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I ape ha Rl JOHN- — = ill "ng e OH. U Mt N Mi Lune tame
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AHIMAN REZON; So ON OR A 5
Help to all that are, or would be
Free and Accepted Maſons.
*
—
By LA LAU. DERMOTT, Day Grand Moſer,
—
——_ — ET « As for his Works in Verſe or Proſe, oel myſelf no Judge of thoſe; a « Nor can I tell what Criticks thought,'em ; „ But this T know; al People bought” 'em.”
»4 * 8 8 w 1 G r. a" — 0 4 <>. : g : T — — — — — — n —„—V— % . : „ * 4 = 4 . 1 - - * p 8 - Fs
PRINTED FOR
The BENEFIT of the GENERAL CHARITY,
AND. 301 D 222
Brother J OHN,F E AKINS, Grand PEE INES | | Earl-Streer, Blackfriars.
* * * — _ — * ON
4 4 1 = +
LONDON, 1787. n
HARVARD COLLEGE LIBRARY
4 Se. 140 if /# 775 75
bre Ao R
0 19 > THR
Moſt noble, ſublime, and illuſtrious, P: * IN c E PO CHA, R . .
Great and benign MA Dau,
HE Author of Animan RRZ ox, thinking himſelf amply 0 by the ſale of — Editions, is now deſirous of ap ropriating the ſent, and all future Editions = this Work, to 35 charitable fund, for the relief of indigent Free- Maſons ; and having duly conſidered the great in · fluence which your Highneſs has over the humane and N part of the creation; but more parti - cularly over the moſt ancient and honorable nity of Free and Accepted Maſons, (who are uni- verſally known to be your Highneſs's greateſt — nies) he concluded that nothing could prom
the ſale of this Book, ſo much as prefixing your 5
Higlineſs's beloved name.
Great and benign Malm, n 19916Up Ran
Your Highneſs HS > abaad 01 1 1 Moft deuoted, 0 0 Mo humble, | And moſt faithful Servant,
The AvuTHORs.
ter⸗
*
2 1 1 A
_—_— >. > —
FRONTISPIECE. HE defi | is a proſtyle Semple: of the goric order,
and is an hiſtorical view of Ancient Maſonry, I mean = kind of hiſtory which, is r received and acknowledged in Ancient Lbges
The three figures upon the doy , repreſents the three |
grand maſters of the tabernacle u the wilderneſs. The
two crowned figures, with that — the right hand, repiæ- ſents the three grand maſters at the holy temple of Jeth- ſalem. The three figures on the left, en the three grand e the ſecond temple. 3 ho
L.- he three. cohimns bearing Maſons aprons, with the arms of England, Ireland, and Scotland, and ſupportin! the whole fabrick, repreſents the — — maſters Ms England, Ireland, and Scotland, (whale names are on the pedeſtal) who wiſely and 1 5 a triple union to ſupport the honor and dignity of phe Ancient Craft, for which their Lordſhip's names will be honored and re- vered whilſt real Free-maſonry exiſts in theſe kingdoms.
In the pediment, is the coat armour af the Ancient f Fraternity, thus emblazon d, |
= BAC ©: * N
Quarterly per ane counter- changed vert. 10 the firſt quarter azure, a lion rampant or. In the ſecond quar- ter or, an ox paſſant ſable. * In the third quarter or, a man with hands erect proper, robed crimſon and ermine, In the fourth quarter azure, an eagle diſplayed or. Creſt, the holy ark of the covenant proper, ſupporters two che- 2 Motto, Kodes la Adonai, that 1 is, Holineſs to the
r
"* A .
ac Eat.
Lord Viſcount ] en then grand maſter of Maſons in Ireland, is now (178 Carl of Autrim & adn roma of Marin üg *
wings N A T A PP? . l 0
Page line . fer | read
3 laſt lien The Chapter 2 Chapter XI. 15 at the ſame he at the ſame time XXVIII. 6 faithlui!l! faithful XXX. in the Note has not done has done XXXI. in the Note this book _ this preface py. XLVIII. To the Note, add the words, ** frequently been , - uſed ironically, at length came to have a dire&t meaning in the ironical ſenſe, thus Dunſcotus, a man famed for the y | ſubtilty and acuteneſs of his underſtanding, has by the ; ſame method of irony, given a 1 2 name to n | - Dunces.“ | I 8 8 in the Note 62 et 310577 * 1 98 24 3 XXVIII * 8 16 do ef Dulce * Dunlue 19 2d1-r:l 4: 78 hg 186 laſt line Our Charme Our Arms
219 21 Mulroomy Mulroony
THE CONTENTS.
Ox pretended hiſtories of Free-maſonry, Page I to XII The origin of Modern Maſonry XII Modern Maſons (by their Grand Secretary) diſclaim all right or knowledge of Ancient Maſonry The Moderns cenſure one of their own lodges for | practiſing Ancient Maſonry | XVI
They petition parliament for a charter, and are refuſed XX Advice to ſuch as would become Free-maſons XXII
The difference between Ancien' and Modern Maſonry XXIX Ludicrous deſcription of making Modern Maſons XXXVI The operative or Stone-maſons company in Lon- don, the on'y ſociety in the kingdom who have a right to the title of Free-maſons of England XXXVIII Apparent ſtate of Ancient and Modern Maſonry in England, in 1778 A letter from the famous philoſopher Locke, &c. XLV
On the ſeven liberal arts and ſciences LY Reſolutions of the grand lodges of England, Scot-
land and Ireland LVI The excelleney of ſecrecy Page 1 T he character of a juſt man IT
Free-maſons ſuperior to all others in concealing ſecrets ibid The caufe or motive of the firſt inſtitution of Free-maſonry 12
Its great uſe to the world 13 Sore of the principles of the craft explained 15 Benefits ariſing from a ſtrict obſervance of the craft 19 What fort of men ought to be initiated into the myſtery 20 What fort of Maſons are fit to govern lodges 23 OLp CHaRGeEs of FREE-MASONS 27
1 Concerning God and religion wid
2 Of the civil magiſtrate, — and ſubordinate 28 3 Concerning a lodge 29 4 Of maſters, wardens, fellow-crafts and apprentices 30 5 Ot che management of the craft in working 31 6 Free maſons — in the lodge before cloſing, 33
after cloſing, without ſtrangers, amongſt ſtrangers, and in the neighbourhood, &c. likewiſe to foreign brothers, and behind a brothers back, as well as before his ſace 36 Concerning law ſuits 3 Charge to a new admitted brother 3 Manner of conſtituting a lodge Prayer at the opening of a lodge or making a new bro- | ther, &c. uſed by jewiſh freemaſons 47 A prayer uſed amongſt the primitive chriſtian maſons 49 Another, now in general uſe | 191d
ii Tux CONTENTS,
The royal arch prayer | 50 The general regulations | 56 I. Shewing the grand officers power in all lodges ibid II. Who ought to preſide in the abſence of the maſter |
of a particular lodge. 58 III. I ranſactions ebe enten) to be kept on record 59 No lodge to be moved from their ſtated place of meeting
without previous notice to the grand ſecretary ibid V. Diſpenſations how obtained 60 VI. Concerning viſiters ibid VII. Concerning the admiſſion of a new member with regard to a particular lodge and grand fund 62 VIII. Of clandeftine makings, and how all parties |
are to be treated 63 Lodges cealing to meet ſhall loſe their precedency 64 IX. The manner of removing lodges 66 X. Lodges when congregated h. ve: a power to inſtru ct
their officers when going to the grand lodge 63 XI. All regular lodges ſhou'd follow one method 69 XII. What makes a grand lodge, and who are the membersilid XIII. Buſineſs of the Grand Lodge, &c. | 71 Liſts of members to be ſent to the grand ſecretary 73 The grand ſecretary, and grand treaſurer, members of
the grand lodge by virtue of their offices 77 Grand purſuviant and grand tyler no members of the
grand lodge 78
XIV. Who fhall preſide in the grand maſter's abſence 79 XV. Who ſhall preſide in the grand warden's abſence 81 XVI. Al] applications ſhou'd be made to the deputy
grand maſter | 82 XVII. A grand officer may be an officer of a particular
lodge but not act as ſuch in the grand lodge 84 XVIII. Who ſhou'd ſupply the deputy's abſence, and
how the deputy and grand wardens are to be choſen 8 XIX. | he grand matter abuſing his authority how he is to be treated 86 XX. Grand viſitation of lodges, and conſtitution of |
new lodges 87 XXI. Who ſhould fill the chair in the abſence of the
grand maſter and his deputy 89 XXII. Concerning the meeting and buſineſs on St.
John's day | | 90 Election of grand officers | {bid XXIII. Choice and inſtallation of grand maſter 91
XXIV. Concerning ditto | XXV. The grand maſter has power to chuſe his deputy.
and the grand lodge can chuſe grand wardens . Inſtallation by proxy 1 | iN VII. Power of making new regulations veſted in the
eee aA EE CE 40 xs t :
1 Fr CONTENTS.
oh
XXVIII. Regulations for the government of the grand 5
lodge during the time of bulineſs, .,, Regulations for charity +, / -
MAS GNS 8 ON GS.
The grand maſter's ſong
The deputy grand maſter's ſong
The grand warden's ſong
The ſecretary's ſong
The treaſurer's ſong
The maſter's ſong
The warden's ſong
The fellow-craft's ſong
The enter'd *prentices ſong
As Iat wheelers lodge one night
A maſon's daughter fair and young
A health to our ſiſters let's drink
An ode on Maſonry by ] Banks
As maſons once on Skinner's plain
Attend attend the ſtrains |
An ode A. 118
As long as our coaſts does with whiteneſs appear Ariſe genile muſe who with wiſdom inſpires An ode by E. Fenner h
Bleſs'd be the day that gave to me
Begin O ye muſes a freemaſons ſtrain Come are you prepared
Come come my brethren dear
Come follow follow me |
Come boys let us more liquor get
Come fill up a bumper and let it go round Come ye elves that be
te r
With what malicious joy ere I knew better Well here I'm come to let you know my thoughts Where are theſe Hydras let me vent my ſpleen Well heaven's be prais'd the mighty ſecret's out 88S G N GUS. From the depths let us raiſe Ki Guardian genius of our art divine Hail — by heaven deſign'd How bleſs'd are we from ignorance freed
Hal ſacred art by heaven detign'd, a gracious, &c. Hail maſonry divine
By maſons art the aſpiring domes oem
102
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203
213 215
216 4
166 1 3 176 4d 182 183
4 | þ
On you who mationry deſpiſe Of all inſtitutions to form well the mind
iv Tur CONTENTS.
How happy a maſon whoſe boſom ſtill flows If unity be good in every degrees
King Solomon that wiſe proje ctor
Let malicious people cenſure Let maſons be merry each night when they meet
Let worthy brethren all combine Let maſons ever live in love
PROLOGUES.
If to delight and humanize the mind
As a wild rake that courts a virgin fair
As ſome crack'd chymiſt of projecting brain
You've ſeen me oft in gold and ermin dreſt While others ſing of wats and martial feats
T Darby Mulroony from Moat of Gren Oge God ſave you gentle-folks both great and ſmall
0. 3 HS
Pray lend me your ears my dear bretnren awhile Some folks have with curious impertinence ſtrove Sing to the honour of thoſe |
See in the eaſt the maſter plac'd
Solomon's temple an oratorio
The curious Vulgar cou'd never deviſe
To the ſcience that virtue and art do maintain Tis maſonry unite mankind
To maſonry your voices raiſe
We have no idle prating
We brethren freemaſons let's mark the great name What though they call us maſons fools
With plumb level and ſquare
When earth's foundation firſt was laid
With harmony and flowing wine
Wake the lute and quivering ſtrings
When maſonry by heavens decree
When Sol aſcending from the eaſt
When a lodge of freemaſons are cloath'd, &c, With gratefull hearts your voices raiſe
Who ever wants wiſdom, &c.
You people who laugh at mafons draw near Ye ancient ſons of Tyre
Ye thrice happy few
Ye ſons of great ſcience impatient to learn.
186 185 144 138 184 187 188 120
147
207 208 209
TT 212
219 221
157
JD DSS 585 =
R E. A 5 * K.
T has been the cuſtom of all my worthy brethren, who have honoured the craft with their books of conſtitutions, or pocket- compa- nions for free-maſons, to give us a long and pleaſing hiſtory of maſonry from the creation, to the time of their writing and publiſhing ſuch
accounts, viz. from Adam to Noah, from Noah
to Nimrod, from Nimrod to Solomon, from Solomon to Cyrus, from Cyrus to Seleucus Nicator, from Seleucus Nicator to Auguſtus Cæſar, from Auguſtus Cæſar to the havock of the Goths, and ſo on until the revival of the Auguſtan ſtyle, Fc. Sc. &c. Wherein they give us an account of the drawing, ſcheming; plan- ning, deſigning, erecting, and building of temples, towers, cities; caſtles, palaces, theatres,
pyramids, monuments, bridges, walls, pillars, courts, halls, fortifications, and labyrinths, with the famous light-houſe of Pharos and Coloſſus at Rhodes, and many other wonderfub works performed by the Axchir gers, to the grea' ſatis faction of the readers, and enen o
g free-maſons. *
* Quere, Whether ſuch hiſtories are of any uſe in the
fwcret myſteries. of the cratt. A
Having call'd to mind the old proverb, Bets ter out of the world than out of faſhion, I was fully „ Ae to write an hiſtory of ma- fonry; Mheroby I did expełt to give the world an uncommon ſatisfaction; and in order to en- able myſelf to execute this great delign. I pur- — pocket-companions, and other ieces on that inet, now extant in the Engli tongue.
\ My, next ſtep was to furniſh myſelf with a ſuthicient —. of pens, ink, and paper: this
eing done, I immediately fancied myſelf an
is TokiAx, and intended to trace maſonry not. only to Adam, in his fylvan lodge in Pa- radiſe, Fut to give ſome account of the craft even before the Creation: And (as a founda- tion) I placed the following works round about me; ſo as to be convenient to have recourſe to them as occafion ſhould require, vis. doctor Anderſon, and Mr. Spratt, before me, doctor D Aſſigny and Mr. Smith, on my right hand, doctor Deſagu liers and Mr. Pennel on my left⸗ hand, and Mr. Scott and Mr. Lyon behind me; a copy of (that often called) the original cotylticutions, (aid to, be in the poſſeſſion of Mr. John Collins, in Paris) and another copy of the ſame magnitude handed about in Eng- land, together with ſeveral pamphlets printed in Eögland, tied up eG and threw them under the table,
LI
Heriag tried my pen, and wrote a lion not
unlike the beginping of the chapter in the Alco-
(i)
Alcoran“, I began to flouriſh away in a moſt admirable manner, and in a few days wrote the firſt volume of the hiſtofy of maſonry, wherein was a full account of the tranſactions of the firſt grand lodge, particularly the exclud- ing of the unruly members, as related by M. Milton .
By this time I imagined myſelf ſuperior to Joſephus, Stackhouſe, 'or any other hiſtorian whom the reader ſhall pleaſe to think on. And as I intended to give the world a hiſtory of maſonry for ſeveral years before the creation, I made no manner of doubt but my work ſhould live at leaſt two thoutand years after the gene- ral conflagration.
Perhaps ſome of my readers (I mean thoſe that are beſt acquainted with my capacity) will ſay, he has more vanity than wit; and as to learning, it is as great a ſtranger to him, as free-maſonry is to women ; yet he has the folly to think himſelf an hiſtorian, and expects to become a great man, &c. |
Whether ſuch an opinion be true or falſe, it matters nought to me; for the world muſt allow, that (tho' no man has found out the per- a 2 petual
: * Next after: the title at the bead of every chapter (except the ninth) of the Alcoran, is preixed the following folema
form. - In the name of the moſi merciſul. Gad. 7 L La
()
petual motion) all men ever had, have nõW. and ever will have a perpetual notion: An! furthermore, we read, that the following per- ſons, ſo much fam'd in hiſtory, were not only oor men, but many of them of a very mean extraction. The wiſe philoſopher Socrates, was the ſon of a poor ſtone-carver; the tragio poet Euripides, was the ſon of poor parents; as was Demoſthenes, the honout of Greek elo- uence; Virgil, the famous Latin poet, was the ſon of a poor Mantuan labouring potter; Horace, the incomparable Lyric, was the ſor of a trumpeter in the wars; Tarquinius Prit- cus, king of the Romans, was the ſon of a mer- chant; and Servius Tullius, another king of the Romans, was begotten on a woman flave; Septimius Severus, is ſaid to come of a very baſe degree; Agathocles, king of Sicilly, was a potter's ſon; Ælius Pertinax was a poor ar- tificer, or, as ſome ſay, a fimple ſeller of wood; the parents of Venadius Baſſus, are fait to be very miſerable poor people; and Arſaces, king of the Parthians, was of fo mean and obſcure parentage, that no man's memory could make a report of his father or mother; Ptolomy, king of Egypt, was the ſon of a ſquite in Alexan- der's army; the emperor Diocleſian, was the ſors of a ſcrivener; the emperor Probus was fon of a gardener; and the parents of Aure- . lius, were ſo obſcure that writers have not agreed who they were; Maximinus was the ſon of a ſmith, or as ſome ſay, a waggon-wright; Marcus Julius Licinius, was the ſon of a herdſ- man;
68
an; Bonoſus was the ſon of a poor ſtipen- dary ſchoolmaſter ; Mauritus Juſtinus, prede- xa” th to Juſtinian, and alſo Galerus, were both ſhepherds; pope John, the twenty-ſecond of that name, was the ſon of a ſhoe- maker; pope Nicholas the fifth was-the ſon of a map that fold eggs and butter about the res; jad pope vixtus the fourth was a'mariner's ſon ; Lamuſius, king of the Lombards, was the ſon of a common ſtrumpet, who (when he was an infant) threw him into a ditch, but was taken out by king Ageimond ; Primiflaus, king of Bohemia, was the ſop of a country peaſant ; Tamerlane the great was a herdſman; Caius Marius, ſeven times conſul of Rome, was born of poor parents in the village of Arpinum ; and Marcus Tullius Cicero, conſul of Rome, and pro-conſul in Aſia, was from the poor Tugu- riole of Arpinum, the meanelt parentage > could be; Ventidius, field-marthal and conſul of Rome, was the ſon of a muleteer; and The- ophraſtus was the ſon of a botcher, i. e. a mender of garments, Sc,
I have heard of many others of later date that have been preferred to places or offices of great truſt, and dignified with titles of honour, with- out having the leaſt claim to wit, courage, learning, or honeſty ; therefore if ſuch occur- rences be duly conſidered, I humbly conceive it will not be'deemed as a capital offence, that I ſhould entertain my own perpetual notion, while I do not endeavour to diſinherit any man of his properties, a
1
I doubt TI have tired the reader's patience; and if ſo, | humbly beg his pardon for this long digreſſion. But to return, while my mind was wholly taken up with my fancied ſuperiority as an hiſtorian, &c. I inſenſibly fell into a ſlum- ber, when me-thought four men entered my room; their habits appeared to be of very an- cient faſhion, and their language alſo I imagin- ed to be either Hebrew, Arabic, or Chaldean, in which they addreſſed me, and I immediately anſwered them after the pantomime faſhion : After ſome formal ceremonies, I deſired to know their names, and from whence they came; to which one of them anſwered me (in Eng- liſh) we are four brothers, and come from the holy city of Jeruſalem ; our names are Shallum, Ahiman, Akhub, and Talmon. Hearing they were ſojourners from Jeruſalem, I aſked them whether they could give any account of SO- LOMON's TEMPLE ; to which Shallum “ (the chief of them) made anſwer and faid, the wife KING SOLOMON, GRAN DP-MASTER of Iſrael, appointed us head porters at the Temple, in the . year of his age, the twelfth of his reign, and about the year of the world 2492: and therefore we can give a full and particular account of that wonderful fabrick, and likewiſe of the artiſts who performed it. I was glad to meet with ſuch brethren, from whom I did expect a great deal of knowledge;
which the many ages they had lived in muſt have taught them, if their memories did not | fail:
* 1 Chron. ix. 17.
( m9), os upon this cont I told them, that
was writing a hiſtory of maſonty, and begs * their aſſiſtance, Te. |
A hiſtory of maſonry! (fays Abiman) froth the day of the dedication of the holy Temple to this preſent time, 1 have not pan 4 hiſtory of maſonry, though ſome have pretended (not only) to deſcribe the length, hreadth, height, weight, colour, ſhape, form, and ſubſtance of every thing within and about the temple; but alſo to tell the ſpiritua}* meaning of them, as if they knew the mind of him who gave orders for that building, or ſeen it finiſhed ; but I can aſſure yon that ſuch ſurveyors have never {een the temple, nay never have bern within a thou- ſind miles of Jeruſalem : Indeed (continued he) there was one Flavius 8 (I think he was a ſoldier) togk a great deal of notice of the temple, and other matters about it; as did another man named Jerry ; There were two others, whoſe names I have forgot, but remember one of them was an Rr dreamer t, and the other was very handy in collecting all manner of good writings "fer the captivity.
