Chapter 10. Conclusion.

The Worshipful Society of Free Masons,
Rough Masons, Wallers, Slaters, Pamors, Plaisterers,
and Bricklayers.
Lodge "Mount Ba/rdon," No. no.
Established 1831.
Bardon Hill, Leicestershire.
The above Lodge, No. no, of the York Division, passed the following resolution at a meeting held on the sixth day of May, ipii:
"That the paper written by Thomas Carr of p Carl- "ton Terrace, Blackpool, M. D., on 'The Ritual of the "Operative Free Masons' is a true and accurate account "of the ceremonies proicticed by this Lodge, and that the "tradition which has been handed down to us is that "these ceremonies have been so practised from time im- "memorial.
"That the said paper is based upon information fur- "nislied by us or by our accredited members and that the "said Thomas Carr has received our permission to pub- "lish the said paper.
"That there is mMch more of our ritual and cere- "monies than is described in the said paper, but the ac- "count in the said paper is strictly accurate as far as it "goes.
"That Thomas Carr is a corresponding member of "this Lodge in full standing and of good repute."
Signed, John A. Grant, ist Master. Signed, Robert Walter Grant, 2nd Master. Signed, Wiluam George Major Baieey, jrc? Master.
Signed, Robert B. Grant,
Secretary, i P. M., VIP.
The Ritual of the Operative . Free Masons
THOMAS CARR, M.D., P. M.
Honorary Member of the Guild of Operative Free Masons
i.^ — Introduction.
Most Speculative Free Masons are aware of the fact that a Guild of Operative Free Masons still exists, and that the Masons' Company of London is also still extant.
It is well established that Societies of Operative Masons ■existed in England, France, and Italy during the Middle Ages and built the Churches, Bridges, ^nd Cathedrals which still adorn those countries.
Also that in Germany there flQurished a well organized tody of Masons, known as Steinmet^en.
The name Free Mason first occurs in Statute 25, Ed- ward 3, (1352). Elsewhere I have shown how Masons had to travel about to their work and how English Masons ■worked in France, and French Masons in England.
In days when writing was confined to the clerics and di- plomas were unknown, it was the readiest solution of the •difficulty of an unknown man testifying he was, a skilled and accredited craftsman, to have a system of pass words and signs which enabled him to prove he had been regularly taught his trade and was no cowan or pretender.
These ancient Operative Masons of the Middle Ages, hoth in England and on the Continent, had their regular procedure by which a lad was admitted as an apprentice, taught his work, and subsequently became entitled to prac- tise his trade.
A good many of the old Regulations and Charges of these early days have come down to us. Some 80 examples are known and recognized.
The following is a list of some of the more important of fliese "Ancient Charges" as they are generally called :
List of Some Ancient Charges.
Regius (Halliwell), c. 1390, British Museum, Royal Library 17 A i.
Cooke, Early isth Century, British Museum, Add. M.S. 23, 198.
Lansdowne, Before 1598, British Museum, No. 98, art 48, f 276 B.
Sloane No. i, 1646, British Museum, No. 3848.
Sloane No. 2, 1649, British Museum, No. 3323.
Harleian 1942, 17th Century, British Museum, Harleian No. 1942.
Harleian 2054, 17th Century, British Museum, Harleian No. 2054.
Harris No. 2, 1781, British Museum, Ephemerides, pp. 2493 g a a.
Grand Lodge No. i, 1583, Grand Lodge Library.
Grand Lodge No. 2, i7th Century, Grand Lodge Library.
Buchanan, 1670, Grand Lodge Library, (Copy in Gould's Book).
Colonel Gierke, 1686, Grand Lodge Library.
Thomas Foxcroft, 1699, Grand Lodge Library.
Stanley, 1677, W. Yorks, Masonic Library.
William Watson, 1687, W. Yorks, Masonic Library.
Taylor, Late 17th Centurj', W. Yorks, Masonic Library.
Plot, 1686, Published in Natural History of Staffordshire. Dr. Plot.
