The Dumfries Kilwinning Mss.

questions by heart , then his symbols , then do as tlie lodge thinks fit . " An extraordinary catechism follovrs the AIS . proper , A \* liich docs not concern our present purpose . Of thc 10 copies of the old AIS . Constitutions in Scotland , this is the only one that contains thc regular " Apprentice Charge , " and .

even of the numerous versions preserved in England , there are not a dozen which recite these special regulations . The text of the Apprentice Rules is similar to . the " Clapham " ancl " Wren , " bnt all the eleven known havc much in common . The "Alelrose" A-ariet y , herein given , represents quite a different code .

Ihe "Thistle AIS ., " Avhich belongs to the lodge of that name I Dumfries , No . G 2 ) , is Avritten in tbe first minute book , of the year 1756 , and Avas signed , in token of their adhesion , by the earl y members , over 60 in number . The text is of no value , save as a curiosity , as it is quite eA * ident the numerous additions to the

document were the production of an ignorant brother , who mixed up theological injunctions Avith Alasonic regulations , and AVIIO kneAV as little of the cosmopolitan spirit of the Craft as he did of Orthograph y or thc requirements of his trade . So far as it is Avritten in accordance Avith Alasonic usage , it is based upon the previous document .

W . J . HUGHAN DUMFRIES KILWINNING AIS . No . 2 .

[ Thc prayer and introduction are not complete the paper having been torn or defaced to the 4 th of the Seven Sciences . ] " 4 . ARITHMETIC !** : which teacheth men to reckon and accompt all numbers . 5 . GEOMETHIE Avhich teacheth men to mett it measure of earth and all other [ things ] .

6 . AIusiCK Avhich teacheth men Craft in Song , A oice it organ & trumpet . 7 . AsTRONO . Aiii * ' which teacheth men to know the course of sun , moon & stars .

These are the Seven Liberal Sciences . They are all founded upon Geometric , viz .: weight , mett & meas ™ for y is no Craffc or traid y ' soever but it is [ ? ] by Aveight & meas " as in example the p hieman lie is guided hy mens ** , * the gardner in setting & sowing by Aveight & meas ™ And y' you may plaincly understand y' y is no traid y ' soever but it depends upon this Science therfor it is to be reckoned most worthic .

How tins science Avas first begun I shall IIOAV relaite . Before the flood of Noah y Avas a man called Lamech as it writen in the fourth chapter of Genesis 19 verse it he had two Avives the name of the one was Ada it the name of the other Zilla ; by thc lirst Avife Ada he had tA \* o sones tho name of the one was called Ja [ ball ] and the name of the other was called Juball , and b y his other Avife

Zilla he had a son Avhose name AVUS Tnball cain it a daughter called Naamah , and those ftmv children found out all the Liberal Sciences . His eldest son Jaball found ont the Craft of Geometric , and he parted tlie flocks of sheep it Iambs in the field and first Avronght in stone & timber and bis brother Juball found out the Craft of Mustek as song , organ , & harpe . The Third brother Tnball Cainc found out the Smith's Craft to work in Gold , Silver , copper , steel , &

brass it irone , and the daughter Naamah found out the Craffc of Weaving . And these children knew well y God Avould take vengeance for sin either by fyre or water . Therefore tlio Sciences which they found out they Avroto them upon two pillars of stone that ihey might be found after the flood . The one pillar was of mivrball y would not burn w fyre it the other pillar Avas of a stone called Laccerus y would nofc droun in water .

Now our intent is to tell you how and in what maner these stones or pillars were found qr : on these sciences were Avritten . * The great HavmaviricR y' was Gabies Soue which Cubies Avas Shemcs Son y' Avas Noahs Son . This Harniarines was after called Hermes the father of wise men he found one of the pillars q " on the sciences were wrote . And he taught them to other men And at the building

of the toAver of babylon y AVUS tbe first masonrie made use of . Nimrod he was a Alason himselfe qo : was then King of babylon and had the same craffc in great estimationo . And when the citie Ninivie and other cities were to be built the King of Babylon sent sixty masones at the requcist of the King of Ninivie his cusiiii ' .

And when lie sent lliein oufc he gave them a (/ barge y every man should live truely one to another and y they should serve the Lord truely for his pay . So y' he may have worship and all belonging to hint , and other tilings he gave them in Charge and y' Avas the first Charge y' ever was given the Craft of true masonrie .

Aloreover when Abraham and Sara his wife went into Egypt then he taught tho sciences to the Egyptians . And he had a worthic schollar named Euclid and he learned right well , and was an master of the : 7 : scicncics liberal ! , and in his days it fell out y the Lords and States of the realm had so many sons which they had begotten of y wives it Ladies for tlie land is hot and plentious

of generatione and they had not competent means to send y children q : for Ihey took much caire y ( hey might bring up y children , and y" flic Kings of the Land culled a great coiinsv ] ) to know how they might lind out a way to bring up y'" children tri live like gentlemen w honestv So piYifliiiniitioiie was made throughout all the Realnit

y if y was any man y could informe them , he should come to them , and haven great reward for ID ' labour it Iravell and y he should find himself well pleased So proclamatione being made Came the worthic Euclid ami sd : to the King and his Lords if you will take me to govern the people I shall teach them the 7 liberal ! Scicncics qr .-bv tiit'V might live honestly ns gentlemen should , upon conditione

