Anderson’s The
Constitutions Of The Freemasons.
Containing The History,
Charges, Regulations, &c.
of that most Ancient
and Right Worshipful Fraternity.
For the Use of the
Lodges.
Printed in London in Anno 5723.
Re-printed in
Philadelphia by special Order, for the Use
of the Brethren in
NORTH-AMER ICA.
In the Year of Masonry
5734, Anno Domini 1734.
Dedication of the
Original Edition.
To
His Grace the Duke of Montagu.
My Lord,
Y Order of His Grace
the Duke of Wharton, the present Right Worshipful Grand Master of the
Free-Masons ; and, as his Deputy, I humbly dedicate this Book of the
Constitutions of our ancient Fraternity to your Grace, in Testimony of
your honourable, prudent, and vigilant Discharge of the Office of our
Grand Master last Year. I need not tell your Grace what Pains our
learned Author has taken in compiling and digesting this Book from the
old Records, and how accurately he has compar’d and made every thing
agreeable to History and Chronology, so as to render these
NEW CONSTITUTIONS a
just and exact Account of Masonry from the Beginning of the World
to your Grace’s
Mastership, still preserving all that was truly ancient and authentick
in the old ones :For every Brother will be pleas’d with the
Performance, that knows it had your Grace’s Perusal and Approbation
and that it is now printed for the Use of the Lodges, after it was
approv’d by the Grand Lodge, when your Grace was Grand Master.
All the Brother-hood
will ever remember the Honour your Grace has done them, and your Care
for
their Peace, Harmony,
and lasting Friendship: Which none is more duly sensible of than,
My LORD,
Your GRACE’s
most oblig’d, and
most obedient Servant,
and Faithful Brother,
J . T . Desaguliers,
Deputy Grand-Master.
THE CONSTITUTION,
History, Laws, Charges, Orders,
Regulations, and Usages,
Of The Right Worshipful Fraternity of
Accepted Freemasons
Collected from their general Records and
their faithful Traditions of many Ages.
or order some other Brother to read as
follows,
1. Year of the
World 4003 before Christ.
Adam, our first Parent, created after the Image
of God, the great Architect of the Universe, must have had the Liberal
Sciences, particularly Geometry, written on his Heart; for even since
the Fall, we find the Principles of it in the Hearts of his Offspring,
and which, in process of time, have been drawn forth into a convenient
Method of Propositions, by observing the Laws of Proportion taken
from Mechanism : So that as the Mechanical
Arts gave Occasion to the Learned to reduce the Elements of Geometry
into Method, this noble Science thus reduc’d, is the Foundation of all
those Arts, (particularly of Masonry and Architecture) and the Rule by
which they are conducted and perform’d.
No doubt Adam taught his Sons Geometry, and
the use of it, in the several Arts and Crafts convenient, at least for
those early Times ; for CAIN, we find, built a City, which he call’d
Consecrated, or Dedicated, after the Name of his eldest Son Enoch and
becoming the Prince of the one Half of Mankind, his Posterity would
imitate his Royal Example in improving both the noble Science and the
useful Art.
[As
other Arts were also improved by them, viz. working in Metal by TUBAL
CAIN, Music by JUBAL, Pastorage and Tent Making by JABAL, which last is
good Architecture]
Nor can we suppose that SETH was less
instructed, who being the Prince of the other Half of Mankind, and also
the prime Cultivator of Astronomy, would take equal care to teach
Geometry and Masonry to his Offspring, who had also the mighty Advantage
of Adam’s living among them.
[For
by some Vestiges of Antiquity we find one of ‘em, godly ENOCH (who dy’d
not, but was translated alive to Heaven) prophecying of the final
Conflagration at the Day of Judgment (as St. Jude tells us) and likewise
of the General Deluge for the Punishment of the World : Upon which he
erected his two large Pillars, (tho’ some ascribe them to Seth) the one
of Stone, and the other of Brick, whereon were engraven the Liberal
Sciences, &c. And that the Stone Pillar remain’d in Syria until the Days
of Vespasian the Emperor.]
But without regarding uncertain Accounts,
we may safely conclude the old World, that lasted 1656 Years, could not
be ignorant of Masonry and that both the families of Seth and Cain
erected many curious Works, until at length NOAH, the ninth from Seth,
was commanded and directed of God to
NOAH, and his three Sons, JAPHET, SHEM, and
HAM, all Masons true, brought with them over the Flood the Traditions
and Arts of the Ante-deluvians, and amply communicated them to their
growing Offsprings, for about 101 Years after the Flood we find a vast
Number of ’em, if not the whole Race of Noah, in the Vale of Shinar,
employ’d in building a City and large Tower, in order to make to them
selves a Name and to prevent their Dispersion. And tho’ they carry’d on
the Work to a monstrous Height, and by their Vanity provok’d God to
confound their Devices, by confounding their Speech, which occasion’d
their Dispersion; yet their Skill in Masonry is not the less to be
celebrated, having spent above 53 Years in that prodigious Work and upon
their Dispersion carry’d the mighty Knowledge with them into distant
Parts, where they found the good Use of it in the Settlement of their
Kingdoms, Commonwealths and Dynasties. And tho’ afterwards it was lost
in most Parts of the Earth, it was especially preserv’d in Shinar and
Assyria, where NIMROD, the
[NIMROD,
which signifies a Rebel, was the Name given him by the holy Family, and
by Moses ; but among his Friends in Chaldea, his proper Name was BELUS,
which signifies LORD and afterwards was worshipped as a God by many
Nations, under the Name of Bel or Baal, and became the Bacchus of the
Ancients, or Bar Chus, the Son of CHUS.]
.
In these Parts, upon the Tygris and
Euphrates, afterwards flourish’d many learned Priests and
Mathematicians, known by the Names of Chaldees and Magi,
who preserv’d the good Science, Geometry, as the Kings and great
Men encourag’d the Royal Art. But it is not expedient to speak
Anno Mundi 1816 . 2188
Ante Chr.
And, no doubt, the
Royal Art was brought down to Egypt by MITZRAIM, the second Son of Ham,
about six Years after the Confusion at Babel, and after the Flood 160
Years, when he led thither his Colony ; (for Egypt is Mitzraim in
Hebrew) because we find the River Nile ’s overflowing its
Nay, one of those Egyptian Pyramids is reck on’d, the First of the Seven Wonders of the World, the account of which, by Historians and Travellers, is almost incredible.
[ The Marble
Stones, brought a vast way from the Quarries of Arabia, were most of ’em
30 Foot long ; and its Foundation cover’d the Ground 700 Foot on each
Side, or 2800 Foot in Compass and 481 in perpendicular Height. And in
perfecting it were employed every Day, for 20 whole Years, 360,000 Men,
by some ancient Egyptian King long before the Israelites were a People,
for the Honour of his Empire, and at last to become his Tomb]
The Sacred Records
inform us well that the eleven great Sons of Canaan (the youngest
Son of Ham) soon fortified themselves in strong Holds, and stately
walled Cities and erected most beautiful Temples and Mansions ; for when
the Israelites, under the great Joshua, invaded their Country, they
found it so regularly fenc’d, that without the immediate Intervention of
God in behalf of his peculiar People, the Canaanites were impregnable
and invincible. Nor can we suppose less of the other Sons of Ham, viz.
Cush, his eldest, in South Arabia, and Phut, or Phuts, (now called Fez)
in West Africa.
And surely the fair
and gallant Posterity of JAPHET, (the eldest Son of Noah ) even such as
travell’d into the Isles of the Gentiles, must have been equally skill’d
in Geometry and Masonry ; tho’ we know little of their Transactions and
mighty Works, until their original Knowledge was almost lost by the
Havock of War, and by not maintaining a due Correspondence with the
polite and learned Nations ; for when that Correspondence was open’d in
After-Ages, we find they began to be most curious Architects.
The Posterity of Shem had also equal
Opportunities of cultivating the useful Art, even those of ’em that
planted their Colonies in the South and East of Asia ; much more those
of ’em, that in the great Assyrian Empire, liv’d in a separate State, or
were blended with other Families : Nay, that holy Branch of SHEM (of
whom, as concerning the Flesh, CHRIST came) could not be unskilful in
the learned Arts of Assyria ; for ABRAM, after the Confusion at Babel
about 268 Years, was called out of Ur of the Chaldees, where he learned
Geometry, and the Arts that are perform’d by it, which he would
carefully transmit to Ishmael, to Isaac, and to his Sons by Keturah ; and by Isaac, to
Esau, and Jacob, and the twelve Patriarchs : Nay, the Jews believe that
ABRAM also instructed the Egyptians in the Assyrian Learning.
A. M. 2 427. 1 577 . Ante
Chr.
Indeed, the select Family long used
Military Architecture only, as they were Sojourners among Strangers ;
but before the 430 Years of their Peregrination were expired, even about
86 Years before their Exodus, the Kings of Egypt forc’d most of them to
lay down their Sheperds Instruments, and
And while marching to Canaan thro’ Arabia,
under Moses, God was pleased to inspire BEZALEEL, of the Tribe of Judah,
and AHOLIAB, of the Tribe of Dan, with Wisdom of Heart for erecting that
most glorious Tent, or Tabernacle, wherein the SHECHINAH resided ;
which, tho’ not of Stone or Brick, was framed, by Geometry, a most
beautiful Piece of Architecture, (and prov’d afterwards the Model of
Solomon’s Temple) according to the Pattern that God had shewn to MOSES
in the Mount, who therefore became the
General Mastermason,
as well as King of Jessurun, being well skill’d in all the Egyptian
Learning and divinely inspir’d with more sublime Knowledge in Masonry,
so that the Israelites, at their leaving Egypt, were a whole Kingdom of
Masons, well instructed, under the Conduct of their Grand Master
Moses, who often marshall’d them into a regular and general Lodge,
while in the Wilderness and gave them wise Charges, Orders, &c. had they
been well observ’d ! But no more of the Premises must be mention’d.
And after they were possess’d of Canaan, the Israelites came not short
of the old Inhabitants in Masonry, but rather vastly improv’d it, by
the special Direction of Heaven ; they fortify’d better, and improv’d
their City-Houses and the Palaces of their Chiefs, and only fell short
in sacred Architecture while the Tabernacle stood, but no longer ; for
the finest sacred Building of the Canaanites was the Temple of Dagon in
Gaza of the Philistines, very magnificent, and capacious
enough to receive 5000 People under its
Roof, that was artfully supported by two main Columns and was a
wonderful Discovery of their mighty Skill in true Masonry, as must he
own’d.
[By which the glorious
SAMPSON pull’d it down upon the Lords of the Philistines, and was also
intangled in the same Death which he drew upon his Enemies for putting
out his Eyes, after he had reveal’d his Secrets to his Wife, that
betray’d him into their Hands ; for which Weakness he never had the
Honour to be number’d among Masons : But it is not convenient to write
more of this.]
But Dagon’s Temple, and the finest
Structures of Tyre and Sidon, could not be compared with the Eternal
God’s Temple at Jerusalem, begun and finish’d, to the amazement of
all the World, in the short space of seven Years and six Months, by that
wisest Man and most glorious King of Israel, the Prince of Peace and
Architecture, Solomon (the Son of David, who was refused that
Honour
[In
1 Kings v. 16. they are call’d Harodim, Rulers or Provosts assisting
King Solomon, who were set over the Work, and their Number there is only
3,300 : But 2 Chron. ii. 18. they are called Menatzchim, Overseers and
Comforters of the People in Working, and in Number 3,600 ; be cause
either 300 might be more curious Artists,
and the Over seers of the said 3,300 ; or rather, not so excellent, and
only Deputy-Masters, to supply their Places in case of Death or Absence,
that so there might be always 3,300 acting Masters compleat ; or else
they might be the Over seers of the 70,000 Ish Sabbal, Men of Burden or
La bourers, who were not Masons but served the 80,000 Ish Chotzeb, Men
of Hewing, called also Ghiblim, Stone Cutters and Sculpturers and also
Bonai, Builders in Stone, part of which belong’d to Solomon and part to
Hiram, King of Tyre, (1 Kings v. 18.)
according to Solomon’s Directions, with 80,000 Hewers of Stone in the
Mountain, or Fellow Craftsmen and 70,000 Labourers, in all ----- 153,600
besides the Levy under Adoniram, to work in the Mountains of Lebanon by
30,000 turns with the Sidonians, viz. being in all 183,600 for which
great Number of ingenious Masons, Solomon was much oblig’d to HIRAM, or
Huram, King of Tyre, who sent his Masons and Carpenters to Jerusalem,
and the Firs and Cedars of Lebanon to Joppa the next Sea-port. But above
all, he sent his Namesake HIRAM, or Huram, the most accomplish’d Mason
upon Earth.