Bain, Bro. C. A. Wilson, Armley, Leeds.
Scarborough, Before 1705, Grand Lodge of Canada.
Hidalgo Jones, 1607, Prov. Grand Lodge, Worcestershire.
Wood, 1610, Prov. Grand Lodge, Worcestershire.
Lechmere, 17th Century, Prov. Grand Lodge, Worcestershire.
Phillips No. I, 17th Century, Rev. J. E. A. Fenwick, Cheltenham.
Phillips No. 2, 17th Century, Rev. J. E. A. Fenwick, Cheltenham.
Phillips No. 3, Early i8th Cent., Rev. J. E. A. Fenwick, Cheltenham.
Strasburg, 1459, M.S. at Strasburg (Findel).
Torgau, 1462, ? (Findel).
Kilwinning No. i, Late 17th Century, S. Michaels, Kilwinning,
Dumfries. Kilwinning No. 2, 17th Century, S. Michaels, Kilwinning, Dumfries. Kilwinning No. 3, Late 17th Century, S. Michaels, Kilwinning,
Dumfries. Kilwinning No. 4, 1730-40, S. Michaels, Kilwinning, Dumfries,
(A. Q. C. 6). Kilwinning No. 5, 1730-40, S. Michaels, Kilwinning, Dumfries. Antiquity, 1686, Lodge of Antiquity.
In these Ancient Charges we get evidences of the com- mencement of Moral teaching and of Secret Signs. It is at once obvious that from very early times a high mora! standard was inculcated by these Ancient Charges.
In the oldest Charge of all, "The Regius," dating about 1390, implicit truth is recomhiended.
The Harleian No. 2054, dating from the 17th Century, was originally the property of the Chester Guild and among
other things says there are "several words and signs of a Free Mason to be reveiled" which may be communicated to no one "except to the Master and Fellows of the said So- ciety of Freemasons. So help me God." Here followeth the worthy and godly oath of Masons.
There is said to have been a M.S. by King Henry VI (1422-1461) in the Bodleian Library, in which that King says "some Maconnes are not so virtuous as some other menne, but for the most parte they be more gude than they would be if they were not Maconnes."
In the 17th Century and probably earlier private gentle- men and Army Officers began to be admitted as Members of this Society of Free Masons in England and Scotland.
John Boswell, Esq., a landed proprietor, was a miember of St. Mary's Chapel Lodge, Edinburgh, in 1600. Robert Moray, Quarter Master General of the Scottish Army was made a Mason at Newcastle in 1641. Elias Ashmole, the celebrated antiquarian, and Colonel Henry Manwaring were made Masons at Warrington in 1646. It is interesting to note the fact that of these three men, who were among the earliest Honorary, or non-operative, or in more modern terms Speculative, Masons made in England, Moray was a Scotch Covenanter, Ashmole was a Royalist and Manwaring was a Parliamentarian. So that even in those days Ma- sonry was a bond of union between men of differing reli- gious and political opinions, and that even in the time of the great Civil War.
In 1647 Dr. William Maxwell joined the Lodge at Edin- burgh. As far as is known he was the first medical man to become a Mason. It is also noteworthy that in the minutes of St. Mary's Chapel Lodge, Edinburgh, it is recorded that Boswell attested his mark at the meeting of the Lodge held on June 8th, 1600. The Earls of Cassilis and Eglinton were initiated in the Lodge of Kilwinning in or about 1670. Pri- vate gentlemen such as these I have instanced began about this time to be known as Accepted Masons, and gradually increased in number.
In 1717 under the influence of Dr. Anderson and his friends some Operative Freemasons with some of these non-operative. Accepted or Speculative Freemasons, belong- ing to four Lodges in London, met and formed the first Grand Lodge; a combination in which Speculative Mason- ry instead of Operative Masonry was the primary consider-
ation. Architecture and Operative tools became symbolical, but the Ritual was based on the Ritual of the old Operative Society, of which indeed it was largely a reproduction.
