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Preston Webb and Duncan

SimonM

Registered User
As an uninformed european I only have the most vague notions about the emulation rite and duncans rite.
The names Preston and Webb was mentioned in another thread and I got curious. Are the ceremonies described by Duncan similar to the rites by Webb and Preston?
How much have the rites evolved in the US from when they were written?
 

SimonM

Registered User
Is there a question?

I'm trying to get a grasp of the relationship between the Duncan and Preston Webb rites. Are they close or are they separate branches on the masonic tree?
For example, if I pick up a copy of Duncans monitor, would I see something similar to what Preston wrote?
 

Brother_Steve

Premium Member
I know that each GL is sovereign, but what about when the rite was written, before it had time to diverge?
Again, it depends on lineage.

The Grand Lodge of New Jersey has it's charter from England. Other states may originate from other recognized sources. Ancients vs. Moderns, etc.

I will do some research, if possible, to see what was practiced in New Jersey after our charter was granted from England. However, I want to say that our Masonic history predates the 1717 GL date.

I may be confused on the issue so I will get in touch with my secretary to see if the GL has any historical records (I'm sure they do) of masonry in NJ pre and post 1717.
 

MarkR

Premium Member
As far as I understand it, Duncan's is not from any particular jurisdiction. It was written as a Masonic exposure, is probably an amalgamation of several different versions of ritual, and was never the official ritual of any jurisdiction.
 

coachn

Coach John S. Nagy
Premium Member
Has anyone here looked at the years these guys were active and when their works were first published?
 

dfreybur

Premium Member
The problem with comparing these rituals is one of them is an expose' and I've promised not to help anyone on expose's. Expose' books are easy enough to find but they are books you have to find yourself.
 

SimonM

Registered User
The problem with comparing these rituals is one of them is an expose' and I've promised not to help anyone on expose's. Expose' books are easy enough to find but they are books you have to find yourself.

Has anyone here looked at the years these guys were active and when their works were first published?

I know Preston wrote his major works in the late 18th century (1774 is the year I found) , Webb around 1800 and Duncan in 1866. What I wanted to know was if there was any similarities between the rituals but as @dfreybur points out, that might be a bad idea to discuss here.

So, let me change the topic of this thread a bit.
Preston and the later Webb was greatly influencial in how masonry was developed in the us. Are there any resources available describing the development of that rite? Are there any other major rites that is worked (by regular lodges) in america?
 

chrmc

Registered User

Brother JC

Moderating Staff
Staff Member
Duncan didn't actually create a ritual, he wrote out a training aid. It was NOT an exposé. He felt the Brethren would be better served having the rituals at hand.
I will second the recommendation for Brother Davis's book, "The Mason's Words."
 

SimonM

Registered User
Duncan didn't actually create a ritual, he wrote out a training aid. It was NOT an exposé. He felt the Brethren would be better served having the rituals at hand.
Do you know which ritual did he write the training aid for? Was it Emulation of some other rite?
 

goomba

Neo-Antient
Site Benefactor
What follow is my opinion and not fact.

The P-W work is not a uniformed work or at least what we refer to when we say P-W. It is a general outline of which there are many differences between the various ways each grand lodge conducts this work. For example I've been to lodge is Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, DC, and Maryland each of which use the P-W work and each are different. However, they are very similar. Location of information within the ritual, words of similar meaning, sentences reworked but with the same meaning, floor work, variations in placement of items (some omitted altogether) etc. The difference's being so slight actually is making it hard for me to "forget" on way and learn another.

Let there be no illusion to any brother even in locations where there is only one authorized ritual done it is still different from lodge to lodge. I would venture to say and ancient landmark of Masonry is that things are different. The little differences (or large) show different aspects and possibly provide information that is "missing" or makes sense in the work. The differences are beautiful and a part of our gentle craft.

These my two cents. Happy new years brother.
 
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