On this date was announced an earthshaking document which has had direct influence upon our nation for 195 years and which has ben copied by other nations all over the world! Yet, it goes unnoticed in almost all States of this great country - - "almost" because an exception is California where it is the subject of an annual proclamation by the Grand Master of Masons in California, calling upon all constituent Lodges to celebrate this day with appropriate ceremonies.
The document is none other than the United States Constitution - - a document that has been copied by 50 States of the U.S., Canada, Mexico, 5 republics of Central America, 9 republics of South America, as well as Australia, France, Belgium and Switzerland.
Most history books give the impression that the Constitution was born, full blown, on September 17, 1787. The truth is that it evolved over a period of 767 years! - - a little over 71/2 centuries!
The U.S. Constitution represents a long, hard struggle against oppression and tyranny. Starting with the Magna Carta of 1215, when the Barons, protesting against the abuses of King John 1, forced him at Runnymede to sign it, thereby limiting the absolute authority of the king by granting to the people the right of trial by their peers, the writ of habeas corpus, and providing for the protection of life, liberty, and property through due process of law. The Magna Carta became "the law of the land "higher than the king.
Subsequently, King Edward I "forgot" the Magna Carta - - - until in 1297, be was compelled to sign the "Confirmatum Cartarum," whereby he confirmed the Magna Carta as "the law of the land" and established Parliament as a representative body of government with the proviso that taxes could be raised only by "the common assent of the realm" - - - thus ensuring the principle of taxation by representation.
The matter did not rest there. The idea of rights of the people over their king was repeated in a series of charters issued to Englishmen brave enough to colonize strange lands. Queen Elizabeth I in her efforts to encourage people to leave her overcrowded, "tight little isle," announced all rights of English citizens went with them as she gave charters to Sir Humphrey Gilbert in 1578 and Sir Walter Raleigh in 1584.

Accordingly, in 1606, James I issued the First Charter of Virginia as he created the London and Plymouth companies. It was this charter to which Patrick Henry referred on May 29, 1765, in the Virginia House to argue against the Stamp Act.
The three motives for colonization at that time were: 1) to spread Christianity, 2) to help England compete with Spain and France in commerce and naval warfare, and 3) to relocate England's surplus population.
Guarantee of rights of English citizens was reaffirmed in the Charters of New England 1620, Massachusetts Bay 1629, Maryland 1632, Maine 1639, Connecticut 1662, Rhode Island and Carolina in 1663, with Georgia in 1732.
The list of forerunners in the evolution of the U.S. Constitution includes about 23 documents, with the Declaration of 1776 and the Articles of Confederation of 1778 closing the list.
All of them, in one way or another, contributed to the development of the Constitution. Some of the ideas incorporated in it were almost revolutionary at the time.

1.  Government of the people not the state or monarch.
2. Government exists for the people and with their consent.

3. It was reduced to writing and provided remedies for too much government: a) election, b) impeachment, c) judicial decision.

4. Provided bicameral, check and balance system of government.
5. Protected individual rights of life,liberty, and property.
6. Required only a 3/4vote for amendment, not unanimous.

7. Gave importance to the ballot - - -the right to vote (a right we take for granted and often ignore!
Why should Masons be interested in the Constitution?
First of all, because one of the principal charges of every Mason is to be loyal to his government and its laws;
Second, because history has taught us that Masonry cannot survive in an autocratic government. Hitler, Mussolini, Stalin, and Franco outlawed Masonry as the worst enemy of a totalitarian state.
Third, because as loyal citizens, it is our duty to remind our people constantly of the basis for all the freedoms and liberties we enjoy; and as patriotic citizens, it is our obligation to sing out the virtues of "the law of the land" our United States Constitution!