The Aberdeen "Old Charges."

My Purpose is to tell you , how and in what manner this worthie Craft of Meassonrie wes begune , and afterwardes how it wcs eiiterta ncd , by worthie kinges and Princes and other worshipfull men and also to thes that be heir , wee will tell you the charges that belong to everie true measson to keep a good fayth and conscience , and to take good head to the Craft , as weell worthie to be keep for ane worthie Craft and Science , For : yr be seaven sciences of which it wes one the names of the seaven be thes , The : first is grammer and that teaches a man to

speak truly , The second is Rhetorick and that teaches a man to speack fair in subtill termes The third is Dialectick or Iogick and that teaches a man to discerne truth from falshood The fourth is Arithmetick and that teaches a man to reocken or compt all manner of Numbers , The fyfth is geometrie anel that teaches a man meltes and meassures off earth and all other thinges , The sixth is Mussick and that teaches the knowledge of all songes and voices as of harp and organes and trumpet , The seaventh is called Astronomie & that teaches a man to know the

course of sun moone and stares thes be the seaven liberal ! sciences the qch ar founded in on science and that is geometrie , and this may a man prove that thc science of the world is founded on geometrie , for geometrie teaches a man mettes and meassures Ponderation andweyght of all manner of thinges on earth for ther is no man that worketh any craft but he worketh by some mett or meassure nor any that buyelh or selleth but by som meassur or weyght , and thus Merchandes

especiallie plowmen and tilleres of all manner of ground , soweres of all manner of seedes , and planteres of all manner of wynes are geometeres , for grammer Rhetorick or astronomie or any of the seaven sciences , can a man find out mett and meassure without geometrie , wherfor 1 think this science of geometrie most worthie and that it foundeth all otheres how this worthie science wes begune

I shall tell you befor Noahes flood , ther wes a man caled Lamech who had two wyves , the name of the on wes Adah and the other Zillah , by the first wyf Adah he begate two sones , the name of the one wcs Jaball and the other Juball wpon the second wyf he begate a son called Tuball Cain and a daughter called Naamah , thes four children founded all the craftes of the world , the eldest son

Jaball founded the craft of geometrie , and he bearded sheep in the feildcs and first wrought houses of ston as is noted in the 4 th of gene -. his brother Juball founded the craft of Mussick , as songes of organes trumpet and harpe , the third brother Tuball Caine , founded the smith craft , in gold silver copper yron and steell , and the fourth being a daughter called Naamah , founded the craft of weaving .

Thes children knew weell that god would tak some vengance , soon after b y fyre or waiter and they wreat , that from yr . science they founded two pillares of ston , that they might be found after Noahes flood , the on wes marble that would not Burne in any fyre , the other stone , and wes called laternus that would not sink in any waiter . Our purpose is to tell yow how and in what manner this stone wes found out , the great harmarmes , told his son , who told soone his son who wes Noahes son ,

Harmarmes wes afterwardes intitulled Hermes the father of wyse men he found on of the two pillares of stone , and found the science wreattin yron , and he taught it to other men : and at the macking of the toure of Babel ! , yr wes Meassonrie much made of and the king of Babel I , who wes called nimrod wes ane Measson himsclfe : and Loved weell the craft and as said b y ministers in stories , that when the citieof Ninevie , and the two cities of the east , should be

made , Nimrod the king ot babylon sent thither sixtie meassones at the request of the king of Ninevie his Cusing , and when he sent them fourth he gave them a charge , on this Manner that they should be true , everie on to on another , and live Truly together , and that they should serve ther lord truly for the pay , so that yr . Master should have worshipe , and all that belonges to him , and the charges he gave them , and this wcs the first tyme , that ever Meassones hade charge over the woithie craft .

Morover , when ABraham and Sarah went first into cgypt , he taught the seaven sciences to the egyptianes , and he hade a worthie schollar , called ewphred , who learned weell and wes master of all the seaven sciences , and it fell in his tyme , that the lordes and states of the reallme hade so many children that they had begotten , som by ther wyfes , and some by ther Ladyes , for this is a hot land and

plentiful ! of generatione , that they hade not competent lyvlihood to feed ther children , wherfor they made much of men , and the king of the land held ane great counsel ! and Parliament to sie how they might food yr . children honestly as gentlemen , and they could fynd no manner of way , and they did cry Ihroughe all the realme if yr . wes any man that could informe them , that they should com to them and he should be weell rewarded for his travel ! and weell pleased .

