Homes Of English Freemasonry.

homes of English Freemasonry .

ENGLISH Freemasonry enjoys world-wide distinction , not merely as the foundation from which have sprung the many Grand bodies which are now to be found in all parts of the globe , but as possessing a solidity which it is safe to say is not to be found elsewhere . It is true many of the go-ahead Brethren of the

day regard the Craft of England as somewhat old-fashioned ; others regret that greater effort is not made to keep pace with the times by introducing modern ideas into the ancient Order ; and others again take the directly opposite view , and urge that modern frivolities are gradually making their way into our midst ,

to the detriment of the Craft , and the destruction of its timehonoured traditions . The " Homes of English Ereemasonry " may be taken as fair illustration of the different ideas , and in commencing , as we do this week , a series of articles under this heading , we think we are opening up a very interesting subject ,

and one that will show in marked degree the steady progress of the Craft , its adaptability to modern ideas , and at the same time its rigid adherence to the best traditions of the past . We think it will be no difficult matter to prove that English Freemasonry , deficient though it be in the possession of Masonic Halls and

other private places of meeting—as compared with some of the younger Constitutions—is able to boast of its recognised homes , and that its history has been associated with many of the bestknown old fashioned public establishments , or is linked with the many palatial hotels springing up in all parts of the country .

I . —FREEMASONS' HALL AND TAVEEN . The origin of Freemasonry is enshrouded in as much mystery , and adorned with as many fables as that of London itself . For centuries the accepted idea was that the Craft had its origin in the ancient mysteries of Egypt ; and that the present ceremonial

is akin to that which is alleged to have existed amongst operative Masons when they prepared the stones for the first Temple of Jerusalem , Thousands of Craftsmen cherish the belief that the esoteric work of the Grand Lodge is the verbal description of events when Solomon in Lodge , gavel in hand , ruled the

Brethren with the zest and decision of a modern Grand Master . But into these ancient myths it is useless to enter . It is sufficient for the present purpose to claim that as regards England , the Home of Freemasonry is to be found in London . There is a legend that Prince Edwin , when Athelstan was King , summoned

a Grand Lodge to meet at York in 926 , and that the first English Constitution was there framed . But there is no documentary evidence to sustain it . What is more certain is that the original Grand Lodge of England , founded in London in 1717 , was the primal organisation which led to the formation of other Grand

bodies not only in England , but in Ireland and Scotland . The earliest record we have of the formation of the original Grand Lodge of England , and of the first six years of its existence , is found in the meagre account given by Dr . Anderson in the Constitutions of 1738 . He claims that in 1717 the few Lodges

then in London , finding themselves neglected by Sir Christopher Wren , thought fit to unite under a Grand Master . These were the Lodges meeting at the Goose and Gridiron , in St . Paul ' s Churchyard ( now the Lodge of Antiquity , No . 2 ) , and those meeting at the Crown , in Parker ' s Lane ; the Apple Tree Tavern ,

Cnarles Street , Covent Garden ; and at the Rummer and Grapes Tavern , in Channel Row , Westminster . These combined Lodges for a time met at the Apple Tree Tavern , which is therefore to be regarded as the scene of the great revival of Freemasonry in the eighteenth century . From 1729 until 1763 , most of the

meetings were held at the Devil Tavern , in Fleet Street , where Child ' s Bank now stands ; and from 1760 until 1776 , when the present Freemasons' Hall was built in Great Queen Street , the meetings were held at the Crown and Anchor in the Strand , at the corner of Milford Lane . In 1774 premises were acquired in

Great Queen Street , consisting of two commodious dwelling houses and a large garden , the former being subsequently adapted to Tavern and office purposes , and the latter forming the site of the Grand Hall of the Society . The old tavern was pulled down , and rebuilt in 1789 , and again partly rebuilt in 1867-8 ; but , as all

frequenters of the present Freemasons' Tavern are aware , a large part of the interesting earlier structure remains . The present Freemasons' Hall which adjoins the Tavern . —and which is now exclusively used for Freemasonry , was commenced in 1775 from designs by Thomas Sandby , R . A ., Professor of Architecture in

the Royal Academy ; and the Hall was opened and dedicated in solemn form on 23 rd May 1776 , Lord Petre , the Grand Master declaring " It is the first house built in this country with the appropriate symbols of Masonry ; and with the suitable apartments for the holding of Lodges ; the initiating , passing , raising , and exalting of Brethren . "

Everybody admires Freemasons' Hall ; it is much the same now as it always was . It is finely proportioned ; the ceiling and covering are richly embellished ; the sides are decorated with fluted Ionic pilasters ; and throughout the room , in the frieze , are

Homes Of English Freemasonry.

