VI. — THE REGULATION OF 1703.

I know not upon what authority Heboid places the date of this Regulation in 1703. He cannot, however, be far wrong, as it is certain that it was adopted at the beginning of the eighteenth Century, and during the latter part of the Grand Mastership of Sir Christopher Wren. The Regulation is an important one, and had an extensive influence on the subsequent character of the institution. Pres-
THE WRITTEN LAW. 53
ton* say s that it was adopted in consequence of the decadence of the Lodges, and for the purpose of in- creasing their members. It is in these words :
That the privileges of Masonry should no longer be re- stricted to operative Masons, but extend to men of various professions, provided they were regularly approved and in- itiated into the Order.f