Our Grand Master.

and -has one son , Viscount Goderich , HOAV member for Ripon . It Avill be the fervent hope of all our English Craft , that the great architect of the Universe may long preserve him to

preside over that great Order he loves so truly , and has served so well , ED .

The Old Masonic Poem.

THE OLD MASONIC POEM .

Here begins the first article . The first article of this gemetry : — . The master mason must be full surely Both stedfast , trusty , and true , It shall him never then ( 1 ) arewe : And pay thy fellows after the cost , As Actuals go then , well thou know est ;

And pay them truly , upon thy faith , What that they deserve may ; And to their hire take no more , But what that they might serve for , And refrain , neither for love nor dread , Of neither part to take no meed ; Of lord nor fellow , which ever he be , Of them thou take no manner of fee ;

And as a judge stand upright , And then thou doest to both good right ; And truly do this wheresoe ' er thou goest , They worship , they profit , it shall be most .

Article the Second . The second Article of good masonry , As ye may it here hear specially , That every master that is a mason , Must be at the general congregation , So that he it reasonably [ be ] told Where that the assembly shall be ( 2 ) hold ;

And to that assembly he must needs go , Unless he have a reasonable excuse , Or that he be disobedient to that craft , Or with falsehood is overtaken , Or else sickness hath him so strong , That he may not come them among ; That is an excuse , good and able , To that assembly without fable .

Article the Third . The third article forsooth it is That the master take to no prentice , Unless'he has good assurance to dwell Seven years with him , as I you tell , His craft to learn , that is profitable ; "Within less he may not be able To [ the ] lord's profit , nor t _ his own ,

As ye may know by good reason . Article the Fourth . The fourth article this must be , That the master him well ( 3 ) be see , ( 1 ) Arewe : repent , ( 2 ) Hold : holden . ( S ) Be—se : to take care o £

That he no bondman prentice make , Nor for no covetonsness do him take , For the lord that he is bound to , May fetch the prentice vrheresoere he go . If in the lodge he were taken , Much inconvenience it might there make , And [ in ] such case it might befall ,

That it might grieve some or all , For all the masons that are there AVill stand together ( 4 ) Hol-ye fere If such one in that craft should dwell , Of divers inconveniences ye might tell : For more ease then , and of honesty Take a prentice of higher degree , By old time written I ( 5 ) iynde That the prentice should be of gentle kind ; And so sometimes great lords' blood Took this gemetry , that is full good .

Article the Fifth . The fifth article is very good , So that the prentice be of lawful blood ; Tlie master shall not , for no advantage , Make no prentice that is imperfect ; That is to say , as ye may hear , That he has his limbs whole altogether ;

To the craft it were great shame , To make halt man and a lame , For an imperfect man of such blood Should do the craft but little good . Thus ye may know every one , The craft would have a ( 6 ) mighty man ; A maimed man he hath no might , Ye may it know long ' ere night .

Article the Sixth . The sixth article ye may not miss , That the master do the lord no prejudice , To take of the lord , for his prentice , As much as his fellows did , in all . For in that craft they be full perfect , So is not he , ye may see it .

Also it were against good reason , To take his hire as his fellows do . This same article , in this case , Judgeth the prentice to take less , Than his fellows , that bo full perfect . In divers matters , can requite it . The master may his prentice so instruct , That his hire may increase full early , And , ' ere his term come to an end , His hire may full well ( 7 ) amende .

Article the Seventh . The seventh article that is now here , Full well will tell you , altogether , That no master , for favour nor dread , Shall no thief neither clothe nor feed , Thieves he shall harbour never one , Nor him that hath killed a man , feeble

Nor the same that hath a name , Lest it would turn the craft lo shame . ( 4 ) Hol-ye fere : entirely bound . ( 5 ) Fynde : find . ( 6 ) Mighty : fine , gay . 7 } Amende : amend . A A 2