THE CONSTITUTIONS OF THE MASONS OF STRASBURG
1459 a. D
by
Tomaso Vialardi di Sandigliano,
SGIG Scottish Rite, Past Master of the Torrione Lodge of Research
These Statutes, which are undoubtedly based on the ancient
customs and laws of the craft, were discussed and agreed on at two assemblies of
Masters and Fellows, held in the manner of a chapter, (in Kappitelsweise)
the first at Regensburg on Easter-day 1459 and this second shortly afterwards at
Strasburg, when they were definitively adopted and promulgated. The spirit of
the German Imperial Constitution is plainly to be seen in all its features. The
expression in Kappitelsweise, which is used by no other guild, is derived
from the convent meeting of the Benedictine monks, which were termed Capitula
or Chapters. Thus also, in the Old English Constitutions and in the Act of
Parliament of Henry VI, we find the meeting of the Masons termed Chapters,
Congregations, Assemblies and Chambers. All the precepts of these statutes,
which were kept secret from the profane and were read at least once a year in
the Lodges, refer especially to the moral obligation of the brethren to one
another and breathe throughout a spirit of brotherly love, strict integrity and
morality. The lodge of the Masons of Strasburg was consecrated Imperial
Supreme Lodge shortly thereafter In the name
of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, and of our
gracious Mother Mary, and also of her blessed servants, the holy four crowned
martyrs of everlasting memory: considering that true friendship, unanimity, and
obedience are the foundation of all good; therefore, and for the general
advantage and free will of all princes, nobles, lords, cities, chapters, and
convents, who may desire at this time or in future to build churches, choirs, or
other great works of stone, a nd edifices; that they may be the better provided
and supplied, and also for the benefit and requirements of the masters and
fellows of the whole craft of Masonry, and masons in Germany, and more
especially to avoid in future, between those of the craft, dissensions,
differences, costs, and damages, by which irregular acts many masters have
suffered grievously, contrary to the good customs and ancient usages maintained
and practiced in good faith by the seniors and patrons of the craft in ancient
times. But that we may continue to abide therein in a true and peaceful way,
have we, masters and fellows all, of the said craft, congregated in chapters at
Spries, at Strasburg, set or not, then shall such master not pull down the set
stones, nor in and at Regensburg, in the name and on behalf of ourselves and of
all other masters and fellows of our whole common craft above mentioned, renewed
and revised these ancient usages, and kindly and affably agreed upon these
statues and fraternity; and having by common consent draw n up the same, have
also vowed and promised, for ourselves and all our successors, to keep them
faithfully, as hereafter stands writ: a.
Firstly: If any of the articles in these statues should prove to be too strict
and severe, or others too light and mild, then may those who are of the
fraternity, by a majority, modify decrease, or increase such articles, according
to the requirements of the time, or country, or circumstance. He resolutions of
those who shall meet together in chapters after the manner of this book shall
thenceforth be observed, in accordance with the oath taken by every one. '
b. Item: Whoever of his own free will desires to enter into this fraternity,
according to the regulation as hereafter stands writ in this book, shall promise
to keep all the points and articles, for then only can he be of our craft. Those
shall be masters, who can design and erect such costly edifices and works, for
the execution of which they are authorized and privileged, and shall not work
with any other craft, unless they choose so to do. Masters as well as fellows
must conduct themselves honorably, a nd not infringe upon the rights of others,
or they may be punished, according to these statues, on the occasion of every
such transgression.
c. Item: Whatever regular works and buildings are now in progress of erection by
journey work-namely, Strasburg, Cologne, Vienna, and Passau, and other such
works, and also in the Lodges which belong to them, and, according to custom,
have been hitherto finished by journey work, such buildings and works as before
mentioned shall be continued by journey work, and in no wise by task work; so
that nothing be cut short of the work, to the damage of the contract as far as
possible.
d. Item: If any craftsman who has had regular work should die, then any
craftsman or master, skilled in Masonry, and sufficient and able for work, may
aspire to complete said work, so that the lords owning or superintending such
building may again be supplied with the requirements of Masonry. So also may any
fellow who understands such Masonry.
e. Item: Any master may, in addition to his own work, undertake a work abroad,
or a master who has no such work may likewise undertake it, in which case he may
give such work or building in good faith, in journey work, and continue it as
best he can or may, so that the work and progress be not interrupted, according
to the regulations and customs of Masonry. If a master fails to satisfy those
persons who committed the work to him, and reliable information be given
thereof, then shall the said master be cal led to account by the craft,
corrected, and punished, after having been sentenced; but if the lords are not
willing so to do, then may he do it as they choose, be it by task or journey
work.
