The fundamental law of Freemasonry is generally referred to as the Old Charges. What is understood by ‘Old Charges’ is contained in the first edition of the Book of Constitutions by Reverend James Anderson, who in 1723, on behalf of the Grand Master, the Duke of Montagu, submitted a manuscript that received the approval of the Grand Lodge. This statute bears the following title: The Constitutions of the Free-Masons, containing the History, Charges, Regulations etc. of that most Ancient and Right Worshipful Fraternity. (For the use of the Lodges.) In the Year of Masonry 5723, Anno Domini 1723.
“The Old Charges of the Free and Accepted Masons, compiled by the author from their ancient documents by order of the Grand Master, the current Duke of Montagu. Approved by the Grand Lodge and ordered to be printed in the first edition of the Book of Constitutions on March 25, 1722. As they are to be read at the admission of new brethren, or whenever the Master directs. The Old Charges in Anderson’s version were announced as newly published in the London Post Boy of February 28, 1723. They were therefore not printed as a secret text but made available through the book trade — an important point in view of opposing claims. Following these, in several respects peculiar and historically unverified interpretations, comes the section of particular relevance for contemporary Freemasonry: the passages designated as C h a r g e s, which are understood under the term Old Charges. We now present the exact translation.
I. 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.
Vl. Of Behaviour:
1. In the Lodge when conflitudet;
2. When the Lodge is over and the Brethren not gone;
3. When Brethren meets 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. Principal Article.
God and Religion.
“A Mason is obliged, 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. Although in ancient times Masons were required to adhere to the religion of the country or nation in which they lived, it is now considered more advisable to oblige them only to that religion in which all men agree, leaving each his own particular opinions; that is, they are to be good and true men, men of honour and integrity, whatever differing sects or beliefs may otherwise distinguish them. Thus Masonry becomes the centre of union and the means of cultivating true friendship among persons who might otherwise have remained at a perpetual distance from one another.”
II. Principal Article.
Of the Civil Magistrate, Supreme and Subordinate.
“A Mason is a peaceable subject of the civil authority, wherever he resides and works, and must never involve himself in rebellion or conspiracy against the peace and welfare of the nation, nor behave undutifully toward the subordinate magistrates. For just as war, bloodshed, and disorder have always been harmful to Masonry, so in former times kings and princes were inclined to encourage the brethren because of their peacefulness and loyalty, by which they refuted the slanders of their adversaries through their conduct, and to promote the honour of the fraternity, which always flourished in times of peace. Should therefore a brother be a rebel against the state, he must not be supported in his rebellion, although he is to be pitied as an unfortunate man; indeed, if he is convicted of no other crime, then — although the faithful fraternity ought to disapprove of his rebellion and must give the established government neither pretext nor cause for political jealousy — they cannot expel him from the lodge, and his relationship to it remains inviolate.”
III. Principal Article.
Of Lodges.
“A Lodge is a place where Masons assemble and work. Hence such an assembly, or duly organized society of Masons, is called a Lodge; and every brother must belong to one and be subject to its particular laws as well as to the general regulations. A Lodge is either particular or general, as will become clearer through attendance at it and through the regulations of the general or Grand Lodge set forth below. In ancient times no Master or Fellow was permitted to be absent from the Lodge, especially when duly summoned, without exposing himself to severe punishment, unless the Master or Wardens were satisfied that absolute necessity had prevented him. Those who are admitted to membership in a Lodge must be good and true men, free‑born, of mature and sound judgment; not bondmen, not women, not immoral or scandalous persons, but of good reputation.”
IV. Principal Article.
Of Masters, Wardens, Fellows, and Apprentices.
