Occasional Papers.—No. I.*

lishment—I mean the " Atholl " Grand Lodge , this title being assumed from the fact that the third and fourth Dukes of Atholl were its most illustrious Grand Masters , the former during the period from 1771 to 1774 , and the latter from 1775 to 1781 , and again from 1791 to 1813 .

Thus , at the beginning of the latter half of last century , and till within a very few years of its close , there ¦ were in England no less than three Grand Lodges , to wit , the Grand Lodge of all England , meeting in York which collapsed about 1792 ; the Grand Lodge of England ,

founded in London in 1717 , and erroneously designated by its metropolitan rival the " Modern " Grand Lodge ; and the Grand Lodge of England according to the old Institutions , which erroneously arrogated to itself the style and title of the " Ancient" Grand Lodge , and was also

known later as the " Atholl " Grand Lodge . However , as I have said already , the first of these Grand Lodges , had nothing to do with the event to which I am drawing attention , thongh , I think , you will find it stated in Preston's Ilhisirations of Masonry that about the time

when the discontent of some brethren began to make itself appreciably felt , the Grand Lodge of England gave umbrage to that of all England meeting in York by creating Lodges in what was supposed to be the territory over which the latter exercised sway . I do not myself

see what this slight , real or imaginary as the case may have been , can possibly have had to do with the Schism in the ranks of the Grand Lodge in London , except it may be so far as it contributed to intensify the feeling of discontent already prevailing among them . The point ,

however , is of no material importance . Thus far I have given in outline , the circumstances which led to the establishment of a second Grand Lodge in London , so far , at all events , as it is possible or desirable . The new body was established in 1753 , with Bro . Robert

Tnrner as Grand Master , a Grand Committee having till then regulated the affairs of the seceding Craftsmen . By degrees , and as its Grand Masters were men of rank , it assumed a more imposing appearance . Its influence increased , and Lodges sprang up in different parts of the country

as well as in the metropolis , while others were created in our Colonial possessions and various countries abroad . In several instances , notably in the States of New York and Pennsylvania , it became powerful enough to supplant its older rival . Although it is to the elder Grand Lodge

that the introduction of Freemasonry into those States is undoubtedly due , yet the Lodges which had sprung up under its auspices became apathetic or ceased working for

a time or altogether , and the present Grand Lodges of New York and Pennsylvania are traceable more immediately to English Provincial Grand Lodges of the " Ancient" rather than of the " Modern " school . The

younger body had the further good fortune of establishing friendly relations with the Grand Lodges of Ireland and Scotland , which , without troubling themselves to inquire seriously into the matter , would seem to have extended their sympathies towards the "Ancients . " The greater

part of the success achieved is undoubtedly due to Laurence Dermott , who was in the first instance Grand Secretary , and subsequently Deputy Grand Master of the seceding Grand Lodge . He , indeed , was the moving spirit , the genius of the " Ancients , "—a man of influence and activity ,

as well as possessing abilities of no ordinary character , as is shown by the " Ahiman Rezon , " or Book of Constitutions , which he compiled for the government of his Grand Lodge . As a matter of course , the increasing prosperity of the

younger Grand Lodge did not tend to improve the feeling which had brought about the great secession . On the contrary , it intensified it , and the rival bodies set to work anathematisin g each other with an energy and zeal which were worth y of the best of causes . At length , however , a

desire for the union of the two sections of the Craft began to make itself somewhat conspicuously felt , and when the presen t century was not yet in its " teens " several of the more prominent Craftsmen , and notably the Earl of Moira , Acting Grand Master of the " Moderns , " actively bestirred

themselves in the good cause . The earlier efforts , however , "were received somewhat coldl y , but perseverance was the order of the day , and at length , nnder the joint auspices of the Duke of Sussex , who in 1813 had succeeded George

-Prince of Wales on his becoming Regent , as Grand Master of the Moderns , and the Duke of Kent , who was installed as Grand Master of the Ancients on 1 st December of the same year , the i \ ro bodies , after the necessary arrange-

