Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Observations On The Antiquity Of Masons And Masonry In England.
imitate the several members and different ornaments of the buildings Avhich they had seen or been employed in , but being ignorant of the principles of the Art , they introduced theniAvithoutproprietyandsuppliecltheAvant of proportions and regularit y by a profusion of trifling or ridiculous ornaments collected from the Avorks of other masters . From
these inferior Avorkmen sprang another Society of Masons , Avho being free of the City of London Avere formed into a Company in the year 1410 , the llth of Henry the Fourth , Avhich being the year before the building of the Guild Hall , it is probable that the Company Avas instituted on that
occasion . But if Ave take that building for a specimen of their skill in architecture and masonry , AA'e shall soon discover that the ( Jity Masons AA'ere deficient in those arts Avhich the Freemasons AA'ere so much
masters of , and Avhich distinguish their Avorks from all others . After that time there were two fraternities AA'ho called themselves Freemasons , the ancient and the modern , and although the former claimed a right of Avorking hi all places , Avithout exception ,
by virtue of their ancient privileges , the modern Masons excluded all but those Avho Avere free of London from AA-orking Avithin that City . This Avas a great discouragement to artists and gave a check to the improvement of arts , the idle Avere encouraged to neglect their Avork , and others taking advantage of their idleness combined to
raise . their Avages , AA'hich becoming the principal business of their general meetings , an Act of Parliament passed in the year 1424 , in the third of Henry the Sixth , to prevent their confederating themselves in Chapters and Assemblies , in which Act is said : Whereas b
y the yearly Congregations and Confederacies made by Masons in their yenercd Chapiters and Assemblies , the good course and effects of the . Statutes of Labourers be openly violated and broaken , in subversion of the Lawand to the great
, damage of all the Commons ; our Lord the f ' wiping in this case to provide remedy , <> V the advice and assent aforesaid , and at me special request of the said Commons , mil ordained and established , that such Uiapiters and Congregations shall not
e Iwtofte . r holden , and if any such be 'made , they that cause such Chapiters and congregations to be assembled and holden , J they thereof be convict shall be judged for ¦ > ei ° ns , and that all the other Masons that
coma to such Chapiters and Congregations be punished by imprisonment of their bodies and make fine and ransom at the King ' s will .
It does not appear that this Act Avas ever repealed though it is said that Henry the Sixth , Avhen he came out of his minority , Avas made a Freemason : and if the paper preserved by Loland Avas really an examination of one of the fraternity taken bthat king himselfit is probable he had
y , the curiosity to become one of them ; but as this Act Avas only intended to prevent combinations among the inferior Avorkmen AA'ho assembled annually for the purpose of raising their Avages , it did not prevent the meeting of the ancient Masons in their
respective lodges for the advancement of the arts as usual , though it is probable they Avere more careful in preserving the mysteries of their Art among themselves , than they Avere before the Masons of London had formed themselves into a company , and excluded all but freemen from Avorking in the City , neither did it affect the City
company , for in the year 1477 Clarencieux , king-at-arms , granted them a coat-of-arms , * Avhich is yet borne by them , and has been used by the lodges of modern Freemasons descended from them , but they Avere not incorporated by letters patent until the
year 1677 , AA'hen they obtained them from King Charles the Second . f This company consists of seventy liverymen , and is governed by a master , tAvo Avardens , and ttventy-tAvo assistants , but being originally composed of AA'orking Masons feAV of AA'hom
were acquainted Avith the theory of the art ; little improvement in architecture could be expected from them . The ancient Freemasons Avere no AA'ay connected Avith these , being of greater antiquity , composed at first of ingenious men in
every branch of science , Avho assembled to improve themselves in the liberal arts , and instruct others AA'ho Avere capable of learning and AA'orthy of being taught , especially in those arts AA'hich related to building ; and Avhatever arts or mysteries some of them might pretend to conceal AA'ith a design of imposing on the credulous , or of
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Observations On The Antiquity Of Masons And Masonry In England.
