Much has been written about the origins of our ancient fraternity but there has been little said
about where our ‘Old Charges’ came from.
My aim is to approach this subject from a new perspective, to highlight that these ‘Old Charges’ are not just historical documents relating to the Craft, they were living, working, administrative documents, essential to the very existence of operative masonry from the tenth century onwards.
I shall start by examining the content and providence of our two most ancient documents, namely
the Regius and Cooke manuscripts; and look critically at whether the references to King Æthelstan in the Old Charges could indeed be factual as stated.
The assertion by many researchers, that this is part of the Masonic legend, needs to be questioned.
Then I will examine the life and times of King Æthelstan.
Title
2016 - KING ATHELSTAN AND THE CRAFT - Terry Edwards.
