The History Of Freemasonry.

subsequently admitted the joiners and locksmiths to a participation of their charge ; while some . eceders from the carpenters , Sons of M . Soubise , claim to be a fourth corps under the same banner , but are not recognised as such by the other three . Next in point of origin are the Sons of

Maitre Jacques , also stonemasons , who likewise subsequently admitted the joiners and the locksmiths , and , still later , the members of nearly every other Craft . The youngest class are the Sons of Maitre Soubise , who were originally confined to tho carpenters , but afterwards

admitted the plasterers and tylers . Thus the oldest and youngest classes only consist of three trades each—all belonging to the building crafts , while the intermediate one numbers in its ranks most of the known handicrafts , as "the joiners began by conferring their charge

on the turners and glaziers , and one by one every trade has either been admitted , or has managed to acquire possession of a charge , and to enforce acknowledgment of its claims . Without , the possession of a charge no claim can hold good . " Of the few Crafts that have never

belonged to the Companionage the most conspicuous are " the Masons ( not to be confounded with the stonemasons ) , the apothecaries , clothworkers , furriers , printers , watchmakers , goldsmiths , wigmakers , bookbinders , and perfumers . " We may state that a table is given at page 215 ,

which shows at a glance the organisation of the Companionage , its subdivisions , chiefs , distinctive grades and marks , & c This will be found of great use in studying the subject It is further to be remarked that " in whatever town of France a charge " ( devoir )—which Perdiguier defines

as " a code—the entirety of the laws and regulations which govern a society "— " was deposited , there the Craftsman found a house of call devoted to his purposes , and a branch of the society . " These towns , known as the " villes du devoir , or du tour de France , were Lyons , Avignon ,

Marseilles , Nimes , Montpellier , Toulouse , Bordeaux , Nantes , and Paris , " to which Simon has added " Auxerres , Chalons-sur-Saone , Clermont-Fevram , Beziers , La Rochelle , Angouleme , Angers , Saumur , Tours , Orleans , and later Algiers . " As regards these , Bro . Gould notes , as a curious coincidence ,

that they are chiefly situated in the south , where the Roman traditions were longest preserved . In towns where there was no charge lodged—aud which were known as " bastard towns , " the itinerant Companion " was still able to profit by the society in a minor degree , provided that he continued his subscription to the nearest branch . "

Our attention is next drawn to the traditions connected with the several claeses . As to Solomon's position towards the Companions , but little has been said by Perdiguier ; and Bro . Gould suggests the cause of this reticence to have been , thafc " perhaps he had little to communicate , beyond a biographical record of the wise king , which he has

admittedly taken from the Holy writings . Perdiguier , it seems , has merely added to this record that " The Sons of Solomon claim that this King gave them a charge , and incorporated them fraternally within the precincts of the Temple ; " and , also , that "The stonemasons" ( of this

fraternity , S . of S . ) " are accounted the most ancient of the Companions . An ancient fable has obtained currency amongst them , relating , according to some , to Hiram , according to others , to Adonhiram , wherein are represented crimes and punishments ; but I leave this fable for what it is worth . "

As to the " Legend of Maitre Jacques , it is reproduced from the pages of Perdiguier , who , we are informed , remarks , " Maitre Jacques is a personage about whom very little is known , and each of the societies has invented a more or less probable story concerning him ; nevertheless ,

there is one which enjoys an extended acceptance with very many Companions du Devoir ; it is from this that I extract , without changing a single word , the following details . " In a footnote , Bro . Gould writes , "The italics are mine , The legend which follows is fragmentary , and I think it

not improbable that the portions omitted would , if supplied , furnish a clue to the secret ceremonies and other undisclosed features of the institution . It must not be forgotten that Perdiguier was far too honourable to divulge anything of vital importance . He wrote for his fellows , and the

public ; the former would be able to supply every hiatus ; the latter would only learn what was considered sufficient for their enlightenment . He wrote as a conscientious

