Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Reviews.
REVIEWS .
All Books intended for Review should be addressed to the Editor of The Freemason ' s Chronicle , 23 Great Queen Street , W . C . St . Joint ' s Lmlije , No . 221 , Bolton . A Short History and Extracts from tho old Minute Books , together Avith a list of Members , with
tho date of their respective initiation or joining tho Locige , and other information connected with the Masonic Fraternity . Compiled by Bro . G . P Brockbank , Treasurer aud Senior Past Master , P . Prov . Grand S . Deacon East Lancashire , with a short Introductory Notico by Bro . W . J . Hughan , Past Grand Deacon of England . 1880 . Bro . Morris , Printer , Oxford Street , Bolton .
Omt first duty is to thank Bro . Brockbank for having fowarded to ns somo of tho advance sheets of this interesting compilation of his . As the oldest Past Master of tho Lodge , ancl one who takes , moreover , a deep interest in all that relates to Freemasonry , it is very natural ho should endeavour to reciprocate the good feeling always exhibited towards him by tho members of his mother Locige , ancl prepare a
sketch of its history from archives with which , daring his thirteen or fourteen years of office as Secretary , he had become so intimately acquainted . Moreover , a work of this kind is of incalculable value from the assistance it must afford to future historic writers on Freemasonry , and we agree with Bro . Hughan , who has kindly furnished a short introductory sketch , that Bro . Brockbauk's example might with
advantage be followed by brethren of other Lodges . \\ o are acquainted with several Locige histories , and wero the career of each existing Locige carefully traced out from its constitution till now by some experienced member , we should at oncehave authentic material for a true history of the rise and progress of Freemasonry in England and other countries . We will not say Locige histories alone would provide this material , for
the records of Graud Locige would havo of necessity to be consulted , bnt they would furnish a step in the direction , and do something towards relieving us of the charge too often , and we fear too justly , made against Freemasons , namely , that its history , such as it has been written , is based chiefly on tho imagination of tho writers , having just a slight substratum of fact to give it an air of respectability . It is
true wo havo been making great strides of lato years , ancl doing our best to disturb tho unequal relations formerly existing between fancy ancl fact ; bufc much yet remains to be done , aud a very considerable part of this much embraces the kind of work which Bro . Brockbank has prepared with so much zeal ancl assiduity . It is an admh * - ablo addition to those which have previously appeared , ancl , as we
have said before , Ave trust this example of successful compilation will prove contagious , ancl that learned Craftsmen will be smitten with a desire to Avrite their several Lodge histories . Wo could have wished , for tho compiler ' s sake , that the archives on which he has had to work had been in themselves more acceptable . The founders of tho Lodge and their immediate successors
may have been shrewd men of business and excellent good fellows , but thoy do not , to judge from their style of writing , appear to have had the benefit of any serious amount of education . Wo know that , at the close of last century , when this Locige , No . 221 , first saw the light , the educational standard of the English was not remarkably high ; but one naturally associates Freemasonry with well-to-do
folkwith men of independent means , and thoso who havo been successful in business or professionally , ancl that being so , with those who have received an education iu advance of the ordinary charity school children of the day . We are not of thoso who judge of a Mason ' s worth by tho purity of his spelling , tho beauty of his handwriting , or the accuracy of his figuring ; but we do think it desirable that people occupying
decent positions in this country shr . uld havo somo acquaintance with the English language . But the extracts from the older minntes of this St . John's Lodge , No . 221 , look very much as though they had been written during the latter intervals of a very heavy symposium , when a man ' s powers of articulation , like his reason , are dull and inconsequential , and his hand but too accurately reproduces on paper
