of becoming good and perfect without the aid of hope or fear, which, likewise teacheth the universal language of masons.†

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• Q. Will you teach me the same arts?

"A. You shall be taught, if you be found worthy and able to learn.

Q. Do all masons know more than other men?

A. No; but they have the right and opportunity of obtaining knowledge, more than other men. Some however, fail in capacity, and many more through want of industry, which is absolutely necessary to the attainment of this important object.

Q. Are masons better than others?

"A. Some masons are not so virtuous as some other men; but, in general, they are better than they would have been, if they had not been made masons.

'Q. Do masons generally love each other in the manner which has been represented?

"A. They certainly do; nor can it be otherwise, it being an unquestionable fact, that the better men.are, the more they love one another.

"Here endeth the questions and answers."

†The universal language of masons. The being able by secret and inviolable signs, carefully preserved amongst the fraternity throughout the world, to express themselves intelligibly to men of all nations and languages. A man, who has all these arts and advantages, is certainly in a condition to be envied. But we are told, that this is not the case, with all masons; for though 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 skill of becoming good and perfect, and I wish it were communicated to all mankind; since 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; virtue having in itself, something so amiable, as to charm the hearts of all who behold it.

A letter from Mr. Locke, to the right honourable the earl of Pembroke, to whom he sent the aforesaid ancient manuscript, concludes as follows. "I know not what effect this old paper may have upon your lordship; but, for my own part, I cannot 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 London, and that will be shortly. I am, my lord, &c.

No. VII.

"JOHN LOCKE."

Ancient charges at the constituting of a lodge, extracted from a manuscript in the possession of the lodge of ANTIQUITY IN LONDON, written in the time of James the Second, who began his reign, A. D. 1685.

"Every man who is a free mason, must consider it as a sacred duty, to fix on his mind the following charges, and to observe them with due care, principally for dread of the Most High God, by whose holy name, he hath sworn to obey them; for it is a great error to be guilty of perjury.

"The first charge is, that you worship God in sincerity and truth, and that you do not attempt any heresy or schism in the church.

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Secondly, You shall be true liege men to the government and laws of your country, and never be guilty of falsehood or treason; and should any treasonable practises come to your knowledge, you are forthwith to give information thereof to the proper authority. You are also to be true to one another, and to observe the golden rule, of doing to every brother, as you would wish that he should do to you.

Thirdly, You shall keep with inviolable secrecy, all

the mysteries of free-masonry, which may be communicated to you in the lodge. You must conduct yourselves as men of honesty and integrity, and serve your master in such a manner, as may be most conducive to his honour and profit.

Fourthly, You shall call all masons brother, and never apply to them any opprobrious epithets.

"Fifthly, You shall respect the chastity of a brother's wife, his daughter, and servant; and shall commit no act, which can cast a reflection on his character, or expose him to shame.

Sixthly, Wherever you go, you shall be careful to pay for your board and lodging, and always act in such a manner as may reflect honour on the craft."

These are the charges, which have heretofore been given to all true masons, whether masters or fellows. I shall now rehearse some other charges, which equally demand your attention.

"First, No mason should take upon him his master's work, or any other person's, unless he be conscious to himself, that he is able to perform it in such a manner as will not injure the reputation of the craft.

Second, No master shall take work without a reasonable compensation, so that the person who has employed him, may be truly served, and the master enabled to live with decency, and pay his workmen with punctuality. Nor shall any master or fellow, supplant another in regard to employment; that is to say, if one brother hath undertaken any work, another shall not supersede him, unless the former should be found incapable of performing it.

"Third, He, who shall be made a mason, shall be free. born, of reputable parents, of good reputation, and not a bondsman. He shall also be perfect and complete in his limbs, as a man ought to be.

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"Fourth, No master shall take an apprentice, unless he have occasion for two or three fellows, at least.

"Fifth, No master or fellow shall put away any one's work to task, which ought to be journey work.

"Sixth, Every master shall give pay to his fellows and servants, according to their respective deserts, sø that he may not be accused of fraud or partiality. In his conversation, he must likewise be careful not to slander an absent brother, nor use any expression, which may injure his good name.

"Seventh, No mason, whether at home or abroad, shall speak to a brother in the language of ill nature with

out cause.

"Eighth, Every mason shall treat those, who are older than himself, with reverence. He shall be no common player at cards, dice, hazard, or any other unlawful games, in consequence of which, the craft may be dishonoured.

“Ninth, No mason shall go into town at night unless he have a brother along with him, who may be able to certify, that he was in good company.

"Tenth, Every master and fellow, shall come to the assembly if he have had due notice, and the place of meeting be within fifty miles of him ;* and if he have trespassed against the rules of the craft, he shall abide by the award of his brethren.

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Eleventh. Every master mason or brother, who has been accused of injuring another, shall stand by the decision of his brethren; but if he should be refractory, he must be prosecuted at common law.

Twelfth, No master or fellow shall make a mould

This, as well as the rule immediately preceding, would, in our times, be dev med peculiarly hard. Masons, however, know the limits which are how prescribed, and if they study their own interest, will not trans2. them.

stone, square, or rule, to any lown, nor permit any lown, either within or without their lodge, to mould stone.

"Thirteenth, Every master shall courteously receive and cherish, a strange brother, who may have come into the country, and set him at work if he can; but if he have no employment for him, he shall give him money sufficient to defray his expenses, till he can arrive at the next lodge.

"Fourteenth, Every mason shall truly serve his master for his pay, and the master, shall honourably perform his work, task, or journey, whethersoever it may be."

These are the charges and covenants, which ought to be read at the instalment of a master, or making of a free-mason. May the Almighty God of Jacob, have us all in his holy keeping, and grant us his blessing in this world, and in that which is to come. Amen.

で

No. VIII.

Extract from the diary of Elias Ashmole,, a learned

Antiquary.

"I was made a free-mason at Warrington, in Lancashire, 16th October, 1646. On March the 10th, 1682, I received a summons to appear at a lodge, to be held the next day, at Mason's Hall, in London. March 11th, I accordingly attended, where I was the senior fellow amongst them, it being nearly 35 years since I had been admitted into the fraternity." After giving the names of the brethren who attended, which it is of no importance for us to know, only that they were men of the highest standing in society, he adds, "we all dined at the Half Moon Tavern, where we partook of a sumptuous dinner, at the expense of the new accepted masons."