The "Probity Ms."

Assembly , where they would , and cherished them right well . And thus came the noble Craft into | FRANCE | . | ENGLAND | in that time stood void as from charge of Masons , untill that | ALBANUS | his time . For in his days the King of | ENGLAND | was a | PAGAN | , that wall'd the town about , which is now call'd | ST . ALBANUS | , and this I ST . ALBANUS I was a worthy Knight and Steward

of the King ' s household , and had Government of his Realme , and also the making of the wall ; and he loved well Masons , and cherished them much , and made their Pay right good , for he gave them elevenpence a week and elevenpence for Drink . Before that time a Mason took but one penny a day and his meat , untill ] ST . ALBANUS | mended it . And he got them a charter on the King and his Council ) , andgave it the name of | ASSEMBLY | .

There he was himself , and did help to make Masons , and gave them a charge . But soon after the death of \ ALBANUS | there came divers warrs into | ENGLAND | out of divers Nations , so that the good Root of Masonry was defamed , and put down , untill the time of King | ATHELSTAN | in his time was a worthy King of j ENGLAND I ; that brought this land into good

Rest , and builded many Cities and great buildings . Therefore , he loved Masons well . And he had a son call'd | EDWIN | , the which loved Masons more than his father did , and he was so practised in | GEOMETRY ] , that he delighted much to come and talk with Masons , and to learn of them the Craft . He was made a Mason of | WINDSOR | , and he got of the King , his father , a Charter , and Commission to be held once every year , as an

Assembly within the Realm , whensoever they would within | ENGLAND | and to correct within themselves faults and trespasses that were done as touching the Craft , and an Assembly at York , and there he made Masons , and gave them charge , and taught them manners and comands , the same to be kept ever afterwards . And took there the Charter and Commission to keep their

Assembly , and Ordained that it should be renewed from | KING to KING | , and when the Assembly were gathered together , he made a cry to all Old Masons . | or Young ones | that any writings or understandings of the Charge and Manners that were made | wheresoever they were made a Mason I that they shew them forth .

And there were found some in | FRENCH | , and some in | ENGLISH | , and some in other languages . And when they were read over and seen , the intent of them was understood to be all as one . And then he caused a book to be made thereof , how this Craft of Masonry was first founded , and he himself comanded , and there caused it , that it should be read at every time , where it should happen where any Masons were to be made .

To him the Charges should be read from that time untill this day , manner have been kept in this manner , as well as men might govern and forbear more at divers Assemblys have been put and ordained divers Charges by the best advise of Masters and fellows .

TUNC UNUS REX JLLY SENIORIBUS TENTAT LIBRUM ET JLLY POTENT MANUM SUAM SEMPER LIBRUM .

livery man that is a Mason or Master Mason , Take good heed to the Charges given him . If any Mason find himself guilty in any one of them , We pray that he may amend himselfe , or principally for dread of God , that ye take good heed that ye keep all the Charges well . For it is a great perrill to a man to swear upon a book .

WM . J , Scriptor . Transcribed , in January , 1 S 86 , by W . J . Hughan , of Torquay , from the MS . hi possession of the "Probity" Lodge , No . 61 , Halifax , Yorkshire ; which * was written about the year 1736 , or earlier , by Wm . Jubb , his copy doubtless being made from a much earlierdocument . Printed by permission of the " Probity " Lodge . W . J . H .

Centenary , No. 43, Lancaster Pennsylvania.

CENTENARY , No . 43 , LANCASTER PENNSYLVANIA .

This is an extraordinary time for sesqui-centennial and centennial celebrations of lodges , both in Europe and America . Of the former there have not been many , and of bi-centenaries , none are yet possible , save in Scotland , where the continuity of more than one lodge for over two centuries can be proved beyond a doubt . Not that there were no lodges in England in 1686 , or earlier , for no one conversant with the early history of

Freemasonry in South Britain can but be familiar with abundant evidence of lodge life long even before that period , but the continuity has not been maintained as in Scotland . The old York Lodge , and its Grand Lodge , with several subordinates , collapsed late last century ; Elias Ashmole ' s Lodge , of 1646 , has disappeared ; and the Lodge of Antiquity is unable to substantiate its existence beyond the last century , though doubtless that ancient Atelier was in working order in the seventeenth century .

