[ANON - JERUSALEM LODGE, A GENTLEMAN BELONGING TO]. Jachin and Boaz; or, an Authentic Key to the Door of Free-Masonry, Both Ancient and Modern. Calculated not Only for the Instruction of Every New-Made Mason; but Also for the Information of all who Intend to Become Brethren. Containing, I. A Circumstantial Account of all the Proceedings in Making a Mason, With the Several Obligations of an Entered Apprentice, Fellow-Craft, and Master; and Also the Sign, Grip, and Pass-Word of Each Degree; With the Ceremony of the Mop and Pail. II. The Manner of Opening a Lodge, and Setting the Craft to Work. III. The Entered Apprentice, Fellow-Craft, and Master’s Lectures, Verbatim, as Delivered in all Lodges; With the Songs at the Conclusion of Each Part. IV. The Origin of Masonry; Description of Solomon’s Temple; History of the Murder of the Grand Master Hiram by the Three Fellow Crafts; the Manner of the Assassins Being Discovered, and Their Punishment; the Burial of Hiram by King Solomon’s Order; With the Five Points of Fellowship, &c. V. The Ceremony of the Instalment of the Masters of Different Lodges on St. John’s Day. Description of the Regalia, &c. VI. Ceremonies Used at the Funeral of a Mason. VII. A Safe and Easy Method Proposed, by Which a Man may Obtain Admittance into any Lodge, Without Passing Through the Form Required, and Thereby Save a Guinea or two in his Pocket. VIII. Anthems, Odes, Songs, &c. Illustrated With a Beautiful Frontispiece of the Regalia, Jewels, and Emblematical Ornaments Belonging to Masonry, and an Accurate Plan of the Drawing on the Floor of a Lodge. Interspersed With Variety of Notes and Remarks, Necessary to Explain and Render the Whole Clear to the Meanest Capacity. To Which is now Added, a new and Accurate List of all the English Regular Lodges in the World, According to Their Seniority, With the Dates of Each Constitution, and Days of Meeting. By a Gentleman Belonging to the Jerusalem Lodge; a Frequent Visitor at the Queen’s Arms, St. Paul’s Church-Yard; the Horn, in Fleet-street; Crown and Anchor, Strand; and the Salutation, Newgate-street. London: Printed for W. Nicoll, at No 51, St. Paul's Church-yard; and E. Newbery, the Corner of Ludgate-Street, 1785.
A NEW EDITION, GREATLY ENLARGED AND IMPROVED. Leather-bound; hardcover; octavo (21.5 x 13.5 x 1.5 cm); pp. iv, [2], 50, 10. English text. Bound in handsome contemporary tree calf; smooth spine with gilt bands; head-pieces; printed footnotes; rear index of lodges. Condition: FAIR. Lacking the frontispiece, else complete, the final leaf heavily repaired with loss of some text, two neat fore-edge repairs, light toning, previous owner names in ink. Binding secure with rubbing to the extremities and a little chipping at spine head. Scarce.
Notes: A rather interesting copy of this notable 18th-century "exposure" text designed to reveal Masonic rituals, signs, and grips to the public, claiming to instruct new Masons and inform outsiders, written by a "Gentleman belonging to the Jerusalem Lodge". First published in 1762, and despite going through many editions, these early copies appear scarce.
