At called meetings those Lodges only are opened in which the business of the meeting is to be performed.

Charge used at Opening a Lodge.

"Behold! how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!

"It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard, that went down to the skirts of his garments:

"As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion; for there the Lord commanded the blessing, even life for evermore."

An Invocation at Closing the Lodge.

May the blessing of Heaven rest upon us, and all regular Masons! may brotherly love prevail, and every moral and social virtue cement us! Amen. So mote it be.

No Lodge can be regularly opened or closed without religious ser vices of some sort. The general usage is for the Master to call upon brethren gifted in prayer to make supplication to the Divine Throne. In very many Lodges, opening and closing Odes are likewise sung. See Appendix.

CHAPTER VI.

CHARGES AND REGULATIONS FOR THE CONDUCT AND
BEHAVIOR OF MASONS.

A rehearsal of the Ancient Charges properly succeeds the opening, and precedes the closing, of a Lodge. This was the constant practice of our ancient brethren, and ought never to be neglected in our regular assemblies. A recapitulation of our duty can not be disagreeable to those who are acquainted with it; and to those who know it not, should any such be, it must be highly proper to recommend it.

The Synopsis of the Ancient Charges, introduced here by Webb, is so abbreviated and imperfect that it is thought better to insert the whole, unabridged. All questions upon Masonic Law must be referred, as a last resort, to these Ancient Charges. A mere skeleton of a document, not in itself very lengthy, does not therefore answer the purpose Webb had in view, nor would it serve as a standard, so necessary in this inquiring age, for the settlement of the numerous mooted questions that arise in the workings of every Lodge.

THE

ANCIENT CHARGES OF MASONRY.

FIRST PUBLISHED IN 1723 UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF THE

GRAND LODGE OF ENGLAND.

CHAPTER I.

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 become a stupid Atheist nor an irreligious Libertine.

But though in ancient times, Masons were charged in every country to be of the Religion of that country or nation, whatever it was, yet it is 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 and true, or men of honor 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.

CHAPTER II.

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 or conspiracies against the peace and welfare of the nation, nor

to behave himself undutifully to inferior magistrates. For as Masonry hath always been 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 answered the cavils of their adversaries, and promoted the honor of the fraternity who ever flourished in times of peace. So that if a Brother should be a rebel against the State, he is not to be countenanced 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 can not expel him from the Lodge, and his relation to it remains indefeasible.

CHAPTER III.

OF LODGES.

;

A Lodge is a place where Masons assemble and work; hence that Assembly, or duly-organized 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 appeared to the Master and Wardens, that pure necessity hindered him. The persons admitted members of a Lodge must be good and true men, free born, and of mature and discreet age, no

Alluding to the Constitution of the Grand Lodge of England which is not given in this volume.

MASTERS, WARDENS, FELLOWS AND APPRENTICES.

33

bondmen, no woman, no immoral or scandalous men, but of good report.

CHAPTER IV.

OF MASTERS, WARDENS, FELLOWS AND APPRENTICES. All preferment among Masons is grounded upon real worth and personal merit only; that so the lord may be well served, the brethren not put to shame, nor the Royal Craft despised. Therefore no Mason 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 honor 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 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 gentleman 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 honorable discharge of his office, the Grand Master has a power to choose his own