The So Called Inigo Jones Ms. Of The Old Charges Of British Freemasons.

THE SO CALLED INIGO JONES MS . OF THE OLD CHARGES OF BRITISH FREEMASONS .

BY DR . W . BEGEMANN . When I was in London last summ--r , I found in the British Museum a copy of an old English translation of the works of Josephus , wherein I discovered verbatim the two letters , which are a particularity of the Inigo ones MS . and its family—namely , the letter ol Solomon to Hiram , and Hiram ' s answer to Solomon . The Inigo Tones MS . itself pretends to be ofthe year

1607 , but that cannot be the truth , as the English translation of Josephus above mentioned was not published before 1670 . Therefore , I studied the said MS . 'line b y line , and compared it with all others , especiall y the Spencer MS . of 1726 , which it resembles most of all . The result of my attentive research is , that the Inigo Jones MS . is a compilation of about 1725—a falsification , nothing else .

As I shall give at another occasion a fuller account of the different versions of the Old Charges , I state only that there are four chief families of versions , namely : — ( 1 . ) Grand Lodge Family . ( 2 . ) The Sloane Family . ( 3 . ) The Roberts Family .

( 4 . ) The Spencer Family . Each of these families comprises several branches or else sundry versions , so within the Grand Lodge Family there is a Grand Lodge Branch to which belong the Grand Lodge MS ., the Wilson M . S ., and the Edinburgh-Kilwinning MS . The Inigo Jones MS . belongs to the Spencer Family , together with the Cole and the Dodd versions .

The Cole version of 1728 , has been taken from the Spencer or a similar MS ., wilh some alterations . The title is the same . In the prayer Cole reads "three persons in one God , " instead of " three persons and one God . " Afterwards we meet with the following differences : —

SPENCKR MS ., 1726 . COLE Version , 1728 . The fourth is AmhmeticU , which teachetVi The fourth is Arithmetic ^ , which teacheth a Man lor to reckon or ., count all Manner ... a Man to reckon or account all of Numbers . manner of Numbers , & c . The fifth is Geometry , and that teacheth I he fifth is Geometry , which teacheth a Man the Mett or Measure of the Earth , the Mea-. uration of lines , Superficies ,

and of all other Things , the which Science Solids , & c , which Science is the Basis of is called Masonry . Masonry . The sixth Science is called Musick , and The sixth Science is called Musick , that teachtth a Man tie Craft of Song * , which teacheth ye Proportions of Harmony Voice , Tongue , and which gives a man & Discords of Sounds , & c , which qualifies Skill tf Sinsin *** , teaching him the Art of a man in the Art uf singing , Composeing Composition , and playins ; upon diverse Tunes , and playing upon divers

Instru-Ins'ruments , as the Organ and Harp , ments , as the Organ , Harp , & c . methodically . And the seventh Science is called Lastly , the seventh Science is called Astronomy , and that teacheth a Man for Astronomy , which teacheth the motions of to know the Course of the Sun , of the the Luminaries , Pianets , Fixed Stars , & c , Moon , and of the Stars . and to measure their Magnitudes , & Determine their Distances .

Note , I pray you , that these Seven are Note that these seven Sciences , are concontained under Geometry , for it teacheth tained under Geometry ; which teacheth Mett and Measure , Ponderatiun and the Measuration , Ponderation , or weight Weitht , for every Thing in , and upon the of everything in and upon the whole whole Earth , far you to know that every Earth . For ' tis well known That Craltsmin works by Measure , Husband- every Ciaftsman works by measure as also

men , Na"iga'ors , Planters , and -. W of them the Husbinlman , Navigator , Planter , & c , use Geometry ; for nc-iher Grimmer , for without Geometry , those arts can no Loi > ick , noraiw otherof the s-aid Sciences , more Subsist , then Logick can without can subsist without Geometry : Ergo , most Grammer . wor hy and honounble . You ask me how thi *; Science was in- The first Rise of this Science was before

vented ? My Answer is this , That before the general Deluge , which is commonly the General Deluge , which is commonly called Noah ' s Flood , there was a man called Noah's Flood , there was a Man called Lameth , as mentioned in the 4 th called Lameth , as you may read in the 4 th Chap , of Genesis , etc ., etc . Chapter of Gene-is , etc ., etc . One of the Pillars was Marble , for that One of the Pillars was Marble which

will not burn with any Fire , and the other will not burn in any Fire , and ye other Stone , was called Laternes , for that will Pillar or Stone was called Laternes which notdrown in any Water . will not drown in any Water . 'lhe great Hermes , sirnamed Trismagis- The Great Hermes , surnamed Tresmatus ( or three times Great ) being bo'h King , gistus , or three times Great , being both

Piiest and Philosopher , in Egypt he found , . . . Priest & Philosopher , in Egypt , etc ., etc . found etc ., etc . And atthe Building of Babylon , Masonry And at the building of Babilon Masonry was much made of , and the King of Baby- was in very great Esteem , Insomuch that lon , the mighty Nimrod , was a Mason the mighty Nimrod , King of Babylon , himself , etc ., etc . •was a Mason himself , etc ., etc .