The Apprentice Degree and the Fellow Craft Degree were founded on the corresponding degrees of the Opera- tive system.
Later on, when a Master's Degree — not a Master of a Lodge but a Master Mason — was added, Anderson and his friends invented a ceremony based in the Operatives' An- nual Festival of October 2nd commemorating the slaying of Hiram Abiff at the Building of King Solomon's Temple.
The real Secrets and the real Ritual of the Operative Masters' Degree could not be given as but few knew them, namely only those who had actually been one of the three Masters, 7th Degree, by whom the Operatives were ruled, and Anderson had certainly not been one of these ; his func- tion having been that of Chaplain, although it is quite pos- sible he had been admitted an Accepted member of the Craft some years previously in Scotland.
IL — Derivation of Specui.ative; from Operative Free Masonry.
If anyone doubts the fact that the formation of Specula- tive Free Masonry was due to and based upon Operative Free Masonry, it is quite easy to convince him of his error if he will only study the first Book of Constitutions.
This B^irst Book of Constitutions is the original one which Anderson had been commissioned to prepare, in the following terms, "You are to order and arrange the ancient Gothic Constitutions upon a new and better system." It was printed and published by the Authority of the Grand Lodge in 1723.
In spite of many alterations and new additions, and of its complete revisal at the Union in 1813, the present Book ■of Constitutions still shows unmistakably its operative ori- gin-
The Ancient Charge^ ,given on page i of the present Book of Constitutions, dated 1909, are almost identical with the Antient Charges given in the first Book of Constitutions published in 1723. The alterations are very few and unim- portant and there are no alterations in Section 5, which is
the one I am about to quote to prove the origin of Specula- tive from Operative Free Masonry. This Section 5 has for title "Of the Management of the Craft in Working" and you will notice the terms used are obviously and solely operative.
Of the Management of the Craft in Working.
1. All masons shall work honestly on working days, that they may live creditably on holy days; and the time- appointed by the law of the land, or confirmed by custom, shall be observed.
2. The most expert of the fellow-craftsmen shall be chosen or appointed the master, or overseer of the lord's work ; who is to be called master by those that work under him. The craftsmen are to avoid all ill language, and ta call each other by no disobliging name, but brother or fel- low ; and to behave themselves courteously within and with- out the lodge.
3. The master, knowing himself to be able of cunning, shall undertake the lord's work as reasonably as possible, and truly dispend his goods as if they we-re his own ; nof to give more wages to any brother or apprentice than he really may deserve.
4. 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.
5. None shall discover envy at the prosperity of a broth- er, 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 tlioroughly acquainted with the designs and draughts of him that be- gan it.
6. 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 ab- sence, to the lord's profit ; and his brethren shall obey him.
7. All masons employed shall meekly receive their wages without murmuring or mutiny, and not desert the master till the work be finished.
8. A younger brother shall be instructed in working.
to prevent spoiling the materials for want of judgment and for increasing and continuing of brotherly love.
9. All the tools used in working shall be approved by the grand lodge.
10. No labourer shall be employed in the proper work of masonry ; nor shall free-masons work with those that are not free, without an urgent necessity; nor shall they teach labourers and unaccepted masons, as they should teach a brother or fellow.
The Speculative Ritual also gives proof of its derivation from the Operatives.
(i) In the presentation of the Working Tools in each of the Three Degrees.
"As we are not all Operative Masons, but rather free and accepted, or speculative."
(2) Operative Masons are referred to in the Lecture on the First Tracing Board when the Movable Jewels are described and their uses explained.
(3) Operative Masons are described in the Official Lectures.
Lecture i. Section 7. Emulation Working.
1. Q. How many sorts of Masons are there? A. Two: Free and Accepted, and Operative.
2. O. Which of those are you? A. Free and Accepted.
3. Q. What do you learn by being a Free and Accept- ed Alason?
A. Secrecy, Morality, and Good Fellowship.
4. Q. What do Operative Masons learn?
A. The useful rules of Architecture, to hew, square, and mould stones into the forms required for the purposes
of building and to unite them by means of joints level
perpendicular, or otherwise ; and by the aid of cement iron lead, or copper; which various operations require much practical dexterity and some skill in geometry and mechan- ics."