imitate the several members and different ornaments of the buildings Avhich they had seen or been employed in , but being ignorant of the principles of the Art , they introduced theniAvithoutproprietyandsuppliecltheAvant of proportions and regularit y by a profusion of trifling or ridiculous ornaments collected from the Avorks of other masters . From
these inferior Avorkmen sprang another Society of Masons , Avho being free of the City of London Avere formed into a Company in the year 1410 , the llth of Henry the Fourth , Avhich being the year before the building of the Guild Hall , it is probable that the Company Avas instituted on that
occasion . But if Ave take that building for a specimen of their skill in architecture and masonry , AA'e shall soon discover that the ( Jity Masons AA'ere deficient in those arts Avhich the Freemasons AA'ere so much
masters of , and Avhich distinguish their Avorks from all others . After that time there were two fraternities AA'ho called themselves Freemasons , the ancient and the modern , and although the former claimed a right of Avorking hi all places , Avithout exception ,
by virtue of their ancient privileges , the modern Masons excluded all but those Avho Avere free of London from AA-orking Avithin that City . This Avas a great discouragement to artists and gave a check to the improvement of arts , the idle Avere encouraged to neglect their Avork , and others taking advantage of their idleness combined to
raise . their Avages , AA'hich becoming the principal business of their general meetings , an Act of Parliament passed in the year 1424 , in the third of Henry the Sixth , to prevent their confederating themselves in Chapters and Assemblies , in which Act is said : Whereas b
y the yearly Congregations and Confederacies made by Masons in their yenercd Chapiters and Assemblies , the good course and effects of the . Statutes of Labourers be openly violated and broaken , in subversion of the Lawand to the great
, damage of all the Commons ; our Lord the f ' wiping in this case to provide remedy , <> V the advice and assent aforesaid , and at me special request of the said Commons , mil ordained and established , that such Uiapiters and Congregations shall not
e Iwtofte . r holden , and if any such be 'made , they that cause such Chapiters and congregations to be assembled and holden , J they thereof be convict shall be judged for ¦ > ei ° ns , and that all the other Masons that
coma to such Chapiters and Congregations be punished by imprisonment of their bodies and make fine and ransom at the King ' s will .
It does not appear that this Act Avas ever repealed though it is said that Henry the Sixth , Avhen he came out of his minority , Avas made a Freemason : and if the paper preserved by Loland Avas really an examination of one of the fraternity taken bthat king himselfit is probable he had
y , the curiosity to become one of them ; but as this Act Avas only intended to prevent combinations among the inferior Avorkmen AA'ho assembled annually for the purpose of raising their Avages , it did not prevent the meeting of the ancient Masons in their
respective lodges for the advancement of the arts as usual , though it is probable they Avere more careful in preserving the mysteries of their Art among themselves , than they Avere before the Masons of London had formed themselves into a company , and excluded all but freemen from Avorking in the City , neither did it affect the City
company , for in the year 1477 Clarencieux , king-at-arms , granted them a coat-of-arms , * Avhich is yet borne by them , and has been used by the lodges of modern Freemasons descended from them , but they Avere not incorporated by letters patent until the
year 1677 , AA'hen they obtained them from King Charles the Second . f This company consists of seventy liverymen , and is governed by a master , tAvo Avardens , and ttventy-tAvo assistants , but being originally composed of AA'orking Masons feAV of AA'hom
were acquainted Avith the theory of the art ; little improvement in architecture could be expected from them . The ancient Freemasons Avere no AA'ay connected Avith these , being of greater antiquity , composed at first of ingenious men in
every branch of science , Avho assembled to improve themselves in the liberal arts , and instruct others AA'ho Avere capable of learning and AA'orthy of being taught , especially in those arts AA'hich related to building ; and Avhatever arts or mysteries some of them might pretend to conceal AA'ith a design of imposing on the credulous , or of