New Temple At Kelvedon.

The Royal Lodge was first constituted on the 3 rd September 1789 , under a Warrant from the Grand Lodge of Ireland , ancl is registered in the books of that Grand Lodge as No . 699 , the Brethren named in the Warrant being John Brown , John Misskolly and Samuel Ballard Whitaker . There is no record of any other names in connection with it , nor any evidence in the Irish Grand

Lodge to show when it ceased to meet . From other sources , however , information has beon obtained that the Lodge regularly met under the Warrant No . GOO ( Irish ) , on the first Thursday iu every month until 1794 , wium the Brethren , influenced by the better organised system of the " Ancients " or " Atholls " ( in the island ) and desirous of assisting to establish a Provincial Grand

Lodge , under the Ancients , decided to abandon the Irish Warrant , united themselves to the " Ancients , " and worked the Lodge , with the sanction or dispensation obtained from the other Lodges , until their " engraved number" could bo obtained from England . This arrangement was no doubt communicated to the governing body , and met with approval , as the archives of the United Grand Lodge

of England disclose the fact that in February 1794 the Brethren of the Royal Lodge forwarded to the Grand Lodge of England a Petition , signed by members of 699 ( Irish ) , praying for a Warrant , the Petition being recommended by the Union Lodge , No . 257 , of Kingston ; the Artillery Lodge , No . 262 , of Port Royal ; and the Harmony Lodge , No . 281 , of Port Royal .

The process of transferring allegiance from the ono Constitution to the ofcher may appear strange to some Brethren of the present day ; but , to those who have been careful students of the Masonic histories of the rival Grand Lodges existing in the days of which mention is now made , ifc will be no surprise to state that in view of the distance of the Colonies from the head centre of Masonry in

England , and fche then slow process of communication through the mails carried by His Majesty ' s sailing ships of war , extraordinary powers wero given to the Lodges working under the " Ancients " or " Atholls , " and where no Provincial Grand Lodge existed , they had power to sanction now Lodges , subject to the approval and confirmation of the Grand Lodge .

Under date the 10 th May 1794 , it is recorded in the books of the Grand Lodge , and stated in all documents connected with tho Lodge , that the Brethren who signed the Petition were from G 99 Ireland , and that tho following Brethren joined tho Petitioners immediately after the forwarding of the Petition , namely , Robert Bartlett , Peter McLauchlin , Jas . Dingwall , Wm . Bayley and Anty . Duart .

The prayer of the Petitioners having been granted , the Grand Lodge issued its Warrant , and this having beon received , the Brethren of the Craft assembled as a Grand Lodge on the 9 th October 1794 , under tho Presidency of Bro . Benjamin Whittakor P . M . Harmony Lodge , No . 281 , acting as Grand Master , when Bro .

Joseph Dunckcrley was installed as Worshipful Master ( Bro . S . B . Whitaker being absent from the island ) , Bro . John Misskolly as Senior Warden , aud Bro . James Tindall as Junior . Othor documents in Grand Lodge show that Bro . James Hunt was invested as Treasurer , and Bro . Ebenezer Daniel as Secretary .

Soon after the constitution of the Lodge , several Brethren were registered as joining . In the transition from the Irish C 99 , to the " Ancients " 283 , the Brethren of the " Royal" were careful to preserve their identity ,

and carried with them the Irish emblem of tho Naked Hand holding the Trowel , which device had been made obligatory on all Irish Lodges by their Constitutions of 1768 . This emblem still remains the distinguishing characteristic of the Lodge ' s Banner , ancl has always been the Seal of the Lodge .

From 1794 to 1814 tho Grand Lodge Register shows a blank , the returns not having been written up , but searches made in Grand Lodge office by the compiler , assisted by Bro . Henry Sadler , disclosed thc fact that the returns were in office , and that abundant documentary proof existed to show the continuous working of tho Lodge during that period , whilst the United Grand Lodge Register shows that from 1814 to date , the Lodge registered and obtained certificates for Brethren every year except in 1817 and 1863 .

In publishing the history of the Lodge , it may be of interest to call attention to the antiquity of the furniture . The Holy Bible was printed at Cambridge , by John Baskeville , Printer to the University , in A . D . 1760 , and is no doubt the original Bible used at

the opening of the Lodge in 1789 and again in 1794 , and most probably that on which every Brother initiated in the Lodge has been obligated . Tho Square is of silver , and marked No . 283 , whilst the Silver Compasses , although nofc marked with the number of the Lodge , appears to be of equal age .

The Officers' Jewels are also of sterling silver , without any marks to indicate the date of manufacture . The designs are very ancient . The Immediate Past Master from time immemorial wore , and still wears , " The Trowel" ( tho Jewel of old Ireland ) , whilst the Deacons wear the figure of " Mercury " ( the Jewel of the " Ancients " ) . The Treasurer ' s Jewel consists of the Cross Keys combined with the Square , whilst the other Jewels bear other appearances of antiquity .

From the absence of the old Minutes of tne Lodge , which have been lost by repeated fires in the City , it is impossible to give particular information of any marked events that possibly took place during the early career of the Lodge , but from a reference to the Reports of the Grand Lodge , local almanacs and records , and from those Minutes in the possession of the Lodge , it has been established that the Lodge met from 1794 to the present time at different places in Kingston .

At the Union in 1813-1814 , the number of the Lodge was changed from 283 to 357 ; at the re-numbering in 1832 to No . 250 , and in 18 G 3 it was advanced to No . 207 . In 1822 , the Royal Chapter was constituted in connection with

the Lodge , the Warrant for which was issued by the Grand Superintendent , and is dated 3 rd February in thafc year , and is signed by M . B . Clare Grand Superintendent , M . Morales P . G . H ., and J . W . Cazzo Grand S . E . The Chapter is now in active woriing older , and held the lasfc

New Temple At Kelvedon.