[We
read (2 Chron. ii. 13.) HIRAM King of Tyre (called there Huram) in his
Letter to King SOLOMON, says, I have sent a cunning Man, le Huram Abhi,
not to be translated according to the vulgar Greek and Latin, Huram my
Father, as if this Architect was King HIRAM’s Father ; for his
Description, ver. 14. refutes it, and the Original plainly imports,
Huram of my Father’s, viz. the Chief Master-Mason of my Father, King
ABIBALUS ; (who enlarg’d and beautify’d the city of Tyre, as ancient
Histories inform us, whereby the Tyrians at this time were most expert
in Masonry) tho’ some think HIRAM the King might call Hiram the
Architect Father, as learned and skilful Men were wont to be call’d of
old Times, or as Joseph was call’d the Father of Pharaoh ; and as the
same Hiram is call’d Solomon’s FATHER, (2 Chron. iv. 16.) where ‘tis
said Shelomoh lammelech Abhif Churam ghnasah, Did Huram, his Father,
make to King Solomon. But the Difficulty is over at once, by allowing
the Word Abif to be the Surname of Hiram the Mason, called also (chap.
ii. 13.) Hiram
And the prodigious expence of it also
enhaunceth its Excellency, for besides King David’s vast Preparations,
his richer Son Solomon, and all the wealthy Israelites and the Nobles of
all the neighbouring Kingdoms, largely contributed towards it in Gold,
Silver, and rich Jewels, that amounted to a Sum almost incredible. Nor
do we read of any thing in Canaan so large, the Wall that inclos’d it
being 7700 Foot in Compass ; far less any holy Structure fit to be nam’d
with it, for exactly proportion’d and beautiful Dimensions, from the
magnificent Porch on the East, to the glorious and reverend Sanctum
Sanctorum on the West, with most lovely and convenient Apartments for
the Kings and Princes, Priests and Levites, Israelites, and Gentiles
also ; it being an House of Prayer for all Nations, and capable of
receiving in the Temple proper and in all its Courts and Apartments
together, no less than 300,000 People, by a modest Calculation, allowing
a square Cubit to each Person.
And if we consider the 1453 Columns of
Parian Marble, with twice as many Pillasters, both having glorious
Capitals of several Orders, and about 2246 Windows, besides those in the
Pavement, with the unspeakable and costly Decorations of it within ;
(and much more might be said ) we must conclude its Prospect to
transcend our Imagination; and that it was justly esteem’d by far the
finest piece of Masonry upon Earth before or since, and the Chief Wonder
of the World and was
But leaving what must not, and indeed
cannot, be communicated by Writing, we may warrantably affirm that
however ambitious the Heathen were in cultivating of the Royal Art, it
was never perfected, until God condescended to instruct his peculiar
People in rearing the above mention’d
This most sumptuous,
splendid, beautiful and glorious Edifice, attracted soon the inquisitive
Artists of all Nations to spend some time at Jerusalem, and survey its
peculiar Excellencies, as much as was allow’d to the Gentiles ; whereby
they soon discover’d, that all the World, with their joint Skill, came
far short of the Israelites, in the Wisdom and Dexterity of
Architecture, when the wise King Solomon was Grand Master of the Lodge
at Jerusalem, and the learned King Hiram was Grand Master of the Lodge
at Tyre, and the inspired HIRAM ABIF was Master of Work, and Masonry was
under the immediate Care and Direction of Heaven, when the Noble and the
Wise thought it their Honour to be assisting to the ingenious Masters
and Craftsmen, and when the Temple of the TRUE GOD became the Wonder of
all Travellers, by which, as by the most perfect Pattern, they corrected
the Architecture of their own Country upon their Return.
So that after the
erection of Solomon’s Temple, Masonry was improv’d in all the
neighbouring Nations ; for the many Artists employed about it, under
Hiram Abif, after it was finish’d, dispers’d themselves into Syria,
Mesopotamia, Assyria, Chaldea, Babylonia, Media, Persia, Arabia, Africa,
Lesser Asia, Greece
and other Parts of Europe, where they taught this liberal Art to the
free born Sons of eminent Persons, by whose Dexterity the
Kings, Princes, and
Potentates, built many glorious Piles, and became the GRAND MASTERS,
each in his own Territory, and were emulous of excelling in this Royal
Art ; nay, even in INDIA, where the Correspondence was open, we may
conclude the same. But none of
the Nations, nor all together, could rival the Israelites, far less
excel them, in Masonry ; and their Temple remain’d the constant
Pattern.
Nay, the Grand Monarch Nebuchadnezar could never, with all his unspeakable Advantages, carry up his Masonry to the Beautiful Strength and Magnificence of the Temple Work, which he had, in warlike Rage, burnt down, after it had remain’d in Splendor 416 Years from its Consecration. For after his Wars were over, and general Peace proclaim’d, he set his Heart on Architecture, and be came the GRAND MASTER-MASON ; and having before led captive the ingenious Artists of Judea, and other con quer’d Countries, he rais’d indeed the largest Work upon Earth, even the Walls,
[In
Thickness 87 Foot, in Height 350 Foot, and in Compass 480 Furlongs, or
60 British Miles in an exact Square of 15 Miles a Side, built of large
Bricks, cemented with the hard Bitumen of that old Vale of Shinar, with
100 Gates of Brass, or 25 a-side, and 250 Towers ten Foot higher than
the Walls. From the said 25 Gates in each Side went 25 Streets in strait
Lines, or in all 50 Streets each 15 Miles long, with four half Streets,
next the Walls, each 200 Foot broad : And so the whole City was thus cut
out into 676 Squares, each being 2 Miles and quarter in Compass; round
which were the Houses built three or four Stories high, well adorn’d,
and accommodated with Yards, Gardens, &c. A Branch of the Euphrates run
thro’ the Middle of it, from North to South, over which, in the Heart of
the City, was built a stately Bridge, in Length a Furlong, and thirty
Foot in Breadth, by wonderful Art, for supplying the Want of a
Foundation in the River. At the two Ends of this Bridge were two
magnificent Palaces, the Old Palace, the seat of ancient Kings at the
East End, upon the Ground of four Squares and the New Palace at the
West End, built by Nebuchadnezzar, upon the Ground of nine Squares, with
Hanging-Gardens (so much celebrated by the Greeks) where the loftiest
Trees could grow as in the Fields, erected in a Square of 400 Foot on
each Side, carried up by Terraces, and sustain’d by vast Arches built
upon Arches, until the highest Terrace equal’d the Height of the
City-Walls, with a curious Aqueduct to water the whole Gardens. Old
Babel improv’d, stood on the East Side of the River, and the New Town on
the West Side, much larger than the Old, and built in order to make this
Capital exceed old Niniveh, tho’ it never had so many Inhabitants by one
Half. The River was begirt with Banks of Brick, as thick as the City
Walls, in Length twenty Miles, viz. fifteen Miles within the City, and
two Miles and a half above and below it, to keep the Water within its
Channel ; and each Street that cross’d the River had a brasen Gate
leading down to the Water on both Banks ; and West of the City was a
prodigious Lake, in Compass 160 Miles, with a Canal from the River into
it, to prevent Inundations in the Summer. In the Old Town was the Old
Tower of BABEL, at the Foundation a Square of half a Mile in Compass,
consisting of eight square Towers built over each other, with Stairs on
the out-side round it, going up to the Observatory on the Top, 600 Foot
high, (which is 19 Foot higher than the highest Pyramid) whereby they
became the first Astronomers. And in the Rooms of the Grand Tower, with
arched Roofs, supported by Pillars 75 Foot high, the idolatrous Worship
of their God BELUS was perform’d, till now, that this mighty Mason and
Monarch erected round this ancient Pile a Temple of two Furlongs on
every Side, or a Mile in compass ; where he lodg’d the sacred Trophies
of SOLOMON’s Temple, and the golden Image 90 Foot high, that he had
consecrated in the Plains of Dura, as were formerly in the Tower lodg’d
many other golden Images, and many precious things, that were afterwards
all seiz’d by XERXES, and amounted to above 21 Millions Sterling.
And when all was finish’d, King NEBUCHADNEZZAR walking in State in his
Hanging-Gardens, and from thence taking a Review of the whole City,
proudly boasted of this his mighty Work ; saying Is not this Great
Babylon, that I have built for the House of the Kingdom, by the Might of
my Power, and for the Honour of my Majesty ? but had his Pride
immediately rebuk’d by a Voice from Heaven, and punish’d by brutal
Madness for seven Years, until he gave Glory to the God of Heaven, the
Omnipotent Architect of the Universe, which he publish’d by a Decree
thro’ all his Empire, and dy’d next Year, before his GREAT BABYLON was
little more
and City, the Palaces and Hanging-Gar dens, the Bridge and Temple of Babylon, the Third of the Seven Wonders of the World, tho’ vastly inferior,in the sublime Perfection of Masonry, to the holy, charming, lovely Temple of GOD. But as the Jewish Captives were of special use to Nebuchadnezar in his glorious Buildings, so being thus kept at work, they retain’d their great Skill in Masonry, and continu’d very capable of rebuilding the holy Temple and City of Salem upon its old Foundations, which was order’d by the Edict or Decree of the Grand Cyrus, according to God’s Word, that had fore told his Exaltation and this Decree: And Cyrus having constituted Zerubbabel, the Son of Salathiel (of the Seed of David by Nathan, the Brother of Solomon, whose Royal Family was now extinct) the Head, or Prince of the Captivity, and the Leader of the Jews and Israelites returning to Jerusalem, they began to lay the Foundation of the SECOND TEMPLE, and would have soon finish’d it, if Cyrus had liv’d ; but at length they put on the Cape-Stone, in the 6th Year of Darius, the Persian Monarch, when it was dedicated with Joy, and many great Sacrifices, by Zerubbabel, the Prince and General Mastermason of the Jews, about 20 Years after the Decree of the Grand Cyrus. And tho’ this Temple of Zerubbabel came far short of Solomon’s Temple, was not so richly adorn’d with Gold and Diamonds, and all manner of precious Stones, nor had the Shechina and the Holy Relicks of Moses in it, &c. yet being rais’d exactly upon Solomon’s Foundation, and according to his Model, it was still the most regular, symmetrical and glorious Edifice in the whole World, as the Enemies of the Jews have often testify’d and acknowledg’d.
At length the Royal
Art was carry’d into Greece, whose Inhabitants have left us no Evidence
of such Improvements in Masonry, prior to Solomon ’s Temple, for their
most ancient Buildings, as the Cittadel of Athens, with the Parthenion,
or Temple of Minerva, the Temples also of Theseus, of Jupiter Olympius,
&c. their Porticos also, and Forums, their Theatres and Gymnasiums,
their publick Halls, curious Bridges, regular Fortifications, stout
Ships of War and stately Palaces, were all erected after the Temple of
Solomon and most of them even after the Temple of Zerubbabel.
A. M. 3457. 547 Ante Chr.
Nor do we find the
Grecians arriv’d to any considerable knowledge in Geometry, before the
Great Thales Milesius, the Philosopher, who dy’d in the Reign of
Bellshazzar and the Time of the Jewish Captivity. But his Scholar, the
Greater Pythagoras, prov’d the Author of the 47th Proposition of
Euclid’s first Book, which, if duly observ’d, is the Foundation of all
Masonry, sacred, civil, and
The People of Lesser Asia about this Time gave large Encouragement to Masons for erecting all sorts of sumptuous Buildings, one of which must not be forgot, being usually rcckon’d the Fourth of the Seven Wonders of the World, viz. the Mausoleum, or Tomb of Mausolus, King of Caria, between Lycia and Jonia, at Helicarnassus, on the Side of Mount Taurus in that Kingdom, at the Command of ARTEMISIA his mournful Widow, as the splendid Testimony of her Love to him, built of the most curious Mar ble, in Circuit 411 Foot, in Height 25 Cubits, surrounded with 26 Columns of the most famous Sculpture, and the whole
opened on all Sides, with Arches 73 Foot
wide, per form’d by the four principal Master-Masons and Engravers of
those Times, viz.the East Side by Scopas, the West by Leochares, the
North by Briax, and the South by Timotheus.
But after PYTHAGORAS,
Geometry became the darling Study of Greece, where many learned
Philosophers arose, some of whom invented sundry Propositions, or
Elements of Geometry, and reduc’d them to the use of the mechanical
Arts.
Nor need we doubt that
Masonry kept pace with Geometry ; or rather, always follow’d it in
proportion’d gradual Improvements, until the wonderful EUCLID of Tyre
flourish’d at Alexandria ; who gathering up the scatter’d Elements of
Geometry, digested them into a Method that was never yet mended, (and
for which his Name will be ever celebrated)under the Patronage of
Ptolomeus, the Son of Lagus King of Egypt, one of the immediate
Successors of Alexander the Great. And as the noble Science came to be
more methodically taught, the Royal Art was the more generally esteem’d
and improv’d among the Grecians, who at length arriv’d to the same Skill
and Magnificence in it with their Teachers the Asiatics and Egyptians.