Both versions have the name of " Hermes " instead of " Euclid " three times in the part of the History that describes the development of Masonty in Egypt , but in the last sentence after the so-called Euclid Charges the Cole version introduces " Euclid , " whilst the Spencer MS . has " Hermes " as before ; also we find " Hermes" in the Spencer MS . in one of the

following paragraphs : " and he gave them the Charges in manner as they were aiven in Egypt by Hermes , " whilst the Cole version omits the words ** b y Hermes . " The other alterations are of little importance and scarcel y worth mentioning , but that they show the Spencer version to be more original than the Cole version .

Now as regards the Inigo Jones MS . it is strange to see , that the superscription almost agrees with the title page of the Spencer MS . and the Cole edition . The latter is " A Book of the Antient Constitutions of the Free and Accepted Masons , " and the former is " The Antient Constitution of the Free and Accepted Masons , 1607 . '' The term of " Free and Accepted Masons ' * was not yet known at so early a period , but was

invented during the first Lustrum of the new founded Grand Lodge of London , probably not before 1722 . The first example I know of at present is the title of Roberts' edition of the Old Charges * . " The Old Constitutions belonging to the Ancient and Honourable Society of Free and Accepted Masons . " Samber , in his " Long Livers" ( 1721 to 1722 ) , speaks ot the "most Antient and most Honourable Fraternity of the Freemasons , " in the

title as well as in the " Dedication . ' Anderson , in 1723 , has " Accepted Free Masons " ( p . 1 ) , * " an Accepted Freemason " ( p . 46 ) ; " the Accepted Masons" ( p . 52 ]; "a Fiea and Accepted Mason" ( p . 55 ); "Free and Accepted Ma-ons " ( pp . 77 , 83 . 84 ) . I he term " to accept a Free-Mason '' was known before that lime , and tnerelrom they easil y derived the expression " an Accepted Free-Mason " or ¦ ' an Accepted Mason " ( vide Anderson , pp . 46 52 ) , and so at last *' a Free and Accepted Mason . "

lhe text of the Inij jo Jones , MS . differs in many points and passages from tie Spencer Mi ., it is true , but in the main parts these two are identic ; e . peciall y the two inserted letters are the same in both of them . These

The So Called Inigo Jones Ms. Of The Old Charges Of British Freemasons.

letters , as I told above , have been taken verbatim from the following book : " The Famous and Memorable Works of Josephus , a Man of much Honour and Learning among the Jews . Faithfully translated out of the Latine and French , by Tho . Lodge , Doctor in Physick , London , 1670 . " There is a second edition of Josephus of the year 1676 , but the compiler of the Spencer and Inigo Jones MSS . made use of the first edition , as vve may

see from so-ne words in the second letter . I put together the texts of the translation of Josephus and the Spencer MS .

J OSEPHUS 1670 ( page 194 . ) Solomon to Hiram the K ng : Know thou that my father having a will to build a Temple unto God , hath been withdrawn

from the performance thereof , by the continual Wars and troubles he hath had : for he never took rest before he cither had defeated his enemies , or made them tributaries unto him . For mine own part , I thank God for the peace which I possess ,

and for that by the means thereof , I have opportunitie ( according to my own desire ) to build a Temple unto God : for he it is that foretold my father that his house should be builded during my reign . For which cause I pray you send some one

of your skilf ullest men with my servants to the wood Libanus , to hew down trees in that place : for the Macedonians are more skillull in hewing and preparing timber then our people are , and I will pay the cleavers of wood according to your

direction . The King Hiram unto King Solomon : Thou hast cause to thank God , in that he had delivered thy fathers kingdome into thy hands , to thee I say , who an * a man wise and full of vertue . For which cause since

no news can come unto me more gracious , nor office of love , more esteemed than this , I will accomplish all that thou requestest : for after I have caused a great quamite of Cedar and Cyprus wood to be cut down , I will send it thee by Sea by my servants , whom I will command ( and furnish with

convenient vessels of burthen ) to the end they may deliver the same , in what place of thy Kingdome it shall best please thee , that afterwards thy subjects may transport them to Jerusalem . You shall provide to furnish us with Corn , whereof we stand in need , because we inhabite an Island .