f. Item: If any master, who has had such a work or building, die, and another
master comes and finds such stone-work, be the stone work any wise cast away the
hewn and unset stones, without previous counsel and agreement with other
craftsmen, so that the owners and other honorable persons, who caused such
edifice to be builded, be not put to unjust expense, and that also the master
who left such work not be defamed. But if the owners choose to have such work
removed, then he may have it done, provided he seeks no undue advantage thereby.
g. Item: Neither shall the master, not those who have undertaken such work, hire
out anything that relates to ro concerns hewn stones and what belongs to them,
be it stone, lime, or sand; but to break or hew by contract or by journey work
he may be allowed without risk.
h. Item: If masons be required for hewing or setting stone, the master may set
such at work, if they are able, so that the lords be not hindered, and those who
are thus employed shall not be subject to these regulations unless of their own
free will.
i Item: Two masters shall not share in the same work or building, unless it be a
small one, which can be finished in the course of a year. Such a work he may
have in common with him that is a brother.
k. Item: If any master accepts a work in contract and makes a design for the
same, how it shall be builded, then he shall not cut anything short of the
design, but shall execute it according to the plan which he has shown to the
lords, cities, or people, so that nothing be altered.:
l. Any master or fellow who shall take away from another master of the
fraternity of craftsmen a work on which he is engaged, or who shall endeavor to
disposes him of such work, clandestinely or openly, without the knowledge or
consent of the master who has such work, be the same small or great, he shall be
called to account. No master or fellow shall keep fellowship with him, nor shall
any fellow of the fraternity work for him, so long as he is engaged in the work
which he has thus dishonestly acquired, nor until he has asked pardon, and given
satisfaction to him whom he has driven from his work, and shall also have been
punished in the fraternity by the masters, as is ordained by these statutes.
m. Item: If any one accepts in whole or in part any work which he does not
understand how to execute, not having consulted any craftsman thereon, nor
having applied to the Lodge, he shall in no wise undertake the work; but if he
attempts to do so, then shall no fellow take work with him, so that the lords be
not put to expense by such ignorant master.
Item: No workman, nor master, nor Parlirer, nor fellow-craft, shall instruct any
one, whosoever, who is not of our craft, in any part, if he has not in his day
practiced Masonry o. No craftsman nor master shall take money from a fellow for
teaching or instructing him in anything belonging to Masonry, nor shall any
arlirer or fellow-craft instruct any one for money's sake; but if one wishes to
instruct the other, they may do so mutually or for fraternal affection.
p. Item: A master who has a work or a building for himself may have three
apprentices, and may also set to work fellows of the same Lodge-that is, if his
lords so permit; but if he have more buildings than one, then shall he have no
more than two apprentices on the afore-mentioned building, so that he shall not
have more than five apprentices on all his buildings.
Item: No craftsman or master shall be received in the fraternity who goes not
yearly to the Holy Communion or who keep not Christian discipline, or who
squanders his substance at play; but should any one be inadvertently accepted
into the fraternity who does these things as aforesaid, then shall no master nor
fellow keep fellowship with him until he desists therefrom, and has been
punished therefor by those of the fraternity.
No craftsman nor master shall live in adultery while engaged in Masonry; but if
such a one will not desist therefrom, then shall no travelling fellow nor mason
work in company with him, nor keep fellowship with him.
q. Item: If a fellowcraft takes work with a master who is not accepted into the
fraternity of craftsmen, then shall the said fellow not be punishable therefor.
So also, if a fellow take work with a city master, or with another master, and
be there set to work, that may he well do, so that every fellow may find work;
but nevertheless such fellow shall keep the regulations as hereinbefore and
hereinafter written, and shall also contribute his fee to the fraternity,
although he be not employed in the Lodges o f the fraternity, or with his fellow
brethren.