The next King of
Egypt, Ptolomeus Philadelphus, that great Improver of the liberal Arts,
and of all useful Knowledge, who gather’d the greatest Library upon
Earth, and had the Old Testament (at least the Pentateuch) first
translated into Greek, became an excellent Architect and GENERAL
MASTER-MASON, having among his other great Buildings, erected the famous
TOWER of
We may readily believe, that the African
Nations, even to the Atlantick Shore, did soon imitate Egypt in such
Improvements though History fails, and there are no Travellers
encourag’d to discover the valuable Remains in Masonry of those once
renowned Nations.Nor should we forget the learned Island of SICILY,
where the prodigious Geometrician ARCHIMEDES did flourish,
and was unhappily slain when Syracuse was
taken by Marcellus the Roman General : For from Sicily, as well as from
Greece, Egypt, and Asia, the ancient Romans learnt both the SCIENCE and
the ART, what they knew before being either mean or irregular; but as
they subdu’d the Nations,
The old Records of Masons afford large
Hints of their Lodges, from the Beginning of the World, in the polite
Nations, especially in Times of Peace, and when the Civil Powers,
abhorring Tyranny and Slavery, gave due Scope to the bright and free
Genius of their happy Subjects ; for then always
Nor should it be forgot, that Painters
also, and Statuaries,
[For it was not without
good Reason, the Ancients thought that the Rules of the beautiful
Proportions in Building were copied, or taken from the Proportions of
the Body natural : Hence PHIDIAS is reckon’d in the Number of ancient
Masons for erecting the Statue of the Goddess Nemesis at Rhamnus, 10
Cubits high ; and that of Minerva at Athens, 26 Cubits high ; and that
of JUPITER OLYMPIUS, sitting in his Temple in Achaia, between the Cities
of Elis and Pisa, made of innumerable small Pieces of Porphyry, so
exceeding grand and proportion’d, that it was reckon’d one of the Seven
Wonders, as the famous COLOSSUS at Rhodes was another, and the greatest
Statue that ever was erected, made of Metal, and dedicated to the SUN,
70 Cubits high, like a great Tower at a distance, at the Entry of an
Harbour, striding wide enough for the largest Ships under sail, built in
12 Years by CARES a famous Mason and Statuary of Sicyon, and Scholar to
the great Lysippus of the same Fraternity. This mighty COLOSSUS, after
standing 56 Years, fell by an Earthquake, and lay in Ruins,the Wonder of
the World, till Anno Dom. 600, when the Soldan of Egypt carry’d off its
Relicks, which loaded 900 Camels.]
were always reckon’d
good Masons, as much as Builders, Stone-cutters, Bricklayers,
Carpenters, Join ers, Upholders or Tent Makers, and a vast many other
Crafts men that could be nam’d, who perform according to Geometry, and
the Rules of Building ; though none since Hiram Abif has been renown’d
for Cunning in all parts of Masonry : And of this enough.
was duly cultivated,
both before and after the Reign of Augustus, even till the Fifth Century
of the Christian Æra, Masonry was had in great Esteem and Veneration
.And while the Roman Empire continu’d in its Glory, the
But when the GOTHS and
VANDALS, that had never been conquer’d by the Romans, like a general
Deluge, overran the ROMAN EMPIRE, with warlike Rage and gross Ignorance
they utter destroy’d many of the finest Edifices, and defac’d others,
very few escaping ; as the Asiatic and African Nations fell under the
same Calamity by the Conquests of the MAHOMETANS, whose grand Design is
only to convert the World by Fire and Sword, instead of cultivating the
Arts and Sciences.
Yet becoming a free People (as the old Saxon Laws testify) and having a
Disposition for Masonry, they soon began *[No
doubt several Saxon and Scotish Kings with many of the Nobility, great
Gentry, and eminent Clergy, became the Grand Masters of those early
Lodges, from a mighty Zeal then prevalent for building magnificent
Christian Temples ; which would also prompt them to enquire after the
Laws, Charges, Regulations, Customs, and Usages,of the ancient Lodges,
many of which might be preserv’d by Tradition and all of them very
likely in those Parts of the British Islands that were not subdu’d by
the Saxons, from whence in time they might be brought, and which the
Saxons were more fond of, than careful to revive Geometry and Roman
Masonry ; as many in all Ages have been more curious and careful about
the Laws, Forms, and Usages of their respective Societies, than about
the ARTS and SCIENCES thereof. But neither what was convey’d, nor the
Manner how, can be communicated by writing ; as no Man indeed can
understand it without the Key of a Fellow Craft.]
to imitate the Asiatics, Grecians, and
Romans, in erecting of Lodges and encouraging of Masons ; being taught,
not only from the faithful Traditions and valuable Remains
And though the many Invasions of the DANES
occasion’d the Loss of many Records, yet in Times of Truce or Peace they
did not hinder much the good Work, though not perform’d according to the
Augustan Stile ; nay, the vast Expence laid out upon it, with the
curious Inventions of the Artists to supply the Roman Skill, doing the
best they could, demonstrate their Esteem and Love for the Royal Art,
and have render’d the
Gothic Buildings
venerable, tho’ not imitable by those that relish the ancient
Architecture.
And after the Saxons and Danes were conquer’d by
the Normans, as soon as the Wars ended and Peace was proclaim’d, the
Gothic Masonry was encourag’d, even in the Reign of the Conqueror,
[William the Conqueror built the Tower of LONDON, and many strong
Castles in the Country, with several religious Edifices, whose Example
was follow’d by the Nobility and Clergy, particularly by Roger de
Montgomery Earl of Arundel, the Archbishop of York, the Bishop of
Durham, and GUNDULPH Bishop of Rochester, a mighty Architect.]
and of his Son King William Rufus, who built Westminster-Hall, the largest one Room perhaps in the Earth. Nor did the Barons Wars, nor the many bloody Wars of the subsequent Norman Kings, and their contending Branches, much hinder the most sumptuous and lofty Buildings of those Times, rais’d by the great Clergy, (who enjoying large Revenues, could well bear the Expence) and even by the Crown too ; for we read King Edward III. Had an Officer call’d the King’s Free-Mason, or General-Surveyor of his Buildings, whose Name was Henry Yevelle, employ’d by that King to build several Abbies, and St. Stephen’s Chappel at Westminster, where the House of Commons now sit in Parliament.
But for the further Instruction of
Candidates and younger Brethren, a certain Record of Free-Masons,
written in the Reign of King Edward IV. of the Norman Line, gives the
following Account, viz.
That the said King’s
youngest Son, Prince EDWIN, being taught Masonry, and taking upon him
the Charges of a MASTER-MASON, for the Love he had to the said Craft,
and the honourable Principles whereon it is grounded, purchased a free
charter of King Athelstan his Father, for the Masons having a Correction
among themselves, (as it was anciently express’d) or a Freedom and Power
to regulate themselves, to amend what might happen amiss, and to hold a
yearly Communication and General Assembly.
That accordingly
Prince EDWIN summoned all the Masons in the Realm to meet him in a
Congregation at York, who came and composed a General Lodge, of which he
was GRAND
That in process of
time, when Lodges were more frequent, the Right Worshipful the Master
and Fellows, with the Consent of the LORDS of the Realm, ( for most
great Men were then Masons) ordain’d, that for the future, at the Making
or Admission of a Brother, the CONSTITUTION should be read, and the
Charges hereunto annex’d, by the Master or Warden and that such as were
to be admitted Master-Masons, or Masters of Work, should be examin’d
whether they be able of Cunning
And besides many other things, the said
Record adds, That those Charges and Laws of FREE-MASONS have been seen
and perused by our late Sovereign King Henry VI. and by the Lords of His
Honourable Council, who have allow’d them and said that they be right
good and reasonable to be holden, as they have been drawn out and
collected from the Records of ancient Times. [In
another Manuscript more ancient, we read : “That when the Master and
Wardens meet in a Lodge, if need be, the Sheriff of the County, or the
Mayor of the City, or Alderman of the Town, in which the Congregation is
held, should be made Fellow and Sociate to the Master, in help of him
against Rebels, and for upbearing the Rights
“That enter’d Prentices
at their making were charg’d not to be Thieves, or Thieves Maintainers ;
that they should travel honestly for their pay, and love their Fellows
as themselves, and be true to the King of England, and to the Realm, and
to the Lodge. “That at such Congregations it shall be enquir’d, whether
any Master or Fellow has broke any of the Articles agreed to. And if the
Offender, being duly cited to appear, prove Rebel, and will not attend,
then the Lodge shall determine against him that he shall forswear (or
renounce) his Masonry, and shall no more use this Craft ; the which if
he presume for to do, the Sheriff of the County shall prison him, and
take all his Goods into the King’s Hands, till his Grace be granted him
and issued : For this Cause principally have these Congregations been
ordain’d, that as well the lowest as the highest should be well and
truly served in this Art foresaid throughout all the Kingdom of
England.
*
Tertio Henrici Sexti, Chap. I. An Dom. 1425.
Title. Masons shall not confederate themselves in Chapters and
Congregations.
“WHEREAS by yearly Congregations and Confederacies, made by the Masons
in their General Assemblies, the good Course & Effect of the Statutes
for Labourers be openly violated and broken, in Subversion of the Law,
and to the great Damage of all the Commons, our said Sovereign Lord the
King, willing in this Case to provide a
Now though in the
third Year of the said King Henry VI. while an Infant of about four
Years old, the Parliament made an Act, that affected only the working
Masons, who had, contrary to the Statutes for Labourers, confederated
not to work but at their own Price and Wages and because such Agreements
were suppos’d to be made at the General Lodges, call’d in the Act
CHAPTERS and CONGREGATIONS of MASONS, it was then thought expedient to
level the said Act against the said Congregations
[That Act was made in
ignorant Times, when true Learning was a Crime, and Geometry condem’d
for Conjuration ; but it cannot derogate in the least Degree from the
Honour of the ancient Fraternity, who to be sure would never encourage
any such Confederacy of their working Brethren. But by Tradition it is
believ’d, that the Parliament-Men were then too much influenc’d by the
illiterate Clergy, who were not accepted Masons, nor understood
Architecture (as the Clergy of some former Ages) and generally thought
unworthy of this Brotherhood ; yet thinking they had an indefeasible
Right to know all Secrets, by virtue of auricular Confession, and the
Masons never confessing any thing thereof, the said Clergy were highly
offended, and at first suspecting them of Wickedness, represented them
as dangerous to the State during Minority, and soon influenc’d the
Parliament-Men to lay hold of such supposed Agreements of the working
Masons, for making an Act that might seem to reflect Dishonour upon even
the whole worshipful Fraternity, in whose Favour several Acts had been
both before and after that Period made].
Yet when the said King
Henry VI. arriv’d to Man’s Estate ; the Masons laid before him and his
Lords the above-mention’d Records and Charges, who, ’tis plain, review’d
them, and solemnly approv’d of them as good and reasonable to be holden
: Nay, the said King and his Lords must have been incorporated with the
Free-Masons, before they could make such Review of the Records
The Kings of SCOTLAND
very much encourag’d the Royal Art, from the earliest Times down to the
Union of the Crowns, as appears by the Remains of glorious Buildings in
that ancient Kingdom, and by the Lodges there kept up without
Interruption many hundred Years, the Records and
Nor was the Royal
Example neglected by the Nobility, Gentry, and Clergy of SCOTLAND, who
join’d in every thing for the good of the Craft and Brotherhood, the
Kings being often the Grand Masters, until, among other things, the
Masons of SCOTLAND were impower’d to have a certain
But upon her Demise,
King JAMES VI. of SCOTLAND succeeding to the Crown of ENGLAND, being a
Mason King, reviv’d the English Lodges ; and as he was the First King of
GREAT BRITAIN, he was also the First Prince in the World that recover’d
the Roman Architecture from the Ruins of Gothic Ignorance : For after
many dark or illiterate Ages, as soon as all Parts of Learning reviv’d
and Geometry recover’d its Ground, the polite Nations began to discover
the Confusion and Impropriety of the Gothick Buildings ; and in the
Fifteenth and Sixteenth Centuries the AUGUSTAN STILE was rais’d from its
Rubbish in Italy, by BRAMANTE, BARBARO, SANSOVINO, SANGALLO, MICHAEL
ANGELO, RAPHAEL URBIN, JULIO ROMANO, SERGLIO, LABACO, SCAMOZI, VIGNOLA,
and many other bright Architects, but above all, by the Great PALLADIO,
who has not yet been duly initated in Italy, though justly rival’d in
England
Upon his Demise, his
Son King CHARLES I. being also a Mason, patroniz’d Mr. Jones too, and
firmly intended to have carried on his Royal Father’s Design of
WHITE-HALL, according to Mr. Jones’s Stile ; but was unhappily diverted
by the Civil Wars.
[The Plan and Prospect of that glorious Design being still preserv’d, it
is esteem’d by skillful Architects to excel that of any other Palace in
the known Earth, for the Symmetry, Firmness, Beauty and Conveniency of
Architecture ; as indeed all Master JONES’s Designs and Erections are
Originals, and at first View discover him to be the Architect: Nay, his
mighty Genius prevail’d with the Nobility and Gentry of all Britain, (
for he was as much honour’d in Scotland as in England) to affect and
revive the ancient Stile of MASONRY, too long neglected ; as appears by
the many curious Fabricks of those Times, one of which shall be now
mention’d, the least, and perhaps one of the finest, the GATE of the
Physic Garden at OXFORD, rais’d by HENRY DANVERS EARL OF DANBY, which
cost his Lordship many hundred Pounds and is as curious a little piece
of Masonry as ever was built there before or since, with the following
Inscription on the Front of it, viz.
GLORIÆ DEI OPTIMI MAXIMI, HONORI CAROLI
REGIS, IN USUM ACADEMIÆ ET REIPUBLICÆ,
ANNO 1632.
HENRICUS COMES DANBY.
After the Wars were
over, and the Royal Family restor’d, true Masonry was likewise restor’d
; especially upon the unhappy Occasion of the Burning of LONDON, An.
1666 ; for then the City-Houses were rebuilt more after the Roman Stile,
when King CHARLES II , founded the present
So that besides the
Tradition of old Masons now alive, which may be rely’d on, we have much
reason to believe that King CHARLES II. was an Accepted Free-Mason, as
every one allows he was a great Encourager of the Craftsmen.
But in the Reign of
his Brother King JAMES II. Though some Roman Buildings were carried on,
the Lodges of Freemasons in London much dwindled into Ignorance, by not
being duly frequented and cultivated.
In
his Time also the Society of MERCHANT ADVENTURERS rebuilt the ROYAL
EXCHANGE of London (the old one being destroy’d by the Fire) all of
Stone, after the Roman Style, the finest Structure of that use in
Europe, with the King’s Statue to the Life, of white Marble, in the
Middle of the Square (wrought by the famous
Master-Carver and Statuary, Mr. GRINLIN GIBBONS, who was justly admir’d
all over Europe, for his rivalling, if not surpassing, the most fam’d
Italian Masters) on the Pedestal of which is the following
CAROLO II. CÆSARI BRITANNICO
PATRIÆ PATRI
REGUM OPTIMO CLEMENTISSIMO AUGUSTISSIMO
GENERIS HUMANI DELICIIS
UTRIUSQUE FORTUNÆ VICTORI
PACIS EUROPÆ ARBITRO.
