THE OLD CHARGES OE BRITISH EREEMASONS.
66
prominence because of
entitled to
its
being the only one in which the term Free Mason occurs in a MS. of the
5, 6, 7, 8, 12; 15, and others, contain precisely the same expression,
seventeenth century or earlier ; as Nos. 4,
yhilst in some, "True Mason" and "Free
all the Scottish versions are evideiitly of
Mason"
As will be noticed more fully hereafter,
in his " History of Lodge No. 1, Scotland,"
Lyon,
are both used.'
English origin.
" in the
early part of the last century it was a custom of the Lodge of Kilwinning to sell to lodges
"
The
its charters, written copies of this document (MS. 16), which was termed the old bulk
(p. 107).
receiving
"
"Kilwinning" version is very similar to Ko. 4, but Jiffers considerably from the Melrose" text.
states that
17.
"Atciieson Haven."
a.d.
1666.
Grand Lodge
of Scotland.
The "Musselburgh" or "Atcheson Haven" MS. was published in the "History of Freemasonry and the
Grand Lodge of Scotland" (2d edit., 1859), by Mr W. A. Laurie; but having been slightly altered and
modernised, a correct transcript of the original in Freemasons' Hall, Edinburgh, was printed by Lyon in his
History of No. 1, Scotland. "Ane Narratione of the finding out of the craft of Masonrie, and by whom it
heth been cherished," is engrossed in the earliest known minute-book of this old lodge, and bears date a.d. 1666.
18.
"Aberdeen."
a.d.
1670.
Ancient Lodge at Aberdeen.
Published in "Voice of Masonry," Chicago, U.S.A. (December 1874).- After the "Laws and Statutes "of
the old lodge at Aberdeen, a.d. 1670 (the earliest preserved), conies the " Measson Charter," as it is called, and
then the general laws, list of members, etc., etc., all beginning in 1670, when the " mark book" was commenced.
As the
records of this remarkable lodge will be again considered, they need scarcely be further particularised
" ordained
It may be stated, in brief, that its ancient members
likeways that the Measson
in this place.
Charter be read at the entering of every Entered Apprentice, and the whole
the charter in the hinder end of this Book Farewell."
Laws
of this Book.
Ye
shall find
—
This transcript does not seem to have been made from any complete standard text, as it breaks off abiiiptly
9 of the " General Charges" {vide MS. 15).
It is curious, on perusing the copy, to find that, whilst
the clerk was content to acknowledge the English origin of the text, by inserting the clause " True leidgeman to
at clause
the
King
God and
of England," he gratified his national proclivities
to the
19.
by making the "First Charge"
to read "true
man
to
Tcirlc."
holy
"Melrose, No.
2."
a.d.
1674.
Old Lodge
at Melrose, Scotland.
Published in "Masonic Magazine" (January 1880).
For the discovery of this important MS. in 1879, we
Mr W. Fred. Vernon, of Kelso. Notwithstanding the number of masonic pilgrimages to
are indebted to
"
Old Charges " eluded detecMelrose, and the diligent searches instituted from time to time, this copy of the
the date mentioned.
So far as I am aware, there was no allusion to this version until 1879,
though its existence had been suspected by Hughan, who made frequent inquiries on the
and
tion until
subject,
induced friends to search
for
a
copy, but
without success, until
Mr
Vernon's
visit,
when
the latter
kindly furnished him with an exact transcript, afterwards published as before stated. I am thus precise as
to these points, because it has been contended that this MS. is similar to the other Scottish
versions, and
that it is most probably a copy of No. 16.^
The facts, however, are, that in many portions it varies considerably from the other Scottish MSS., and the document is of far greater value than the other three (Nos. 16
One can almost positively declare it to be a transcript of an extinct MS. of a.d.
17, and 18) already described.
1581 (which I term Melrose No.
1),
or even earlier, as the conclusion
is
a certificate from a " master free-
1
According to Fort (p. 190) the name "Freemason" has arisen from "the universal custom of the fraternity,
without exception in England, and to some extent elsewhere, to call each other brother, or, in old French, frere mai;on,
from wliich this nomenclature is derived."
The argument, however, by whicli this contention is upheld is most
inconclusive.
^
late
Several
Dr
MSS.
of the craft were reprinted in the
A. G. Mackey.
'Freemason, October
18, 1879.
" National
Freemason," whilst under the
editorial control of the