History of the Hebrew Manuscript
on the Origin of Freemasonry
I.
Introduction
It was generally believed that modern Freemasonry was created
in 1717 when its Grand Lodge of England was established. It was
also generally believed that it was Dr. James Anderson who wrote
its "New Constitutions." (See, for instance, Paul A.
Fisher, Behind the Lodge Door, Shield Publishing, Inc.,
P.O.Box 90181, Washington D.C.20090, p. 24). It is true that
the new name was adopted in 1717, but the real founder
of Freemasonry is not Anderson. Moreover, few people, including
most of its members, know that its origin is 2000 years old.
Indeed, as far as we know, none of the current books on Freemasonry
traces Freemasonry to its true origin. Masonry was founded by
King Herod Agrippa at the suggestion of Hiram Abiud, with the
consent of Moab Levy, Adoniram, Johanan, Jacob Abdon, Antipas,
Solomon Aberon, and Ashad Abia in the year 43. The original name
was the "Mysterious Force." All its founders
belonged to Judaism. In this article, we are going to present
a true history based on the priceless manuscript written in Hebrew
containing minutes of the meetings of the original founders of
Masonry.
The following sections on Masonry are based on the English
translation of the original manuscript written in Hebrew of the
History of Masonry. The History was transmitted from the nine
founders only to the direct descendants of these founders. One
of the original Hebrew copies was passed from Moab Levy, a founder,
to Joseph Levy in 17th century. However, Joseph Levy's copy was
robbed by Desaguliers, the founder of modern Masonry, after Levy
was assassinated by Desaguliers. Joseph's son Abraham Levy died
of tuberculosis two years after his marriage to Esther. Esther
remarried to Abraham Abiud who was a direct descendant of Hiram
Abiud, the real founder of the ancient Masonic Association. Abraham
Abiud possessed another copy of the original manuscript. Their
only female child, also named Esther, was married to Samuel Lawrence.
Their son Jonas Lawrence had a son Samuel by his first wife but
later married Janet a Christian Protestant and converted to Christianity.
This only manuscript was passed on to Jonas who expressed his
desire to publish it. But Jonas was assassinated for his conversion
to Christianity and his illegal possession of the History because
he was not a direct descendant of the Levy line. Jonas's will
could not be carried out until his great grandson, Lawrence G.
S. Lawrence born 1868, who was a Protestant, translated the History
from Hebrew into English. In this translation, Mr. Lawrence --
the last Descendant of the owner of the history (the Hebrew manuscript)
-- adopted the title: The Dissipation of the Darkness, the
Origin of Masonry. In the following sections, we will quote
extensively from the English translation of the Hebrew manuscript
and the pages that contain the quotes refer to this document.
II. History of the Hebrew manuscript
These are the words of Lawrence G.S. Lawrence:
Thus it is that I, Lawrence, son of George, son of Samuel,
son of Jonas, son of Samuel Lawrence, of Russian origin, the
last descendant of the descendants of one of the owners of this
History, say:
I inherited from my father a manuscript composed by our ancestors
in the Hebrew language and translated by one of them to Russian
language. Another of them translated it to English. (p. 18).
Our ancestor, Jonas, introduced in the manuscript a series
of events; this History, thus, being produced by him and his
ancestors. Jonas arranged it and divided it into two sections.
He wanted to publish it, but various obstacles impeded it: health,
economic means and political events. He and his wife, Janet,
conceived the idea of the publication of this History; on finding
themselves incapable of doing so, they commended its publication
to their son, my grandfather, Samuel. Jonas died without seeing
his longing fulfilled. (p. 18).
My grandfather, Samuel, the son of Jonas, who was the son
of Samuel Lawrence, here addresses his words to his son, George,
my father. Samuel said to his son, George:
Son: Here you see these introductions headed by a list of
names. These names correspond to the successive heirs of this
History since the renewal of the Association (The Mysterious
Force) where it changed its name to "Freemasonry."
They include: Joseph Levy. (p. 19)
Joseph Levy is one of the renewers of the association. He
is a Jew and an heir of the History from his ancient ancestors
who, in turn, inherited it from Moab Levy, one of the nine founders.
It was our ancestor, Joseph, who conceived the idea of changing
the name of the association (The Mysterious Force) to
Freemasonry and of reforming the statutes.
Here you have the details: He was sent to to London with
his son, Abraham, and a friend named Abraham Abiud, all Jews,
descendants of the heirs of the History and very well financed.
They had made efforts to enter another city and, not having success,
they headed for London. There they met two influential and knowledgeable
persons who served as suitable elements to accomplish their purposes.
They are:
John Desaguliers and a companion called George (last name
unknown to manuscript owner). (p. 19)
After having strengthened the friendship among themselves,
Joseph Levy revealed the name of the association, "The Mysterious
Force," and related to his two friends, in synthesis and
with discretion, some parts of the History, concealing its fundamental
secrets. He also made it known to them that for a long time it
was inactive, almost dead, needing for its renewal the change
of name and the reform of the statutes in such a way that the
new statutes and the changed name might attract many members.
Thus it would grow. (p. 19)
With eloquence and cleverness, Joseph Levy succeeded in convincing
his two friends, Desaguliers and George, of the necessity of
reviving the association. Having achieved this initial success,
they separated on condition that they would meet again, each
one of them bringing three names appropriate for the new association,
from which the specific name would come. The next meeting was
held ten days later. Each one presented his names, the one approved
being one of those proposed by Joseph Levy: FREEMASONRY. It was
August 25, 1716. (p. 20)
Abraham, son of Joseph Levy, who had witnessed the two sessions,
said:
This name had preference over the others for two reasons.
