THE
Charges
of a Freemason
Reprinted from the original
edition, William Hunter, London, 1723]
1.
CONCERNING GOD AND RELIGION
A
Mason is obliged, by his tenure, to obey the moral law; and if he rightly
understands the art, he will never be
a stupid atheist, nor an irreligious libertine. But though in ancient times
Masons were charg’d in every country to be of the religion of that country or
nation, whatever it was, yet ‘tis now thought more expedient only to oblige
them to that religion in which all men agree, leaving their particular opinions
to themselves; that is, to be good men and true, or men of honour and honesty,
by whatever denominations or persuasions they may be distinguished; whereby
Masonry becomes the center of union, and the means of conciliating true
friendship among persons that must have remained at a perpetual distance.
2.
OF THE CIVIL MAGISTRATE SUPREME AND
SUBORDINATE.
A
Mason is a peaceable subject to the civil powers, wherever he resides or works,
and is never to be concerned in plots and conspiracies against the peace and
welfare of the nation, nor to behave himself undutifully to inferior
magistrates; for as Masonry hath been
always injured by war, bloodshed,
and confusion, so
ancient kings and princes have
been much disposed to encourage the craftsmen, because of their peaceableness
and loyalty, whereby they practically answer’d the cavils of their adversaries,
and promoted the honour of the Fraternity, who ever flourish’d in times of
peace. So that if a Brother should be a rebel against the state, he is not to
be countenanc’d in his rebellion, however he may be pitied as an unhappy man; and, if convicted of no
other crime, though the loyal brotherhood must and ought to disown his
rebellion, and give no umbrage or ground of political jealousy to the
government for the time being; they cannot expel him from the Lodge, and his
relation to it remains indefeasible.
3.
OF LODGES.
A
Lodge is a place where Masons assemble and work; hence that assembly, or duly
organiz’d Society of Masons, is called a Lodge, and every brother ought to
belong to one, and to be subject to its by-laws and the General Regulations. It
is either particular or general, and will be best understood by attending it,
and by the regulations of the General or Grand Lodge hereunto annexed. In
ancient times, no Master or Fellow could be absent from it, especially when
warned to appear at it, without incurring a severe censure, until it appear’d
to the Master and Wardens, that pure necessity hinder’d him.
The
persons admitted members of a Lodge must be good and true men, free-born, and
of mature and discreet age, no bondsmen, no women, no immoral and scandalous
men, but of good report.
4.
OF MASTERS, WARDENS, FELLOWS, AND
APPRENTICES
All
preferment among Masons is grounded upon real worth and personal merit only;
that so the lords may be well served, the Brethren not put to shame, nor the
royal craft despis’d: therefore no Master or Warden is chosen by seniority, but
for his merit. It is impossible to describe these things in writing, and every
Brother must attend in his place and learn them in a way peculiar to this
Fraternity; only candidates may know that no Master should take an apprentice
unless he has sufficient employment for him, and unless he be a perfect youth,
having no maim or defect in his body that may render him incapable of learning
the art, of serving his Master’s lord, and of being made a Brother, and then a
Fellow-Craft in due time, even after he has served such a term of years as the
custom of the country directs; and that he should be descended of honest
parents; that so, when otherwise qualified, he may arrive to the honour
of being the Warden and then the
Master of the Lodge, the Grand Warden and at length, the Grand Master of all
the Lodges, according to his merit.
No
Brother can be a Warden until he has passed the part of a Fellow-craft; nor a
Master until he has acted as a Warden, nor a Grand Warden until he has been
Master of a Lodge, nor Grand Master unless he has been a Fellow- craft before
his election; who is also to be nobly born, or a gentlemen of the best fashion, or some
eminent scholar, or some curious architect, or other artist, descended of
honest parents, and who is of singular great merit in the opinion of the
Lodges. And for the better, and easier, and more honourable discharge of his
office, the Grand
Master has power to choose his
own Deputy Grand Master, who must be then, or must have been formerly, the
Master of a particular Lodge, and has the privilege of acting whatever the
Grand Master, his principal, should act, unless the said principal be present,
or interpose his authority by letter.
These
rulers and governors, supreme and subordinate, of the ancient Lodge, are to be
obeyed in their respective stations by all the brethren, according to the Old
Charges and Regulations with all humility, reverence, love, and alacrity.
5.
OF THE MANAGEMENT OF THE CRAFT IN
WORKING
All
Masons shall work honestly on working days that they may live creditably on
holy days; and the time appointed by the law of the land, or confirmed by
custom shall be observed.
The
most expert of the Fellow-craftsmen shall be chosen or appointed the Master, or
overseer of the lord’s work; who is to be call’d Master by those that work
under him. The Craftsmen are to avoid all ill language, and to call each other
by no disobliging name, but Brother or Fellow; and to behave themselves
courteously within and without the Lodge.
The
Master, knowing himself to be able of cunning, shall undertake the Lord’s work
as reasonably as possible, and truly dispend his goods as if they were his own;
nor to give more wages to any Brother or
Apprentice than he really may deserve.
Both
the Master and the Masons receiving their wages justly, shall be faithful to
the Lord and honestly finish their work, whether task or journey; nor put the
work to task that hath been accustomed to journey.
None
shall discover envy at the prosperity of a Brother, nor supplant him, or put
him out of his work, if he be capable to finish the same; for no man can finish
another’s work so much to the Lord’s profit, unless he be thoroughly acquainted
with the designs and draughts of him that began it.
When
a Fellow-craftsman is chosen Warden of the work under the Master, he shall be
true both to Master and Fellows, shall carefully oversee the work in the
Master’s absence to the lord’s profit; and his brethren shall obey him.
ll
Masons employ’d shall meekly receive their wages without murmuring or mutiny,
and not desert the Master till the work is finish’d.
