Ancient Masonic Lodges, No. Iv.

11 th . No member ordinary or Extraordinary shall affect the fund but the Charges of such shall be paid by the members as said is . 12 th . Every member wheresoever he becomes so by being Made an Enired

Apprentice shall from that date be Lyable to the Quarterly pennice only at the ensuing St . Johns day after his Admition the ods of the Quarter if any hapen to be shall be given in his favours .

13 th . If any Brother shall come Drunk to the Lodge he shall be rebuked and directly Extruded for that time , and if any Member swear in the Lodge he shall pay two pence Sterling for each Oath .

14 th . When a full Lodge is summoned by order of the Master all those who are not nessesarly absent are hereby declared Lyable for a proportion of what Expences thos present are put upon the account of the Meeting .

Some of the forgoing laws of A . D . 1765 are certainly singular , while others seem framed with due regard to order and sobriety . It will be seen that at that date , as well as subsequently , the lodge was still of an operative character

and was in reality a Benefit Society , practically of a secret nature . It continues so even to this day , although of course now , the BENEFITS are separated from the lodge Masonically . The membershowevermust be Masons to enjoy

, , ite advantages . The method of admission by petition , mentioned in Law 6 th prevails in Scotland , and cannot be too highly commended .

The Petitioner has to sign the following declaration , addressed to the Master for the time beinsi . Sir , —Having a desire to be initiated into the Mysteries of Freemasonry , in connection with the Lodover which

ge you preside , if agreeable to that body , I shall feel obliged by your appointing a suitable time for that purpose , and I hereby bind myself to conform to theii Rules and Regulations .

My age at last birthday was I am yours , & c , Name Designation Address

This petition has to be signed by two members to the following effect : — " We , the undersigned , do recommend Mr . , as a candidate for admission into Membership , and hereby vouch for him accordingly . "

The following resolutions are curious and evidence the blending of the speculative with the operative in such a way as to prove rather unfavourable to the former , seeing that " readie money" was required to pay for the initiation or

advancement of " Gentlemen Masons . " The ancient Lodge of Aberdeen to which reference is made has Records from 1670 , and we are glad to state that we have received the sanction of the R . W . M . and the Membersto make

, their character known , which we shall be much pleased to do when we can find necessary spare time in which to carefully examine such valuable documents : " Resolved that hence forward a

meeting shall be called ten days or so Before the Annual General Meeting to Settle a Dinner , and that all the Members in a Publick way shall have it by Rotation , beginning at the First whose name stands in our Books .

" That no Geometrical mason shall be Entered , Passed , or Raised without Readie-money . " That an Operative master ' s Apprentice shall have credit until St . John ' s day first after ther entry upon

good Security , But that all the Members in Banff and Down shall be called , so that If any Objections shall hapen the Petitioner shall be rejected . "ThatJohnStewartistogetFivePounds Ster . forthisyear in monthly proportions .

" That "William Laurence shall Ten Shillings Ster . as was usewally given bei ' or , but it is not to be Continued for the future . But if the Deput Master of Aberdeen Shall be put to extraordinary expenses in attending this meeting he has still acess to apply .