VOL. VI.

No. 3

The system of guilds, which found its rise in the twelfth century, was not found to be of an enduring quality. True, in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries they became more numerous, and in the fifteenth century the system became almost universal in the continental and English cities, and embracing all callings.

The most interesting class of these guilds was the craft guilds, or fraternal unions of mechanical laborers, for the promotion of their common interests. Prominent was their social and economic welfare, though they did not neglect their political interests. Under the approval and under supervision of the city authorities they could issue regulations for the conduct of their particular branches of trade which were binding on all the mechanics of that branch in the city.

When in its flourishing period, the guild system was based on a legal division of its members into masters, journeymen and apprentices. The masters were the members in full standing; the journeymen and apprentices were the minor members, who were under the protection of the guild masters, as a corporation. They were subject to the jurisdiction of the guilds, not only in matters pertaining to the trade, but also in their disputes with one another, or with the masters, and in all violations of the custom or honor of the guild.

The right to follow a trade as a master was, as a rule, dependent on membership in the guild to which the trade belonged. This was called the guild-right, and was nothing more than the right granted to the guild of forcing every one who wished to practice the trade to join the guild. Later, when the guild decided upon the admission of new members, this privilege of selection was

extended so as to include the right to refuse membership to any one whom they did not wish, and thus prevent him from pursuing the trade in the city.

Mastership in the guild was dependent on the proof of certain qualifications on the part of the applicant, both as respecting his moral character and his technical skill. They demanded a spotless reputation and a thorough knowledge of the business. The method of acquiring the skill was not at first regulated by guild rule, but in course of time it was prescribed that every one who wished to become a master must serve a period as apprentice and afterwards as journeyman. The qualifications were gradually raised so that it was difficult, if not impossible, for the average man to comply with them. Legally, however, every one who could become an apprentice could also become a master by fulfilling the conditions.

ers.

In the early stages of these guilds the premises all tended to better conditions. With the design of securing for the individual laborer an independent existence and a sufficient income, and creating an honorable and worthy class of mechanics, and, on the other hand, of guarding the interests of consumers by a proper organization of labor, a whole system of regulations governing the action of the guild members was adopted. These were divided into two classes-those in the interest of producers and those in the interest of consumThose in the interest of the latter aiming at the security of good quality and a fair price for commodities and services, the whole care for which was entrusted to the guilds. The first condition of good service was good training; and this was required before entering the guild. Then the regulations prescribed the material to be employed, and the method of its use, form, size and quality of the product. Fines and bodily punishments were threatened for violations of the provisions. Very severe punishments were inflicted for the manufacture or sale of bad wares, or for cheating. Poor commodities were confiscated and destroyed. Undue delay with the work was also punishable, and the guild police watched over the conduct of its members toward the public. A fair price was secured by fixing the price of the manufactured article or service.

The idea of fraternity was to be realized among

VOL. VI.

No. 3

The system of guilds, which found its rise in the twelfth century, was not found to be of an enduring quality. True, in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries they became more numerous, and in the fifteenth century the system became almost universal in the continental and English cities, and embracing all callings.

The most interesting class of these guilds was the - craft guilds, or fraternal unions of mechanical laborers, for the promotion of their common interests. Prominent was their social and economic welfare, though they did not neglect their political interests. Under the approval and under supervision of the city authorities they could issue regulations for the conduct of their particular branches of trade which were binding on all the mechanics of that branch in the city.

When in its flourishing period, the guild system was based on a legal division of its members into masters, journeymen and apprentices. The masters were the members in full standing; the journeymen and apprentices were the minor members, who were under the protection of the guild masters, as a corporation. They were subject to the jurisdiction of the guilds, not only in matters pertaining to the trade, but also in their disputes with one another, or with the masters, and in all violations of the custom or honor of the guild.

The right to follow a trade as a master was, as a rule, dependent on membership in the guild to which the trade belonged. This was called the guild-right, and was nothing more than the right granted to the guild of forcing every one who wished to practice the trade to join the guild. Later, when the guild decided upon the admission of new members, this privilege of selection was

extended so as to include the right to refuse membership to any one whom they did not wish, and thus prevent him from pursuing the trade in the city.

Mastership in the guild was dependent on the proof of certain qualifications on the part of the applicant, both as respecting his moral character and his technical skill. They demanded a spotless reputation and a thorough knowledge of the business. The method of acquiring the skill was not at first regulated by guild rule, but in course of time it was prescribed that every one who wished to become a master must serve a period as apprentice and afterwards as journey man. The qualifications were gradually raised so that it was difficult, if not impossible, for the average man to comply with them. Legally, however, every one who could become an apprentice could also become a master by fulfilling the conditions.

In the early stages of these guilds the premises all tended to better conditions. With the design of securing for the individual laborer an independent existence and a sufficient income, and creating an honorable and worthy class of mechanics, and, on the other hand, of guarding the interests of consumers by a proper organization of labor, a whole system of regulations governing the action of the guild members was adopted. These were divided into two classes-those in the interest of producers and those in the interest of consumers. Those in the interest of the latter aiming at the security of good quality and a fair price for commodities and services, the whole care for which was entrusted to the guilds. The first condition of good service was good training; and this was required before entering the guild. Then the regulations prescribed the material to be employed, and the method of its use, form, size and quality of the product. Fines and bodily punishments were threatened for violations of the provisions. Very severe punishments were inflicted for the manufacture or sale of bad wares, or for cheating. Poor commodities were confiscated and destroyed. Undue delay with the work was also punishable, and the guild police watched over the conduct of its members toward the public. A fair price was secured by fixing the price of the manufactured article or service.

The idea of fraternity was to be realized among