On January 6th, 191 1, a historical note by W. Bro. John P. Simpson, B.A., P.A.G. Reg., was published by Grand I ry as far as the First and Second Degrees are concerned is in part no doubt derived from the ceremonies of the early Operative Guilds." Bro. Simpson would have been more
accurate had he said, is mainly derived from the Operative ceremonies.
I would add so is the Third Degree, and also the Mark.
It would make the present paper too long to discuss this question of the Master Mason's Degree now but I hope to publish a paper on "The Third Degree" at some future time. Here it need only be said that the Third Degree was an af- terthought as regards Speculative Masonry. As formulated in 1717 and as laid down in the First Book of Constitutions in 1723, there was no Third Degree; a Mason only became a Master when he became- Master of a Lodge. The antient Charges in the present Book of Constitutions will suffice to make this quite clear ; and this paragraph is the same today as it was in the First Book of Constitutions published in 1723. Section 4, paragraph 2.
"No brother can be a warden until he has passed the part of a fellow-craft, nor a master until he has acted as a war- den, nor grand warden until he has been master of a I^odge."
And the present Book of Constitutions has a footnote added to this Section which does not appear in the Book of 1723 but was first added in 1815.
"N. B. In antient times no brother, however skilled in the craft, was called a master-mason until he had been elect- ed into the chair of a lodge."
The Speculative Third Degree, as has already been stat- ed, is however based on Operative Ritual, as it is an adapta- tion of the Annual Ceremony of the Operatives on October 2nd when they commemorate the slaying of the Third Mas- ter Hiram Abiff, a month before the Dedication of the Tem- ple which they celebrate on October 30th.
HI. — Existing Operative Free M.a.sons.
The full title of the existing Society of Operative Free Masons, to whose Ritual I am about to refer, is that of "The Worshipful Society of Free Masons, Rough Masons, Wall- ers, Slaters, Paviors, Plaisterers, and Bricklayers."
The Rough Masons and Wallers are inferior craftsmen doing rougher work than that done by the Free Masons. They are not Fellows of the Lodges of Free Masons, but may be regarded as Associates, having however ceremonies of their own. They are regarded as "scabblers" and their
work is not "in course." They are allowed to enter the ist Degree or Apprentice Stone Yard, but not the Second or Fellow's Yard.
The Slaters, Paviors, Plaisterers, and Bricklayers are of course distinct trades.
In London the Paviors, Plaisterers, and Bricklayers- (known as the Tilers and Bricklayers), are also three sep- arate and distinct companies.
This title of the Society, comprising so many distinct trades is at first sight not a little curious but on investiga- tion it was found that it was not an uncommon state of affairs in the 17th Century.
In Kendal in 1667, the 12th Trade Company comprised. Free Masons, rough masons, wallers, plaisterers, slaters, and carpenters.
In Oxford, a Company was incorporated in 1604 called' "The Company of Free Masons, Carpenters, Joiners, and Slaters of the City of Oxford." In Gateshead a most curi- ous conglomeration of trades was incorporated by a Char- ter of Cosin Bishop of Durham in 1671. The trades enu- merated are Free Masons, Carvers, Stonecutters; Sculp- tures, Brickmakers, Tilers, Bricklayers, Glaysiers, Penter- stainers. Founders, Neilers, Pewterers, Plumbers, Mill- wrights, Sadlers, Bridlers, Trunckmakers, and Distillers.
At Edinburgh, the incorporation of St. Mary's Chapel' at one time embraced a great variety of trades such as Sieve- wrights, Coopers, Upholsterers, Bowmakers, Slaters, Glaz- iers, Painters, Plumbers, and Wrights as well as Masons. Later there were only two in union, the Wrights and' the Masons, and finally these separted, each becoming- a distinct Corporation. Our greatest interest centers in the City of Diirham where we find the combination of trades- the same as in the Society we are specially concerned with.