After this cry then cam this worthie kni ght ewphredeand he said to the king , and all his great lordes , I will tak yor children in governing , and leach them on of the seaven sciences , whereby they may live honestly as gentlemen under thc conditiones , yee will give them and me a commiss ' one that I may have power to rull over them after this manner , that the seaven sciences ought to be rulleel : and the king and all the counsell granted him a commissione , and this worthie Doctor took to him thes lordes sones and taught them the science of geointtrie in Practise

for to work in ston all manner of worthie workes that belong to Building , as churches castells toures maneres and all manner of Buildinges , and he gave Ihem a charge on this manner , the first wes yat they should be true to God & ther king , and the lord yat they served , and that they should live weell together , and yat they should be true on to another and that they should call each other fellow ( or brother ) but not his servant , or his slave , or any olher fonll name , & that they

should truly deserve yr . wages of yr . lord and maister that they served , and yat they should ordaine the wysest of them to be master , & that neyther for love or great honour riches or great favor to set another that hath litle cuning or skill to be maister of the saideswork , and also yat they should call the governour of the saides work maister in the tym that they wrought wndcr him , and many mor charges that wee ought to doe , and also wt the charges he mad them sweare ane great oath , tbat men used in ther tyme .

And ordained for them reassonable wages , that they may live honestly , and that they should com to ther assemblies everie yeir once , to sie how thty might work best to please yr . lord for ther profile , and for yr owne worshipe , and to correct any within themselves who have trespased against the craft , and thus yat worthie craft wes grounded ther . And this worthie Master ewphred gave it the name off geometrie , qch . is now called Ihrougout the wholl land of Scithia .

Longe after when the children of Israeli wer landed meassonrie came to the land of boy heast now called thecountrey of Fire-land wher kingsolomon Intended to build the temple called templum Dei , after the desyr of King David : Solomon yat wyse man Davides son Performed the temple qch his father hade intended to < loe , and sent far after meassones , wnto dyvers countreyes and landes to gather , so yat he hade fourscor thousand woikmen named meassones and he choised out ° f them three thousand yat were ordained maisters of the said work ,

and furthermor ther wes a king of another nationc named Hirame and he loved weell king Solomon and gave him timber and he hade a son named Amon who wes a maister of geometric anil wes cheuse maister of all his meassonrie : 81 maister of all his graving and carving , and all other matters that belong to building in the temple , and this Salomon Performed both charges and manneres that his lather had given to meassones , and

'hus wes the worthie craft begune into many Countreyes and kingdon . es and Worthie craftesmen walked about lull wyd into many kingdomes some because of ' . earning mor craft and Cuning & some to llies who hade but litle cuning , and so it befell that yr wes a cuning meassone called Ninus grecius who hade beein at '' ie building of solomones temple and lie caine into franco and yr hc taught the Science of meassonrie to the men oi Stance , and on oi lhat Natione who wes called

The Aberdeen "Old Charges."

charlcs Mortosse who wes a man lhat learned such cr . ifle ami drew to grccious that is above St . and learned of him the craft and took upon him the charge and manneres , and afterwardes be the grace of god hc wes elected to be king of France and when he wcs in estate he took meassones and did helpe to mack " meassones yat wer non anel set them a worke and gave tliem both charge and manneres , and gave pay as he learned of other meassones and confirmed them ane charter , fiom yeir to yeir to holde assemblies when they would , and cherrished them much anil thus came the cr ^ ft to france .

England for all this tyme sloode voyde as lei any charge of meassonrie , wntill saint albone did wall the tonne about that wns called SL albone , and St . albone wes a worthie knight and stayed wt . tlie king and his hoii . sliold anel he : hade the government of the Reallme , and also at the macking of the toune walks , he loved meassones weell and cherrished them much , and made ther pay right goode

standing as thc real'me stood , for he gave them two shillingcs sixpence a week , and three pence fcr ther noone tydes , and before that a meassone throughout the Land took but a penniu a day and his meat till St . albone amended it . and gave them a charter of the k ngand bis counsell to bold a general ! assemblie , and be wes y ' ral himsclfe and be loved to mack meassones and gave them charges , as yee shall heir of after wardes .

Right soon after the death of St . albone yr . wer dyverse wares in ( he reallme of england and d ) verse nationes so that the good use of meassones wes destroyed until ! the good king atbellstcne , his d . iyes that wes a worthie king of englanel , and he brought the land into good rest and peace and built in my great workes , as abayes toweres and olher gieat buildinges and he loved meassones weell ; and he hade a sone knight edrine and he loved meassones much mor then his father did and lie wes a great pracliser of geometric , and be drew himsclfe

much to talk and common with meassones , and he learned of them the craft , and afterwardes for the love lie hade lo nicasimiies , and ( o ( he craft he wes made a meassone himsclfe , and he procured of the king his father a charter and comissione , to have everie yeir am : assemblie when they would , within the Reallme of england and to wreat wtin them selves , faults and tresp'i'es yat wes done wtin tbe craft , and he held ane assemblie everie yeir at York , wher he made meassones & gave Ihem charges , and ( aught them manneres , &

comanded them to keep ther rull ever after , and gave them ane charter and commissione , to keepe and mack ordinances that it should be renewed from king to king , and when the assemblie wes gathered togather , he made : a cry that old meassones , or young who hade any wroating ore understanding of the charge or manneres , yat wer befoir in the Land , or any oyr , should show them truly , an 1 when it wes found and proved , yr wer found , some in french som some in greek some in english some in oyr Landes languages and ( he intent of them all wes

fouude , and he did mack ane book yrof , and how the craft wes founded , ami himsclfe hade comanded , yat it should be reade or ( old when any measson we s made , and so he gave them this charge , and from that day , till this tyme manners of meassones have beein ki : ep in lhat forme , as weell as men might governe it , And fuither mor all dyvers assemblies ho ordained yat certain ! : charges should be

keept be the best advyce of masteri : s and fellowes , ut innis seiiiorifms sum , it .-librnm : ut . illevell . / vnet . liuiiiniii . super . I . i'iritiii . ell tunc precipi deb , rent . legi any man That ' s a measson tak good head to the craft & charges give any man fyndes himsclfe guiltie of any of the charges that lie amend befor god in priull , and that he be charged to lak good bead that he keepe the charge right wiell ( or it , s a great perrill for a mane io for swear himsclfe wpon a book

