the different lodges, out of their private funds, without being burthensome to any member in particular.

Thus was the charity fund of the Grand Lodge established, which has its existence up to this day in every country. And so liberal have its contributions at all times been, that although the sums yearly expended have been great, the excellent management of these funds always left plenty in its coffers to alleviate the distresses of the worthy distressed brother, his widow or orphans.

The two Grand Lodges of England remained under separate governments until the 27th of December, 1813, when a happy union took place, and all differences healed, under the auspices of his Royal Highness, Prince Augustus Frederick, Duke of Sussex, who was elected and proclaimed Grand Master of the United Grand Lodge of Ancient Free Masons of England, and who continues in his office up to the present day.

GENERAL REGULATIONS.

Extract from a work written in 1772, by the R. W. D. G. M., Laurence Dermott.

In the first place, when you intend to be made a Free Mason, go with your friend to the lodge and desire him to show you the warrant or dispensation by which the lodge is held, which you will find to be an instrument printed or written on parchment, and signed by the Right Worshipful Grand Master, his Deputy, Wardens, Grand Secretary and Treasurer, and sealed with the Grand Lodge Seal, constituting and appointing certain persons therein named, and their successors, as Master and Wardens with power to congregate and hold a lodge at a certain place, and therein

make and admit Free Masons, according to the ancient custom of the craft, well known in all ages and nations throughout the whole world, with power to nominate and choose their successors; without such an authority no regular lodge can be in operation. After satisfying yourself as to the genuineness of this document, you have a right to call for and peruse the by-laws, to consider whether your natural disposition will incline you to be conformable to them. Next you may look at the list of the members, where you may find the names of your intimate and most esteemed friends, or perhaps the names of such (other of your acquaintances) as you would not choose to associate with; when at the perusal of the list of members of another lodge you may find a greater number of your acquaintances. You will very naturally ask, when you see an objectionable name on the list of the members of some of the lodges, by what means such an individual got admittance into a society which boasts of so much honor and virtue as to rank themselves with kings and princes? To this I answer, that often a sufficient scrutiny had not been taken by the committees who have in charge the application of every candidate as regards his standing and moral character; while others, who have stood the test of strict investigations, behaved well for years, and afterwards fell into all manner of vices, which serves to show the instability and weakness of human beings, and that all the doctrine of laws upon earth, without the grace of God, is not sufficient to make men wise, or deter them from evil. Nevertheless, in the system of Free Masonry, there are many ways to mend the manners, polish the disposition, correct the judgment, and refine the taste of a soul virtuously inclined. And as the number of wise and good Free Masons have always, and I trust shall ever, exceed that of the foolish and wicked, it would be as absurd to condemn the whole for parts, as it would be in the Israelites to

condemn Shem and Japhet for the curse brought upon Ham, or the Christians to condemn the eleven apostles because Judas turned traitor. But this is not altogether the business of a guide, and I resume my proper character, and earnestly desire you to shun Mason clubs; that is to say, lodges formed without such an authority as described, for you may rest fully assured that such clubs are generally composed of excluded members, or persons clandestinely made by them, and consequently incapable of giving proper instructions to their pupils. Or, admit them capable of giving proper instructions, even then the new brethren will be led in the dark, because it is the interest of the rebel party to conceal the essentials of the craft, which if revealed must of course prove themselves to be villains. Therefore, in order to avoid falling into such hands, I entreat you to have no communication with any lodge or set of men under the denomination of a Free Masons Lodge, until they produce the Grand Master's authority, signed and sealed as before described. But having produced such authority to the satisfaction of your friend, who it is presumed to be well versed in such matters, you may then enter in the name of God, where you will be made acquainted with mysteries which are not permitted to be revealed here. And if, after such entrance or admission you find that I have misled you, I give you full liberty to expose me as a blind guide; but if experience teach you that my instructions (as well as my intentions) were just, then I hope you will do me the honor of calling me a faithful brother. And that the God of all light and truth, (who is the giver of all. good gifts and graces) may bless, prosper, and direct you, in all your public and private (lawful), undertakings, is my hearty and sincere prayer.

5*

CONSTITUTIONS.

CHAPTER I.

OF THOSE WHO WOULD BE FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS.

BEFORE we enter upon the duties of the operative Mason, in the various stations to which he may be called in a Lodge, it is necessary that some acccount should be given of what is absolutely requisite in all who aspire to partake of the honours of those who are duly initiated into the mysteries, and instructed in the art of ancient Masonry.

SECTION I.

OF GOD AND RELIGION.

Whoever, from the love of knowledge, and a desire to advance the interest of his fellow creatures (but not through curiosity or self-interest) desires to be a Mason, is to know that, as his foundation and corner-stone, he is firmly to believe in the existence of a Supreme Being, who will be the judge of our actions, and reward us according to merit, to pay him that worship and veneration which is due to him, as the Great Architect of the Universe.

A Mason must, therefore, observe the moral law; and if he properly understands the fundamental rules of our order, he will never be an atheist or an irreligious libertine, and will never act against that great inward monitor, his own conscience.

He will likewise shun the gross errors of bigotry and superstition; making a due use of his own reason, according to that liberty wherewith a Mason is made free; for although in ancient times, Masons were charged to comply with the religious opinions and usages of the country or nation where they sojourned or worked, yet it is now most expedient that the brethen in general should only be charged to adhere to the essentials of religion, in which all men agree; leaving each brother to his own judgment as to particular forms, or as his own conscience might dictate. Whence it follows, that all Masons are, or ought to be, good men and true, men of honour and honesty, by whatever religious names or persuasions distinguished; always following that golden rule, of "doing unto all men (as upon a change of condition) they would that others should do unto them;" then the order cannot fail in becoming the centre of union, and the only means of conciliating true friendship, and cementing into one body, those who might otherwise have remained at a perpetual distance; thereby strengthing and not weakening the divine obligations of Religion and Love.

SECTION II.

OF GOVERNMENT AND THE CIVIL AUTHORITY.

Whoever would be a true Mason, is also to be made acquainted that, by the rules of the order, his obligations as a subject and citizen will not be relaxed, but enforced. He is to be a lover of quiet, peaceable and obedient to the civil powers, which yield him protection, and are set over him where he resides or works, never to be concerned in plots against the state or government to whom he owes allegiance, or be disrespectful to the magistrate in the execution of his duties, because the welfare of his country ought to be his only object.