Thoſe were the only men that haye wrote moſt and beſt upon that ſubje&, and yet All their works together would not be ſufficient for a preface to the hiſtory of maſonry ; but for your further inſtruct ions, you ſhall hear an
7" See Solomon's Temple ſpiritualized by — NF lavius Joſephus, the learned and warlike Jew... 3 Exchiel. 1 Exra.
( viu )
eminent brother who can inform you in every particular that is necefſary to your preſent un- dertaking. The words were ſcarce ended, when there appeared a grave old gentleman, with a long beard; he was drefled in an embroidered veſt, and wore a breaſt plate of gold, ſet with twelve precious Stones, which formed an ob- long ſquare : I was informed that the name of the ſtones were Sardine, Emerald, Ligure, Be- ryl, Topas, Saphire, Agate, Onyx, Carbuncle, Diamond, Amethyſt, and Jaſper : Upon theſe ſtones were engraved the names of the twelve tribes, vi Reuben, Judah, Gad, Zebulun, Si- meon, Dan, Aſher, Joſeph, Levi, Naphthali, Iſſacher, and Benjamin“.
D pon his entrance, the four ſojourners did him the homage due to a ſuperior ; as to me, the luſtre of his breaſt-plate dazzled my fight, in ſuch. a manner that I could ſcarce look at him. But Ahiman giving him to underſtand that the people of this country were weak- fighted, he immediately covered his breaſt- plate ; which not only gave me an opportunity of perceiving him more diſtinct, but alſo of paying him my reſpects in the beſt manner I was capable of; and mag a very low bow, I preſented him with the firſt volume of the hiſtory of maſonry, hoped he u ould do me the honour of peruſing it, and begg'd his advice for my further proceedings: he kindly received | | 1 * Such was the breaſt- plate, worn by the High- Prieſt at the Temple. 2 »
4
it, and rcad it over, whilſt I impatiently waited to hear his opinion; which at laſt (to my mortification) amounted to no more than an old Hebrew proverb (which Ahiman tranſlated thus; Thou haſt div'd deep into the water, and haſt brought up a 8 ne verthe- leſs he took me by the hand, and ſaid “, my ſon, if thou wilt thou ſhalt be taught, and if thou wilt apply thy mind thou ſhalt be witty; if thou loye to hear, thou ſhalt receive (doc- trine\; and if thou delight in hearing thou ſhalt be wiſe: and although your hiſtory of maſonry is not worth notice, yet you may write many other things of great ſervice to the f:aternity. 1
Certain it is (continued he) that free-ma- ſonry has been from the creation (though not under that name); that it was a divine giſt from God; that Cain and the builders of his city were ſtrangers to the ſecret myſtery of maſonry ; that there were but four maſons 1n the world when the deluge happened; that one of the four, even the ſecond lon of Noah, was not maſter of the art; that Nimrod, not any of his bricklayers, knew any thing of the matter; and that there were but very few maſ- ters of the art (even) at Solumon's temple: whereby it plainly appears, that the whole myſtery was communicated to very few at that time; that at Solomon's Temple (and not be- fore) it received the name of free-maſonry; be-
| | cauſe
© 4
® Fecleſ, vl. 23, 34
=:
cauſe the maſons at Jeruſalem and Tyre werg the greateſt cabaliſtsF then in the world; thaz the myſtery has been, for the moſt part prac- tiſed amongſt builders fince Solomon's time; that there were ſome hundreds mentioned (in hiſtories of maſonry) under the titles of grand- maſters, Sc. for no other reaſon than that of giving orders for the building of a houſe, tower, caſtle, or ſome other edifice (or perhaps for | ſuffering the maſons to erect ſuch 1 in their ter- ritoties, Sc.) while the memories of as many thouſands of the' faithful Craft are buried in oblivion : From whence he gave me to under- ſtand, that ſuch hiſtories were of no uſe to the ſociety at preſent; and further added, that the manner of conſtituting lodges, the old and new ulations, &c. were the only and moſt uſeful things "concerning free-maſoury, that cquld be wrote: to which T begg'd ta be informed, whether ſongs were to 88 introduced: his a fwer was“: if thou be made the maſter, lift not thyſelf up; but be among them as one of the reſt; take diligent care for them, and fo fi
down,
And when thou haſt done all thy duty, fi down, that thou mayſt be merry with them; and receive a crown for thy good behaviour.
Speak thou that art the elder, for it becometh | thee; but with ſound * and hinder 2. muſic.
+ People ſkilled n the | WO 1. 4. tradition, their ſecret —— af expounding divine mytteries, &c, Ne XXIl. 1, 2, 3.
(+ 1}
uſic. And at all times let thy garments be white,
While he was ſpeaking theſe laſt 1
was awaked by a young puppy that got into
the room while I ſlept, and, ſeizing my
po cat a great part of then and was en tween my legs, tearing the laſt ſheet of what
I had wrote.
I have not words to expreſs the ſorrow,
rief, trouble, and vexation I was in, upon ſee-
ang the cataſtrophe of a work which I expe&+ cd would outlaſt the teeth of time.
Like one diſtracted (as in truth I was) I ran
o the owner of the dog, and demanded im- mediate fatisfaction: he told me he would hang the cur ; but at the ſame he imagined I ſhould be under more obligation to him for ſo doing, than he was to me for what had happened.
In ſhort, I looked upon it as a bad omen; and my late dream had made ſo great an impreſſion on my mind, that ſuperſtition got the better of
me, and cauſed me to deviate from the general cuſtom of my worthy predeceſſors; otherwiſe I would have pablictek a hiſtory of maſonry: and as this is Falk an accidental than a de- ſigned fault, I hope the reader will look over it
with a favourable eye.
Ia Eccleſ. ix. 8, 8
( xii )
To be ſerious : The reader will do me tri uſtice in believing, that 1 do not wiſh to of. fend the perſons pr names of writers of hiſto- rical truths. My intention being only to ex- poſe ridiculous innovations, and fabulous ac- counts of Grand Maſters, whoſe Maſonical authorities never exiſted, |
What man (converſant with real free-maſon- ry and hiſtory) can ſwallow the legendary {tories of the Grand Maſterſhip of the monk St. Auſtin, St, Swithin, St. Dunſtan, and other monkiſh ſaints, confeſſors, cardinals, &c. &c. Is it not more probable, that thoſe legendary Grand Maſters, inſtead of patronizing and protecting a ſociety that was then ſuppoſed to raiſe and converſe with familiar ſpirits, wquld have excommunicated them by bell, book, and candle; and by a thundering anathema, con- ſign them over to the devil: did not the be- haviour of their cotemporaries and ſucceſſors, favour this opinion?
But to come nearer to the preſent time; Suppoſe we were to enquire into the origin of the preſent Grand Ladge of Modern Maſons, who, not ſatisfied with the old title of Right Worſhipful Grand Lodge, have, in their Ca- lendar for 4777, modeſtly gave themſelves the title of the Supreme Grand Lodge of the Met Ancient and Honaurable, &e. &, & Upon epquiry it wauld appear, that all their boaſted ſupremacy is deriyed from an obſcure perſon who lived about fixty-two years ago, an
| whoſe
+ 4+
(iii.
whoſe name is not to be found on amongſt Ancient or Modern Maſons,
record
| Whoſoever doubts the truth heredf, let him examine Dr. Anderſon's Conſtitutions (printed in 1738) page 109, where it is written, < that four lodges; that is to fay, ſome petlſotis who were wont to meet | Ny 1
% At the Gooſe and Gridiron ale-houſe, in St. Paul's church-yard. |
1 At the Crown ale-houſe, in Parker's- lane.
« At the Apple- tree in Charles-ſtreet, Co- vent- garden. i 7: And at the Rummer and Grapes, in Chati= nel-Row, Weſtminſter, did meet at the Apple= tree aforeſaid, in the year 1716, or rather 17; and having choſen (the nameleſs perſon befote hinted) a, Chairman, they conflituted themſelves a Grand Lodge. |
Such are the words of the moſt authentic hiſtory amongſt: Modern Maſons, and- beyond contradiction prove the origin of their Tupre= macy to be a ſelf- created aſſembly. ry
Nor was a ſelf- creation the only defect 1 They were defective in numbets.
To form (what Maſons mean by) a. Grand Lodge, there muſt have been the Maſters and Wardens of five regular lodges, that is to ſay,
1
( xiv )
fire Mafters and ten Wardens, making the number of inſtall'd officers fiteen.
This is fo well known to every man conver- fant with the ancient laws, uſages, cuſtoms, and ceremonies of Maſter Maſons, that it is needleſs to ſay more, than that the foundation of the naw (wou'd be) ſupreme, &c. &c. was defective in number, cogſequently defective in form and capacity. |
Nor can it be urged, that ſuch defection, or irregular formation, was owing to neceſſity, as there were numbers of old Maſons then in (and adjacent to) London, from whom the reſent Grand Lodge of Ancient Maſons re- ceived the old ſyſtem without adulteration.
Under ſuch defections as above-mentioned; Mr. Anthony Sayer, (the firſt Grand Mafter of Modern Maſons found on record) mounted the = ſupreme) chair upon the 24th day of
une, 1717: SH,
The Moderns (I mean their writers) eun- ningly call thofe tranſactions @ revival of tbe Grand Lodge. Plauſible as this ſtory of a ſup- poſeck revival, &c. may appear, yet one minute's teflection will ſhew (an Ancient Maſon) the fallacy of this part of their hiftory. $4
This will be done, by conſidering, that had it been a revival of the Ancient Craft, only, without innovations or alterations of any kind,
the
(xr) }
the Ftee and Accepted Maſons in Ireland and Scotland; where no change has yet happened, hay, Freemaſons in general would agree in ſecret language and ceremonies with the mem- bers of the Modern Lodges. But daily expe- rience point out the contrary. And this 1 ſay, is an incontrovertible proof of the fallacy of their hiſtory. 8
Indeed this is acknowledged by the Moderne themſelves, in their Calendar for 1777, page z. where, ſpeaking of the Old Maſons, we.
find theſe words: © The Ancient Vork Con- ſtitution, which was entirely dropt at the re- vival of the Grand Lodge in 1717.” By this, it is plain, that inſtead of a revival, a diſcon- tinnance of Ancient Maſonry then took place.
| To put this matter out of the reach of con tradiction, take the teſtimony of Mr. Spencer, one of their Grand Secretaries : f.
* Copy of an anfwer { in writing ) given to brother W—— C-——, a certified petitioner from Treland. | 112907 57 Four being an Ancient Maſon you are not entitled to any of our charity. The Antient Maſons have a lodge at the Five Bells in the Strand, and their Secretary's . name is Dermott. . 8
] 4 + | E ' : | s |
The original is in the author's paſſeſſion. f 0 D. | c ur - $..
. Fa 0 1 5 | 4 16
7 145 4 's 4-8 "77 > K 44 pl + I'll My þ ' Fi B |
:
it
N
4 wn
1
( wi )
Our ſociety is neither Arch, Royal % Arch, or Ancient, ſo that you haye no LL right to partake of our charity.
Such was the character given of them by their own Grand Secretary about fourteen years : How much they have changed for better or ark, is no buſineſs of mine at this time. In the aforeſaid Calendar, amongſt other things which 1 am to ſuppoſe were extracted from the records of modern Maſons, I obſerved a cen- ſure paſſed (in the year 1755) on. perſons for calling themſelves Ancient Maſons.
The compiler ſeems to be unacquainted with the maſonical proceedings of that time, other- wiſe he would have known. that the* perſons, were cenſured, not for aſſembling under the
denomination of Ancient Maſons, but for
practiſing Ancient Maſonry, having their con- {titution from the Modern Grand Lodge. The caſe was briefly thus: A lodge at the Ben Jonſon's Head in Pelham Street, in Spitalfields, were compoled moltly of Ancient Maſons, tho' under the Modern Conſtitution. Some of them had been abroad, and received extraor- dinary benefits on account of Ancient Maſonry, Therefore they agreed to practiſe Ancient Ma- ſonryx on every third lodge night. Upon
one of thoſe nights ſome Modern Maſons at-
tempted to viſit them, but were refuſed ad- mittance: the perſons ſo refuſed laid a formal complaint before the Modern Grand Lodge,
the
G
then held at the Devil Tavern, near Temple- Bar. And the ſaid Grand lodge, though inca- pable of judging the propriety or impropriety of ſuch refuſal (not being Ancient Maſons) ordered, that the Ben Johnſon's lodge ſhould admit all forts of Maſons without diſtinction.
And upon non-compliance to that order; they were cenſured, &c.
The perſons thus cenſured, drew up, print- ed, and publiſhed, a Manifeſto, and Maſons Creed; (fold by Owen in Fleet-ſtreet) which did honour to their hearts, and heads.
The following lines were copied from the preface to their pamphlet:
«© Whereas the genuine ſpirit of Maſonry «« ſeetus to be ſo greatly on the decline, that « the craft is in imminent danger from fa!ſe « brethren. And whereas its very fundamen- « tals have of late been attacked; and a revo- « lution from its ancient principles; &c. &c. «© —[t has been thought neceſſary, by certain „ perſons, who have the welfare of the craft at heart, to publiſh the following little pamphlet, by means of which it is hoped *« the ignorant may be inſtructed;* the luke warm inſpirited, and the irregular reform- ed, &c. &c.
h Every
( xviu
Every real that is, every Ancient Maſony who had read thoſe publications, were con- vinced of the injuftice done to the Ben John< ſon's lodge, in cenſuring them for doing their duty; a duty which they owed to God and to thetnſelves j and a buſineſs which their judges (the then Modern Grand Lodge) were as ig- norant of—as a blind man is in the art of mix- ing colcurs.
Nevertheleſs cenſure was paſſed, and a minute thereof preſerved in the archives of the (wou'd-be) Supreme, &c. From whence it is now publiſhed in their calendar as one of the legiſlative orders on their records, which re- cords have received much honour and amend- ments from twelve-penny lectures, twelve- penny illuſtrations, and twelve- penny calenders.
The brethren cenſured had their conſtitu- tion from the Modern Grand Lodge, nor had they any connexion with the Ancient Grand Lodge at that time nor ſince; nevertheleſs F do affirm (from perſonal knowledge and puhlic report) they were perſons of moſt amiable cha- racers as men and maſons ; and the names of the ingenious Marigeot, Cheetham, Corniſh, &c. &c. will be long remembered with eſteem and veneration, amongſt the faithful and legi- timate hcirs of old Hiram.
In juſtice to another perſon, I am under the neceſſity of taking notice of a plagiariſm in the
calendar
4 4 * = 1 RY *
( xix )
calendar aforeſaid, In page 41, 42, and 47, the compiler (or author) in deſcribing the ce remonies at laying the foundation, and dedi- cation of the Modern Maſons Hall, ſays, A „Grand Anthem, written by H. D. Eſq, *« was ſung,” &c.—in the ſame page is written
the words of the anthem, beginning
34
To heaven's high Architect all praiſe, = « All praiſe, all gratitude be given, &c."
This anthem was not written by H. D. Egg nor by any member of the modern ſociety: It was pilfered from the oratorio of Solomon's Temple, annexed to the prologues in this book, and was written by Mr. James Eyre Weeks, an ancient maſon of the city of
Dublin.
| 3 add not have taken ſo much notice of the calendar, were it not that the title page ſays that it is © publiſhed under the ſanction of the
Grand Lodge of England.”
As there are ſome of the moſt reſpectable gentlemen (and I am willing 'to believe their preſent Grand Officers fuch) belonging to the Modern Grand Lodge, I am ſorry to find they have acted ſo incautiouſly as to give ſanction to falſehoods.
Although falſehood found admittance into the calendar, yet a true and memorable tran- b 2 ſaction
(*))
ſaction is omitted, viz: That the Modern Ma- ſons petitioned - parliament to grant them a charter of incorporation, im order to give them the power and pleaſure of puniſhing every Freemaſon in England, that did not pay quar- terage to them. Had they obtained the char- ter, it would have ſhut out all Maſons of tho neighbouring kingdoms, as they could receive no manner of benefit therefrom.
The wiſdom of parliament treated the peti- tion with juſt contempt: And it was reported in the public papers, that the honourable Speaker 6f the Houſe of Commons ſaid, that *« if the petition was granted, he made no « doubt the chimney ſweepers would ſoon ap- «ply for a charter.“ Y
It is remarkable, that the ſaid petition was pteſented on (fool's day) the firſt of April, 175%. For other matters relative to the Mo- derns, I refer the readet to page 29, &c.
In the following ſheets, under the title of Ahiman Rezon, 1 have inſerted nothing but what are undeniable truths, which will be found (if obſerved) to be of great uſe to the fraternity, and likewiſe to numbers that are not of the ſociety ; to the latter, it will ſhew them the folly of ridicuting a ſociety founded uport religion, morality, brotherly love, and good fellowſhip : and to thoſe of a more gentle and FR | | poliſhed
i)
poliſhed nature, in giving them an opportunity of examining whether they are endued with the negeſſary qualifications to be made free-maſons, 17 How far this may anſwer the deſign, I know not; but I hope that my brethren and others will accept the will for the deed, and take this as the widow's mite was received, which will amply reward my trouble, *
(i)) e aig PHILACTERTA
GENTLEMEN, as may be inclined to become FrEe-Masons, #1
GENTLEMEN,
F the love of knowledge, intereſt, company, ordearcuriofity, ſhould take poſſeſſion of any corncr of your heads or hearts; and work you up to a deſire of becoming free-maſons ; in ſuch caſe, I beg leave to offer my ſervice as your uide to the lodge door: this propoſal, will not {I hope) be diſagreeable to you, conſidering that I ar: the firſt perſon that ever offered aſſiſtance in this manner. But, before we ſet out, it is neceſſary that youcarefullyexamine whether you are properly equipt for ſuch an undertaking.
To this end, be it known to you gentlemen, that in every warranted lodge they have the following order, viz.
