Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Comparative Age Of Our Masonic Mss.
" Pars oculi , " or an ancient Latin poem , or one in Norman-French . In my bumble op inion , pace Bro . Norton , we shall yet obtain further evidence as to tbe great antiquity of the Masonic Poem . Since writing tbe above I have seen
Bro . Norton ' s remarks , in tbe "Canadian Masonic News " for March , with respect to the "Haliwell Poem and the Statutes . " I do not see that he at all strengthens bis position ; on the contrary , I think be weakens it by the very facts that be
adduces . I have already shown that in 1350 , the 25 th of Edw . III ., cap . xviii . the lords could seize their " villeins " wherever they found them , and notwithstanding a writ of "libertate probanda" had been served out , In 1385 , Oth Richard IL , cap . ii ., tbe lords were entitled to seize their " villeins , " even pleading enfranchisement in enfranchised towns . But
how does this help Bro . Norton ? If Ms argument be correct—that tbe 12 th , 13 th , 15 th points in tbe poem refer to tbe statutes of labourers , or rather to a meeting of justices of the peace , he forgets that these statutes of labourers are of very
earl y origin . Tbe first that I can find is tbe 23 rd Edw . III ., 1349 , when , by cap . i ., all persons under 60 " not having to live on " shall be bound to Avork for those who
require their services , or be committed to gaol . Cap . ii . If a workman or servant depart from service before tbe time agreed upon , be shall be imprisoned . Cap . v . If any artificer takes more Avages than Avere Avont to be paid , to be committed to
prison . Tbe Avages of artificers seem to have been first fixed 25 th Edw . TIL , cap . iii . 1356 , and artificers were also by cap . v . SAVorn to use their Crafts as they did in the 20 th year of Edw . hi ., 1345 . By cap . viii . justices at quarter sessions are
empowered to commit servants fleeing from one county to another , and probably to control artificers and labourers . In tbe 24 th of Edward III ., 1360 , cap . ix ., tbe Avages of masons and carpenters , and in what manner they shall serve , are again fixed
, but I cannot find the Act of 1356 , alluded to by Bro . Norton , neither does the Parliament appear to have met that year , but only in tbe 31 st year of Edward III ., 1357 . My edition of tbe Statutes isKeble ' s , 2 vols , folio , 1695 . By tbe 36 th Edward III ., 1362 , cap . xii ., the
The Comparative Age Of Our Masonic Mss.
Commission of Justices and of Labourers Avas to be conterminous and meet quarterly , and no doubt the Justices in Quarter Sessions bad at a very early period g iven poAA'er to them to interfere with the prices of labour fixed by tbe General Assembly
of tbe operative masons . So I quite agree Avith Bro . Fort , that from the general phraseology of tbe Act of Henry VI ., 3 Henry VI ., 1424 , cap . i ., the argument for the annual meeting of the masons in their own " chapiters" is
unanswerable , and it constitutes , in fact , the best reply to Bro . Norton . " En leur generalz cbapitres assemblez" is a most distinct admission that , despite Bro .
Norton ' s " gloss , " the masons did make " yearlycongregations and confederacies , " if even the Englished Statutes left any doubt on tbe subject .. I repeat , therefore , that in my bumble opinion if Bro . Norton ' s argument of internal evidence is good for
anything at all , it proves the earlier instead of tbe later date , Avbieb , for some reason , he seeks to establish of the Masonic Poem , and that tbe very statutes themselves constitute tbe most convincing reply to tbe fallacy of bis contention , as to the real age of that most interesting and valuable document .
Notes On The Old Minute Books Of The British Union Lodge, No. 114, Ipswich. A.D. 1762.
NOTES ON THE OLD MINUTE BOOKS OF THE BRITISH UNION LODGE , No . 114 , IPSWICH . A . D . 1762 .
BY BRO . EM 1 U HOLMES , 31 ° , P . M ., M . E . Z .. St . Lnke's Chapter , P . M . M ., P . E . C ., P . E . P . ' , P . M . W . S ., Past Provincial Grand Registrar of Suffolk , Past Grand Inspector of Works ( Mark ) , Past Grand Provost Order of the Temtle , P . P . G ., Banner-Bearer
Royal Order of Scotland , & c , & c . ( Continued from page 277 . ) THE second Minute Book of this old Lodge commences 1779 , with a cash accountand disbursements on the 27 th Dec , St .
John ' s day—from wbicb it appears that the banquet was at the expense of the Lodge ; a very bad custom , and one it would be well not to see imitated—though we fear , amongst the London Lodges it is in many cases the rule , and not the exception , that the brethren dine at the 2 H 2
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Comparative Age Of Our Masonic Mss.