MARIUM DOMINO AC VINDICI
SOCIETAS MERCATORUM ADVENTUR. ANGLIÆ
QUÆ PER CCCC JAM PROPE ANNOS
REGIA BENIGNITATE FLORET
FIDEI INTEMERATÆ ET GRATITUDINIS ÆTERNÆ
HOC TESTIMONIUM
VENERABUNDA POSUIT
ANNO SALUTIS HUMANÆ MDCLXXXIV.
TO
CHARLES II. EMPEROR OF BRITAIN
FATHER OF HIS COUNTRY
BEST MOST MERCIFUL AND AUGUST OF KINGS
DELIGHT OF MANKIND
IN
ADVERSITY AND PROSPERITY UNMOV’D
UMPIRE OF EUROPE’S PEACE
COMMANDER AND SOVEREIGN OF THE SEAS
THE SOCIETY OF MERCHANT ADVENTURERS
OF
ENGLAND
WHICH FOR NEAR CCCC YEARS
BY
ROYAL FAVOUR FLOURISHETH
OF
UNSHAKEN LOYALTY AND
ETERNAL GRATITUDE
THIS TESTIMONY
HAS IN VENERATION ERECTED
IN
THE YEAR OF SALVATION MDCLXXXIV.
Nor should we forget the famous THEATER of OXFORD,built by Archbishop
SHELDON, at his sole Cost, in that King’s Time, which, among his other
fine Works, was design’d and conducted also by Sir Christopher Wren the
King’s Architect ; for it is justly admir’d by the curious ; and the
MUSÆUM adjoining to it, a fine Building rais’d at the Charge of that
illustrious UNIVERSITY, where there have been since erected several more
Roman Buildings, as Trinity-College Chappel, Alhallows Church in
High-street, Peckwater- Square in Christ-Church College, the new
Printing-House and the whole of Queen’s-College rebuilt, &c. by the
liberal Donations of some eminent Benefactors, and by the publick
Spirit, Vigilancy, and Fidelity of the Heads of Colleges, who generally
have had a true Taste of Roman Architecture.
The learned UNIVERSITY of CAMBRIDGE not having had the Management of
such liberal Donations, have not so many fine Structures, but they have
two of the most curious and excellent in Great Britain of their kind,
the one a Gothick Building, KING’s COLLEGE CHAPPEL (unless you except
King Henry VII’s Chappel in Westminster-Abbey) ; and the other a Roman
Building, TRINITY-COLLEGE LIBRARY.]
But after the Revolution, Anno 1688, KING
WILLIAM, though a warlike Prince, having a good Taste of Architecture,
carried on the aforesaid two famous Hospitals of Greenwich and Chelsea,
built the fine part of his royal Palace of HAMPTON COURT, and founded
and finish’d his incomparable Palace at LOO in HOLLAND, &c. And the
bright Example of that glorious Prince, (who by most is reckon’d a
Free-Mason) did influence the Nobility, the Gentry, the Wealthy and the
Learned of GREAT-BRITAIN, to affect much the Augustan Style ; as appears
by a vast Number of most curious Edifices erected since throughout the
Kingdom : For when in the Ninth Year of the Reign of our late Sovereign
QUEEN ANNE, her Majesty and the Parliament concurr’d in an Act
SERENISSIMUS REX
GEORGIUS
PER DEPUTATUM SUUM
REVERENDUM ADMODUM IN
CHRISTO PATREM
RICHARDUM EPISCOPUM
SARISBURIENSEM
SUMMUM SUUM
ELEEMOSYNARIUM
ADSISTENTE (REGIS
JUSSU)
DOMINO THO. HEWET EQU.
AUR.
ÆDIFICIORUM REGIORUM
CURATORE
PRINCIPALI
PRIMUM HUJUS ECCLESIÆ
LAPIDEM
POSUIT
MARTII 19 ANNO DOM.
1721.
ANNOQUE REGNI SUI
OCTAVO.
SACRED TO GOD.
HIS MOST EXCELLENT
MAJESTY KING GEORGE
BY HIS PROXY
THE RIGHT REVEREND
FATHER IN CHRIST
RICHARD LORD BISHOP OF
SALISBURY
HIS MAJESTY’S CHIEF
ALMONER
ASSISTED (AT HIS
MAJESTY’S COMMAND)
BY SIR THOMAS HEWET
KNIGHT
OF HIS MAJESTY’S ROYAL
BUILDINGS
PRINCIPAL SURVEYOR
THE FIRST STONE OF THIS
CHURCH
LAID
THIS 19th OF MARCH ANNO
DOMINI 1721
AND THE EIGHTH YEAR OF
HIS REIGN.
In short, it would require many large
Volumes to contain the many splendid Instances of the mighty Influence
of Masonry from the Creation, in every Age, and in every Nation, as
could be collected from Historians and Travellers : But especially in
those Parts of the World where the Europeans
correspond and trade, such remains of
ancient, large, curious and magnificent Colonading, have been discover’d
by the Inquisitive, that they can’t enough lament the general
devastations of the Goths and Mahometans ; and must conclude, that no
Art was ever so much encourag’d as this, as indeed none other is so
extensively useful to Mankind.
[It were endless to recount and describe the many curious Roman
Buildings in Great-Britain alone, erected since the Revival of Roman
Masonry ; of which a few may be here mention’d, besides those already
spoken of, viz.
The QUEEN’s House at
Greenwich, Belonging to the Crown.
The great Gallery in
Somerset-Gardens, The Crown.
Gunnersbury-House near
Brentford, {Possess’d by the Duke
Middlesex, of
Queensbury.
Lindsay-House in
Lincoln’s-Inn-Fields, Duke of Ancaster
York-Stairs at the
Thames in York-Buildings.
St. Paul’s-Church in
Covent-Garden, with its
glorious Portico.
The Building and Piazza
of Covent-Garden, Duke of Bedford.
Wilton Castle in
Wiltshire, Earl of Pembroke.
Castle-Ashby in
Northamptonshire, Earl of Strafford.
Stoke-Park in ditto,
Arundel Esq;
Wing-House in
Bedfordshire, Hon. William Stanhope, Esq;
Chevening-House in
Kent, Earl Stanhope.
Ambrose-Bury in
Wiltshire, Lord Carleton.
All design’d by the
incomparable INIGO JONES, and most of them conducted by him, or by his
Son-in-Law
Mr. Web, according to
Mr. Jones’s Designs.
Besides many more
conducted by other Architects, influenc’d by the
same happy Genius ;
such as,
Bow-Church Steeple in
Cheapside, Built by Sir Chri. Wren.
Hotham-House in
Beverly, Yorkshire, Sir Charles Hotham Bart.
Melvin-House in Fife,
Earl of Levin.
Longleate-House in
Wiltshire, Viscount Weymouth.
Chesterlee-Street-House
in Durham County, John Hedworth, Esq;
Montague-House in
Bloomsbury, London, Duke of Montagu.
Drumlanrig-Castle in
Nithisdaleshire, Duke of Queensbury.
Castle-Howard in
Yorkshire, Earl of Carlisle.
Stainborough-House in
ditto, Earl of Strafford.
Hopton-Castle in
Linlithgowshire, Earl of Hopton.
Blenheim-Castle at
Woodstock, Oxfordshire, Duke of Marlborough.
Chatsworth-Castle in
Derbyshire, Duke of Devonshire.
Palace of Hammilton in
Clydsdaleshire, Duke of Hammilton.
Wanstead-House in
Epping-Forest, Essex, Lord Castlemain.
Duncomb-Park in
Yorkshire, Thomas Duncomb Esq;
Mereworth-Castle in
Kent, Hon. John Fane Esq;
Sterling-House near
Sterling-Castle, Duke of Argyle.
Kinross-House in
Kinrossshire, Sir William Bruce Bart.
Stourton-Castle in
Wiltshire, Henry Hoar Esq;
Willbury-House in
ditto, William Benson Esq;
Bute-Castle in Isle of
Bute, Earl of Bute.
Walpole-House near Lin
Regis, Norfolk, Hon. Rob. Walpole Esq;
Burlington-House in
Pickadilly, St.
James’s, Westminster,
Earl of Burlington.
Dormitory of
King’s-School, Westminster, The Crown.
Tottenham-Park in
Wiltshire, Lord Bruce.
These three last are design’d and conducted by the Earl of BURLINGTON,
who bids fair to be the best Architect of Britain, [if he is not so
already] and we hear his Lordship intends to publish the valuable
remains of Mr. Inigo Jones, for the Improvement of other Architects.
Besides more of the same Roman Style, and yet many more in Imitation of
it, which though they cannot be reduc’d to any certain Style, are
stately, beautiful, and convenient Structures, notwithstanding the
Mistakes of their several Architects : And besides the sumptuous and
venerable Gothick Buildings, past reckoning, as Cathedrals,
Parish-Churches, Chappels, Bridges, old Palaces of the Kings, of the
Nobility, of the Bishops, and the Gentry, known well to Travellers and
to such as peruse the Histories of Counties, and the ancient Monuments
Nay, if it were
expedient, it could be made appear, that from this ancient Fraternity,
the Societies or Orders of the Warlike KNIGHTS, and of the Religious
too, in process of time, did borrow many solemn Usages ; for none of
them were better instituted, more decently install’d, or did more
And now the Freeborn British Nations,
disentangled from foreign and civil Wars, and enjoying the good Fruits
of Peace and Liberty, having of late much indulg’d their happy Genius
for Masonry of every sort, and reviv’d the drooping Lodges of London,
this fair Metropolis flourisheth, as well as other Parts, with several
worthy particular Lodges, that have a quarterly Communication, and an
annual grand Assembly, wherein the Forms and Usages of the most ancient
and worshipful Fraternity are wisely propagated and the Royal Art duly
cultivated, and the Cement of the Brotherhood preserved ; so that the
whole Body resembles a well built Arch ; several Noblemen and Gentlemen
of the best Rank, with Clergymen and learned Scholars of most
Professions and Denominations, having frankly join’d and submitted to
take the Charges, and to wear the Badges of a Free and Accepted Mason,
under our present worthy Grand-Master, the most noble Prince, John, Duke
of MONTAGUE.
The Charges Of A
Freemason
Extracted from the ancient RECORDS of
Lodges beyond Sea, and of those
in England, Scotland, and Ireland, for the
Use of the Lodges in London .
To be read at the making of New Brethren,
or when the Master shall order it.
The General Heads ,
viz.
I. OF GOD and
RELIGION.
II. Of the CIVIL
MAGISTRATE Supreme and Subordinate.
III. Of LODGES.
IV. Of MASTERS,
Wardens, Fellows, and Apprentices.
V. Of the Management
of the Craft in working.
VI. Of BEHAVIOUR,
viz.
1. In the Lodge while
constituted.
2. After the Lodge is over and the Brethren not
gone.
3. When Brethren meet
without Strangers, but not in a Lodge.
4. In Presence of
Strangers not Masons.
5. At Home, and in the
Neighbourhood.
6. Towards a strange
Brother.
I.
Concerning GOD and RELIGION.
A Mason is oblig’d by
his Tenure, to obey the moral Law and if he rightly understands the Art,
he will never be a stupid Atheist, nor an irreligious Libertine. But
though in ancient Times Masons were charg’d in every Country to be of
the Religion of that Country or Nation, whatever it was, yet
II.
Of the CIVIL MAGISTRATE, Supreme and Subordinate.
A Mason is a peaceable
Subject to the Civil Powers, wherever he resides or works, and is never
to be concern’d in Plots and Conspiracies against the Peace and Welfare
of the Nation, nor to behave himself undutiful to inferior Magistrates
for as Masonry hath been always injured by War,
III.
Of LODGES.
A LODGE is a place
where Masons assemble and work. Hence that Assembly, or duly organiz’d
Society of Masons, is call’d a LODGE, and every Brother ought to belong
to one, and to be subject to its By-Laws and the GENERAL REGULATIONS. It
is either particular or general, and will be best understood by
attending it, and by the Regulations of the General or Grand Lodge
hereunto annex’d. In ancient Times no Master or Fellow could be
absent from it, especially when warn’d to appear at it, without
incurring a severe Censure, until it appear to the Master and Wardens,
that pure necessity hinder’d him.
The Persons admitted
Members of a Lodge must be good and true Men, free-born, and of mature
and discreet Age, no Bondmen, no Women, no immoral or scandalous Men,
but of good Report.
IV.
Of MASTERS, WARDENS, Fellows, and Apprentices.
All Preferment among
Masons is grounded upon real worth and personal Merit only ; that so the
Lords may be well served, the Brethren not put to Shame, nor the Royal
Craft despis’d : Therefore no Master or Warden is chosen by Seniority,
but for his Merit. It is impossible to describe these things in writing,
and every Brother must attend in his Place, and learn them in a way
peculiar to this Fraternity. Only Candidates may know, that no Master
should take an Apprentice, unless he has sufficient Imployment for him
and unless he be a perfect Youth, having no Maim or Defect in his Body,
that may render him uncapable of learning the Art, of serving his
Master’s LORD, and of being made a Brother, and then a Fellow-Craft in
due time, even after he has served such a Term of Years as the Custom of
the Country directs and that he should be descended of honest Parents
that so, when otherwise qualify’d, he may arrive to the Honour of being
the WARDEN, and then the Master of the Lodge, the Grand Warden, and at
length the GRANDMASTER of all the Lodges, according to his Merit.