« Anyperſon deſirous of heing madeafreemaſon mthelodge,ſhall be propoſed by amember there- of, that is to ſay, his name, age, deſcription of his perſon, titleor trade and place of reſidence; —
ug
( xxili_)
ſuch prapoſal ſhall be made in lodge hours®*at.
leaſt one lodge-night- before the initiation, / in order, that the brethren may have ſufficient time and opportunity to make aſtrict enquiry into the morals, character and circumſtances of the can- didate; and the brother that propoſeg him ſhall at the lame time depoſite ſucha ſum (of the candi- date's money) as the majority ſhall think ſufficient. not leſs then one cron) to inſure the lodge that the candidate will attend according to the pro- poſal. And if the lodge approve his perſon, age, character and circumſtances, and therefore initi- ate him into the myſtery, &c. he ſhall pay whatſo- ever ſum the brethren ſhall think proper (not leſs than two guineas) and cloath the lodge if re- quired. But if the lodge think the candidate un- worthy, and refuſe to make him, his money ſhall be faithfully returned to him; but, in caſe the lodge approve his perſon and character, &c, and he refuſe to be made, then ſhall he forfeit his money for the benefit of diſtreſſed free maſons. Andit is hereby ordered and declared, that no perſon is capable of becominga member of the lodge, but Such as are of mature age, upright in body and limbs, oa from bondage, has the ſenſes of a mans
That is from the vernal to the autumnal equinox, be- tween ſeven and ten o'clock in the eyening, and from the autumnal to the yerpal equinox following, between fix and nine o'clock,
+ By clothing is meant white aprons and gloves, not only or every member in the lodge, but alſo for all their wives and ſweethearts, if they require them,
| (xxiv )
man, and isendowed with an eſtate, office, trade, occupation, or ſome viſible way of acquiring an honeſt and reputable livelihood, as becomes the
members of this moſt ancient and honourable fraternity.“
Buy this regulation you ſee that the free maſons will make a ſtrict (though private) enquiry into your character and ability: And therefore I adviſe you to be as circumſpect on your ſide. Per- haps, you may think that it will be impoſſible for you to diſtinguiſh the good from bad, amongſt a people whoinake it their peculiar ſtudy to keep allthingsſccret, Let not ſuchathoughtdiſcourage you, when I affure you, that you have a faithful guide, who has made free maſonry (both ancient and modern) his conſtant ſtudy for thirty three years paſt, and thinks it a duty incumbent on him, to give you theſe inſtructions, |
In the firſt place, when you intend to be made a free maſon, go with your friend to the lodge, and defire him to ſhew you the warrant
or-
To this I beg leave to add a word or two: The per- ſons to whom I now fpeak, are the men of {ome education and an honeſt Character, but in low circumſtances; I ſav, let them firſt conſider their income and families, and know, that free maſonry requires ability, attendance, and a good appearance to maintain and ſupport it's ancient and honour. able grandeur, Be it alſo remembered, that they have no title to the general charity, until they prove, that they have
been formerly in reputable, at leaſt, in tolerable circum Kances, |
((
or diſpenſation by which the lodge is held? that is to ſay an inſtrument printed or written upon parchment, and ſigned by ſome noble grand maſter, his deputy and grand wardens, and grand ſecretary, and ſealed with their grand lodge ſeal, &c. conſtituting and appointing particular perſons (therein named) as maſter and wardens, wich full power to congregate and hold a lodge at ſuch a place, and therein make and admit free maſons, according to the moſt ancient and honourable cuſtom of the royal craft, in all ages and nations throughout the known world, with full power and authority tonominate, chuſe and inſtal their ſucceſſors, &c. When they produce this authority or warrant, then call for the by- laws, and (havingſeriouſlyperuſed them) conſider whether your natural diſpoſition will ineline you to be conformable to them. Next call for the roll or liſt of the members, where you may find the names of ſome of your intimate and moſt eſteemed friends, or perhaps the names of ſuch (other of your acquaintance) as you would not chuſe to aſſociate with. If theſe reſearches prove agreeablc, then you may ventureto laydownthe depoſite money, (as it is called) but if they do not produce the grand maſter'sauthority by war- rant or diſpenſation, you are to look upon them not only as the magma of free maſons, but the very dregs of mankind, who (under the cloak of brotherly love) are ever upon the watch for an opportunity to pick your pockets, and makeyou
| | * —
( xvi)
contemptible into the bargain “. Doubtleſs you will wonder how, or by what means, ſuch abandoned wretches got admittance into a frater- nity which boaſt of ſo much honour and virtue, as to rank themſelves with kings and princes, eſpecially, if they adhere ſtrictly tothe foregoing regulation. To this I anſwer, that ſome of the Landlords, & where the lodges are held, do often recommended perſons to be made free maſons, and that the lucrative view takes place (too often) where impartiality, honefly and virtue ought to be the points of fight. That others have ſtood the teſt of the ſtricteſt ſcrutiny, behaved well for. many years, and afterwards fell into all manner of vices, which ſerves to ſhew the inſtability and weakneſs of mankind, and that all the doctrine and laws upon earth (without the grace of God) is not ſufficient to make men wiſe or deter them from evil. Neverthe- leſs (in the ſyſtem of frecmaſonry) there are many ways to mend the manners, poliſh the diſpoſition, correct the Judgment, and refine the taſte of a ſoul virtuouſly inclined. And as the 5 ib number
* For a confirmation hereof read the eighth Regulation,
( page 63) where it is ordered, that no perſon ſo made, not any concerned in mo him, thall be a grand officer, nor -
an officer of any particular lodge, nor {hall any ſuch partake of the general charity, if they ſhould come to want it.
$ I do not charge landlords in general with ſuch evil pro- eccdings, becauſe i know many of them that abhor ſiniſter views, and would facrifice all pecuniary intereſt, before they would break through any of the ſacred rules or orders of the Craft nevertheleſs much reformation is ſtill wanted, in this quarter. |
* 4 * A 7. 1 1 3 2 * wy 4 *
( xxyii )
number of goodand wiſefree-maſons have always greatly exceeded that of the fooliſh and wicked, it would be as abſurd to condemn the whole for part, as it would be in the Jewstocondemn Shem and Japhet for the curſe brought upon Ham; or the Chriſtians, to condemn the eleven apoſtles, becauſe Judas turned traitor, But this is not alrogether the buſineſs of a guide, therefore 1 beg leave to reaſſume my proper character, and earneſtly deſire you toſhun maſon clubs, that is e e without authority, for you mayreſt fully aſſured, that ſuchclubs are gene- rally compoſed of excluded members, or perſons clandeſtinely made by them, and conſequently incapable of giving proper inſtructions to their pupils. Or admit them capable of giving pro- per inſtructions, even then, the new brethren will be led in the dark, becauſe it is the intereſt of the rebel party to conceal the eſſentials of the cratt, which, if revealed, muſt of courſe prove themſelves to be villains. Therefore, in order to avoid falling into ſuch hands, I earn» eſtly beg of you, to have no communicationwith any lodge or ſet of men under the denomina- tion of a free maſons lodge, until they produce the grand maſter's authority, ſigned and ſealed as before mentioned. But having produced ſuch authority, you may then enter in the name of God ! where you will be acquainted with myſ- teries, which are not permitted to be revealed by a guide, eſpecially out of the lodge: And if after ſuch entrance or admiſſion you "= oat
| ave
( xxviii )
1 have miſled you, I do hereby give you full liberty to expoſe me as a blind guide, &c. but if experience teach you, that my inſtructions (as well as my intentions) were juſt, then I hope you will do me the honour of call- ing me a faithlul brother. And that the God of all light and truth (who js the giver of all 110 and graces) may bleſs, proſper, and direct you, in all your public and private (laws ful) undertakings, is the hearty prayer of,
GENTLEMEN, Your faithful and obedient ſervant, LavRence DERMOTT,
Late Deputy Grand Maſter,
( xxix)
Having taken my leave of the ſtrangers, I now- beg leave to addreſs myſelf to the GenTL £<" MEN OF THE MOST ANCIENT AND HOS NOURABLE FRATERNITY. a
GENTLEMEN and BRETHREN, EVERAL eminent craftſmen reſidiüg in
Scotland, Ireland, America, and other parts both abroad and at home, have greatly im- portuned me, to give them ſome account of what is called modern maſonry in London. I cannot be diſpleaſed with ſuch importunities, becauſe I had the like curioſity myſelf in 1748, when I was firſt introduced into that ſociety. However, before I proceed any farther con- cerning the difference between ancient and mo- dern, I think it my duty, to declare ſolemnly before God and man, that I have not the leaſt antipathy againſt the gentlemen members of the modern ſociety* ; but, on the contrary, love
and
* Such was my declaration in the ſecond edition of this book, nevertheleſs ſome of the modern ſociety have been ex- tremely malapert of late. Not ſatisfied with ſaying the An- cient Maſons in England had no Grand Maſter, fome of them deſcended fo far from truth, as to report the author had forged the Grand Maſter's hand writing to mafonical war- tants, &c. Upon application his Grace the moſt Noble Prince John Duke of Athol], our preſent Right Worſhipful Grand Maſter, avowed his Grace's hand writing, ſupported the ancient Craft, and vindicated the author in the public
news papers. As
t
and teſpect many of them, becauſe I have found the — of them to be hearty cocks and good fellows (as the bacchanalian phraſe is) and many of them believe to be — of receiving every bleſſing that good men can aſk or heaven beſtow. I hope that this declaration will acquit me of any deſign of giving offence, eſpecially if the following queries and anſwers be e confidered : |
=. ” — —— — Dee © hn — —
Quere 1 ſt. V. hether free DF as reſi jed
in ancient lodges, is univerſal ?
Anſwer. Yes.
1
2d. Whether what is called moderm "— 1 uniuerſal?
Auer
As they Lifter in matters of maſonry, ſo they did in matters of calumny, for while ſome were charging me with forgery, others ſaid, that J was ſo illiterate as not to know how to write my name. But what may appear more ſtrange is, that fome inſiſted, that I had neither father nor mother; but that I grew up ſpontaneouſly i in the corner of a Wr garden i in Ireland.
I cannot reconcile myſelf to the idea of having neither father nor mother: But am ſo far from contradicting the latter part of this charge that I freely confeſs there is a pro- bability of the ſeedlin; from whence l ſprung being ne in a potatoe garden.
Be that as it may, as I do not find that the kv of a few modern maſons has not done me any real injury, 1 ſhall continue in the fame mind as expreſs'd in the declaration to which this note is written.
Anſwer. No. rh | 2791 3d. Mer ber there it any muterial ee
between the ancient and mo dern 2
cy g
42 A great deal, becauſe anancient nas can not only mike himſelf known to his brother, but in caſe of neceſſity can diſcover his very thoughts to him in the preſence of a modern, without being able to = Ow that either
of them are free maſons“.
1 SL
ich. 77 A a. modern £22 "Tee may, with Joe, communicate all his ſecrets to an ancient maſon?
4 L 00500 o; 1 Sl. oi N
sth 77 hethar an ancient maſon may, with: the lhe Jafety, communicate all his ſecrets to a: moder - | . without {ks ceremony ?
-
Anſ. No. For as a Science 3 Art, (though an art cannot comprehend. a {cience) even fo ancient maſonary contains every thing valuable amongſt the moderns, as well as many other things that cannot be revealed without additional Ceremonies.
6th. V bether perſon made iu à modern mamer and not after the ancient cuſtom of the craft, has a right to be called free and accepted, according to the intent and meaning of the word?
Anſ. His being unqualified to appear in a maſ- |
er See Locke's letter with notes, annexed to this book,
()
ter's lodge: according to the univerſal ſyſtem of maſonry; renders the appellation im-
| proper: :
7 th. Whether it is Poffible to initiate or introduce a modern maſon into the royal arch lodge {the very Eſſence of maſonry } without making bim ga through the ancient ceremonies.
A/. No. $th. Whether the * members of modern
lodges are blameable for deviating ſo much from the old land marks ?
Anſ. No. Becauſe the innovation was made in the reign of king George the firſt, * and the new form was delivered as orthodox to the preſent members. |
gth. Therefore as it is natural for each party, to maintain the orthodoxy of their maſonical pre- ceptors, how ſhall we diſtinguiſh the original and moſt uſeful ſyſtem?
Auſ. The number of ancient maſons, compared with the moderns, being as ninety- nine to one, & proves the univerſality of the old or-
order
* 8 Sayer the firſt Grand Maſter of modetn maſons aſſumed the Grand Maſterſhip on the 24th of June, 1717.
$ This is ſo well known in Great Britain, Ireland, Ame rica, &c. &c. that further aſſertion is needleſs,
( xxxiii)
der, and the utility thereof appears by, the love and reſpect ſhewn to the brethren, in conſequence of their ſuperior abilities in converſing with, and diſtinguiſhing the ma- ſons of all countries and Uenominations, a circumſtance, peculiar to ancient maſons.
I am ſo well acquainted with the truth of what I have juſt now inſerted, that I am not in the leaſt apprehenſive of being contradicted. But if any petſon ſhould hereafter labour undet the ſpirit of oppoſition, _ I ſhall (even then) be contented; as I am ſure of having the
» n %
majority upon my fide. Therefore, in order to ſatisfy the importuni- ties of my good Brethren (particularly the Right worſhipful and ap worthy Freemaſons of America, who for their charitable diſpoſition, rudent choice of members and gobd conduct in general, deſerve the unanimous thanks and applauſe of the maſonical world) be it known, that the innovation, already mentioned, aroſe upon the fall of a GRAND MasTER, namely Sir Chriſtopher Wren, who (as Doctor An- derſon ſays) neglected the lodges. The Doe- tor's aſſertion is certainly true, and I will endeavour to do juſtice unto the memory of Sir Chriſtophet, by relating the real cauſe of ſuch negle&. The famous Sir ChriſtopherWren, Knt. (Maſter of Arts, formerly of Wad- ham college, Profeſſor of aſtronomy at * — am
(aaa
ham and Oxford, Doctor of the Civil Law, Pres ſident of the Royal Society, Grand Maſter of the moſt Ancient and HonourableFraternity of Free and Accepted Maſons, Architect to the Crown, who built moſt of the churches in London, laid the firſt ſtotie of the glorious cathedral of St. Paul, and lived to finith it) having ſerved the crown upwards of fifty years, was (at the age of ninety) diſplaced from employmen, in favour of Mr. William Benſon, who was made ſurveyor of the buildings, &c. to his Majeſty King George the firſt, The firft ſpecimen of Mr. Benſon's ſkill in architecture was a report made to the houſe of Lords; that their houſe and the Painted Chamber adjoining were in im- mediate danger of falling; whereupon the Lords met in a committee, to appoint ſome other place to fit in, while the houſe ſhould be taken down. But itbeing propoſed ta cauſe ſome other build - ers firſt to inſpeCt it, they found it in very good condition. The Lords, upon this, were going upon an addreſs to the king, againſt the modern architect, for ſuch a miſreprefentation, but the Earl of Sunderland, then ſecretary, gave them an aſſurance that his majeſty would remove him.
] i ] t C r
© Such uſage, added to Sir Chriſtopher's great ape, was more than enough to makehim decline all public aſſemblies. And the maſter maſons
then in London were ſo much diſguſted at the a f treatment of their old and excellent grand maſ= | — ter, that they would not meet nor hold any riec
come {eve
% — "HP r 985 FE
-_ wy
o erat od
( want }
communication under the ſanction of his ſuc= ceſſor Mr. Benſon in ſhort, the brethren were ſtruck with a lethargy which ſeemed to threat - en the London lodges with a final diſſolution.
Notwithſtanding this ſtate of inactivity in London, the lodges in the country, particularly in Scotland and at Vork, as well as thoſe in Ireland kept up their ancient formalities, cuſ- toms and uſages, without alteration; adding or diminiſhing, to this hour, from whence they may juſtly be called the moſt ancient, &c:
About the year 17171 ſome joyous com- panions,* who had paſſed the degree bf a craft, (though very ruſty) reſolved to form a lodge for themſelves in order (by converſation) to re- collect what had been formerly dictated tothem, or if that ſhould be found impracticable, to ſubſtitute ſomething new, which might for | C2 1 the
* Brother Thomas Grinſell, a man of g veracity, {elder Brother of the celebrated James Quin, Eſq.) Informed his lodge, No. 3, in London (in 1753 j that eight perſons, whoſe names were Deſaguliers, Gofton, King, Calvert, Lumley, Madden, De Noyer, and Vraden, were the ge- niuſſes to whom the world is indebted tor the memorable in- vention of modern maſonry.
Mr. Grinſell often told the author that he (Grinſell) was a free maſon before modern maſonry was known. Nor is this to be doubted, when we conſider that Mr, Grinſel was an apprentice to a weaver in Dublin, when his mother was mar- ried to Mr, Quin's father, and that Mr. Quin himſelf was ſeventy three years old when he died in 1766,
( &xxvi |)
the future paſs for maſonryamongſt themſelves; At this meeting the queſti6h was aſked, whether any perſon in the aſſembly knew the Maſter's part, and being anfwered in the negative, it was reſolved, nem. con. that the deficiency ſhould be made up with a new compoſition, and what fragments of the old order found amongſt them, ſhould be immediately reformed and made more | pliable to the himours of the people. Hence it was ordered, that every perfon (during the time of his initiation) ſhould wear boots, ſpurs, a fword and ſpectacles. 8 That every apprentice (going and coming from work) ſhould carry the plumb rule upon his right fide, contrary fo-the aneients. That every fellow craft ſhould earty the level upon the left fide, and not upon his tight ſide, as the ancients did. Arid that every perſon dignified with the title of a maſter maſon, ſhould wear a ſquare pendant to his right leg. It was alſo thought expedient to aboliſh the old cuſtom of ſtudying Geome- try in the lodge, and ſome of the young brethren made it appear, that a good knife and fork in the hands cf a dexterous brother (over proper | ma-
$ This may ſeem a very ludicrous deſcription of making free-maſons. But Mr. Thomas Broughton; maſter of the
lodge, No. 11, Londan, declared that he was preſent in a modern lodge, not one mile from the Borough of Southwark, when two or three perſons dreſs'd in liveries with ſhoulderf tags, booted and ſpurr'd, &c. &c. were initiated into modern maſonry ; and upon enquiry who they were, he was told that they were ſervants to Lord Carysfort, then Grand Maſter of modern maſons. . | **
. a 4 it... Jos nl io oo ee. Yu
( XXXVii )
materials) would give greater ſatisfaction, and add more to the rotundity of the lodge, than the beſt ſcale and compaſs in Europe, and far- thermore added, that a line, a ſquare, a pa- rallelogram, arhombus, arhomboides, atriangle, a trapezium, a circle, a ſemicirle, a quadrant, a parabola, a cube, a parallelopipedon, a priſm, a pyramid, a cylinder, a cone, a priſmoid, a cy- lindroid, a ſphere, aſpheroid, a parabolick, fry- ſtrums, ſegments, polygons, elipſis, and irregular figures of all forts might be drawn 1 ſented upon Bread, Beef, Mutton, Fowls, Pies, Sc. as demonſtratively as upon ſlates or ſheets of paper ; and that the uſe of the globes might be taught and explained as clearly and briefly upon two bottles, as upon Mr. Senex's globes of 28 inches diameter; and we are told, that from this improyement proceeded the laudable cuſtom of charging to a public health at every third ſentence that is ſpoke in the lodge, There was another old cuſtom that gave umbrage to the young architects, i. e. that is the wear- ing of aprons, which made the gentlemen look like ſa many mechanicks, therefore it was pro- poſed, that no brother (for the future) ſhould wear an apron, This propaſal was rejected by the oldeſt members wha declared, that the aprons were all the figns of maſonry then re- maining amongſt them, and for that reaſon they would keep 'and wear them, It was then propoſed, that (as they were reſolyed to wear aprons) they ſhould be turned u plide down, in order to avoid appearing me- = Chanical.
Ne
e hanical. This propoſal took place and an- ſwered the deſign, for that which was former- ly the lower part, was now faſtened round the abdomen, and the bib and ſtrings hung downwards, dangling in ſuch manner as might convince the ſpectators, that there was not a working maſon amongſt them.
Agreeable as this alteration might ſeem to the gentlemen, nevertheleſs it was attended with an ugly circumſtance: for, in traverſin the lodge, the brethren were ſubject to tread upon the ſtrings, which often cauſed them to fall with great violence, ſo that is was thought neceflary, to invent ſeveral methods of walk- ing“, in order to avoid treading upon the firings. In brief, every meeting produced an addition or a palinody. Amongſt other things they ſeized on the ſtone maſons Arms, & which
that
After many years obſervations en thoſe ingenious me- thods of walking up to a brother, &c. | conclude, that the firſt was invented by a Man grievouſly afflicted with the Sciatica, The Second by a Sailor, much accuſtomed to the rolling of a Ship. And the third by a man, who for recreation or through exceſs of ſtrong liquars, was wont to dance the drunken Peaſant. *
5 The operative maſons are the zoth company in London; they have a Hall in Baſinghall-ſtreet, the number of livery- men about 2 Admiſſion fine 11, 16s, and livery fine, five pounds. They were originally incarporated: in the year 4410. by the name and ſtyle of the {pcicty af free - maſons. | ; Ang
„ On © &, He eS9D
ea A -:o DB ho” a a = = oe ods <>
A, = + „ == e +4 —
— ,
EW
that good natured company has permitted them to wear to this day, for which reaſon ſeveral of the brethren have turned their aprons in the old faſhion, and affect to imitate the operative maſons, And it is pleaſant enough to ſee ſixty or ſeventy able men ahout a little Lewis and capſtan, &c. erected upon a mahogany platform (purchaſed at an extravagant De all employed in raiſing a little ſquare piece of marble, which the weakeſt man in company could take between his finger and thumb and
throw it over the houle.
I have the greateſt veneration for ſuch im- plements as are truly emblematical or uſeful in refining our moral notions, and I am well con- vinced that the cuſtom and uſe of them in lodges are both ancient and inſtructive ; but at the ſame time I abhor and deteſt the unconſti- tutional fopperies of cunning avaricious tradeſ- men, invented and introduced amongſt the mo- derns with na other defign but to extract large
| | ſums
And William Hankfow ar Hankſtow, Clarencieux King at Arms (in the year 1477,) granted them their arms, wi. ich the modern maſons have ufurped as well as that of their title. For the ſaid Company is the only ſociety in the kingdom who. have a right to the name of free-maſons of England. Nor did the Accepted Maſons of old ever claim ſuch a title ; atf they aſſumed was that of Free and Accepted Maſons z but the preſent Moderns, have been hardy enough to aſſume the title
of free-maſons of England, and got their lodge room foiſted
.nto Harriſon's new hiſtory of London, under the name of IFree-Maſons Hall. But thoſe who admitted Tenducci” and Madam D'Eon may do any thing,
1
THEN of money, which ought to be applied to more noble and charitable uſes. There is now in bk Lp, a large piece of iran ſcrole work, ornamented with foilage, &c. painted and gilt the whole at an incredible expence) and placed before the maſter's chair, with a gigantic ſword fixed therein, during the communication of the members, a thing contrary to all the private and public rules of maſonry : all imple- ments of war and bloodſhed being confined to the lodge door, from the day that the flamin ſword was placed in the Eaſt end of the garden of Eden, to the day that the ſagacious modern placed his grand ford of State in the midſt of his lodge. Nor is it uncommon for a tyler to receive ten or twelve ſhillings for drawing two gn poſts with chalk, charcoal, Cc. and wri- ting Jamaica (rum) upon one, and Barbadoes (rum) upon the other; and all this ] ſuppoſe) for no other uſe, than to diſtinguiſh where theſe liquours are to be placed in the lodge.
