The " Thomas Foxcroft" Masonic Manuscript.

was a worthy King in England , that brought this Land into good rest and he builded many great Works and Buildings , therefore he loved well Masons : for he had a son called Edwin , the which loved Masons much more than his Father did , and he was much practised in Geometry , and delig hted much to come and talk with Masons , and to learn of them the Craft . And after , for the love he had to the Craft , he was made a Mason

at Windsor , and got of the King his Father a Charter and Commission , once every year to Assemble within the Realm , where they would within England , and to correct within themselves Faults and trespasses , that were done as touching the Craft . And he held them an Assembly at York , and there he made Masons , and gave them Charges , and taught them the Manners and commands , the

same to be kept ever afterwards : And took them the Charter and Commission to keep their Assembly , and ordained that it should be renewed from King to King , and when the Assembly were gathered together , he made crie , that all old Masons or young that had any Writings , or understandings of the Charges and manners that were made , wheresoever they were made Masons , that they should bring them forth : they were found

some in French , some in Greek , some in Hebrew , some in English , and some in other Languages , and when they were read and overseen well , the intent of them All was understood to be One : and then he caused a Book to be made thereof , how this worthy Craft of Masonry was first found : and he himself commanded , and also caused it should be read at any time ,

when it should happen any Mason or Masons to be made , to give him or them their Charges : and from that time untill this day , Manners of Masons have been kept in this manner and form , as well as men nflght govern it : and farthermore , at diverse Assemblies have been put and ordained diverse Cratchets , by the best advice of Masters and Fellows , tunc unus ex Senioribus tentat librum et illi ponent manus suas super librum .

Every man that is a Mason , take good heed to these Charges , we pray ye , that if any man find himself guilty of any of these Charges , that he may amend : Or principally for dread of God , you that be charged take good heed , that ye keep all these Charges well , for it is great perill for a man to forswear himself upon a book .

The first Charge is , that ye shall be true men to God , and his Church : and to use no errour or Heresy by your understanding , or by wise men's teaching , also Secondly , that ye shall be true Leigmen to the King of England , without treason or any falshood ; and that ye know no treason or treachery , but ye shall give knowledge thereof to the King , or to his Council : and ye shall be true one to another , that is to say , every Mason of the Craft , that is Mason allowed , ye shall do to him as ye would be done unto .

Thirdly , ye shall keep truly all the Counsel , that ought to be kept in the way of Masonry , and all the counsel of the Lodge , or of the Chamber : also that ye be no thief nor thieves , to your knowledge free , that ye shall be true to the King ( Lord or Master ) that ye serve , and truly to see and work for his advantage . Fourthly , ye shall call Masons , your Fellows or your Brethren , and no other names .

Fifthly , ye shall not take your Fellow ' s Wife in villany , nor deflower his his Daughter or Maide , or put him to any disworship . Lastly , ye shall Pay truly for your meat and drink , wheresoever ye go to table or board :. also ye shall do no Villany there , whereby the Craft or Science may be slandered . These be the general Charges to every true Mason , both Masters and Fellows .

Now will I rehearse other Charges single for Masons , allowed and accepted . First , that no Mason take any Lord ' s , or other man ' s work , unless he knows himself well able to perform it , so that the Craft have no slaunder . Secondly , that no Master take work but that he take reasonable pay for it , so that the Lord may be truly served , and the Master to live honestly , and to pay his Fellows truly : and that no Master or Fellow supplant others

of their work , that is to say , if he have taken Work , or stand as Master of any work , he shall not put him out unless he be unable of Cunning to make an end of his work : And no Master or Fellow shall take an Apprentice for less than seven years , and that the Apprentice be free-born , and of limbs whole , as a man ought to be , and no bastard . And that no Master or Fellow take any allowance to be made Mason without the assent of -his Fellows , at the least Six or seven .

Thirdl yi that he may be able in all degrees , that is , Free-born , of good Kindred , " true , and no bondman : also that he have his right limbs , as a man ought to have . Fourth , that no Master take an Apprentice , without he have Occupacon sufficient to employ two or three Fellows at the least . Fifth , that no Master nor Fellow put away any Lord ' s work to task , that ought to be journey-work .

Sixth , that every Master give pay to his Fellows and Servants as they may deserve , so that he be not defamed with false working , and that none Slaunder another bchinde his back , to make him lose his good name . Seventh , that no Fellow in the house , or abroad , answer another ungodly or reprovably , without a cause .

Eighth , that no Fellow go into the town by night , except he have a fellow with him , who may bear record that . he was in an honest place . Ninth , that every M ' - Mason do reverence his Elder , and that a Mason be no common player at cards , dice , hazzard , or any other unlawful Plays , through which the Science and Craft may be dishonoured or slandered .

