An Essay on The Origin of Free-masonry

This page presents passages from An Essay on the Origin of Free-Masonry, attributed to Thomas Paine, together with a modern rendering of the same text.

The original wording is preserved as it appears in the early nineteenth-century publication, including its capitalization, spelling, and style. The modern rendering expresses the same material in contemporary language to assist readers who may find the historical phrasing difficult to follow.

No interpretation or commentary is added; the purpose is only to clarify the wording while preserving the meaning of the original text.