No Brother can be a
WARDEN until he has pass’d the part of a Fellow-Craft ; nor a MASTER
until he has acted as a Warden, nor GRAND-WARDEN until he has been
Master of a Lodge, nor GRAND MASTER unless he has been a Fellow-Craft
before his Election, who is also to be nobly born, or a Gentleman of the
best Fashion, or some eminent Scholar, or some curious Architect, or
other Artist, descended of honest Parents, and who is of singular great
Merit in the Opinion of the Lodges. And for the better, and easier, and
more honourable Discharge of his Office, the
These Rulers and
Governors, supreme and subordinate, of the ancient Lodge, are to be
obey’d in their respective Stations by all the Brethren, according to
the old Charges and Regulations, with all Humility, Reverence, Love, and
Alacrity.
V.
Of the Management of the CRAFT in working.
All Masons shall work
honestly on working Days, that they may live creditably on holy Days ;
and the time appointed by the Law of the Land, or confirm’d by Custom,
shall be observ’d.
The most expert of the
Fellow-Craftsmen shall be chosen or appointed the Master, or Overseer of
the Lord’s Work, who is to be call’d MASTER by those that work under
him.
The Craftsmen are to
avoid all ill Language, and to call each other by no disobliging Name,
but Brother or Fellow and to behave themselves courteously within and
without the Lodge.
The Master, knowing
himself to be able of Cunning, shall undertake the Lord’s Work as
reasonably as possible and truly dispend his Goods as if they were his
own, nor to give more Wages to any Brother or Apprentice than he really
may deserve.
Both the MASTER and
the Masons receiving their Wages justly, shall be faithful to the Lord,
and honestly finish their Work, whether Task or Journey. Nor put the
Work to Task that hath been accustomed to Journey.
None shall discover
Envy at the Prosperity of a Brother, nor supplant him or put him out of
his Work, if he be capable to finish the same ; for no Man can finish
another’s Work so much to the Lord’s Profit, unless he be thoroughly
acquainted with the Design and Draughts of him that
When a
Fellow-Craftsman is chosen Warden of the Work under the Master, he shall
be true both to Master and Fellows, shall carefully oversee the Work in
the Master’s Absence to the Lord’s Profit ; and his Brethren shall obey
him.
All Masons employ’d,
shall meekly receive their Wages without Murmuring or Mutiny, and not
desert the Master till the Work is finish’d.
A younger Brother
shall be instructed in working, to prevent spoiling the Materials for
want of Judgment, and for encreasing and continuing of Brotherly Love.
All the Tools used in
working shall be approved by the Grand Lodge.
No Labourer shall be
employ’d in the proper Work of Masonry ; nor shall Free-Masons work with
those that are not free, without an urgent Necessity, nor shall they
teach Labourers and unaccepted Masons, as they should teach a Brother or
Fellow.
VI.
Of BEHAVIOUR, viz.
1.
In the LODGE while CONSTUTUTED.
You are not to hold
private Committees, or separate Conversation, without Leave from the
Master, nor to talk of any thing impertinent or unseemly, nor interrupt
the Master or Wardens, or any Brother speaking to the Master : Nor
behave yourself ludicrously or jestingly while the Lodge is engaged in
what is serious and solemn ; nor use any unbecoming language upon any
Pretence whatsoever, but to pay due Reverence to your Master, Wardens,
and Fellows, and put them to worship.
If any Complaint be
brought, the Brother found guilty shall stand to the Award and
Determination of the Lodge, who are the proper and competent Judges of
all such Controversies,(unless you carry it by Appeal to the GRAND
LODGE) and to whom they ought to be referr’d, unless a Lord’s Work be
hinder’d the mean while, in which Case a particular Reference may be
made ; but you must never go to Law about what concerneth Masonry,
without an absolute Necessity apparent to the Lodge.
2.
BEHAVIOUR after the LODGE is over and the BRETHREN not gone.
You may enjoy yourself
with innocent Mirth, treating one another according to Ability, but
avoiding all Excess, or forcing any Brother to eat or drink beyond his
Inclination, or hindering him
Therefore no private
Piques or Quarrels must be brought within the Door of the Lodge, far
less any Quarrels about Religion, or Nations, or State-Policy, we being
only, as Masons, of the Catholick
This Charge has been
always strictly enjoin’d and observ’d ; but especially ever since the
Reformation in BRITAIN, or the Dissent and Secession of these Nations
from the Communion of ROME.
3.
BEHAVIOUR when Brethren meet without Strangers, but not in a LODGE
form’d.
You are to salute one
another in a courteous Manner, as you will be instructed, calling each
other Brother, freely giving mutual Instruction as shall be thought
expedient, without being overseen or
4.
BEHAVIOUR in the Presence of STRANGERS not MASONS.
You shall be cautious
in your Words and Carriage, that the most penetrating Stranger shall not
be able to discover or find out what is not proper to be intimated ; and
sometimes you shall divert a Discourse, and manage it prudently for the
Honour of the worshipful Fraternity.
5.
BEHAVIOUR at HOME, and in your NEIGHBOURHOOD.
You are to act as
becomes a moral and wise Man, particularly,not to let your Family,
Friends, and Neighbors know the Concerns of the Lodge, &c. but wisely to
consult your own Honour, and that of the ancient Brotherhood, for
Reasons not to be mention’d here. You must also consult your Health, by
not continuing together too late, or too long from home, after Lodge
Hours are past ; and by avoiding of Gluttony or Drunkenness, that your
Families be not neglected or injured, nor you disabled from working.
6.
BEHAVIOUR towards a strange Brother.
You are cautiously to
examine him, in such a Method as Prudence shall direct you, that you may
not be impos’d upon by an ignorant false Pretender, whom you are to
reject with Contempt and derision, and beware of giving him any Hints of
Knowledge.
But if you discover
him to be a true and genuine Brother, you are to respect him accordingly
and if he is in want, you must relieve him if you can, or else direct
him how he may be reliev’d : You must employ him some Days, or else
recommend him to be employ’d. But you are not charged to
FINALLY, All these
CHARGES you are to observe and also those that shall be communicated to
you in another way, cultivating BROTHERLY-LOVE, the Foundation and
Cape-stone, the Cement and Glory of this ancient Fraternity, avoiding
all Wrangling and Quarrelling, all Slander and Backbiting, nor
permitting others to slander any honest Brother, but defending his
Character, and doing him all good Offices, as far as is consistent with
your Honour and Safety, and no farther.
And if any of them do
you Injury, you must apply to your own or his Lodge and from thence you
may appeal to the GRAND LODGE at the Quarterly Communication, and from
thence to the annual
Amen.
So Mote It Be.
P O S T S C R I P T
.
A Worthy BROTHER,
learned in the Law, has communicated to the Author (while this Sheet was
printing) the Opinion of the Great Judge COKE upon the Act against
Masons, 3 Hen. VI. Chap. I. which is Printed in this Book, Page 31, and
which Quotation the Author has compar’d with the Original, viz. COKE’s
Institutes, third Part, Fol. 99.
The CAUSE wherefore
this Offence was made Felony, is, for that the good Course and Effect of
the Statutes of Labourers were thereby violated and broken. Now (says my
Lord COKE) all the Statutes concerning Labourers, before this Act, and
whereunto this Act doth refer, are repeal’d by the Statute of 5 Eliz.
Chap. 4. whereby the Cause and End of the making of this Act is taken
away ; and consequently this Act is become of no Force or Effect, for,
cessante ratione Legis, cessat ipsa Lex : And the
Indictment of Felony upon this Statute must contain, that those Chapters
and Congregations were to the violating and breaking of the good Course
and Effect of the Statutes of Labourers ; which now cannot be so
alledg’d, because these Statutes be repeal’d. Therefore this would be
put
This Quotation confirms the Tradition of
old Masons, that this most learned JUDGE really belong’d to the ancient
Lodge, and was a faithful Brother.
General Regulations
(
Compiled first by Mr.George Payne, Anno
1720, when he was GRAND-MASTER) and approv’d by the GRAND-LODGE on St.
John Baptist’s Day, Anno 1721, at Stationer’s-Hall, LONDON, when the
most noble PRINCE John Duke of MONTAGU was unanimously chosen our
GRAND-MASTER for the Year ensuing ; who chose John Beal, M.D., his
Deputy Grand-Master and Mr. Josiah Villeneau and Mr. Tho. Morris,Jr
were chosen by the Lodge as GRAND-WARDENS.
And now, by the
Command of our said Right Worshipful GRAND-MASTER MONTAGU, the
Author of this Book has compar’d them with,
and reduc’d them to the ancient Records and immemorial Usage, of the
Fraternity, and digested them into this new Method, with several proper
Explications, for the Use of the Lodges in and about London and
Westminster.)
I. THE GRAND-MASTER, or his DEPUTY, hath
Authority and Right, not only to be present in any true Lodge, but also
to preside where-ever he is, with the Master of the Lodge on his
Left-Hand, and to order his Grand-Wardens to attend him, who are not to
act in particular Lodges as Wardens, but in his Presence, and at his
Command ; because there the GRAND-MASTER may command the
II. The MASTER of a
particular Lodge, has the Right and Authority of congregating the
Members of his Lodge into a Chapter at pleasure, upon any Emergency or
Occurrence, as well as to appoint the time and place of their usual
forming : And in case of Sickness, Death, or necessary Absence
III. The Master of
each particular Lodge, or one of the Wardens, or some other Brother by
his Order, shall keep a Book containing their By-Laws, the Names of
their Members, with a List of all the Lodges in Town, and the usual
Times and Places of their forming, and all their Transactions
IV. No Lodge shall
make more than FIVE new Brethren at one Time, nor any Man under the Age
of Twenty-five,who must be also his own Master ; unless by a
Dispensation from the Grand-Master or his Deputy.
V. No man can be made
or admitted a Member of a particular Lodge, without previous Notice one
Month before given to the said Lodge, in order to make due Enquiry into
the Reputation and Capacity of the Candidate ; unless by the
Dispensation aforesaid.
VI.
But no man can be enter’d
a Brother in any particular Lodge, or admitted to be a Member thereof,
without the unanimous Consent of all the Members of that Lodge then
present when the Candidate is propos’d, and their Consent is formally
ask’d by the Master ; and they are to signify their Consent or Dissent
in their own prudent Way, either virtually or in form, but with
Unanimity: Nor is this inherent Privilege subject to a Dispensation ;
because the Members of a particular Lodge are the best Judges of it ;
and if a fractious Member should be impos’d on them, it might spoil
VII. Every new Brother
at his making is decently to cloath the Lodge, that is, all the Brethren
present, and to deposite something for the Relief of indigent and
decay’d Brethren, as the Candidate shall think fit to bestow, over and
above the small Allowance stated by the By-Laws of
And the Candidate shall also solemnly promise to submit to the
Constitutions, the Charges, and Regulations and to such other good
Usages as shall be intimated to them in Time and Place convenient.
VIII. No Set or Number
of Brethren shall withdraw or separate themselves from the Lodge in
which they were made Brethren, or were afterwards admitted Members,
unless the Lodge becomes too numerous ; nor even then, without a
Dispensation from the Grand-Master or his Deputy : And when
If any Set or Number
of Masons shall take upon themselves to form a Lodge without the
Grand-Master’s Warrant, the regular Lodges are not to countenance them,
or own them as fair Brethren and duly form’d, nor approve of their Acts
and Deeds ; but must treat them as Rebels, until they
IX. But if any Brother
so far misbehave himself as to render his Lodge uneasy, he shall be
twice duly admonish’d by the Master or Wardens in a form’d Lodge ; and
if he will not refrain his Imprudence, and obediently submit to the
Advice of the Brethren, and reform what gives them Offence, he shall be
dealt with according to the By-Laws of that particular Lodge, or else in
such a manner as the Quarterly Communication shall in their great
Prudence think fit ; for which a new Regulation may be afterwards made.
X. The Majority of
every particular Lodge, when congregated, shall have the Privilege of
giving Instructions to their Master and Wardens, before the assembling
of the Grand Chapter, or Lodge at the three Quarterly Communications
hereafter mention’d, and of the Annual Grand Lodge too, because their
Master and Wardens are their Representatives and are supposed to speak
their Mind.
XI. All particular
Lodges are to observe the same Usages as much as possible ; in order to
which, and for cultivating a good Understanding among Free-Masons, some
members out of every Lodge shall be deputed to visit the other Lodges as
often as shall be thought convenient.
XII. The GRAND-Lodge
consists of, and is form’d by the Masters and Wardens of all the regular
particular Lodges upon Record, with the GRAND-MASTER at their Head and
his Deputy on his Left-hand, and the Grand-Wardens in their proper
Places ; and must have a QUARTERLY
All Matters are to be
determin’d in the Grand-Lodge by a Majority of Votes, each Member having
one Vote, and the Grand-Master having two Votes, unless the said Lodge
leave any particular thing to the Determination of the Grand-Master, for
the sake of Expedition.
XIII. At the said
Quarterly Communication, all Matters that concern the Fraternity in
general, or particular Lodges, or single Brethren, are quietly,
sedately, and maturely to be discours’d of and transacted : Apprentices
must be admitted Masters and Fellow-Craft only here, unless by a
Dispensation.
Here also the Master
or the Wardens of each particular Lodge shall bring and produce a List
of such Members as have been made, or even admitted in their particular
Lodges since the last Communication of the Grand-Lodge and there shall
be a Book kept by the Grand-Master, or his Deputy, or rather by some
Brother whom the Grand-Lodge shall appoint for SECRETARY, wherein shall
be recorded all the Lodges, with their usual Times and Places of
forming, and
They shall also
consider of the most prudent and effectual Methods of collecting and
disposing of what Money shall be given to, or lodged with them in
Charity, towards the Relief only of any true Brother fallen into Poverty
or Decay, but of none else : But every particular Lodge shall dispose of
their own Charity for poor Brethren, according to their own By-Laws,
until it be agreed by all the Lodges (in a new Regulation) to carry in
the Charity collection by them to the GRAND-LODGE, at the Quarterly or
Annual Communication, in order to make a common Stock of it, for the
more handsome Relief of poor Brethren.
