Its influence on our ritual structure cannot be overestimated. Brother Callaway speaks of its use in Georgia. Speaking of Illinois ritual, Preston is followed in literally hundreds of phrases. Preston conceived of Masonry as a great educational force. He collected, refined and polished its language and imagery, and left us a Masonic heritage to last throughout the centuries.

Laurence Dermott, a pivotal figure in 18th-century Freemasonry, rose from obscurity to become Grand Secretary of the Ancient Grand Lodge in 1752. ​Dermott, alongside other influential Masonic figures like James Anderson and William Preston, played a crucial role in shaping Masonic history during its period of organization and growth. Known for his dedication to the Ancient Grand Lodge and his promotion of the Royal Arch ceremonies, Dermott was both admired for his intellectual achievements and criticized for his polemical style. His work, “Ahiman Rezon,” served as a foundational text for the Ancient Grand Lodge, rivaling Anderson’s “Constitutions” and influencing Masonic practices in various regions. ​ Dermott’s legacy is marked by his unwavering commitment to Freemasonry, despite his contentious approach toward the Moderns. ​

Benjamin Franklin’s 1734 publication of The Constitutions of the Free-Masons stands as a landmark in both American printing and fraternal history. Essentially a reprint of Dr. James Anderson’s 1723 original British version, Franklin, who was himself the Grand Master of Pennsylvania at the time, produced the volume to provide a standardized framework for the growing number of lodges across the colonies. Beyond its organizational utility, the book is a testament to Franklin’s spirit and his deep alignment with Enlightenment-era ideals like secular morality, self-improvement, and civic duty.

THE OLDEST EXTANT DOCUMENT in the world with direct Masonic significance is the poem known as The Regius Poem, sometimes described as the Regius Manuscript or the Halliwell Manuscript. It is believed to have been written around the year 1390; and as indicated in line 143 of the Poem itself, it is believed to have been copied from an older document.