There are many other unconſtitutional an (perhaps) unprecedented proceedin 88. which (to avoid giving more offence) I pals over in ſilence, and ſhall content myſelf with ſhewing the apparent ſtate of ancient and modern ma- ſonry in Pagland at the time of this preſent writing, i. 6. Jul y 1778. | |
But let us firſt conſider, that although the
laws da not expreſſſy protect free and accepted. maſonry
)
maſonry yet neither are freemaſons nor any
other (ſuppoſed) innocent or chearful ſociet prohibited hereby. This le nity as given birt to a great number of what may be called tip- ling clubs or ſocieties in London, ſuch as the
Vertuoſo's Club, - The Beggars Club, Knightspf the Golden Fleece The Chattęrwitts Club, Club, The Floriſts Club, | The No Noſe Club, The Smoaking Club, 'The Long Noſe Cluh, The Muſical Club, The Farting Club, The Beefſtake Club, The Mankilling Cluh, The Kit Kat Club, The Surly Club, 0 The Bucks Club, The Atheiſtical Club, The Gregorian Club, The Ugly Faced Club, Th Salamanders Club, The Split Farthing Club, The Codgers Club, The Broken Shop Keepers The Old Souls Club, Club, | The Couſins Club,
The Man Hunters Club, he Albions Club, cel q he Mock Heroes Club, he Free and Eaſy Club, The Wrangling Club, The Antigallic MafonsClub,
The Quacks Club, The Maccaroni Club,
The Weekly Dancing Club, The Choice Spirits Club, 1 Bird F. anciers Club, The Never Frett Club, The Lying Cluh, The KIll Care Club.
And many others not worth notice, whoſe chief practice conſiſts in eating, drinking, tinging, ſmoaking, &c.
Several of thoſe clubs, or ſocieties, hayefin · imitation of the free-maſons, called their ctub by the name of lodge, and their prefidents by
the title of grand maſter, or moſt noble grand,
Hence the meaneſt club, think they have a right to the freedom of communication ; amongſt
G.
amongſt themſelves equal to any unchartered fociety, though compoſed of the moſt re- ſpectable perſons. Nor is the cuſtom or con- ſtitution of the country unfavourable to this
opinion.
And whereas a great number of thoſe clubs or ſocieties (without ſcripture or law to recom- mend them) have exiſted and multiplied for feveral years paſt, no wonder free maſonry thou'd meet with encouragement; as being the only ſociety in the univerſe which unites men of all profeſſions (believing in the Al- mighty Creator of all things) in one ſacred
band. Andat the fame time carrying in itſelf,
evident marks of its being not only coeval with the ſcripture, but in all probability prior thereto, 5
Vet after all this, ſtrange as it may appear, we have no true hiſtory of the origin of free maſonry in this or any other king Em in Eu- rope, whatever people may pretend to.
I conceive this defect is owing to the bigotry and ſuperſtition of former times when free maſons were ſuppoſed to have a power of railing the Devil, and with him tempeſtuous ſtorms, &c. &c. and conſequently were forbid by the, clergy to ule. the black art, as it was often called.
2
G
In ſuch caſe it was natural, pradent, and neceſſary for the brethren to conceal their knowledge and meetings. And that this was the caſe about 350 years ago will clearly appear by reading the great philoſopher Lockse's letter and copy of an old manuſcript (in the Bodleian library) which letter and copy, are annexed.
From what has been ſaid, it is evident that all unchartered ſocieties in England, are upon equal footing in reſpect to the legality of aſſociation. ba
In this light we are to view the fraternities of ancient and modern free maſons, who are be- come two great communities now in England.
The ancients, under the name of free and accepted maſons. The moderas, under the name of free maſons of England. And though a ſimiliarity of names, yet they differ exceedingly in makings, ceremonies, know- Tedge, maſonical language, and inſtallations; ſo much that they always have been and ſtill continue to be 7wo diflin Societies totally independant of each other,
As ſuch the moderns having an undoubted right to chuſe a chief from amongſt themſelves : Accordingly they have choſen his Grace the Moſt Noble Duke of Mancheſter, to be their
Grand Mater, and have all the outward ap-
3 pearance of a Grand Lodge. With equal right
the Ancients have unanimoufly choſen his Grace the Moſt Noble Duke of Athol (an Ancient Maſon and Paſt Maſter of a regular lodge, and now Grand Maſter Elect for Scotland) to be their Grand Maſter, And his Grace was perſonal]
inſtalled in a general Grand Lodge, at the Halt- moon tavern, Cheapſide, London, in the pre- ſence, and with the concurrence and aſſiſtance of his Grace the Moſt Noble Duke of Leinſter, Grand Maſter of Ireland ; and the Honourable Sir James Adolphus Oughton, Grand Maſter of Scotland, with ſeveral others of the moſt eminent brethren in the three kingdoms; an honour never conferred on Modern Maſons*.
Theſe are ſterling truths, from whence the impartial reader will draw the natural in- ference, |
I ſhall conclude this as I did in the former editions, with ſaying, that I hope I ſhall live to fee a general conformity; and univerſal uni- ty between the worthy Maſons of all deno- minations.
Theſe are the moſt earneſt wiſhes, and ar- dent prayers of, Gentlemen and Brethren, Your fincere friend, l And moſt obedient ſervant, | And faithful brother Tur AUTHOR,
* .
» gee the reſolutions of the Grand Lodges of England, Ireland, and Scotland, page 106,
( xlv )
. E r r E K
Of the famous PHIL HER,
Mr. JOHN LOCKE, relating to Free Maſonry:
A LttTTtR. from the learned Mr. JOHN LOCKE ro the Rr. Hon. *** Earl of un, with an old Maniſcript on the Subject of FREE-MASONRY.
My Lord, © May 6, 1696:
1 Have at length by the help of Mr. C—ex procured a copy of that manuſcript in the Bodleian Libtaty, which you were ſo curious to ſee: and in obedience to your Lordſhip's commands, I here-with ſend it to you. Moſt of the notes annexed to it are what I made yeſterday for the reading of my Lady MASHAM®, who is become fo fond of Ma- ſonry, as to ſay, that ſhe now more than ever wiſhes herſelf a man, that ſhe might be capable of admiſſion into the fraternity.
The manuſcript, of which this is a COPY, appears to be about 160 years old; yet (as your Lordſhip will obſerve by the title) it is itſelf a copy of one yet more ancient by about one hundred years; for the original is
ſaid to have been the handwriting of King Henry * This letter, ſeems to have been written at Oates, iba country ſeat of Sir Francis Mafham) in Eſſex, where Mr, Locke died Oct. 28, 1704, in the 7 3d year of his age,
Ci)
Henty VI. where that Prince had it is at pre- ſent anuncertainty : But it ſeems to me to be an examination (taken perhaps before the King) of ſome one of the btothethood of, Masonws ; among whom he entered himſelf, as it is ſaid, when he came out of his minority, and thence⸗ forth put a Stop to the perſecution that had been raiſed againſt them: But I muſt not de- tain your Lordſhip longer by my 9 from the thing itſelf.
Certain QUESTYONs with AWNSWERES
to the fame, concernynge the MYSTERY of MACONRYE.
Wryttenne by the Halde of Kynge Henrye the Varbe of the Name, and faythfullye j by me (1) JoHan LEYLANDE, Antiquarius, by
the Commande of his (2) Highneſe.
a
They be us followethe + 2zeft. LI HAT mote ytt be? An. Ytt beeth the S He of Nature,
the
9 John Leylande was appointed by King Henry the th, at the diſſolution of AZgnaferies, to ſearch for, and fave ſuch books and records as were valuable among them. He was a man of great labour and induſtry, * (2; His Highneſſe, meaning the ſaid King py the eighth, Our kings had not then the title of majeſt
( 3} What mote ytt be 9 that is, what may this myſtery of maſonry
{ xlvii )
the underſtondynge of the myghte that. ys bereynne, and its ſondrye Werckynges ; ſonder-
lyche, the Skylle of Rectenyngs, of Waightes, and Metynges, and the treu manere of Fate» nynge al thynges for Mannes Uſe, beadlye, Dwel- lynges, and Buyldynges of alle Kindes, and al odher thynges that make Gudge to Manne. Queſt. Where dyd ytt begyne ? t n Anſ. Vtt dyd begynne with the (4) fyrſte Menne yn the Eſte, which were before the WI ffyrſte Manne of the Weſte, and comynge Weſt - lye, ytt hathe broughte herwyth alle Comfortes to the wylde and Comfortleſſe. Qreft. Who dyd you brynge ytt Weſtlye? An. The (6) Venetians, whoo beynge Grate Merchaundes,
maſonry be? The anſwer imports, that it conſiſts in natu- ral, mathematical, and mechanical knowledge. Some part of which (as appears by what follows) the maſons pretend to have taught the reſt of mankind, and ſome part they ſtill conceal.
4, 5) Fyrfle merine yn the Efe, &c. It ſhould ſeem thi 7% Mes —— . Men in the ERA beer Adam, who is called the Hyſte Aamm of the Wifte; and that Arts and Sciences began in the E. Some authors of great note for learning have been of the ſame opinion; and it is certain, that Europe and Africa, (which in reſpect to Aa may be called weſtern countries) were wild and ſavage, long after arts and politeneſs of manners were in great perfection ia China and the Indies.
(6) The Venetians, &c. In the times of Monkiſh igno- rance 'tis no wonder that the Phenicians ſhould be miſtaken for the Venetians. Or, perhaps, if the people were not taken one for the other; funilitude of found might deceive the clerk who firſt took down the exam nation. The Pbænicians were the greateſt voyagers among the ancients, and were in Europe thought to be the inventors of letters, which perhaps they brought from the Eaſt with other arts,
( &lviii )
Merchaundes, comed ffyrſte ffromme the Eſte ynn Venetia, ffor the commodytye of Mar- chaundyſynge beithe Eſte and Weſte, bey the redde and Myddlelonde Sees. | Neſt. Howe comede ytt yn Engelonde ? An/w. Peter Gower (7) a Grecian, jour- neyedde ffor kunnynge yn Egypte, and yn Syria, and yn everyche Londe whereas the Venetians hadde plauntedde Magonrye, WynnyngeEntrance ynal Lodges of Maconnes, he lerned muche, and retournedde, and woned yn Grecia Magna (8)
wachſynge, and becommynge a myghtye (9) „el Wyfeacre
(5) Peter Gower, This muſt be another miſtake of the writer, I was puzzled at firſt to gueſs who Peter Gower ſhould be, the name . perfectly Engl; ; er how a Greek ſhould come by ſuch a name; but as ſoon as I thought of Pythagoras, I could fearce forbear ſmiling to find that Philoſopher had undergone Wt he never dreamt of. We need only confider the French pronunciation of his Name Pythagore, that is, Petagore, to conceive how cafy ſuch a miſtake might be made by an unlearned clerk, That Pythagoras tune fed for knowledge into Egypt, &c. is known to all the learned, and that he was initiated into feveral different orders of Prieſts who in thoſe days kept all their learning ſecret from the vulgar, is as well known, Pythagoras alſo made every Geometrical theorem a ſecret, and admitted only ſuch to the knowledge of them, as had firſt undergone a five years ſilence, He is ſuppoſed to be the inventor of the XLVII. of the firſt book of Euclid, for which, in the joy of his heart, *tis ſaid he facrificed a Hecatomb. He alſo knew the true ſyſtem of the world lately revived by Copernicus; and was certainly a moſt wonderful man. See his life by Dior Hal. | |
(8) Grecia Magna. A part of Italy, formerly ſo called,
in which the Greets had fettled a large colony.
(9) Myfeacre. This word at preſent figmfies ſimpleton, but formerly had a quite contrary meaning. H/zſagorin the eld Saxen, is Phil:fopher, wiſeman, or wizard; and having
frequently
— AS a as AC<©_O£4D
( xlix )
Wyſeacre, and gratelyche renowed, and her he framed a grate Lodge at Groton (10) and maked many Maconnes, ſome whereoffe dyd Journeye yn Fraunce, and maked manye Ma- connes, wherefromme, yn Proceſe of Tyme; the Arte, paſſed yn Englonde. |
t. Dothe Maconnes deſcouer here Artes
unto Odhers ? | Anſw. Peter Gower whenne he journedde to lernne, was ffyrſte (11) made, and anonne techedde ; evenne ſoe ſhulde all odhers be yn recht. Natheleſs (12) Maconnes hauethe ale. yn everyche Tyme from Tyme to Tyme com- munycatedde to Mannkynde ſoche of her Se- crettes as generallyche myghte be uſefulle ; they haueth keped backe ſoche allein as ſhulde be harmefulle yff they commed yn euylle Haundes, oder ſoche as ne myghte be ho/pynge wythouten the Techynges to be joynedde herwythe in the Lodge, oder ſoche as do bynde the Freres | d more
(10) Groton. Groton is the name of a place in England. The place here meant is Cretona a city of Grecta Magna, which in the time of Pythagorat was very populous.
(11) Hefe made. The word made I ſuppoſe has a par- ticular meaning among the Maſens, perhaps it ſignifies, Initiated,
(12) Maconnes haueth communycatedde, &c. This Para- graph hath ſomething remarkable in it. It contains a juſtication of the ſecrecy ſo much boaſted of by Maſons, and ſo much blamed by others; aſſerting that they have in all ages diſcovered ſuch things as might be uſeful, and that they conceal ſuch only as would be hurtful either t9 the world or themſelves, What theſe ſecrets are, we ſee after-
wards, N . a (13) The Arts.
470
more ſtrongelyche togedert bey the Proffytte, and commodytye comynge to the Confrerie herfromme. | |
2yeſt. Whattes Artes haueth the Maconnes techedde Mankynde ? |
Anſ. The Arts (13) AGRICULTURA, ARCHITECTURA, ASTRONOMIA, GEOME- TRIA, NUMEREs, Mus1ca, PokEsiE, Ky- MISTRYE, GOVERNMENTE, and Rery- GY ONE. ; |
Que. Howe commethe Maconnes more teachers than odher Menne ? "LY
Anſ. They hemſelſe haueth allein the (12) Arte of fyndynge neue Artes, whyche Arte the ffyrſte Maconnes receaued from Godde; by the whyche Arte they fyndethe whatte Artes hem pleſethe, and the treu Way of techynge the lame. Whatt odher Menne doethe ffynde
out,
(13) The Arts, Agricultura, & c. It ſeems a bold pretence, this, of the Maſens, that they have taught mankind all theſe arts. They have their own authority for it; and I know not how we ſhall diſprove them. But what appears moſt odd is, that they reckon religion among the arts,
(14) Arte of ffynding neue Artes, The art of inventing arts, muſt certainly be a moſt uſeful art, My Lord Bacon Novum Organum, is an attempt towards ſomewhat of the ſame kind. But I much doubt, that if ever the Maſens had it, they hive now loſt it; ſince ſo few new arts have been lately invented, and ſo many are wanted, The idea I have of ſuch an art is, that it muſt be ſomething proper to be apply'd in all the iciences generally, as Algebra is in numbers, by the help of which new rules of arithmetic are and may be found,
(15) Preiſe
(iN
out, ys onelyche bey chance, and herfore but
lytel I tro. | veſt. Whatt dothe the Maconnes concele,
and hyde ?
Anſ. The concelethe the Arte of ffyndynge neue Artes, and thatys for here owne Proffytte, and (15) Preiſe: they concelethe the Arte of kepynge (16) Secrettes, that ſoe the Worlde mayeth nothinge concele from them. Thay concelethe the Arte of Wunderwerckynge, and
of fore ſayinge thynges to comme, thatt ſo thay ſame Artes may not be uſedde of the wyckedde
an euylle Ende; thay alſo concelethe the (17) Art of chaunges, the Vey of Wynnynge the acultye (18) of Abrac, the Skylle of be-
commynge gude and parfyghte wythouten the Holypnges of Fere, and Hope; and the Uni-
verſelle (19) Longage of Maconnes, d 2 Quehh.
(15) Preiſe. It ſeems the Maſons have a great regard to the reputation as well as the profit of their order; ſince they make it one reaſon for not divulging an art in common, that it may do honour to the profeſſors of it. I think in this
articular they ſhew too much regard for their own ſociety, and too little for the reſt of Mankind.
(16) Arte of kepynge Secrettes, What kind of art this is, I can by no means imagine. But certainly ſuch an art the Haſens muſt have; for tho* as ſome people ſuppoſe, they ſhould have no ſecret at all; even that mult be a ſecret which being diſcovered would expoſe them to the higheſt ridicule ; and therefore it requires the utmoſt caution to conceal it.
(17) Arte of Chaunges. I know not what this means, unleſs it be the tranſmutation of metals.
(18) Facultye of Abrac. Here I am utterly in the dark.
(19) Univerſelle Longage of Macconnes. An univerſal lan-
_£uage has been much deſired by the learned of many ages. | eng
%
' | |
TH
Quet. Wylle he teche me thay ſame Artes? Anſ. Ye ſhalle be techedde yff ye be
werthye, and able to lerne. WP
"Tis a thing rather to be wiſhed than hoped for, But it ſeems the * pretend to have ſuch a thing among them. If it be true, I gueſs it muſt be ſomething like the language of the Pantamines among the ancient Romans, who are ſaid to be ab'e, by ſigns only, to expreſs and deliver any oration in- telligibly to men of all nations and langaages. A man who has all thefe arts and advantages, is certainly to be envied : but we are told, that this is not the caſe with all Maſons ; for tho” theſe arts are among them, and all have a right and an opportunity to know them, yet ſome want capacity, and others induſtry to acquire them“. However of all their arts and ſecrets, that which I moſt deſire to know is, The Shylleof becommyng gude and parſygbt; and I wiſh it were communi- cated to all mankind, fince there is nothing more true than the beautiful ſentence contained in the laſt anſwer, ** that
the better men are, the more they love one another.“ Vir-
tue having in itſelf ſomething ſo amiable as to charm the
hearts of all that behold it.
I know not what effect the ſight of this old paper may have upon your rdſhip; but for my own part Icannot deny, that it has ſo much raiſed my curioſity ; as to induce me to enter myſelf into the fraternity ; which I am determined to do (if I may be admitted) the next time I go to Londen, (and that will be ſhortly, )
Jam, My Lord, Nur Lerdſbip's moſt obedient, and met humble Servant,
JOHN LOCKE.
In the Queries relative to Ancient and Modern Maſonry, page xxxi, the author of Ahiman Rezon has /aid, that he could convey his mind to an Ancieut Maſon in the grgſence of a Modern Mo
X without
—_
( li )
Aueſt. Dothe alle Maconnes æunne more then odher Menne?
Anſ. Not ſo. Thay onlyche haueth recht, and Occaſyonne more than odher Menne to kunne, butt many doeth fale yn Capacity, and manye more doth want Induſtrye, thatt ys Perneceſſarye for the gaynynge all Kunnynge.
Queſt. Are Maconnes gudder Menne then oders ? os
Anſ. Some Maconnes are nott fo Vertuous
/ as ſome odher Menn; but yn the moſte Parte,
thay be more gude then thay woulde be yf thay
war not Maconnes.
2ueft. Doth Maconnes love eidther odher myghtyly as beeth ſayde ?
Anſ. Yea verylyche, and yt may not odher- wylſe be: For gude Menne, and true, kennynge eidher odher to be ſoche, doeth always love- the more as thay be more Gude. |
Here endethe the Queſtyonnes, and Awnſiperes,
l
without the latters knowing whether either of them avere Maſons. He now poſitively aſſerts that he is able (wwith a few Maſenical implements, 1. e. 7 wo ſquares and a common gavil or hammer) to convey any word or Jentence of his own (or the immediate dictations of a ftranger) to Seillfull or intelligent Free-maſon of the ancient order, without Speaking, Writing, or Noiſe. And that to any diſtance where the parties can ee each other and at the Jame time be able to diſtinguiſh ſquares from circles. But as Mr. Locke obſerved this is not the caſe with all
| Maſons ( Note, there were no Modern Maſons in his time) few of them
are acquainted with this Secret.