“All preference among Masons is founded solely upon real worth and personal merit, so that the builders may be well served, the brethren not put to shame, and the royal art not brought into contempt. Therefore no Master or Warden is chosen for his age, but for his merit. It is impossible to express this adequately in writing; every brother must take his place and learn these matters in the manner peculiar to the fraternity. Candidates need only know that no Master may take an apprentice unless he has sufficient work for him, and unless the apprentice is a perfect youth, without bodily defects or infirmities that might render him incapable of learning the art, serving the employer of his Master, and in due time being received as a brother and thereafter as a Fellow, after having served the number of years prescribed by the custom of his country. And he must be born of honest parents, so that, if otherwise qualified, he may attain the honour of becoming a Warden and thereafter Master of the Lodge, then Grand Warden, and finally, according to his merits, Grand Master of all the Lodges. No brother can become a Warden unless he has first been a Fellow; nor a Master unless he has served as a Warden; nor a Grand Warden unless he has been Master of a Lodge; nor a Grand Master unless he has been a Fellow before his election. Moreover, the latter must be either of high nobility, or a well‑educated gentleman of refined manners, a man of standing, a distinguished scholar, an experienced architect or other artist, descended from reputable parents, and possessing, in the judgment of the Lodges, particular and great merits. That he may administer his office more effectively, easily, and honourably, the Grand Master has the authority to choose his own Deputy Grand Master, who must have been Master of a particular Lodge and who has the privilege of performing any act belonging to the Grand Master, his superior, whenever the said superior is not present or does not assert his authority in writing. To these supreme and subordinate officers and rulers of the ancient Lodge, all brethren are to yield obedience in their respective offices, with humility, reverence, affection, and readiness, according to the Old Charges and regulations.”
V. Principal Article.
Of the Management of the Craft in working.
“All Masons shall work honestly on working days, so that they may live honourably on feast days; and they shall observe the working hours prescribed by the laws of the land or established by custom. The most experienced of the Fellows shall be chosen or appointed as Master or Overseer of the employer’s work, and shall then be called Master by those who work under him. The Fellows shall refrain from all abusive language, and shall not call one another by insulting names, but rather Brother and Fellow, and shall behave courteously both within and outside the Lodge.
The Master, being conscious of his skill in the art, shall undertake the employer’s work for as fair a price as possible, and shall manage the employer’s property as faithfully as if it were his own, and shall not give any Brother or Apprentice more wages than he truly deserves. Both the Master and the Masons who receive their wages duly shall be faithful to the employer and shall complete their work honestly, whether it is contracted by the job or by the day; nor shall they undertake work for a lump sum where day‑wages are customary.
No one shall envy the prosperity of a Brother, nor seek to supplant him or drive him from his work if he is capable of completing it; for no man can finish another’s work to the employer’s advantage as well as he who is fully acquainted with the designs and plans of him who began it. If a Fellow is chosen as Overseer of the work under the Master, he shall be faithful both to the Master and to the Fellows, shall in the Master’s absence carefully supervise the work for the employer’s benefit, and his Brothers shall obey him.
All employed Masons shall receive their wages with humility, without murmuring or mutiny, and shall not leave the Master before the work is finished. A younger Brother shall be instructed in the work, so that he may not, through lack of judgment, spoil the materials, and so that love may grow and continue. All tools used in the work shall be approved by the Grand Lodge. No labourer shall be employed in the proper work of Masonry; nor shall Freemasons, except in cases of urgent necessity, work with those who are not free‑born, nor shall they instruct labourers or unaccepted Masons as they would instruct a Brother or Fellow.”
VI. Principal Article.
Of Behaviour
1. In the Lodge when conflitudet.
“You shall hold no private committees or separate consultations without the Master’s permission, nor speak of anything improper or unseemly; nor shall you interrupt the Master, the Warden, or any Brother who is speaking with the Master. Likewise, you shall not indulge in jokes or levity while the Lodge is engaged in serious and solemn matters; nor may you, under any pretext, use unbecoming language. Instead, you are to show due respect to your Master, your Wardens, and your Fellows, and hold them in honour.
If a complaint is brought forward, the Brother found guilty shall submit to the judgment and decision of the Lodge, which is the proper and regular judge of all such disputes (unless you choose to appeal to the Grand Lodge), and where such matters must be brought; yet the employer’s work must not be delayed, in which case an extraordinary inquiry may be held. But you shall never take matters relating to Masonry before a civil court, unless the Lodge deems it absolutely necessary.”