Many of the old lodges have had their histories written by competent brethren ; much , however , still remains to be done , especially in this Country and in Scotland . I am persuaded that limited editions of such publications would secure the authors against loss , and furnish Masonic students witli much valuable material illustrative of lodge life early in thc last century , and during the past 100 years .

A most readable and well got up volume has recently been issued at Lancaster , Pennsylvania , of the History of Lodge No . 43 , held in that town from 1785 , in which year it was warranted by the Grand Lodgc of Pennsylvania . The author is Bro . Dr . George R . Welchans , P . M ., the Master of the Centenary year being Bro . Joshua L . Lyte .

Thc warrant was dated 21 st April , 17 S 5 , and was an elaborate document , reciting as it did all the names ot the Grand Masters and officers of the "Atholl" Grand Lodge , who signed the Provincial Grand Warrant 20 th June , 1764 , and declaring such document to be thc authority for tlie issue of such Charter by the then G . M . of Pennsylvania , M . W . Bro . Wm . Adcock .

On July 14 th , 1787 , another Warrant was granted the lodge , consequent upon the decision of the members of that Grand Lodge to become an independent body , which was agreed to at a Grand Convention on Sept . 26 th , 1786 . The original warrant was returned to Philadelphia , but is now missing , probably having perished in the conflagration of 1819 , when the Masonic Temple was consumed .

Centenary , No. 43, Lancaster Pennsylvania.

The lodge has continued to be known by the number 43 , which answers for its name , as well as its numerical position ; a custom which is also frequentl y followed under the Grand Lodge of Ireland , but not , I believe , in either England or Scotland . The original By-Laws , thirty-five in number , agreed to Sept . 14 th , 1785 , are voluminous , and so comprehensive as to include the conduct of

the members under all possible contingencies . Brethren elected to office were fined "ten shillings to the charity fund " in the event of refu-al : only " Ancient Masons " were eligible to join , the fee for initiation being six pounds , and * ' joining " fixed at thirty shillings . There were no end of fines for disobedience of the rules , and it is quite clear that the members entertained a most exalted opinion of the duties and responsibilities of

membership , a Committee being appointed to secure due order and good conduct , swearing and invoking the aid of the civil law being obnoxious to the members . The wording of the 17 th Rule indicates the anxiety of the brethren to respect the sanctity of the lodge , and it would be well for many members of present-day Freemasonry to realise the force of the motto— "A still tongue makes a wise head . "

17 th . —That any Brother that it shall be prov'd against to have carried out to any Person or Persons , not of this Body , any Part or Parts of tbe Conversation , Act , or Actions , Thing or Things , done or said in this Lodge , open or clos'd , shall be Dealt with According to the Nature of the Offence , either by Fine or otherwise , at the discretion of the Lodge or Committee , if it he left to them , as they shall Judge for the good of this Society , and the honour of the Craft .

The hearts of the members were in the right place evidently a century ago , for in the event of a brother ' s death , the children , if so needed , were put to school , and afterwards to trades , at the expense of the lodge , and indigent widows were assisted according to the discretion of the Committee . The monthly dues were quarter a dollar for each member , and half a crown for " his share of the expences , whether present or absent . "

"The great light , our old Bible , which was printed in 1796 , was purchased by the lodge in this year ( 1798 ) , and from that time to the present it has continued , uninterruptedly , to shed its effulgent rays from our lodge altar . "

The Masonic Hall , built for the use of the lodge , was completed in 1 S 00 , and first used in August of that year . The Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania granted permission for a Royal Arch Chapter to be held in connection with the lodge , for , although the Grand Chapter was formed in 1795 , Dr . Welchans states that it did not issue warrants to subordinate chapters until 1824 . In 1 S 26 the companions received a charter from the latter organisation .