the chaos ot ideas which his bruin has prompted and his tongue uttered . What , for instance , can be said of " The Worshipful ' s toast from the chair , " on 6 th December 1797— " That Masons may florish like the bea leaf thafc grows by tbe River Side that is always green ; " or of the following , under date of 20 th February 1798— "A Cometa chose by the Worshipfal to absent themselves from the Lodge Room to
an a jacin Room to decide the mutter ; the Committee agreeing and finding Bro . O'Neil colpable of an error for Schandlclizing the Lodgo is find five shillings arid is to make an humble submission to the Lodgo for the offence . " It took us some little timo to discover that " Coweta" ancl " Committee" are different forms of one and the same word , aud though from the text of tho minute it is not very clear
whether Bro . O'Neil or the Lod ge ho had offended is " find " five shillings , we aro willing to give tho latter tho benefit of the doubt , nnd suppose it was Bro . O'Neil who was mulcted . Ou tlie 18 th May 1800 , it was resolved that a Royal Arch Chapter should be held , and ou that day one was opened , when certain brethren who had previously passed the chair and paid 7 s Gd , " were made Exclant and
Shnper Exclant Masons , and Likcoves Holy Royal arch Masons . " Even in tho rules for the government of the Lodge , which ono would presume very naturally would be written with an approach to correctness , there is a display of ignorance for which at school the small boy of ten years would be deservedly well Hogged . Thus , Rule III . is to tho effect that no brother shall bo chosen by "Sonority" to prc-ido as Master , & c . Rule V . resolves that " aney Br . that shall
curse , Sware , or u ? o aney unbecoming Language iu Diragation of God ' s name intcncledly , or Aggravate another Br . to disturbo the Harmony of the Lodge whilst engaged in thafc Most Serious and Solimm "—what is not stated . JtuleXI . ordains " that no Modern Mason or aney Snbsci Hieing those To Belongs will be admitted in this . Lodge whil-i engaged m that " Moafc Suri-ms awl Soli-inn , " & e , . hi addition , occur such wonld as " petitou" ( petition ) , "Abel " ( able ) , " soport" ( support ) , & c . ; all of which betoken a very low
Reviews.
standard of education , indeed , among the earlier members of this Lodge , especially when we bear iu mind they wero of a class of people who could afford to spend somewhat freely of their moneys , or they could not well have joined the Society . So much for the language in which tho minutea and Rules are expressed . Let ns now turn to the important part of the
subjectthe Lodgo history , as Ave gather particulars of its rise and progress from Bro . Brockbank's compilation . The Lodge , which originally consisted of but seven members , was founded in April 1797 , under a warrant from the Grand Lodge of tho " Ancients , " full particulars of the ceremony of consecration , as AVO are wont to call ifc now-ailays , being furnished from tbo Lodge of Antiquity ( now No . 146 ) ,
an older "Ancient" Lodge , which , however , had migrated from Leigh , some timo between 1776 , the date of its Warrant , and January 1786 , when it was in full working order at Bolton . Thus , St . John ' s , No . 221 , originally No . 303 , enjoys tho honour of being the first " Ancienfc" Lodge founded in this town . To James Abel as Graud Master , ancl other brethren as his Deputy , Grancl Wardens , and
Secretary , was deputed tho task of constituting the Locige , and there seems to have been a pretty strong muster of brethren from Nos . 235 Wigan , 238 Chorley , 275 Manchester , 292 Stockport , and 196 ( now 146 ) Bolton , to witness tho impressive ceremony . The first Master and Wardens , as named iu the Warrant , were Bros . O'Neal ( or O'Neil , for the namo is spelt both ways ) , W . M ., Thomas Keenan ,
S . W ., Daniel Cane J . W ., and the first Treasurer and Secretary were Bros . John McAllister Treasurer , and Edward McGlone Secretary . The first Minute Book dates from 9 th April 1797 , when tho preliminary meeting was held , and ifc was decided amongst other things thafc every candidate who dines shall pay four shillings towards the expenses of the day , that being tho sum chargeable against subscribing members ;
