Charges Of A Freemason.

CHARGES OF A FREEMASON .

BY CORNELIUS MOORE , Editor of The Masonic Bevitw

LODGE S are of two kinds , " particular and general , or subordinate and Grand . A subordinate Lodge is the working department of the Craft , where the rituals are attended to and the degrees conferred . It is the door through which persons enter the Order ; and to it is assigned tho duty of instructing the members in the mystic art , and of exercising a wholesome discipline over those

belonging to , or residing within , its jurisdiction . Subordinate Lodges are the constituents of the Grand Lodge , and should be represented in that body annually by its Master and Wardens . Originally , the Craft had an inherent right to convene and hold a Lodee in any suitable place , where a sufficient number of members could be convened , and work was to be done . Such Lodgo oould only

initiate , the other degrees being always conferred by the Grand Lodge . After the revival of Masonry , in 1717 , the four old Lodges which constituted the Grand Lodge at that time , agreed to a change in these two particulars . That thereafter no new Lodge should be permitted to convene and work without a dispensation or charter , granted by the Grand Master or Grand Lodge ; and that instead of

the Craft being required to attend the Grand Lodge or General Assembly en masse , the particular Lodge should hereafter be represented in the Grand Lodge by their Masters and Wardens . In a very few years afterwards it was further agreed that , instead of the subordinate Lodges being permitted to confer the first degree only , they should , in the future , have the exclusive right to confer all the degrees ; and this is now the practice in tho York Bite in every

country where Lodges are organized . The necessary officers of a Lodgo are the Worshipful Master , Senior Warden , Junior Warden , Treasurer , Secretary , Senior Deacon , Junior Deacon , and Tyler . The first five should always be elected ; the rest may be appointed by the Worshipful Master , or elected by the members , as may be provided in the bye-laws . In some Lodges thero are also Stewards , Chaplain , Organist , & c , but these are not essential .

A Grand Lodge is the highest judicial and legislative power known to Masonry . It is composed of its officers , together with the Masters and Wardens of all the Lodges in any given State , Kingdom , or Territory . The officers of a Grand Lodge are : Grand Master , Deputy Grand Master , Senior Grand Warden , Junior Grand Warden , Grand Treasurer , and Grand Secretary . It is usual , however , to have

several additional officers as subordinates , as may be provided for in the Constitution of the Grand Lodge . The officers above named are elected j while the subordinates are most generally appointed by the Grand Master . In former days the Grand Master appointed all the officers of the Grand Lodgo ; but for a long time it has been the practice to elect the principal officers , and allow the Grand Master

to appoint , or nominate , the subordinates ; but these things are usually provided for in the Constitution . A Grand Lodge has the exclusive right to prescribe laws , rules , and regulations for the government of the subordinate Lodges within its jurisdiction ; " provided , always that the landmarks be carefully preserved . " Its legislation must not infringe on these ; they are

unalterable . The solemn compact between the four old Lodges in London , existing and working by immemorial custom , and the Grand Lodge of England at its reorganization , expressly provides that tVse " old landmarks" shall never be changed ; and the officers of all Grand and subordinate Lodges , at their installation , solemnly engage to support and preserve unchanged these ancient charges and regulations .

In the trial of Masonic offences , the Grand Lodge holds original jurisdiction in the case of its own members , but only appellate in all others . It has the power of granting charters and dispensations , and may revoke them for good cause . It may remove the Master or Wardens of a subordinate Lodge from their office , for good cause ahown . It may adopt a Constitution aud rules for its own government , provided it does not trespass upon the " old landmarks ; " and

it shonld exercise a general superintendence of the Craft within its jurisdiction . In short , it is supreme in all that relates to Masonry , within the limits of the landmarks , and the powers granted to it by its Constitution . But it may not invade the inherent or reserved rights of individual Masons , or of subordinate Lodges . Its Constitution , however , is the best exponent of its prerogatives ; and it shonld rarely venture to exercise a power not especially vested in it by that instrument .

The condition of society , as well as conventional rules , has materially changed since the " ancient times " mentioned in the text . The external character and aspects of Masonry have altered too ; and while its changeless principles and absolute laws remain as they ever were , the prudential rules and regulations have been modified to accommodate a different condition of society . It will be observed that

the Charge does not insist npon an absolute compliance with the ancient rule . It states what was the usage " in ancient times " as an example that it would be well to follow as far as practicable ; but does not intimate that it is always to be strictly enforced without reference to the social changes and different habits of the various people , nations , and ages , in which Masonry prevails . It may be

laid down as a rule of action , that Masons are expected to attend the Lodge of which they are members , regularly , if possible , but certainly as often a 3 paramount claims upon their time and attention will permit . God has the first claim npon ns ; our families and country next . But wo can serve the canse of humanity by attending to the duties incumbent upon us as Masons , and therefore we should make

it a rule of action to be as regular in attendance at the Lodgo as possible . At stated meetings especially , there should be a ° full attendance of the members of that particular Lodge , that its bnsiness and interests may be properly attended to . There is much to learn , as well as much to do at every meeting ; and members should permit no trivial matter to prevent them enjoying the

Charges Of A Freemason.

