Illustrations Of The History Of The Craft.

derived from the former both then outward frameAvork and inner organization . From a comparison ancl careful collation of authorities , AVO are Avarranted in thus summing up the Roman evidences , I think fairly and properly . The lodgesor " Maceria ) " were held in

, , secluded rooms or building exclusively appropriated to tho purpose , and most of the lodges had schools attached to them for the instruction of the apprentices and inferior workmen .

These lodges had their regular meetings and peculiar ceremonies , generally monthly . Their proceedings took place in secret . They met , are told , to admit neAV members , to regulate the affairs of the college , and unfold their teaching in art and science . The members took an oath mutually to

assist each other , and indigent members received relief during their lives , and at their death Avere buried at the expense of the " Area Communis , " or common chest . Three members formed a Collegium ; hence the saying , " Tres faciunt Collegium , " an adage entirely in accordance Avith our OAVII Masonic traditions and usages .

They kept a register of their members , some of Avhich are still extant ( Schauberg , Erause , Lonning ) , and these members were knoAvn to each other by signs and Avords . They also paid monthly contributions-The members of these colleges Avere

exempted " a muneribus publicis " and " immunes" from taxes and service to the municipalities and the state . Hence , perhaps one , origin of the Avord Free-Mason , though the real moaning is undoubtedly " Free of the Guild . "

According to Vitruvius , the College of Architects , like the Egyptian Priests , admitted none into their mystery but their oivn children and relatives , though they elected , from time to time , honorary members , as " patroni perpetui , " or " honorati ,

adlecti honorati , " and even ladies Avere admittedas"hoiioratiBmatronfe "—honorary members ancl patrons . The names of their officers are preserved on many inscriptions ( Gruter , Spon , Orelli ) . Their masters Avere called magistri " prasfecti , " or quinquennales , as elected for five

years ; their Avardens , deeuriones ; their eldors , seniores ; secretaries , scribte ; infests , sacerdotes collegii ; keepers of the archives , tabular !!; messengers , eranistas ; serving

brethren , viatores , or servos ; and flag bearers , signiferos . The members Avere called " frataleas " ( a corrupt Latin Avord for brethren , according to some Avriters , and collegiati , or college ancl sometimes " sodales , " according to others and many of tho inscriptions .

One inscription still declares that tlie Collegium commemorated yearly its foundation , " diem natalem , " by a feast for the members at the common cost—a custom

not altogether unknoAvn to the present members of our excellent Order . If this bo a correct representation of Hie outward frameAvork , so to say , of the Roman Masonic guilds , Ave see tho foundation , and the germ at any rate , of many

of the later rules and regulations of the mediaeval Craft Masons , as far as they are as yet knoAvn to us . There is undoubtedly a great mass of evidence to be adduced , from many nonmasonic Avriters , Avhich Avould serve to

shoiv , that , a secret reception and a secret organization and mutual recognition and aid marked the Roman collegia . As regards their ritual and mystical teaching little has so far been discovered , or has survivedbut many emblems haA'o

, been found on the tombs of Roman Masons , members of these collegia , Avhich are clearly identical Avith our OAVII . There , may still be seen , as Avell as on tesselated floors and mural paintings , the square and compasses , tho gavel and plumb-linethe sprig of

, acacia , and the five-pointed star . In fact it Avould almost seem by one inscription that the double triangle Avas not unknoAvn to them .

Gruter m his remarkable Avork , preserves some most Avonderful epitaphs ancl inscriptions . On one , for instance , though tmhajipily mutilated , Ave have recorded many names of members of the collegium—its " prajfecti " and " quinqueimales , " hs " honorati" and its " scribas . " On another ,

, Ave have a list of " patron ! , " of " quinquennales perpetui , " of " quinquennales , " and a long list of members , " adlecti . ' One epitaph records that the person has been "bis eleetus quinquennalis , and another that he has been " ter eleetus

, Avhilst there is a constant mention o ( " quinquennales , " or " praffeeti perpetui , as Avell as " patroni perpetui . " A Greek KOIVUVM of builders , so late as