that the Locige should be called St . John ' s j ancl that the brethren we have just named should be the first W . M . and Wardens respectively . On the 16 th another meeting was held , the names of three candidates were submitted , and thoy subseouontly received the first degree of Freemasonry . On the 29 fch June , in commemoration of St . John , the patron saint of the Lodge , the brethren , with several others
belonging to Antiqnity No . 196 , went in procession to the old church , where a sermon was preached by the Rev . Dr . Dullas—let us hope the sermon was livelier than the namo of the rev . preacher might warrant us in supposing . At an early date the harmony of the Lodge wonld in a certain sense appear to have been disturbed , for afc an " Amergency" meeting on 17 th December of the same year , we read
that , after a trial which lasted three hours , Bro . John Mulaollan was found guilty of haviug been " Intoxicated in drink , " and fined 6 d ; of having broken Rule 12 , which resolved that any member of tho Lodge who shonld " divulge aney secrets to aney person not belonging to the Lodgo , should be fined five shillings , " and he was fined accordingly ; and of having used bad language to tho Worshipful . However , after
due admonition , Bro . Mulhollan , " asked Gods pardon and the Lodges , and tho matter was amicably settled . " The day following the election of Master , Wardens , Treasurer , and Secretary for the half year took place at intervals , extending from 4 p . m . to 5 . 10 p . m ., Bro . Brockbar . k suggesting that theintervals were devoted to libations . On 5 th February 1798 , Bro . O'Neal , who had been Master the previous
six months , was found guilty of " Schandlelizing tho Lodge , ' and fined five shillings , and when tho culprit had made an ample apology , the Lodge closed in the greatest harmony . On the 12 th April , a brother was suspended for twelve calendar months , *'* then to bo dealt with as the Locige shall think fit , " and when tho suspension was over , it seems the brother was not allowed to have any certificate so
long as ho was " due any debt to the Lodge . " In tho interim , we read of a Bro . Crook , who , in the compiler ' s opinion , must have been a " perambulating luminary" giving three lec'nres . On 3 rd April , it was agreed the Lodge should shift its quarters from the Hand and Barrow to the Lord Admiral Nelson , ancl afterwards it was agreed to hold a Holy Royal Arch Chapter , to which end the Lodge was
" opened in the 3 d degree , " ancl five brothers " past the chair at 6 o ' clock , and pel 7 / 6 . " " The Chapter was then opened , and those Bros , were " made Exclant & Shnper Exclant Masons & Likeeves Holy Royal Arch Masons . " We judge from the spelling that the bi-ethren , and especially the Secretary , must have found this rather " dry " work , as Bro . Brockbank elsewhere suggests once or twice . On 3 rd
September 1801 a Bro . Morris , it is recorded , was gnilty of contumacy , resolutely refusing to obey a summons to attend , as well then as formerly , and neglecting his "dutys" as Acting Secretary . At the end of the year ifc was resolved to quit the Lord Admiral Nelson , because , as ifc appears from the 3 d Minute Book , tho house went " under a bad report . " This book closes as regards business
on 12 th December , but there is inscribed in it ono entry of 1 st January 1802 , to the effect that on that day " a procession took place iu which No . 196 joined , which was guarded by the military stationed in the town , ancl a letter of thanks was addressed by the Seer , of Lodge 196 to the Commanding Officer . " To this is appended a
footnote by the compiler that " the Cash Book recorded that £ 2 0 s 6 d was reed towards the Expenses from different brethren of tho 17 Light Dragoons . " Next week wo shall consider Book IL , with the Laws it contains , ancl further minutes . ( To be continued ) .
Tho . Masonic Muse . Amusement with Music . A collection of unique Masonic Recitations and highly original songs , written and composed for the use of the Craft , by Bro . F . Julian Croger . London : Spencer and Co ., 23 A Great Queen-street , W . C . 1880 . Price Two Shillings and Sixpence .
IT does not often occur that the contents of a book so closely tally with its description on the title-page , but Bro . Croger has unquestionably succeeded in writing and composing half-a dozen songs and recitations together , which are alike creditable to his muse ancl musical ability . Tho six items are entitled as follows : Song— "A Hunt for
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Reviews.