An unfortunate struggle with the Grand Lodge , m which others also participated , began in 1819 ; but , happily , unity prevailed ultimately , and the charter was once more in the hands of the members . The charitable spirit of the members is evidenced by their voting in this year the sum of 50 dollars for the relief of the sufferers by a destructive conflagration in Savannah , Georgia .

The year 1 S 64 was a very busy one lor the lodge , no less than sixty seven initiations taking place ! The lodge suffered much by the anti-Masonic fever , but in 1837 many of the old members returned to the lodge , and the number of initiations rapidly increased , though at times the financial position was far from satisfactory . Now , however , peace and prosperity prevail .

The lodge enters upon the second century of its existence with 269 members , and some £ 7000 in its exchequer . The author of the interesting history tells us that " Lodgc No . 43 smiles with maternal affection upon her seven living daughters , and rejoices in their prosperity , " so that the various "swarms" have proved a source of satisfaction to the parent lodge , and a means of strength to the Fraternity in the " Keystone " State .

The Centennial Celebration was observed on the 21 st April , 1 SS 5 , a facsimile of the circular being reproduced in the volume , as also one issued on Dec . 10 th , 1792 , concluding the notice of meeting with the startling

warning"At your Peril fail not . " Biographical sketches of 86 of the more prominent brethren are furnished , and a complete roll of the members from 1785 to 1885 . Dr . Welchans has done his work conscientious ! } ' and well , and we congratulate Bro . Lyte , the Master of 1885 , and the members of the lodge on having the history of their Masonic Alma Mater so faithfully pourtrayed in such a handsome volume . W . J . HUGHAN .

IHE LECTURES . — the Lectures of Freemasonry form a most important feature in ceremonial instruction , and are very interesting to all Freemasons who wish to be "bright , " or seek to rise iu the lodge . There are Lectures peculiar to each degree , and they are orally delivered . Their history is both interesting and curious , both to the Masonic student and the Masonic archaeologist . It is very difficult to say what was the exact form of Lecture in

use when Desaguliers and Anderson are stated by Oliver to have revised them . The so-called Lectures of the reign of Henry VI . and of Sir Christopher Wren ' s time , which Oliver fancied he had verified , turn out to be clearly only portions of the Sloane MS . 3329 , of the Grand Mystery , or of Essex s MS . If , indeed , the actual antiquity of the Sloane MS . be ascertained , which Mr . Wallbran fixed ,. from internal evidence and verbiage , at

about 1640 , though its date of transcription is early 18 th , we have probably the Lectures in use in the 17 th century , though if thc date cannot be carried beyond earl } ' iSth , we still have in the Sloane MS . probably the earliest form of Masonic catechetical instruction . Of 15 th century or 16 th century we need hardly add that , so far , there is no question , as no such theory can be maintained—See Sloane MS . —Martin Clare is said to have revised the

Lectures again in 1732 . In 1770 , or thereabouts , Dunckerley again remodelled Clare ' s system , and about 1775 Preston improved on his * predecessors , and some say incorporated in his Prestonian Lectures the v ' n : ws and even verbiage of William Hutchinson . In 1813 , at the Union , Dr . Hemmings was entrusted with the duty of revising the Lectures once more , for the purpose of uniting the Ancient and the Modern teaching—though the essential differences do not appear to have been great—which was subsequently

perfected by Bro . Williams , and is the recognised working of the ' Emulation Lodge of Improvement . " There are some Masons who have always preferred the older working , and the Piesionian system has always had a large number of advocates . The American system , which is founded mainly on Webb ' s , is , no doubt , to a great extent , Prestonian . It has been said that Dermott established a system of Lectures of his own , but we are not aware of any actual authority for the statement . —Keiining ' s Cyclopaedia of Free ' masonry .