CALCOTT, WELLINS .

A Candid Disquisition of the Principles and Practices of the most Ancient and Honourable Society of Free and Accepted Masons together with some strictures on the origin, nature, and design of that institution.

London: Printed for the Author, By Brother James Dixwell, in St. Martin's Lane, A. L. 5769. A. D. 1769. 0. First edition. 8vo. A very good full leather binding. 8.50" x 5.50" x 0.75" [ 21.5cm x 13.8cm x 2.1cm ]. [4pp.]/pp.32/pp.243 [p.244] . Later matching leather spine, 5 raised bands gilt publication date: "1769" and recent green leather title label: "Calcott's Masonry". Polished boards, edges carefully strengthened. Endpapers present. Printed title, lightly soiled and foxed. Followed by a dedication, and then; "A List of Subscribers Names." (32 pages). Separate half title [p.135] : The Duties Of A Free-Mason In Several Charges.." p.220 - p.243 (mis-numbered p.244) contains the words to various songs, beginning with "Solomon's Temple: An Oratorio." Clear English text throughout, lightly toned, foxing and a few small blemishes. A good copy of a scarce book. ** "Wellins Calcott saw in Freemasonry something more than a museum of Medieval relics, and more than a set of convivial clubs, and undertook to write a rational, or philosophy, on the Craft, becoming thereby the first of a line of greatly distinguished Craftsmen, in which were to stand Hutchinson, Preston, Oliver, Mackey. He was born at a date not discoverable in available books; in the Minutes of one Lodge he is described as “a native of Shrewsbury, county of Salop,” in another as from “Salop in Cheshire.” At some date in probably the late 1750's he published A Collection of Thoughts, a volume half of quotations and half of his own meditations, a type of book dear to readers in that period. He had 1600 subscriptions for it before printing; and it went through five editions. In 1769 (and with 1200 subscribers) he published A Candid Disquisition of the Principles and Practices of the Most Honorable society of Free and Accepted Masons, etc. Oliver described this book, so simple, so gentle in spirit, and with few obvious displays of the classical learning behind it, “the gem of the period.” Kenning describes Calcott: “Indeed he may fully be called the father of the Masonic philosophical and didactic school.” - See An Encyclopedia of Freemasonry. *** Full title reads: "A Candid Disquisition of the Principles and Practices of the most Ancient and Honourable Society of Free and Accepted Masons together with some strictures on the origin, nature, and design of that institution. Dedicated, by Permission, To the most Noble and most Worshipful Henry Duke of Beaufort, &c. &c. Grand Master. By Wellins Calcott, P.M.".

Chilton BooksProfessional seller

Book number: 45143

Catalogue: Masonic: : 18th Century

Keywords: 46631 Gavin E. Pocock James Dixwell Calcott, Wellins a Candid Disquisition of the Principles and Practices of the Most Ancient and Honourable Society of Free and Accepted Masons Solomon's Temple Masonic: : 18th Century

SMITH, CAPTAIN GEORGE .

The Use and Abuse of Free-Masonry; A Work of the Greatest Utility to the Brethren of the Society, to Mankind in General, and to the Ladies in Particular. by Capt. George Smith,

London: Printed for the Author; And Sold by G. Kearsley, No 46, Fleet-Street. 1783. [Price Eight Shillings in Boards.]. 0. "Captain George Smith: Inspector of the Royal Military Academy at Woolwich; Provincial Grand-Master for the County of Kent; and R.A.". A very good half leather binding (probably 19th Century). 8vo. 9.0" x 6.0" x 1.25". [2pp.]/pp.5-28/pp.399 . Blue calf spine and corners over marbled boards. Later brown leather title label to spine. Library label to verso of the front board: Lodge of Harmony No. 309 (Fareham, Herts). Presented by Wor. Bro. Forbes. Half-title absent. Printed title with engraved diagram (upside-down!). Clear English text throughout, just the odd brown spot or blemish from previous use. Early carefull repairs to pp.161-168. A very good copy of this scarce book. * Referenced by: ESTC T98248. ** "Captain George Smith was a Freemason of some distinction during the latter part of the 18th century. Although born in England, he entered the military service of Prussia (being connected with noble families of the kingdom). During his residency in the kingdom he was initiated in one of the German Lodges. On his return to England he was appointed Inspector of the Royal Military Academy at Woolwich, and published The Universal Military Dictionary in 1779, and Bibliotheca Miliaris in 1783. Captain Smith, in 1783, published a work entitled The Use and Abuse of Freemasonry: a work of the greatest utility to the Brethren of the Society, to Mankind in general, and to the Ladies in particular. The interest to the ladies consists in some twenty pages, in which he gives the "Ancient and Modern reasons why the ladies have never been accepted into the Society of Freemasons," a section the omission of which would scarcely have diminished the value of the work or the reputation of the author. The work was published without the sanction, and the Craft being wiser than their representatives in the Grand Lodge, the edition was speedily exhausted. In 1785 Captain Smith was expelled from the Society for "uttering an instrument purporting to be a certificate of the Grand Lodge recommending two distressed Brethren." - See Masonic Network.

Chilton BooksProfessional seller

Book number: 45490

Catalogue: Masonic: : 18th Century

Keywords: 47010 G. Kearsley Use and Abuse of Free-Masonry Smith, Captain George Lodge of Harmony No. 309 Fareham Masonic: : 18th Century