The Humorous Side Of Freemasonry.

THE HUMOROUS SIDE OF FREEMASONRY .

BY STREBO . ( Continued from pago 173 . ) The following extracts are from No . i Book : — 1809 . 24 Augt . —Visited by Br . John Blain & Elleswood , both of the Modern Lodge , No . 33 .

19 Oct . —The Master conspiciously toasted his Majesty in Ancient form , the rest of the Brethren joining giving every Mark of Loyality to King and Constitution . 25 Oct . —Emergency Meeting for the Comemery of the Jubilee of his preasant Majesty , and was a Acomenced with the Ainchent Lodg 196 . Allso , by the Modrin Lodg 33 , directed to the New Church , thair to Attend Divine Servis in grait harmony . The Lod closed in harlf parst fore in the Evening with great harmone .

Note by the compiler : — " This appears to be a Festival at which Lodges Ancient & Modern attended Divine Service , at St . George ' s Church , in Little Bolton , only then recently erected . " Mar . 7 . —The Members of Lodge 303 duly congregated to attend the funeral of Br . Rubotim , which we regret , our Members was candidly entertained by the Lodge that our deceased Brother belong'd .

Apl . 12 . —The W . M . from the chair gave " His Majesty and the British Navey , may the conquer all foes . " June 26 . —St John ' s Day . 2 Brothers passed the Chair . After Dinner the W . M . gave from the Chair : the Grand Master , John , Duko of Athol . June 26 . —When all the Members joyed him in Antiont form the S . W .

gave his Majesty's Land and Sea Eorcos Sucess , whan every Brother drank it deep in Clarret ; during the Evening Toasts and Masonic Songs abounded . Aug . 19 . —Opened on the Night Templer order . Derly Beloved Jeromier Grayham who had his Sertifiket delivered font him B'fore a arge Bodey of Respecttobcl Brothers Met on the Resectobel order .

Dec . 6 . —Lodge approved of a proposed p lan of general relief for the town of Bolton .

1811 . 2 May . —The Lodge was engaged for some time in most serious business . 28 Nov . —When the Interests of Masonry being taken into consideration , that Interest weighing upon the minds of the whole Lodge , it was unan .

Resolved , that Brother Blank having repeatedly violated his obligation by disobedience to lawful summonses sent from this Lodge , without shewing any cause for the same , he his therefore excluded from this Lodge For Ever and shall be reported as such to the Grand Lodge by next communication , and his certificate is burned by Vote .

1812 . 23 July . —An application being made by Rob . Dorset Neale a Prisoner in the Fleet it was Voted to send him one-third of a Note in Common with other 2 Lodges if they approve , otherwise to send on ac . this Lodge 7 / - and pay Charge of Carriage ; Worshipful to do the business . 1813 . Oct . 7 . —Brother Blank who had been excluded For Ever was admitted by consent of the members present on those condition to come as a Visiton Member until he cleard off the Books and then came as a Subscribing Member .

1814 . 31 March . —Two Br . received " that most glorious and sublime degree of Master Mason . " 8 July . —Christopher Smith came forward and was short of his money & according to the Grand Lodge Rules we could not bring him forward . 25 Aug . —Same brother with two others raised to Master .

1815 . 21 Oct . —There was a dispute betwist John Haggens and John Piatt , and it was left to the Lodge to deside . As this being the Seckand Crime it was agead that he should bo forgiven for the first it was Agread to fine hem as the By-Laws directed Acording to the 12 Rule . Closed in good

harmony at 9 O ^ clock . Br . Haggens pade 10 C as spoke on in the twelft rule . The mark of John Haggens x and gave satisfaction to the Lodge . 1816 . 9 May . —Thos . Sutcliffe wishes to lie dormant for some time . 1817 . 23 Oct . —When this resolution was put— " That for the futur none shall lie dormant . "

No . 5 Book . 1819 . 8 Apl . —Agreed to hold our Lodge Night on Saturday before full Moon , it being agreed that the Lodge of Instructions should be held on the next Sunday but one to the Lodge Night , and Spend 3 d . each out of the Stock .

G May . —Agreed that the Meeting bo Saturday on or after the full Moon . 29 July . —Several reputations made in respect of a Sick Fund Established in Connexion with the Lodge . A motion made that no Lodge business be done on Lecturing days . Moved and seed , that Robert Roberts should have a reduction will Solgerine .

1820 . 1 Apl . —Agreed to move to the Two Millstones . 27 May . —More repilations about Sick business . 2 G Aug . —Micbl . Partington be Sencherd for not A baying is Somons and non-payment .

23 Sept .-Br . Isherwood delegated to Preston to the day of the Grand Meeting . The first record having reference to a Provincial Grand Lodge . 21 Oct . —Ordered that there is no allowance to any person whatever out of the Lodge Room .

