St. Alban And Freemasonry.

¦ here , and from his time it flourished more or less , as the world went , down to the days of King Athelstane , who for the sake of his brother Edwin granted the Masons a charter . But to my mind , the strongest evidence of the

tradition of St . Alban is to be found in the caption and preamble of the York Constitutions of A . D . D 26 ,

That Edwin , the son of King Athelstane , in ihe year 926 convened the Masons of the kingdom into a general assembly at the city of York , at which a Grand Lodge was established , ivith Edwin as Grand Master , aud at which rales for

ihe government of the Craft were adopted , commonly known as the " Charter of York , " Freemasons do not admit to be merely a tradition . The fact is so satisfactorily demonstrated by historical testimony and universal acceptance , that it

emerge * , from the dim twilight of tradition into the broad sunlight of authentic fact . The caption of the " Charter of York" is as follows -.

" Fundamental Laws of the Fraternity of Freemasons , based npon tho ancient writings concerning the laws and privileges of the ancient Corporations of Roman builders , as they ware confirmed to St . Alban , in the year 290 , by the Emperor Caransus , at his residence at Verulam ([ St . Alban ) received , discussed and accepted by the

Lodges of England , convoked for this object in a geuer a assembly at York in the year 926 , by Prince Edwin , son of King Athelstane . " In the preamble occur the following words : — ** It is to be regretted that many Roman

edifices should have been devastated upon the occasions of the incursion of the Danes , and that saany documents and recoz-ds of lodges , ivhich in those times were held and preserved in the

consents , should have been burnt under like circumstances . But the pious King Athelstane , ivho lias much esteem for the art , and who has established many superb edifices since the peace con . eluded Avith the Danes , has desired to make up

ibis deficiency . He has ordained that the institution , founded in the time of the Romans by St . Alban , should be re-established and confirmed anew . It is in this intention , that he has remitisd to his son Edwin an edict , by which the

Masons can have their own government , and ' . at ? . blish all proper rules to render their art prosperous . " It ivill thus be seen that at a period as early as 926 , the tradition of St . Alban was accepted

St. Alban And Freemasonry.

by the Freemasons of England as an established fact . In the Corpus Juris Romain ( body of the Roman Law ) , which antedates the Christian era . Ave find provisions regulating societies , which ,

were known as Collegia fabrorum and Collegia artificum ( colleges of architects and colleges of workmen ) . These ivere societies of skilful architects and builders , which were recognised by the laiv , and to ivhich were conceded , in consequence

of their usefulness to the state , certain exclusive privileges . They had the right to make their oivn by-laAvs , the monopoly of constructing public buildings and monuments , and ivere made free of all contributions to the City aud State . They

partook of the religions character , and preserved their individuality by ceremonies kuoivn only to the initiated . They imparted to their initiates a knowledge of their art and instructed them in secret signs and other means of mutual recognition .

These Societies accompanied the Roman legions in their triumphant march , and assisted in planting Roman civilization upon the fields of Roman conquest . After the fall of the Roman Empire they ceased to build Pagan temples and commenced to build Christian churches . I do not admit that to these Societies

Freemasonry owes its origin , because their rites and ceremonies can readily be traced by the student for ages further in the past ; but I do submit , as my oivn conviction , that the Roman Collegia were the line ancestors of the present Masonic Lodges .

Among the countries into ivhich these societies followed the P . oman armies , ive find them in Gaul , Germany , and Britain before the time of St . Alban . In the year 286 , Diocletian and Maximian ivere

joint Emperors of Rome . To Diocletian was assigned the government of the East , and to Maximian the defence of the West , including Gaul and Britain . To repel the desultory excursions of the Franks , Maximian

found it necessary to create a naval power . The present site of Boulogne , in the British Channel , was chosen as the station of the Roman fleet , and the command of it ivas entrusted to Carausius , who was well known for his skill as a pilot , and his

valour as a soldier . When placed in command of the fleet , he sailed from Boulogne to Britain , persuaded the army , which guarded that island , to embrace his cause , and , boldly assuming the