Description Of Warrant Of Lodge No, 60.

DESCRIPTION OF WARRANT OF LODGE No , 60 .

THE records that remain to us of our early history , especially from tlie year of tbe Eevival to about 1760 , are , unfortunately , few in number . We may be well excused , therefore , if we seem to bestow on them more than a passing interest . When an early document is brought

under our notice for the first time , it is almost a matter of course that we should make it serve the purpose of a text , from which to inflict on our readers a kind of sermon , more or less solemn perhaps , not altogether uninstructive . We have recently been shown an early Lodge

Warrant , with code of Bye-laws , and inventory of Lodge utensils appended . It is unique of its kind , and but little if any apology is needed for the following remarks . We hope shortly to publish the whole of the documents in full , and our readers will kindly take these presents as a sort of preface .

The Warrant itself is most informal in its character , consisting simply of a petition addressed by certain " Free and Accepted Masons , and so Made in Regular Lodges , " to " the Right Honorable and Right Worshipfnil , Henry Marquis of Carnarvon Grand Master , the Worshipfull Jn ° .

Ward , Esq ., Deputy Grand Master , the Right Honorable Lord George Graham , Senior Grand Warden , the Worshipfull Cap ' . Robinson Junior Grand Warden , " asking permission " to Meet at the House of our Brother William Overy , at the Angel and Crown Tavern , in Crispin Street ,

Spittle Fields , ' and promising obedience to his Lordship and his Lordship ' s Grand Officers , "and to Observe all tho Laws and Regulations of the Grand Lodge , as becomes Free and Accepted Masons . " This Petition bears the endorsement , under date of the 28 th April 1738 , of his

Lordship , granting " the Within Petition , " and appointing the 3 rd of May , at the hour of seven in the evening , for the brethren to meet him . On the following page it is recorded , under date of " May the 3 1738 , " that his Lordship , his Deputy and Wardens , " did meet at the

House of Our Bro . William Overy The Signe of the Angel and Crown in Crispin Street , Spittle Fields , and did then and there , Constitute the Before Written Petitioners , into a Regular Lodge in Full Form and did appoint Our Bro . George Garrett , Esq ., Master , And Our Bro .

M . Timothy Hooks Senior Warden , And Our Bro . William Chomly Junior Warden . " The endorsement dated 28 th April bears the signature " Carnarvon G . M ., " and the record of Constitution of the 3 rd May those of " Carnarvon G . M ., " "J . Ward D . G . M . " "Geo . Graham S . G . W ., " " Andr \ Robinson J . G . W . " At the back of

the record are the signatures of those present at the Constitution , at the head of the list being those of " Darnley L . G . M ., " the immediate predecessor of the Marquis of Carnarvon in the Grand Mastership , " John Revis G . S ., " and " Geo . Moody S . B . " This is the anthoritv under

which the Lodge , thus constituted on the 3 rd May 1738 , has ever since continued to work , and still works , under the style and Title of the " Lodge of Peace and Harmony , " its present number on the roll of the United Grand Lod ^ e of Englaud being " No . 60 . " °

Then como the " Orders , Rules , and Ordinances to be observed and kept by the said Lodge . They are to the following effect : — 1 . Provides that the Lodge meet the second Tuesday in the month , at fi p . m ., between Michaelmas and Lad y Day , and at 7 p . m ., between Lady Day and Michaelmas ; and

Description Of Warrant Of Lodge No, 60.

further lays it down " that no Brother call for wine until the Master of the Lodge , or his Deputy , assume the Chair , " but if these do not arrive at the appointed hour , thon " tho Brothers may call for Wine , & c . " 2 . Forbids a member or visitor to enter the Lodge Room

" disguised in Liquor " or to " behave indecently " towards the Master , Wardens , or any of tho Brethren , under pain of being admonished for the first offence , and subsequently , of dismissal , exclusion , and deprivation of all Masonic advantages and privileges .

3 . No one is to be made a Mason or member , except he be " of virtuous Principles and Integrity , and not a Bondsman ; " and Brethren are enjoined to be careful whom they recommend " that they may not bring any Disreputation on the Craft . "

4 . A Person to be proposed one regular Lodge and Balloted for the next . If accepted , " he must be registered in this Book . " A mere majority of votes in tho ballot

suffices for the candidate ' s admission . 5 . Fixes a guinea and a half as the fee for making , and a further payment of five shillings for passing " the degree of Master . " Every member to obey the Lodge Bye-Laws .

6 . Every new member to pay the first Lodge night of the ensuing quarter , and quarterly afterwards while ho remains a member , the sum of three and sixpence towards the Lodge expenses . 7 . Provides that a master and wardens be chosen half

yearly on " the Lodge nights immediately preceding Christmas and Midsummer , " care being takeu tha : the brother chosen master " be right worthy , and capable of exercising and discharging that high Office . " The master only to nominate and appoint his wardens .

8 . The good of the Lodge to take precedence of private interest . A proposition for the good of Masonry in general or of the Lodge in particular to be heard in silence , and if complied with , recorded in the minutes .

9 . Presents made to the Lodge to be registered with the donor ' s name against it , and the latter " to be wrote or engraved" on the most convenient part of the gift , if possible .

10 . The master , with tho consent of a majority of the brethren , to have power to make new regulations , such new regulations to be read and approved the next Lodge

meetmg before being entered in the book . 11 . A brother proposing a candidate to pay into the hands of the Treasurer the sum of half a guinea : such sum to be returned if the candidate be not approved of .

12 . Any dispute in the Lodge to be discussed in an orderly manner , only one member speaking at a time . 13 . As in many other Lodges , no one to be admitted to dispose of " any Play House Tickets . " 14 . Fixes ten p . m . as the hour for closing the Lodge .

15 . Provides that the members may read these regulations at any time , and that they be read out to every new member on joining . After the above regulations we find a record under date of " the 10 th January 1748 , " to the effect that certain

brethren agree to meet at Bro . Eedes ' s the " Three Tuna Tavern without Bishopsgate , " and did then and there constitute a regular Lodge . This terminates abruptly , and is followed by no signature whatever . Following this comes another and fuller record of the same date ,

fixing upon the same place of meeting , and constituting themselves into a regular Lodge . Appended to this is a long list of signatures , among which , however , we do not notice the names of any of the original petitioners to Lord Carnarvon . Lastly , is an inventory of the Lodge utensils ,