The Records Of An Ancient Lodge.

THE RECORDS OF AN ANCIENT LODGE .

BY . AY . PEED . VERNOtf , P . M . NO . 58 , S . C . ( Continued from page 326 . )

"TSTE continue our extracts from these interesting old records , ancl insert '' here a carefully transcribed copy of an ancient document , apart from the minutes , which is endorsed on the back in very faded characters , " Mutuall agrieinent BetAvixt the Maisones of the Lodge of Melros . " The date of the document is 1675 , ancl it is written , as stated beloAV , by " Andro Mem , Meason , portioher of Neustied . " This is without a doubt the same "AM " who had .

written out the ancient charge in 1674 ( see Masonic Magazine for January , pp . 289-294 ) , the handwriting being identical in both documents . In the absence of other testimony the following proves the existence of the Lodge of Melrose for a considerable period before the date of the first entry in the old minute book ( 1674 ) : —

" At ISfeusteid the twentie & nyne Day of Januarie Jai vi of tlu-ie scor & fyfteen years the under snbsci-iband massons aud prentises w' in ye lodge of Meh-ois , having tnkin to consideration ye great hurt & losse y' - we have bein at in tyme bygoine , and y' - by taking of prentises upon ye accompt of tlu-ie or foure yeirs which was a great losse to ye prentises , in not being tractable in his trad & not able to serve as a pei-fyt workman by reason of his small insight in ye trade of meason craft . AVherfore to avoyd ye lyke in tyme comming ( Wit yea 16 ) be thir presents iv' mutuall consent & asent lyk as wo be thir presents binds

and obliges us conjunctly & severaly that none of us shal take any prentises herafter under sevin yeirs being bound to serve by ye Indenture othenvays if so bee y < any sail break ye said rule fovs in y' caise ye partie breaker sail be obliged to pay twentie pund Scots monie for every yeirs break y' he or they sail take any prentice under ye foi-s seven years and y' w' out modification to be given of the fores ' soume toggedder w' ye soume fyve marks of Libyn * adafc expenses Income of fovfcye & iv' laivfull payment of ye fors ' soume abovewvitin by and altour ye fulfilling of ye premisses foresdLyk as we with mutuall consent f ' orstl

, , binds & obligges us conjointly & severaly giveand & grantand ^ full power & 1 ibertie to ye master masson & wardine of ye fors ' lodge [ for ye tymef ] to call for & pei-seu for ye fores ' break or any oyer break y' sail hapen to be Includit in yis present bond & obligation pi-ovydand they be ay comptable to ye s Lodge for ye Intromission , and Snblyk we w consent firstly obligged us to meit yeirly on Saint John ' s Day which is ye 27 of December ( if it be