Early Grand Masters.

Lodge of the Three Palms , at Leipsic , having been struck in honour of the occasion . Tho Earl of Crawford was installed as successor of the Earl of Strathmore on the 30 th March 1734 , at Mercers ' Hall , and during his Grand Mastership Bro . Dr . Anderson

was entrusted to prepare a new edition of tho Book of Constitutions . This edition mado its appearance in 1738 . At first , according to Preston , owing to tho pressure of public business , his lordshi p neglected the Communications of Grand Lodge . But if this were the case , he made

amends towards the close of his term of office by a greater display of activity than usual . He is said to have held two Communications within a period of six weeks . Moreover , several new regulations were passed during his administration , not all of which , however , can be regarded

with satisfaction . Additional privileges , for instance , were granted to the Grand Stewards , and it was resolved that all Grand Officers , the Grand Master alone excepted , should in future be elected only by that body . It waa also enacted that if any Lodge within the Bills of Mortality should

cease to meet during twelve calendar months , it should be erased from the list ; and , if * reinstated , should lose its foremost rank . A regulation was likewise passed against the illegal Conventions of Masons " who have lately met secretly , and to the discredit of the society have initiated

persons into Masonry for small and inadequate fees . " These provided that all who took part in such irregular initiations would nofc be permitted to bold office or participate in the Charity Fund . Three Deputations were also issued , appointing Grand Masters for Lancashire , Durham , and

Northumberland , and this Preston regards as an encroachment on the jurisdiction of the York Grand Lodge . " This circumstance , " he says , " the Grand Lodge in York highly resented , and ever after seems to have viewed the proceedings of the brethren in the south with a jealous eye , as all

friendly intercourse ceased , and the York Masons from that moment considered their interests distinct from the Masons under the Grand Lodge in London . " Thory adopts this view , but Findel points out that there were already sundry Lodges in Lancashire and Durham , and one at

Scarborough , in 1734 , that these had been constituted for some time , and that their constitution would certainly have given umbrage to the York Lodge at the time , not some years or months afterwards . It is true that Preston quotes a paragraph from the Constitutions of 1738 , in support of

his statement , pointing out that Anderson speaks of " the old Lodge at York City " and others , " affecting independency , " and being under their own Grand Masters , but four years is a pretty long interval of time , and as we advance , we shall have , I think , still greater reason to

support the views of Findel . On the 17 th April 1735 , Lord Weymouth was installed Grand Master , having been elected to that office on the 24 th December preceding . He appointed as his Deputy Bro . John Ward , to whose services now , and at a later

period , the Craft is deeply indebted . On the 24 th June , we have the authority of Thory for saying , application was made by sundry Lodges in Paris , soliciting the establishment of a Provincial Grand Lodge for France . Nothing is said as to the result of the application , but on reference

to Rebold we find it stated , in 1735 , that Lord Harnouester or Derwenfcwater was invested with the office of Provincial Grand Master , while Findel quotes Lalande ' s authority as

stating that Harnouester was chosen Grand Master in 1736 . But to return . In the same June the above application is said to have been made , the Grand Stewards' Lodge received its warrant of Constitution . The functions of

these officers were likewise more clearly defined , and at the same time the privilege was granted to the Lodge , of sending a deputation , consisting of twelve of its members , to Grand Lodge , such twelve members being permitted to vote as individuals , and also to wear distinctive aprons

and ribands , in consequence of the resolution mentioned above , that all Grand Officers should be elected out of that body . At a Grand Lodge held the llth December , this Deputation , with Sir Robert Lawley , Master of the Lodge , appeared , wearing their new badges of office . On this occasion thev were not permitted to exercise the risrht

ot voting as individuals , but when it was proposed thafc in future they should be allowed this privilege , " many Lodges objected to the measure as an encroachment on the

privileges of every other Lodge which had been previously constituted . When the motion was put for confirmation , such a disturbance ensued , that the Grand Lodge was obliged to be closed , before tbe sentiments of the brethren could he

Early Grand Masters.

