EDITION

SOURCES OF FREEMASONRY

LEVANDER

MANUSCRIPT

TRANSLATED BY:

KARLO HAMEDER

BOOK No. 12

NOVOOTKRIVENA VERZIJA STARIH DUŽNOSTI

BY BRO. F. W. LEVANDER, F.R.A.S.,

P. Prov.S.G.D.,   P. Prov. G.T. (R.A.), Middlesex.

(Bivši Provincijalni Veliki Stariji Razvodnik, Bivši
Veliki Rizničar), Middlesex

Lokalni Sekretar Middlesex & North London.

Tek je nakon 1839. godine, kada je gospodin J. O. Halliwell iznenadio masonski svet čitanjem, pred Društvom starina, (Istorijsko-arheološko učeno društvo, prim. prev.) eseja na temu "Uvodenje slobodnog zidarstva u Englesku", gde obelodanjuje svoje otkriće rukopisa u Britanskom muzeju, pokazano interesovanje za ono što je danas poznato kao Stare dužnosti. Dvadesetak godina nakon toga, braća Hagan (Hughan) i Vudford (Woodford) započeli su svoja istraživanja tih rukopisnih konstitucija operativnog zidarstva, koji su doveli do tako vrednih rezultata. Ostali su sledili ovo budenje zanimanja, ali potpuni opis različitih verzija moramo potražiti u klasičnom delu Br:. Hagana "Stare dužnosti britanskih slobodnih zidara", čije je prvo izdanje štampano 1872., a drugo 1895. U drugom izdanju Br:. Hagan je mogao da opiše čitava 66 rukopisa, kao i devet štampanih verzija. U toku zadnjih deset godina još je nekoliko rukopisa ugledalo svetlo dana, a sada imam zadovoljstvo da najavim otkriće još jednog, koji je nedavno došao u moje vlasništvo, a čiji transkript navodim u daljem tekstu. Rukopis je deo kopije iz 1738. godine (drugog) izdanja Knjige konstitucija. Napisan je, kao što će se videti iz priloženih fotografija, u obliku koji se najbolje može opisati kao "krasnopis" "(s izuzetkom nekoliko reči pisanih štampanim karakterima) na obe strane šest od devet listova letka na početku svezka, a svaka stranica sadrži ključnu reč. Stranice su dimenzije 7x5 inča. Dr. Vorner (Warner), kurator rukopisa u Britanskom muzeju, koji je bio ljubazan da pregleda rukopis, izrazio mišljenje da je napisan u prvoj polovini XVIII veka, verovatno oko 1740. Vodeni žig sa natpisom Pro Patriay, nažalost previše je čest da bi se zasigurno mogao utvrditi tačan datum.

Ovde predstavljamo jedan detalj koja bi, mada neznatan, mogao da bude od koristi u odredivanju porekla nekih primeraka Starih dužnosti. U ovom rukopisu nalazimo (str. 163, red 2) da je Geometrija nauka koja "odzvanja u svim drugim." Primetivši sličnost izmedu ovoga i rukopisa Papworth, sravnio sam ovaj zadnji u celosti i shvatio da je Geometrija opisana na sličan način, s tim da je dugo " s " pogrešno ispisano kao "f" u prvom izdanju Starih dužnosti. " Neki rukopisi imaju različite delove glagola "to found" (osnovati). Bilo bi zanimljivo utvrditi, ako bi se moglo, kada se u ovim dokumentima prvi put pojavljuje konfuzija izmedu dugog "s" i "f". Oni koji sadrže ovo prvo slovo mogli bi biti stariji. Načelnik tima sastavljača Oksfordskog rečnika, (koji još nije stigao do slova s) veoma ljubazno me je obavestio da se čini da upotreba glagola "zvučati, odzvanjati", u smislu "težiti, naginjati", nije pojavila pre 1340. godine.

Tome takode dodajem i opaske Br:. Hagana (Houghan).

RUKOPIS LEVANDER-JORK, D42, OGRANAK (b),

oko 1740. godine

Moći Nebeskog Oca, s Mudrošću Sina svoga blagoslovljenog, milošću Boga i dobrote Duha Svetoga, tri bića u jednom Božanstvu, budite s nama u našem Početku i dajte nam Milosti da nas vodi u ovom životu, da bismo stekli njegovo večno blaženstvo. Amen.

Dobra braćo i drugovi!

Cilj nam je da kažemo vama kako i na koji način ovaj dostojni zanat Zidarstva započeo je, a nakon toga kako su je osnovali vrli kraljevi i prinčevi i mnogi dostojni ljudi, a takode i onima koji su ovde, objasnićemo dužnosti kojih se svaki istinski zidar treba držati; jer u dobroj nameri, ako se dobro pazi, vredno ga treba čuvati za ovaj vrli Nauk i radoznalost Nauke; jer postoji sedam liberalnih nauka, i od tih sedam ona je jedna od njih, a imena tih sedam su sledeća:

Prva je Gramatika i ona uči čoveka da govori pravilno i piše tačno.
Druga je Retorika, koja uči čoveka da govori lepo i uzvišeno.
Treća je Logika i ona uči čoveka da razlikuje istinu od neistine.
Cetvrta je Aritmetika koja uči čoveka da računa i vrši obračune sa svim vrstama brojeva brojeva.
Peta je Geometrija, koja uči merama i merenju, pa tako i svim ostalim stvarima, od kojih je jedna i Zidarstvo.

