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  • Jan. 1, 1906
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    Article The Masonic "Old Charges." ← Page 2 of 4 →
Page 3

Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.

The Masonic "Old Charges."

readers who desire to study the text of these souvenirs of antiquity . A few of the rolls are now preserved in the United States and Canada ; so that both the new and old world are supplied with genuine copies of constitutions of the operative fraternity .

The oldest in U . S . A . is the "Carson Manuscript , " formerly known as thc "Hub of the Universe Manuscript , " because discovered recently in Boston , and which was sold to the lamented Mr . Enoch T . Carson , of Cincinnati ( hence its title ) . This is now in the magnilicent library of General Samuel C .

Lawrence , of Medford , Mass . In the same important collection are the reproductions by Cole of a copy of the " Old Charges , " being the set of 1729 , 173 1 , 175 1 , and 1762 , and reissues of similar brochures . The unique print of " Robert's Manuscript" of 1722 , having a similar text to the "Grand

Lodge Manuscript No . 2 , " is in the large and valuable library of the Grand Lodge of Iowa , which also has another quartette of the " Cole " variety and

several reprints . The Grand Lodge of Canada possesses the very interesting " Scarborough Manuscript , " of

A . D . 1705 ( circa ) , the date of which is approximately fixed by an indorsement relating to the holding of a lodge in

that town on the 10 th of July , 1705 . The relation of these scrolls to modern Grand Lodges and their

regulations , especially as to "Physical Qualifications , " and the basis generally of Masonic Jurisprudence , would require too much

space to consider now , and there is very much involved in the inquiry

which I hope to institute ere long . The " William Watson MS . " reproduced in The Xew Age from English issue , will suffice

to exhibit the character of the early copies of the " Old Charges , " and also the special features of that particular class . Some of the later MSS .

have ¦ 'The New Articles , " live of these so far having been traced . The clauses are noteworthy , because they evidently represent thc rules agreed to by one or more lodges , about the middle of the' 17 th Century onwards , additional to the ordinary scrolls . They would serve admirably as the prototype of the Grand Lodge Regulations of 1723 and later , and

of themselves foreshadow the character of Grand Lodges which arose early in the following century , the issue of certificates , visitation of lodges , and the reception of speeulatives . Dr . James Anderson , in the " Book of Constitutions , " of

1738 , quotes from one of these MSS ., possibly the " Roberts , " printed in 1722 , and now in the celebrated library of the Grand Lodge of Iowa . I purchased it for my lamented friend , Wm . Bower , of Keokuk , Iowa , at Spencer ' s sale of Masonic Works in 1875 . The learned doctor , however , could not refrain . from altering the text to suit modern usages , which is much to bj

THE "W 11 . UAM WATSON - MS .

regretted , such as the introduction of the qualification regular before Lodge , and the prefix Grand to Master . I give the clauses from the Havleian MS . No . 1942 , British Museum ( circa 1670 ) . THE NEW ARTICLES .

" 26 : Noe person ( of what degree soever ) bee accepted a free Mason , unless hee shall haue A lodge of line free Masons , at least , whereof one to bee a master , or warden , of that limitt , or devision , wherein such Lodge shalbee kept & another of the trade of ffree

Masonry . " 27 : That noe p ' son shalbee accepted a ffree Mason , but such as are of able body , honest parentage , good reputacon , & observers ol" the Laws of the Land . " 28 : That noe p ' son

hereafter bee accepted ffree Ma s o n , nor shalbee admitted into any

Lodge or assembly vntill he hath brought a Certificate of the time of

accep ' con from the Lodge yt accepted h i m , vnto the Master of that Limitt &

Devision , where such Lodge was kept , which sayd Master shall enrole the same

in pare h 1111 , in a role to bee kept for that purpose , to give an acct of all

such acceptions At every general Assembly . ' 29 : That every person whoe now is free

Mason , shall bring to the Master a note at the time of his acception to

the end the same may be enrolld in such priority of place as the

p ' son shall deserve , and to the ye end the whole company and fellows may the better know each other . " 30 : That for the future the sayd Society , Company and fraternity of ffree Masons shalbee regulated &

governed by one Master & Assembly , & Wardens , as ye said Company shall think lit to choose , at every yearely generall Assembly . " 31 : That noe p ' son shalbee accepted a ffree Mason or know the secrets of the sayd Society , vntill hee

hath Iirst taken the oath of secrecy hereafter following . " In the Grand Lodge MS . No . 2 ( circa 1650 ) there is dnother clause , as with the ' Roberts M . S . " ( A . D ., 1722 ) , " that noe p ' son shall be accepted a ffree Mason except he

be one and twenty years old or more . " Mr . Conder , the historian of the " Masons' Company " ( London ) , remarks of Rule 30 that "it might also have been

“The Masonic Illustrated: 1906-01-01, Page 3” Masonic Periodicals Online, Library and Museum of Freemasonry, 30 May 2025, django:8000/periodicals/mil/issues/mil_01011906/page/3/.
  • List
  • Grid
Title Category Page
Untitled Article 1
The Masonic "Old Charges." Article 2
The Relation of Freemasonry to Religion. Article 5
Freemasonry in Durham. Article 6
St. Martin's Lodge, No . 51 0, Liskeard. Article 7
The Holden Lodge, No. 2946. Article 8
The Order of the Red Cross of Rome and Constantine. Article 9
Untitled Ad 10
Untitled Ad 10
The Master's Obligations. Article 10
At the Sign of the Perfect Ashlar. Article 11
Untitled Ad 12
Untitled Article 13
Untitled Ad 13
Provincial Grand Chapter of Gloucestershire. Article 14
Untitled Ad 14
Provincial Grand Lodge of Derbyshire. Article 15
Provincial Grand Lodge of Nottinghamshire. Article 16
History of the Lod ge ofEm ulation, No .21. Article 17
Untitled Ad 20
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.

