The ancient charge is the history of the rules of operative masons - "our ancient brethren". Freemasonry
gives much import to its historical links into antiquity, especially to the building of the temple at
Jerusalem by King Solomon. Here and elsewhere in both Masonic literature and ritual, reference is
made to the significant influence of the Egyptians.
Variations of this charge abound. This version is based primarily on the "Melrose No.2", as appears in
"The Scottish Master Mason's Handbook" printed 1894. It was chosen for inclusion therein "… because
it represents the oldest text known in Scotland, being copied from a MS. of at least 1580" It has been
edited and transcribed here into modern English for the ease of reading.
Modern freemasons will recognise the key elements of the charge, including the somewhat bizarre
conjunction of Euclid with Abraham and Sarah.
THE TEXT
The Prayer
With the might of the Father of Heaven, with the wisdom of the glorious
Son, and through the goodness of the Holy Ghost, being three in one
Godhead, be with us at our beginning and give us grace as to instruction that
we may come to his bliss that shall never have an end. Amen.
Purpose
All Brethren and fellows, our purpose is to teach you what began the
science of Masonry, afterwards found by the worthy King Priamus and
other worshipful men. Also to these here present, we will declare the
charge for every true Mason to keep in faith that which is worthy as
Masonic science.
The Seven
Liberal Sciences
For there are seven liberal sciences, of which the names are these. The first
is GRAMMAR that teaches a man to speak and write truly. The second is
RHETORIC that teaches a man to speak fair in some terms. The third is
LOGIC, which teaches a man to discern truth from falsehood. The fourth is
ARITHMETIC and that teaches a man to reckon all kind of numbers. The
fifth is GEOMETRY that teaches a man to measure the height, breadth,
length and thickness of all things. The sixth is MUSIC that teaches and man
the science of sound, of voice, tongue, organ, harp and trumpet. The
seventh, ASTRONOMY that teaches a man to know the course of the sun,
the moon and the stars.
Geometry
These are the seven liberal sciences, which may all be found by the one that
is GEOMETRY. A man may prove that all the sciences in the world were
found out through Geometry for it teaches a man to measure and weigh all
things on Earth. For there is no one that works in any science or trade that
does not do so by weights and measures, and this is Geometry. For
merchants, for all men, especially ploughmen and tillers of the ground with
all manner of grains, seeds and vines, and for all setters, sowers and
planters of other fruits, none can, by Grammar, Astronomy or any of the
other seven liberal sciences, find out weights and measures without first
Geometry. Therefore this science was the first, and began before Noah's
flood.
The family of
Lamech
Then, as is written in Genesis, chapter four, there was a man called
Lamech.
19.Lamech took two wives, the name of one was Adah and of the other,
Zillah.
20.Adah bore Jabal: he was the father of all such as dwell in tents and of
such as have cattle.
21.His brother's name was Jubal: he was the father of all such as handle
the harp and organ.
Zillah, she also bore Tubal-Cain, an instructor of every artificer in brass
and iron: and the sister of Tubal-Cain was Naamah.
The founding of
science
And these four children founded the beginning of all science in the world.
The elder son Jabal discovered Geometry and he parted flocks of sheep and
land in the fields and was first to build houses of stone. It is noted in the
chapter above that Jubal founded the science of music, tongue, song organ
and harp. The third brother, Tubal-Cain founded the smith's science in
Gold, Silver, Copper, Iron and Steel. The daughter Naamah founded the
science of weaving.
Creation of the
two pillars
These children knew well that God would take vengeance for Sin by either
fire or water, so they wrote the sciences that they had discovered on two
pillars of stone, so that they might be found after Noah's flood. One stone
was marble, for it would not burn with fire. The other is called Latterus,
which would not sink in water. Our intent is to tell you how and in what
manner these stones, that these sciences were written on, were found.
Hermes finds the
pillars
Great Hermines was Cush's son. Cush was Shem's son and he was Noah's
son. Hermines, later called Hermes was known as the father of wise men.
He found the two pillars of stone and the sciences written on them and
taught them to other men at the building of the Tower of Babylon.
Babylon and
Nineveh
Here, Masons were much esteemed. The King of Babylon, Nimrod was a
mason himself and so loved both the science and the masters of the art.
When the city of Nineveh and other cities of the east were built, Nimrod
sent twenty-one masons at the request of the King of Nineveh, his cousin.
When he sent them forth, he gave them a Charge in this manner:
The first charge
That they be true to one another; that they should live truly together, that
they should serve their lord truly for their pay so that their Master may have
worship and all that love him. Another charge he gave to them, and this was
the first time ever that Masons had a charge of this science.
Abraham, Sarah
and Euclid
Moreover, when Abraham and Sarah his wife went into Egypt, he taught the
seven sciences to the Egyptians. He had a worthy scholar called Euclid
who learned well and was a master of the seven liberal sciences.
In his days it befell that the lords and states of the realm had so many sons,
some by wives and some by other ladies of the land, for that is a hot and
plentiful land of generation, that they had no competent living to provide for
their children, although they had much care to do so.
