Ancient Masonic Lodges No. 2.

argument , against any of the company reproachfully , for every such offence shall pay ... ... 0 0 6 9 th . Item , there shall noe apprentice after lie has served seaven years he admitted or accepted but upon Arch

the Feast of St . Michael the - angel , paying to the Master and Wardens ' ... ... ... 0 6 8 10 th . Item , If any Mason either in the place of meeting or att work among his Fellows , swear or take God ' s name in vain thatt he or

they soe offending shall pay for every time ... ... ... 0 5 4 - llth . Item , Thatt if any FelloAV or Fellows shall at any time or times discover his master ' s secretts , or his owne , be it nott onely spoken in the Lodge or withoutor the secreets

, and councell of his Felkws , thatt may extend to the Damage of any of his fellows , or to any of their good names ; whereby the Science may be ill spoken of , For every sneh offence shall pay ... ... 1 6 8

12 th . Item , Thatt noe Fellow or Fellows within the lodge shall att any time or times call or hold Assemblys to make any mason or masons free : Nott acquainting the Master or Wardens therewith For every time so offending shall pay ... 3 6 8

13 th . Item , Thatt noe Rough Layers or any others thatt has not served their time , or admitted masons , shall work within the Lodge any work of masonry whatsoever ( except under a Master ) for every such offence shall pay ... ... 3 13 4

14 th . Item , That all Fellows being younger shall give his elder fellows the honour due to their degree and standing . Alsoe that the Master Wardens and all the Fellows of this lodge doe prornish severally and respectively to

performe all and every the orders above named , and to stand by each other ( but more particularly to the Wardens and their successors ) in sueing for all and every the forfeetures of our said Brethren , contrary to any of the said orders , demand thereof

heing first made . Sixty-nine signatures are attached , some of Avhich Avere written A . D . 1701 , Avhen the rules ivere inserted in the hook , and the remainder Avere appended according to the dates of initiation : e . g ., "Patrick Mills 1706 , made Free Deer . 27 th , and George Potts made Ereo this 20 th of Jany . 1708 . "

To some of the names marks are attached in the form of monograms , & c . The records arc mostly taken up Avith the narration of fines , the arrangements for indentures , and such like , as from the earliest minute to the last ( ranging from

1703 to 1757 ) the lodge Avas of an opera- , tive character , and the members assembled for the purpose of aiding one another "in sickness , for the preservation of their secrets as Freemasons , and for the proper conduct of Master and EelloAVS both loitliia

and without the lodge . The earliest minute of the Almvicke Lodge preserved is dated October 3 rd , 1703 : " Item . Itt is agreed by us whose names is under written thatt Wm . Balmbrow for a breach of ye 12 Arfcickole shall be prosecuted according " to Law , and furder James Mills of sume other offence thatt Avill be mad appeer at time convenient . "

On Dec . 27 th , 1703 : "It is agreed and concluded upon by the genii , consent of the Lodge thatt James Mills and James Gammon , Matthew Doores [ these names are all subscribers to the orders of A . D . 1701 ] Jno . Kennington and othrs , offendrs . be prosecuted and find Nobles each for their absence from

Warkworth and Almvicke Lodge , as Avittnesse or . hands the day & year above written . The Fines upon the said offendrs . to be forth-Avith prosecuted as agreed by us present this day att the Lodge holden at Alnwick . " ( Signed ) . At the Lodheld 1706 (?) several

ge brethren , " for not meeting at the Lodge held on this Day at the usuall place upon due summons are fined six shillings Eightpence each of them . "—Signed by Thomas Davidson , master , and 14 members . )

Dec . 27 th , 1707 : " Agreed upon by the consent of this Lodge holden att Alnwick this St . Jnos . Day , the Day and year above written Thatt James Mills of Alnwick aforesaid is by general consent of the sd . lodge chosen and elected master of the sd . Lodge . Thomas Dally jr . and Thos . Davidson Wardens . "

Eines and prosecutions Avere common to the early Scottish lodges also . The next election occurred 27 th Dec , 1708 . At Alnwick Dec . 27 th , 1710 : " Its ordered by the genii , consent of our Lodge that on the Third Day of February next after the Date

hereof that all the Brothers and fellows concerned in the sd . Lodge then & there to appear & to concert & enquire into all such offences contrary to the Orders and Constitutions of the sd . Lodge & and to put the same in Execution , according to Law , as they shall answer the contrary the Penalty for not