Šesta je Muzika, a ona uči čoveka pesmi i glasu, jeziku i orguljama, harfi i trubi, a
Sedma je Astronomija, a ona uči čoveka da poznaje kretanje sunca, meseca i zvezda. Ovo je sedam liberalnih nauka, a svih ovih sedam zasnovano je na jednoj, tj. na Geometriji, što dokazuje da je nauk delanja zasnovan na Geometriji, jer Geometrija uči o merama i merenju, količini i težini svih stvari na Zemlji; pa nema čoveka koji obavlja bilo koji zanat, a da ne koristi mere i merenje; a nema ni čoveka koji ne kupuje ili prodaje na osnovu neke mere i merenja ili neke težine; a sve je to Geometrija. I trgovci i sve ostale zanatlije i svi koji se bave ostalim sedam liberalnim naukama, a posebno orači i oni koji gaje sve vrste žita, semena, vinove loze i cveća i oni koji sade drugo voće i povrće: jer, ni u Gramatici, ni Retorici, ni Astronomiji, niti u bilo kojoj drugoj nauci, čovek ne može da nade mere ili merenje bez Geometrije; stoga mislimo da je ta nauka najvrednija i odzvanja u svima drugima.

Reći ću vam kako su te vredne nauke započete. Pre Noinog potopa beše čovek koji se zvao Lamek, kao što piše u svetoj Bibliji, Knjiga Postanja 4. poglavlje, a taj Lamek imaše dve žene, koje se zvahu Ada i Zila. Od Ade dobi on dva sina, Tabala i Tubala; a Zila mu rodi sina i kćer, a to četvoro dece zasnovaše početak svih zanata na svetu; najstariji sin Tabal osnuje Geometriju, a imaše stada ovaca, zemlju na poljima i prvi izradi fine radove u kamenu; a on (kao što je napomenuto u gornjem poglavlju) i njegov brat Tubal osnovaše muzički zanat, pesmu i pevanje,sviranje harfe i orgulja; a treći brat, Tubal Kain, osnuje zanat koji je nazvan kovačkim, gde se obraduje zlato, srebro, bakar, gvožde i čelik; a kćer osnuje tkački zanat: A ta deca su dobro znala da će se Bog osvetiti ljudima za grehe, bilo vatrom ili vodom; te su zbog toga zapisala one nauke, koje su otkrila, na dva kamena stuba da bi se ti stubovi mogli pronaći nakon Noinog potopa, a jedan je stub bio od mermera, jer on ne bi izgoreo; a drugi stub je bio od kamena zvanog laternes, a taj se ne bi potopio.

Veliki Harmonis je bio Kub, njegov sin, a taj Kub beše Noin sin; Harmonis je kasnije nazvan Harmisom, ocem žene muškaraca. On je pronašao jedan od kamenih stubova i Nauku zapisanu na njemu; i podučavao je to drugim ljudima, a pri izradi Vavilonske kule to je mesto činilo mnogo za Zidarstvo; a vavilonski kralj, koji se zvao Nimrod, bio je i sam zidar i jako je voleo taj nauk, kako kažu majstori istorije. A kada je trebao da se gradi grad Niniva i drugi gradovi na istoku, Nimrod posla 60 drugih zidara, na molbu kralja Ninive, svog rodaka; a kad ih je poslao, dao im je dužnost da se istinski vole i da služe svome gospodaru za platu koju primaju kako bi njihov gospodar, kao i sve što mu pripada, bilo poštovano: i druge im dužnosti dade; i to beše prvi put da je neki zidar primio dužnosti svoga nauka.

Štaviše, kad su Avram i Sara otišli u Egipat, tamo je on predavao 7 nauka Egipćanima, i imao je tamo dostojnog učenjaka koji se zvao Euklid, i učio je pravo i dobro i bio je majstor 7 liberalnih nauka: i smatra se da su tada gospodari u oblastima Kraljevine imali toliko sinova, neke od svojih žena, a neke od konkubina (jer ta je zemlja zemlja u toplom pojasu i obiluje generacijama), da nisu mogli da obezbede odgovarajuće življenje za svoju decu, i zato su imali mnogo briga; a onda je kralj te zemlje sazvao Savet i Parlament da rasprave kako mogu naći pošteno zaposlenje za svoju decu, kao gospodu; i nisu mogli naći nikakav dobar način; a onda razaslaše poziv po celom kraljevstvu, da vide da li postoji čovek koji bi ih mogao obavestiti, da taj dode k njima i biće dobro nagraden za svoj dolazak. Po tom pozivu došao je ovaj vrli službenik Euklid i rekao kralju i svim velikim gospodarima:"Ako me odvedete svojoj deci da upravljam njima i učim ih jednoj od 7 nauka, s kojom mogu pošteno živeti kao gospoda, pod uslovom da mi dozvolite da imam moć nad njima i da mogu da vladam njima onako kako se naukom vlada", te mu kralj i sav njegov Savet smesta to odobri i zapečati tu obavezu. A onda taj vrli Doktor povede sinove gospodara i poduči ih nauci Geometrije u praksi, da rade sa kamenom i svim vrstama korisnih poslova zastupljenih u izgradnji crkava, hramova, dvoraca i kula, i svih ostalih vrsta zgrada, i dade im dužnosti u tom smislu.

Prva dužnost bila je da budu iskreni prema svome kralju i gospodarima kojima služe i da se dobro slažu, i da budu iskreni jedni prema drugima, i da se medusobno nazivaju kolegom ili bratom, a ne slugom ili kmetom, niti bilo kakvim pogrdnim imenima i da iskreno treba da zasluže nadnicu gospodara ili majstora kome služe i da bi trebali da odrede najveštijeg medu sobom da bude Majstor radova, a ne da iz ljubavi, ili zbog porekla, ili bogatstva, ili za uslugu, postave nekoga ko nije dovoljno vešt da bude Majstor gospodarevih radova, čime bi gospodar bio loše služen, a oni sami se stideli, a takode i da trebaju da se pokoravaju upravnicima Majstora radova dogod rade sa njim. A bilo je i drugih dužnosti koje bi bilo dugo navoditi. I na sve ove dužnosti natera ih da polože veliku zakletvu, koja se koristila u to vreme; a takode im odredi razumnu platu ili nadnicu da bi mogli pristojno da žive; a isto tako da treba da dodu i okupe se jednom u godinu dana i razgovaraju o tome kako najbolje mogu služiti svome gospodaru, za njegov interes i za svoju čast i poštovanje, i da se sami isprave; a i onog koji je zgrešio protiv nauka zidarstva. I tako nauk beše zasnovan tamo; i taj vrli majstor Euklid beše nauku nazvao Geometrijom, a sada se, a nakon toga, u ovoj zemlji, naziva Zidarstvo.

