An Analysis Of Ancient And Modern Freemasonry.

sail punish the breakers in certaine paine . The ijiihilk ordinance sail he extended to Masons , wrichtes , smithes , tailyeoures , wobstates , and all uthers in likewise generalise qutrais fees and handling sail be prysed . " The " Deakon was beyond na conecfcion of the Crafte . " On the 1 st October , 1487 , it was

ordered " That Craffces-men usand merchandise , renunce the Craft . " 26 th June , 1491 , there was a law passed entitled , " Purting downe of Deakons of Craftes , and that na Maisons nor wrichtes take payment for halie-dayes , " ( holidays ) . " Gude Craftesmen , free men , or others " were allowed to be chosen

* ' for all workes . " It was ordered , 20 th June , 1555 , " That there bee na Deakones chosen in times camming , hot fche Provost and Councel of the Burgh to chose the maist honest man of Craffc of gude conscience , ane of every Craft , to visie their Craffc ,

their personnes to be called visitours , to be elected and chosen yierlie at Michael-mes . " The Craftes were not permitted after the Sth July , 1592 , to exercise i their workes within sub-urbs adjacent to Burrowes . " These statutes were confirmed llfch August , A . D . 1607 .

These examples will suffice to show the operative character of the Craffc , and the importance attached to the oflice of the Deacon , as also its antiquity , as some writers of note on Masonry have of late sought to prove the latter office to be of modern date . * " From the earliest times down to the period when the

Grand Lodges of England and Scotland were formed , the fraternity of Masons was evidently of a secret character , and thus effectually prevented the science from becoming generally known . There seems to have been but one form of initiation , although it is

just possible thafc there was a special ceremony for passing . The Apprentice , after being duly entered , and serving his lawful time , became a Fellow Craft , if ¦ sufficiently expert , and selected a mark by which

his work would be known to himself and Master , after which fche more expert Cz-affcsmen were advanced to the position of Master , and considered to be capable of superintending , planning , and erecting buildings iu connection wifch the other Masters of tbe lodge .

Evidently , up to A . D . 1717 , the Masters mentioned were simply to be considered as overseers , and responsible for the work , but in no sense as Master Masons of the present day , because there was no ceremony on their being made Masters , neither were any fees exigible on their promotion . We may state

that on this matter we ave supported by the following Brethren , who are the best authorities we are aware of on ancient lodge minutes , viz ., D . M . Lyon , author of "Mother Kilwinning " & c , William Hunter , author

of " Journeyman Masons , "' No . S , Anthony Oneal Haye , author of " Canongate Kilwinning , " No . 2 , & c , and J . G . Kndel , author of "History of Treemasonry , " and so far as our own researches have gone , we can confidently state , but two grades were practised under the operative constitutions .

Gentlemen were admitted aa members formerly , just as they are received by the members of the various incorporations of to-day , but notwithstanding their un-operative character , we find they received the degrees of Apprentice and Fellow Craft , and even accepted the office of Deacon , or ruler of a

lodge . This fact must not be lost sig ht of . When the lodges in Scotland became purely speculative is not easily decided , as the influence of the Grand Lodge of England , established A . D . 1717 , had been felt far ancl wide before the Grand Lodge of Scotland was formed . ( To be continued . )

Sixth Decade Of Masonic Precepts.

SIXTH DECADE OF MASONIC PRECEPTS .

( From Pro . Pantos COOPER ' S Manuscript Collections . ) LI . —MQRALITI- WITHOUT BELIGIOK - . Brother , liken morality without religion to a beautrfal statue grievously mutilated . LII . —A NIGHTMARE .

Brother , thou wond'rest that thy slumber is troubled Thou hast sinned . That sin is the nightmare of thy conscience . LIII . —DEVELOPMENT OP ENGLISH EIIEEMASONEY . Brother , all that is most valuable in our English .

Ereemasonry has been produced by its gradual development since the beginning of the last century . LIV . —BEADIXG . Brother , when old age is come , let not thy reading be for this life , but for eternity .

LY . —MALUS TJSVS . Brother , " malus usus abolendus est . " * LTI . —XANTHIPPE . Brother , Xanthippe was as a mother what she was as a wife , yet Socrates enjoined his son Lampsocles to love and respect her .

LVII- —THE GOOD MAX . Brother , the good man recks little should he be forgotten by all his fellow-creatures ; for he knows that he is not forgotten by the Glorious Architect of Heaven and Earth .

LVIIL—BEAUTY . Brother , beauty is of two kinds , moral and physical . Moral beauty is divine and everlasting ; physical beauty is human and transient .