But if a fellow would take unto himself a lawful wife, and not being employed in
a Lodge, would establish himself in a city, and be obliged to serve with a
craft, he shall on every ember-week pay four pennies, and shall be exempt from
the weekly penny, because he be not employed in the Lodge.
r. If a master have a complaint against another master, for having violated the
regulations of the craft, or a master against a fellow, or a fellow against
another fellow, any master or fellow who is concerned therein shall give notice
thereof to the master who presides over the fraternity, and the master who is
thereof informed shall hear both parties, and set a day when he will try the
cause: and meanwhile, before the fixed or appointed day, no fellow shall avoid
the master, nor master drive away the fellow, but render services mutually until
the-hour when the matter is to be heard and settled. This shall all be done
according to the judgement of the craftsmen, which shall be observed
accordingly. Moreover, the case shall be tried on the spot where it arose before
the nearest master who keeps the Book of Statutes, and in who district it
occured.
s. Item: Every Parlirer shall honor his master, be true and faithful to him,
according to the rule of Masonry, and obey him with undivided fidelity, as is
meet and of ancient usage. So also shall a fellow.
And when a travelling fellow-craft desires to travel farther, he shall part from
his master and from the Lodge in such wise as to be indebted to no one, and that
no man have any grievance against him, as is meet and proper.
t. A travelling fellow, in whatever Lodge he may be employed shall be obedient
to his master and to the Parlirer, according to the rule and ancient usage of
Masonry, and shall also keep all the regulations and privileges which are of
ancient usage in the said Lodge,and shall not revile his master's work, either
secretly or openly, in any wise. But if the master infringe upon these
regulations, and act contrary to them, then may any one give notice thereof.
u. Every craftsman employing workmen in the Lodge, to whom is confided these
statues, and who is duly invested with authority, shall have power and authority
in the same over all contentions and matters which pertain to Masonry, to try
and punish in his district. All masters, Parlirers, and apprentices, shall obey
him.
x. A fellow who has travelled, and is practiced in Masonry, and who is of this
fraternity, who wishes to serve a craftsman on a portion of the work, shall not
be accepted by that craftsman or master, in any wise for a less term than two
years.
y. Item: All masters and fellows who are of this fraternity shall faithfully
keep all the points and articles of these regulations, as hereinbefore and
hereinafter stands written. But if anyone should perchance violate one of the
points, and thereby become punishable, if afterward he be obedient to the
regulation, by having compiled with what has been sentenced upon him, he will
have done sufficent, and be released from his vow, in regard to the article
wherefor he has been punished.
z. The master who has charge of the Book shall, on the oath of the fraternity,
have a care that the same be not copied, either by himself or by any other
person, or given, or lent,-so that the Book remain intact, according to the
resolution of the craftsmen. But if one of the craftsmen, being of this
fraternity, have need or cause to know one or two articles, that may any master
give him in writing. Every master shall cause these statutes to be read every
year to the fellows in the Lodge
Item: If a complaint be made involving a greater punishment as for instance,
expulsion from Masonry-the same shall not be tried or judged by one master in
his district; but the two nearest masters who are intrusted with the copies of
the statutes, and who have authority over the fraternity, shall be summoned by
him, so that there may be three. The fellows also who were at work at the place
where the grievance arose shall be summoned also, and whatsoever shall be with
one accord agreed upon by those three, together with all the fellows, or by a
majority thereof in accordance with their oath and best judgement, shall be
observed by the whole fraternity of craftsmen.
Item: If two or more masters who are of the fraternity be at variance or discord
about matters which do not concern Masonry, they shall not settle these matters
anywhere but before Masonry, which shall judge and reconcile them as far as
possible, but so that the agreement be made without prejudice to the lords or
cities who are concerned in the matter,
1. Now, in order that these regulations of the craft may be kept more honestly,
with service to God and other necessary and becoming things, every master who
has craftsmen at work in his Lodge, and practises Masonry, and is of this
fraternity, and afterward each year four Blapparts; namely, on each ember-week
one Blappart or Bohemian to be paid into the box of the fraternity, and each
fellow four Blapparts, and so likewise an apprentice who has served his time.
2. All masters and craftsmen who are of this fraternity, who employ workmen in
their Lodges, shall each of them have a box, and each fellow shall pay into the
box weekly one penny. Every master shall faithfully treasure up some money and
what may be derived from other sources, and shall each year deliver it to the
fraternity at the nearest place where a book is kept, in order to provide for
God's worship and to supply the necessaries or the fraternity.
3. Every master who has a box, if there be no Book in the same Lodge, shall
deliver the money each year to the master who has charge of the Book, and where
the Book is there shall also be held divine worship. If a master or fellow dies
in a Lodge where no Book is kept, another master or fellow of the said Lodge
shall give notice thereof to the master who has a Book; and when he has been
informed thereof he shall cause a mass to be said for the repose of the soul of
him who has departed, and all the masters and fellows of the Lodge shall assist
at the mass and contribute thereto.