Brethren want to drink outside the Lodge at the expense of the Lodge . 21 Oct . —Carrid that Uio late Br . Tong has a few lines at the Lodge Expense , viz ., "Here Tong reclines , & c . " This refers to an inscription on the Tombstone of this Worthy Brother in the Old Parish Churchyard of Bolton .

Nov . and Dec—Two Brethren " expelled " for non-payment , & c . 6 Candidates admitted to the order of Red Cross of Babylon . 1 S 21 to lS 4 G .-No . G Book . 1821 . 17 Feb . —Initiation of Br . William Dawson .

The Humorous Side Of Freemasonry.

Subsequently a Masonic Instructor in this County , of considerable popularity . Thomas Hankinson who was under ago proposed . 24 Mch . —Do . initiated , a dispensation being obtained from the Deputy Prov . G . M .

21 Apl . —Put £ 21 into Bank in name of the Lodge . 19 May . —Any Br . coming in a colored handkerchief to pay 2 d . 10 Nov . —Agreed that wo write to the Masonic Committee , Castle Inn , North Liverpool , in answer to theirs , to comfort and console them . Mem . —Brethren wishing to understand the nature of this record should read " Preston ' s Illustrations . " It is sufficient to say here that the Brethren comforted and consoled by us were afterwards expelled the Order for contempt of Grand Lodge .

1822 . 9 March . —A Candidate on being ballotted for had 2 Black beans * against him , whereupon on the 6 th April . —Br . J . carried by a majority— " That any Candidate being objected by more than two members , if a Majority of the Members think proper the objections shall be disclose to the Lodge for their satisfaction . Again , on the

11 May . —A motion was made— " That we are Ruled by the Grand Rules and our By Laws as they stand at present , " but the Master refused to put the motion 1 11 A motion was made

That the motion made by Br . J . on preseding Lodga be rescinded—put and lost . Another person balloted for , and one black bean appeared against him . Resolved by a Majority that our By Laws be sent to Grand Lodge for their sanction .

1824 Apl . 17 . —Agreed to move to the Prince William . And that Members who belong to their Lodge appear on St . John ' s Day in a clean neat apron , either Craft , Arch , or Black . 1825 . —From this data the Province is divided . East Lancashire and West Lancashire .

1 Octo . —Resolved that Br . Crossley is a fit and proper person to become P . G . M . for the County of Lancaster , and a Petition be drawn to the Duke of Sussex to that effect . 29 Octo . —That our attendance on the Prov . G . Lo . be postponed till next year . 1826 . 19 Aug . —Brethren appointed to look out for a private room . The W . M ., W . Dawson appointed to attend the Prov . G . Meeting ; allowed 21 s .

18 Nov . —Stewards appointed to have charge of the Liquor ; allowed 4 d . each to be spent , to account every three months . 16 Dec . —2 / 6 each to be spent on St . John ' s Day , and ordered that a Quarter Barrel be allowed and provided . 1828 . 24 Feb . —Removed to the 4 Horse Shoes .

5 Apl . —Resolved by 9 to 2 that we send a Provincial Officer . That William Dawson goes for a Provincial Officer , be allowed 30 / - expenses , the Lodge finding his clothing . 1829 . July 26 . —Bro . John Warbrick appointed Provincial Grand Steward . To get his clothing as cheap as possible , allowed 15 / - for exs . 1830 . May 17 . —That there be a Funeral Procession at the interment of Br . Val . Quin , all expenses out of the Lodge Fund .

July 10 . —That there be a Procession on Thursday the 15 th inst . for the purpose of the interment of our late Majisty King George the Fourth , Grand Patron of Masonry , and that one third the expense of the Band repaid from this Lodge .

1831 . 22 May . —Procession to celebrate King ' s Birth Day . 27 Aug . —To be a Procession on King ' s Coronation Day . No expenses allowed out of Lodge Funds . 1835 . 6 Nov . —By Law that prohibits Landlord from becoming a Member where the Lodge is held rescinded . 1837 . June 24 . —Granted £ 1 to a Lodge at Dukinfield towards a law suit

for recovery of property . 1838 . June 28 . —Procession to Celebrate the Coronation of Queen Victoria . Sept . 4 . —Prov . G . Meeting at Manchester . 5 / - allowd to Member . The extracts extend to the year 1872 , but the secretarial duties appear to have fallen into more experienced hands , and are not so amusing as the foregoing . We can therefore afford to close at the year 1838 , and leave our readers to follow up the remainder if they are so desirous .

* It will not be new to the majority of our readers , that voting by beans was the old method adopted . I am reminded of a law which was enacted in Ipswich , Massachusetts ( 1643 ) , that white and black beans should be used when voting , " the white being yea , and the black no . "

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