

Not I of the Constitutions of Anderson

Of GOD and the RELIGION.

A Mason is obliged from his Title, to obey the Moral Law and if it includes/understands Art well, he will be never an Atheist a stupid nor irreligious Libertine. But although in Old Times the Masons were obliged in each Country to belong to the Religion of this Country or this Nation, whatever it was, it is now regarded as more convenient only to subject them to this Religion than all the men accept, leaving with each one its particular opinion, which consists in being Good and Honest Men or Sincerity and Men of honor, whatever the Denominations or Beliefs which can distinguish them; thus, Masonry becomes the Center of Union and the Means of reconciling a true Friendship among People who should have remained perpetually Éloignées.

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