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Freemasonry
Anderson’s Constitution 2nd. Revision 1738 Under Article I. Of God and Religion
The Constitutions of 1738
I - Of GOD and RELIGION.
"A Mason is obliged by his tenure to observe the moral law as a true Noachide;
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Masonry isn't really sure what it has here, in the call for every Mason to live his life as a true Noachide. There has been much speculation - in truth, though, all the Mason's need to do is look in Torah!
Anderson’s Constitution 2nd. Revision 1738 Under Article I. Of God and Religion
The Constitutions of 1738
I - Of GOD and RELIGION.
"A Mason is obliged by his tenure to observe the moral law as a true Noachide; and if he rightly understands the Craft, he will never be a stupid Atheist nor an irreligious Libertine, nor act against conscience. In ancient Times, the Christian Masons were charged to comply with the Christian usages of each country where they traveled or worked; being found in all nations, even of divers religions. They are generally charged to adhere to that religion in which all men agree (leaving each brother to his own particular opinions); that is, to be good men and true, men of honor and honesty, by whatever names, religions, or persuasions they may be distinguished; for they all agree in the three great articles of Noah, enough to preserve the cement of the lodge. Thus Masonry is the Center of Union, and the happy means of conciliating persons that otherwise must have remained at a perpetual distance."
One possible source for the introduction of this term, Noachide, into Masonry is contained in a work known as the York Constitution. The claimed date of this manuscript is 926 of the common era, though this is suspected to be greatly exaggerated and scholars suggest an early 18th century date for this manuscript. This manuscript was one of three Masonic documents contained in the work of Dr Krause (1781-1832) titled, Die drei ”ltesten Kunsturkunden der Freimaurerbr¸derschaft, [The Three Oldest Professional Documents of the Brotherhood of Freemasons]. Quoting again from Mackey's History of Freemasonry it says, "in the Krause MS., under the head of 'The Laws or Obligations laid before his Brother Masons by Prince Edwin,' we find the following article. 'The first obligation is that you shall sincerely honor God and obey the laws of the Noachites, because they are divine laws, which should be obeyed by all the world. Therefore, you must avoid all heresies and not thereby sin against God.'"
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