Freemasonry In Berks And Bucks.

Barnabas Chapter , No . 948 , Linslade , and the St . George ' s , No . 840 , have since swelled the number of R . A . Chapters to five , and in the person of Sir Daniel Gooch , who was appointed in the year 1875 , the Prov . G . Chapter has a

most efficient Superintendent . Such , in brief , is a history of Constitutional Freemasonry in the Province of Berks and Bucks , the chief details being derived from Bro . Biggs ' s interesting sketch . May it long flourish like a green bay tree !

The Four Old Lodges.

THE FOUR OLD LODGES .

BRO . B . F . GOULD . ( Continued from page 69 . )

§ 21 . MANIFESTO OF THE EIGHT WOKSHIPFUL LODGE OF ANTIQUITY , 1778 . Reprinted from HISTORY OP FREEMASONRY IN YORK ( Hughan ) . To all regular FREE and ACCEPTED MASONS .

Original MS . iu the Lodgo of Antiquity , A . D . 1 CSG . Book of Constitutions 1723 , pp 32 , 33 1733 , p 63 1707 , p 81 . Illustrations of Masonrv , 1775 , p 198 . Freemason's Calendar , & c . MS . in the British Museum , and a * variety of Publications on the subject of Masonry . Old MS . in the ha . nds of Mr . Wilson , of Broomhoad , near Sheffield , Yorkshire , written in tho reign of K . Henry 8 th .

WHEREAS the Society of Free Masons is universally acknowledged to bo of ancient standing and great repnte in this kingdom , as by oar Records and Printed Constitutions , it appears that the first Grand Lodge ia England was held at York , in the Year 926 , by virtue of a Royal Charter , granted by King Athelstan—Aud , under

the patronage and government of this Grand Lodge , the Society considerably increased ; and the ancient charges and regulations of the Order so far obtained the sanction of Kings and Princes , and other eminent persons , that they always paid dne allegiance to the said Grand Assembly . ( i )

II . Constitntion Book , 1739 , p 81 1707 , p 103 & sen . . Illustrations of Masonry , p 23-1 & seq . Old Records Constitution Book , 1723 , pp 62 , 00 , 69 , 72 1733 , pp 150 , 155 1767 , pp 3 J 1 , 341 . Illustrations of Masonry , p 119 , MS . in the Lodge of Antiquity . AND WHEREAS it appears , by onr Records , that in the year 1567 , tho increase of Lodges in the South of England being so great as to require some Nominal Patron to superintend their government , it

was resolved that a person nnder the title of Grand Master for the South shonld be appointed for that purpose , with the approbation of the Grancl Lodge at York , to whom the whole Fraternity at large were bonnd to pay tribute aud acknowledge subjection . —And , after tho appointment of such Patron , Masonry flourished nnder the guardianship of him and his successors in the South , until the Civil Wars and other intestine commotions interrupted the assemblies of the brethren . ( a )

III . Constitution Book , 1738 , p 100 1707 , p 170 . Illustrations of Masonry , p 2 U . Biographia Britannica , vol . 1 , Ashmole . Constitution Book , 1738 , p 108 1707 , p 188 , * AND WHEREAS , ifc also appears that , in the year 1693 , the Meetings of the Fraternity in their regular Lodges in the Sonth became less frequent and chiefly occasional , except in or near places -where great works were carried on . —At which timo the Lodge of Antiquity , or

( as it was then called ) the Old Lodge of St . Paul , with a few others of small note , continued to meet under the patronage of Sir Christopher Wren , and assisted him in rearing that superb Structure from which this respectable -Lodge derived its Title . But on completing this Edifice in 1710 , and Sir Christopher Wren ' s retiring into the country , the few remaining Lodges , in London and its suburbs , continued , without any nominal Patron , in a declining state for about the space of seven years , ( 3 )

IV . Constitution Book , 1738 , p 109 1707 , pp 188 , 189 . Illustrations of Masonry , pp 210 , 217 . Constitution Book , 1723 , p 70 . Ibid . Ibid , pp 73 , 71 . Constitution Book , 1723 , p 09 . AND WHEREAS , in tho year 1717 , tho Fraternity in London agreed to cement nnder a new Grand Master , and with that view the Old Lodge of St . Paul , jointly with three other Lodges , assembled in

form , constituted themselves a nominal Grand Lodge $ ro tempore , and elected a Graud Master to preside over their future general meetings , whom they afterwards invested with a power to constitute subordinate Lodges , and to convene the Fraternity afc stated periods in Grand Lodge , in order to make Laws , with their consent and approbation , for the good government of tho Society at large—BUT

SUBJECT to certain conditions and restrictions then expressly stipulated , and which are more fully set forth in the 39 th article of the general regulations , in the first book of Constitutions . This article , with 38 others , was afterwards , at a meeting of the Brethren in anri aboufc the cities of London and Westminster , in the year 1721 . solemnly approved of , ratified and confirmed by them and signed in their presence by the Master and Wardens of the Four Old Lodges