privilege or discharging the duty . Remember what the rule was " in ancient times , " and observe it as far as circumstances will permit . This paragraph reveals some of tho most vital principles of the ancient landmarks of Masonry ; and it should be carefully studied until it is fully understood , and its important and imperative

requirements deeply engraven upon the memory of every Mason . First . It tells what kind of men we may admit as members among us : they must be good and true . This language hardly needs an attempt at exposition , for all know what is meant by a good man . An intemperate man , a profane man , a dishonest man , is not a good man in any sense of the word . A good man

is such an one as is described in the first Charge—one who " obeys the moral law ; " one whose whole life , spirit , conversation and practice , accord with the divine requirements of tho " great Light in Masonry . " That moral law is the rule and standard of human action , and moral conduct must be judged in the light of that law . If by such a criterion he can be called a good man , he is in so far qualified

to become a Mason . The heart , which gives tone and character to the actions , must be right ; there the preparation mnst begin ; goodness there will bo shown in the life , just as tbe stream reveals the charaoter of the fountain from which it emanates . He must be true , as well as good ; one to be relied on when circumstances require firmness . His fortitude and integrity will both bo tested ; and he

must be of that material which adheres to principle , and maintains its integrity whatever may be the consequence . If it be asked , in view of this requisition , " Who among us are proper material for the mystio building ? " we reply , let each one answer for himself ; but all may be , and all ought to be . It is to be feared that this imperative rule is too frequently

violated . Profane men are sometimes admitted because they are " clever fellows , " or kind hearted , or have warm and influential personal friends in the Lodge , We can't find it in our hearts to say no , though aware we are violating a fundamental law of Masonry , whioh we have solemnly engaged to preserve inviolate . How often Ave forget our duty , or smother its demands for recognition ! No wonder

the fathers of the Craft left to ns this positive injunction , that these rules are " to be read at the making of new brethren , or when the Master shall order it . " They well understood human nature , and knew that in these important matters it was necessary that we should often be reminded of our duty . It should be laid down as a rule , that a man who wilfully violates God ' s law is not a suitable candidate

for Masonry , and should not be admitted . A bod man ( and this is the opposite of good ) is unfit to be a Mason . An unstable , timid , prevaricating man ; one who will adhere to a friend or a cause in the sunshine of prosperity , but forsake them when the storm comes down , should never be admitted . He is not a true man ; ho may be true for a season , or while circumstances are favourable ; but in the day of

trial his courage and constancy will both fail , and the cause and its friends will be deserted together . If this rule had been strictly observed , the waves of Anti-Masonry might have beaten against our fortress in vain ; instead of scattering the Craft like the leaves of the forest , it would only have driven them into closer compact around our venerable temple , and thus strengthened instead of weakened the

edifice . " Good men and true , " awl none else , shoulil be admitted . Second . They must be " free born . " The Grand Lodge of England has , within the last few years , substituted " free man , " instead of " free born , " thus , in our opinion , striking ata most vital principle which that body was especially bound to protect , and setting an example of the most pernicious tendency . If a Grand Lodge can change one of these

fundamental laws it may another , until nothing is left of Masonry but the name , and even that may be bartered away for a more popular and modern appellation . The principle in the text is borrowed from one laid down by the Supreme Architect in the economy of salvation . The world was to be blessed through the " seed of Abraham ; " that is , through his lineal descendants a priceless blessing was to be

giventhe Prince of Peace was to come . Abraham had a son by a woman who was his slave ; but not being " free born , " that son could not be the channel through which the blessing could be given : and God saw proper to perform a miracle in order that the genealogy of Shiloh might not be tainted with the ignominy of bondage . Personally and morally Ishmael was as good and pure as Isaac , but the prestige of slavery rested on his name and birth , and the high distinction of being

the progenitor of the world ' s Redeemer must be conferred upon another . So Masonry requires candidates for its honors to have been free by birth : no taint of slavery or dishonour must rest upon their origin;—as unsullied by birth as they are in character . This is a landmark in Masonry , and must not be trifled with by any authority known to the Order . We shonld remember that it is our duty to preserve Masonry intact ; not to alter or modify it to suit the ever changing views of men .

Third . Persons admitted members must also bo of " mature and discreet age . " It will be observed that no particular age is named ; and for reasons that an arbitrary rule in such a case is not always a sure one . The object aimed at was to prevent young persons , whose judgments had not yet matured , and who were not yet of sound discretion , from being admitted . Some persons of

eighteen are of riper judgment than others of twenty-five ; and hence Washington and Warren , and many in former years , when the old landmarks were more carefully observed that at present , were admitted under tbe age of twenty-one . Within the last one hundred and fifty years , the age has varied in different countries , at different times . Some times twenty-eight was fixed on as the proper age ; sometimes twenty-five ; at the present day , twenty-one is generally

the period fixed . But in many parts of Europe , persons under the age of twenty-one are sometimes admitted . We should remember that the applicant must be of " mature and discreet ago , " whethor that bo eighteen or twenty-five . Fourth . " No bondman" must be admitted . He mnst not only be free by birth , bnt free in fact ; free to go where bis inclinations or judgment may lead him ; free to judge for himself , to be roaster of