The grand master then addresses him :

"BROTHER,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

excess.

"VII. You agree to be cautions in carriage

and behaviour, courteous to your brethren, and faithful to your lodge.

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

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

"X. You promise to pay homage to the grand master for the time being, and to his officers when duly installed; and strictly to conform to every edict of the grand lodge, or general assembly of masons, that is not subversive of the principles and ground work of masonry.

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

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

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

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

"XV. You agree that no visitors shall be received into your lodge without due examination.

and producing proper vouchers of their having been initiated in a regular lodge.”*

As the curious reader may wish to know the ancient charges that were used on this occasion, we shall here insert them verbatim as they are contained in a MS. in possession of the Lodge of Antiquity in London, written in the reign of James the Second.

66

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

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

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

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

Thirdly, and yee shall keepe truely all the counsell that ought to be kept in the way of masonhood, and all the counsell of the lodge or of the chamber. Allso that yee shall be no thiefe nor thiefes to your knowledge free; that yee shall be true to the king, lord or master that yee serve, and truely to see and work for his advantage. "Fourthly, Yee shall call all masons your fellowes, or your brethren and no other names.

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

"Sixthly, Yee shall truely pay for your meat or drink wheresoever yee goe to table or boarde. Also, yee shall do no villainy there, whereby the craft or science may be slandered.

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

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

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

"Secondly, Allso, that no master take worke but that he take reasonable pay for itt; so that the lord may be truely served, and the master to live honestly, and to pay his fellowes truely. And that no master or fellowe supplant others of their worke; (that is to say) that if he hath taken a worke, or else stand master of any worke, that he shall not put him out, unless he be unable of cunning to make an end of his worke. And no master nor fellowe shall take an apprintice for less than seaven yeares. And that the apprintice be free born, and of limbs whole as a man ought to be, and no bastard. And

These are the regulations of free and accepted

masons.

that no master of fellowe take no allowance to be made mason without the assent of his fellowes, at the least six or seaven.

"Thirdly, That he that be made be able in all degrees; that is, free born,of a good kindred, true, and no bondsman, and that he have his right limbs as a man ought to have.

Fourthly, That a master take no apprintice without he have occupation to occupy two or three fellowes at the least.

Fifthly, That no master or fellowe put away any lordes worke to task that ought to be journey worke.

66 Sixthly, That every master give pay to his fellowes and servants as they may deserve, soe that he be not defamed with false workeing. And that none slander another behind his backe, to make him loose his good name.

"Seaventhly, That no fellowe in the house or abroad answear another ungodly or reproveable without a cause.

"Eighthly, That every master mason doe reverence his elder; and that a mason be no common plaier at the cards, dice, or hazzard, nor at any other unlawful plaies, through which the science and craft may be dishonoured or slandered.

"Ninthly, That no fellowe goe into the town by night, except hé have a fellowe with him, who may bear him record that he was in an honest place.

"Tenthly, That every master and fellowe shall come to the assemblie, if it be within fifty miles of him, if he have any warning. And if he have trespassed against the craft to abide the award of masters and fellowes.

"Eleventhly, That every master mason and fellowe that hath trespassed against the craft shall stand to the correction of other masters and fellowes to make him accord; and if they cannot accord, to go to the common law.

"Twelfthly, that a master or fellowe make not a mould stone, square nor rule, to no lowen, nor let no lowen worke within their lodge, nor without, to mould stone.

Thirteenthly, That every mason receive and cherish strange fellowes when they come over the couutrie, and set them on worke if they will worke, as the manner is; (that is to say) if the mason have any mould stone in his place, he shall give him a mould stone, and sett him on worke; and if he have none, the mason shall refresh him with money unto the next lodge.

"Fourteenthly, That every mason shall truely serve his master for his pay.

"Fifteenthly, That every master shall truly make an end of his worke, taske, or journey, whethersue it be.

"These be all the cherges and covenants that ought to be read at the instalment of master, or making of a freemason or freemasons. The almighty God of Jacob, who ever have you and me in his keep. ing, bless us now and ever. Amen,"

The grand master then addresses the master elect in the following manner :

"Do you submit to these charges, and promise to support these regulations, as masters have done in all ages before you ?"

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

"Brother A B, in consequence of your cheerful conformity to the charges and regulations of the order, you are now to be installed master of this new lodge, in full confidence of your care, skill and capacity, to govern the same."

The new master is then regularly invested with the insignia of his office, and the furniture and implements of his lodge.

The various implements of the profession are emblematical of our conduct in life, and upon. this occasion carefully enumerated.

"The Holy Writings, that great light in masonry, will guide you to all truth; it will direct your paths to the temple of happiness, and point out to you the whole duty of man.

"The Square teaches to regulate our actions by rule and line, and to harmonize our conduct by the principles of morality and virtue.

"The Compass teaches to limit our desires in every station, that, rising to eminence by merit, we may live respected, and die regretted.

"The Rule directs that we should punctually observe our duty; press forward in the path of virtue, and, neither inclining to the right nor to the left, in all our actions have eternity in view.