The wwriter of this note has known it upwards of 30 years and never taught it to more than fin perſons, of which number our R. W. and very worthy Deputy Grana _ William Dickey, Ei. is one, and Brother Shatwell, thi pu liſhr of this book, another, | x
DPxuorr,
( liv )
G L OSS AR V
To explain hs Words in Talicł "el: Ra as in the * ge
Allein, only Alweys, always Beithe, both __ Commodytye, conveniency Confrerie, traternity Fer ne forming
Fore ſayinge, prophecying Freres, brethren
8 chiefly
%. h Soy pleaſe ob e, themſelves Her, there, their Hereynne, therein Heruytb, with it Holpynge, beneficial Kunne, know
Kunnynge, knowledge Mate Gudde, are beneficial Metynges, meaſures | Mote, may
Myddlelondt, mediterrancan Mabie, power
Occaſyonne, opportunity Oder, or 2
Onelyche, only Perneceſſarye, abſol utely ne· ceſſary Preiſe, honour Recht, right ckenynges, numbers Sonderlyche, particularly Shylle, knowledge Wackſynge, growing Meret, operation Ney, way ereas, Where Toned, dwelt WW underwerchyne, working miracles Wylde, ſavage Vynnynge, gaining HW yſeacre, learned Yan, into
*
ON THE
seven Liberal Arts and Sciences.
Tua grammar rules inſtruct the tongue and pen, Rhetorick teaches eloquence to men; By logick we are taught to reaſon well, Muſick has charms beyond. our power to tell ; The uſe of numbers numberleſs we find, Geometry give meaſure to mankind,
The heav'nly ſyſtem elevates the mind,
All thoſe, and many ſecrets more,
The Maſons taught in days of yore,
(ni)
EXTRACT of the REsoLUTIONS +
OF THE
Grand Lod ges of England, Ireland, and Scotland,
AS UNDER; "
Grand Lodge of the Moſt Aneient and Ho- nourable Fraternity of Free and Accepted
Maſons, held at the Half-Moon Tavern, Cheaplide, London, Sept. 2, 1772.
The Moſt Noble Prince John Duke of Atholl, Grand Maſter.
Laurence Dermott, Eſq. Deputy Grand Maſter, in the Chair. A
EARD a Letter from Brother Thomas
Corker, Deputy Grand Secretary of Ireland, to Lau. Dermott, Fſq. D. G. M. of this Grand Lodge, ſetting forth the State of the Craft, &c. in that kingdom, and having taken the ſame into Conſideration.
Reſolved, ** It is the opinion of this Grand Lodge, that a Brotherly Connexion and «© Correſpondence
(thi! © Correſpondence with the Right Worſhip-.
* fy] Grand Lodge of Ireland, has been and vill always be, found productive of Ho-
« nour and Advantage to the Craft in both . rr
TT „
Ordered, That the Grand Secretary ſhall « tranſmit the Names of the Officers of this Grand Lodge to the Secretary of the Grand « Lodge of Ireland yearly, or as often as „any new Choice is made, together with « ſuch informations as may tend to the Ho- « nour and intereſt of the Ancient Craft: « And that all ſuch Informations, or Cor- * xeſpondence, ſhall be conveyed in the e moſt reſpectful Terms, ſuch as may ſuit
« the Honour and Dignity of both Grand « Lodges.
Ordered, That no Maſon (who has been
« made under the Sanction of the Grand © Lodge of Ireland) ſhall be admitted a « Member, nor partake of the General Charity, without having firſt produced a «« Certificate (of his good Behaviour) from e the Secretary of the Grand Lodge of Ire-
* land; but upon producing ſuch Certifi- « cate, he ſhall receive all the Honours due
* to afaithful Brother of the ſame Houſhould V
x :Iyii )
The Deputy Grand Maſter propoſed, that a Correſpondence: ſhould be opened by this Grand Lodge with. the. Grand Lodge of Scotland, when they unanimouſly came to the ſame Reſo- _ as ſet forth for the Grand Lodge of reland,
( Iviit )
— —————————
Grand Lodge of the Moſt A0 1 Honourable Fraternity of Free and Accept- ed Maſons, Dublin, Nov. 5, 1772. F*
The Right. Hon. William Lord Viſcount Badu Grand Maſter.
Arch. Richardſon, Eſq, Deputy Grand Maſter, in the Chair.
ECEIVED and * the Reſolutions of the Grand Lodge of England, tranſmit- ted by their Grand Secretary, Brother William Dickey, and having taken the ſame into Con- ſideration, came to the following Reſolution:
Re ſolved, That this Lodge do entirely agree '« with the Grand Lodge of England, that a « Brotherly Connexion and Correſpondence, between the Grand Lodge of England « and the Grand Lodge of Ireland, have „ been, and will always be, found produce tive of Honour and Advantage to the Craft « in both Kingdoms.”
Ordered, That the Grand Secretary ſhall con-
« tinue to tranſmit, from Time to Time, the
* particular Occurrences of this Grand Lodge to the Grand Secretary of England;
* and that hereafter no Engliſh Maſon ſhall
© be confidered worthy of their Charity,
* without producing a Certificate from the
« Grand
( lix )
Grand Lodge of England; and that we « ſhall always conſider ſuch Brethren as may be recommended to us from the Grand Lodge of England, equally objects of our Attention with thoſe of the Fraternity in « Ireland: Nor can the Grand Lodge of Ireland omit this Opportunity of teſtify- « ing their high Senſe of the Honour they « have received in this Invitation of a mu- + * tual and friendly Intercourſe, which they * ſhall ſtudy to preſeve and ſtrengthen by
every Act of good Offices and Brotherly | 6 0 Love.“ \
By Order, FIELDING OULD (jun.) Grand Secretary.
To the Moſt Noble Prince John Duke of Atholl, Grand Maſter of England,
Grand.
( Is )
Grand Lodge of the Moſt; Ancient and Ho- nourable Fraternity of Free and Accepted Maſons in Scotland, held in the City of Edinburgh, Nov. 30, 1772.
The Right Honorable and Moſt Worſhipful Patrick Earl of Dumfreys, Grand Maſter.
The Right Honourable and Moſt Worſhipful George Earl of Dalhouſie, late Grand Maſter, in the Chair. |
T was reported to the Brethren, that the Grand Lodge of England, according to the old Inſtitutions, had, on the 2d of September laſt, paſt a Refolution and Order relative to a conſtant Correſpondence betwixt them and the Grand Lodge of Scotland, a Copy of which had been lately tranſmitted by their Secretary, along with a Letter, containing the Names of their Officers, to the Secretary of this Grand Lodge.
The Reſolution and Letter being read, the Grand Lodge were of Opinion, that the Brother- ly Intercourſe and Correſpondence, which the Right Worſhipful the Grand Lodge of England were defirous to eſtabliſh, would be ſerviceable to both Grand Lodges, and productive of Ho-
nour
—
6 nour and Advantage to the Fraternity in gene- ral, and to promote this beneficial Purpoſe :
Ordered, « That the Grand Secretary do tranſ- * mit to the Secretary of the Grand Lodge * of England, the Names of the Officers * of the Grand Lodge of Scotland, elected *« this Day; and ſhall henceforth tranſmit the „Names of the Grand Officers yearly, or as often as any new Change is made, and « ſhall lay ſuch Letters, Orders, or Infor- „% mations, as he may, from Time to Time, «« receive from the Grand Lodge of England, e before this Grand Lodge, their Quarterly « Communications, or Standing Committee: « And alſo ſhall tranſmit ſuch Informations « as may tend to the Honour and Advantage *« of the Craft, according as he ſhall be by *« them directed; and that he aſſures the « Right Worſhipful Grand Lodge of Eng- ce Jand, in the moſt reſpectful Manner, the « Deſire the Grand Lodge of Scotland have <« to cultivate a Connexion with them by a e regular Correſpondence for the Intereſt of « the Ancient Craft, ſuitable to the Honour e and Dignity of both Grand Lodges.”
Ordered, ** That no Maſon, (made under the * SanCtion of the Grand Lodge of England, «© according to the old Inſtitution) ſhall be admitted a Member of the Grand Lodge of « Scotland, nor partake of the General Cha- « rity, without having firſt produced a Cer-
« tificate
4 lxii )
< tificate (of his good Behaviour) from the « Secretary of the Grand Lodge of England; « but upon producing ſuch Certificate, he «« ſhall receive all the Honours and Bounty « que to a faithful Brother of the ſame « Houſehold with us.”
By Order of the Grand Lodge of Scotland, ALEX. M*DOUGALL, Grand Secretary.
To the Right Worſhipful the Grand Lodge of England,
„ * P * * 4 » bs - 4 > # — * "mw" "OR" * . Et. ae "on % w af — JE E —_— — — 8 oo”
1
N C XX Dl
ORAL
AHIMAN REZON
25 * KrORE wwe. enter into thi cauſe ot motive of the firſt
8 inſtitution of Free-Maſonry,
it is neceflary i in ſome, mea- ; Sa. oY 4 ſure. to ſhew the Excellency of Secrecy, and with what great care it is One of the principal oa that makes man be deemed wiſe, is his intelligent ſtrength and ability to cover and conceal ſuch honeſt ſecrets. as are committed to him, as well as his « own ſerious affairs. And who- ever will peruſe facred and profane hiſtory, ſhall find a great number of virtuous at- tempts (in peace and war) that never reach- ed their deſigned ends, througb defect of ſecret Concealment; and yet, beſides ſuch unhappy prevention, infinite evils have thereby enſued. But before 25 other ex- amples, let us conſider that w ich excels
Of! the: reſt, derived ever. from Ks bimſelf. e
p
2 AHIMAN REZON. >.” Who ſo eſpecially preſerves his own ſecrets to himſelf, never letting any man know what ſhould happen on the morrow; nor could the wiſe men in ages paſt, divine what ſhould befal us in this age: Whereby we may readily diſcern that God himſelf is well pleaſed with Secrecy. And altho' (for man's good) the Lord has been pleaſed to. reveal ſome things, yet it is impoſſible at any time to change or alter his determination, in regard whereof the reverend wiſe men of ancient times evermore affected to perform their intentions ſecretly. 19 Wr read that Cato the Cenſor often faid to his friends, that of three things he had good reaſon to repent, if ever he neg le&ed the true performance of them: The fl, if he divulg- ed any ſectet ; the ſecond, if he adventured on the water when he might ſtay on dry land; and thirdly, if he ſhould letany day neglected- ly eſcape him without doing ſome good ac- tion. The latter two are well worthy of ob-
ſervation ; but the firſt concerns our preſent d
undertaking. Alexander having received di- vers letters of great importrnce from his mo-
ther; after he had read them in the preſence
of, none but his dear friend Epheſtion and him- elt, he drew forth his fignet which ſcaled hiv
mol,
— fra Had. 1 3 8 1
AHIMANREZ ON. 3
moſt private letters, and without ſpeaking, ſet it upon Epbeſtion's lips, intimating thereby, 2 he in whoſe boſom a man buries his ſecrets, ſhould have his lips locked up from revealing them.
AmoNG the reſt it may not be diſagreeable to the reader to peruſe the following ſtory, as told by Aulus Gellius in his Attic TIS and by Macrobius in his Saturnals.
Tux ſenators of Rome, at their uſual fitting in the ſenate-houſe, had conſtituted a cuſtom among themſelves, that each brother ſenator who had a ſon, ſhould be admitted with his father to abide in the ſenate-houſe during their fitting, or depart if occaſion required; nor was this favour general, but extended only to noblemen's ſons, who were tutor'd in ſuch a manner as enabled them to become wiſe governors, capable of keeping their own ſecrets. About this time it happened that the ſenators ſat in conſultation of a very impor- tant cauſe, ſo that they ſtayed much longer than uſual, and the concluſion referred to the following day, with expreſs charge of ſecrecy in the mean time. Among the other noble - men's ſons who had been at this weighty bu- ſineſs, was that faithful youth the ſon of the grave Papirus, whoſe family was one of the
moſt noble and illuſtrious in all Rome. B 2 TER
4 AHIMANREZ ON. Tux young lad being come home, his mo- ther (as moſt of the fair- ſex are highly affect- ed with novelty) intreated him to tell her what ſtrange caſe had been that day debated in the ſenate, that had power to detain them ſo long behind their uſual hours: The vir- tuous and noble youth courteouſly told her that it was a buſinefs not in his power to re- veal, he being in a ſolemn manner command- ed to filence : Upon hearing this anſwer, her deſires became more earneſt in ſtricter enqui- ries into the caſe, and nothing but intelli- gence thereof could any way content her: So that firſt by fair ſpeeches and intreaties, with liberal promiſes, ſhe endeavoured to break open this poor little caſket of ſecrecy: But finding theſe efforts in vain, ſhe made uſe of violent threats and ſtripes, thinking that force might compel, where lenity could not. THE admired noble ſpirit finding a mo- ther's threats to be very harſh, but her ſtripes more bitter than any thing beſide; comparing . his love to her as his mother, with the duty he owed to his father ; the one mighty, but the other impulſive, he lays her and her fond conceit in one ſcale; his father, his own honour, and the ſolemn injunctions to ſecre- Cy, in the other ſcale; and finding her in- Ie trinſic
AHIMAN RE Z ON 5
trinſic weight as being his mother, but light- er than wind being thus gone out of herſelf. Whetting his tender wit upon the ſandy ſtone of her edging importunity, to appeaſe her, and preſerve his own honour by remaining faithful, he thus reſolved her :
Mapa, and dear mother, you may well blame the ſenate for their long ſitting, at leaſt for calling in queſtion a caſe ſo imper- tinent ; for except the wives of the ſenators be admitted to conſult thereon, there can be no hope of a concluſion : I ſpeak this but out of my young apprehenſion, for I know their gravity may eaſily confound me; and yet, whether nature or duty ſo inſtruct me, I cannot tell: But to them it ſeems neceſſa- ry, for the increaſe of people, and for the public good, that every ſenator ſhould be al- lowed two wives ; or otherwiſe their wives two huſband: I ſhall hardly under one roof call two men by the name of father; I had rather call two women by the name of mo- ther. This is the queſtion, mother; and to- morrow it muſt have determination,
THe mother hearing this, and his ſeeming unwilling to reveal it, took it for infallible truth: Her blood quickly fired, and rage en- ſued. I need not put the reader in mind that
B 3 ſuch
6 AHIMAN REZ: ON.
ſuch ſudden heats ſeldom admit of conſider- ation; but on the contrary, hurry the ſenſes and faculties further to raſhneſs, and other follies; by which they are rendered incapa- ble of doing themſelves ſuch good actions, or ſervice, as their caſe often require: So without requiring any other counſel, ſhe im- mediately ſent to the other ladies and ma- trons of Rome, to acquaint them with this weighty affair, wherein the peace and wel- fare of their whole lives was ſo nearly con- - cerned. This melancholy news blew up ſuch a brain- ſick paſſion, that the ladies imme- diately afſembled ; and though (ſome ſay) that a parliament of women are very ſeldom governed by one ſpeaker, yet this aftair being ſo urgent, the haſte as pertinent, and the caſe (on their behalf) merely indulgent, the re- vealing woman muſt prolocute for herſelf and the reſt, And on the-next morning ſuch a din was at the ſenate door for admiſſion to ſit with their huſbands in this wonderous conſultation, as if all Rome had been in an uproar. Their minds muſt not be known before they haye audience ; which (though apainſt all order) being granted, ſuch an ora- tion was made by the woman ſpeaker, with "requeſt that women might have two huſ- | bands
AH IMAN R E Z ON. 7 bands rather than men two wives, who could ſcarcely content one, Sc. Upon the riddle's ſolution, the noble youth was highly com- mended for his fidelity, and the ladies great- ly, confounded, and departed very likely with bluſhing checks. Nevertheleſs, to avoid tho like inconveniency for the future, it was de- termined that, thence forward they ſhould bring their ſons no more into the ſenate z only young Papirus, who was freely accept- ed, and his ſecrecy and diſcreet. policy not only applauded, . but himſelf with titles of honour dignified and rewarded. |
Non ſhould we forget the aa ay: archus (as related by Pliny, in his ſeventh book and 23d chapter) who was taken in order to force his-ſecrets from him, bit his tongue in the midft between. his teeth, and afterwards threw it in the tyrant's face.
Tur Athenians had a ſtatue of braſs, which they bowed to; the figure was made without a tongue, to declare ſecrecy thereby. _
Lixew1ss the Egyptians worſhipped Har- pocrates, the god of ſilence; for which rea- ſon he is always pictured holding his finger on his mouth.
Tar Romans had a goddeſs of filence named Angerona, which was pictured like Harpocrates
8 AHIMAN RE Z ON. Horpocrates,” holding her finger on her mouth, in token of: ſeorocy. becher. Latin ſentence, linguam digito compeſco. Tux ſexrvants of Plancm are much com- Saindeh, becauſe no torment ceuld make them confeſs the ſecret Which heir _ intruſted them witngnn ct „Lixzwisx the ſervant of Cats Ge ende was eruelly tormented, but nothing could make him reveal the ſecrets of his maſter “ Quintius Curtius tells us, th: at the Pepi t held it as an inviolable Jaw to puniſh mot grievouſly (and much more than any other treſpaſs) him that diſcovered” any ſecret; for confirmation thereof, he lays, that king Da- riut, being vanquiſhed by Alexander, had made his eſcape ſo far as to hide himſelf where he thought he might: reſt ſecure; no tortures whatſoever, or liberal promiſes of recompence, could prevail with the faithful brethren that knew it, or compel them to diſcloſe it to any perſon: And furthermore ſays, that no man ought to commit any mat-
ter of conſequence to him that cannot 2x0
keep a ſecret. Lycurgus, among his confiticsl LON would have every man keep ſecret whatſo-
ever was done or ſaid; For this reaſon the Athenians
AHIMANREZ ON. 9 Athenians were wont (when they met at any feaſt) that the moſt ancient among them ſhould ſhew every brother the door whereat they entered, ſaying. Take heed that not (6 much as one word paſs out from hence, of whatſoever ſhall here be acted or ſpoken. -
THe firſt thing that Pythagoras taught his ſcholars was to be filent, therefore (for a certain time) he kept them without ſpeak+ ing, to the end that they might the better learn to preſerve the yaluable ſecrets he had to communicate to them, and never to ſpeak but when time required, exprefling thereby that ſecrecy was the rareſt virtue: Would to God that the maſters of our preſent lodges would put the ſame in practice!
Ariftatle was demanded what thing appear- ed moſt difficult to him; he anſwered, to be ſecret and ſilent. 3K
To this purpoſe St. Ambroſe, in his Of. fices, placed among the principal foundations of virtue, the patient gift of filence. Tur wiſe king Salomon ſays in his Proverbs, that a king ought not to drink wine, becauſe drunkenneſs is an enemy to ſecrecy; and in his opinion, he is not worthy to reign that cannot keep his own,
ſecrets ; he furthermore ſays, that he which: diſcovers
10 AHIMANREZ ON. diſcovers ſecrets is a traitor, and he that con- ceals them is a faithful brother: He like- wiſe ſays, that he that refraineth his tongue is wiſe: And again, he that keeps his tongue keeps his ſoul. To theſe I ſhall add the words of another wiſe man, Eccleſiaſticus, chap. xxvii, to the 22d verſe. ** Whoſoever diſcovereth ſecrets loſeth his credit, and ſhall never find a friend to his mind. Love thy friend, and be faithful unto him : But if thou bewrayeſt his ſecrets, follow no more after him: For as a man hath deſtroyed his enemy, ſo haſt thou loſt the loveof thy neighs bour. As one that letteth a bird go out of his hand, ſo haſt thou let thy neighbour ga, and ſhalt not get him again. Follow after him no more, for he is too far off: He is as a Roe eſcaped out of the ſnare. As for a_ wound it may be bound up, and after re- viling there may be reconcilement, but he that bewrayeth ſecrets is without hope.” — could mention many other circumſtances of the excellency of ſecrecy ; and I dare ven- ture to ſay that the greateſt honour, juſtice, truth, and fidelity, has been always found amongſt thoſe who could keep their own and others ſecrets; and this is moſt nobly ſet forth by Horace, who ſays, | | The
f
AHIMAN REZON, 11 The man reſolv'd and ſteady to his truſtt, Inflexible to ill, and obſtinately juſt ;
May the rude rabble's inſolence deſpiſe,
Their ſenfeleſs clamours and tumultuous cries ; The tyrant's fierceneſs he beguiles,
And the ſtern brow and the harſh voice defies, And with ſuperior greatneſs ſmiles :
Not the rough whirlwind, that deforms Auria's black gulph, and vexes it with ſtorms ; The ſtubborn virtue of his ſoul can move: Not the red arm of angry Fove,
That flings the thunder from the ſky,
And gives it rage to roar, and ſtrength to fly.