4. If a master or fellow be put to any expense or disbursement, for account of
the fraternity, and notice be given of how the same occured, to such master or
fellow shall be repaid his expenses, be the same small or great, out of the box
of the fraternity; if also any one gets into trouble with courts or in other
matters, relating to the fraternity, then shall every one, be he master or
fellow, afford him aid and relief, as he is bound to do by the oath of the
fraternity.
5. If a master or fellow fall sick, or a fellow who is of the fraternity, and
has lived uprightly in Masonry, be afflicted with protracted illness and want
for food and necessary money, than shall the master who has charge of the box
lend him relief and assistance from the box, if he otherwise may, until he
recover from his sickness; and he shall afterward vow and promise to restitute
the same into the box. But if he should die in such sickness, then so much shall
be taken from what he leaves at his death, be it clothing or other articles, as
to repay that which has been loaned to him, if so much be there.
These are the Statutes of the Parlirers and
Fellows
No craftsman or master shall set at work a fellow
who commits adultery, or who openly lives in illicit intercourse with women, or
who does not yearly make confession, and goes not to the Holy Communion,
according to Christian discipline, nor one who is so foolish as to lose his
clothing at play,
Item: if any fellow should wantonly take leave of a Grand Lodge or from another
lodge, he should not ask for employment in the said Lodge for a year to come.
Item: If a craftsman or master wishes to discharge a travelling fellow whom he
had employed, he shall not do so unles on a Saturday or on a pay evening, so
that he may know how to travel on the morrow, unless he be guilty of an offence.
The same shall also be done by a fellow-craft.
Item : A travelling fellow shall make appllcatlon for employment to one but the
master of the worker or the Parlirer, neither clandestinely nor openly, without
the knowledge and will of the master.
No craftsman or master shall knowingly accept as an apprentice one who is not of
lawful birth, and shall earnestly inquire thereof before he accepts him, and
shall question such apprentice on his word, whether his father and mother were
duly united in lawful wedlock.
Item: No craftsman or master shall promote one of his apprentices as a Parlirer
whom he has taken as an apprentice from his rough state, or who is still in his
years of apprenticeship.
Neither shall any craftsman or master promote any of his apprentices as a
Parlirer whom he has taken from his rough state, notwithstanding he may have
served his years of apprenticeship, if he has not travelled for the space of one
year.
If any one who has served with a Mason (Murer) comes to a craftsman and wishes
to learn of him, the said craftsman shall not accept him as an apprentice unless
he serve as such for three years.
No craftsman or master shall take an apprentice from his rough state for a less
term than five years.
If, however, it happen that an apprentice should leave his master during the
years of his apprenticeship, without sufficient reasons, and does not serve out
his time then no master shall employ such apprentice. No fellow shall work with
him, nor in any wise keep fellowship with him, until he has served his lawfull
time with the master whom he left, and has given him entire satisfaction, and
brings a certificare from his master aforesaid. No apprentice shall ransom
himself from his master unless he intends to marry, with his master's consent,
or there be other sufficient reasons which urge him or his master to this
measure.
If an apprentice deems that he has not been justly dealt with by his master, in
any way they may have agreed upon, then may the apprentice bring him before the
craftsmen and masters, who are in that district, so that an explanation and
redress may take place as the case may be.
Item: Every master who has a Book in the district of Strasburg, shall pay every
year, at Christmas, a half-florin into the box of Strasburg, until the debt is
paid which is due to that box.
And every master who has a Book, and whose building is finished, and who has no
more work whereon he can employ the fellows, shall send his Book, and the money
in his possession, which belongs to the fraternity, to the workmaster at
Strasburg.
It was resolved on the day at Regensburg, four weeks after Easter, in the year,
counting from God's birth, one thousand four hundred and fifty nine on St.
Mark's day, that the workmaster Jost Dotzinger, of Worms, of the building of our
dear Lady's minster, the high chapter of Strasburg, and all of his successors on
the same work, should be the supreme judge of our fraternity of Masonry, and the
same was also afterward determined on at Sprires, at Strasburg, and again at
Spires in the year MCCCCLXIV. on the 9th day of April.'
Item: Master Lorenz Spenning, of Vienna, shall also be chief judge at Vienna.
