THE OLD CHARGES OF BRITISH FREEMASONS.
69
as Freemasons, and duly obligated, as in ordinary instances, has been a fruitful topic of
inquiry and discussion
since the publication of this RoU in 1871 ; and so far as a settlement of the point is concerned, we are no nearer
to it
now than we were
certain that the insertion of " shee," instead of they,
we cannot be
then, because
was not
a clerical error (which is the opinion of Hughan, Lyon, and Dr Mackey). More, however, on this topic
Findel is unfortunate in his suggestion that "the contents are almost exactly like those of the
hereafter.
so-called
York
^
Constitution,"
the fact being that they are quite dissimilar.
"
26.
Alnwick."
Alnwick.
a.d. 1701.
Published in American edition of Hughan's "Masonic Sketches," etc., 1871, and in his "Old Charges,"
"
also
Masonic Magazine," February 1874. " The Masons' Constitutions " (as they are termed), are
;
"
written on the first twelve pages preceding the records of the
Company and Fellowship of Freemasons of a
held at Alnwicke," the first minute of which begins 29th September 1701, "being the Generall head
Lodge
1872
"
"
"
meeting Day," when several orders to be observed were agreed to. Evidently a recital of the Old Charges"
was considered as a necessary prerequisite to the rules, and so they were entered accordingly. The folio voliune
belonged to the late
to
MS.,
Hughan
was given in the
Mr Edwin Thew
for perusal,
"
Turnbull of Alnwick, who lent the whole of the records, including the
A sketch of the old lodge by Hughan
and reprinted in the " Masonic Magazine," February 1874,
the end of No. 26 have been discovered by the Rev. A. F. A.
for publication if considered desirable.
Freemason," 21st January 1871,
The Latin sentences
also in other publications.
Woodford in a
and
little
work
at
of 1618, but they are not of
27.
"
York, No.
a.d.
2."
any Masonic importance.
The
1704
"
York
"
Lodge.
Published in Hughan's " Masonic Sketches," pp. 79-88. It is the junior of the York Rolls, written on
" The Constitutions of
Masonrie, 1704," the certificate being
parchment (60 by 7J inches), and is entitled
"
nunc Angl., etc., Tertio. Annoq. Dom.
Scrijjt nono Die Septembris Anno Regni Dome Nre Anne Regina
The headbig, however, may indicate the name of the scribe, "An
1704;" but there is no signature.
on the name of Masonrie. Robert Preston to his friend Daniel Moult, upon the Art of Masonrie,
Annagrame
"
"
to his
as foUoweth."
It is singular that No. 5 has a similar
Anagraime," only given by William Kay
friend Robt. Preston.''
on his visit to York, failed to decipher this anagram,^ which I now
Findel,
reproduce
:
—
"
M uch might be
A
said of the noble art,
worth esteeming in each part
S undry nations, nobles, and their kings also,
h how they sought its worth to know,
craft that is
;
N imrod and Solomon the wisest of
R eason saw to love this science,
1 11 say no more,
E
lest
by
my
all
men,
then
shallow verses I
ndeavouring to praise, should blemish Masonrie."
"
Old Charges," is certainly old as a
This poem on the craft, forming the prologue to two copies of the
whatever may be said of its merits, for it probably dates from the sixteenth century. As we see,
composition,
1 of
by reference to the above, it was made to do duty in 1704, just as it was used in its prototype (No.
the
York
series),
about a century
28.
"
earlier,
with a few
ScAKBOKOUGH."
A.D.
trifling alterations in
1705.
Published in " Mirror and Keystone," Philadelphia, 1860.
the orthography.
Grand Lodge
of Canada.
"
The Craftsman," Hamilton, Ontario, February
and "Masonic Magazine," September 1879. It was published in 1860 by the late Mr Leon Hyneman,
as editor of the " Mirror and Keystone," ^ but had been quite lost sight of until Mr Jacob Norton of Boston, U.S.A.,
1874,
1
'
^
He also cites Dr Krause in confirmation.
History of Freemasoory, p. 31.
"
" The
anagram which I could not decipher (Ibid.).
" Canadian Craftsman."
August 22, 1860. It was not an exact reproduction, as in the