Masonic emblems , gilt , upon a transparent blue ground . The Lodge rooms , in a minor degree , are splendid rooms , and the whole building is particularly suited to the purposes for which it is used . This is to be regarded as the official side of Masonic life in London . The social side is connected with the Tavern . What a crowd of memories come

upon the visitor within its portals—especially one acquainted with modern Masonry . Those old haunts of Freemasons already mentioned , with their quaint names have disappeared ; and their story has become part of the ancient history of the metropolis . The Goose and Gridiron , the Apple Tree Tavern , the Rummer and Grapes—names eloquent of conviviality and good

cheerhave gone and left but memories behind . Not only have they gone ; but the places where they stood can only be found by the initiated . Here , however , in Great Queen Street , we are on classic ground ; and not only is it famous in the annals of Freemasonry ; but it has many haunting memories as well , the saddest of all being that it was the scene of the tragedy which

cast its terrible shadow over the life of Lamb , the essayist . It ia a far cry back to the time when Great Queen Street was a fashionable street , sacred to the nobility , and to art ; but the Freemasons' Tavern has seen many changes and still survives . There is certainly no more interesting Inn left to us in London than this ; and it is surprising that Charles Dickens , who lived

for a time in Lincoln s Inn Fields close by , and must have known it well , did not introduce his readers to it , fond as he was of the quaint and curious aspects of London life ; and especially of quaint old London structures such as this . For though the Tavern has a modern exterior , the interior , always roomy and cheerful , is as old-fashioned as one could wish any place of good

cheer to be . Though arranged principally for the convenience of Freemasons , it has a good connection—and historical associations too—in other directions . Here it was that the farewell dinner was given to J . Kemble , the noted actor ; and where a famous banquet , the memory of which can never die , was prepared for James Hogg , the Ettrick Shepherd to whose descendants we owe

that wonderful institution in Regent Street , the Polytechnic . Here , too , was held a meeting in honour of James Watt , the inventor of the steam engine , when Lord Liverpool , Brougham , Peel , Davy , Huskisson and Wilberforce were present . All sorts of famous men have passed through its equally famous portals ; for Freemasons' Tavern is still only in the zenith of its

popularity , and shows no signs of being injured by the modern rage for palatial establishments in the West End . Twenty years ago there were only the Freemasons' Tavern , Anderton ' s , the Ship and Turtle , Willis ' s Rooms , and the Albion where public banquets were held ; now the list of huge " banquetting " hotels is a long one . Still the " Freemasons " is busier than ever ; its

accommodation is taxed every day of every season of the year , for dinners , for balls , for smokers , large and small ; still there is a constant run upon its wonderful stock of choice wines in the old labyrinthine cellars , which remind one so much of the cellars of an ancient monastry . Still , despite the rage for modern cookery , for " kickshaws , " and made dishes , some time-honoured items

yet figure on the menu to the delight of those old gourmets who have not changed with the times . Marrow bones axe still served in the old style ; the famous black puddings of a century ago still linger on the board ; and the old style of service still prevailsthat good old style of bringing the joints and dishes into the room

and carving them in the presence of the guest . Here , too , one can rely on getting real turtle in the best of condition ; and while the old fashioned diner-out is consulted , the taste of the modern gourmet is not overlooked . It is only a matter of arrangement for every taste to be consulted .

One could prose away for hours about the glories and gaieties of the Freemasons' Tavern—and like wooden-legged Silas Wegg , drop into poetry too , as well—for here is pabulum which appeals to all . But it is as a home and haunt of Freemasonry that we are most concerned with it ; and what a wonderful institution it is from this point of view ! How uniquely it is mixed up with

the official home of Masonry next door ! And what a contrast to the solemn ceremonial of the one ; is the light hearted conviviality of the other ! Imagine for a moment the fact that 140 Lodges meet in solemn conclave on one side of the dividing wall ; and dine in jovial good-fellowship on the other . It is a continual round of banqueting and feasting , and not only are there these

social functions connected with Masonry ; but what a host of other Societies—ancient and modern , quaint and curious—meet here . From the point of view of quaintness there is nothing in the whole of London , nothing in the whole world , to rival the strange old survival , the " Noveomagi" who have met here time out of mind—the quaintest assembly of curious old fogeys , who make a

point of meeting in the curious old customs of centuries ago , eating weird dishes , talking wisdom , and generally perpetuating the last century but one . Many are the curious legends attaching to the " Noveomagi "—the new wise men—one of whose Presidents for many years was a singular London character who believed he had discovered the secret of the elixir of life , and that he would