Transcription Notes:

This Internet file is not an exact copy of the book. Certain liberties have been taken. It is presented here as a collection of poetry, rather than as songs to be sung. Some of the conventions helpful for singing, such as breaking words into syllables and heavy use of apostrophes for elided 'e's and 'v's, were felt unnecessary and distracting, so many of the 'v's and practically all of the vowels that were apostrophized out have been replaced. While choruses are noted, repeating line have otherwise been left out. A very few spellings have been modernized, and typographic errors corrected.

The first edition of this book came out in 1772, but this file has been compiled from the 2nd, 9th, 10th, 12th, & 14th editions, the last dated 1829, and so contains material written between those dates.

If a more precise rendition is required, a photocopy of the book (14th edition, 1829) is available online at Google Books: http://books.google.com/books?id=6n_xHtVd6PQC, and the songbook portion covers pages 419-456. In the .pdf download, the page number is the roman numeral +5, or the arabic numeral +29.

Copies are also available at
• Pietre Stones (typescript of 12th edition, 1812),
• Google Books (reprint, 10th edition, 1796),
• PhoenixMasonry (typescript of 9th edition, 1795), and
• Google Books (2nd edition, 1775).

There was no artwork nor music scores. There is a sequential Table of Contents. There were no additional indexes. An MPS indexes of alphabetized first lines, with authors, has been compiled at the end of this file. Where page numbers appear in the left margin, they are from the 14th edition.

okl.

ILLUSTRATIONS

OF

MASONRY.

By the late

WILLIAM PRESTON, Esq.

PAST MASTER OF THE LODGE OF ANTIQUITY, acting by immemorial constitution.

---

The Fourteenth Edition,

WITH ADDITIONS TO THE PRESENT TIME,
and
copious notes, illustrative and explanatory.
by

GEORGE OLIVER,

Vicar of Clee; P.G.C. for the County of Lincoln; Domestic Chaplain to the Right Hon. Lord Kensington; Corresponding Member of the Society of Antiquaries, Scotland.

---

Humbly Inscribed
TO HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE DUKE OF SUSSEX,
&c. &c. &c.
Most Worshipful Grand Master.

---

LONDON:

PRINTED FOR WHITTAKER, TREACHER, AND CO.

AVE-MARIA-LANE.

---

1829

LONDON:

Shackell and Baylis, Johnson's-Court, Fleet Street.

To The
Right Honorable

LORD PETRE,

GRAND MASTER

of the

Ancient And Honourable Society

of

FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS,

These Illustrations

Are, With The Greatest Respect,
Inscribed;

By His Lordship's

Most Obedient

       Servant, and Brother,

      WILLIAM PRESTON.

To The
Right Honorable

LORD PETRE,

PAST GRAND MASTER

of the

Ancient And Honourable Society

of

FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS,

This Treatise is,

with the Greatest Respect,
Inscribed

By His Lordship's

Most Obedient

       Servant and Brother,

      WILLIAM PRESTON.

To The
Right Honorable

THE EARL OF MOIRA,

ACTING GRAND MASTER

of the Society of Free-Masons,
and the Living Pattern of
Rank, Talents, and Moral Excellence,

This Improved Edition
of
a Well-Known Treatise
is
with Due Deference,
Most Humbly Inscribed;

By His Lordship's

Most Devoted Servant,

       and Brother,

      THE AUTHOR.

To
His Royal Highness

AGUSTUS FREDERICK, DUKE OF SUSSEX,

Earl of Inverness, Baron of Arklow,
Knight of the Most Noble Order of the Garter,
Colonel of the Honourable Artillery Company of London,
President of the Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures, and Commerce,
and Most Worshipful
Grand Master of the United Grand Lodge
of
Ancient Freemasons of England;

A PRINCE

Highly Endeared to Every Friend of Humanity,
But in an Especial Manner
to the Ancient and Honourable
Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons,
on whom He has Conferred Indelible Obligations;

This New Edition

of a Popular Treatise on Masonry

in Inscribed, with Profound Respect
by

His Royal Highness's

Most Devoted Humble Servant,

      THE EDITOR

Preface

---

The favourable reception this Treatise has met with in the several Editions through which it has passed, encourages the Author to hope that its appearance on a more enlarged scale will not render it less deserving the countenance of his Brethren. He would be wanting in gratitude to his friends, not to acknowledge his obligations to several gentlemen for many curious extracts, and the perusal of some valuable manuscripts, which have enabled him to illustrate his subject with greater accuracy and precision.

• • •

At the end of the volume is given a collection of Anthems and Songs; which, being occasionally introduced in our assemblies, must tend to greatly enliven the proceedings.

The success of this Treatise has far exceeded its merit; the Author, therefore, shall only observe, that should his additions or corrections be considered real improvements, he will be amply gratified for any pains he may have taken.

[William Preston]
Dean Street, Fetter Lane,
Feb. 1812.