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The Charges of a Free-Mason
ur Anderson's Constitutions (1723)
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THE CHARGES
Of a FREE-MASON,
Extracted from the ancient RECORDS of
Lodges beyond Sea, and of those in England,
Scotland, and Ireland, for the Use of the Lodges
in London : To be read at the making of New
Brethren, or when the Master shall order it.
The GENERAL HEADS , viz.
I. OF GOD and RELIGION.
II. Of the CIVIL MAGISTRATE
supreme and subordinate.
III. Of LODGES.
IV. Of MASTERS, Wardens, Fellows, and Apprentices.
V. Of the Management of the Craft in working.
VI. Of BEHAVIOUR, viz.
1. In the Lodge while constituted.
2. After the Lodge is over and the Brethren not
gone.
3. When Brethren meet without Strangers, but
not in a Lodge.
4. In Presence of Strangers not Masons.
5. At Home, and in the Neighbourhood.
6. Towards a strange Brother.
I. Concerning GOD and RELIGION.
A Mason is oblig’d by his Tenure, to obey the moral Law ;
and if he rightly understands the Art, he will never be a stupid
Atheist, nor an irreligious Libertine. But though in an-
cient Times Masons were charg’d in every Country to be of
the Religion of that Country or Nation, whatever it was, yet
’tis now thought more expedient only to oblige them to that
Religion in which all Men agree, leaving their particular
Opinions to themselves ; that is, to be good Men and true, or
Men of Honour and Honesty, by whatever Denominations
or Persuasions they may be distinguish’d ; whereby Masonry
becomes the Center of Union, and the Means of conciliating
true Friendship among Persons that must else have remain’d
at a perpetual Distance.
II. Of the CIVIL MAGISTRATE supreme and
subordinate.
A Mason is a peaceable Subject to the Civil Powers, wher-
ever he resides or works, and is never to be concern’d in
Plots and Conspiracies against the Peace and Welfare of the
Nation, nor to behave himself undutiful to inferior Mag-
istrates ; for as Masonry hath been always injured by War,
Bloodshed, and Confusion, so ancient Kings and Princes
have been much dispos’d to encourage the Craftsmen, be-
cause of their Peaceableness and Loyalty, whereby they
practically answer’d the Cavils of their Adversaries, and
promoted the Honour of the Fraternity, who ever flourish’d
in Times of Peace. So that if a Brother should be a Rebel
against the State, he is not to be countenanc’d in his Rebel-
lion, however he may be pitied as an unhappy Man ; and if
convicted of no other Crime, though the loyal Brotherhood
must and ought to disown his Rebellion, and give no Um-
brage or Ground of political Jealousy to the Government for
the time being ; they cannot expel him from the Lodge, and
his Relation to it remains indefeasible.
III. Of LODGES.
A LODGE is a place where Masons assemble and work :
Hence that Assembly, or duly organiz’d Society of Masons,
is call’d a LODGE, and every Brother ought to belong to
one, and to be subject to its By-Laws and the GENERAL
REGULATIONS. It is either particular or general, and
will be best understood by attending it, and by the Regula-
tions of the General or Grand Lodge hereunto annex’d. In
ancient Times no Master or Fellow could be absent from it,
especially when warn’d to appear at it, without incurring a
severe Censure, until it appear to the Master and Wardens,
that pure Necessity hinder’d him.
The Persons admitted Members of a Lodge must be good
and true Men, free-born, and of mature and discreet Age,
no Bondmen, no Women, no immoral or scandalous Men,
but of good Report.
IV. Of MASTERS, WARDENS, Fellows, and
Apprentices.
All Preferment among Masons is grounded upon real
Worth and personal Merit only ; that so the Lords may be
well served, the Brethren not put to Shame, nor the Royal
Craft despis’d : Therefore no Master or Warden is chosen
by Seniority, but for his Merit. It is impossible to describe
these things in writing, and every Brother must attend in his
Place, and learn them in a way peculiar to this Fraternity :
Only Candidates may know, that no Master should take an
Apprentice, unless he has sufficient Imployment for him,
and unless he be a perfect Youth, having no Maim or De-
fect in his Body, that may render him uncapable of learning
the Art, of serving his Master’s LORD, and of being made a
Brother, and then a Fellow-Craft in due time, even after he
has served such a Term of Years as the Custom of the Coun-
try directs ; and that he should be descended of honest Par-
ents ; that so, when otherwise qualify’d, he may arrive to the
Honour of being the WARDEN, and then the Master of
the Lodge, the Grand Warden, and at length the GRAND-
MASTER of all the Lodges, according to his Merit.
No Brother can be a WARDEN until he has pass’d the
part of a Fellow-Craft ; nor a MASTER until he has acted
as a Warden, nor GRAND-WARDEN until he has been
Master of a Lodge, nor GRAND MASTER unless he
has been a Fellow-Craft before his Election, who is also to
be nobly born, or a Gentleman of the best Fashion, or some
eminent Scholar, or some curious Architect, or other Artist,
descended of honest Parents, and who is of singular great
Merit in the Opinion of the Lodges. And for the better, and
easier, and more honourable Discharge of his Office, the
Grand-Master has a Power to chuse his own DEPUTY
GRAND-MASTER, who must be then, or must have
been formerly, the Master of a particular Lodge, and has the
Privilege of acting whatever the GRAND MASTER, his
Principal, should act, unless the said Principal be present,
or interpose his Authority by a Letter.
