Lodge Histories.

LODGE HISTORIES .

— : o : — THE ROYAL UNION LODGE , No . 246 .

WE referred a fortnight since to the introductory matter which precedes Bro . George Norman ' s interesting History of this Lodge , and now propose to summarise some of the more important portions of the " history " itself . In doing so we desire to bring the matters

referred to more generally before the Masonic World than is possible without the assistance of the newspaper press , for however much we may say in praise of the support given to Masonic literary work it must be recognised that

at present the sale of any particular book is , so to speak , very limited , and this ia especially the case with histories of Private Lodges . In our last article under this head we argued that , judging from the supply , the demand for Masonic books is on the increase , and such , no doubt , is really the case , but we cannot help

thinking , when we look at the magazines and the periodical literature of years ago , that the Masons of the past must have been more liberal patrons than are their successors of to-day . Taking the older isanes of the

Freemason ' s Beview and the Freemason ' s Magazine for instance—it matters not whether the Quarterly , Monthly , or Weekly parts are considered—we find work which

compares favourably with anything that is attempted at the present time , and this notwithstanding the fact that the influence of Freemasonry and the number of individual Masons it now far in excess of what it was then . Our

predecessors in the work of Masonic Journalism must have been better supported than are the caterers of to-day , or they could not have continued year after year , as they did continue , the really interesting and voluminous serials of

their time . It is true the present is an age of cheap literature , and many persons are apt to consider a few halfpence should be sufficient to pay for all their requirements of a literary character . They forget that class

journals cannot compare in regard to circulation with those of a cosmopolitan character , and on this account they cannot understand why a small class paper should cost more than a larger general one . But such is the case , and if those

who attempt to supply the demands of the present day fail

to do all that is required of them the reason is , in all probability , that the Craft does not contribute its fair share towards the undertaking ; in other words the members of the Order do not support their journals as they might be expected to do .

But we are digressing , and it may be urged that our remarks so far have little to do with Masonic History , but in this onr critics would be wrong . We argue that it is to the Masonic newspapers of to-day that the future historian

will look for much of the material he requires for his work , and accordingly the more we are able to extend onr operations and the more complete we can make our record

of Masonic doings , the better will be the history when it shall come to be compiled , and the easier will be tho work of the compiler .

Turning once more to the pages of Bro . Norman ' s History , we are told the Royal Union Lodge is the oldest now existing which had its origin in the Province of

Gloucester . The Warrant of the Lodge , as we said in oui previous article , was granted by the Grand Lodge of the " Ancients . " It bore the number 357 , and was dated

Lodge Histories.

the 29 th July 1813 ; the first place of meeting being tho King ' s Head Inn , Cirencester . At the Union of the rival

Grand Lodges , which took place in the December following the establishment of the Lodge , it was numbered 461 on the Register , and subsequently , at tho various closings up , became No . 307 in 1832 , and No . 246 in 1863 , which latter number it still bears . In 1822 tho Lodse was

removed to Cheltenham , and here wo may note that at this time there were five other Lodges working iu thc county , only two of which remain on the Roll , viz ., the Royal Faith and Friendship , now meeting at Berkeley ,

and the Foundation Lodge , which at the present time shares , with the Royal Union , the Masonic Hall at Cheltenham . In its earlier days the Royal Union met at various hotels in the town , but for the past thirty years

has assembled uuinterruptedly in the Masonic Hall , m " fraternal fellowship , " as Bro . Norman puts it , with the Foundation Lodge . The Officers named in the Warrant of the Lodge were Bros . Joseph Mountain W . M ., Thomas Masters S . W ., and John Richardson J . W .

Among the earliest records of the Lodge is a copy of its By-laws , issued in 1815 , which copy belongs to Bro . Brook Smith D . P . G . M ., who has lent ifc for the parpose of this History . From ifc we learn that a penalty

was imposed on any brother coming to Lodge " disguised in liquor , " while punishment was provided for those who " curse , swear , or offer to lay wagers in tho Lodge , or use any language in derogation of God's Holy Name , or

tending to the corruption of good manners . ' "A description of the person" of every candidate for initiation was required to be supplied by his proposer , while the candidate could only be adopted " after his

person , age , character , and circumstances" had been approved , and subject to his being " of mature age , sound in body , free from bondage , with the senses of a man , and endowed with an estate , office , occupation , or some visible

way of acquiring an honest and reputable livelihood . ' A new Master having been elected by ballot , he was required to nominate some Brother for the office of S . W ., then the present Master and brethren selected a Brother to act as

J . W ., and so on in the choice of the inferior officers , those selected by the Lodge being chosen by ballot . By-law No . 27 provided that in case any member should be taken ill , the W . M . should depute one of the Brothers ( the most

acquainted with the sick member ) to wait upon him , and , with all delicacy required in such a circumstance , request the sick brother to entrust him with all the writings , books , & c . relating to Masonry which ho might have in his

possession ; the writings , & c . were then to be sealed and deposited in the Lodge , to be returned to the owner when recovered , or burnt in open Lodge should he unfortunately die withont having disposed of them in favour of some brother in particular , or left them to the Lodge .

Tbe details of the removal of the Lodge from Cirencester to Cheltenham , in 1822 , are recorded with interesting exactness in the Minute Book of the day . It appears a meeting was called in Cheltenham , for the purpose of

taking into consideration the propriety and expediency of forming another Loiige in the town , the Foundation Lodge having for the preceding five years regularly met there , after removal from Abingdon . Tho " propriety and

expediency" having beeu unanimously affirmed two brethren were appointed to negociate with the Royal Union Lodge , then meeting at Cirencester , for tbe purchase of its warrant , the members of the Lodge being