Reviews.

as the Palmers' guild , social guilds . We confess ive prefer to call them Religious miilds , though , perhaps , Avith a specific character attached to them . One thing is remarkable in them all , the part Avomen layed in the guildsand the distinct

p , position assigned to them . They seem to have been on an entire equality with the men , nay , let no advocate of Avoman ' s rights , no champion of woman ' s wrongs despair . In one guild the guild of KyllyngholmLincolnshirea sister might

, , actually be chosen Provost of the guild . We feel inclined to say at once , " oh forkmati murium . " But , seriously , it is a very remarkable ancl interesting feature of our social life in those days , the union of brothers and sisters in the same guild .

The Trading Guilds seem to have been divided into the guild merchant or larger mercantUe guilds and the purely Craft guilds . We give the rules and regulations of the Tylers of Lincoln , partly on account of their brevity , ancl partly because of their interest to us as Freemasons .

Then- return is in Lathi—¦ " Tegulatores Lincolnie , qui Poyntours vulgariter vocantur . " This guild of Tylers or Poyntours Avas founded in 1346 . These are their rules : " Every member must make himself knoAvn to the graceman , but , must be admitted

by the common consent of the guild , and be SAVorn to keep the ordinances . Each shall give a quartern of barley , and pay tAvo pence to the ale , and one penny to the clean . " "Four saule candels "—soul candles— " shall be found and used in the burial service "— -no doubt that is for the

members . " A feast shaU be held on the festival of Corpus Christi , ancl on each clay of the feast they shall have throe flagons and four or six tankards . Ale shall be given to the poor and prayers shall be said over the flagons . " It is worthy of notice

that horn the Latin version of this regulation , it is clear , females Avere then members of these craft guilds , for the words are , " Item ordinatum est , quod omnes fratres et sorores potabunt in Festo Corporis Christi , " and mention is also made of "unius presb yteri sive clerici . " The next regulation is , " Pilgrims shall

be helped . " " Burials are to be provided for by the graceman , the tAvo wardens and the clean . If any brother does anything under , handed and Avith ill will , by Avhich another AVUI be AA'i'onged in Avorking his craft , he shall pay to the guild a pound of wax

AAufchout any room for grace ; No tyler or poyntour shall stay in the city unless he enters the guild . " As Ave said before there is no return so far discovered of a Freemasons guild , but probably among the four hundred still in the Record Office , a return

may yet be found . There are many longer rules of the Tailors , ancl Bakers and Cordwainers of Exeter , the Carpenters ancl Tailors of Nomvich , as well as the Barbers and Peltyers , and Saddlers ancl Spinners of the same toAvn , and the Fullers and Tadors

of Lincoln , but we have not further space to-day to allude to them further than to say this . They are marked by very minute regulations for the careful maintenance of their Secrets and Ordinances , ancl "Poyntz '' and "Mysteries , " ancl yet then members

always seem to have borne in mind the equally necessary duty of mutual assistance ancl mutual sympathy , as belonging to the fraternity . Altogether the glimpse into our old social life and customs afforded by these guild statutes is very interesting ,

as it suggests much that is both worthy , of reflection and consideration by us all . For it may be doubted , whether in this our age of boasted enlightenment ancl progress , Avehave yetsucceeded inrealizingwhat these old forefathers of ours undoubtedl y

did do , namely , that the best foundation of our individual ancl corporate prosperity , as well as of our social existence ancl ournatural life , is that , Avhich is based after all on tho great and sacred laAV of mutual sympath y , interest and good-AAoll ; that interweaving of

our common Avants , ancl hopes , and duties , and responsibilities Avhich can alone render stable the institutions of the mi ghtiest Empires , or advance permanently the general happiness , and progressive elevation of a free and understanding people .

W , P