Freemasonry And The Early English Gilds.

7 . A black suit with Avhite stockings and gloves and an apron is called the " clothing" of a Mason and the Regulations of 1721 required that " every neAV brother at his making is dcceutly to cloath the lodge , " that is , all the brethren . This cloathing of a Mason is similar to

what was called the livery of trading companies , each of which had a livery or suit peculiar to itself . Now we find in the early Gild Constitutions provision for a suit , livery or clothing by Avhich the members were distinguished . Thus , in the constitutions of the Gild or

Garlekhitte it is said : " And the Saddlers' and Spurriers' Gild provided , that all the brethren and sisters shall have a livery of suit to know the brethren and sisters and for no other

cause ( enchesoun ) . A statute passed in the 7 th year of Henry IV . anno 1403 , expressly permitted the adoption of a distinctive dress by fraternities , and such dress was ahvays used by the Gilds . Hence , the clothing of a Masonnow reduced almost to white

, gloves and an apron , is really what Chancer calls the "livere of a solemque and greate fraternite , " and has been undoubtedly derived from a similar use of " a sute of lyvery " by the early Gilds . 8 . The avoidance of lawsuits between

the brethren when possible , is recommended in Freemasonry as it Avas in the early Gilds , Compare the statutes of each f on this subject . Thus in the " Charges o a Freemason" in the Book of Constitutions of 1723 it is said :

, " If any of them [ the brethren ] do you injury , you must apply to your OAVU or his lodge ; .... never taking a legal course , but Avhen the case cannot be otherwise decided , and patiently listening to the honest and friendly advice of

Masters and Fellows . " Compare this with the statute of the Gild of St . George the Martyr : " It is also ordained that whatsoever

man hath a grievance against another of the Gild ] he shall warn the Aldermen . the head of the Gild ] thereof ; and he shall do his offices to make accord if he can with his brethren , and if he cannot he may go to law Avherever he pleases . " And in like manner in the constitutions of the Gild of St . Catherine , it is provided

" That if any discord be between brethren and sisters , first that discord shall be shown to other brethren and sisters of the Gild , and by them accord shall be made , if it can be skilfully . Aud if accord cannot be so made it shall be lawful to

them to go to the common law . " The spirit of friendly arbitration which is the true spirit of a brotherhood was observed by all the early Gilds , and has been imitated by the Masonic Fraternity . Assistance and relief to distressed

members is another analogy tliat exists between the Gilds and the lodges . Thus , for example , the constitution of the Gild of St . Botulph says : "' Also it is ordained that what brother or sister of the fraternity fall into poverty every brother and sister shall give the poor brother or sister a farthing every Aveek . "

In the 14 th century a farthing was of much greater value than it is now . ¦ . The general rule Avas that in cases of poverty each member paid a sum weekly into the treasury out of Avhich a certain amount Avas appropriated to the distressed brother , and paid to him by the treasurer .

Sometimes , it was made the duty of each member to give the relief personally . But no matter in what way the relief Avas bestowed , the rule Avas unexceptionable in all the Gilds as it is in the Masonic

Lodges to grant aid ancl assistance to all " worthy , distressed brethren . " 10 . The burial of the dead was also to be performed by the Gild . Thus in the Gild of St . Botulph : " It is ordained that when a brother or

sister die all the brethren and sisters of this fraternity shall come to the funeral [ dirige ] and to mass ; and every brother and every sister shall offer a farthing for love of God , a penny for a mass for the soul of the dead ; and he shall have at the cost of the brethrentwo torches and two

, candles burning . " 11 . Processions on solemn clays , in Avhich Freemasons so much indulge , Avas observed by the early Gilds . The Gild of St . Catherine provided that on St . Catherine ' s day the brethren ancl sisters should

assemble at the parish church " to go in procession with their candle Avhich is to be borne before them , and to hear the mass of St . Catherine . "