2. When the Lodge is over and the Brethren not gone.
“You may enjoy innocent mirth and entertain one another as best you can. But you must avoid all excess, and you shall not compel any Brother to eat or drink beyond his inclination, nor hinder him from departing when his affairs call him away. You must also do nothing, nor say anything, that could offend or disturb free and unrestrained conversation; for such behaviour would destroy our harmony and frustrate our laudable purposes.
Therefore no private quarrels or disputes may be brought across the threshold of the Lodge, least of all disputes concerning religion, nations, or matters of state. For as Masons we belong only to the general religion mentioned above, and we come from all nations, tongues, kindreds, and languages; and we are firmly opposed to political discussions, which have never contributed to the welfare of the Lodge and never will. This duty has always been strictly enjoined and observed, especially since the Reformation in Britain, or since the defection and separation of those nations from communion with Rome.”
3. When Brethren meets without strangers, but not in a Lodge.
“You shall greet one another courteously, as you will be taught, call each other Brother, and freely give one another helpful instruction, yet without being observed or overheard, and without presumption toward one another, nor diminishing the respect due to any Brother were he not a Mason. For although all Masons, as Brothers, stand together upon the same level, Masonry deprives no man of any honour he previously possessed. Rather, it increases his honour, especially when he has well deserved of the Brotherhood, which must give honour to whom honour is due and avoid all ill conduct.”
4. In Presence of Strangers not Masons.
“You shall be cautious in your speech and behaviour, so that even the most discerning stranger may discover nothing that ought not to be revealed to him. At times you must also divert a conversation and wisely guide it to the honour of the Worshipful Brotherhood.”
5. At Home, and in the Neighbourhood.
“You shall act as befits a moral and wise man, and in particular reveal nothing concerning the Lodge to your family, your friends, or your neighbours, but rather prudently consider your own honour and that of the ancient Brotherhood, for reasons which cannot be stated here. You must also take care of your health, and not stay out too late together, nor remain from home too long after Lodge hours have ended; and you shall avoid gluttony and drunkenness, so that your family is neither neglected nor offended, and you yourself not rendered unfit for work.”
6. Towards a strange Brother.
“You shall examine him cautiously, in such manner as prudence shall direct, so that you may not be deceived by an ignorant person making false claims. Such a one you must reject with contempt and ridicule, taking care not to give him the slightest hint of your knowledge. But if you discover in him a true and genuine Brother, then honour him as such. If he is in need, assist him if you can, or otherwise guide him as to how help may be obtained.
You must either give him a few days’ work or else recommend him to employment. You are not obliged to do more than your circumstances allow; only you should prefer a poor Brother, who is a good and faithful man, to any other poor person in the same situation.”
The Conclusion of the Old Charges.
“Finally: All these regulations you are to observe, as well as those that may be communicated to you in another manner. Practise brotherly love, the foundation and keystone, the cement and glory of the ancient Brotherhood. Avoid all quarrelling and strife, all slander and backbiting. Nor shall you permit others to defame an upright Brother, but defend his reputation and render him every good service, so far as is consistent with your own honour and welfare, but no further.
If a Brother does you wrong, you shall appeal to your own Lodge or to his. From there you may appeal to the Quarterly Communication of the Grand Lodge, and from that to the Annual Grand Lodge, as has been the ancient and commendable practice of our forefathers in every nation. But never go to law, unless the case cannot otherwise be decided; and patiently listen to the honest advice of the Master and your Fellows when they seek to dissuade you from a lawsuit with strangers, or to persuade you to bring all legal disputes to a speedy conclusion, so that you may devote yourself to the concerns of Masonry with the greater cheerfulness and success.
As for Brothers or Fellows engaged in litigation, the Master and the Brethren shall lovingly offer their mediation, and it should be gratefully accepted by the disputing Brothers. But if it is impossible to submit to such mediation, they must nevertheless conduct their suit or legal matter without anger or bitterness (as is otherwise common), and say and do nothing that might hinder the renewal or continuation of brotherly love and good offices, so that all may perceive the good influence of Masonry, as all true Masons have done from the beginning of the world and will do until the end of time. Amen, so mote it be”
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