The Masonic "Old Charges."

readers who desire to study the text of these souvenirs of antiquity . A few of the rolls are now preserved in the United States and Canada ; so that both the new and old world are supplied with genuine copies of constitutions of the operative fraternity .

The oldest in U . S . A . is the "Carson Manuscript , " formerly known as thc "Hub of the Universe Manuscript , " because discovered recently in Boston , and which was sold to the lamented Mr . Enoch T . Carson , of Cincinnati ( hence its title ) . This is now in the magnilicent library of General Samuel C .

Lawrence , of Medford , Mass . In the same important collection are the reproductions by Cole of a copy of the " Old Charges , " being the set of 1729 , 173 1 , 175 1 , and 1762 , and reissues of similar brochures . The unique print of " Robert's Manuscript" of 1722 , having a similar text to the "Grand

Lodge Manuscript No . 2 , " is in the large and valuable library of the Grand Lodge of Iowa , which also has another quartette of the " Cole " variety and

several reprints . The Grand Lodge of Canada possesses the very interesting " Scarborough Manuscript , " of

A . D . 1705 ( circa ) , the date of which is approximately fixed by an indorsement relating to the holding of a lodge in

that town on the 10 th of July , 1705 . The relation of these scrolls to modern Grand Lodges and their

regulations , especially as to "Physical Qualifications , " and the basis generally of Masonic Jurisprudence , would require too much

space to consider now , and there is very much involved in the inquiry

which I hope to institute ere long . The " William Watson MS . " reproduced in The Xew Age from English issue , will suffice

to exhibit the character of the early copies of the " Old Charges , " and also the special features of that particular class . Some of the later MSS .

have ¦ 'The New Articles , " live of these so far having been traced . The clauses are noteworthy , because they evidently represent thc rules agreed to by one or more lodges , about the middle of the' 17 th Century onwards , additional to the ordinary scrolls . They would serve admirably as the prototype of the Grand Lodge Regulations of 1723 and later , and

of themselves foreshadow the character of Grand Lodges which arose early in the following century , the issue of certificates , visitation of lodges , and the reception of speeulatives . Dr . James Anderson , in the " Book of Constitutions , " of

1738 , quotes from one of these MSS ., possibly the " Roberts , " printed in 1722 , and now in the celebrated library of the Grand Lodge of Iowa . I purchased it for my lamented friend , Wm . Bower , of Keokuk , Iowa , at Spencer ' s sale of Masonic Works in 1875 . The learned doctor , however , could not refrain . from altering the text to suit modern usages , which is much to bj

THE "W 11 . UAM WATSON - MS .

regretted , such as the introduction of the qualification regular before Lodge , and the prefix Grand to Master . I give the clauses from the Havleian MS . No . 1942 , British Museum ( circa 1670 ) . THE NEW ARTICLES .

" 26 : Noe person ( of what degree soever ) bee accepted a free Mason , unless hee shall haue A lodge of line free Masons , at least , whereof one to bee a master , or warden , of that limitt , or devision , wherein such Lodge shalbee kept & another of the trade of ffree

Masonry . " 27 : That noe p ' son shalbee accepted a ffree Mason , but such as are of able body , honest parentage , good reputacon , & observers ol" the Laws of the Land . " 28 : That noe p ' son

hereafter bee accepted ffree Ma s o n , nor shalbee admitted into any

Lodge or assembly vntill he hath brought a Certificate of the time of

accep ' con from the Lodge yt accepted h i m , vnto the Master of that Limitt &

Devision , where such Lodge was kept , which sayd Master shall enrole the same

in pare h 1111 , in a role to bee kept for that purpose , to give an acct of all

such acceptions At every general Assembly . ' 29 : That every person whoe now is free

Mason , shall bring to the Master a note at the time of his acception to

the end the same may be enrolld in such priority of place as the

p ' son shall deserve , and to the ye end the whole company and fellows may the better know each other . " 30 : That for the future the sayd Society , Company and fraternity of ffree Masons shalbee regulated &

governed by one Master & Assembly , & Wardens , as ye said Company shall think lit to choose , at every yearely generall Assembly . " 31 : That noe p ' son shalbee accepted a ffree Mason or know the secrets of the sayd Society , vntill hee

hath Iirst taken the oath of secrecy hereafter following . " In the Grand Lodge MS . No . 2 ( circa 1650 ) there is dnother clause , as with the ' Roberts M . S . " ( A . D ., 1722 ) , " that noe p ' son shall be accepted a ffree Mason except he

be one and twenty years old or more . " Mr . Conder , the historian of the " Masons' Company " ( London ) , remarks of Rule 30 that "it might also have been

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