Page images
PDF
EPUB

swering in the affirmative,* by the grand master's order, takes the candidate from among his fellows, and presents him at the pedestal, saying, "Most worshipful grand master, I present my worthy brother, A B, to be installed master of this new lodge. I find him to be of good morals, and of great skill, true and trusty; and as he is a lover of the whole fraternity, wheresoever dispersed over the face of the earth, I doubt not that he will discharge his duty with fidelity."

The grand master then addresses him :

"BROTHER,

"Previous to your investiture, it is necessary that you should signify your assent to those ancient charges and regulations which point out the duty of a master of a lodge."

The grand master then reads, or orders to be read, a summary of the ancient charges, to the master elect, as follows, viz.

"I. You agree to be a good man and true, and strictly to obey the moral law.

"II. You agree to be a peaceable subject, and cheerfully to conform to the laws of the country in which you reside.

* A private examination is understood to precede the installation of every officer.

K

"III. You promise not to be concerned in plots and conspiracies against government, but patiently to submit to the decisions of the supreme legis

lature.

"IV. You agree to pay a proper respect to the civil magistrate, to work diligently, live creditably, and act honourably by all men.

"V. You agree to hold in veneration the original rulers and patrons of the order of masonry, and their regular successors, supreme and subordinate, according to their stations; and to submit to the awards and resolutions of your brethren when convened, in every case consistent with the constitutions of the order.

"VI. You agree to avoid private piques and quarrels, and to guard against intemperance and

excess.

"VII. You agree to be cautious in carriage and behaviour, courteous to your brethren, and faithful to your lodge.

"VIII. You promise to respect genuine brethren, and to discountenance impostors, and all dissenters from the original plan of masonry.

"IX. You agree to promote the general good of society, to cultivate the social virtues, and to propagate the knowledge of the art.

"X. You promise to pay homage to the grand master for the time being, and to his officers when

duly installed; and strictly to conform to every edict of the grand lodge, or general assembly of masons, that is not subversive of the principles and ground-work of masonry.

"XI. You admit that it is not in the power of any man, or body of men, to make innovations in the body of masonry.

"XII. You promise a regular attendance on the committees and communications of the grand lodge, on receiving proper notice; and to pay at tention to all the duties of masonry, on convenient occasions.

"XIII. You admit that no new lodge shall be formed without permission of the grand lodge; and that no countenance be given to any irregular lodge, or to any person clandestinely initiated therein, being contrary to the ancient charges of the order.

"XIV. You admit that no person can be regularly made a mason in, or admitted a member of, any regular lodge, without previous notice, and due inquiry into his character.

"XV. You agree that no visitors shall be received into your lodge without due examination, and producing proper vouchers of their having been initiated in a regular lodge."*

[* As the curious reader may wish to know the ancient charges that were used on this occasion, we shall here insert.

These are the regulations of free and accepted

masons.

The grand master then addresses the master elect in the following manner: "Do you submit to these charges, and promise to support these regulations, as masters have done in all ages before

them verbatim as they are contained in a MS. in possession of the Lodge of Antiquity in London, written in the reign of James the Second.

«********* And furthermore, at diverse assemblies, have been put and ordained diverse crafties by the best advise of magistrates and fellowes.

Every man that is a mason take good heed to these charges (wee pray) that if any man find himselfe guilty of any of these charges, that he may amend himselfe, or principally for dread of God you that be charged to take good heed that you keepe all these charges well, for it is a great evill for a man to forswear himselfe upon a book.

"The first charge is, That yee shall be true men to God and the holy Church, and to use no error or heresie by your understanding, and by wise men's teaching.

Allso, secondly, yee shall be true one to another, (that is to say) every mason of the craft that is mason allowed, yee shall doe to him as yee would be done unto yourselfe.

68 Thirdly, And yee shall keepe truely all the counsell that ought to be kept in the way of masonhood, and all the counsell of the lodge or of the chamber. Allso, that yee shall be no thiefe nor thieves to your knowledge free: that yee shall be true to the king, lord or master that yee serve, and truely to see and work for his advantage.

[ocr errors]

66 Fourthly, Yee shall call all masons your fellowes, or your brethren, and no other names.

1

you?" The new master having signified his cordial submission as before, the grand master thus addresses him :

"Brother A B, in consequence of your cheerful conformity to the charges and regulations of the order, you are now to be installed master of this

"Fifthly, Yee shall not take your fellow's wife in villany, nor deflower his daughter or servant, nor put him to no disworship.

"Sixthly, Yee shall truely pay for your meat or drinke wheresoever yee goe to table or board.. Allso, yee shall doe no villany there, whereby the craft or science may be slandered.

"These be the charges general to every true mason, both masters and fellowes.

"Now will I rehearse other charges single for masons allowed or accepted.

First, That no mason take on him no lord's worke, nor any other man's, unlesse he know himself well. able to perform the worke, so that the craft have no slander.

"C Secondly, Allso, that no master take worke but that he take reasonable pay for itt; so that the lord may be truely served, and the master to live honestly and to pay his fellowes truely. And that no master or fellow supplant others of their worke; (that is to say) that if he hath taken a worke, or else stand master of any worke, that he shall not put him out, unless he be unable of cunning to make an end of his worke. And no master nor fellow shall take no apprintice for less than seaven yeares. And that the apprintice› be free-born, and of limbs whole as a man ought to be, and no bastard. And that no master or fellow take no allowance to be made mason without the assent of his fellowes, at the least six or seaven.

« PreviousContinue »