Tenth , that every Master and Fellow shall come to the Assembly , if il be within 50 miles of him ( if he have any warning ) and if he have trespassed against the Craft , to abide the award of Masters and Fellows

Eleventh , that every M - Mason , and Fellow that hath trespassed against the Craft , shall stand to the correction of others Masters and Fellows , to make him accord : and if they cannot accord , to go to the Common Law . Twelfth , that a Master or Fellow make not a mould , stone , square or rule to any Lowen , nor set any Lowen work within their Lodge , or without , to mould stone .

thirteenth , that every Mason receive and cherish strange Fellows , as they come oyer the countrey , and set them on work ( if they will work ) as the manner is : that is to say , if the Mason have any mould-stone in his place , he shall give him a mould-stone , and set him on work : and if he 'lave none , the Mason shall refresh him with money , unto the next Lodge . Fourteenth , that every Mason shall true serve his Master , for his pay . . I'ifteenth , that every Master shall truly make an end of his work , task or journey , whither soevcrit be

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" These be all the Charges and Covenants , that ought to be read at the making of a free Mason or Masons , the Almighty God of Jacob , who ever have You and me in his keeping , blesse us now and ever . Amen . " THOMAS FOXCROFT . 1699 . Transcribed by HENRY SADLER . lOUrtolltll . t / iat ewry Mafotl ( hall tnn ? ( try his Marter , for his pay j TifieeiifK , ihat * y « ry M nfwv ( lull trul y inata au ni of hu work , tafk orjounuy , vv / iiilwr Ioewr . it b « . rvfco issU 1 kiik M all the Cfianres flI U | Qvenawf s , , ^ ! << ic >> thai cuo-lii to hi mul m th * mnkiW of a ¦> £ ? oJbz f . vcPlaf (» ii orlhlon ^ thtMmu ^ U y c ^ Jic •% &> Ookl ofhiCV , who over hav ? < A £ J <\ to you iind mi in hi , Ittomnv . sit-, ••wa mtSTt i « now an J ewr ^<\ *>> wlherniasioxcroft,(ww 769^**i

Red Cross Of Rome & Constantine.

Red Cross of Rome & Constantine .

DIVISIONAL CONCLAVE OF KENT .

The annual meeting of the above was held under the banner of the Saye and Sele Conclave , No . . , at the Green Man Hotel , Blackheath Hill , S . E ., on Tuesday , the 21 st ult . The Intendant-General of Kent presided , assisted by his Deputy , Sir Knight A . H . Bateman , and many Divisional Oflicers , Present and Past .

Previous to the Divisional meeting , the Saye and Sele Conclave held its regular meeting , and installed as knights of the Order Bros . Wilkes and Oxenham , electing yet another brother . The arch of steel having been formed , the Intendant-General , the III . Knight the Rev . Hayman Cummings , entered and assumed the throne , and opened Dhisional Conclave . The muster roll was called , and the minutes confirmed .

The Treasurer , Sir Knight BRYANT , presented his audited accounts , which showed a satisfactory balance , and were duly approved and passed . The Intendant-General appointed and invested his officers for the year as follows :

Sir Knight A . H . Bateman ... ... ... Dep . Inten .-Gen . „ Capt . Woollatt ... ... ... Viceroy Eusebius . „ F . W . Williams ... ... ... Senior General . „ H . Bagshaw ... ... ... Junior General . „ Rev . W . R . Finlay ... ... High Prelate . ,, B . R . Bryant ( elected ) ... ... Treasurer .

„ W . C . Taylor ... ... ... Recorder . „ Capt . Wishart ... ... ... Chamberlain . „ P . Monson ... ... ... Marshal . „ A . Rollington ... ... ... Prefect . „ F . E . Tidswell ... ... ... Inspecr . of Regalia . „ Capt . Troughton ... ... ... ist . Std . Br .

„ CM . Challender ... ... ... 2 nd Std . Br . ,, J . C . Reynolds ... ... ... Swd . Br . C . W . Wilkes ... ... ... Organist . ,, R . Urquhart ... ... ... Herald . ,, D . Bonvonni ... ... ... Dir . of Cer . Frater Spinks ... ... ... ... Sentinel .

After the reading of correspondence and transaction of routine business , Divisional Grand Conclave was closed , and the Intendant-General retired under the arch of steel . The knight ? subsequently dined together under the presidency of the Intendant-General , the M . P . S . of the Saye and Sele Conclave occupying the vice-chair , when the toasts usual in Christian Masonry were duly honoured .

The enjoyment of the knights was much enhanced by a capital musical programme , furnished by the Misses Phillips and Stevens ( guitar and mandoline ) , Bros . Cummings , Hall , Hayes , and Phillips , and Graham ( buffo and natural whistler ) . Bro . Wilkes was a most able soloist and accompanist on the piano .

THE ROLICI ; COMMITTEE . —The committee , in placing on record their appreciation of the services of Alderman Sir Joseph C . Dimsdale , L . C . C ., heartily acknowledge his able and courteous discharge of his responsible duties as chairman during the past year , while they thank him for the interest he has at all times taken in the transaction of important business . Thc committee also cordially acknowledge the continued services of Mr . Deputy Pepler , who , as deputy chairman , has rendered valued and experienced aid towards the dispatch of their important deliberations .