Then the King made a Council and Parliament to know how they might
provide for their children honestly like gentlemen, and they could find no
manner of way. So they made a proclamation throughout all of the land that
if there were any man who could inform them, that he should come to them
and that he would be rewarded for his travail.
Euclid's solution
After this proclamation was made this worthy clerk, Euclid came and said
to the King and all his great lords that they may live honestly as gentlemen
under one condition. That being that you will grant me commission that I
may have power to rule over them in matters of science. The King and his
lords granted and sealed his commission, and then the worthy doctor took to
him his lord's sons and taught them the science of Geometry. To practise, by
working in stone in all manner of worthy works, such buildings as temples,
castles and towers, and he gave them a charge in this manner.
Euclid's charges
The first was that they be true to the King and the lord that they serve.
That they should love each other and call each other brother or fellow and
not servant or slave nor by any uncomely name.
That they should duly deserve the pay of their lord or master.
That they should ordain the wisest of them to be over their lord's work,
whereby the lord would be well served and that they would be commended
That they should call the governor of their work "Master" so long as they
served him.
And many more that were too long to recite and to all these charges they
made them swear a great oath, that men used to swear in those days, and
ordained them a reasonable day's pay that they might live honestly and also
that they should assemble together once a year [to decide how] that they
might serve the their lord for his profit and to their own worship, and to
keep count for themselves of those that had trespassed against their science.
Thus was the science grounded and that worthy Master Euclid gave it the
name Geometry, and now so it is called throughout all the land - Masonry.
King David and
the temple of
Jerusalem
Long after, the children of Israel came out of Egypt to the country around
Jerusalem. King David had begun the temple, called Templum Domini,
known by us as the temple of Jerusalem. The same King David loved
masons and cherished them and gave them good pay. He gave them a charge
as he had learned in Egypt by artificers, and other charges that you will
hear afterwards.
King Solomon
finishes the
temple
After the decease of King David, Solomon his son finished the Temple that
his father had begun. He sent for masons from diverse countries and
gathered them together, so that he had 80,000 workers of stone who were
all named masons. He chose out of them 4,000 that were ordained to be
masters of his work.
With help from
Hiram
Furthermore, there was a King of another land called Hiram, he loved King
Solomon, and gave him timber for his work. He had a son who was a
master of Geometry, and who was chosen as master of all manner of
masonry that belonged to the temple. (This being witnessed in the Bible -
1st Kings, Chapter 5). Solomon confirmed both Charges and manners that
his father had given to masons, and thus that worthy science of masonry is
confirmed in the country of Hiram, and in many other countries.
Namus the greek
These craftsmen walked about in diverse countries, some to learn more
knowledge and some to teach them that had but little. It befell that there was
a curious mason called Namus that had been at the building of Solomon's
Temple who came into France and there he taught the science of masonry to
French men. There was one of the French regal line called Charles Martell.
He was a man who well loved that science and he learned from the
aforementioned Namus Grecus the science, who laid upon him the charges
and manners.
Masonry in
France
Afterwards, by the grace of God, he was elected to be the King of France,
and when he was in this state he took masons and made masons and set
them in work and gave them both the charge and manners and good pay as
he had learned of other masons. He confirmed on them a charter from year
to year that they should assemble where they would, and cherished them
much.
And from France
to England -
St. Alban
And so came this science to France and England, up to this time there had
been no charge of masonry known in England till St. Alban's time, up till
when the King of England was a pagan. He did wall the town that is known
as St. Albans. St. Alban was a worthy knight and steward of the King's
House and had governance of all the realm and also of the building of
towers and walls and loved masons well. He cherished them much and
made their pay right good for he paid them four shillings and sixpence a
week, double that of those who were not masons. Before that time a mason
had but a penny a day and his meat until St. Alban amended it. He got a
charter from the King's general council to assemble together and was there
himself. He made masons and gave them their charge as you shall
hereinafter hear.
Athelston and
Edwin
Right after the decease of St. Alban, there came into England wars with
diverse countries, and for that cause the rule of masonry was detested until
the time of King Athelston. He was a worthy King of England and brought
this land into peace and rest and built many great works of St. Alban's type
such as towers and many other buildings, and he loved masons well. He
had a son named Edwin and he loved masons much more than his father.
Edwin
commissions an
assembly
He was a great practiser in geometry and gave himself to much talk with
masons, and has made masons himself. For the love he had for the science
and to the masons he got from his father the King a Charter or Commission
that they should assemble every year where they would, within the realm of
England, correct such trespasses that had been committed in the science.