First, because it is the same name that some Italian architects
adopted in the 13th century (Freemasons). And second, because
it was a suitable expression of the ancient signs and symbols
used in the association, The Mysterious Force; symbols
that pertained to construction and to architecture, proposed
by Hiram Abiud, one of the founders, for the purpose of concealing
the origin of the Association, attributing it to epochs prior
to Jesus. (p. 20)
Desaguliers approved the words of my father, adding:
"In the third place, present-day architects and builders
have associations, syndicates ond lodges where they gather to
fortify and dignify their profession. With this name then, we
can gather, all in a single association without anyone's knowing
our purposes. And fourth, these two terms,' Masonry,' (construction)
and 'Mason' are encountered since antiquity, will be a thick
veil over the secret of the origin of the foundation; and,
besides, without doubt, they will increase the prestige of the
Association." (p. 20)
Our ancestor, Abraham Levy, before his death, added:
"Desaguliers specified that those people who joined
the lodges before 1717 in London were masons, in the sense that
they were engineers, architects, builders, apprentices, but they
had no connection with the Association, The Mysterious Force,
that began true Masonry." (p. 20)
For that purpose five men met: Levy, Desaguliers, and the
companions mentioned above and they approved the addition of
the term, "Free," thus unequivocally concealing
the date of its foundation from the rest of the people in general
and the members and associates in particular. (pp. 20-21)
John Desaguliers and his companion began to demand that Levy
show him the History. Levy had made it known to them that it
was translated into English, that three of the inherited manuscripts
had been lost recently, four had been lost long ago, and there
remained only his manuscript and one other ( Note: the other
is the manuscript of Abraham Abiud. It is the one whose translation
we have on hand). Such declarations excited Desaguliers and George
extremely, the reason why they insisted on the need for a suitable
copy so that with said copy it would be much easier for them
to form the new statute. They showed themselves so faithful to
the principles, desires and doctrines of Levy that they succeeded
in convincing him to deliver a copy to them. It was delivered
to them. A time passed during which they read it. (p. 21)
The five met again and decided to summon some friends on
the pretext of establishing a "Unitive Association."
The true purpose was the renewal of the Association, the Mysterious
Force, its resurrection with the new name agreed upon by
the five and the restoration of the first Principal Lodge (Jerusalem).
Thus Levy wanted it. (p. 21)
On March 10, 1717 they invited several architects and acquaintances.
The invited were presided over by a wise man named Dr. James
Anderson, who was a friend of Desaguliers. After lengthy discussions
they reached an accord and designated June 24, 1717, to realize
a great meeting. (p. 21)
Meanwhile Levy was preparing his son, Abraham, for the great
events of the future. Days later Abraham Levy journeyed to Portugal
accompanied by Abraham Abiud, his relative. The latter is the
descendant of Hiram Abiud, one of the founders, and owner of
this copy. (p. 21-22)
Between March 10 and June 24 a great conflict was begun between
Levy and Desaguliers and George because of their refusal to return
the copy. In the June 24 meeting, the majority were on the side
of Desaguliers and Anderson; as a result both conspired against
Levy, assassinating and robbing his papers including the aforementioned
English copy and the Hebrew copy. (p. 22)
On the June 24, 1717 meeting, they agreed on creating the
Grand Lodge of England.
Here it is necessary to mention the names of the successive
heirs of this History, from our ancestor, Joseph Levy, the renewer
of the Association, down to me, Lawrence.
Joseph Levy was the son of Nathan, who was the son of Abraham,
Abraham the son of Jacob, Jacob the son of Nathan, Nathan the
son of Jacob, who was the son of Isaac, who was the son of Moab,
Moab the son of Rafael, etc., etc. back to Moab Levy, the first
ancestor and one of the Nine Founders of the Association,
the Mysterious Force. (p. 22-23)
Joseph Levy, Jew, 1665-1717
Abraham, son of Joseph Levy, Jew, 1685 - 1718
Nathan, son of Abraham Levy, Jew, 1717 - 1810
Esther, daughter of Nathan Levy, Jew, 1753 - 1793
Samuel Lawrence, her husband, Jew, 1742 - 1795
Jonas (son of Samuel and Esther), converted to Christianity
with the name of James, 1775 - 1825
Janet, daughter of John Lincoln, Christian Protestant, 1785
- 1854
Samuel, son of Jonas and Janet (Stepmother), Protestant Christian
,1807 - 1883
George, son of Samuel Lawrence, Protestant Christian, 1840
- 1884. (p. 23)
Desaguliers, born March 12, 1683 and died in the year 1742,
was the only man who distinguished himself by his fervent zeal
in the revitalization of the Association in the beginning of
the 18th century. He merited the title of "Father of the
New Masonry." The existence of the grand Lodge of England
is due to his effort alone. (P. 41)
Notwithstanding the indication of the name of Anderson as
the one who established the first edition of the fundamental
statutes of the new Masonry, its forger and original observer
was Desaguliers. If Anderson composed it, it was Desaguliers
who believed it and dictated the fundamental themes and basic
ideas. (p. 41)