Freemason would discuss Freemasonry ; nevertheless , it is possible that a Freemason can read more easily "between his lines than any one else besides a Compagnon . " The legend is to the following effect : " Maitre Jacques , one

of the first masters of Solomon , and a colleague of Hiram was born in a small town called Carte , now St . Romili " —which , as is said in a footnote , is " as purely traditionary as the master himself "— "in the South of Gaul ; he was the son of Jacquin "—possibly , as is suggested , " Jachin "— . ' < a

celebrated architect , and devoted himself to stone-cutting . At the age of fifteen he left his family and travelled into Greece , then the centre of the fine arts , where he entered into a close alliance with * * * " —Bro . Gould suggests that the stars may stand for " Pythagoras , " only that

philosopher flourished much later than Solomon— " a philosopher of the highest genius , who taught him scul pture and architecture . He soon became celebrated in both these arts . " Here he learns that" Solomon had summoned to himself all famous men , " and accordingly , " he passed

into Egypt , aud thence to Jerusalem , " where , however , " he did not at first gain much distinction among the workmen ; but , at last , having received an order from the chief master to construct two columns , he sculptured them with such art and taste that he was accepted a master . " M .

Jacques was six and twenty years of age when he arrived at Jerusalem , but he did not remain there long , and left not lone after the construction of the Temple . He made his way back to Gaul in company with Maitre Soubise . " They had sworn never to part ; but before long M . Soubise , a

man of violent character , becoming jealous of the ascendency which M . Jacques had acquired over their disci ples , and of the love which they bore him , separated from his friend and chose other disciples . M . Jacques landed at Marseilles , and M . Soubise at Bordeaux . Before

commencing his travels , M . Jacques chose thirteen Companions ( Compagnons ) and forty disciples ; being deserted by one of them he chose another . He travelled for three years , leaving everywhere the memory of his talents and virtues . One day , being at some distance from his disciples , he was

assailed by ten of the followers of M . Soubise , who attempted to assassinate him . In order to save himself he plunged into a swamp , the canes ( or reeds , in French 'joncs' ) of which not only supported him , but afforded a refuge from the blows of his assailants . Whilst these

cowards were seeking some means of reaching him , his disciples arrived and effected his rescue . " After this he withdrew to St . Beaume , where a second attempt on his life was , unfortunately , more successful . " One of his disciples , called by some Jeron , and by others Jamais ,

betrayed him to the disciples of M . Soubise . One day , before sunrise , M . Jacques being alone and engaged in prayer in his accustomed spot , the traitor arrived , accompanied by the executioners , and gave as usual the kiss of peace , which was the preconcerted death signal . Five

villains at once fell upon and killed him with five dagger wounds . " However , his disciples , though they arrived too late to prevent his murder , were in time to " receive his last farewell . ' I die , ' said he , ' God has willed it so ; I forgive my assassins , and forbid you to follow them ; they are

already miserable enough ; some day they will repent . I deliver my soul to God , my Creator ; and you , my friends , receive from me the last kiss of peace . When I shall have rejoined the Supreme Being , I shall still watch over you . I desire that the last kiss which I give you be

imparted always to the Companions whom you may make , as coming from their Father ; they will transmit it to those whom they make ; I will watch over them as over you ; tell them I shall follow them everywhere so long as they remain faithful to God and to their charge ( devoir ) , and

never forget which hiatus Brother Gould very pertinently suggests , is " possibly of the utmost importance to Companions . " After this , M . Jacques " pronounced a few more words , which they were unable to understand , and crossing his

arms over his breast , expired m his forty-seventh year , four years and nine days after his leaving Jerusalem , and 989 years before Christ . " Then "the Companions having disrobed him , found a small piece of cane , which he wore in memory of the canes that had saved his life when he fell

into the swamp . " After this we learn , without surprise , that " since then the Companions have adopted the cane . ' As for Maitre Soubise , and whether he was the instigator of his old friend ' s death , we read , " the tears which he shed over his tomb , and the pursuit of the assassins which he

ordered , contributed to weaken in great measure the suspicions that were entertained . As for the traitor , he very soon repented of his crime , and , driven to despair by his poignant regrets , he threw himself into a pit , which the companions filled up with stones . " Then " the Com-