REVIEWS .
All Books intended for Review should be addressed to the Editor of The Freemason ' s Chronicle , 23 Great Queen Street , W . C . St . Joint ' s Lmlije , No . 221 , Bolton . A Short History and Extracts from tho old Minute Books , together Avith a list of Members , with
tho date of their respective initiation or joining tho Locige , and other information connected with the Masonic Fraternity . Compiled by Bro . G . P Brockbank , Treasurer aud Senior Past Master , P . Prov . Grand S . Deacon East Lancashire , with a short Introductory Notico by Bro . W . J . Hughan , Past Grand Deacon of England . 1880 . Bro . Morris , Printer , Oxford Street , Bolton .
Omt first duty is to thank Bro . Brockbank for having fowarded to ns somo of tho advance sheets of this interesting compilation of his . As the oldest Past Master of tho Lodge , ancl one who takes , moreover , a deep interest in all that relates to Freemasonry , it is very natural ho should endeavour to reciprocate the good feeling always exhibited towards him by tho members of his mother Locige , ancl prepare a
sketch of its history from archives with which , daring his thirteen or fourteen years of office as Secretary , he had become so intimately acquainted . Moreover , a work of this kind is of incalculable value from the assistance it must afford to future historic writers on Freemasonry , and we agree with Bro . Hughan , who has kindly furnished a short introductory sketch , that Bro . Brockbauk's example might with
advantage be followed by brethren of other Lodges . \\ o are acquainted with several Locige histories , and wero the career of each existing Locige carefully traced out from its constitution till now by some experienced member , we should at oncehave authentic material for a true history of the rise and progress of Freemasonry in England and other countries . We will not say Locige histories alone would provide this material , for
the records of Graud Locige would havo of necessity to be consulted , bnt they would furnish a step in the direction , and do something towards relieving us of the charge too often , and we fear too justly , made against Freemasons , namely , that its history , such as it has been written , is based chiefly on tho imagination of tho writers , having just a slight substratum of fact to give it an air of respectability . It is
true wo havo been making great strides of lato years , ancl doing our best to disturb tho unequal relations formerly existing between fancy ancl fact ; bufc much yet remains to be done , aud a very considerable part of this much embraces the kind of work which Bro . Brockbank has prepared with so much zeal ancl assiduity . It is an admh * - ablo addition to those which have previously appeared , ancl , as we
have said before , Ave trust this example of successful compilation will prove contagious , ancl that learned Craftsmen will be smitten with a desire to Avrite their several Lodge histories . Wo could have wished , for tho compiler ' s sake , that the archives on which he has had to work had been in themselves more acceptable . The founders of tho Lodge and their immediate successors
may have been shrewd men of business and excellent good fellows , but thoy do not , to judge from their style of writing , appear to have had the benefit of any serious amount of education . Wo know that , at the close of last century , when this Locige , No . 221 , first saw the light , the educational standard of the English was not remarkably high ; but one naturally associates Freemasonry with well-to-do
folkwith men of independent means , and thoso who havo been successful in business or professionally , ancl that being so , with those who have received an education iu advance of the ordinary charity school children of the day . We are not of thoso who judge of a Mason ' s worth by tho purity of his spelling , tho beauty of his handwriting , or the accuracy of his figuring ; but we do think it desirable that people occupying
decent positions in this country shr . uld havo somo acquaintance with the English language . But the extracts from the older minntes of this St . John's Lodge , No . 221 , look very much as though they had been written during the latter intervals of a very heavy symposium , when a man ' s powers of articulation , like his reason , are dull and inconsequential , and his hand but too accurately reproduces on paper