Should the whole frame of nature round him breaks In ruin and confuſion hurl'd: He unconcern'd would hear the mighty crack,
And ſtand ſecured amidſt a falling world.
THEREFORE I am of opinion, that if ſe- crecy and filence be duly conſidered, they will be found moſt neceſſary to qualify a man for any buſineſs of importance : If this.be granted, I am confident that no man will dare to diſpute that Free-Maſons are ſuperior to all other men, in concealing their ſecrets, from times immemorial: which the power of gold, that often has betrayed kings and prin- ces,and ſometimesoverturned whole empires, nor the moſt cruel puniſhments could never extort the ſecret even from the weakeſt
member of the whole fraternity. THEREFORE
"= 1 N | . 4 J f
p_, * 5 e *
4 * *
* .
12 AHIMAN RE Z ON.
THEREFORE I humbly preſume it will of conſequence be granted, that the welfare and good of mankind was the cauſe ormotive of ſo grand an inſtitution as F ree-Maſonry (no art
yet ever being ſo extenſively uſeful) which
not only tends to protect its members from external injuries, but to poliſh the ruſty diſ-
poſitions of iniquitous minds, and allo to
detain them within the pleaſant bounds of true religion, morality and virtue ; for ſuch
are the precepts of this royal art, that if thoſe
who have the honour of being members thereof would but live according to the true principles of the ancient craft, every man that is endowed with the leaſt ſpark of ho- nour or honeſty, muſt of courſe approve their actions, and conſequently endeavour to fol- low their ſteps. And altho' very few or none
of the brethren arrive to the ſublimity and
beautiful contrivance of Hiram Abif; yet the very enemies of Free-Maſonry muſt own, that it is the moſt renowned ſociety that ever was, is now, or (perhaps) ever will be upon earth. The following true deſcription of
the royal art, will clearly ſhew its great uſe to mankind.
Hail
AHIMANREZ ON.
12
Hail mighty ART ! gracious gift of heaven,
To aid mankind by our Creator given:
It was you alone that gave the ark its fortn, Which fav'd the faithful from impending ſtorm; When ſinful Cowans were grov'ling in the tide, The Maſon's ark triumphantly did ride
O'er mighty waves, nor cr'd they where it ſteer'd, *Till floods abated, and dry land appear'd : | On Arraret's mount, after the dreadful ſtorm, There ſtood their ark and open'd lodge in form; There the good maſon of his own accord, An altzr built to ſerve the heavenly lord ; Returned thanks with off ring ſacrifice,
Which pleaſed Fove: and to himſelf he cries, For ſake of man I'll curſe the ground no more, Nor ſmite the living as I've done before :
While earth remain this bleſſing I'll beſtow,
A proper time when you your ſeed may ſow: The harveſt-time to bleſs the lab'ring ſwain, With fruitful crops for all his care and pain: Nights, days, and ſeaſons ſhall ſurround this ball, Nor ſhall they ceaſe until the end of all: And to confirm my promiſe unto thee,
Amidſt the clouds my bow a witneſs be:
An heav*nly arch ſhews how God ſav'd the lives Of maſons four, likewiſe their happy wives.
Such the bleſſings of each time and ſeaſon,
God has promis'd to that maſter-maſon ;
By which we ſee what mighty things were done By this great art, ſince firſt the world began. What mortal living, whether far or near, Around the globe, within the heavenly ſphere,
Can name one art ſo much by God approv'd,
As maſonry in David whom he lov'd ; Sl Witneſs
Witneſs Moriah, where God appear'd to man, And gave the prince the holy temple's plan; Which charge Solomon after did fulfil,
By aid from Tyre and Hiram's mighty ſkill;
This is the art that did the world excel,
And pleas'd the Lord of Hoſts to come and dwell Amongſt the men, who did the temple frame,
To worſhip God, and keep his ſacred name.
By Maſons art aſpiring domes appear,
Where God is worſhipp'd ſtill in truth and fear: By Maſons art the greedy miſer's breaſt,
(Tho iron-bound, much cloſer than his cheſt) Compaſſion feels, values not his ſtore,
And freely gives what he ne'er thought before: By Maſons art the buſy tongue doth fall Before the throne, when awful ſilence call :
By Maſons art the wings of looſe deſire, Are clipt ſhort, prevents their ſoaring higher; The vicious mind the ancient craft reſtrain, From immodeſt bents, unlawful and profane: By Maſons art the puny foppiſh aſs, (Mankind's diſgrace, and ſport of ev'ry laſs) Soon quits his folly, and more wiſer grown, Looks on himſelf as one before unknown: By Maſon's art, the proud enſigns of ſtate, (Ambition's nurs'ry, and her lofty ſeat) Are deemed vain and uſeleſs toys, Free-Maſons prize more ſolid joys,
Bur methinks I hear ſome of my readers ſay, ſurely if Free-Maſonry be ſuch as it is here repreſented, the Brotherhood moſt cer-
tainly
AHIMANREZ ON. rg tainly are the happieſt men living; and yet, on the contrary, we often meet ſome very miſerable, others very great knaves, and a number of ignorant, illiterate ſtupid fools of the ſociety; or at leaſt would endeavour to make the World believe ſo. This has been duly conſidered, and anſwered in the inſtructions for ſuch as would become Free- Maſons. In the mean time I am well aſ- ſured, that none but ſtrangers to the craft, and ungenerous enemies to good ſociety, will doubt the veracity of what is here in- ſerted concerning Free-Maſonry. And for further ſatisfaction to my female readers, and ſuch of the male ſex as have not the honour of being initiated into the myſtery, I here beg leave to treat of the principles of the craft (ſo far as comes under the limita- tion of my pen) which I hope will meet with a juſt admiration, becauſe they are
founded upon religion, morality, brotherly- love, and good fellowſhip.
A MASON is obliged by his tenure to be- lieve firmly in the true worſhip of the eter- nal God, as well as in all thoſe facred re- cords which the dignitaries and fathers of
the church have ECO and publiſhed for | the
K
16 AHIMAN REZ: ON. the uſe of all good men: So that no one who rightly underſtands the art, can poſſibly tread in the irreligious paths of the unhappy liher- tine, or be induced to follow the arrogant profeſſors of atheiſm or deiſm; neither is he to be ſtained with the groſs errors of blind ſuperſtition, but may have the liberty of em- bracing what faith he ſhall think proper, provided at all times he pays a due reverence to his Creator, and by the world deals with honour, and honeſty, ever making that gol- den precept the ſtandard-rule of his actions, which engages, To do unto all men as he would they ſhould do unto him: For the craft, inſtead of entering into idle and unne- ceſſary diſputes concerning the different opi- nions and perſuaſions of men, admits into the fraternity all that are good and true; whereby it hath brought about the means of reconciliation amongſt perſons, who, with= out that aſſiſtance, would have remained at perpetual variance. * BO! 05 A Maso is a lover of quiet; is always ſubject to the civil powers, provided they do not infringe upon the limited bounds of te- ligion and reaſon: and it was never yet known that a real craftſman was concerned in any
dark plot, defigns, or contrivances againſt the ſtate,
AHñIMAN RE Z ON. 17
ſtate, becauſe the welfare of the nation is his peculiar care, ſo that from the higheſt to the loweſt ſtep of magiſtracy due regard and de- ference is paid by him.
Bor as Maſonry hath at ſeveral times felt the injurious effects of war, bloodſhed, and devaſtation, it was a ſtronger engagement to the Craftſmen to act agreeable to the rules of peace and loyalty, the many proofs of which behaviour hath occaſioned the ancient kings and powers to protect and defend them. But if a brother ſhould be ſo far unhappy as to rebel againſt the ſtate, he would meet with no countenance from his fellows; nor would they keep any private converſe with him, whereby the government might have cauſe to be jealous, or take the leaſt umbrage.
A MASON, in regard to himſelf, is care- fully to avoid all manner of intemperance or excels, which might obſtruct him in the per- formance of the neceſſary duties of his lau- dable profeſſion, or lead him into any crimes which would reflect diſhonour upon the an- cient fraternity.
Hz is to treat his inferiors as he would have his ſuperiors deal with him, wiſely con- ſidering that the original of mankind is the
C | ſame
is AHIMAN RE Z ON. ſame; and though maſonry diveſts no man of his honour, yet does the craft admit that ſtrictly to purſue the paths of virtue, where- by a clear conſcience may be preſerved, is the only method to make any man noble. A Mason is to be ſo far benevolent, as never to ſhut his ear unkindly to the com- plaints, of wretched poverty ; but -when a brother is oppreſſed by want, he is in a pe- culiar manner to liſten to his ſufferings with attention; in conſequence of which, pity muſt flow from his breaſt, and relieve with- out prejudice according to his capacity.
A Maso is to pay due obedience to the authority of his maſter and preſiding officers, and to behave himſelf meekly amongſt his brethren; neither neglecting his uſual occu- pation for the ſake of company, in running from one lodge to another; nor quarrel with the ignorant multitude, for their ridiculous aſperſions concerning it: But at his leiſure hours he is required to ſtudy the arts and ſciences with a diligent mind, that he may not only perform his duty to his great Cre- ator, but alſo to his neighbour and himſelf: For to walk humbly in the ſight of God, to
do juſtice, and love mercy, are the certain | cha-
*
AHIMAN RE Z ON. ig characteriſtics of a real free and accepted ans cient maſon: Which qualifications I hum+ bly hope they will poſſeſs to the end of time; and I dare venture to fay, that every true brother will join with me in, Amen.
Tux benefits ariſing from a ſtrict obſer- vance of the principles of the craft, are ſo apparent, that I muſt believe every good man would be fond to profeſs and practiſe the ſame ; becauſe thoſe principles tend to pro- mote the happineſs of life, as they are found- ed on the baſis of wiſdom and virtue.
In the firſt place; our privileges and in- ſtructions, when rightly made uſe of, are not only productive of our welfare on this ſide of the grave, but even our eternal hap- pineſs hereafter.
Fox the craft is founded on ſo ſolid a baſis that it will never admit blaſphemy, lewdneſs, ſwearing, evil-plotting, or contro- verſy; and though they are not all of the ſame opinion in matters of faith, yet they
are ever in one mind in matters of maſonry ;
that is, to labour juſtly, not to eat any man's
bread for nought, but to the utmoſt of our capacity to love and ſerve each other, as bre- 21 thren
f
20 AHIMAN REZON,.
thren of the ſame houſhold ought to do: Wiſely judging, that it is as great an abſur- dity in one man to quarrel with another be- cauſe he will not believe as he does, as it would be in him'to be angry becauſe he was not exactly of the ſame ſize and counte- nance, &c.
THEREFORE to afford ſuccour to the diſ- treſſed, to divide our bread with the induſ- trious poor, and to put the miſguided tra- veller into his way, are qualifications inhe- rent in the craft and ſuitable to its dignity, and ſuch as the worthy members of that great body have at all times ſtrove with in- defatigable pains to accompliſh.
THESE and ſuch like benefits, ariſing from a ſtrict obſervance of the principles of the craft (as numbers of brethren have lately ex- perienced) if duly conſidered, will be found not only to equal, but to exceed any ſociety in being. +5 855
Ir ſo; the worthy members of this great and uſeful ſociety, can never be too careful in the election of members; I mean, a thorough knowledge of the character and circumſtance of a candidate that begs to be initiated into the myſtery of free-maſonry.
| Uron
A HIMAN REZ ON. 21
Uro this depends the welfare or deſtruc- tion of the craft; for as regularity, virtue, and concord, are the only ornaments of hu- man nature, (which is often too prone to act in different capacities) ſo that the happineſs of life depends, in a great meaſure, on our own election, and a prudent choice of thoſe ſteps.
Fork human ſociety cannot ſubſiſt without concord, and the maintenance of mutual good offices ; for, like the working of an arch of ſtone, it would fall to the ground provided one piece did not properly Wu another.
In former times every man (at his requeſt) was not admitted into the craft, (tho' per- haps of a good and moral reputation) nor allowed to ſhare the benefits of our ancient and noble inſtitution, unleſs he was endued with ſuch ſkill in maſonry, as he might thereby be able to improve the art, either in plan or workmanſhip ; or had ſuch an afflu- ence of fortune as ſhould enable him to em- ploy, honour, and protect the craftſmen.
I wouLD not be underſtood by this to mean, that no reputable tradeſman ſhould re- ceive any of our benefits; but-on the con-
| C3 trary
22 AHIMAN RE Zz ON.
trary, am of opinion that they are valuable members of the commonwealth, and often have proved themſelves real ornanents to lodges. |
Tos whom I aim at, are the miſerable wretches of low-life, (often introduced by excluded men“) ſome of whom can neither read nor write; and when [by the aſſiſtance of maſonry] they are admitted into the com- pany of their betters, they too often act be- yond their capacities ; and under pretence of ſearching for knowledge, they fall into ſcenes of gluttony or drunkenneſs, and there- by neglect their neceſſary occupation and in- jure their poor families, who imagine they have a juſt cauſe to pour out all their excla-
That is, men excluded from their lodges for miſde- meanors, &c, (who finding themſelves deemed unworthy of ſo noble a ſociety) ſtill endeavour to make the reſt of mankind believe, that they are good and true, and have full power and authority to admit, enter, and make free- maſons, when and whereſoever they pleafe, &c. Theſe traders, (though but few in number) aſſociate together, and for any mean conſideration admit any perſon to what little they know of the craft. Little I ſay, for I honeſtly aſſure my readers, that no man who rightly underſtands the craft, can be ſo blind as to trample over its ancient landmarks ; therefore all victuallers, &c, ought to be very cautious of entertaining ſuch, from whom neither benefit nor credit can be expected. Sce New Regulation VIII.
mations
HIM AN RE Z ON. 23
mations and invectives againſt the whole body of free-maſons, without conſidering or knowing that our conſtitutions and princt- ples are quite oppoſite to ſuch baſe pro-
ceedings. | Tux next thing to be conſidered is the
choice of officers to rule and govern the lodge according to the ancient and whole- ſome laws of our conſtitution ; and this is a matter of great concern, for the officers of a lodge are not only bound to advance and romote the welfare of their own particular E but alſo whatever may tend to the good of the fraternity in general. Tux RETORE no man ought to be nomi- nated or put in ſuch election, but ſuch as by his known ſkill and merit, is deemed wor- thy of performance, viz. He muſt be well acquainted with all the private and public rules and orders of the craft; he ought to be ſtrictly honeſt, humane of nature, patient in injuries, modeſt in converſation, grave in counſel and advice, and (above all) conſtant in amity and faithful in ſecrecy ?. - * A man may poſleſs all theſe good qualifications, and yet (if in low circumſtances) be incapable of filling his office with credit to the lodge or himſelf; and this I re- commend as a matter well worthy the conſideration of all
the conſtituents, SUCH
24 AHIMAN REZ ON.
Sucn candidates well deſerve to be choſen the rulers and governors of their reſpective lodges, to whom the members are to be cour- teous and obedient, and from whom they may learn to deſpiſe the over-covetous, im- patient, contentious, preſumptuous, arro- gant, and conceited pratlers, the bane of human ſociety,
HRE I cannot forbear ſaying, that I have known men whole intentions were very ho- neſt, and without any evil deſign commit great errors, and ſometimes been the de- ſtruction of good lodges ; and this occaſion- ed by their brethren hurrying them indiſ- creetly into offices, wherein their ſlender knowledge of maſonry rendered them inca- pable of executing the buſineſs committed to their charge, to the great detriment of the craft and their own diſhonour,
AMoNGsT the qualities and principles of the craft, I have given a hint concerning the behaviour of a maſon in the lodge, to which I beg he may add the few following lines, vix. he is to pay due reſpect, and be obedi- ent (in all reaſonable matters) to the maſter and preſiding officers ; He muſt not curſe,
ſwear, nor offer to lay wagers ; nor uſe any lewd
AHIMAN REZON. 235
lewd or unbecoming language, in derogation of GOD's Name, and corruption of good manners; nor behave himſelf ludicrouſly, nor jeſtingly, while the lodge is engaged in what is ſerious and ſolemn; Neither is he to introduce, ſupport, nor mention any diſ- pute or controverſy about religion or poli- ticks; nor force any brother to eat, drink, or ſtay againſt his inclination ; nor do or ſay any thing that may be offenſive, or hinder a free and innocent converſation ;. leaſt he ſhould break the good harmony, and defeat the laudable deſigns and purpoſes of the an- cient and honourable fraternity.
AnD I honeſtly recommend free-maſonry, as the moſt ſovereign medicine to purge out the above, or ſuch other vices ; and regular lodges, as the only ſeminaries where men (in the moſt pleaſant and cleareſt manner) may hear, underſtand, and learn their duty to God; and alſo to their neighbours. And this without the multiplicity of ſpiteful and malicious words, long arguments or fierce debates; which have been made uſe of, among miſtaken mortals, upwards of a thou. ſand years paſt: And inſtead of uniting men 4n one facred band (as the ſervants of God,
and
26 AHIMAN RE Z ON. and brethren of the fame houſhold) have divided them into as many different opi- nions, as there were (not only languages, but even) men at the confuſion of Babel.
As to the behaviour of the brethren when out of lodge, I hope the ſhort ſpace between each lodge-night will not admit of forget- fulneſs of the decency and 'good decorum obſerved in the lodge, which may ſerve them as an unerring rule for their behaviour and conduct in all other companies and places; and like the worſhipful diſcreet maſ- ter of a lodge, rule, govern, and inſtruct their families at home in the fear of God and love of their neighbours, while they themſelves imitate the member's obedience, &c. in pay- ing due reſpect to their ſuperiors.
THess few hints may ſerve to put the brethren in mind of the duty incumbent on + them as free maſons; and likewiſe, how to behave themſelves in ſuch a manner as may be acceptable to God, agreeable to the prin - ciples of the craft, and much to their own honour : But for further ſatisfaction to my readers in general, I ſhall here inſert the ſe- veral pldcharges of free and accepted maſons.
THE.
AHIMAN REZ ON. 27
ST. =P
OLD CHARGES O F * H E Free and Accepted MAsONs. — ad CHARGE I. Concerning GoD and RELIGION.
MASON is obliged by his tenure to obſerve the moral law as a true Noa» cHiDA *; and if he rightly underſtands the craft, he will never be a ſtupid atheiſt, nor an irreligious libertine, nor act againſt con- ſcience.
In ancient times the chriſtian maſons were charged to comply with the chriſtian uſages of each country where they travelled or worked ; being found in all nations, eyen of divers religions.
THey are generally charged to adhere to that religion in which all men agree (leaving each brother to his own particular opinion;)
* Cons of Noah, the firſt name of Free- Maſons. that
28 AHIMANREZ ON. that is, to be good men and true, men of honour and honeſty, by whatever names, religions, or perſuaſions they may be diſtin- guiſhed ; for they all agree in the three great articles of Noah, enough to preſerve the ce- ment of the lodge.
Tuus maſonry is the center of their uni- on, and the happy means of conciliating per- ſons that otherwiſe muſt have remained at a perpetual diſtance.
CHARGE I Of the CIVIL MAGISTRAT E, ſupreme and ſubordinate.
-MASON muſt be a peaceable ſubject, never to be concerned in plots againſt the ſtate, nor diſreſpectful to inferiour ma- giſtrates. Of old, kings, princes, and ſtates, encouraged the fraternity for their loyalty, whoever flouriſhed moſt in times of peace but though a brother is not to be counte- nanced in his rebellion againſt the ſtate, yet, if convicted of no other crime, his relation to the lodge remains indefeaſible *.
* That is, he is ſtill a Maſon, although the hrethren may refuſe to aſſociate with him: However, in ſuch wy he forfeits all benefits from the lodge.
CHARGE
AHIMAN RE Z ON. 29
C HR RG -.
Concerning a L OD GE. A LODGE is a place where maſons meet | to work in; hence the aſſembly, or or- ganized body of Free-Maſons, is called a lodge; juſt as the word church is expreſſive both of the congregation and the place of worſhip. |
EveERY brother ſhould belong to ſome particular lodge, and cannot be abſent with- out incurring cenſure, if not neceffarily de- tained.
THE men made maſons muſt be free-born (or no bondmen,) of mature age, and of good report; hale and ſound, not deformed or diſmembered, at the time of their making ; but no woman, no Eunuch “.