They shall also
appoint a Treasurer, a Brother of good worldly Substance, who shall be a
Member of the Grand-Lodge by virtue of his Office, and shall be always
present and have Power to move to the Grand-Lodge any thing, especially
what concerns his Office. To him shall be committed
As in like manner the
Secretary shall be a Member of the Grand-Lodge by virtue of his Office,
and vote in every thing except in chusing a Grand-Master or Wardens.
The Treasurer and
Secretary shall have each a Clerk, who must be a Brother and
Fellow-Craft, but never must be a Member of the Grand-Lodge, nor speak
without being allow’d or desir’d.
The Grand-Master, or
his Deputy, shall always command the Treasurer and Secretary, with their
Clerks and Books, in order to see how Matters go on, and to know what is
expedient to be done upon any emergent Occasion.
Another Brother (who
must be a Fellow-Craft ) should be appointed to look after the Door of
the Grand-Lodge, but shall be no Member of it.
But these Offices may
be farther explain’d by a new Regulation, when the Necessity and
Expediency of them may more appear than at present to the Fraternity.
XIV. If at any
GRAND-LODGE, stated or occasional, quarterly or annual, the GRAND-MASTER
and his Deputy should be both absent, then the present Master of a
Lodge, that has been the longest a Free-Mason, shall take the Chair, and
preside as Grand-Master pro tempore and shall be vested with all his
Power and Honour for the time, provided there is no Brother present that
has been
XV. In the GRAND-LODGE
none can act as Wardens but the Grand-Wardens themselves, if present ;
and if absent, the Grand-Master, or the Person who presides in his
place, shall order private Wardens to act as Grand-Wardens pro tempore,
whose Places are to be supply’d by two Fellow-Craft of the same Lodge,
call’d forth to act, or sent thither by the particular Master thereof ;
or if by him omitted, then they shall be call’d by the Grand-Master,
that so the Grand-
XVI. The
GRAND-WARDENS, or any others, are first to advise with the Deputy about
the Affairs of the Lodge or of the Brethren, and not to apply to the
Grand-Master without the Knowledge of the Deputy, unless he refuse his
concurrence in any certain necessary Affair ; in which case, or in case
of any Difference between the Deputy, and the Grand-Wardens, or other
Brethren, both Parties are to go by Concert to the Grand-Master, who can
easily decide the Controversy and make up the Difference by virtue of
his great Authority.
XVII. No GRAND-MASTER,
Deputy Grand-Master, Grand-Wardens, Treasurer, Secretary, or whoever
acts for them, or in their stead pro tempore, can at the same time be
the Master or Warden of a particular Lodge ; but as soon as any of them
has honourably discharg’d his Grand Office, he
XVIII. If the DEPUTY
GRAND-MASTER be sick, or necessarily absent, the Grand-Master may chuse
any Fellow-Craft he pleases to be his Deputy pro tempore : But he that
is chosen Deputy at the Grand-Lodge, and the Grand-Wardens too, cannot
be discharg’d without the Cause fairly appear to the Majority of the
Grand-Lodge and the GRAND-MASTER, if he is uneasy, may call a GRANDLODGE
on purpose to lay the Cause before them, and to have their Advice and
Concurrence : In which case, the Majority of the Grand-Lodge, if they
cannot reconcile the
XIX. If the
GRAND-MASTER should abuse his Power, and render himself unworthy of the
Obedience and Subjection of the Lodges, he shall be treated in a way and
manner to be agreed upon in a new Regulation, because hitherto the
ancient Fraternity have had no occasion for it, their former
GRAND-MASTERS having all behaved themselves worthy of that honourable
Office.
XX. The GRAND-MASTER,
with his Deputy and Wardens, shall (at least once) go round and visit
all the Lodges about Town during his Mastership.
XXI. If the
GRAND-MASTER die during his Mastership or by Sickness, or by being
beyond Sea, or any other way should be render’d uncapable of discharging
his Office, the DEPUTY, or in his Absence, the Senior GRANDWARDEN, or in
his Absence the Junior, or in his Absence any three present Masters of
Lodges, shall join to congregate the GRAND-LODGE immediately, to advise
together upon that Emergency, and to send two of their Number to invite
the last GRAND-MASTER to resume his Office, which now in course reverts
to him ; or if he refuse, then the
XXII. The BRETHREN of
all the Lodges in and about London and Westminster, shall meet at an
ANNUAL COMMUNICATION and Feast, in some convenient Place, on St. JOHN
Baptist ’s Day, or else on St. JOHN Evangelist ’s Day, as the
Grand-Lodge shall think fit by a new Regulation, having of late Years
met on St. John Baptist’s Day : Provided, the Majority of the Masters
and Wardens, with the Grand-Master, his Deputy and Wardens, agree at
their Quarterly Communication, three Months before, that there shall be
a Feast, and a General Communication of all the Brethren : For if either
the Grand-Master, or the Majority of the particular Masters, are against
it, it must be dropt for that Time.
XXIII. If it be thought expedient, and the
GRANDMASTER, with the Majority of the Masters and Wardens, agree to hold
a GRAND FEAST, according to the ancient laudable Custom of Masons, then
the GRAND-WARDENS shall have the Care of preparing the Tickets, seal’d
with the Grand-Master’s Seal, of disposing of the Tickets, of receiving
the Money for the Tickets, of buying the Materials of the Feast, of
finding out a proper and convenient Place to feast in ; and of every
other Thing that concerns the Entertainment.
But that the Work may not be too
burthensome to the two Grand-Wardens, and that all Matters may be
expeditiously and safely managed, the Grand-Master, or his Deputy, shall
have Power to nominate and appoint a certain Number of Stewards, as his
Worship shall think fit, to act in Concert with the two Grand-Wardens ;
all Things relating to the Feast being decided amongst them by a
Majority of Voices, except the Grand-Master or his Deputy interpose by a
particular
XXIV. The Wardens and
Stewards shall, in due time, wait upon the Grand-Master, or his Deputy,
for Directions and Orders about the Premisses ; but if his Worship and
his Deputy are sick, or necessarily absent, they shall call together the
Masters and Wardens of Lodges to meet on purpose
The Grand Wardens and
the Stewards are to account for all the Money they receive, or expend,
to the Grand-Lodge, after Dinner, or when the Grand-Lodge shall think
fit to receive their Accounts.
If the Grand-Master
pleases, he may in due time summon all the Masters and Wardens of Lodges
to consult with them about ordering the Grand-Feast, and about any
Emergency or accidental Thing relating thereunto, that may require
Advice ; or else to take it upon himself altogether.
XXV. The Masters of
Lodges shall each appoint one experienc’d and discreet Fellow-Craft of
his Lodge, to compose a Committee, consisting of one from every Lodge,
who shall meet to receive, in a convenient Apartment, every Person that
brings a Ticket, and shall have Power to discourse him, if they think
fit, in order to admit him, or debar him, as they shall see cause :
Provided they send no man away before they have acquainted all the
Brethren within Doors with the Reasons thereof, to avoid Mistakes ; that
so no true Brother may be debarr’d, nor a false Brother or meer
Pretender,
XXVI. The Grand-Master
shall appoint two or more trusty Brethren to be Porters, or
Door-keepers, who are also to be early at the Place for some good
Reasons ; and who are to be at the Command of the Committee.
XXVII. The
Grand-Wardens, or the Stewards, shall appoint before-hand such a Number
of Brethren to serve at Table as they think fit and proper for that Work
; and they may advise with the Masters and Wardens of Lodges about the
most proper Persons, if they please, or may take in such by their
Recommendation ; for none are to serve that Day, but free and accepted
Masons, that the Communication may be free and harmonious.
XXVIII. All the
Members of the Grand-Lodge must be at the Place long before Dinner, with
the Grand-Master, or his Deputy at their Head, who shall retire, and
form themselves.
And this is done in
order,
1. To receive any
Appeals duly lodg’d, as above regulated, that the Appellant may be
heard, and the Affair may be amicably decided before Dinner, if possible
; but if it cannot, it must be delay’d till after the new Grand-Master
is elected and if it cannot be decided after Dinner, it may be delay’d,
and referr’d to a particular Committee, that shall quietly adjust it,
and make Report to the next Quarterly Communication, that Brotherly-Love
may be preserv’d.
2. To prevent any
Difference or Disgust which may be fear’d to arise that Day ; that no
Interruption may be given to the Harmony and Pleasure of the GRAND
FEAST.
3. To consult about
whatever concerns the Decency and Decorum of the Grand-Assembly, and to
prevent all Indecency and ill Manners, the Assembly being promiscuous.
4. To receive and
consider of any good Motion or any momentous and important Affair, that
shall be brought from the particular Lodges, by their Representatives,
the several Masters and Wardens.
XXIX. After these
things are discuss’d, the GRANDMASTER and his Deputy, the Grand-Wardens,
or the Stewards, the Secretary, the Treasurer, the Clerks, and every
other Person, shall withdraw, and leave the Masters and Wardens of the
particular Lodges alone, in order to consult amicably about electing a
NEW GRAND-MASTER, or continuing the present, if they have not done it
the Day before and if they are unanimous for continuing the present
Grand-Master, his Worship shall be call’d in, and humbly desir’d to do
the Fraternity the Honour of ruling them for the Year ensuing : And
after Dinner it will be known whether he accepts of it or not ; For it
should not be discover’d but by the Election it self.
XXX. Then the Master
and Wardens, and all the Brethren, may converse promiscuously, or as
they please to sort together, until the Dinner is coming in, when every
Brother takes his Seat at Table.
XXXI. Some time after
Dinner the GRAND-LODGE is form’d, not in Retirement, but in the Presence
of all the Brethren, who yet are not Members of it, and must not
therefore speak until they are desired and allow’d.
XXXII. If the
GRAND-MASTER of last Year has consented with the Masters and Wardens in
private, before Dinner, to continue for the Year ensuing ; then one of
the Grand-Lodge, deputed for that purpose, shall represent to all the
Brethren his Worship’s good Government, &c. And turning
XXXIII. But if either
the Master and Wardens have not in private, this Day before Dinner, nor
the Day before, desir’d the last Grand-Master to continue in the
Mastership another Year ; or if he, when desir’d, has not consented.
Then, the last Grand-Master shall nominate his Successor
XXXIV. But if that
Nomination is not unanimously approv’d, the new Grand-Master shall be
chosen immediately by Ballot, every Master and Warden writing his Man’s
Name, and the last Grand-Master writing his Man’s Name too ; and the
Man, whose Name the last Grand Master shall
XXXV. The last
Grand-Master thus continued, or the new Grand-Master thus install’d,
shall next nominate and appoint his Deputy Grand-Master, either the last
or a new one, who shall be also declar’d, saluted and congratulated, as
above hinted.
The GRAND-MASTER shall
also nominate the new GRAND-WARDENS, and if unanimously approv’d by the
Grand-Lodge, shall be declar’d, saluted, and congratulated as above
hinted ; but if not, they shall be chosen by Ballot, in the same way as
the Grand-Master : As the Wardens of private Lodges are also to be
chosen by Ballot in each Lodge, if the Members thereof do not agree to
their Master’s Nomination.
XXXVI. But if the
BROTHER, whom the present Grand-Master shall nominate for his Successor,
or whom the Majority of the Grand-Lodge shall happen to chuse by Ballot,
is, by Sickness or other necessary Occasion, absent from the
Grand-Feast, he cannot be proclaim’d the NEW GRAND-MASTER, unless the
old Grand-Master, or some of the Masters and Wardens of the GRAND-LODGE
can vouch, upon the Honour of a Brother, that the said Person, so
nominated or chosen, will readily accept of the said Office in which
case the old GRAND-MASTER shall act as Proxy, and shall nominate the
Deputy and Wardens in his Name, and in his Name also receive the usual
Honours, Homage, and Congratulation.
XXXVII. Then the
GRAND-MASTER shall allow any Brother, Fellow-Craft, or Apprentice to
speak, directing his Discourse to his Worship ; or to make any Motion
for the good of the Fraternity, which shall be either immediately
consider’d and finish’d, or else referr’d to the Consideration of the
GRAND-LODGE at their next Communication, stated or occasional. When that
is over,
XXXVIII. The
GRAND-MASTER or his Deputy, or some Brother appointed by him, shall
harangue all the Brethren, and give them good Advice : And lastly, after
some other Transactions, that cannot be written in any Language, the
Brethren may go away or stay longer, as they please.
XXXIX. Every Annual GRAND-LODGE has an
inherent Power and Authority to make new Regulations, or to alter these,
for the real Benefit of this ancient Fraternity : Provided always that
the old LANDMARKS be carefully preserv’d, and that such Alterations and
new Regulations be
Here follows the
Manner of constituting a NEW LODGE, as practis’d by his Grace the
DUKE
A NEW LODGE, for
avoiding many irregularities, should be solemnly constituted by the
Grand-Master,with his Deputy and Wardens ; or in the Grand-Master ’s
Absence, the Deputy shall act for his Worship, and shall chuse some
Master of a Lodge to assist him ; or in case the Deputy is absent, the
Grand-Master shall call forth some Master of a Lodge to act as Deputy
pro tempore.