SPENCER MS . 172 G . Solomon to Hiram the King . Know thou , that my Father havinjja will to builda Temple to God , hath been withdrawn

from the Performance thereof , by the continual Wars and Troubles he hath had , for he never took Rest before he either defeated his Enemies , or made them Tributaries unto him . For mine own Part , I thank God for the Peace which 1 possess , and for

that by the means thereof , I have Opportunity ( according to mine own Deshc ) to build a Temple unto God . For he it is that foretold my Father , that his House should be builded during my Reign . For which Cause 1 pray you send me one of your

skilfullest Men with my Servants to the Wood Libanus , to hew down Trees in that Place , for the Macedonians are more skillull in hewing and preparing Timber , than our People are , and I will pay the Cleavers of Wood according to your

Direction . Hiram to King Solomon . Thou hast Cause to thank God , in that he has delivered thy Father's Kingdom into thy Hands . To thee , I sa } ' , who art a Man , wise , and full of Virtue . For which cause

since no News can come unto me more gracious , nor Oflice of Love more esteemed than this , 1 will accomplish all that thou requestest ; for after I have caused a great quantity of Cedar and Cyprus Wood to be cut uown , I will send it to thee by Sea , by my Servants , whom I will command ( and

furnish with convenient Vessels of Burthen ) to the End they may deliver the same in what Place of thy Kingdom it shall best please thee , that afterwards thy Subjects may transport tnem to Jerusalem . Youshall provide to furnish us with Corn , whereof we stand in Need , because we inhabit an Island .

Besides these letters there are some more insertions in the Spencer version , and some of them have also been taken from the translation of Josephus of 1670 . We read in the Spencer version : " After the decease of King David , I Kings , 7 chapter , 13 verse , Solomon sent to Hiram , King of Tyre , for one who was a cunning Workman ( called Hiram Abil ) , the son of a Woman of the Line of Naphtali , and ol Urias the Israelite , & c . " And

the translation of Josephus reads * . " Atter this , Solomon sent unto Hiram King of Tyre for one who was a cunning workman , called ( Jram , the son of a woman of the line of Naphtali , and of Urias the Israelite . " The identity is evident , but that the compiler changed the name , putting Hiram Abif instead of Uram , wherelrom we may conclude that the compiler had an intention to introduce this Hiram Abil in the old history ot the Craft ,

because of the newly-invented legend of the Third Degree . After the letters , the compiler resumes the running oi the original version ; omitting here the words * 'After the decease ot King David , " he writes . * "Solomon , King David's Son , to finish the Temple tiiat nis Father had begun , sent lor Masons into diverse Countries , and gathered them together , etc ., etc . "—

whilst we read in the Grand Lodge version : " / -. Her the Decease ol King David , Solomon , that was Kinge David ' s Sonne , performed out the Temple that his Father had begun ; and he sent ior Masons into divers Countries and Lands and gathered them together , " etc ., etc . The slight alterations became necessary Irom the insertion .

The compiler could not keep the following passage , as he had already mentioned King Hiram ; therelore , he fabricated a new paragraph of his own , writing thus : "And Hiram King of Tyre , sent his Servants unto Solomon , ; lor he vvas ever a Lover of King David ; and he sent Solomon Timber , and Workmen to help forward the Building of the Temple . And he sent one that was named Hiram Abit ( 1 Kings , 7 , 14 ) , a Widow ' s Son of the Tribe ot Naphtali . " Here Hiram Abit is introduced a second time , according to the text of the Bible .

The two paragraphs now following , with sli ght alterations , were taken from the orig inal version , but then we rind eight paragraphs inserted from different sources . Perhaps three of them have also come trom Josep hus , but 1 could not find the passages , being in a great hurry ; the paragrap hs are these : "Anno Mundi 343 1 , at the Destruction of the first Temple by Nebuchadnezzar , after it had stood four hundred and thirty years .

" The second Temple began in the Reign ot Cyrus , seventy Years after the Destruction ; it being hindered , it was lorty--six Years in Building , and was finished in the Reign of Darius , Anno Mundi 3522 . " In the Reign oi Ptolomy and Cleopatra , Anno Mundi 3 813 , Onias built a Jewish Temple in Egypt , in the Place called Bubastis , and called it alter his own Name . "

The fourth paragraph has been compiled from Josephus : —•

J OSEPHUS ( page 405 ) . The Tower ot Straton otherwise called Caesarea , builded by Herod—page 407 : upon his return he builded a goodly Temple of white marble honour of his name , in the country in vvhich belonged to Zenodorus near to a place which is called Panion .

SPENCER MS . The Tower of Straton ( alias Caesana , Anno Mundi 3 S 42 ) , built by Herod in Palestine , and many other curious Works of Marble , as the Temple of Caesar Agrippa , to his Memory , in the country called Zenodoras , near to a Place called Panion .

In the fifth paragraph we find also a passage that agrees with Josep hus :

J OSEPHUS ( page 408 ) . After he had pulled down the old . . . . he appointed a thousand chariots to draw stunts utito tue place and chose out amongst the rest ten thousand cunning and expert workmen .

SPENCER MS . Anno Mundi 394 6 , he also pulled down the second Templi ; , that was liaidlied " » the Reign of Dauus , and appointed one thousand caniages to draw Stjne w Place , and cno > e uut ten thousand ciin "' nS and expert Workmen . . . •_ ,