The Minute Book Of The Lodge Of Industry, Gateshead.

THE MINUTE BOOK OF THE LODGE OF INDUSTRY , GATESHEAD .

BY THE EDITOll . ( Continued from page 76 . ) I PROPOSE now to give a series of documents which have for the first time been publicly made use of since they were

written in the old Minute . Book by the same clear hand abont 150 years ago . Most interesting they all are , and most important towards a true history of Freemason ty in England .

Orders of Antiquity . " 1 st . That every Mason be a True Lodgeman to God and the holy Church . That he use neither errour nor heresy , nor desert discreet and wise men ' s teaching . " 2 nd . That you be true to each other

, and do to 6 veiy man as you would thej r should do unto you . " 3 rd . That you keep truly all Council of the Lodge Chamber , and Council that ought to be kept concerning Masonry . " 4 th , That you shall call all Masons

ffellowes or Brethren and no foul names . " 5 th . That you shall pay truly for your meat and drink , & c , where you lodge or board . " 6 th . That you shall do no villany where you board , whereby the Craft may be slandered .

" 7 th . lhat no mason take upon him any Lord ' s or Masters work , nor any other Mason ' s unless he know himself to be Master of the said work : so that the Craft may have no slander , nor evil report by him in so doing . ' ' 8 th . That no master or ffellow deprive

other Blasters of their work which they have taken , Unless he can render him or them in-capable of the work . " 9 th . That no Master or Fellow shall take an Apprentice for less time than Seaven years , and one that is able of

Birth , free born , whole of Limbs , and as a man ought to be . " 10 th . That no master or ffellow take any allowance or ffee of any for their being made a Mason without ye knowledge and Consent of Seaven of the Society at least . [ Verte is here written at the foot of the page . ]

" 11 th . That no Master or ffellow put any Lord's work to Tax , that was to be done prjourney . '' 12 th . That every Master or ffellow give pay unto his Fellow according as he deserves , so that he be not deceived by

ffalse workmen . " 13 th . That no Mason shall Slander another behind his back , to make him . loose his good name . " 14 . That no Mason be any Common p layer at diceor any other unlawful games

, , whereby the Craft may be Slandered , or Evil Spoken of . " loth . That no ffellow go into the Town at night except he hath ffellows with him , that may bear witness he was in good Company .

" 16 th . That every Master or ffellow upon due warning shall not fail to attend the Assembly upon the General meetinoday , if he be within fifty miles of it . " 17 th . That if any have Trespased against the Craft he shall stand to and abide the Award of the Master and ffellows .

" 18 . That every Master and ffellow shall cherish strange ffellows when they come out of strange Countreys , and set them on work if they have any , and they willim * to work . If not to supply them with money to the next Lodge if need so

require . " 19 th . That every Mason shall trul y make an end of his work , be it Tax or Journey . "That the Master or Steward keep the Book of Constitutions , Institutions , Orders Acco and Register , and from Time to Time Informe or Instruct any of the Assembly in such requests as they shall want to be informed in .

" 21 st . That all flines are to be pd upon first proof on demand and such Sines and money as is or may be in Stock , in { fund Box , be disposed of as the majorit y of the Assembly shall determine . "

I now transcribe the Apprentices' Orders which so far , to the best of my knowledge in their present form are unique . Apprentices Orders . " 1 . Forasmuch as you are contracted and Bound to one of our Brethren : We are here assembled together with one Accord , to declare unto you the Laudable Dutys appertaining unto those yt are