These Rulers and Governors, supreme and subordinate,
of the ancient Lodge, are to be obey’d in their respective
Stations by all the Brethren, according to the old Charges
and Regulations, with all Humility, Reverence, Love, and
Alacrity.
V. Of the Management of the CRAFT in working.
All Masons shall work honestly on working Days, that
they may live creditably on holy Days ; and the time appoint-
ed by the Law of the Land, or confirm’d by Custom, shall
be observ’d.
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 call’d MASTER by those that work under him.
The Craftsmen are to avoid all ill Language, and to call each
other by no disobliging Name, but Brother or Fellow ; and to
behave themselves courteously within and without the Lodge.
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 were his own ; nor to
give more Wages to any Brother or Apprentice than he re-
ally may deserve.
Both the MASTER and the Masons receiving their
Wages justly, shall be faithful to the Lord, and honestly fin-
ish 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 or 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 acquaint-
ed with the Design 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 Fel-
lows, shall carefully oversee the Work in the Master’s Ab-
sence to the Lord’s Profit ; and his Brethren shall obey him.
All Masons employ’d, shall meekly receive their Wages
without Murmuring or Mutiny, and not desert the Master
till the Work is finish’d.
A younger Brother shall be instructed in working, to pre-
vent spoiling the Materials for want of Judgment, and for
encreasing and continuing of Brotherly Love.
All the Tools used in working shall be approved by the
Grand Lodge.
No Labourer shall be employ’d 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.
VI. Of BEHAVIOUR, viz.
1. In the LODGE while CONSTUTUTED.
You are not to hold private Committees, or separate Con-
versation, without Leave from the Master, nor to talk of any
thing impertinent or unseemly, nor interrupt the Master or
Wardens, or any Brother speaking to the Master : Nor be-
have yourself ludicrously or jestingly while the Lodge is en-
gaged in what is serious and solemn ; nor use any unbecom-
ing 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 Controver-
sies, (unless you carry it by Appeal to the GRAND LODGE)
and to whom they ought to be referr’d, unless a Lord’s Work be
hinder’d the mean while, 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 yourself with innocent Mirth, treating one an-
other 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 Occasions call him, or doing or saying any-
thing offensive, or that may forbid an easy and free Conversation
for that would blast our Harmony, and defeat our laudable Purpos-
es. Therefore no private Piques or Quarrels must be brought with-
in the Door of the Lodge, far less any Quarrels about Religion, or
Nations, or State-Policy, we being only, as Masons, of the Catholick
Religion above-mention’d ; we are also of all Nations, Tongues,
Kindreds, and Languages, and are resolv’d against all Politicks, as
what never yet conduc’d to the Welfare of the Lodge, nor ever will.
This Charge has been always strictly enjoin’d and observ’d ; but es-pecially ever since the Reformation in BRITAIN, or the Dissent
and Secession of these Nations from the Communion of ROME.
3. BEHAVIOUR when Brethren meet without Strangers, but
not in a LODGE form’d.
You are to salute one another in a courteous Manner, as you will
be instructed, calling each other Brother, freely giving mutual In-
struction as shall be thought expedient, without being overseen or
overheard, and without encroaching upon each other, or derogat-
ing 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, espe-
cially if he has deserv’d well of the Brotherhood, who must
give Honour to whom it is due, and avoid ill Manners.
4. BEHAVIOUR in the 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 some-
times you shall divert a Discourse, and manage it prudently
for the Honour of the worshipful Fraternity.
5. BEHAVIOUR at HOME, and in your
NEIGHBOURHOOD.
You are to act as becomes a moral and wise Man ; partic-
ularly, not to let your Family, Friends, and Neighbors know
the Concerns of the Lodge, &c. but wisely to consult your
own Honour, and that of the ancient Brotherhood, for Rea-
sons not to be mention’d 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 ne-
glected 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 impos’d
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 reliev’d : You must employ him some Days, or else
recommend him to be employ’d. 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 Founda-
tion and Cape-stone, the Cement and Glory of this ancient
Fraternity, avoiding all Wrangling and Quarrelling, all
Slander and Backbiting, nor permitting others to slander
any honest Brother, but defending his Character, and do-
ing 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, and from thence to the an-
nual GRAND LODGE, as has been the ancient laudable
Conduct of our Fore-fathers in every Nation ; never taking
a legal Course but when the Case cannot be otherwise decid-
ed, and patiently listning to the honest and friendly Advice
of Master and Fellows, when they would prevent your going
to Law with Strangers, or would excite you to put a speedy
Period to all Law-Suits, that so you may mind the Affair
of MASONRY with the more Alacrity and Success ; but
with respect to Brothers or Fellows at Law, the Master and
Brethren should kindly offer their Mediation, which ought
to be thankfully submitted to by the contending Brethren ;
and if that Submission is impracticable, they must however
carry on their Process or Law-Suit without Wrath and Ran-
cor (not in the common way) saying or doing nothing which
may hinder Brotherly Love, and good Offices to be renew’d
and continu’d ; that all may see the benign Influence of MA-
SONRY, as all true Masons have done from the Beginning
of the World, and will do to the End of Time.
AMEN SO MOTE IT BE.
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