The Candidates, or the
new Master and Wardens, being yet among the Fellow-Craft, the
GRAND-MASTER shall ask his Deputy if he has examin’d them, and finds the
Candidate Master well skill’d in the noble Science and the royal Art,
and duly instructed in our Mysteries, &c.
And the Deputy
answering in the affirmative, he shall (by the Grand-Master’s Order)
take the Candidate from among his Fellows, and present him to the
Grand-Master saying, Right worshipful Grand-Master, the Brethren here
desire to be form’d into a new Lodge ; and I present this my worthy
Brother to be their Master, whom I know to be of good Morals and great
Skill, true and trusty, and a Lover of the whole Fraternity, wheresoever
dispers’d over the Face of the
Then the GRAND-MASTER,
placing the Candidate on his left Hand, having ask’d and obtain’d the
unanimous Consent of all the Brethren, shall say, I constitute and form
these good Brethren into a new Lodge, and appoint you the Master of it,
not doubting of your Capacity and Care to preserve
Upon this the Deputy
shall rehearse the Charges of a Master, and the GRAND-MASTER shall ask
the Candidate, saying, Do you submit to these Charges as Masters have
done in all Ages ? And the Candidate signifying his cordial Submission
thereunto, the Grand-Master shall, by certain significant Ceremonies and
ancient Usages, install him, and present him with the Constitutions, the
Lodge-Book, and the Instruments of his Office, not all together, but one
after another ; and after each of them, the Grand-Master or his Deputy,
shall rehearse the short and pithy Charge that is
After this, the
Members of this new Lodge, bowing all together to the Grand-Master,
shall return his Worship Thanks, and immediately do their Homage to
their new Master, and signify their Promise of Subjection and Obedience
to him by the usual Congratulation.
The Deputy and the
Grand-Wardens, and any other Brethren present, that are not Members of
this new Lodge, shall next congratulate the new Master ; and he shall
return his becoming Acknowledgements to the Grand-Master first, and to
the rest in their Order.
Then the Grand-Master
desires the new Master to enter immediately upon the Exercise of his
Office, in chusing his Wardens : And the new Master, calling forth two
Fellow-Craft, presents them to the Grand-Master for his Approbation, and
to the new Lodge for their Consent. And that being
The senior or junior
Grand-Warden, or some other Brother for him, shall rehearse the Charges
of Wardens ; and the Candidates being solemnly ask’d by the new Master,
shall signify their Submission thereunto.
Upon which the new
Master, presenting them with the Instruments of their Office, shall in
due Form, install them in their proper Places ; and the Brethren of that
new Lodge shall signify their Obedience to the new Wardens by the usual
Congratulation.
And this LODGE being
thus compleatly constituted, shall be register’d in the Grand-Master’s
Book, and by his Order notified to the other Lodges.
Whereas by the
Confusions occasioned in the Saxon, Danish, and Norman Wars, the Records
of
And our late worthy
Grand-Master, his Grace the Duke of MONTAGU, having order’d the Author
to peruse, correct, and digest into a new and better Method, the
History, Charges, and Regulations of the ancient Fraternity ; He has
accordingly examin’d several Copies from Italy and Scotland,
And the Author having
submitted the whole to the Perusal and Corrections of the late and
present Deputy Grand-Masters, and of other learned Brethren and also of
the Masters and Wardens of particular Lodges at their Quarterly
Communication ; he did regularly deliver them to the late Grand-Master
himself, the said DUKE of MONTAGU, for his Examination, Correction, and
Approbation and his Grace, by the Advice of several Brethren, order’d
the same to be handsomely printed for the use of the Lodges, tho’ they
were not quite ready for the Press during his Mastership.
THEREFORE We, the
present Grand-Master of the Right Worshipful and most ancient Fraternity
of Free and Accepted Masons, the Deputy Grand-Master, the Grand-Wardens,
the Masters and Wardens of particular Lodges (with the Consent of the
Brethren and Fellows in and about the Cities of London and Westminster)
having also perused this Performance, Do join our laudable Predecessors
in our solemn Approbation thereof, as what We believe will fully answer
the End proposed ; all the valuable Things of the old Records being
retain’d, the Errors in History and
And we ordain that
these be received in every particular Lodge under our Cognizance, as the
PHILIP, Duke of
Wharton -- Grand-Master,
J. T. Desaguliers
, L.L.D. and F.R.S.
Deputy
Grand-Master,
J O, Shuat Inson and
William Hawkins –Grand Wardens.
Masters and Wardens of Particular Lodges
I. Thomas Morris, Sen.
Master.
John Bristow and
Abraham Abbot --Wardens.
II. Richard
Hall--Master.
Philip Wolverston and
John Doyer-- Wardens.
III. John
Turner--Master.
Anthony Sayer and
Edward Cale-- Wardens.
IV. Mr. George
Payne--Master
Stephen Hall, M.D. and
Francis Sorell --Wardens.
V. Mr. M.Birkhead--
Master.
Francis Bayly and
Nicholas Abraham---Wardens.
VI. William Read--
Master.
John Glover and Robert
Cordell-- Wardens.
VII. Henry Branson--
Master.
Henry Lug and John
Townsend-- Wardens.
VIII. . .. ..
.. Master.
Jonathan Sisson and
John Shipton-- Wardens.
IX. Geo. Owen, M. D.--
Master.
Eman Bowen and John
Heath-- Wardens.
X. . .. ..
.. Master.
John Lubton and
Richard Smith--- Wardens.
XI. Francis, Earl of
Dalkeith---- Master.
Capt. Andrew Robinson
and Col. Thomas Inwood --Wardens.
XII. John Beal, M. D.
and F. R. S.--- Master.
Edward Pawlet and
Charles More, Esq---Wardens.
XIII. Tho. Morris Jr---.
Master.
Joseph Ridler and John
Clark --Wardens.
XIV. Tho. Robbe, Esq----
Master.
Thomas Grave and Bray
Lane --Wardens.
XV. John Shepherd--
Master.
John Senex and John
Bucler --Wardens.
XVI. J. Georges, Esq----
Master.
Robert Gray, Esq; and
Charles Grymes, Esq --Wardens.
XVII. J.A.
Anderson, A.M. and Author of this Book--- Master.
Gwin Vaughan, Esq and
Walter Greenwood, Esq --Wardens.
XVIII. Tho.. Harbin---
Master.
William Attley and John Saxon --Wardens.
XIX. Robert Capell,
Master.
Isaac Mansfield and William Bly --Wardens.
XX. John Gormon,
Master.
Charles Garey and
Edward Morphey --Wardens.
The Master’s Song or the History of Masonry.
[To be sung with a Chorus, when the MASTER
shall give Leave (no Brother being present
to whom Singing is disagreeable) either one
Part only, or all together, as he pleases.]
I.
ADAM, the first of humane
Kind,
Created with GEOMETRY
Imprinted on his Royal
Mind,
Instructed soon his
Progeny
CAIN & SETH, who then
improv’d
The lib’ral Science in the
Art
Of Architecture, which
they lov’d,
And to their Offspring did
impart.
II.
CAIN a City fair and
strong
First built, and call’d it
Consecrate,
From Enoch’s Name, his
eldest Son,
Which all his Race did
imitate :
But godly ENOCH, of Seth’s
Loins,
Two Columns rais’d with
mighty Skill:
And all his Family enjoins
True Colonading to
fullfil.
III.
Our Father NOAH next
appear’d
A Mason too divinely
taught ;
And by divine Command
uprear’d
The ARK, that held a
goodly Fraught:
’Twas built by true
Geometry,
A Piece of Architecture
fine ;
Helpt by his Sons, in
number THREE,
Concurring in the grand
Design.
IV.
So from the gen’ral Deluge
none
Were sav’d, but Masons and
their Wives ;
And all Mankind from them
alone
Descending, Architecture
thrives ;
For they, when multiply’d
amain,
Fit to disperse and fill
the Earth,
In SHINAR’s large & lovely
Plain
To MASONRY gave second
Birth.
V.
For most of Mankind were
employ’d,
To build the City and the
Tow’r ;
The Gen’ral Lodge was
overjoy’d,
In such Effects of Masons
Pow’r ;
’Till vain Ambition did
provoke
Their Maker to confound
their Plot ;
Yet tho’ with Tongues
confus’d they spoke,
The learned Art they ne’er
forgot.
CHORUS.
Who can unfold the Royal
Art ?
Or sing its Secrets in a
Song ?
They’re safely kept in
Masons HEART
And to the ancient
Lodge belong.
[Stop here to drink the
present GRAND MASTER’s Health.]
I.
THUS when from BABEL they
disperse
In Colonies to distant
Climes,
All Masons true, who could
rehearse
Their Works to those of
after Times;
King NIMROD fortify’d his
Realm,
By Castles, Tow’rs, and
Cities fair ;
MITZRA’M, who rul’d at
Egypt’s Helm,
Built Pyramids stupendous
there.
II.
Nor JAPHET, and his
gallant Breed,
Did less in Masonry
prevail ;
Nor SHEM, and those that
did succeed
To promis’d Blessings by
Entail ;
For Father ABRAM brought
from UR
Geometry, the Science good
;
Which he reveal’d, without
demur,
To all descending from his
Blood.
III.
Nay JACOB’s Race at length
were taught,
To lay aside the
Shepherd’s Crook,
To use Geometry were
brought,
Whilst under Phar’oh’s
cruel Yoke,
’Till MOSES Master-Mason
rose,
And led the HOLY LODGE
from thence,
All Masons train’d, to
whom he chose,
His curious Learning to
dispense.
IV.
AHOLIAB and BEZALEEL,
Inspired Men, the TENT
uprear’d ;
Where the Shechinah chose
to dwell,
And Geometrick Skill
appear’d :
And when these valiant
Masons fill’d
Canaan, the learn’d
PHENICIANS knew
The Tribes of Isra’l
better skill’d
In Architecture firm and
true.
V.
For DAGON’s House in Gaza
Town,
Artfully propt by COLUMNS
two ;
By SAMSON’s mighty Arms
pull’d down
On Lords Philistian, whom
it slew ;
Tho’ ’twas the finest
Fabrick rais’d
By Canaan’s Sons, could
not compare
With the Creator’s Temple
prais’d,
For glorious Strength and
Structure fair.
VI.
But here we stop a while
to toast
Our MASTER’s Health and
Wardens both;
And warn you all to shun
the Coast
Of Samson’s Shipwrackt
Fame and Troth;
His Secrets once to WIFE
disclos’d
His Strength was fled, his
Courage tam’d
To cruel Foes he was
expos’d,
And never was a Mason
nam’d.
CHORUS.
Who can unfold the Royal
Art ?
Or sing its Secrets in a
Song ?
They’re safely kept in
Masons HEART,
And to the ancient Lodge
belong.
I.
We sing of MASONS ancient
Fame
When fourscore Thousand
Craftsmen
Under the MASTERS of great
Name
Three Thousand and six
Hundred good,
Employ’d by SOLOMON the
Sire
And Gen’ral MASTER-MASON
too ;
As HIRAM was in stately
Tyre,
Like Salem built by Masons
true.
II.
The Royal Art was then
divine,
The Craftsmen counsell’d
from above,
The Temple did all Works
outshine,
The wond’ring World did
all approve,
Ingenious Men, from every
Place,
Came to survey the
glorious Pile ;
And when return’d, began
to trace,
And imitate its lofty
Style.
III.
At length the GRECIANS
came to know
Geometry, and learnt the
Art,
Which great PYTHAGORAS did
show,
And Glorious EUCLID did
impart ;
Th’ amazing ARCHIMEDES
too,
And many other Scholars
good ;
’Till ancient ROMANS did
review
The Art, and Science
understood.
IV.
But when proud ASIA they
had quell’d,
And GREECE and EGYPT
overcome,
In Architecture they
excell’d,
And brought the Learning
all to ROME;
Where wise VITRUVIUS,
Master prime
Of Architects, the Art
improv’d,
In Great AUGUSTUS’
peaceful Time,
When Arts and Artists were
belov’d.
V.
They brought the Knowledge
from the East ;
And as they made the
Nations yield,
They spread it thro’ the
North and West,
And taught the World the
Art to build,
Witness their Citadels and
Tow’rs.
To fortify their Legions
fine,
Their Temples, Palaces,
and Bow’rs,
That spoke the Masons
GRAND DESIGN.
VI.
Thus mighty Eastern Kings,
and some
Of Abram’s Race, and
Monarchs good,
Of Egypt, Syria, Greece,
and Rome,
True Architecture
understood
No wonder then if Masons
join,
To celebrate those Mason
Kings,
With solemn Note and
flowing Wine,
Whilst ev’ry Brother
jointly sings,
CHORUS.
Who can unfold the Royal
Art ?
Or sing its Secrets in a
Song ?
They’re safely kept in
Mason’s HEART,
And to the ancient Lodge
belong.
Gentry, Clergy, and
learned Scholars that ever propagated the Art.]
I.
OH ! glorious Days for
Masons wise,
O’er all the Roman Empire
when
Their Fame, resounding to
the Skies,
Proclaim’d them good and
useful Men;
For many Ages thus
employ’d,
Until the Goths with
warlike Rage,
And brutal Ignorance,
destroy’d
The Toil of many a learned
Age.
II.
But when the conqu’ring
Goths were brought
T’embrace the Christian
Faith, they found
The Folly that their
Fathers wrought,
In loss of Architecture
sound.
At length their Zeal for
stately Fanes,
And wealthy Grandeur, when
at Peace,
Made them exert their
utmost Pains,
Their Gothic Buildings to
up-raise.
III.