The Dumfries Kilwinning Mss.

y" yc Avill grant mc and them Commission y' I may hav * pOAver to rule thom after the maner y the Sciences ought to be . * uled . The King and all the Counsel 1 granted him presentl y y ' requost it sealled the Commissione , then this worthic dark [?] took sons and taught them ye Science of Geomitrie in practise . Then tne Craft of Goomitrie Avas used y * to Avork in stone & timber , to buJd Chm * ches , temples & Castles & towers and all maner of buildings and he gave them a Charges as

folloAveth—1 * irst y' they should be true to y King or Lord the * serve . And y' they ordaine the Avisest amongst them to be AIaster ? ' of the work . Neither for love favour linage or for great riches to set them to work y '* hath little cunning to be m of the lords work q the lord shall be evilly served & you ashamed . Also they shall call the Governour of the Avork AI so long as the work lasceth and y * they work AV * him , And many other charges gaA ^ e he tliem which they

were sworn to b y Solemne Oath and ordered them forge pay y' they might live honestly . And also y' they should assemble and meet togethir once every year how they mi ght serve the Lord best for his profit it ther own Avorship . And to correct AV' in themselves those y trespassed ag' the Craft . And thus the Craft AVBK first founded by the Avorthie Al Euclid and he gave it the name of Geometric which is now called Alasonrie .

Sith thcn long after the children of Israeli came into the countrie of thc East , -which is called the Land of Judah , King David began the Templum Dei , and then David loved Alasons and cherished them & gaA * e them good Avages , & he gave them a charge and manors as he had learned of the Egyptians given by Euclid and other charges as for shall hereafter meet w'

-After the Death of King David . Solomon , his son King of Jerusalem , finished the Temple y King David his father began , and sent into many countries ancl called together four score thousand masons y wrought in stone , all fit men for the work , and he choosed

out of them three thousand and 300 , and apoynted them masters and overseers of the Avork . There Avas also another King at Tyre named Hiram , y' furnished or gave King Solomon timber to his Avork . And he had son named Aynon y Avas masterof Geometric , and was the chiefe over all the Alasons of those y * cut or carved in

stone y' belonged to the Temple , as Avitness the scriptures in primo libro reguui et quinto cap : and this King Solomon confirmed these charges and manors y his father had giA en . And thus > vas the worthie craft of masones confirmed in the City of Jerusalem . And then they began to traA-ell into divers countries , some to l

learne more craft and skill , others to teach those yknew it not . Ther was a cunning man , a curious mason named Alinnus Grecus , who Avas at the building of King Solomon ' s temple , and he came into franco and ther taught the french our Craft of Alasonrio in y' countrie .

And there was one of the Royall Lyne of franee y' height Charles Alarshall , and he Avas a man y' loved all such crafts , and he drew to this Alliums Grecus and learned of him the craft . By God ' s blessing he was elected King of franco and q" he was so elected he took masones , and helped to make many y Avero none , ancl set them to work and gave them charges and manners and good pay as he

had learned of other masons , and confirmed them b y charter from year to year to hold ther assemblies q they Avould , and cherished them right well , and thus came the craft into france . England at y' tyme had no masones til Saint Alban ' s time , and in his dayes the King was an pagano q wailed thc tonne about called St . Albans , which St . Albans was a worthie knight and servant of the King ' s household , and had the Government of the realm and

also in making of the toun walls . Ho loved well the masons , and cherished them , aud made their pay right good , four shillings and sixpence a week standing wages , which , before his tyme , throwout all the land was but one pony a day and meat untill Sfc . AlbanN mended it , and he got Charters from the King & his Counsell for to hold a generall assembly , aud he did help to make many masons , and gave them charges as you shall hearafter meet Avith .

But rig ht soon after the date of St . Albans y came divers Avaris into this reahno of England out of se \* nations , so y the good rule of masonrie was destroyed untill the tyme of King Athelstonne clays y was a worthie King of England , and brought the land into good peace it rest , and bnilt many great works , Abbays , castles , citties , and tonnes , he loved well tbes masons and he had a sone called Kdwine ancl he loved well masons much better than his father did ,

hc practised geometric it communed w' masons much & learned of them the Craft , and tor the great love he bare unto them it y Craft , was made a freemason and obtained a charter of his father to hold une assemblie every year in the real me of England & to correct faults it trespasses done by the Craft . He held himself an assembl y at York and q he made freemasons and gave them charges & taught them the maners of masons it commanded them to be kept as a rule ever after .

Then the Charters and Commissions were ordered to be keep ! and made ordinances y' the roule from King to King should be renewed and produced and read at the assemblies and proclamatione was made when the masones was gathered together , that all masones

both old and young v bad any nndevstanding or writing of the charges and maners y wero made before in the land or in any other parte that they would produce them , which was done it there Avere found some in french it in Greek , and Latino , and found also in English and in other languages yet all were to y same effect .

And he caused a book thereof to be made and how the Cratt was founded , and he had it commanded y ifc should be read or told at thc eh'Clione of every m ' asone & to give him his charge and from