Od vremena posle toga, kada su deca Izraela ušla u obećanu zemlju, koja se sada zove Jerusalim, kralj David započe gradnju Hrama, koji nazvaše Templum Domino, koji se zove Hram Jerusalima, i spomenuti kralj David voleše mnogo zidare, i paziše ih i davaše im dobre nadnice; a dade im dužnosti i manire koje je naučio u Egiptu, davajući Euklidu i više drugih dužnosti, o kojima ćete čuti posle.

A nakon što je kralj. David preminuo, Solomon koji beše sin kralja Davida, preduze da dovrši Hram koji beše započeo njegov otac; te posla po Zidare u različite zemlje i po Zidare u različite krajeve i okupi ih, jer imaše njih 80.000 koji radiše sa kamenom i svi se nazivaše Zidari, i on izabere njih 3000 da budu majstori i rukovodioci njegovih radova.

I nadalje, postojao je kralj jedne druge oblasti, koga su zvali Hiram, i voleo je mnogo kralja Solomona, pa mu je za njegove radove dao drvnu gradu i vešte ljude, a imao je sina po imenu Aynon, koji beše majstor geometrije, i beše njegov glavni! Majstor sveg graviranja i klesanja i drugih zidarskih radova koji su se izvodili na Hramu, a to je navedeno u Bibliji (Kraljevi, poglavlje 30). - Taj Solomon beše potvrdio dužnosti i manire koje njegov otac beše dao Zidarima — Te je tako celo Zidarstvo potvrdeno u zemlji Jerusalim: i u mnogim drugim kraljevstvima, znatiželjne zanatlije behu se rasprostrle, neki da nauče više o zanatu i veštinama, drugi da bi podučavali one koji nisu imali dovoljno veštine.

I tako se desilo da je postojao jedan radoznali čovek, koji se zvaše Nimus Graneus, koji beše na izgradnji Solomonovog hrama, i taj dode u Francusku i tamo podučavaše nauk Zidarstva Francuzima; i beše tu jedan koji upravljaše Francuskom po imenu Šarl Merton, koji je voleo zanat zidarski, pa se privukao Nimusu Graneusu i učio zanat od njega, i preuze od njega dužnosti i manire, a posle (milošću božjom) bi izabran je za kralja Francuske; i kad je bio na svom imanju, uze Zidare i pomogne da se proizvedu Zidari gde ih ranije nije bilo i naredi da se uvedu i dužnosti i maniri i da im dobre nadnice kako je saznao za druge Zidare i potvrdivaše im Povelju iz godine u godinu, kako bi održavali svoje Skupštine gdegod bi hteli i pazio ih je: i tako nauk zidarstva dospe u Francusku.

Engleska je u celo ovo vreme bila bez ikakvih zidarskih dužnosti, sve dok ne dode doba Sv. Albona; kralj Engleske, koji beše paganin, pozove Sv. Albona i Sveti Albon, vrli vitez, posta upravnik kraljevog domaćinstva i vladaše njegovim kraljevstvom, i brinuše o gradskim zidinama. I on voleše Zidare i mnogo ih je cenio i plaćao čineći ih dobro stojećim kao i samo kraljevstvo, jer im je davao 2/6 šilinga sedmično, a 3penija za njihove Nuncije; jer pre tog vremena u celoj toj zemlji zidar je dobijao samo 1 peni dnevno, sve dok Sv. Albon nije to izmenio; i on im dade, u ime Kralja i njegovog Saveta, da održe generalno Savetovanje, koje nazove Skupštinom, a tamo beše i on da proizvodi Zidare.

Odmah nakon smrti Svetog Albona, različiti narodi doneše razne ratove u Englesku, tako da su sva dobra zidarska pravila uništena, sve do doba kralja. Atelstona, koji beše dostojan kralj Engleske, i uvede zemlju u spokoj i mir, i sagradi mnoga velika dela, opatije i kule, i druge razne zgrade, a voleo je Zidare i imade sina po imeu Edvin,koji je mnogo voleo Zidare, čak i više od svog oca, i bio je i sjajni praktičar Geometrije i privukao se Zidarima, sa kojima je mnogo voleo da razgovara i druži, i da od njih uči naukzidarstva: nakon toga, zbog ljubavi za Zidare i nauk zidarstva, i sam je postao Zidar, a od kralja dobi Povelju i Zaduženje da se svake godine održava skup u kraljevstvu Engleske, gdegod bi odlučili, gde bi Zidari sami medu sobom, ispravljali nedostatke i prekršaje koji bi se naneli nauku. Održao je skup u Jorku, a onda je proizveo Zidare i dao im dužnosti i podučio ih manirima i naredio da se to pravilo zadrži zauvek; i uzeo za njih Povelju i Zaduženje da je čuvaju i doneo uredbu da treba da se obnavlja od kralja do kralja; a kad se okupila Skupština uputio je zahtev da svi Zidari, stari i mladi, koji su imali bilo šta pisano ili saglasnost u vezi dužnosti i manira , koji su ranije vladali u toj, ili nekoj drugoj zemlji da ih prikažu, i kad se pokazalo da ih ima na francuskom, i nekih na grčkom, a nekih na engleskom, i drugim jezicima, a da je cilj svih bio isti; dao je da se izradi Knjiga o tome kako je Nauk osnovan, a on sam je zamolio i zapovedio da treba da se pročita ili ispriča pri prijemu Zidara da bi ovaj primio svoje dužnosti, te od tog dana do današnjeg doba, maniri Zidara su zadržani u obliku u kojem se mogu primenjivati.