Thus many a sumptuous
lofty Pile
Was rais’d in every
Christian Land,
Tho’ not conform to Roman
Style,
Yet which did Reverence
command :
The King and Craft
agreeing still,
In well form’d Lodges to
supply
The mournful Want of Roman
Skill
With their new sort of
Masonry.
IV.
For many Ages this
prevails,
Their Work is Architecture
deem’d ;
In England, Scotland,
Ireland, Wales,
The Craftsmen highly are
esteem’d,
By Kings, as Masters of
the Lodge,
By many a wealthy noble
Peer,
By Lord and Laird, by
Priest and Judge,
By all the People every
where.
V.
So Masons ancient Records
tell,
King Athelstan, of Saxon
Blood,
Gave them a Charter free
to dwell
In Lofty Lodge, with
Orders good,
Drawn from old Writings by
his Son,
Prince Edwin, General
Master bright,
Who met at York the
Brethren soon,
And to that Lodge did all
recite.
VI.
Thence were their Laws and
Charges fine
In ev’ry Reign observ’d
with Care,
Of Saxon, Danish, Norman
Line,
Till British Crowns united
were :
The Monarch First of this
whole Isle
Was learned James a Mason
King,
Who first of Kings reviv’d
the Style
Of great Augustus :
therefore sing.
Who can unfold the Royal
Art ?
Or sing its Secrets in a
Song ?
They’re safely kept in
Mason’s Heart,
And to the ancient Lodge
belong.
I.
THUS tho’ in Italy the Art
From Gothick Rubbish first
was rais’d;
And great Palladio did
impart
A Style by Masons justly
prais’d :
Yet here this mighty Rival
Jones,
Of British Architects the
prime,
Did build such glorious
Heaps of Stones,
As ne’er were match’d
since Cæsar’s
II.
King Charles the first, a
Mason too,
With several Peers and
wealthy Men,
Employ’d him & his
Craftsmen true,
’Till wretched Civil Wars
began.
But after Peace and Crown
restor’d,
Tho’ London was in Ashes
laid,
By Masons Art and good
Accord,
A finer London rear’d its
Head.
III.
King Charles the second
raised then
The finest Column upon
Earth,
Founded St. Paul’s, that
stately Fane,
And Royal Change, with Joy
and Mirth:
But afterwards the Lodges
fail’d ;
Till great Nassau the Tast
reviv’d,
Whose bright Example so
prevail’d
That ever since the Art
has thriv’d.
IV.
Let other Nations boast at
will,
Great Britain now will
yield to none,
For true Geometry and
Skill,
In building Timber, Brick,
and Stone;
For Architecture of each
sort,
For curious Lodges, where
we find
The Noble and the Wise
resort,
And drink with Craftsmen
true and kind.
V.
Then let good Brethren all
rejoice,
And fill their Glass with
cheerful Heart,
Let them express with
grateful Voice
The Praises of the
wondrous Art ;
Let ev’ry Brother’s Health
go round,
Not Fool or Knave but
Mason true,
And let our Master’s Fame
resound,
The noble Duke of MONTAGU.
Who can unfold the Royal
Art ?
Or sing its Secrets in a
Song ?
They’re safely kept in
Mason’s Heart,
And to the ancient Lodge
belong.
The Warden’s Song or Another History of Masonry
Composed since the most Noble Prince
PHILIP,
Duke of Wharton was chosen Grand Master.
[To be sung and played at Quarterly
Communication]
I.
WHEN e’er we are alone,
And ev’ry Stranger gone,
In Summer, Autumn, Winter,
Spring,
Begin to play, begin to
sing,
The mighty Genius of the
lofty Lodge,
In ev’ry Age
That did engage
And well inspir’d the
Prince, the Priest,
The Noble and the Wise to
join
In rearing Masons Grand
Design.
II.
The Grand Design to rear,
Was ever Mason’s Care,
From Adam down before the
Flood,
Whose Art old Noah
understood,
And did impart to Japhet,
Shem and Ham,
Who taught their Race
To build apace
Proud Babel’s Town and
Tow’r, until it came
To be admir’d too much,
and then
Dispersed were the Sons of
Men.
III.
But tho’ their Tongues
confus’d
In distant Climes they
us’d,
They brought from Shinar
Orders good,
To rear the Art they
understood :
Therefore sing first the
Princes of the Isles ;
Next Belus great,
Who fixt his Seat
In old Assyria, building
stately Piles ;
And Mitzraim’s Pyramids
among
The other Subjects of our
Song.
IV.
And Shem, who did instil
The useful wondrous Skill
Into the Minds of Nations
great :
And Abram next, who did
relate
Th’ Assyrian Learning to
his Sons, that when
In Egypt’s Land
By Pharoah’s Hand,
Were roughly taught to be
most skilful Men;
Till their Grand-Master
Moses rose
And them deliver’d from
their Foes.
V.
But who can sing his
Praise,
Who did the Tent upraise ?
Then sing his Workmen true
as Steel,
Aholiab and Bezaleel ;
Sing Tyre and Sydon, and
Phenicians old.
But Samson’s Blot
Is ne’er forgot :
He blabb’d his Secrets to
his Wife, that sold
Her Husband, who at last
pull’d down
The House on all in Gaza
Town.
VI.
But Solomon the King
With solemn Note we sing,
Who rear’d at length the
Grand Design,
By Wealth, and Pow’r, and
Art divine;
Helpt by the learned Hiram
Tyrian Prince,
By Craftsmen good,
That understood
Wise Hiram Abif’s charming
Influence :
He aided Jewish Masters
bright,
Whose curious Works none
can recite.
VII.
These glorious Mason Kings
Each thankful Brother
sings,
Who to its Zenith rais’d
the Art,
And to all Nations did
impart
The useful Skill: For from
the Temple fine,
To ev’ry Land,
And foreign Strand,
The Craftsmen march’d, and
taught the Grand Design ;
Of which the Kings, with
mighty Peers,
And learned Men, were
Overseers.
VIII.
Diana’s Temple next,
In Lesser Asia fixt ;
And Babylon’s proud Walls,
the Seat
Of Nebuchadnezar the Great
;
The Tomb of Mausolus, the
Carian King ;
With many a Pile
Of lofty Style
In Africa and Greater
Asia, sing,
In Greece, in Sicily, and
Rome,
That had those Nations
overcome.
IX.
Then sing Augustus too,
The Gen’ral Master true,
Who by Vitruvius did
refine
And spread the Masons
Grand Design
Thro’ North and West ;
till ancient Britons chose
The Royal Art In ev’ry
Part,
And Roman Architecture
could disclose;
Until the Saxons warlike
Rage
Destroy’d the Skill of
many an Age.
X.
At length the Gothick
Style
Prevail’d in Britain’s
Isle,
When Masons Grand Design
reviv’d,
And in their well form’d
Lodges thriv’d,
Tho’ not as formerly in
Roman Days :
Yet sing the Fanes
Of Saxons, Danes,
Of Scots, Welch, Irish ;
but sing first the Praise
Of Athelstan and Edwin
Prince,
Our Master of great
Influence.
XI.
And eke the Norman Kings
The British Mason sings :
Till Roman Style revived
there,
And British Crowns united
were
In learned James, a Mason
King, who rais’d
Fine Heaps of Stones
By Inigo Jones,
That rival’d wise Palladio,
justly prais’d
In Italy, and Britain too,
For Architecture firm and
true.
XII.
And thence in ev’ry Reign
Did Masonry obtain
With Kings, the Noble and
the Wise,
Whose Fame resounding to
the Skies,
Excites the present Age in
Lodge to join,
And Aprons wear,
With Skill and Care,
To raise the Masons
ancient Grand Design,
And to revive th’ Augustan
Style
In many an artful glorious
Pile.
XIII.
From henceforth ever sing
The Craftsman and the
King,
With Poetry and Musick
sweet
Resound their Harmony
compleat ;
And with Geometry in
skilful Hand,
Due Homage pay,
Without Delay,
To Wharton’s noble Duke
our Master Grand
He rules the Free-born
Sons of Art,
By Love and Friendship,
Hand and Heart.
Who can rehearse the
Praise,
In soft Poetick Lays,
Or solid Prose, of Masons
true,
Their Secrets, ne’er to
Strangers yet expos’d,
By Masons Free,
And only to the ancient
Lodge disclos’d ;
Because they’re kept in
Masons Heart
By Brethren of the Royal
Art.
[To fill up this Page, it is thought not amiss to insert here a
Paragraph from an old Record of Masons, viz. The Company of Masons,
being otherwise termed Free Masons, of auncient Staunding and good
Reckoning, by means of affable and kind Meetings diverse Tymes, and as
a loving Brotherhood should use to doe, did frequent this mutual
Assembly in the Tyme of King Henry V. the 12th Year of his most gracious
Reign. And the said Record describing a Coat of Arms, much the same with
That of the LONDON COMPANY of Freemen Masons, it is generally believ’d
that the said Company is descended of the ancient Fraternity ; and that
in former Times no Man was made Free of that Company until he was
install’d in some Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons, as a necessary
Qualification. But that laudable Practice seems to have been long in
Dissuetude. The Brethren in foreign Parts have also discover’d that
several noble and ancient Societies and Orders of Men have derived their
Charges and Regulations from the Free-Masons, (which are now the most
ancient
Order upon Earth) and perhaps were originally all Members too of the
said ancient and worshipful Fraternity. But this will more fully appear
in due Time.]
By our Brother CHARLES
DELAFAYE, Esq;
HAIL Masonry ! thou Craft
divine !
Glory of Earth, from
Heav’n reveal’d;
Which dost with Jewels
precious shine,
From all but Masons Eyes
conceal’d.
Thy Praises due who can
rehearse
In nervous Prose, or
flowing Verse ?
II.
As Men from Brutes
distinguish’d are,
A Mason other Men excels ;
For what’s in Knowledge
choice and rare
But in his Breast securely
dwells ?
His silent Breast and
faithful Heart
Preserve the Secrets of
the Art.
III.
From scorching Heat, and
piercing Cold;
From Beasts, whose Roar
the Forest rends;
From the Assaults of
Warriours bold
The Masons Art Mankind
defends.
Be to this Art due Honour
paid,
From which Mankind
receives such Aid.
IV.
Ensigns of State, that
feed our Pride,
Distinctions troublesome,
and vain !
By Masons true are laid
aside :
Art’s free-born Sons such
Toys disdain;
Ennobled by the Name they
bear,
Distinguished by the Badge
they wear.
V.
Sweet Fellowship, from
Envy free :
Friendly Converse of
Brotherhood ;
The Lodge’s lasting Cement
be !
Which has for Ages firmly
stood.
A Lodge, then built, for
Ages past
Has lasted, and will ever
last.
VI.
Then in our Songs be
Justice done
To those who have enrich’d
the Art,
From Jabal down to
Burlington,
And let each Brother bear
a Part.
Let noble Masons Healths
go round ;
Their Praise in lofty
Lodge resound.
T H E
[To be sung when all grave
Business is over, and with the MASTER’s Leave.]
I
COME let us prepare,
We Brothers that are
Assembled on merry
Occasion :
Let’s drink, laugh, and
sing ;
Our Wine has a Spring :
Here’s a Health to an
Accepted Mason.
II.
The World is in pain
Our Secrets to gain,
And still let them wonder
and gaze on ;
They ne’er can divine
The Word or the Sign
Of a Free and an Accepted
Mason.
III.
’Tis This, and ’tis That,
They cannot tell What,
Why so many Great Men of
the Nation
Should Aprons put on,
To make themselves one
With a Free and an
Accepted Mason.
IV.
Great Kings, Dukes, and
Lords,
Have laid by their Swords,
Our Myst’ry to put a good
Grace on,
And ne’er been asham’d
To hear themselves nam’d
With a Free and an
Accepted Mason.
V.
Antiquity’s Pride
We have on our side,
And it maketh Men just in
their Station:
There’s nought but what’s
good
To be understood
By a Free and an Accepted
Mason.
VI.
Then join Hand in Hand,
T’each other firm stand,
Let’s be merry, and put a
bright Face on:
What Mortal can boast
So NOBLE A TOAST,
As a Free and an Accepted
Mason ?
A New SONG.
I.
WHAT though they call us
Masons
We prove by Geometry and
Rules,
We’ve Arts are taught in
all our Schools;
They charge us falsely
then.
We make it plainly to
appear,
That where you meet a
Mason, there
You meet a Gentleman.
II.
’Tis true we once have
charged been
With Disobedience to our
Queen ;
But after Monarchs plain
have seen,
The Secrets they have
sought.
We hatch no Plots against
the State,
Nor ’gainst great Men in
Power prate
But all that’s generous,
good and great
Is daily by us taught.
III.
What noble Structures do
we see
By ancient Brethren raised
be !
The World’s surpriz’d, and
shall not we
Then honour Masonry ?
Let those that do despise
the Art
Live in a Cave in some
Desart,
And herd with beasts from
Men apart,
For their Stupidity.
IV.
View but those Savage
Nations, where
No Masonry did e’er
appear,
What strange unpolish’d
Brutes they are!
Then honour Masonry.
It makes us courteous,
easy, free,
Generous, honourable, and
gay ;
What other Art the like
can say ?
Here’s a Health to
Masonry.
AT
the Quarterly Communication, This Book, which was undertaken at the
Command of His GRACE the DUKE of MONTAGU, our late Grand-Master, having
been regularly approved in Manuscript by the Grand-Lodge, was this Day
produced here in Print, and approved by the SOCIETY : Wherefore we do
hereby Order the same to be Published, and recommend it for the Use of
the LODGES.
PHILIP DUKE of WHARTON, Grand-Master.
J.
T. DESAGULIERS, Deputy Grand-Master.
F I N I S.