the chaos ot ideas which his bruin has prompted and his tongue uttered . What , for instance , can be said of " The Worshipful ' s toast from the chair , " on 6 th December 1797— " That Masons may florish like the bea leaf thafc grows by tbe River Side that is always green ; " or of the following , under date of 20 th February 1798— "A Cometa chose by the Worshipfal to absent themselves from the Lodge Room to
an a jacin Room to decide the mutter ; the Committee agreeing and finding Bro . O'Neil colpable of an error for Schandlclizing the Lodgo is find five shillings arid is to make an humble submission to the Lodgo for the offence . " It took us some little timo to discover that " Coweta" ancl " Committee" are different forms of one and the same word , aud though from the text of tho minute it is not very clear
whether Bro . O'Neil or the Lod ge ho had offended is " find " five shillings , we aro willing to give tho latter tho benefit of the doubt , nnd suppose it was Bro . O'Neil who was mulcted . Ou tlie 18 th May 1800 , it was resolved that a Royal Arch Chapter should be held , and ou that day one was opened , when certain brethren who had previously passed the chair and paid 7 s Gd , " were made Exclant and
Shnper Exclant Masons , and Likcoves Holy Royal arch Masons . " Even in tho rules for the government of the Lodge , which ono would presume very naturally would be written with an approach to correctness , there is a display of ignorance for which at school the small boy of ten years would be deservedly well Hogged . Thus , Rule III . is to tho effect that no brother shall bo chosen by "Sonority" to prc-ido as Master , & c . Rule V . resolves that " aney Br . that shall
curse , Sware , or u ? o aney unbecoming Language iu Diragation of God ' s name intcncledly , or Aggravate another Br . to disturbo the Harmony of the Lodge whilst engaged in thafc Most Serious and Solimm "—what is not stated . JtuleXI . ordains " that no Modern Mason or aney Snbsci Hieing those To Belongs will be admitted in this . Lodge whil-i engaged m that " Moafc Suri-ms awl Soli-inn , " & e , . hi addition , occur such wonld as " petitou" ( petition ) , "Abel " ( able ) , " soport" ( support ) , & c . ; all of which betoken a very low
Reviews.
standard of education , indeed , among the earlier members of this Lodge , especially when we bear iu mind they wero of a class of people who could afford to spend somewhat freely of their moneys , or they could not well have joined the Society . So much for the language in which tho minutea and Rules are expressed . Let ns now turn to the important part of the
subjectthe Lodgo history , as Ave gather particulars of its rise and progress from Bro . Brockbank's compilation . The Lodge , which originally consisted of but seven members , was founded in April 1797 , under a warrant from the Grand Lodge of tho " Ancients , " full particulars of the ceremony of consecration , as AVO are wont to call ifc now-ailays , being furnished from tbo Lodge of Antiquity ( now No . 146 ) ,
an older "Ancient" Lodge , which , however , had migrated from Leigh , some timo between 1776 , the date of its Warrant , and January 1786 , when it was in full working order at Bolton . Thus , St . John ' s , No . 221 , originally No . 303 , enjoys tho honour of being the first " Ancienfc" Lodge founded in this town . To James Abel as Graud Master , ancl other brethren as his Deputy , Grancl Wardens , and
Secretary , was deputed tho task of constituting the Locige , and there seems to have been a pretty strong muster of brethren from Nos . 235 Wigan , 238 Chorley , 275 Manchester , 292 Stockport , and 196 ( now 146 ) Bolton , to witness tho impressive ceremony . The first Master and Wardens , as named iu the Warrant , were Bros . O'Neal ( or O'Neil , for the namo is spelt both ways ) , W . M ., Thomas Keenan ,
S . W ., Daniel Cane J . W ., and the first Treasurer and Secretary were Bros . John McAllister Treasurer , and Edward McGlone Secretary . The first Minute Book dates from 9 th April 1797 , when tho preliminary meeting was held , and ifc was decided amongst other things thafc every candidate who dines shall pay four shillings towards the expenses of the day , that being tho sum chargeable against subscribing members ;