collected on the subject . " Findel says , " This unjust preference shown to the . Stewards excited loud , but righteous , indignation among the brethren ; such a disturbance ensued , that Ward had to get up and make a speech , calling'for decency aud moderation . '" Preston

adds , that " years after , the punctilio was waived , and the twelvo Stewards permitted to vote as individuals . " In a footnote he is more explanatory still , pointing out that it was in the year 1770 that this privilege was strictly warranted , a resolution having been passed at the Grand Lodge

held on tho 7 th February , at tho Crown and Anchor Tavern , Strand , to the following effect , " As tho right of the members of the Stewards' Lodge in general to attend the Committe of Charity appears doubtful , no mention of such right being made in tbe laws of tho Society , the

Grand Lodge are of opinion That they have no right to attend , * but it is hereby resolved , That the Stewards' Lodge be allowed the privilege of sending a number of brethren , equal to any other four Lodges , to every future Committee of Charity , and that , as a Master of each private Lodge

only has a right to attend , to make a proper distinction between the Stewards' Lodge and tho other Lodges , that the Master and three other members of that Lodge be permitted to attend at every succeeding Committee on behalf of the said Lodge . Since then , though it was expressly so

stated that such resolution was not intended to deprive any older Lodge of its rank and precedence , the Grand Stewards ' Lodge has been accorded precedence of all other Lodges , including even the Time Immemorial Lodges . However , the disturbance we have noted above had a serious effect on

the progress of the Craft , so far as this , that it gave rise to much internal dissension , and this brought forth bitter fruit in the course of a few years , Before taking leave of Lord Weymouth as G . Master , we must notice the progress of Freemasonry in Holland ,

and the difficulties it experienced at the outset of its career in that country . The Lodge held at the Hague for the initiation of the Duke of Lorraine was , no doubt , as I have suggested , an occasional Lodge . At all events , we learn nothing further about Freemasonry in Holland till the

year 1734 . On the 30 th September of that year , according to Findel , a regnlar meeting of the Lodge of G . Master of the United Provinces of the Netherlands took place at the Golden Lion , under the presidency of Brother Vincent de la Chapelle , who may therefore be regarded as the

founder of Freemasonry in the Netherlands . The Baron de Wagenaer was appointed Grand Master , and it was this Lodge which in 1749 took the title of Mother Lodge of the Royal Union . But not to anticipate what properly belongs to a subsequent lecture , and to concern ourselves only about

this particular period , Findel points out that several daughter Lodges sprang from this 1734 Hague Lodge , and in 1735 , one was constituted at the hotel "Nieue Doelen " in presence of Grand Master J . Corn . Rademaker , G . Treasurer of the Prince of Orange , " and D . Grand

Master J . Kuenen . This having been announced in tho ZaUirdaagscJie Courant , of Amsterdam , for 3 rd November , excited the attention of the Government . On the 30 th of the same month fche States General issued an edict forbidding Masonic assemblies to be held anywhere in the

United Provinces . However , the Amsterdam Lodge continued to hold its meetings in secret , and this coming to the ears of the authorities , steps were taken for breaking up the Lodge , and bringing the subject judicially before the Council . There is a story abroad to the effect that the

Chairman and Wardens were examined on oath , and declared that Freemasons were peaceful subjects , & c , & c , and that they were willing to initiate any members of the Council into their mysteries in order to convince them of this . Thereupon the brethren had full

liberty granted to them , and the Secretary of State was initiated , his report being so satisfactory that nofc only did the Councillors allow full toleration to the Craft , but they enrolled themselves members of the Fraternity . Findel doubts the truth of this story , and I certainly think it

looks like another version of tbe old story recorded of Elizabeth , that she , hearing of the Freemasons of York and their recent assemblies , gave orders for the Society to be broken up . Bro . Thomas Sackville , however , is said to have had the officers sent to execute the Queen's mandate

initiated , and they were so thoroughly convinced then of the perfect innocence of Masonry , that they reported favourably of ifc to the Queen , who ever afterwards permitted them the free exercise of their rites . In the case of our Dutch brethren , however , it is certain that ,