A
younger Brother shall be instructed in working, to prevent spoiling the
materials for want of judgment, and for increasing and continuing of brotherly
love.
All
the tools used in working shall be approved by the Grand Lodge.
No
laborer shall be employ’d in the proper work of Masonry; nor shall Freemasons
work with those that are not free, without an urgent necessity; nor shall they
teach labourers and unaccepted Masons as they should teach a Brother or Fellow.
6.
OF BEHAVIOR, VIZ.
1.
In the Lodge While constituted.
You
are not to hold private committees or separate conversation without leave from
the Master, nor to talk of anything impertinent
or unseemly, nor
interrupt the Master or Wardens, or any Brother speaking to the Master,
nor behave yourself ludicrously or jestingly while the Lodge is engaged in what
is serious and solemn, nor use any unbecoming language upon any pretense
whatsoever; but to pay due reverence to your Master, Wardens, and Fellows, and
put them to worship.
If
any complaint be brought, the Brother found guilty shall stand to the award and
determination of the Lodge, who are the proper and competent judges of all such
controversies, (unless you carry it by appeal to the Grand Lodge), and to whom
they ought to be referred unless a Lord’s work be hindered the mean while, in
which case a particular reference may be made, but you must never go to law
about what concerneth Masonry, without an absolute necessity apparent to the
Lodge.
2.
Behavior after the Lodge is over and the Brethren not gone.
You
may enjoy yourself with innocent mirth, treating one another according to
ability, but avoiding all excess, or forcing any Brother to eat or drink beyond
his inclination, or hindering him from going when his occasions call him, or
doing or saying anything offensive, or that may forbid an easy and free
conversation; for that would blast our harmony, and defeat our laudable
purposes. Therefore no private piques or quarrels must be brought within the
door of the Lodge, far less any quarrels about religion, or nations, or state
policy, we being only, as Masons, of the catholick religion above mention’d; we
are also of all nations, tongues, kindred, and languages, and are resolved
against all politicks, as what never yet conduced to the welfare of the Lodge, nor ever will. This Charge
has always been strictly enjoined and observed; but especially ever since the
Reformation in Britain, or the dissent and secession of these nations from the
communion of Rome.
3.
Behavior when Brethren meet without Strangers, but not in Lodge formed.
You
are to salute one another in a courteous manner, as you will be instructed, calling each other
Brother, freely giving mutual instruction as shall be thought expedient,
without being overseen or overheard, and without encroaching upon each other,
or derogating from the respect which is due to any Brother, were he not a
Mason; for though all Masons are as brethren upon the same level, yet Masonry
takes no honour from a man that he had before; nay rather it adds to his
honour, especially if he has deserved well of the Brotherhood, who must give
honour to whom it is due, and avoid ill manners.
4.
Behavior in Presence of Strangers not Masons.
You
shall be cautious in your words and carriage, that he most penetrating Stranger
shall not be able to discover or find out what is not proper to be imitated;
and sometimes you shall divert a discourse, and manager it prudently for the
honour of the worshipful Fraternity.
5.
Behavior at Home, and in your Neighborhood.
You
are to act as becomes a moral and wise man, particularly, not to let your
family, friends and neighbors know the concerns of the Lodge, & c., but
wisely to consult your own honour, and that of the ancient Brotherhood, for
reasons not to be mentioned here. You must also consult your health, by not
continuing together too late, or too long from home after Lodge
hours are past; and by avoiding of gluttony or drunkenness, that your families
be not neglected or injured, nor you disabled from working.
6.
Behavior towards a strange Brother.
You
are cautiously to examine him, in such a method as prudence shall direct you
that you may not be imposed upon by an ignorant false pretender, whom you are
to reject with contempt and derision, and beware of giving him any hints of knowledge.
But
if you discover him to be a true and genuine Brother, you are to respect him
accordingly, and if he is in want, you must relieve him if you can, or else
direct him how he may be reliev’d; you must employ him some days, or else
recommend him to be employ’d. But you are not charged to do beyond your
ability, only to prefer a poor Brother, that is a good man and true, before any
other poor people in the same circumstances.
Finally,
all these charges you are to observe, and also those that shall be communicated
to you in another way; cultivating brotherly love, the foundation and capstone,
the cement and glory of this ancient Fraternity, avoiding all wrangling and
quarrelling, all slander and backbiting, nor permitting others to slander any
honest Brother, but defending his character, and doing
him all good
offices as far as is consistent with your honour and
safety, and no farther. And if any of them do you injury, you must apply to
your own or his Lodge; and from thence you may appeal to the Grand Lodge at the
quarterly communication, and from thence to the
annual Grand Lodge,
as has been
the ancient laudable conduct of our forefathers in every nation; never
taking a legal course but when the case cannot be otherwise decided, and patiently
listening to the honest and friendly advice of Master and Fellows, when they
would prevent you going to law with strangers, or would excite you to put a
speedy period to all listening
to the honest and friendly advice of Master and Fellows, when they would
prevent you going to law with strangers, or would excite you to put a speedy
period to all lawsuits, that so you may find the affair of Masonry with the
more alacrity and success; but with respect to Brothers or Fellows at law, the
Master and brethren should kindly offer their mediation, which ought to be
thankfully submitted to by
the contending brethren; and if that submission is impracticable, they must
however carry on their process, or law-suit, without wrath and rancor (not in
the common way) saying or doing nothing which may hinder brotherly love, and
good offices to
be renew’d and
continu’d; that all may see the benign influence of Masonry,
as all true Masons have done from the beginning of the
world, and will do to the end of time.
AMEN
SO MOTE IT BE.