that the Locige should be called St . John ' s j ancl that the brethren we have just named should be the first W . M . and Wardens respectively . On the 16 th another meeting was held , the names of three candidates were submitted , and thoy subseouontly received the first degree of Freemasonry . On the 29 fch June , in commemoration of St . John , the patron saint of the Lodge , the brethren , with several others
belonging to Antiqnity No . 196 , went in procession to the old church , where a sermon was preached by the Rev . Dr . Dullas—let us hope the sermon was livelier than the namo of the rev . preacher might warrant us in supposing . At an early date the harmony of the Lodge wonld in a certain sense appear to have been disturbed , for afc an " Amergency" meeting on 17 th December of the same year , we read
that , after a trial which lasted three hours , Bro . John Mulaollan was found guilty of haviug been " Intoxicated in drink , " and fined 6 d ; of having broken Rule 12 , which resolved that any member of tho Lodge who shonld " divulge aney secrets to aney person not belonging to the Lodgo , should be fined five shillings , " and he was fined accordingly ; and of having used bad language to tho Worshipful . However , after
due admonition , Bro . Mulhollan , " asked Gods pardon and the Lodges , and tho matter was amicably settled . " The day following the election of Master , Wardens , Treasurer , and Secretary for the half year took place at intervals , extending from 4 p . m . to 5 . 10 p . m ., Bro . Brockbar . k suggesting that theintervals were devoted to libations . On 5 th February 1798 , Bro . O'Neal , who had been Master the previous
six months , was found guilty of " Schandlelizing tho Lodge , ' and fined five shillings , and when tho culprit had made an ample apology , the Lodge closed in the greatest harmony . On the 12 th April , a brother was suspended for twelve calendar months , *'* then to bo dealt with as the Locige shall think fit , " and when tho suspension was over , it seems the brother was not allowed to have any certificate so
long as ho was " due any debt to the Lodge . " In tho interim , we read of a Bro . Crook , who , in the compiler ' s opinion , must have been a " perambulating luminary" giving three lec'nres . On 3 rd April , it was agreed the Lodge should shift its quarters from the Hand and Barrow to the Lord Admiral Nelson , ancl afterwards it was agreed to hold a Holy Royal Arch Chapter , to which end the Lodge was
" opened in the 3 d degree , " ancl five brothers " past the chair at 6 o ' clock , and pel 7 / 6 . " " The Chapter was then opened , and those Bros , were " made Exclant & Shnper Exclant Masons & Likeeves Holy Royal Arch Masons . " We judge from the spelling that the bi-ethren , and especially the Secretary , must have found this rather " dry " work , as Bro . Brockbank elsewhere suggests once or twice . On 3 rd
September 1801 a Bro . Morris , it is recorded , was gnilty of contumacy , resolutely refusing to obey a summons to attend , as well then as formerly , and neglecting his "dutys" as Acting Secretary . At the end of the year ifc was resolved to quit the Lord Admiral Nelson , because , as ifc appears from the 3 d Minute Book , tho house went " under a bad report . " This book closes as regards business
on 12 th December , but there is inscribed in it ono entry of 1 st January 1802 , to the effect that on that day " a procession took place iu which No . 196 joined , which was guarded by the military stationed in the town , ancl a letter of thanks was addressed by the Seer , of Lodge 196 to the Commanding Officer . " To this is appended a
footnote by the compiler that " the Cash Book recorded that £ 2 0 s 6 d was reed towards the Expenses from different brethren of tho 17 Light Dragoons . " Next week wo shall consider Book IL , with the Laws it contains , ancl further minutes . ( To be continued ) .
Tho . Masonic Muse . Amusement with Music . A collection of unique Masonic Recitations and highly original songs , written and composed for the use of the Craft , by Bro . F . Julian Croger . London : Spencer and Co ., 23 A Great Queen-street , W . C . 1880 . Price Two Shillings and Sixpence .
IT does not often occur that the contents of a book so closely tally with its description on the title-page , but Bro . Croger has unquestionably succeeded in writing and composing half-a dozen songs and recitations together , which are alike creditable to his muse ancl musical ability . Tho six items are entitled as follows : Song— "A Hunt for