And thus a workmaster or his successors at Strasburg, Vienna, and Cologne these
three are the chief judges and leaders of the fraternity; they shall not; be
removed without just cause, as was determined on, the day at Regensburg, 1459,
and at Spires in 1464.
This is the district that belongs to Strasburg; all the country below the
Moselle, and Franconia as far as the Thuringian forest, and Babenberg as far as
the episcopate at Eichstatten, from Eichstatten to Ulm, from Ulm to Augsburg to
the Adelberg and as far as Italy; the countries of Misnia, Thuringia, Saxony,
Frankfort, Hesse, and Suabia, these shall be obedient.
Item: To Master Lorenz Spenning, workmaster of the building of St. Stephen, at
Vienna, appertains Lampach, Steiermarch, Hungary, and the Danube downward.
Item: Master Steffan Hurder, architect of St. Vincent's at Berne, shall have the
district of the Swiss Confederacy.
Item: To Master Conrad, of Cologen, master of the chapter there, and to all his
successors liekwise, shall appertain the other districts downward, whatever
there be of buildings and Lodges which belong to the fraternity, or may
hereafter belong to it.
If any master, Parlirer, fellow-craft, or apprentice acts contrary to any of the
hereinbefore or hereinafter written points or articles, and does not keep them
collectively or individually, and reliable information be obtained thereof.,
then he or they shall be summoned before the fraternity, by reason of such
violation, and shall be called to account therefor, and shall be obedient, to
the correction or penalty which is sentenced upon him, for the sake of the oath
and vow which he has pledged unto the fraternity. And if he slights the summons
without honest reason, and does not come, he shall yet give what has been
sentenced upon him as a penalty for his disobedience, although he be not
present. But if he will not do so, he may be brought before ecclesiastical or
civil courts at the place where they be held, and may be judged according to
what may be right in the matter.
Item: Whoever desires to enter this fraternity, shall promise ever to keep
steadfastly all these articles hereinbefore and hereafter written in this Book;
except our gracious lord the Emperor, or the King, Princes, Lords, or any other
Nobles, by force or right, should be opposed to his belonging to the fraternity;
that shall be a sufficient excuse, so that there be no harm therein. ut for what
he is indebted for to the fraternity, he shall come to an agreement thereon with
the craftsman who are in the fraternity.
Although by Christian discipline every Christian is bound to provide for his own
salvation, yet it must be duly remembered by the masters and craftsmen whom the
Almighty God has graciously endowed with their art and workmanship, to build
houses of God and other costly edifices, and honestly to gain their living
thereby, that by gratitude their hearts be justly unto true Christian feelings,
to promote divine worship, and to merit the salvation of their souls therby.
Therefore to the praise and honour of Almighty God, His worthy Mother Mary, of
all her blessed saints, and particularly of the holy four crowned martyrs, and
especially for the salvation of the souls of all persons who are of this
fraternity, or who may hereafter belong to it, have we the craftsmen of Masonry
stipulated and ordained, for us and all our successors, to have a divine service
yearly, at the four holy festivals and on the day of the holy four crowned
martyrs, at Strasburg, in the minster of the high chapter, in our dear Lady's
chapel, with vigils and soul masses, after the manner to be instituted.
It was determined upon the day at Spires, on the ninth day of April, in the
year, counting from God's birth, 1464 that the workmaster, Jost Dotzinger, of
Worms, workmaster of the high chapter at Strasburg, shall have an assembly of
craftsmen in his district, when three or four masters shall be taken and chosen,
to come together on a certain day, as they may agree, and what is there
determined on by a majority of those who are so congregated in chapters, and who
are then present, and how they may decrease o r increase some articles, that
shall be kept throughout the whole fraternity.:i;
The day shall be on St. George's day in the sixty-ninth year.
These are the masters who were present on the day at Spires, on the ninth day of
April in the year 1464.
Item: Jost Dotzinger of Worms, workmaster of our dear Lady's minster of the high
chapter at Starasburg; Item: Master Hans von Esselingen; Item: Master Vincencie
von Constantz; Item: Master Hans von Heyltbutrn; Item: Master Peter von
Algesheim, Master at Nuhausen; Item: Werner Meylon of Basle, on behalf of Master
Peter Knobel of Basle ... [This document concludes with a long list of the names
of Masters and Fellows, the dates of their reception, etc., which it is
unnecessary to reproduce here]
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