Nadalje, na raznim Skupštinama predložene su i prihvaćene odredene dužnosti, od strane najboljih majstora i pomoćnika "tunee unus, ex senioribus tenet librum ut ille vel illi ponant vel penat manus super librum et tunce deberont legi 99 - Svaki čovek koji je Zidar treba dobro da pazi na ove dužnosti, i ako bilo ko smatra da je prekršio dužnosti prema Bogu treba da to ispravi; i u osnovi, onaj koji bi mogao da se optuži, treba dobro da pazi da se pridržava tih dužnosti, jer je to velika opasnost za svakog da prekrši zakletvu koju je položio na knjizi.

Prva optužba je;

Ti ili on budite iskreni prema Bogu i svetoj Crkvi i ne grešite niti se predajte jeresi u razumevanju, odlučivanju ili mudrosti ili učenju mudrih ljudi. A takode treba da budete iskreni podanici kralja Engleske, da ne činite izdaju ili prevaru; i da ne znate za izdaju ili verolomstvo, već da to prethodno sprečite ako možete, ili obavestite kralja ili njegov Savet o tome.

A takode treba da budete iskreni jedni prema drugima tj. prema svima u okviru zidarskog nauka, koji su prihvaćeni Zidari, prema njima treba da se odnosite onako kako očekujete da se oni odnose prema vama, a takode treba da se iskreno držite saveta Lože i Komore, i svih drugih saveta kojih Zidari treba da se drže. A takode treba da budete iskreni prema gospodaru ili majstoru koga služite i iskreno treba da sagledate njegovu korist ili dobitak.

A takode treba druge Zidate da zovete braćom ili kolegama, a ne pogrdnim imenima.

A osim toga niko ne bi trebao da krade i bude lopov, ni sada ni ubuduće.

A osim toga, ne treba da uzimate, podlo, suprugu svog kolege, niti bezbožno poželite njegovu kćer ili sluškinju, niti da ga obrukate.

Osim toga, treba pošteno da platite hranu i piće tamo dge ste smešteni ili gde radite i ne činite nikakvu podlost čime biste naneli štetu zidarskom nauku.

Ovo bi bile opšte dužnosti kojih svaki pravi Zidar treba da se drži, bez obzira da li je majstor ili pomoćnik.

Prvo. Da majstor prihvati samo onaj gospodarev posao ili drugi posao, za koji smatra da je dovoljno sposoban i vešt da uradi; tako da nauk zidarski ne trpi i da se ne bruka, već da gospodar bude adekvatno uslužen.

A takode da se nijedan majstor ne prihvati nikakvog posla, već samo onog koji može razumno obaviti, tako da gospodar može da bude adekvatno uslužen, a majstor da živi pošteno i plaća svoje pomoćnike kako dolikuje.

I osim toga da nijedan majstor ili pomoćnik ne treba da zameni druge u njihovom poslu; tj.da je uzme posao ili se postavi kao Majstor gospodarevih radova, a nije udaljen zbog nedovoljne veštine za izvodenje ili završetka istog posla.

A osim toga nijedan majstor ili pomoćnik ne uzima učenika na manje od 7 godina, a taj treba da je dobrog roda, roden kao slobodan čovek, da su mu svi udovi na broju kao što treba da bude; A takode da nijedan majstor ili pomoćnik ne uzima nikakvu naknadu za prijem Zidara bez pristanka ili saglasnosti svojih kolega, najmanje njih 6 ili 7, a onaj koji će biti proizveden u Zidara treba da bude podoban na sve načine i po svim stepenima; što znači da je roden slobodan, da je dobrog roda, iskren, i da nije kmet.

A takode da nijedan Majstor ne uzima učenika, sem ako ima dovoljno posla da uposli najmanje jednog, dvoje ili troje.

A osim toga, da nijedan Majstor ili pomoćnik ne postavi gospodarev rad u ruke onih koji nameravaju da putuju.

A osim toga, svaki majstor treba da plaća svog pomoćnika onoliko koliko ovaj zaslužuje, tako da ovaj ne bi postao lažni radnik.

A osim toga niko neka ne ogovara drugog iza njegovih leda, da bi ovaj izgubio dobar glas ili svoju imovinu.

A takode nijedan pomoćnik u loži, ili van nje, ne sme da odgovara drugome nekorektno ili skaredno.

Osim toga, svaki će se Zidar klanjati starijem od sebe i poštovati ga.

A osim toga da nijedan pomoćnik, član Lože, neće redovno igrati hazardne igre, ili igre sa kockom, niti bilo koje druge nezakonite igre, čime nauk zidarski može da trpi.

A osim toga, nijedan pomoćnik ne treba da ide u krčmu noću, kada je pomoćnička loža, bez pratnje drugog pomoćnika, koji bi mogao da potvrdi da je ovaj bio na poštenom mestu i u poštenom društvu.

A osim toga, svaki majstor i pomoćnik treba da dode na Skupštinu ako se održava u krugu od 50 milja od njegovog mesta stanovanja, ako dobije poziv, a ako je zgrešio protiv nauka zidarskog treba da se suoči sa kaznom majstora i pomoćnika i pokuša da učini da se oni slože, a ako se ne slože sudiće mu po običajnom pravu.

A osim toga nijedan majstor ili pomoćnik ne treba da pravi kalup, ili daje pravilo, okvir ni za kakav sloj, niti da postavlja pravila o tome kako da se ne obraduje kamen, u okviru ili van lože.

Osim toga, svaki Zidar treba da pazi kolegu stranca, kada dode u zemlju, i treba da mu obezbedi posao, ako će raditi onako kako dolikuje; ako nema kamena za obradu, daće mu nešto novca i uputiti ga u sledeću ložu.

A svaki će Zidar istinski služiti svome gospodaru za platu, i svaki majstor će da završi svoje delo u skladu sa zadatkom ili zbog kretanja na put, ako primi svoju nadnicu ili po sporazumu, ili usled bolesti.

Ovih dužnosti, koje smo vam sada naveli i svih drugih koje se tiču Zidarstva, treba istinski da se držite; tako vam Bog pomogao, pod pretnjom strašnog suda i ove Knjige. Amin.

NB. Kamenovi Solomonova hrama sagradenog u Jerusalimu bili su od belog mermera, svaki dužine 25 kubita, debljine 8 kubita i širine 12 kubita.