" Pars oculi , " or an ancient Latin poem , or one in Norman-French . In my bumble op inion , pace Bro . Norton , we shall yet obtain further evidence as to tbe great antiquity of the Masonic Poem . Since writing tbe above I have seen
Bro . Norton ' s remarks , in tbe "Canadian Masonic News " for March , with respect to the "Haliwell Poem and the Statutes . " I do not see that he at all strengthens bis position ; on the contrary , I think be weakens it by the very facts that be
adduces . I have already shown that in 1350 , the 25 th of Edw . III ., cap . xviii . the lords could seize their " villeins " wherever they found them , and notwithstanding a writ of "libertate probanda" had been served out , In 1385 , Oth Richard IL , cap . ii ., tbe lords were entitled to seize their " villeins , " even pleading enfranchisement in enfranchised towns . But
how does this help Bro . Norton ? If Ms argument be correct—that tbe 12 th , 13 th , 15 th points in tbe poem refer to tbe statutes of labourers , or rather to a meeting of justices of the peace , he forgets that these statutes of labourers are of very
earl y origin . Tbe first that I can find is tbe 23 rd Edw . III ., 1349 , when , by cap . i ., all persons under 60 " not having to live on " shall be bound to Avork for those who
require their services , or be committed to gaol . Cap . ii . If a workman or servant depart from service before tbe time agreed upon , be shall be imprisoned . Cap . v . If any artificer takes more Avages than Avere Avont to be paid , to be committed to
prison . Tbe Avages of artificers seem to have been first fixed 25 th Edw . TIL , cap . iii . 1356 , and artificers were also by cap . v . SAVorn to use their Crafts as they did in the 20 th year of Edw . hi ., 1345 . By cap . viii . justices at quarter sessions are
empowered to commit servants fleeing from one county to another , and probably to control artificers and labourers . In tbe 24 th of Edward III ., 1360 , cap . ix ., tbe Avages of masons and carpenters , and in what manner they shall serve , are again fixed
, but I cannot find the Act of 1356 , alluded to by Bro . Norton , neither does the Parliament appear to have met that year , but only in tbe 31 st year of Edward III ., 1357 . My edition of tbe Statutes isKeble ' s , 2 vols , folio , 1695 . By tbe 36 th Edward III ., 1362 , cap . xii ., the
The Comparative Age Of Our Masonic Mss.
Commission of Justices and of Labourers Avas to be conterminous and meet quarterly , and no doubt the Justices in Quarter Sessions bad at a very early period g iven poAA'er to them to interfere with the prices of labour fixed by tbe General Assembly
of tbe operative masons . So I quite agree Avith Bro . Fort , that from the general phraseology of tbe Act of Henry VI ., 3 Henry VI ., 1424 , cap . i ., the argument for the annual meeting of the masons in their own " chapiters" is
unanswerable , and it constitutes , in fact , the best reply to Bro . Norton . " En leur generalz cbapitres assemblez" is a most distinct admission that , despite Bro .
Norton ' s " gloss , " the masons did make " yearlycongregations and confederacies , " if even the Englished Statutes left any doubt on tbe subject .. I repeat , therefore , that in my bumble opinion if Bro . Norton ' s argument of internal evidence is good for
anything at all , it proves the earlier instead of tbe later date , Avbieb , for some reason , he seeks to establish of the Masonic Poem , and that tbe very statutes themselves constitute tbe most convincing reply to tbe fallacy of bis contention , as to the real age of that most interesting and valuable document .
Notes On The Old Minute Books Of The British Union Lodge, No. 114, Ipswich. A.D. 1762.
NOTES ON THE OLD MINUTE BOOKS OF THE BRITISH UNION LODGE , No . 114 , IPSWICH . A . D . 1762 .
BY BRO . EM 1 U HOLMES , 31 ° , P . M ., M . E . Z .. St . Lnke's Chapter , P . M . M ., P . E . C ., P . E . P . ' , P . M . W . S ., Past Provincial Grand Registrar of Suffolk , Past Grand Inspector of Works ( Mark ) , Past Grand Provost Order of the Temtle , P . P . G ., Banner-Bearer
Royal Order of Scotland , & c , & c . ( Continued from page 277 . ) THE second Minute Book of this old Lodge commences 1779 , with a cash accountand disbursements on the 27 th Dec , St .
John ' s day—from wbicb it appears that the banquet was at the expense of the Lodge ; a very bad custom , and one it would be well not to see imitated—though we fear , amongst the London Lodges it is in many cases the rule , and not the exception , that the brethren dine at the 2 H 2