York assembly;
bringing together
the charges
He held his assembly in York and there he made masons and gave charges
and taught them manners and commanded that order to be kept and made an
ordinance that they should be ruled by the King. When the assembly was
gathered together he made a proclamation that all masons, young or old that
had any writings or understanding of the charge or manners, made in this
land or any other, should bring them forth. When they were provided, some
were in French some in Greek, some in English and some in other
languages. The intent of them was found to be one. He made a book thereof,
and how the science was found and he commanded that it should read when
any mason was made, and to give them his charge and from that time to the
present the manners of masons are kept in that form as men might keep and
govern. Furthermore, at certain assemblies there has been ordained certain
charges by the best advice of masters and fellows. Tunc unus majoribus
tenet Libra et ille vel illi ponare manus super Librum et tunc precepta
deliberat Legi
York charges
Every man that is a mason take good heed to this charge, for a man to swear
upon a book is a great peril and charge. The first charge is that you be true
to God and the church and that you should neither error nor heresy make, be
discreet and wise. He should also be true to the King of England without
treason or any other falsehood, and in case of such should warn the King or
his council.
They shall be true to one another, that is to every other mason of the science
of masonry. To those allowed to be masons, you should do to them as they
by you. You shall keep the council of the Lodge and Chamber, and any other
council of masonry.
That no mason use any theft, and you shall be true to your lord and master
that you shall serve and truly see his profit and advantage.
You shall call masons your brother and fellow and no other name.
You shall not take your fellow's wife to villainy or wrongly desire his
daughter or servant, nor put him to dispraise.
You should pay truly for all your meat and drink when abroad, otherwise
the science may be stained.
These charges belong to every true mason generally to be kept. Now will I
rehearse other charges for the master and fellows.
Master's charges
First that no master shall take upon him any lord's work other than he is
able to perform it, so that the science shall not be slandered thereby, but
that the lord may be well served.
The master shall live honestly and truly and pay his fellows their duty after
the manner of the science, also that no master nor fellow should supplant
any other, except if in knowledge that the other be unable to finish the work.
No master or fellow shall take on an apprentice for a term less than seven
years, and that he be able, be free born and whole of his limbs as a man
ought to be. Also no master nor fellow should take on a low man without
the consent of his fellows, for at least six or seven years.
He that shall be made mason be able in all degrees, that is to say, be free
born, of a good kindred and true an no bond man. Also that none take an
apprentice than can occupy 2 or 3 of his fellows at least.
No master nor fellow should take work which had need to go by journey.
Every master shall give to his fellow payment as he does deserve, save that
he be deceived by false work.
General
behaviour
Non shall slander another behind his back to make him lose his good name,
or his goods. No fellow within or without the lodge shall swear either
ungodly or reprehensible without reasonable cause. Every mason reverence
his elder and put him to worship.
You shall do no villainy within where you go to board, nor use lechery, nor
buy land whereby the science may be slandered.
Also, no man should go into town in the night time, where a lodge of
fellows might be, unless he have a fellow with him, that he may bear him
witness that he was in an honest place.
Every master or fellow that has trespassed against the science shall stand,
at the ward of his fellows, to make them agree, if they cannot they may go to
common law.
No master nor fellow shall molest or swear or make any strife within the
lodge or without amongst the hewing mould stones.
Every master or fellow shall come to the assembly if it be within 40 miles
about him, if he have any warning and has trespassed against the science, he
is to abide at the ward of his master and fellows.
Every mason and fellow shall receive and cherish strange masons when
they come out of other countries, and set them in work in the manner they
desire, that is with mould stones when they come to this place, he shall
refresh him with money until the next lodge,
Every mason shall serve the lord truly for his pay and every mason or
master make an end of his work be it a task or journey, and see that you
have the covenant rehearsed and all other that belong to masonry.
The charge was never given to any free mason before the worthy clerk
Euclid did give them.
Taking on
apprentices
There is no free mason neither master nor fellow that ought to take any more
during his lifetime but three, which apprentices he must take for seven
years. The first of the seven years he is to be a free mason, when the seven
years following have expired he is to take another and so the next and that
he ought to take no more, except he cause one lodge to be set, and have the
leave of his master and fellows of the set lodge. The apprentice so taken is
lawfully so, in any other way, unlawfully.
They that are lawfully taken, after they come out of apprenticeship ought not
to be named Loses but ought to be named free men from their master or
fellows id they have their master's discharge. All others that are not
lawfully taken are to be named Loses. Neither master nor fellows ought to
make a free mason except one of his lawful apprentices, nor ought he be
made a free mason except he is given before a set lodge to see what he can
begin from the ground and furnish to the top for sustaining the noble
science.
No free mason neither master nor fellow ought to take work using Loses if
he can have any free mason or lawfully taken apprentice. If he can have
none of them, he may take as many as will serve his turn. He ought not to let
them know the privilege of the Compass, Square, Level and Plumb-rule, but
should set out their plumbing for them, and let them work between them
with a line.
He ought not to let them know any more for putting down the noble science
and if there come any free mason, he ought to displace one of the Loses, and
put in his brother that takes work or if there comes one of the lawfully taken
apprentice likewise. If he as no work for them, he ought to give them money
to bring them to the next lodge or next free mason.
If any master or fellow has any lawfully taken apprentices that run away
and that come to another master or fellow, he shall set him in work till he
can send his master word of him. Also if he pays any wages, he shall
answer his master for the performance of this covenant.
We do swear, so God help us and holy Dome and by the contents of this
book to our power.
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