Iz Lože Jork. — Kopija originala pisana krupnim slovima, nezavršena (abortivna), godine 1560.

A NEWLY DISCOVERED VERSION OF THE OLD CHARGES

BY BRO. F. W. LEVANDER, F.R.A.S.,

P. Prov. S.G.D., P. Prov. G.T. (R.A.), Middlesex.

Local Secretary, Middlesex 6 North London.

It was not till after the year 1839, when Mr. J. O. Halliwell surprised the Masonic world by reading before the Society of Antiquaries an essay on "The Introduction of Freemasonry into England," giving an account of a manuscript discovered by him in the British Museum, that any interest was taken in what are now known as the Old Charges. Some twenty years afterwards Bros. Hughan and Woodford commenced their researches as to these manuscript Constitutions of the Operative Masons, which have led to such valuable results. Others have followed in their wake, but for a full descripfion of the various versions we must refer to Bro. Hughan's classic work," The Old Charges of the British Freemasons," the first edition of which was published in 1876, the second in 1895. In the second edition Bro. Hughan was able to describe no less than 66 manuscripts, in addition to nine printfd versions. During the last ten years a few more manuscripts have come to light, and now I have the pleasure of announcing the discovery of yet another, which has recently come into my possession, and of which a transcript is given below. The manuscript is contained in a copy of the 1738-the second-edition of the Book of Constitutions. It is written, as will be seen by the accompanying photographs, in what may be best described as "copper-plate" (with the exception of a few words in printing characters) on both sides of six of the nine fly leaves at the commencement of the volume, each page having a catchword. The pages measure 7⅜in. by 5½in.   Dr. Warner, the Keeper of the MSS. at the British Museum, who very kindly examined the manuscript for me, gave it as his opinion that it was written in the first half of the eighteenth century, probably about the year 1740. The water-mark, with its inscription Pro Patria, is, unfortunately, too common to afford any clue to the date.

A point presents itself, which, though slight, might perhaps be of some use in determining the lineage of some of the copies of the Old Charges. In the present MS. we read (p. 163, line 2) that Geometry is the science that "soundeth to all others.'' Having noticed the resemblance between this and the Papworth MS., I collated the whole of the latter document and found Geometry similarly described, the long "s" being erroneously printed as "f " in the first edition of the ''Old Charges." Some MSS. have various parts of the verb ''to found." It would be interesting to ascertain, if one could, when the confusion between the long "s" and "f " first manifested itself in these documents. Those containing the former might claim the older ancestry. I have been very courteously informed by the Chief of the Staff engaged on the Oxford English Dictionary (which has not yet reached the letter "s"), that the use of the verb "to sound," in the sense of "to tend," does not appear to occur before the year 1340.

I append also Bro. Hughan's remarks.

THE LEVANDER-YORK MS., D42, BRANCH (b),

A.D. 1740 circa.

The Might of the Father of Heaven, with the Wisdom of his blefsed SON, thro' the Grace of GOD, and Goodness of the HOLY GHOST, that by three Persons in one GOD-HEAD, be with us at our Beginning, and give us Grace so to govern us here in this Life, living, that we may come to his Blifs, that never shall have Ending. Amen.

Good Brethren and Fellows!

Our Purpose is to tell you how and in what Manner this worthy Craft of Masonry began, and afterwards how it was founded by worthy Kings and Princes, and by many worshipful Men. And also to them that be here we will declare the Charges that belong to every true Mason to keep ; for in good Truth, if you take good Heed, it is well worthy to be kept, for a worthy Craft and a curious Science; for there be Seven liberal Sciences, of the which Seven it is one of them, and the Names of the Seven be these.

The First is Grammer; and that teacheth a Man to speak truely, and write truely.
The second is Rhetorick, and that teacheth a Man to speak fair in sublime Terms.
The third is Logick, and that teacheth a Man to discern between Truth and Falshood.
The Fourth is Arithmetick, and that teacheth a Man to reckon and accompt all manner of Numbers.
The fifth is Geometry, and that teacheth Meet and Measure, and so all other things, of the which is annexed Masonry.
The Sixth is Musick, and that teacheth a Man Song and Voice, Tongue and Organ, Harp and Trumpet, &
The seventh is Astronomy, and that teacheth a Man to know the Course of the Sun, Moon and Stars. These be the seven liberal Sciences, the which seven be all founded by One (i.e) Geometry; and this may a Man prove, that the Science of the Work is founded by Geometry, for Geometry teacheth Meet and Measure, Pounderation and Weight of all manner of things on Earth; so there is no Man that worketh any Craft, but he worketh by some Meet or Measure; nor no Man that buyeth or selleth but by some Meet or Measure, or by some Weight; and all this is Geometry. And Merchants and all other Craftsmen, and all other of thefe seven liberal Sciences, and especially the Plowman, and Tillers of all manner of Grain, Seeds, Vines and Flowers, and Planters of other Fruits and Vegetables: For in Grammer, nor Rhetorick, nor Astronomy, nor in any other Science, can no Man find Meet or Measure without Geometry; wherefore we think this Science most worthy, and soundeth to all others.

How that these worthy Sciences first begun I shall you tell. — Before Noah's Flood there was a Man that was called Lamech, as it is written in the Holy Bible, Gen. Ch. 4. and this Lamech had two Wives, whose Names were Adah and Zillah; by Adah he got two Sons, Taball and Tuball; and by Zillah he begot a Son and a Daughter, and these four Children founded the Beginning of all Crafts in the World; the eldest Son Taball founded Geometry, and he had Flocks of Sheep, Land in the Fields, and first wrought fine Work of Stone; and he (as it is noted in the above Chapter) and his Brother Tuball, founded the Craft of Musick, Song & Tongue, Harp and Organ; and the third Brother, Tuball Cain, founded the Craft call'd the Smith's Craft, of Gold, Silver, Copper, Iron and Steel; and the Daughter founded the Craft of Weaving : And these Children knew well that God would take Vengeance of the World for Sins, either by Fire or Water; wherefore they did write these Sciences that they had found, on two Pillars of Stone, that they might be found after Noah's Flood, and one Pillar was of Marble, for it would not burn; and the other Pillar was of Stone call'd Laterness, and that would not drown. — our Intent is to tell you truely, how these Pillars was found, in which these Sciences were written.

