THE PRESTONIAN CHARGES
Masonic Service Association - Short Talk
Bulletin - November 1952
In a majority of American Grand Lodges either
the Master, a Past Master, or some brother
appointed for the purpose, delivers the
"Charge" of the degree conferred.
In most Grand Lodges these are Thomas Smith
Webb's abbreviations of the original charges
written by William Preston in his
Illustrations of Masonry (first edition
1772), or the same somewhat altered and
edited.
The Standard Dictionary defines the word
charge in several ways; the definition which
applies Masonically is "To give command,
instruction, direction or advice, especially
in an official or formal address; to exhort,
instruct earnestly, solemnly,
authoritatively."
Quotations here made are from the charges of
the three degrees as printed in "The first
American improved edition of Illustrations of
Masonry", dated 1804 and edited by George
Richards. There was another "first American
edition", published in Virginia; the two
editions appeared almost simultaneously and
apparently neither author was known to the
other.
Curiously enough, little is to be found in
print in American magazines, encyclopedias or
indeed in any books on Masonry, regarding the
charges given after the degrees - there is
much in many books regarding "The Old
Charges" which are a part of the first Book
of Constitutions of Anderson, first printed
in 1723.
In Preston's charge after the first degree
the first paragraph is devoted to praises of
Masonry and the proud and familiar boast that
"Monarchs in all ages have been encouragers
and promoters of the Art, etc."
Following are paragraphs devoted to
admonitions; the first is of particular
interest because of its footnote. Preston
wrote: "As a Mason you are to study the moral
law, as contained in the sacred code (*) to
consider it as the unerring standard of truth
and justice, and to regulate your life and
actions by its divine precepts." The footnote
referred to by the asterisk reads; "The
Bible, and in countries where that book is
not known, whatever is understood to contain
the will or law of God." Inasmuch as this was
written before Masonry had reached the Far
East, where, later, English Masonry was to
permit other Books of the Law than the Bible
upon the Altars of their lodges, Preston
evidently recognized that the Bible was,
Masonically, not a holy book of either Jews
or Gentiles, but representative - in other
words a symbol - of all divine
pronouncements, no matter from whose hands or
of what Deity or religion.
Follows next the familiar paragraph of the
three great moral duties owed by a Mason to
God, to neighbour and to self. Here in
somewhat quaint language is found Preston's
conception of the Masonic Golden Rule. He
writes: "To your neighbour, in acting upon
the square, and considering him equally
entitled with yourself to share the blessings
of Providence, rendering unto him those
favours, which in a similar situation you
would expect to receive from him."
A reflection of Preston's age - which was one
of license, drinking and gormandizing, in all
of which a "gentleman" might indulge without
reproach - is in the following sentence, in
which a Mason's duty is set forth as "And to
yourself, by not abusing the bounties of
Providence, impairing the faculties by
irregularity, or debasing the profession by
intemperance."
Modern adaptations of Preston's conception of
"Masonic duty, as a good subject" omit some
of the spirit of Preston's words - and no
wonder, since the American Masonry of
Preston's Illustrations of Masonry was the
Masonry which followed the American
Revolution. Preston's words are:
"In the state, you are to be a quiet and
peaceable subject, true to your sovereign,
and just to your country; you are not to
countenance disloyalty or rebellion, but
patiently submit to legal authority, and
conform with cheerfulness to the government
under which you live, yielding obedience to
the laws which afford you protection, and
never forgetting the attachment you owe to
the place of your nativity, or the allegiance
due to the sovereign and protectors of that
spot."
Most modern adaptations of Preston still
forbid "disloyalty and rebellion" although we
have replaced "sovereign" by "government" and
usually omit all "allegiance due to the
sovereign and protectors of that spot."
If the Prestonian charges were used in the
United States during the Revolution (which is
hardly probable) we can be sure that this
paragraph about "rebellion" was not included!
Preston's First Degree charge contains much
usually omitted in the United States; he
cautions against those "who may artfully
endeavour to insinuate themselves into your
esteem" and warns against "dishonourable
action". He speaks of "the inconceivable
pleasure of contributing towards the relief
of our fellow creatures" and then admonishes
of a Mason "supposing himself in a situation
of an unhappy stifferer, he listens to the
tale of woe with attention, bewails
misfortune and speedily relieves distress".
The initiate is to study the Constitution,
history, lives of Masonry's patrons, the
ancient charges, the general regulations. He
is instructed to attend "that assembly where
your name is enrolled as a member" and order,
decorum and harmony are to be preserved and
good manners are essential. Profanity is
decried, religion and politics forbidden as
subjects for discussion and caution about
"irreverent behaviour" is set forth.
The final paragraphs have been less changed
than some of the others, but one followed by
an "Eulogium of Masonry", an impassioned,
somewhat verbose but wholly dignified
tribute, which, because used so little if at
all in our American system, seems here worth
quoting in full:
"Masonry comprehends within its circle every
branch of useful knowledge and learning, and
stamps an indelible mark of preeminence on
its genuine professors, which neither chance,
power, nor fortune can bestow. When its
rules are strictly observed, it is a sure
foundation of tranquillity amidst the various
disappointments of life; a friend that will
not deceive, but will comfort and assist, in
prosperity and adversity; a blessing that
will remain with all times, circumstances,
and places, and to which recourse may be had,
when other earthly comforts sink into
disregard.
"Masonry gives real and intrinsic excellency
to man, and renders him fit for the duties of
society. It strengthens the mind against the
storms of life, paves the way to peace, and
promotes domestic happiness. It meliorates
the temper, and improves the understanding;
it is company in solitude, and gives
vivacity, variety, and energy to social
conversation. In youth, it governs the
passions, and employs usefully our most
active faculties; and in age, when sickness,
imbecility, and disease have benumbed the
corporeal frame, and rendered the union of
soul and body almost intolerable, it yields a
fund of comfort and satisfaction.
