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Chelsea HansenDate
Mar 7, 2025Notes
This copy of The Maryland Ahiman Rezon of Free and Accepted Masons (1797) has changed hands many times, and much of its ownership history is written on the front inside cover and title page.
The Ahiman Rezon is a type of Grand Lodge Constitution that was popularized in the mid-18th to early 19th centuries. It originated from the Antient Grand Lodge of England, which was a second Grand Lodge formed as an alternative to the Premier Grand Lodge of England (formed 1717). The "Antients" criticized the Premier Grand Lodge (they called them the "Moderns") for straying too far from Masonic traditions. The Antient Grand Lodge existed from 1751-1813, until the "Antients" and "Moderns" merged into what is now the United Grand Lodge of England.
During the "Antients" existence, several Grand Lodges in the United States adopted the term "Ahiman Rezon" for their own Constitutions, Maryland included. Two Grand Lodges (Pennsylvania and South Carolina) still call their Constitutions Ahiman Rezon in reference to this historical connection.
If you are interested in looking through other works in our library's special collection, they are all searchable on Catalogit through the Washington Masonic Services website, www.masonscare.org. You are also welcome to view them in person at the Washington Masonic Library & Museum. Please contact chelsea@masonscare.org to set up an appointment!
#MasonicHeritage #MarylandHistory