The great Harmonise, was Chub, his Son, the which Chub was Noah's Son; HIarmonise was afterwards call'd Harmise, the Father of wise Men, he found one of the Pillars of Stone, and he found the Science written therein; and he taught it to other Men, and at the making of the Tower of Babell, that place was of Masonry made much of; and the King of Babilon, that Height, Nimrod, was a Mason himself, and loved well the Craft, as it is said by Masters of History. And when the City of Nineveh, and other Cities of the East should be made, Nimrod sent 60 other Masons at the Rogation of the King of Nineveh his Cousin; and when he sent them forth, he gave them Charge that they should love truely together, and that they should serve their Lord for their Pay, so that their Master might have Worship, and all that belongs to him: And other Charges he gave them; and this was the fist Time that any Mason had any Charge of the Craft.

Moreover, when Abraham and Sarah went into Egypt, there he taught the 7 Sciences to the Egyptians, and he had a worthy Schollar, that Height Euclid, and he learned right well, and was a Master of the 7 Sciences Liberal: And in his Days it befel, that Lords and States of the Realm had so many Sons that they had begotten, some by their Wives, and some by the Ladies of the Realm (for that Land is a hott Land, and plenteous of Generation) and they had not a competent Living for their Children, and therefore they had much Care; and then the King of the Land made a great Counsell and Parliament, how they might find honest Employment for their Children, as Gentlemen; and they could find no manner of good way; and then they did cry throughout all the Realm, that if there were any Man that could inform them, that he should come to them, and he should be well rewarded for his Travel ; after this Cry was made, then came this worthy Clark Euclid, and he said to the King and to all the great Lords, "if you will take me to your Children to govern and to teach them one of the 7 Sciences, wherewith they may live honestly as Gentlemen should; under a Condition that you will grant me a Commission to have Power over them, and to rule them after the Manner that the Science ought to be ruled; and that the King and all his Councel granted him anon, and sealled the Commission. And then this worthy Doctor took to him these Lords Sons, and taught them the Science of Geometry in Practice, to work in Stone, and all manner of worthy Work that belongeth to building Churches, Temples Castles and Towers, and all other manner of Buildings, & he gave them a Charge on this manner.

The First was, that they should be true to their King, and to the Lords that they serve, and they should live well together, and to be true each one to the other, and that they should call each one his Fellow or his Brother, and not his Servant or Knave, nor any foul Name, and that they should truely deserve their Pay of their Lord or Master that they serve, and that they should ordain the Chiefest of them to be Master of the Work, and neither for Love, nor great Lineage, nor Riches, nor great Favour, to sett another that hath little Cunning for to be Master of the Lord's Work whereby the Lord shall be evil served, and they ashamed, and also that they should obey the Governors of the Work Master in the time they work with him: and other more Charges that is too long to tell. And to all theie Charges he made them to swear a great Oath, that men used in that Time; and also ordain'd for them reasonable Pay or Wages, that they might live honestly; and also that they should come and assemble together every Year once, and converse together how they might best serve their Lord, for his Proffitt and to their own Worship: and to correct themselves; him that had trespassed against the Craft. And thus was the Craft grounded there; and that worthy Master Euclid gave it the name of Geometry, and now it is called Masonry throughout all this Land. Since after,

When the Children of Israel was come into the Land of Behest, that is now called Jerusalem, King David begun the Temple, that is call'd Templum Domino, which is call'd the Temple of Jerusalem, and the said king David loved well Masons, and cherished them, and gave them good Pay; and he gave them the Charges, and the manner as he learned in Egypt, giving to Euclid and other Charges more, that you shall hear afterwards.

And after the Decease of K. David, Solomon that was K. David's Son, perform'd the finishing the Temple that his Father had begun; and he sent for Masons into divers Countries, and of divers Lands, and gather'd them together; for he had 80000 Workers of Stone, and were all call'd Masons, and he chosed out 3000 that were ordain'd to be Masters and Governors of his Works.

And furthermore, there was a King of another Region, that Men call'd Hiram, and he loved well King Solomon, and he gave him Timber and cunning men to his Work ; and he had a Son, that Height Aynon, and he was a Master of Geometry, and was his chieff Master of all Engraving and Carving, and other manner of Masonry that belong'd to the Temple, and this is wittnessed in Kings, Ch. 30. — This Solomon confirm'd both Charges and Manners, that his Father had given the Masons. — And thus was the Work of Masonry confirm'd in the Country of Jerusalem: And in many other Kingdoms curions Craftsmen walk'd about full wide; some because of learning more Craft and Cunning, and some to teach them that had but little Cunning.

And so it befel that there was one curions Man, that Height Nimus Graneus, that had been at the Making of Solomon's Temple, and he came into France, and there he taught the Science of Masonry to the Men of France ; and there was one a Regulator of France, that Height Charles Merton, and he was a Man that loved well the Craft, & drew to Nimns Graneus, and he learned of him the Craft. and took upon him the Charge and Manner, and afterwards (by the Grace of God) was elected King France; and when he was in his Estate, he took Masons, and did help to make Masons that were none, and he ordain'd both the Charge and Manner, and good Pay as he learned of other Masons, and confirmed them a Charter from year to year, to hold their Assembly where they would, and cherished them much: And thus came the Craft into France.

England in all this Time stood void for any Charge of Masonry, until St. Alban's Time; the K. of England that was a Pagan, about that is call'd St. Albans; And St. Alban a worthy Knight and Steward of the King's Household, and the Government of his Realm, and of the Town Walls, and he loved the Masons well, & cherished them right much, and he made their Pay right good standing as the Realm did, for he gave 2 s. 6d. per Week, and 3d. for their Nuntions; for before that Time throughout all this Land, a Mason took but 1d. per Day, until St. Albon amended it; and he gave them a Charge of the King and his Councel, for to hold a general Councel, and gave it the Name of Assembly, and there he was himself to make Masons.

