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