The Four Old Lodges.

on the one part , and Philip Duke of Wharton , then Grand Master , Dr . Desaguliers D . G . M ., Joshua Timson and William Hawkins Grand Wardens , and tho Masters and Wardens of sixteen Lodges which had been constituted by the Fraternity , betwixt 1717 and 1721 , on tbe other part . -4 ncZ theso articles tho Grand Master engaged for

himself and his successors , when duly installed , in all time coming to observe aud keep sacred and inviolable—By theso prudent precautions the ancient Landmarks ( as they aro properly styled ) of tho Four Old Lodges were intended to be secured againsfc any encroachments on their Masonic rights and privileges . (*)

V . See tho alterations in the last Edition of tho Book of Constitutions , by comparing it with former Editions . See also State of Pacts , by Bro . Preston , passim . AND WHEREAS , of late years , notwithstanding the said solemn engagement in tho year 1721 , sundry innovations and encroachments have been made , and are still making on the original plan and

government of Masonry , by the present nominal Grand Lodge in London , highly injurious to the institution itself , and tending to subvert and destroy the ancienb rights and privileges of the Society , more particularly of those members of it under whoso sanction , and by whoso authority , tho said Grand Lodge was first established and now exists .

YI . Constitution Book , 1738 , p 185 . State of Facts , by Brother Preston , pp 33 , ' 19 . AND WHEREAS , afc this present time , there only remains one of tho said four original ancient Lodges—The Old Lodge of St . Paul , or , as it is now emphatically styled , Tho Lodge of Antiquity . Two of tha said four ancient Lodges having been extinct many years , and tho Master of the other of them having , on the part of his Lodge , in

open Grand Lodge relinquished all snch inherent rights and privileges which , as a private Lodsyo acting by an immemorial Constitntion , ifc enjoyed . —Bur , The Lodse of Antiquity , conscious of its own dignity , which tho members thereof are resolutely determined to snppovt , and justly incensed afc the violent measures and proceedings which have been lately adopted and pursued by the said

nominal Grand Lodge , wherein they have assumed an unlawful prerogative over the Lodge of Antiquity , in manifest breach of the aforesaid 39 th article , by which means the peaceable government of that respectable Lodge has been repeatedly interrupted , and even the original independent power thereof , in respect to its own Internal Government , disputed : ( 3 )

VII . State of Facts , passim . THEREFORE , and on account of the Arbitrary Edicts and Laws which the said nominal Grand Lodge has , from time to time , presumed to issue and attempted to enforce , repugnant to the ancient Laws and principles of Free Masonry , and highly injurious to the Lodge of Antiquity / 0 )

VIII . WE , the Master , Wardens , and Members of the Lodge of Antiquity , considering ourselves bound in duty , as well as honour , to preserve inviolable the ancient rights and privileges of the Order , and , as far as in our power , to hand them down to posterity in their native pnrity and excellence , do hereby , for ourselves and our successors , solemnly disavow and discountenance such unlawful measures and

proceedings of the said nominal Grand Lodge ; and do hereby declare and announce to all onr Masonio Brethren throughout the Globe , That the said Grand Lodge has , by such arbitrary conduct , evidently violated the conditions expressed in the aforesaid 39 th article of the general regulations , in the observance of which article the permanency of their authority solely depended . ( ' )

IX . And in consequence thereof , WE , do by these presents retract from , and recal , all such rights and powers , as We , or our prede . cessors , did conditionally give to the said nominal Grand Lodge in

London ; and do hereby disannul and make void all future Edicts and Laws which the said Grand Lodge may presume to issue and enforce , by virtue of snch sanction , as representatives of the ancient and honourable Society of Free and Accepted Masons . ( 3 )

X . Records in the Grand Lodgo of York . Constitution Book , 1723 , p 00 . AND WHEREAS WO have , on full enquiry and due examination , happily discovered , that tho aforesaid truly ancient Grand Lodge at York does still exist ; and have authentic Records to produce of their antiquity , long before the establishment of the nominal Grand

Lodge in London , in tbe year 1717 ; We do , therefore , hereby solemnly avow , acknowledge , and admit the Authority of tho said Most Worshipful Grand Lodge at York , as the truly ancient and only regular governing Grand Lodge of Masons in England , to whom the Fraternity all owe and arc rightfully bound to pay allegiance .

XI . Private Correspondence . AND WHEREAS the present members of the said Grand Lodge afc York have acknowledged tho ancient power and authority of tho Lodge of Antiquity in London as a private Lodge , and have pro

ooscd to form an alliance with the said Lodge , on the most generous md disinterested principles , —We do hereby acknowledge this renerous mark of their friendship towards ns , and gratefully acce pfc their liberal , candid , and ingenuous offers of alliance : —And do hereby , from a firm persuasion of tho justice of our cause , announ ce