Right soon after the Death of St. Albon, there came divers Warrs into England out of divers Nations, so yt the good Rule Masonry was destroy'd, until the Time of K. Athelstone, that was a worthy K. Of England, and brought this Land into Rest and Peace, and built many great Works, and Abbies and Towers, and other manner of divers Buildings, and loved well Masons; and he had a Son, that Height Edwin, and he loved well Masons, more than his Father did, and was a great Practioner in Geometry, and drew to Masons, & Ioved much to talk & commune, and to learn of them the Craft: and afterwards, for Love he bear to Masons and the Craft, be was made a Mason, and be got of the King his Father a Charter and Commission to hold every Year an Assembly wherefoerer they would in the Realm of England, and to corect within themselves Defaults, and the Trespafses yt were done within the Craft; and he held himself an Assembly at York, and then he made Masons and gave them Charges and taught them the Manner, and commanded that Rule to be kept ever after; and took them a Charter and Commission to keep, and made Ordinances that it should be reuew'd from King to King ; and when the Assembly was gather'd together he made Cry, that all Old Masons and Young, that had any Writing or Understanding of the Manner or Charges, that were before in the Land, or any other, should shew them forth, and when it proved there was found in French, and some in Greek, and some in English and other Languages, and the Intent of them was all one; he made a Book thereoff, how the Craft was founded; and he himself bid and commanded, that it should be read or told when that any Masons should be made, for to give his Charges; and from yt Day to this Time, the Manner of Masons have been kept in Form as well as Men might govern it.

Furthermore at divers Assemblies hath been put and ordain'd certain Charges, by the best of Masters and Fellows "tunce unus, Ex Senoribus tenet Librum ut ille vel illi ponant vel penat manus super Librum et tunce Deberont Legi" — Every Man that is a Mason take right good heed to these Charges, and if any Man find himself guilty of these Charges against God, that he amend; and principally ye that are to he charged take good heed that ye may keep these Charges right well; for it is a great Peril for any Man to forswear himself upon a Book.

The first Charge is;

Thou or he, be a true Man to God, and the holy Church, and that ye use neither Error or Heresy to your Understanding, Discretion or Wisdom, or wise Men's teaching. And also ye shall be true Leigemen to the King of England, without Treasou or any other Falsehood; and that you know no Treason or Treachery, but that you amend it privily if you may, or else tell the King and his Counsel.

And also you shall be true one to another, that is, to every Mason of the Craft of Mesonry, that to be Masons allow'd; you shall do to them as you would they should do unto you. And also that ye keep truely all the Counsel of the Lodge, and of the Chamber, and all other Counsel that ought to be kept, by the Way of Masonry; And you shall be true to the Lord or Master you serve, and truely see his Proffit or Advantage.

And also ye shall call Masons Bretheren or Fellow, and no foul Name.

And also that no Man be thievish or a Thief, as far forth as he may witt, or know.

And also you shall not take, in Villany, your Fellow's Wife, nor ungodly desire his Daughter or Servant, nor put him to disworship.

And also you shall pay truely for your Meat & Drink where you go to Board or Work; and do no Villany whereby the Craft may be slander'd.

These be the Charges in general that belong to every, true Mason to be kept, both by Masters and Fellows.

First. That no Master take upon him any Lord's Work, or Men's Work, but that he knoweth himself able and sufficient of Cunning to perform the Same; so that ye Craft have no Slander, nor no Disworship, but that the Lord may be well and truely Serv'd.

And also that no Master take no work, but that he take it reasfonably, so that the Lord may be truely serv'd with his own Good: And the Master live honestly, and pay his Fellows their Pay as the Manner is.

And also that no Master or Fellow shall supplant others of their Work; that is to say, that he hath taken a Work, or else stand Master of the Lord's Work, and you not put him out, unless he be unable of Cunning to perform or end the Same Work.

And also that no Master or Fellow take an Apprentice within the Term of 7 years; and the Apprentice be able of Birth, free-born, and of Limbs whole as a Man ought to be; and that no Master or Fellow take no Allowance, to make any Mason, without the Assent or Consent of his Fellows, 6 or 7 at the least, and he that shall be made a Mason be able in all Manner of Degrees; That is to say, Free-born, and of good Kindred come, and true, and no Bondman.

And also that no Mason take any Apprentice, unless he have sufficient occupation for to occupy, One, two or three at the least.

And also that no Master or Fellow put no Lord's Work to taxen that wont to Journey.

And also that every Master shall give pay to his Fellows but as he may deserve, so that he may not decay by false Workmen.

And also that none shall slander another behind his Back, to loose his good Name or else his worldly Riches.

And also no Fellow within the Lodge, or without, misanswer another ungodlyly or Ribaldry.

And also that every Mason shall reverence his Elder, and put him to worship.

And also that no Mason shall be a common Player at Hazard, or at Dice, nor any other unlawful Game, whereby the Craft may be slander'd.

And also that no Fellow go into Taverns, a Night as is a Lodge of Fellows, without a Fellow with him, that he may bear Wittness that he was in honest Place & Company.

And also that every Master and Fellow shall come to the Afsembly, if it be within 50 Miles about him, if he have any Warning; and if he have trespassed against the Craft, he shall stand to the Award of Masters and Fellows, and to make them accord if he may; and if they may not accord, then go to common Law.

And also that no Master or Fellow make no Mould, or Rule, nor Square to no Layer, nor set no Layer within the Lodge, nor without, to hew no moulded Stone.

And also that every Mason cherish strange Fellows, when they come over the Country, and set them on Work, if they will work as the Manner is; if they have no moulded Store in his place, they refresh him with Money to the next Lodge.

And also every Nason shall truely serve his Lord for his Pay, and every Master make an End of his Work by Task or by Journey, if he hath his Pay or Covenant, and all that he ought to have.

