IX. — THE CHARGES APPROVED IN 1722.

The Charges now to be inserted were presented to the Grand Lodge by Dr. Anderson and Dr. Desagu- liers, in 1721, and being approved by the Grand Lodge on the 25th of March, 1722, were subse- quently published in the first edition of the Book of Constitutions, with the following title :
" The Charges of a Freemason, extracted from the Ancient Records of Lodges beyond sea, and of those in England, Scot-
* Preston says that a sufficient number of Masons could, up to the time of the adoption of this regulation, meet together, open a Lodge, and make Masons, with the consent of the sheriff or chief magistrate of the place. The regulation here quoted, which abolished this usage, is the one under which the present system of permanent chartered Lodges is maintained.
f This regulation has been very generally repealed by the Grand Lodges of the United States. In England, and in North Carolina and a very few other Grand Lodges in this country, it is still in force. But in the greater number of States, the office of Deputy, like that of Grand Master, is elective.
THE WRITTEN LAW. 55
land and Ireland, for the use of the Lodges in London : to be i-ead at the making of new Brethren, or when the Master shall order it."
These Charges have always been held in the high- est veneration by the Fraternity, as embodying the most important points of the ancient Written as well as Unwritten Law of Masonry.