In 1594 Bishop Matthew Hutton incorporated the- "Rough' Masons, 'Wallers, and Slaters." In 1609 Bishop' James confirmed their Bye Laws and Ordinances in which they are designated "Rough Masons, Wallers, Slaters, Pav- iors, Tylers, and Plaisterers." On April i6th, 1638, Bishop Morton gave a new charter to "The Company Societie and Felowshipp of Free Masons, Rough Masons, Wallers, Slay- tors, Pavers, Plaisterers, and Bricklayers."
The Bishops of Durham were Counts Palatinate, so char- ters originated from them.
These operatives became freemen of the City, which con- ferred many rights and privileges upon them, and many of the gentry of the County became Honorary Mem.bers and regarded it as an honourable distinction; just as today many members of the mercantile and professional classes become Freemen and Liverymen of the Trade Companies of Lon- don. I am a Liveryman of the Worshipful Society of Apothecaries of the City of London.
The Mason's Company of London yvas incorporated in the second year of Henry IV (1411) and was granted arms in the 12th year of Edward IV (1473) which are still used by them.
The Slaters of London also have arms although not a recognized Company ; the Paviors is a small London Com- pany; the Plaisterers were incorporated in 1501 and the Tilers and Bricklayers in 1508.
In London, disputes arose between these various trades and others of a kindred nature as to what was their respec- tive work ; these quarrels were particularly acute in and about 1356, and many references to them are found in the old records. Again in 161 5 and 1632 similar difficulties arose.
In the year 1677 "The Worshipful Society of the Free Masons of the City of London" issued a map of England for the information of all the Operative Free Masons, and it showed the country divided into eight districts :
(i) City of London.
(2) Westminster.
(3) Southern.
(4) Bristol.
(5) Chester.
(6) Island of Anglesea.
(7) Lancaster.
(8) York.
In former times, Durham had apparently been a separate district.
The Worshipful Society of Free Masons, Rough Ma- sons, Wallers, Slaters, Paviors, Plaisterers, and Bricklayers, claims a coat of arms which still hangs in the Guild Hall at Durham and which is really a combination of the arms of the separate trades. In chief, on the dexter side, are those of the Masons; in the center those of the Slaters; on the sinis- ter side those of the Paviors ; below on the dexter side, those
of the Plaisterers; on the sinister side, those of the Tilers and Bricklayers. The arms in each case are similar to, if not identical with, those of the London Companies. The date on this armorial combination is 1784, but the incorpor- ation it represents, as already stated, was made in 1638.
In London the use of the word "Free" in the title Free Mason was allowed to lapse towards the end of the 17th Century; possibly because it had ceased to be a distinction when members of .all the other London Companies were equally free, and probably because the Free Masons had ceased to include Rough Masons &c. in their Corporation.
As far as can be ascertained both London and Westmin- ster Free Masons dropped the association with other trades in about 1655-6. This is only a suggestion as it is very diffi- cult to get any exact knowledge on this point.
As regards York Division we can give more accurate in- formation. W. Bro. Stretton informs me that when he took his obligation as an Entered Apprentice to the Operative Society in 1867 Rough Masons, Wallers, Slaters, Paviors, Plaisterers, and Bricklayers were all present. When he was passed to the Degree of a Fellow of the Craft in May, 1874, only Free Masons were present, as was also the case when he was advanced to the Third Degree, that of a Super Fel- low. The Trade Union Act of 187 1 had been passed in the meantime and this was the cause of the separation of the Rough Masons, Wallers, Slaters, Paviors, Plaisterers, and Bricklayers from the Free Masons in the York division. These trades began to leave the Free Masons in 1871 as soon as the Trade Union Act was passed and by the end of 1883 there were none left in Lodges 91 or no, and W. Bro. Stretton informs me that there have been none in the York Division for some years.