These Charges, which we have now rehears'd unto you, and to all other that belongeth to Masonry, you shall truely keep; So help you GOD, & holy Doom, and by this BOOK unto your Power. Amen.

NB. The Stones of Solomon's Temple built at Jerusalem, were of white Marble, every one 25 Cubits long, 8 Cubits thick, and some 12 Cubits broad.

From York Lodge. — Copy'd from the Original engross'd on Abortive in the Year 1560.

RUKOPIS LEVANDER-JORK.

Kopija "Starih dužnosti", u vlasništvu Br:. F. W. Levandera zanimljiv je, ne toliko zbog teksta, već kao posledica izjave na kraju da transkript potiče

"Iz Lože Jork. — Kopija originala pisana krupnim slovima,
nezavršena (abortivna) godine 1560."

Pod starateljstvom poznate Lože Jork br. 236 nema rukopisa sa tim datumom niti ikakvog drugog koji bi pripadao Ogranku (b) gde bi rukopis 41 "Levander-Jork" bio klasifikovan. Taj ogranak uključuje rukopis "Dowland", kao glavni, kao i rukopise "Clerke," "Hughan," "Papworth," "Phillipps," and "Haddon", i pripada velikoj grupi rukopisa pod nazivom "Porodica Velike Lože", koja sada broji tridesetak svitaka.
Jedina dva datirana rukopisa iz "Jorka" su "York br. 4" iz. 1693. godine i "York br. 2" iz 1704. godine; ali je u Popis iz 1779. godine "Velike Lože cele Engleske", iz Jorka, uključen još jedan, tj.,

"Br. 3. Pergamentni svitak Zidarskih Dužnosti iz 1630. godine",

koji od tada nije kopiran i nikada nije bio u posedu "Lože Jork", gde je ostalih pet pažljivo sačuvano. Tako da, prihvatajući izjavu kao tačnu, mora da je postojao još jedan rukopis u meki britanskog slobodnog zidarstva, tokom prve polovine XVIII. U to vreme, medutim, sadašnja "Loža Jork" nije još bila osnovana i od datuma njenog formiranja do 1870. godine bila je L. Union, tako da mora da je to bila ugašena Velika Loža, ako je postojala, koja je posedovala taj dokument. Na osnovu stila kaligrafije jasno je da potiče iz perioda oko 1740. godine, a tekst veoma podseća na rukopis "Papworth", iz druge dekade istog veka. Njegova je sličnost takva da upućuje na prepisivanje sa svitaka načinjenih iz sličnog originala, a ne direktno sa stvarnog prototipa. Dajem deo rukopisa "Papworth". iz mojih "Starih dužnosti britanskih slobodnih zidara", 1872, da bih prikazao njihovu sličnost , ali postoje razlike koje me navode da verujem da one sadrže odstupanja od originalne verzije, kao što su Aynon i Benaim,¹⁾ i "Asocijacija" i "Skupština", osim ako je to zbog ćefa pisara. Biće mi drago zbog dragocenog mišljenja dr. Begemanna o ovoj tački kao i rukopisu uopšte.

1)   "Hiramov sin."

Voleo bih da se dokument nazove "Rukopis Levander-Jork" klasifikovan kao D 42 Ogranak (b) napisan oko 1740. godine. Treba napomenuti da je uobičajeni redak,

"Primenjivati generalno i druge dužnosti majstora i pomoćnika,"

izostavljen iz "Rukopisa Levander-Jork;" a iz "Rukopisa Papworth". sada nedostaju poslednje tri klauzule kao i uobičajena obaveza u zaključku.

W. J. Hughan.

THE LEVANTER-YORK MS.

The copy of the "Old Charges," owned by Bro. F. W. Levander, is of an interesting character, not so much because of the text, but in consequence of the statement at the end that the transcript was made
"From York Lodge. — Copy'd from the Original
engross'd on Abortive in the year 1560."

There is no MS. in the custody of the well known "York Lodge," No. 236, that is of that date, neither is there one that belongs to the Branch (b), with which the "Levander-York" should be classed. This Branch includes the "Dowland," as chief, with the "Clerke," "Hughan," "Papworth," "Phillipps," and "Haddon" MSS., and belongs to the large "Grand Lodge Family," which now numbers some thirty Scrolls.

The only two of the "York" MSS. that are dated are the "York No. 4" of A.D. 1693, and the "York No. 2" of A.D. 1704 ; but in the Inventory of A.D. 1779, of the "Grand Lodge of all England," at York, another was included, viz.,

No. 3. A Parchment Roll of Charges on Masonry 1630,"

which has not been traced since, and hlas never been in the possession of the "York Lodge," by whom the remaining five are carefully preserved. So that, accepting the statement as correct, there must have been another manuscript in existence in the Mecca of British Freemasonry during the first half of the eighteenth century. At that time, however, the present "York Lodge" was not established, and from the date of its formation until the year 1870 it was the "Union"; so it must have been the extinct Grand Lodge, if any, that owned the document. Its date apparently, from the style of the caligraphy, is about the year 1740, and the text very closely resembles the "Papworth," of the second decade of the same century. Its resemblance is such as to suggest that they were transcribed from scrolls made from a similar original, though not direct from the actual prototype. I give a portion of the "Papworth MS." From my "Old Charges of British Freemasons," 1872, so as to exhibit their similarity, but there are differences that incline me to believe that they contain departures from the original version, such as Aynom and Benaim,¹⁾ and ''Association" and ''Assembly" respectively, unless due to the vagaries of scribes. I shall be glad of Dr. Regemann's valuable opinion on this point and the manuscript generally.

1)   "Hiram's Son."

I should like the document to be named the "Levander-York MS.," and to be classed as D 42 Branch (b) of A.D. 1740 circa. It should be noted that the usual line,

"Rehearse in general other Charges for Masters and Fellows,"

is omitted from the "Levander-York MS.," and the "Papworth MS." now lacks the last three clauses, and the customary obligation in conclusion.

W. J. Hughan.