Abstract: The object of the study is the text of the manuscript, and the subject of the study is its historical and legal characteristics. Research objectives: 1) establishing the reliability of the source and the accuracy of the information contained therein; 2) establishing the year, author, purpose, completeness and meaning of the source. The article introduces into scientific circulation a monument of political and legal culture of the first quarter of the XIX century, promotes the initial publication of the manuscript belonging to the Russian Freemasons of the first quarter of the XIX century. Based on the original source, the study shows what legal and political ideas were actually spread among Russian Freemasons. The reasoning demonstrates the continuity of the state-legal ideas of the domestic political and legal thought of the XVIII and XIX centuries. Within the framework of the study, a manuscript of the first quarter of the XIX century is published for the first time and the attribution of the manuscript is given for the first time: the establishment of the author, year, authenticity and meaning of the work - "Arguments about the support of the monarchical power in Russia by Masons". The reasoning was recorded by S.P. Fonvizin (1783-1860) from the words of the author – Joseph Alekseevich Pozdeev (1742-1820) in 1817. The reasoning is aimed at supporting the estate monarchy among the Masonic brothers in Russia in the first quarter of the XIX century .The reasoning demonstrates a commitment to social peace based on "good morals" and conscientious performance of class duties. The reasoning is rich in elements of the organic theory of the state and natural-legal argumentation.

Abstract: The relationship between the government and Masonic lodges have always aroused genuine multifaceted interest. The goal of this research is to provide a historiographical analysis to the enclosure “Lit. A” to the note of special clergy of the Police Ministry. The author establishes the authenticity of the source and precision of the data contained within, as well as the year, title, legal value, purpose, completeness and meaning of the source. The foundation for this study served the works on the source started by V. I Semevsky, G. V. Vernadsky and A. I. Serkov. The author compares the rules of 1811 and the Decree of Prussian King of 1798; demonstrates the meaning of the rules for the legislative regulation of the activity of Mason lodges; and provides the historiographical analysis of the rules of 1811. The introduction of rules served as an example of the Russian version of modernization of the legislative regulation of Masonry.

Abstract: The subject of this work is the legal ideas of Ivan Grigorevich Schwartz – prominent representative of masonry in Russia, tenured Professor of philosophy at Moscow University. The author analyzes the origins of and the content of the lectures Schwarz G. I. "three knowledges: curious, pleasant and useful" (1782), lectures at the University (1782) and public lectures (1782-1783), "the Reasoning in the collections of the Friendly learned society" (1782) in relation to law and the doctrine of Russian Freemasons of the XVIII century. This article provides an understanding of the views of I. G. Schwartz for the state, law, morality within the meaning of the terms and categories of the XVIII century and their relation to the doctrine of Russian Freemasonry of the XVIII century. For this purpose the author has used religious-philosophical and historical-legal methods of research. Legal ideas of I. G. Schwartz are the result of religious and philosophical speculation on the nature of man and his place in society. The article shows the role of law, science and itself in religious and social life of man. In his lectures, Schwartz uses such notions as "law", "citizen", "position", "justice", "state" and etc. Schwartz claims that it is necessary for a person to comply with positive law – the existing laws, because this is human nature, pursuit to improvement, return to the Creator, or the original ancient ideal.