Occasional Papers.—No. I.*

ments for the event had been carried out , assembled under one and tho same roof . The union was effected , and on the proposition of the Duke of Kent , his brother the Duko of Sussex was unanimously elected the first Grand Master of the United Grand Lodgo of England . This auspicious

event happened on the 27 th December 1813 , and since then the conrse of Masonry has been , if not uneventful , it all events undisturbed by matters of any serious moment to the welfare of our English Craft . And so ended , in the true spirit of Masonic harmony , the

Great Schism , which held the Craft of England divided into two hostile sections for as nearly as possible three parts of a century . Brethren , you will onp and all join me in the wish , that no such discord may ever have to be recorded in our history again !

Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

All Letters must bear the name ani address of the Writer , not necessarily for publication , but as a guarantee of good faith . We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions of our Correspondents . We cannot undertake to return rejected communications .

: o : THE GRAND LODGE LIBRARY . To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —Will yon allow me to point out , for the information of brethren interested in our " National Masonio Library , " that the following numbers of the " Freemason ' s Magazine " are missing from the collection in the possession of Grand Lodge :-18 G 5 , all ; 1866 , 340 , 3-42 ; 1870 , 568 , and all after 573 ; 1871 , 601 , and all after 644 . Yonrs fraternally , E . F . GOUXD ,

Masonic Impostors—A Warning.

MASONIC IMPOSTORS—A WARNING .

To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —Kindly give me space to warn my fellow Craftsmen against the fraudulent representations of , I regret to say , one of our Order , whose present practices are such as to hinder that flow of benevolence which is enjoined on us at our initiation to be observed towards those " who claim our assistance . "

Abont a fortnight since I " listened with attention to the complaint " of an applicant who introduced himself as Bro . Charles H . Couch , of Lodge " St . Aubyu , " 954 , Morice Town , Devonport , a locality with which I am closely identified , and where many good friends of mine still reside . Several of these he mentioned in such terms of close connection with them that I could not for a moment

entertain a doubt of the particulars he gave of his " temporary necessities . " His story was , that being provided , through the beneficence of Bro . Metbam the D . P . G . M . of the Province of Devon , whom I personally know , with a free passage to his native town , he required the means of subsistence during his voyage , and to be freed from obligations which might interfere with his departure . He asserted his

ability to repay any advance as soon as he was again " at home . " He obtained what he sought for . Not having heard from him as promised , I wrote to Bro . Vincent Bird , the Treasurer of the Devon Masonic Educational Fund , for informa . tion , and this is part of the reply I have received— " I am sorry to say Charles Conch was initiated in 954 , many years ago , but he has

not contributed to any Lodge for some time , and is , I fear , an unmitigated scoundrel and a disgraceful Masonic tramp . It would be a lesson to the crowd on the road , and a relief to the Craft , if he could be taken np and punished for obtaining money under false pretences , " & o .

I agree with Bro . Bird , and if I get half a chance will certainly charge him with that offence , if only to make him an example to those who by their specious lies bias the minds of the benevolent amongst us against those who really require and are deserving of assistance . Shonld this man present himself to any one of yonr readers I shall esteem it a favour if he will let we know of his whereabouts . Yours fraternally , Clapham , S . W . JAMES STEVENS .

Lodges Of Instruction.

LODGES OF INSTRUCTION .

To the Editor of the FREEMASON s CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —I am glad to see MARS is so urgent and so earnest in his suggestions for a little change from the monotonous work of our Lodges of Instruction . It is not so very much that I can do , beyond promising to form one of the audience , and perhaps bring

a friend or two with me , when the necessary arrangements have been made , so that MARS ' S unknown may deliver his lecture . If two score others will do the same , and each bring a friend with him , there will be a sufficiently full audience even for the most ambitious of lecturers . Yonrs faithfully and fraternally , BETA ,