The first charge is that he should bs a true man to god , and lo the liuiy kirk , and that he use 110 errores nor heresies , by his ivndc-rstamimg , winter value no good ore discreet way , heir menes teachinges , and also that he be true I . eidiie 111 in lo the king of england and without tre . issonne or any other fals ' ioode , anil that be know no treassonne or traylorie , but he shall amend it privily if he 111 ly , or clsj warne the king or his counsell , and also that yee shall be true , o . ich lo another , yat is to say everie true meassone , of the : craft of ineasoiirie yee shall doe to ( hem

as ye would wish them to doe to you , and also yal yee shall keepe all the < : ounsell of yor lorlge ore chamber and also oyr counsellos yat ought to be keept be way of measson hoode , and also yat yee be true to the leird yat yee serve or any otlv : r master and truly sic his profile and advantage , and also yat yeo shall call meassones yor brotheres , or fellowes and no oyr foul ! names , and yat yee shi . ll mil tale your fellowes wyf in- villanieoredesyrcungodlyehis daughter , or his .-erv . int to put ilium to dishonourshipe and also yat yee pay yor meat and yor drink wher yee doe bjord

and also yat yee doe 110 villains in yat place rjr yee go to boonle qrby the craft may be scandalized , this is on of thes charges , yat belong to everie true measson gcnerallie , to keepe , both masters and fellowes , thcrelor I will rehearse som oilier charges singular , first lor maisters that no master tack upjn him any Lordes work nor any other wages work , but yat he know himsclfe ab ' e and suilicieut to pcrformr , that the craft have no dishonour nor disworshipe , but that the lord may bo truly served and weell .

And also lhat no maister tak any work , but yat be tak it rcissoiiablie , so that the lord may be truly served wt his oiven goodes , ami thai the m . iisler have to livo honestlie & logive his fellowes , truly yr pay as the manner is lobe done , and that no maister or fellowes shall surpryse oyrs of yr work that is to say if yee have taken a work , and stoode maister of the sds work , that yee shall not put biin oat , if he able of culling- to end the work , and also yat no 111 lister 11 > r fellow shall lak prenteises within the space of seaven yeirs anel yat the preutoise b : able of birth ,

that is to say be free borne , and able 01 Lim'ies and handes as any mm ought to be and also that no Maimers nor fellowes tak any allowance to be tn ide meassones without the assent & counsell of his fellowes , being at the L'ast prenteise , six or seaven yeires : and that he who shall be made measson , be able of al ! manner of dewties , yat is to be free borne , and of good kindred free and no bondman and also yat he have his right wittes ore sences , as he ought to bale , and that no man tak aprenteise but that he have sufficient occupatione , aii \ also tint 110 maister

nor fellow put no lordes work to task , yat ought to goc to Journey woik , and also vat everie measson shall give pay to bis lclloiv but as he deserveth , yat he be not tleceaved , by Carles workmen and also yat non slander another , behind bis back to mack him loss his good name ore his worldie goodes and alsoyat no fellow , wtin the lodge ore without shall envye aim another or iiiigtxlly seek off him or them anything without u reassonable cause sullicientl y proved , & C . Finis . X

Centenary Festival Of The St. Michael's Lodge, No. 211.

CENTENARY FESTIVAL OF THE ST . MICHAEL'S LODGE , No . 211 .

This lodge having attained its centenary , celebrated the event on Monday evening , tbe nib inst ,, at its ordinary mcetim ; in November , at the Albion Tavern , Aldersgate-street . Tbe W . M ., Bro . George Cockrell , prodded . The visitors included the following brethren : Bros . W . Mason Stile : ' , G . Treas . ; Dr .

Ralph Gooding , P . G . D . ; J . M . McLeod , P . P . S . G . W . Derby , Sec . U . M . I . IL ; K C . Mount , P . P . S . G . W . Berks and Bucks ; U . Poeire , P . M . . iii . irj ; F . A . Powell , I ' . M . 457 ; J . IJ . Stevens , P . M . 1027 ; S . Webb , P . M . 12 K 7 ; S . Kielnrdson , P . M . IS ); G . W . Goss , P . M . 17 6 ; II . Massey , P . M . lyjS ; li . Austell , P . M . 170 . 3 ; G . L . Higginson , I' . M . 1791 ; A . X . Meggy , VV . M . 21 . J --which lodge