Masonic " Dames."

" dames' in whose employment they might be , in no way implies that it was the practice for these dames themselves to be initiated . The variations of expression and orthography that are to be found in existing copies of the ancient

Constitutions , are due in great measure to the mistranscription , ignorance , or whim of copyist . The reference that is made in certain clauses of the Manuscript of 1693 to an entered apprentice's obligation to protect the interests of his " master

or dame , " i . e . mistress , clearly indicates that at that time it was lawful for females in the capacity of employers to execute mason work . A similar custom obtained in Scotland , where

widows , and failing sons , daughters of freemen masons , were , under restrictions which varied in different localities , allowed to exercise the privileges of burgesses in the execution of mason-work . In ratifying their ancient statutes in 1660 , the

Ayr Squaremen Incorporation , whose deacon had been a party to the St . Clair Charter of 1628 , " enacted that every freeman ' s doghter shall pay in all tyme comeing to the deacone and this tred for hir fredome the soume of aught pound scotts

with ane sufficient dinner , and this ordinance to tand in force in all tyme to come . The stranger quho maries hir to have the benefit off this alien erly . "

In the case of female members of Scottish Incorporations the "freedom of craft" carried with it no right to a voice in the administration of their affairs . Neither was their presence required at their enrolment , although their entry-money was double that of members' sons .

The records of Mary's Chapel , so far as we are aware , afford the only instance of a Scotch Lodge acknowledging the lawfulness of a female occupying the position of "dame" or mistress , in a masonic sense , and from the following minute of

the Lodge of Edinburgh it will be observed that it was only to a very limited extent that the widows of master masons could do so : — " Edr ., 17 of Apryle , 1683- The whilk day , in presence of Thomas Hamiltone deakone and John

Harrvy warden , and remanant masters of the masone craft , in corroboratione of the former practise quhich was of use and wont amongst them it is statute and ordained that it shall be in no tyme or in no wayes leithsome for a widow to undertake workes or to imploy jurneymen in any

Masonic " Dames."

maner or way , but if such work as ancien customers of the deceased husbands or any other ouner who may out of kyndnesse offer the benefite of their work to the sd widoes be offered unto them , then and that caice it shall be leithsome to

them to have the benefite of the work providing alwayes that they bespeake some freeman by whose advyse and concurrance the worke shall be undertaken and the jurneymen agreed with , quhich freeman is hereby charged to be altogether

inhibited to participate of the benefite arriessing from the sd work , under the paine of doubling thesoume reaped and arriessing to them by the sd work unjustly and ta the prejudice of the sd widoues and contrare to the intent of the masters mette for

this tyme ; and lykeways to underly the censure of the deakon and masters in all tyme coming , if they shall think it expedient to punish them for their malversatione and circumventione ofthesd widoues . Written and subscrived by order and with consent of the deakon , warden , and masters , by Ar . Smith , Clerk . "

Our Patron Saint.

OUR PATRON SAINT .

The traditions of Masonry teach us , that Masonic Lodges in ancient times were dedicated to King Solomon , that they were thus dedicated from the building of the first Temple to the Babylonish captivity . From that time to the coming

of the Messiah , they were dedicated to Zerubbabel , the builder of the second Temple ; and from that to the final destruction of the Temple by Titus , in the reign of the Emperor Vespasian , they were dedicated to St . John the Baptist .

June 24 th , is the Feast of St . John the Baptist , which has been commemorated by Masonic Lodges from time immemorial . It is well that the Craft maintains this ancient practice , aud still holds sacred the memory of our noble and pious Grand

Master . As long as the Craft holds in reverencethe character of their patron saints , John the Baptist and John the Evangelist , and keep themselves as near as may be within the lines of rectitude which their example has left us , Masonry

will maintain its name and reputation for good . We propose to give a short sketch of the life , and character of him whose day we celebrate . John the Baptist was of the priestly race by