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really may deserve.
Both the master and the masons receiving their wages
justly, shall be faithful to the lord, and honestly finish their
work, whether task or journey; nor put the work to task
that hath been accustomed to journey.
None shall discover envy at the prosperity of a
brother, nor supplant him, nor put him out of his work, if
he be capable to finish the same; for no man can finish
another s work so much to the lord s profit, unless he be
thoroughly acquainted with the designs and draughts of
him that began it.
When a fellow-craftsman is chosen warden of the
work under the master, he shall be true both to master
and fellows, shall carefully oversee the work in the
master s absence, to the lord s profit; and his brethren shall
obey him.
All masons employed shall meekly receive their
wages without murmuring or mutiny, and not desert the
master till the work be finished.
A younger brother shall be instructed in working, to
prevent spoiling the materials for want of judgement and
for increasing and continuing of brotherly love.
All the tools used in working shall be approved by the
grand lodge.
No labourer shall be employed in the proper work of
masonry; nor shall free-masons work with those that are
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not free, without an urgent necessity; nor shall they teach
labourers and unaccepted masons as they should teach a
brother or fellow.
VI. Of BEHAVIOUR
1. IN THE LODGE WHILE CONSTITUTED
You are not to hold private committees, or separate
conversation, without leave from the master; nor to talk of
anything impertinently or unseemly, nor interrupt the
master or wardens, or any brother speaking to the master;
nor behave yourself ludicrously or jestingly while the
lodge is engaged in what is serious and solemn; nor use
any unbecoming language upon any pretence whatsoever,
but to pay due reverence to your master, wardens, and
fellows, and put them to worship.
If any complaint be brought, the brother found guilty
shall stand to the award and determination of the lodge,
who are the proper and competent judges of all such
controversies (unless you carry them by appeal to the
grand lodge), and to whom they ought to be referred,
unless a lord s work be hindered the meanwhile, in which
case a particular reference may be made, but you must
never go to law about what concerneth masonry, without
an absolute necessity apparent to the lodge.
2. BEHAVIOUR, AFTER THE LODGE IS OVER,
AND THE BRETHREN NOT GONE
You may enjoy yourselves with innocent mirth,
treating one another according to ability, but avoiding all
excess, or forcing any brother to eat or drink beyond his
inclination, or hindering him from going when his
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occasions call him, or doing or saying anything offensive,
or that may forbid an easy and free conversation; for that
would blast our harmony, and defeat our laudable
purposes. Therefore no private piques or quarrels must be
brought within the door of the lodge, far less any quarrels
about religion, or nations, or state policy, we being only, as
masons, of the universal religion above-mentioned; we are
also of all nations, tongues, kindreds, and languages, and
are resolved against all politics, as what never yet
conduced to the welfare of the lodge, nor ever will.
3. BEHAVIOUR WHEN BRETHREN MEET WITHOUT
STRANGERS, BUT NOT IN A LODGE FORMED
You are to salute one another in a courteous manner,
as you will be instructed, calling each other brother, freely
giving mutual instruction, as shall be thought expedient,
without being overseen or overheard, and without
encroaching upon each other, or derogating from that
respect which is due to any brother, were he not a mason;
for though all masons are, as brethren, upon the same
level, yet masonry takes no honour from a man that he had
before; nay, rather it adds to his honour, especially if he has
deserved well of the brotherhood, who must give honour to
whom it is due, and avoid ill manners.
4. BEHAVIOUR IN PRESENCE OF STRANGERS,
NOT MASONS
You shall be cautious in your words and carriage, that
the most penetrating stranger shall not be able to discover
or find out what is not proper to be intimated; and
sometimes you shall divert a discourse, and manage it
prudently for the honour of the worshipful fraternity.
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5. BEHAVIOUR AT HOME AND IN
YOUR NEIGHBOURHOOD
You are to act as becomes a moral and wise man;
particularly not to let your family, friends, and neighbours,
know the concerns of the lodge, &c., but wisely to consult
your own honour, and that of your antient brotherhood, for
reasons not to be mentioned here. You must also consult
your health by not continuing together too late or too long
from home after lodge hours are past; and by avoiding of
gluttony or drunkenness, that your families be not
neglected or injured, nor you disabled from working.
6. BEHAVIOUR TOWARDS A STRANGE BROTHER
You are cautiously to examine him in such a method
as prudence shall direct you, that you may not be imposed
upon by an ignorant, false pretender, whom you are to
reject with contempt and derision, and beware of giving
him any hints of knowledge.
But if you discover him to be a true and genuine
brother, you are to respect him accordingly; and if he is in
want you must relieve him if you can, or else direct him
how he may be relieved. You must employ him some days,
or else recommend him to be employed. But you are not
charged to do beyond your ability; only to prefer a poor
brother that is a good man and true before any other poor
people in the same circumstances.
Finally. All these charges you are to observe and
also those that shall be communicated to you in another
way; cultivating brotherly love, the foundation and
copestone, the cement and glory, of this antient fraternity,
avoiding all wrangling and quarrelling, all slander and
backbiting, nor permitting others to slander any honest
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brother but defending his character and doing him all good
offices, as far as is consistent with your honour and safety,
and no farther.
And if any of them do you injury, you must apply to
your own or his lodge; and from thence you may appeal to
the grand lodge at the quarterly communication, as has
been the antient laudable conduct of our forefathers in
every nation; never taking a legal course but when the case
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