"These are its general advantages; to
enumerate them separately, would be an
endless labour: it may be sufficient to
observe, that he who cultivates this science,
and acts agreeably to the character of a
Mason, has within himself the spring and
support of every social virtue; a subject of
contemplation, that enlarges the mind, and
expands all its powers; a theme that is
inexhaustible, ever new, and always
interesting."
The original Preston Apprentice Degree charge
is much longer than most American
jurisdictions use. There is less change in
original Preston in the charges of the second
and third degrees, but those small changes
seem worth noting. Three paragraphs of
Preston are usually (not invariably) omitted
in modern practice; these are as follows:
"As the solemnity of our ceremonies requires
a serious deportment, you are to be
particularly attentive to your behaviour in
our regular assemblies; you are to preserve
our ancient usages and customs sacred and
inviolable; and induce others, by your
example, to hold them in due veneration.
"As a craftsman, in our private assemblies,
you may offer your sentiments and opinions on
such subjects as are regularly introduced in
the Lecture. By this privilege you may
improve your intellectual powers; qualify
yourself to become an useful member of
society; and like a skillful brother, strive
to excel in every thing that is good and
great.
"All regular signs and summonses, given and
received, you are duly to honour, and
punctually to obey; inasmuch as they consist
with our professed principles. You are to
supply the wants and relieve the necessities
of your brethren and fellows to the utmost of
your power and ability; and you are on no
account to wrong them, or see them wronged;
but apprise them of approaching danger, and
view their interest as inseparable from your
own."
It is interesting also to note that modern
Preston is ancient Preston rearranged; modern
second degree Preston puts "Your past
behaviour and regular deportment ... steadily
persevere in the practice of every
commendable virtue" at the close of the
charge, whereas in original Preston it is a
part of the second paragraph.
One oddity in the charge to the Masters
Degree makes moderns wonder. We are still
instructed that it is the internal and not
the external qualifications of a man which
Masonry regards. We still meet upon the
level. In a Masonic lodge all members are on
the same equality. While we have officers,
they are still brethren, and it is we, and
not the world, who elevate them temporarily
to stations of responsibility. The levelling
influence of the fraternity was one of its
charms in an older day as well as when
Roosevelt the First declared that "it was
good for him and good for me" when he went to
the lodge of which his gardener was Master.
Yet in the Prestonian charge to the third
degree we find set forth that a Mason has
inferiors, equals and superiors!
More, we must "recommend" to our inferiors
that they be obedient to us and submit -
supposedly to our authority. To our equals
we must be courteous and affable, and teach
them to be affable and courteous to us. To
our superiors, we are to suggest that they
treat us with kindness and with
condescension, and, supposedly, we are to
accept the kindness with gratitude and are to
be not dismayed nor resentful when they are
condescending!
However, even Jove was supposed to nod, and
if Preston wrought into his charges something
of the feeling of a "gentleman" of the
England of the seventeen seventies, at least
he succeeded, in his gentle charges to all of
us who are his Masonic posterity, a clear
picture of the educated, kindly, goodly
citizen which a Mason has always been
supposed to be.
Preston at the close of the American Master
Mason Degree is practically the same with
Preston in the original.
Preston at the close of the second degree is
in modern days Preston with some omissions.
Preston at the close of the Apprentice degree
is Preston more omitted than present.
Most of the alterations, rearrangements and
omissions made in the original Preston are
probably to be credited to Thomas Smith Webb,
the noted American Freemason whose monument
is the exoteric work of the majority of Grand
Lodges in the United States.
There are some exceptions; occasionally some
changes have been wrought in Preston by Grand
Lodges which have added paragraphs to Preston
as edited by Webb. These are easy to
distinguish, even without an original Preston
or a Webb Monitor at hand for comparison.
For none of these modern additions carry
either the spirit or style of Preston. With
these this Bulletin is not concerned; the
matter is but mentioned here that any reader,
conscious of paragraphs in the charges he
knows, not here given or commented upon, may
the more easily distinguish what is modern
and American from what is ancient and
Prestonian.
Comparison with the charges as printed in
Webb's Freemason's Monitor and most of the
charges as used in the United States now show
a close approximation. A comparison of Webb
with Preston indicates that Webb desired to
make the charges of approximately the same
length, and suggests that he had the
practical problem of memorization constantly
before him.
Webb taught, exhorted, pleaded, commanded.
He was a dynamic force in the spread of
Preston. A revered Past Grand Master of
Rhode Island, he is to be looked upon as one
of the builders, if not the founders of the
American Rite.
But at his best Webb is but an editor of
Preston, and it is to Preston that we owe
much of the gentle insistence of the Ancient
Craft on dignity, manhood, probity and
learning.
It is a matter for congratulations that while
shortening his paragraphs Webb did not alter
Preston's spirit.
The general effect of Preston - the aroma of
a bygone age - is preserved. His phrases are
old fashioned, well rounded, sonorous
periods. He uses several words where one
will do. But even where modernizing has
washed away some of the pleasing odours of a
faded flower something remains in our
modernized Prestonian charges to remind us of
a more leisurely Masonic day.
Freemasonry is an order whose leading star is philanthropy, and
whose principles inculcate an unceasing devotion to the cause of
virtue and morality. - LAFAYETTE.
George Helmer FPS
PM Norwood #90 GRA
PZ Norwood #18 RAM
MBBFMN #362
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