Installation meeting at the Sussex Hall , on the 1 st day of February 1891 . In 1821 a Murk Lodge was established ( in accordance with the custom prevailing at tho time ) and the degree given under the Warrant of the Craft Lodge . That Lodgo was always officered , as

nearly as circumstances would permit , by the regular Officers of the Craft Lodge . This practice was put a stop to , consequent on the . action of the Grand Lodge ( in June 1856 ) refusing to acknowledge the Mark Degree , on the ground that " it was not agreed upon at the time oi the Union , as forming part of ancient Freemasonry . "

The Minutes now in possession ot the Lodge were fairly well kept ; the earlier ones are not signed by the Secretary . ( This fact is also stated in other Centeniry Histories ) . Bro . Robert McClelland was the first to sign them in 1851 , and by recent instructions the Presiding Master now signs them on confirmation . In 1820 ( June ) it is recorded that " the Inner Guard announced that an unfortunate Brother was at the door of the Lodge and

craved pecuniary assistance ; he was vouched for as a Mason , and a Committee was appointed to enquire and examine the Brother . The Committee returned and reported that tho replies to tho Masonic questions were satisfactory and showed that the Brother was in distress ; but being in such a state ( referring to dress ) he could not with propriety be admitted . The Lodge granted immediate relief . "

In 1827 , —Tho following minuto was made at tho Installation Meeting : —Resolved : " That tho Installation of tho Wardens lie over for confirmation by the Grand Lodge , and that a letter be addressed to the Grand Secretary on their next Quarterly Communication for that purpose . " The reason of this minuto is not explained .

In 1831 , —An attempt was made to establish a Lodge of Instruction , and at the Regular meeting of the Lodgo in April the first degree was rehearsed , aud the Worshipful Master delivered a lecture on the General Principles of Masonry . There is no evidence of further action .

In 1861 , —The Lodge erected in the Parish Church of Kingston a Mural Tablet , " In Mcmoriam , " as a mark of thoir esteem and respect of tho Worshipful Brother Robert McClelland , who died on 15 th September 1860 . In 1869 , —The Lodge subscribed to the Zetland Testimonial Fund , also to the Fund for tbe Exploration of Palestine .

In 1876 , —The Lodge favourably considered the proposition to invest in shares in the Kingston Benefit Building Society , with tho ultimate view of procuring suitable premises of fcheir own . In 1877 , — The Lodge considered the proposition to purchase premises in Duke Street , known as tho United Methodist Chapel , and convert it into a Lodge Room ; but the proposal was not agreed to .

In 1882 , —Thc Lodge contributed towards the fuud in aid of the persecuted Jews in Russia . In 1882 , —The Lodgo voted an Annual Subscription of £ 5 5 s to the Jamaica Masonic Benevolence Association .

During the period of the Lodge's existence , many important events have taken place in the Masonic History of Jamaica , in all of which the Royal Lodgo has taken the most prominent part . It would be impossible to enumerate them all , for want of complete Masonic Records ; but it is interesting to record that the Royal Lodgo , outside of consecrations of new Lodges and dedication of Lodgo rooms , took active part and occupied first place in tho following public ceremonies : —

In 1845 , —The Laying of tho foundation stone of tho General Penitentiary in Kingston . In 1856 , —The Laying of the foundation stono of Lady Barclay's Institution for Training Nurses in Kingston . In 1861 , —The public reception of H . R . H . Prince Alfred , Duko of Edinburgh and now reigning Duko of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha , afc the Parade , Kingston , on his visit to Jamaica .

In 1864 , —The Laying of the foundation stone of the Jewish Alms House in Duke Street , Kingston . In 1883 , —The Laying of the foundation stone of the new Chancel of the Parish Church , Kingston . In 1888 , —The Laying of the foundation stone of the Memorial Jubilee Chancel , Harewood Church , St . Catherine .

In 1889 , —The Laying of the foundation stone of the Memorial Jubilee Chapel , Parish Church , St . Dorothy . On reference to the Treasurer's books , now in the possession of fche Lodge , it will be found thafc the Lodge has done a fair share of benevolent and charitable work , and that no worthy applicant has ever been denied aid .

The Royal , like many other Lodges , had its times of adversity and great depression ; but thanks to the G . A . O . T . U . and to worthy Brethren who in their days never permitted the Lodge to cease its working , the Warrant has been preserved and handed down pure and unsullied to those who now occupy the proud position of being members of a Lodge one hundred years old , under English Constitution , and 101 in membership .

Reference to tha Records of the United Grand Lodge discloses the fact that the Royal Lodge , during the 100 years of its existence registered , from 1794 to 1810 , 145 members , and from 1814 to 1894 , 761 members . The Royal , shorty after its constitution , moved for the formation

of a Provincial Grand Lodge , pending which , by an arrangement of the Lodges , she became leader of the Craft here , and is referred to in the Jamacia Almanacs of 1795 , 1796 and 1797 , as " The Ancient York Constitution , No . 283 , " and to her was addressed the authority to consecrate new Lodges .

The Royal Lodge has been so closely identified with Provincial Grand Masters and Provincial Grand Lodges , that it was impossible to gather information and compile this history without using the opportunity to bring forward the information obtained . The first Constitution of a Provincial Grand Lodge in Jamaica , under tho " Ancient" Grand Lodge of England , was by patent issued in 1796 , appointing the Hon . Brother William Blake ( Member of tho