WueNn men of quality, eminence, wealth, and learning apply to be made, they are to be reſpectfully accepted, after due examina- tion ; for ſuch often prove good lords (or
* This is ſtill the law of ancient maſons, though diſre- garded by our brethren (I mean our ſiſters) the modern- maſons, who (ſome years ago) admitted Signiour Sing- ſong, the Eunuch, 'T-nd-ci, at one of their lodges, in the Strand, London. And upon a late tryal at Weſtminſter, it appeared, that they admitted a woman called Madam D'E—. | ;
| founders)
zo AHIMAN aa
founders) of work, and will not employ Cowans when true maſons can be had; they alſo make the beſt officers of lodges, and the beſt deſigners, to the honour and ſtrength of the lodge; nay, from among them the fraternity can have a noble GRAND Mas TER; but thoſe brethren are equally ſubject to the charges and regulations, ex- cept in what more immediately concerns operative maſons. 90 1 CHARGE IV. 07 Mas TER, WaARDENS, FELLOWS; and APPRENTICES. 8 preſerments among maſons, is grounded upon real worth and per- ſonal merit only, not upon ſeniority. No maſter ſnould take an apprentice that is not the ſon of honeſt parents, a perfect youth, without maim or defect in his body, and capable of learning the myſteries of the art; that ſo the lords (or founders) may be well ſerved, and the craft not deſpiſed; and that when of age and expert, he may become an entered apprentice, or a free-mafon of the loweſt degree ; and upon his improvements, a a fellow-craft and a maſter-maſon, capable to undertake the Lord's work.
THE
AHIMAN REZ ON. 3 Tux wardens are choſen from among the maſter maſons, and no brother can be a maſ- ter of a lodge till he has ated as warden ſomewhere, except in extraordinary caſes, or when a lodge is to be formed, and none ſuch to be had, for then three maſter maſons, tho never maſters nor wardens of lodges before, may be conſtituted maſter and wardens of that new lodge.
Bor no number, without three maſter- maſons, can form a lodge; and none can be the Grand Maſter, or a Grand Warden, who has not acted as the maſter of a a parti-
cur Lodge.
"CHARGE v. Of the Management of the CRAFT in Workiug.
LL maſons ſhould work hard and ho-
neſtly on working days, that they may live reputably and appear in a decent and becoming manner on holidays; and likewiſe the working hours appointed by law, or confirmed by cuſtom, ſhall be ob- ſerved,
A maſter-maſon only muſt be the ſur- veyor or maſter of the work, who ſhall un- | dertake the Lord's work reaſonably, ſhall
truly diſpend his goods as if they were his
Own,
ze AHIMAN RE Z ON. own, and ſhall not give more wages than juſt, to any fellow or apprentice.
Tux wardens ſhall be true both to maſter and fellows, taking care of all things both within and without the lodge, eſpecially in the maſter's abſence; and their brethren ſhall obey them.
THE maſter and the maſons ſhall faithfully finiſh the lord's work, whether taſk or jour- ney ; nor ſhall they take the work at taſk, which hath been accuſtomed to journey,
Nox E ſhall ſhow envy at a brother's proſ- perity ; nor ſupplant him, nor put him out of his work, if capable to finiſh it.
ALL maſons ſhall meekly receive their wages without murmuring or mutiny, and not deſert the maſter till the lord's work is finiſhed ; they muſt avoid ill language, call. ing each other brother or fellow with much courteſy, both within and without the lodge; they ſhall inſtru a younger brother to become bright and expert, that the lord's materials may not be ſpoiled.
Bur free and accepted maſons ſhall not allow Cowans to work with them, nor | ſhall they be employed by Cowans with- out an urgent neceſſity; and even in that
caſe
AHIMAN REZON. 33
caſe they muſt not teach Cowans, but muſt have a ſeparate communication ; no labourer ſhall be employed in the proper work of Free-Maſons.
CHARGE VI.
Concerning M ASON 8 Behaviour.
I. Behaviour in the lodge before cloſing. He muſt not hold private committees,
or ſeparate converſation, without leave
from the maſter ; nor talk of any thing im- pertinent, nor interrupt the maſter or war- den, or any other brother ſpeaking to the chair; nor act ludicrouſly while the lodge is engaged in what is ſerious and ſolemn; but you are to pay due reverence to the maſter, wardens, and fellows, and put them to worſhip.
Every brother found guilty of a fault, ſhall ſtand to the award of the lodge, un- leſs he appeals to the grand lodge, or un- leſs a lord's work is retarded ; for then a particular reference may be made.
No private piques, no quarrels about na-
tions, families, religions, or politics, muſt be
34 AHIMAN RE Z ON.
be brought within the doors of the lodge; for as maſons, we are of the oldeſt Catholic Religion, before hinted; and of all nations upon the ſquare, level, and plumb; and
like our predeceſſors in all ages, we are re-
ſolved againſt political diſputes, as contrary
to the "FE and nere of the lodge.
2. a after the lodge ts clo Ned, . brethren not gone.
You may enjoy yourſelves with inno- cent mirth, treating one another according to ability, but avoiding all exceſs; not forcing a brother to eat or drink beyond his own inclination (according to the old re- gulation of King Abaſuerus), nor hinder him from going home when he pleaſes; for tho after lodge-hours you are like other men, yet the blame of your exceſs may be thrown upon the fraternity, though unjuſtly.
3. Behaviour at meeting without ſtrangers,
not in a formed hage.
You are to ſalute one another as you bave been, or ſhall be, inſtructed; freely commu- nicating hints of knowledge, but without
n ſecrets, unleſs to thoſe that have given
- „ co _N = "ds. a. 2 1
0 » - *%* A
AHIMAN REE ON. 338 given long proof of their taciturnity and honour, and without derogating from the reſpect due to any brother, were he not a maſon; for though all brothers and fellows, are upon the level, yet maſonry diveſts no man of the honour that was due to him be- fore he was made a Maſon, or that ſhall be- come his due afterwards; nay, it rather adds to his reſpect, teaching us to give honour to whom it is due, eſpecially to a noble or eminent brother, whom we ſhould diſtinguiſh from all of his rank and ſtation, and ſerve him readily, according to our ability. 4. Behaviour in the preſence of firangers,
not Maſons. | You muſt be cautious in your words, carriage, and motions ; ſo that the moſt penetrating ſtranger may not be able to diſ- cover what is not proper to be intimated : And the impertinent or enſnaring queſtions, or ignorant diſcourſe of ſtrangers, muſt be prudently managed by free-maſons. | 5. Behaviour at home, and in your neigh= baurhbood. | | Masons ought to be moral men, as above.
charged ; conſequently good huſbands, good parents, good ſons, and good neighbours ; D 2 not
3% AHIMAN RE Z ON. not ſtaying too long from home, and avoĩd- ing all exceſs: yet wiſe men too, for cer- tain reaſons known to them.
6. Behaviour towards a foreign Wunder, or
ftranger. You are cautiouſly to examine him, as
| prudence ſhall direct you, that you may not be impoſed on by a pretender, whom you are to reject with deriſion, and beware of giving him any hints ; but if you diſcover him to be true and faithful, you are to re- ſpec him as a brother, and if in want, you are to relieve him if you can, or elſe direct him how he may be relieved ; You muſt employ him if you can, or elſe recommend him to be employed; but you are not charged to do beyond your ability.
7. Behaviour behind a brother's back, as well as before his face,
FREE and accepted maſons have ever been charged to avoid all manner of ſlan- dering and backbiting of true -and faithful brethren, or talking diſreſpectfully of a bro- ther's performance or perſon, and all ma- lice or unjuſt reſentment ; nay, you muft not ſuffer any others to reproach an honeſt brother, but defend his character as far as is conſiſtent with honour, ſafety and pru-
dence; tho' no further. CHARGE
AHIMANREZ ON. 37
CHARG E VII.
Concerning LAW-SUITS. F a brother do you injury, apply firſt to your wn orhis lodge, and if you arenot ſatisfied,
you may appeal to the Grand Lodge; but you muſt never take a legal courſe, till the cauſe cannot be otherwiſe decided ; for if the affut is only between maſons, and about maſonry, law-ſuits ought to be prevented by the good advice of prudent brethren, who are the beſt referees of differences. But ĩf that reference is either impraQticable or unſucceſsful, and the affair muſt be brought into the courts of law or equity; yet ſtill you muſt avoid all wrath, malice; and rancour in carrying on the ſuit ; not ſaying or doing any thing that may hinder the continuance or renewal of brotherly love and friendſhip, which is the glory and ce- ment of this ancient Fraternity ; that we may ſhew to all the world the benign in- fluence of maſonary, as all wiſe, true, and faithful brethren have done from the begin- ning of time, and will do till Architecture ſhall be diflolved in the general mn
Amen! So mote it be! „% All theſe charges yu are to obſerve, and alk thoſe * Gal Ls given to qou ina my that cannot be written,
A SHORT
SHORT CHARGE
5 To a new EE
M A S8 O N.
nne e
OU are now admitted (by the unani- mous conſent of our lodge) a fellow of our moſt ancient and honourable ſociety; ancient, as having ſubſiſted from time im- memorial; and honourable, as tending in every particular, to render a man ſo who will be but conformable to its glorious Pre- cepts': The greateſt monarchs 1n all ages, as well of Ala and Africa as of Europe, have been encouragers of the Royal Art; and many of them have preſided as GRAND MasTERs over the maſons in their reſpee- tive Territories, not thinking it any leſſening to their imperial dignities, to level them- faves with their brethren in ys; and
to act as they did. Tur world's great architec is our Su- preme
AHIMAN RE Z ON. 309
preme Maſter; and the Unerring Rule he has given us, is that by which we work;
religious diſputes are never ſuffered within the lodge, for as Maſons we only purſue the univerſal religion, or the religion of na- ture; this is the center which unites the
moſt different principles in one facred band,
and brings together thoſe who were the moſt diſtant from one another.
THERE are three general heads of duty which Maſons ought always to inculcate, vis, to GOD, our neighbour, and our- ſelves; to GOD, in never mentioning his Naurbut with that reverential awe which a creature ought to bear to his CxEATOR, and to look upon him always as the Sum- num Bonum which we came into the world to enjoy, and according to that view to re- gulate all our purſuits: to our neighbours, in acting upon the ſquare, or doing as we would be done by; to ourſelves, in avoid- ing all intemperance and exceſſes, whereby we may be rendered incapable of following our work, or led into behaviour unbecom- ing our laudable profeſſion, and always keeping within dre bounds and free from all pollution.
In the ſtate, a Maſon is to . as a
peaceable
40 AHIMAN REZ ON. peaceable and dutiful ſubject, conforming chearfully to the government under which he lives.
HE is to pay a due deference to his ſupe- riors; and from his inferiors he is rather to receive honour, with ſome reluctance, than to extort it: He is to be a man of bene- volence and charity, not fitting down con- tented while his fellow creatures (but much more his brethren) are in want, when it is in his power (without prejudicing himſelf or family) to relieve them.
In the lodge he is to behave with all due decorum, leaſt the beauty and harmony thereof ſhould be diſturbed or broke : He is to be obedient to the Mas TER and the preſiding officers, and to apply himſelf cloſe- ly to the buſineſs of maſonry, that he may the ſooner become a proficient therein, both for his own credit, and for that of the lodge.
He is not to negle& his own neceſſary
Avocations * for the ſake of maſonry, nor
to
* Here you are to underſtand that a Maſon ought not to belong to a number of lodges at one time, nor run from lodge to lodge; or otherwiſe, after Maſons or Ma- ſonry, whereby his buſineſs or family may be negleQedz *
AHIMAN RE Z ON. 41 to involve himſelf in quarrels with thoſe who through ignorance may ſpeak evil of or ridicule it.
He is to be a lover of the Arts and Sciences, and is to take all Opportunities to improve himſelf therein.
Ir he recommends a friend to be 'made 2 a
Maſon, he muſt vouch him to be ſuch as he really believes will conform to the afore- | ſaid duties, leaſt by his miſconduct at any time, the lodge ſhould paſs under ſome evil imputations. TT” | NoTnixG can prove more ſhocking to all faithful Maſons, then to ſee any of their brethren profane or break through the ſa- cred Rules of their order ; and ſuch as can do it, they wiſh had never been admitted,
but yet every Maſon is ſubject to all the bye-laws of his lodge, which he is ſtrictly and conſtantly to obey ler the attendance and dues of one lodge, can never preju- dice neither him nor his family, |
THE
42 AHIMAN RE Z ON.
| THE ANCIENT MANNER Load Fe... Conſtituting a Lops x. NEW lodge, for avoiding many irre- gularities, ſhould be ſolemnly conſti- tuted by the Grand-Maſter, with his deputy and wardens ; or, in the Grand-Maſter's ab- | ſence, the deputy acts for his worſhip, the ſenior grand-warden as deputy, the junior grand-warden as the ſenior, and the preſent maſter of a lodge as the junior: Or if the deputy is alſo abſent, the grand-maſter may depute either of his grand-wardens, who can appoint others to act as grand-wardens, pro tempore. THe
* When conſtitutions are required, where the diſtance 1s ſo great as to render. it impoſſible for the Grand Offi- cery to attend. In ſuch caſe, the Grand Maſter, or his Deputy, iſſues a written inſtrument, under his hand and private ſeal, to ſome worthy brother (who has been pro. perly inſtalled maſter of a lodge) with full power to con- gregate, inſtall, and conſtitute the petitioners.
If the Grand Maſter, or Deputy, be abſent, or (through ſickneſs) rendered incapable of acting, the GrandWardens, and Grand Secretary, jointly, may iſſue a like power under their hands and ſeal of the Grand Lodge; providing the Grand Maſter has firſt ſigned a warrant for holding ſuch new lodge : But the Grand Wardens muſt never iſſue any Maſonical writings under their private ſeal or ſeals,
AHIMAN RE Z ON, 43
Tux lodge being opened, and the candi- dates or new maſter and wardens being yet among the fellow-crafts, the grand-maſter ' ſhall aſk his deputy if he has examined them, and whether he finds the maſter well ſkilled in the noble ſcience and the royal art, and duly inſtructed in our myſteries, Cc. the deputy anſwering in the affirmative, ſhall (by the grand-maſter's order) take the candidate from amongſt his fellows, and preſent him to the grand-maſter, ſaying, Right Worſhip ful Grand Maſter, the brethren bere, defire to be formed into a regular lodge ; and I preſent © my worthy brother A. B. to be (inſtalled) their maſter, whom I know to be of good morals and great ſkill, true and truſty, and a lover the whole fraternity, whereſoever diſperſed over che Jace of the earth,
Tnuxx the grand-maſter placing the c. can- didate on his left hand, and having aſked and obtained the. unanimous conſent of the brethren, ſhall ſay (after ſome other ceremoniey and expreſſions that cannot be written) I conſtitute and form theſe good brethren into 4 new regular lodge, and appoint you,' brather A. B. the maſter of it, not doubting of yaur ca»; pacity and care to preſerve * cement of tb
lage, &c.
Upon
44 A 11 NM A N RE Z ON.
Urox this the deputy, or ſome other bro- ther for him, ſhall rehearſe the charge 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 new maſter ſignifying his cordial ſub- miſſion thereto, the grand-maſter ſhall by certain ſignificant ceremonies and ancient uſages, inſtall him and preſent him with his warrant, the book of conſtitutions, the lodge-book, and the inſtruments of his office, one after another ; and after each of them the grand-maſter, his deputy, or ſome brother for him, ſhall rehearſe the ſhort and- pithy charge that is ſuitable to the thing preſent.
VNxxr, the members of this new lodge, bowing altogether to the grand-maſter, ſhall return his worſhip their thanks (according to the cuſtom of maſters) and ſhall imme- diately do homage to their new maſter, and (as faithful craftsmen) ſignify their promiſe of ſubjection and obedience to him by uſual congratulations,
THe deputy and grand-wardens, and any other brethren that are not members of this new ledge, ſhall next congratulate the new
1 | maſter,
AHIMAN RE Z ON. 45
maſter, and he ſhall return his becoming acknowledgments (as maſter-maſons) firſt to the grand-maſter and grand officers, and to the reſt in their order. ;
THEN the grand-maſter orders the new maſter to enter immediately upon the exer- ciſe of his office, and calling forth his ſe- nior-warden, a fellow-craft* (maſter-maſon) preſents him to the grand-maſter for his worſhip's approbation, and to the new lodge for their conſent ; upon which the ſenior or junior grand-warden, or ſome brother for him, ſhall rehearſe the charge of a warden, &c. of a private lodge; and he, ſignifying his cordial ſubmiſſion thereto, the new maſter ſhall preſent him ſingly with the ſe- veral inſtruments of his office, and, in an- cient manner and due form, inſtall him in his proper place +.
In like Manner the new maſter ſhall call forth his junior warden, who ſhall be a maſter-maſon, and preſented (as above) to the junior grand-warden, or ſome other
They were called fellow-crafts, becauſe the Maſons of old times, never gave any man the title of Maſter- maſon, until he had firſt paſſed the chair.
+ The Grand-warcens generally inſtall the Wardens at new conſtitutions; as being beſt qualified for tranſ- acting ſuch buſineſs.
brother
46 AHIMANREZ ON.
brother in his ſtead, and ſhall in the above manner be inſtalled in his proper place; and the brethren of this new lodge ſhall ſignify their obedience to theſe new wardens, by the uſual congratulations due to wardens.
Tux Grand-Maſter then gives all the brethren joy of their maſter and wardens, Sc. and recommends harmony, Cc. hope- ing their only contention, will be a laudable emulation in cultivating the royal art, and the ſocial virtues, | Turn the grand-ſecretary, or ſome bro- ther for him, (by the grand-maſter's order) in the name of the grand-lodge, declares and proclaims this new lodge duly conſti- tuted No. „Cc.
Urox which all the new lodge together (after the cuſtom of maſters) return their hearty and fincere thanks for the honor of this conſtitution.
Tur grand-maſter alſo orders the grand- ſecretary to regiſter this new lodge in the grand. lodge-book, and to notify the ſame to the other particular lodges; and, after ſome other ancient cuſtoms and demonſtra- tions of joy and ſatisfaction, he orders the
ſenior grand-warden to cloſe the lodge. A PRAYER
AHIMAN REZ ON. 47
S OO O O e D o 0 =.
4 PRAYER ſaid at the opening of the Lodge, or making a new Brother, &c. uſed by Jewiſh Free-Maſons. A
Lox, excellent art thou in thy truth,
and there is nothing great in com- pariſon to thee; for thine is the | praiſe, from all the works of thy hands, for evermore,
ENLIGHTEN us, we beſeech thee, -in the true knowledge of maſonry: By the ſorrows of Adam, thy firſt made man ; by the blood of Abel, the holy one; by the righteouſneſs of Seth, in whom thou art well pleaſed; and by thy covenant with Noah, in whoſe architecture thou was't pleaſed to fave the ſeed of thy beloved; number us not among thoſe that know not thy ſtatutes, nor the divine myſteries of the ſecret Cabala. |
Bur grant, we beſeech thee, that the ruler of this lodge may be endued with' knowledge and wiſdom, to inſtruct us and
explain his ſecret myſteries, as our holy brother
43 AHIMAN RE Zz ON.
brother Moſes * did (in his lodge) to Aaron, to Eleazar and Ithamar, (the ſons of Aaron,) and the ſeventy elders of raue l.
I x the preface to the Miſbna, we find this tradition of the Jews, explained as follows :
Gop not only delivered the law to Moſes on Mount Sinai, but the explanation of it likewiſe: When Moſes came down from the mount, and entered into his tent, Aaron went to vifit him; and Moſes acquainted Aaron with the laws he had received from Gop, together with the explanation of them: After this Aarox placed him- telf at the right-hand of Moſes, and Eleazar and Ithamar (the ſons of Aaron) were admitted, to whom Moſes re- peated what he had juſt before told to Aaron: Theſe being ſeated, the one on the right-hand, the other on the left-hand of Moſes; the ſeventy elders of 1ſrael, who compoſed the Sanhedrim, came in; and Moſes again de- clared the ſame laws to them, with the interpretation of
them, as he had done before to Aaron and his ſons.
Laſtly, all who pleaſed of the common people were in- vited to enter, and Moſes inſtructed them likewiſe in the fame manner as the reſt : So that Aaron heard four times
what Mofes had been taught by. Gop upon Mount Sinai,
Eleazar and Ithamar three times, the ſeventy elders twice, and the people once. Moſes afterwards reduced the laws which he had received into writing, but not the explanations of them; theſe he thought it ſufficient to truſt to the memories of the abovementioned perſons,
who, being perfectly inſtructed in them, delivered them to their children, and theſe again to theirs from age
to age,
AND-
\
AHIMANREZ ON. %
Aup grant that we may underſtand,
learn, and keep all the Statutes and com- mandments of the Lord, and this holy myſtery, pure and undefiled unto” our lives end. Amen, Lord.
