Title continues: "Containing Their History, Charges, Regulations, &c. Collected and Digested By Order of the Grand Lodge, from their old Records, faithful Traditions and Lodge-Books, For the Use of the Lodges." The Constitution of the Freemasons, collected by Anderson who was determined to produce an authoritative digest. He first did so in 1723 but the work passed through many editions. The "Year of Masonry" in Masonic procedure is a year that is 4,000 years beyond Anno Domini or The Year of Our Lord. Hence the title page statement "In the Vulgar Year of Masonry 5769" means the publication date of 1797.