Certainly since 1883 they have not had notices sent them to attend Meetings of Free Masons ; but they still have meet- ings of their own, and Operative Masons tell me that some of the old Ritual is worked by some of the Trade Unions, but I have had no opportunity of verifying this statement, although I accept it. The old Operative members in the York Division still (1911) regard these Rough Masons &c. as Associates or Free Brothers but not as Fellows. Thev exchange the ist Degree Grip and Word with them and will give them money for a drink ; but they are not Fellows or
Accepted Masons and they will not teach them anything, higher than the First Degree.
These Operative Free Masons are divided into two classes, and each class into seven degrees. The two classes are Straight or Square Masons, and Round or Arch Ma- sons. A man can only belong to one of these two classes or kinds, either the Square or the Arch, never to both, although a man may be transferred from one to the other, usually from the Square to the Arch, if the Masters so order it. When a man is apprenticed he selects which form he intends to follow. The "Square" is the symbol of the Square Ma- son and the "Compasses" the symbol of the Arch Mason. Blue is the colour of the Square Mason, and Red is the col- our of the Arch Mason.
A good deal of elaborate stuff has been written of recent years as to the origin of these colours in Speculative Mason- ry, the Orders of the Garter and of the Bath have been sug- gested as prototypes for colour ! A lot of time and imagin- ative writing would have been saved by a reference to the customs of the Operatives. The Free Masons' original arms were granted them by Edward IV but the combined Trades arms have two supporters whose first appearance I have been unable to trace. Of these supporters the one on the dexter, or right, side has a "square" in his hand and is a vSquare Mason and his clothes are faced with Blue. The one on the left, or sinister, side has a pair of "compasses" in his hand and is an Arch Mason and his clothes are faced with Red.
Each of these two great classes of Square and Arch Ma- sons is divided into Seven Degrees, with special secrets and special working rules and technical instruction restricted to each Degree.
1. The Apprentices to the Craft of Free Mason.
2. The Fellows of the Craft of Free Mason.
3. The Super Fellows who have their Mark.
4. The Super Fellows who also are Erectors on the Site.
5. The Intendents and Super Intendents or Menatz- chim.
6. Those who have passed the Technical Examination for the position of Master. Really Certified Masters, known as Passed Masters. Also known as Harodim particularly in Durham and the North.
7. The Grand Masters, of whom there are only three.
In these two higher grades, VI and VII, it is possible for a man of high social position to be a Passed Master or a Grand Master in both Square and Arch Masonry.
The Operative Lodges to which I have the honour to belong are Nos. 91 and no, both situated at Leicester and both in the York Division, not because of their geographical position but because of their origin. Really they are in the part of England belonging to Westminster.
No. 91 was founded in 1761 at Leicester under the au- thority of the Worshipful Society of Free Masons of the City and Division of York, for Free Masons who were sent from York to repair the Churches at Leicester in that year,, and who had, most of them, been previously employed on York Minster. This Lodge was in a languishing condition from 1883 until 1909, only meeting once a year; but it is now in good condition again, with regular monthly meetings- at high XII on every Second Thursday.
The Speculative Lodge No. 279 on the Grand Register of England was formed in 1790 by a split from this Opera- tive Lodge. Charles Horton, the First Master of the Oper- ative Lodge No. 91, becoming the First Master of the Spec- ulative Lodge No. 562, now No. 279.
The other Operative Lodge is the Mount Bardon Lodge- No. no with over 300 members, and works at the Bardon Hill Quarries. It was founded by George Stephenson ins 183 1 when the Leicester and Swannington Railway was being made.
I owe my introduction to both these Lodges to my friend W. Bro. Clement E. Stretton, Civil Engineer of Leicester; who is P. Pr. G.S.W. for Leicestershire, P.M. and P.Z. 279 Speculative, and Past Third Grand Master VII Degree in the Operative, York Division. As already stated, since the introduction of Trade Unionism these Operative Guilds have lost their supremacy. In 1867 there were over 2,300 Oper- ative Masons belonging to the Society in Leicestershire, in 1910 there were under 600.