History Of Freemasonry In Cornwall.

cipal provincial officers was charged with two breaches of Masonic law by the lodge . ( To he continued )

Ears Of Wheat From A Cornucopia.

EARS OF WHEAT FROM A CORNUCOPIA .

By Bro . D . MURRAY LYOX , one of the Grand Stewards in the Grand Lodge of Scotland . CURIOSITIES OF MASONIC DISCIPLINE . ( Continued from page 365 . ) In the matter of discipline , the Craft are not

now , as in the days of yore , supported by the civil power ; neither do we of the present day deny to brethren under , censure the right of appeal , as did our Masonic ancestors . Nonpayment of dues , and non-attendance at meetings

of the Fraternit j ' ' , were offences which were followed by the infliction of heavy penalties , in certain cases involving banishment from the town in which the defaulter wrought—a worse punishment than having one's apron committed to the flames amid

indignities such as are described in the minute of date Nov . 29 , 1764 , introduced by Bro . Hughan into his notes on the Cornish lodges . Offences other than those we have named will form the

subject of subsequent papers . The oppressive exercise of the power to punish transgressors against the ordinances of the Craft seems to have attracted the attention of the civic authorities , for at a convention of the magistrates

of Air , held in 1590 , the Fraternity's privileges as to the recovery of fines were somewhat circumscribed : — " . . . It is statut and ordanit be provest , baillies , and counsale , that ther be na maner of

poyndvng within , this bwrcb . in ony tyme earning upon , ony act or statut sett doune amangis the Craftis thairof , without concnrence and authorit y of the magistrats of the sd burch being for the tyme had and obtaned thairof , under the pane of

5 pund of unlaw . " The check thus given to the rigorous administration of the Masonic penal code would seem in the next century to have been succeeded by great laxity of discipline , insomuch as to render

necessary the services of learned neutrals in rescuing from oblivion a knowledge ' of the statutes by which the brethren of a former generation were wont to regulate their lodge affairs : —¦

"Upon the 20 day of Januari , 1680 yeris , att the lodge of Kilwinning , there being ane numberable companie of the massounis of the sd lodge of Kilwinning , to witt , Allan Caldwell , deacone ,

John Massoun , present wardane , and the resi © F the members , findeing that ther is great Joss far ¦ want of order amongst us , and it is found relevant " and right among the sd breethren that ar heirconvened , to witt , Allane Caldwell , deacon , 36 ha

Allason , warden , James Law , Thomas CaldwelL , and John Young , quartermaster , that it [ is ] ffitt " that pappers concerneing the sd lodge , to witt the old warden books , were consulted and infTormatioii ' taken be lowers [ lawyers ] , whereby the

formerabuses and disorders may be in times comeing putto execution and the falters corrected and punished ' accordinglie as in former tymes , and grants , etc . ' * ** Here follow the conditions upon which we fine ! a brother to have been , at Air in 1604 , advanced to the rank : of Master Mason : —

"Qlk day the cleakin and craft forsd . hes admittit aud resavit John M'Knedar , massomr frieman , to the friedonm of the massoun craft / within the burgh ; and for this caus he sail pay to the craft ten merkis on this wise , to witt , of everi &'

xxs that he getts for his wark qlk he executs aither in town or countrie he sail pay thereof xl . d ., how sonne that ever he ressaves it . And lykwyis of everie xxs . he getts for work fra landlordis fhrfcfc sail pay half ane merle thereof , aud qll [ until ] the

sd . ten merkis be payit . And in cais he failis heis at the first fait to be baniset the libertie of the sd craft , and never to cum within the town towork againe of tyme furth . " Our next extract shows how silence under CCT- ~

rection was to be enforced—and the curtains of the ; " sanctum" being accidentally parted , neutralsare treated to a peep at the brethren 1 * 31 fte solemn attitude of oath-taking -. — "October 16 , 1605 . . . . Qlk day the

deakin and craft forsd lies maid this act to stand in tyme cuming , that qlk of thame efter they be pointid for ony just fait or occasioun , acconrdingto the auld ordour , maks ony murmouring or impediment in the court , that murmourer sail' pay

ane dubill unlaw unforgevin to the dekin and tothe craft . Qlk act the haill brethren lies balden up their handis and swounie to put in executionsat all tymes as effeirs . " Failing to reach defaulters by way of decreeS "

and seizure of goods and gear , this other coursewas adopted to bring the refractory under subjection : — "Kilwinning , 1645 . . . . Item , they he ? - ' ordanit that na man sail tak in wark Patrick Gi * ehn , Robert Cauldwell , and John Carruth , nor ge ^ -