4 PRAYER uſed among the primitive Chriſtian MAasoNs.
ME might of the Father of heaven,
and the wiſdom of his glorious Son, through the grace and goodneſs of the Holy Ghoſt, being three perſons in one Godhead, be with us at our beginning, and give us grace ſo to govern us here in our living, that we may come to his bliſs that never ſhall have end. Amen.
Another Prayer, and that which is moſt gee
zeral at Making or Opening.
OST holy and glorious Lord God, thou great architect of heaven and | earth, who art the giver of all good gifts and graces, and haſt promiſed that when two E or
90 AHIMANREZ ON.
or three are gathered together in thy Name, thou wilt be in the midſt of them: In thy Name we aſſemble and meet together, moſt humbly beſeeching thee to bleſs us in all our undertakings, that we may know and
ſerve thee aright, that all our doings may tend to thy glory and the ſalvation of our
ſouls. And we beſeech thee, O Lord God, to
bleſs this our preſent undertaking, and grant that this -our new. brother may dedicate-hys life to thy ſervice, and be a true and faithfyl brother among us: Endue him with a com- peteney of thy divine wiſdom, that he may, with the ſecrets of Free · maſonry, be able to unfold the myſteries of godlineſs and Chris- tianity. This we moſt humbly beg, in the Name, and for the ſake, of Jesvus CHRIST: our Lord and Saviour. Amen,
eee, * AHABATH OL AM.
A Prayer repeated in the Royal-Arch Lodge | at Jeruſalem;
HOU haſt loved us, O Lord our God;
with eternal Love; thou haſt ſpared
* Sec Dr. Mooion, on the MA.
us
AHIMAN REZ ON. 51
us with great and exceeding patience, our Father and our King, for thy great Name's
ſake, and for our father's ſake who truſted in thee, to whom thou didſt teach the ſta- tutes of life, that they might do after the ſtatutes of thy good pleaſure with a perfect heart: So be thou merciful unto us, O our Father, merciful Father, that ſheweth mer- cy, have mercy upon us we beſeech thee, and put underſtanding into our hearts, that we may underſtand, be wiſe, hear, learn, teach, keep, do, and perform all the words of the doctrine of thy law in love, and en- lighten our eyes in thy commandments, and cauſe our hearts to cleave to thy law, and unite them in the love and fear of thy NAME; we will not be aſhamed, nor con- founded, nor ſtumble, for ever and ever.
Bc Aus we have truſted in thy nov. GREAT, MIGHTY, and TERRIBLE NAME, we will rejoice and be glad in thy ſalvation, and in thy mercies, O Lord our God; and the multitude of thy mercies ſhall not for- ſake us for ever: Selah. And now make haſte and bring upon us a bleſſing, and peace from the four corners of the earth: for
thou art a God that workeſt ſalvation, and E 2 has
has choſen us out of every people and lan- guage; and thou, our king, has cauſed us to cleave to thy GREAT NAME, in love to praiſe thee and to be united to thee, and to love thy name: bleſſed art thou, O Lord God, who haſt choſen thy people Mael in love. |
H' G inſerted this prayer, and men- tioned that part of Maſonry commonly called the Royal Arch (which I firmly be- lieve to be the root, heart, and marrow of maſonry) I cannot forbear giving a hint of a certain evil deſigner *, who has made a trade thereof for ſome time paſt, and has drawn in a number of worthy, honeſt men, and made them believe that he and his aſſiſtants truly taught them all and every part of the abovementioned branch of maſonry, which they ſoon communicated to the worthy bre- thren of their acquaintance, without being able to form any ſort of judgment whereby
* I am ſorry to find he has a ſecond in iniquity, but as they are both overwhelmed with years and poverty, een let them die in ignominy and ſilent contempt.
they
AHIMAN REZ ON. 53
they might diſtinguiſh truth from falſchood, and conſequently could not diſcern the im- poſition ; but, as the wiſe Seneca juſtly ob- ſerves, it fares with us in human life as in a routed army, one ſtumbles firſt and then another falls upon him; and ſo they follow, one upon the neck of the other, till the whole field comes to be but one heap of miſcarriages. This is the caſe of all thoſe who think themſelves Royal-Arch Maſons, without paſſing the chair in regular form, according to the ancient cuſtom of the craft: To this I will add the opinion of our wor- ſhipful brother, Doctor Field D' Afigney, printed in the year 1744. Some of the ** fraternity (ſays he) have expreſſed an un- *« caſineſs at this matter being kept a ſecret from them (ſince they had already paſſed through the uſual degrees of probation) I cannot help being of opinion, that they have no right to any ſuch benefit until they make a proper application, and are « received with due formality : And as it is an organized body of men who have paſſed © the chair, and given undeniable proofs of ce their ſkill in architecture, it cannot be « treated with too much reverence; and more
« eſpecially
'34. AHIMANREZON.
** eſpecially ſince the characters of. the pre» - +4, ſent members of that particular lodge are <4 untainted, and their behaviour judicious and unexceptionable: So that there cannot be the leaſt hinge to hang a doubt on, but « that they are moſt excellent maſons.”
T ux reſpe& I have for the very name of free-maſon, is ſufficient to make me conceal the name of. the perſon here pointed at; and, inſtead of 'expoſing him, or ſtigmati- zing him with a name he juſtly deſerves, I earneſtly wiſh that Gop may guide him back, out of his preſent labyrinth of darkneſs, to the true light of maſonry ; which is, truth, charity, and juſtice.
I make no manner of doubt, but that this will reach the hands of the perſon aimed at and as my intention is rather to reform than offend, I hope he will anſwer my expecta- tion, in laying aſide ſuch evils as may bring diſhonour to the craft and himſelf; and I aſſure him (upon the honour of a maſon) I have no evil deſign againft him, no more than Hejod had againſt his brother Per/es, when he wrote the following advice.
O Perſes,
Short is
AHIMAN REZON. 35
O Pexſes, foaliſh, Perſes, bow thine car, _ _ | 6. To che good of a ſoul hineere 3. . T0 wickedneſs the.tcgd is quickly ndl. — — The paths of virtue muſt be reach d by toil, Arduous and long and on a rugged ſoil; TT horny the gate, but hen the top you gain, Fair is the future and the proſpect plain: Fear does the man all other men excel Who from his wiſdom thinks in all things well; 3 Wiſely conſidering to himſelf a Friend,
4 for the preſent beſt and for the end: is the man witheut his ſhare of praiſes. o well the 4{Qttths df EN n
But he that is not wiſe himſelf, nor can
.CHearkan'to wiſddm is a uſtleſs mafi 1 f
36
SEES .
THE GENERAL REGULATIONS
0 F THE
FREE and AccerreD
M A 8
O N 8.
eee
Old Regulations.
I. Tur grand-maſter or deputy has full authority and right,
not only to be pre-
ſent, but alſo to pre- ſide in every lodge
with the maſter of the
lodge on his left- hand and to order his grand-wardens to
attend
New Regulations,
T. Tran is only when the grand-war- dens are abſent, for
thegrand-maſtercan-
not deprive them of their office without ſhewing cauſe, fairly appearing to the grand-lodge, accord- ing to the old regu-
lation,
AH I MAN
Old Regulations. attend him, who are not to act as wardens of particular lodges, but in his preſence, and at his command; for the grand-maſter,
while in a particular
lodge, may command the wardens of that lodge, or any other
maſter- maſons, to act
as his wardens, pro Zempore.
II. The
'RE Z ON.
37 lation, XVIII: So that if they are pre- ſent in a particular lodge with the grand- maſter, they muſt act as wardens there.
Some grand-lod have ordered none but the grand- maſter, his deputy, and wardens (whore the only grand offi- cers) ſhould wear their jewels in gold, pen+ dant to blue * rib- bonds about their
necks, and white lea-
ther aprons with blue filk ; which ſort of aprons may alſo be
WOrn ?
I ſhall at all times be conformable, and pay due reſpect to every right worſhipful grand lodge of regular free- maſons, and am well aſſured that grand officers , only ſhould be diſtinguiſhed by gold jewels, and them accord. ing to their proper order ; but at the ſame time I am cer. | tain, that every member of the grand lodge has an un- doubted right to wear purple, blue, white, or crimſon,
S8 AHIMAN REZ ON.
Old Regulations.
II. The maſter of a particular Lodge,
has the right and au-
thority of congrega- ting the members of his lodge into a chap- ter, upon any emer- gency or occurrence, as well as to appoint the time and place of their uſual forming; and in caſe of death or ſickneſs, or neceſ- ſary abſence of the maſter, the ſenior warden ſhall act as maſter, pro tempore, if no brother is pre- ſent who has been
maſter of that lodge before; for the ab-
ſent, maſter's autho-
rity reverts to the laſt
maſter
New Regulation,
worn by former grand officers.
II. It was agreed, that if a maſter of a particular lodge is de- poſed, or demits, the ſenior warden ſhall forthwith fill the maſ- ter'schairtill the next time of chooſing, and ever ſince in the maſ- ter's abſence he fills the chair, even though a former maſter be preſent; except he has a mind to honour a moreſkilful paſt-maſ- ter; which is fre-
quently the caſe.
III. No
AHTMAN REZ ON. «ay
Old Regulations.
maſterpreſent, though
he cannot act till the ſenior warden congregates thelodge.
III. The maſter of each particular lodge, or one of the
wardens, or ſome other brother by ap- pointment of the maſter, | ſhall keep a book containing their bye-laws, | the names of their mem- bers, and a liſt of all the lodges in town, with the uſual times and places of their forming, and alſo the tranſactions of their own lodge, that are proper to be written.
IV. No lodge ſhall |
make more than five new brothers. at one
and
£0147 SOMLL. &
", 1 (1491) na
n 941} bau ot oy III. No lodge ſhall
1ng;to another houſe,
vious notice to the
Grand ſecretaty (con-
taining reaſons for
the removal) under the forfeiture of one guinea to the 1 N
charity. *
IV. This regulation is neglected for ſeveral Reafons, and is now obſolete.
® For the method of removing, ſee the gth Regulation,
6 . Old. Renilations.
and the ſame time, without an urgent neceſſity; nor any
AHIMAN RE'ZON.
Old Regulations:
man under the age
of twenty-five years,
(who muſt alſo be
his own maſter) un- Jeſs by a diſpenſation
from the grand-maſ-
ter
No man can be accepted a member of a particular lodge, without previous no- tice one month be- fore given to the lodge, in order to make due inquiry in- to the reputation and capacity of the can- didate, unleſs by a diſpenſation. VI. But no man can be entered a bro ther in any particu- lar lodge, or admit- ted
V. The granfl fe-
cretary can direct the
petitioners in the form of a diſpenſ- ſation, if wanted; but if they know the candidate, they do not require a dif- penſation,
VI. No vilitor, however ſkilled in maſonry, ſhall be ad- mitted into a lodge,
unleſs
AHIMAN
O/d Regulations.
ted a member there.
of, without the u- nanimous conſent of all the members of that lodge then pre- ſent, when the can- didate is propoſed, and when their con- ſent is formally aſked by the maſter, they are to give their con- ſent 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 becauſe, if a
turbulent
REZON. 6
New Regulations. unleſs he is perſon- ally known too, or well vouched and re- commended by one
of that lodge then preſent *, .
But it was found inconvenient to inſiſt upon unanimityinſe- veral caſes, and there fore the grand-maſ- ters have allowed the lodges to admit a member if there are not above three hal- lots againſt him; though ſome lodges
deſire no ſuch allow- ance. |
® I ſhall not mention the cauſe of the above new regula- tion being made, but certain it is that real Free Maſons have no occaſion for any ſuch regulation, they being able to diſtinguiſh a true brother, let his country or language de ever ſo remote or obſcure to us: nor is it in the power of falſe pretenders to deceive us.
62 Old Regulations.
turbulent member ſhould beimpoſed on them, it might ſpoil theirharmony or hin- der. the freedom of theircommunication, ar even break or diſ-
by all that are true and faithful.
VII. Every new
brother, at his entry, is decently to cloath the lodge, that is, all the brethren preſent, and to depoſite ſome- thing for the relief of the indigent and decayed brethren, as the candidate ſhall think fit to beſtow, over and above the ſmall allowance that may be ſtated in the bye - laws of that par- ticular lodge, which my ſhall be kept by
perſethe lodge, which ought to be avoided
INM AN R EZ ON.
New Regulations,
VII. See this ex- plain'd in the ac- count of the conſti-
tution of the general, charity; only parti- cular lodges are not limited, but may take their own method for
charity.
VIII. Every
by the caſhier; alſo the candidate ſhall ſolemnly promiſe to ſubmit to the conſti- tutions, and other good uſages, that ſhall be intimated to him, 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, or were af- terwards, admitted members, unleſs the lodge become too nu- merous ; nor even then, without a diſ- penſation from the Grand maſter or de- puty; and when thus ſeparated, they muſt either immediately join themſelves to
AHIMANREZ ON.
ſuch
63
7 ew Regulatians, g ö . ” > | l t L __ | * a a 1406 *
ther concerned in making maſons clan- deſtinely, ſhall not be allowed to viſit any lodge till he has made due Submiſſion, even tho' the brother ſo admitted may be allowed.
None who make a ſtated lodge without the grand - maſter's warrant ſhall be ad- mitted into regular lodges, till they make due ſubmiſſion and obtain grace.
64 oli Regulations.
ſuch other lodges that
they ſhall like beſt
(who are willing to receive them, Vor elſe obtain the Grand- maſter's warrant to join in forming a new lodge, to be regularly conſtituted in good time.
If any Set or num- ber of maſons, ſhall take upon themſelves to form a lodge with- out the Grand Maſ- ter's warrant, the re- gular lodges are not to countenance them, nor own them as fair
brethren duly form-
ed, nor approve of
their acts and deeds; but muſt treat them as rebels, until they humble themſelves
as the grand maſter
ſnall in his prudence direct
AHIMAN RE Zz ON.
New 10ns. | If any brethren form a lodge without
leave, and ſhall irre-
gularly make (that is
without the grand-
maſter's warrant} new brothers, they ſhall not be admitted into any regular lodge, no not as viſitors, till they render a good reaſon, or make due ſubmiſſion.
If anylodge within the limits of the city of London, ceaſe to meet regularly during twelve months ſuc- ceſſive, and not keep
up to the rules and orders of the grand
lodge, its number and place ſhall be eraſed
and diſcontinedin the grand lodge-books ;
and if they petition
ta be inſerted or own-
ed
Old Regulations. direct, and until he approve of them by his warrant ſignified to the other lodges, as the cuſtom is when a new lodge is to be regiſtered in the Grand lodge-book.
1
AHIMAN REZ ON. 6g
New Regulations. ed as a regular lodgs it muſt loſe its for- mer place and rank of precedency, and ſubmit to a new con- ſtitution.
Seeing that ſome extraneous brothers.
have been lately made in a clandeſtine man- ner; that is, in no regular lodge, nor by any authority or diſ- penſation from the grand- maſter, and up- on ſmall and unwor- thy conſiderations, to the diſhonour of the
craft.
The grand lodge decreed, that no per- ſon ſo made, nor any concerned in making him, ſhall be a grand officer, nor an officer of any particular
lodge;
66 IMA RE Z ON.
New Regulations.
lodge; nor ſhall any
ſuch partake of the
| general charity; if
IX. But if anybro- ther ſo far miſbehave himſelf, as to render his lodge uneaſy, he ſhall be thrice duly admoniſhed by the maſter and wardens in that lodge formed; and if he will not re- frain his imprudence, nor obediently ſub- mit to the advice of his brethren, he ſhall be dealt with accord- ing to the bye-laws of that particular lodge ; orelſe in ſuch a manner as the grand lodge ſhall in their great prudence think
fit, for which a new
Regu-
they ſhould come to want it.
IX. Whereas ſeve- ral diſputes have ari- ſen about the remo- val of lodges from one houſe to another, and it has been queſtioned in whom that power is inveſted, it is here- by declared, That no lodge be removed with- out the maſter's know- ledge, that no motion be made for removing in the maſter's abſence, and that if the mation be ſeconded, or thirded,
' the maſter ſhall order ſummons'sto every indi-
vidual member, ſpeci-
Hing the buſineſs, and
appointing a day for
bearing
after
Regulation may wards mad. rte 1K! 56 ten Days before, and
1111
. be | 7
New Regulatinis. hearing and determin- ing the Afair, at leaſt
the determmation ſhall
be made by the majo- rity; but be be of
the minority againſt re-
moving; the lodge ſhall
not be removed, unleſs the majority conſiſts of
full to thirds of the members preſent.
F 2
But if the maſter refaſe to direct ſuch Summons's either of the Wardens may do it; and if the maſter neglects to attend on the day fixed, the warden may preſide
in determining the
affair in the manner
preſcribed ; but they
ſhall not, in the maſ- ter's abſence, enter upon any other cauſe
but
69 Od Regulations:
AHIMAN RE Z ON.
New Regulations.
| but what is particu-
larly mentioned in
X. The majority of every particular lodge, when congre- gated (not elſe) ſhall have privilege of giv- ing inſtructions to their maſter and war- dens before the meet- ing of the grand chapter, becauſe the ſaid officers are their
repreſentatives, and
Pn to our the ſen-
at the next
the ſame ſummons. And if the lodge is
thus regularly order- ed to be removed, the maſter or warden
ſhall ſend notice to the ſecretary of the grand lodge, for the publiſhing the fame grand lodge.
X. Upon a ſudden emergency, thegrand lodge has allowed a
private brother to be
preſent, and, with leaveaſkedand given, to fignify his mind if it was about what concerned maſonry,
but not to vote.
XI. The
AHIMAN REZ ON.
Old Regulations. ſentiments of their
69
New Regulations.
brethren, at the ſaid
grand lodge. FI. All particular lodges are to obſerve the like uſages as much as poſſible; in order to which, and alſo for cultivating a good underſtanding among F ree-Maſons, ſome members of e- very lodge ſhall be deputed to viſit other | lodges, as often as ſhall be thought con- venient.
XII. The grand lodge conſiſts of, and | hes is
XI. The fame uſages for ſubſtance are actually obſerved in every regular lodge (of real free and ac- cepted maſons) which 1s much owing to vi- fiting brethren, who compare the uſages *,
XII. There muſt be no leſs than the * maſters
It is a truth beyond contradifion, that the free and
accepted Maſons in Ireland,
Scotland, and the ancient
' Maſons in England, have one and the fame cuſtoms, uſages, and ceremonies : But this is not the caſe with the modern Maſons in England, who differ materially not
only from the above, but from moſt Maſons under
Heaven.
70 Old Re ul. £5: . is formed by, the maſters and wardens of all the particular lodges upen record, with the grand maſ- ter at their head, the deputy on his left hand, and the grand» wardens in their places. Theſe muſt have their quarterly com- munications, or monthly meetings and adjournments, as often as occaſion re- quires, in ſome con- venient place, as the grand maſter ſhall ap- point, where none ſhall be preſent but its own propermembers, without leave aſked and given; and while e ſuch
New Regulations.
maſters and wardens of five regular lodges,
together with ane. of all of the grand offi - cers at their head, to form a Grand Lodge.
No new lodge is owned, nor their offi- cers admitted into the grand lodge, 997 leſs it be regularl y conſtituted. and re- giltered, _ All who have been or ſhall be grand maſ- ters, all be mem bers of and vote A. all grand lodges. -
All whe have been or ſhall be deputy grand maſters, ſhall
be members of and yote in all grand lodges*,
All
_® Paſt Maſters of warranted lodges on record, are al- lowed this privilege, whilft they continue to be members
of any regular lodge,
A HIMANREZZ ON. ot
ſuch a ſtranger (tho 1 brother) ſtays, he is net allowed to vote, nor even. te ſpeak to any queſ- tion, without leave of the grand lodge, or unleſs he is de- ſired to give his opi-
nion.
All matters in che
grand lodge are de- termined by a majo- rity of votes, each member having one vote, and the grand- maſter two votes, unleſs the grand lodge leave any par- ticular thing to the determination of the grand-maſter, for the ſake of expedition.
XIII. At the grand
lodge meeting, all matters that concern the
New Regulations.
All who have been or ſhall be grand wars dens, ſhall be mem< bers of and vote in all grand lodges; - 18
Maſters o wardens ſhall never attend the grand lodge without theit jewels, exdept upon giving good and ſufficient rcaſens. 8
If any officer of a particular lodge can
not attend, he may
ſend a brother of his lodge (that has been