What's In A Name ?

WHAT'S IN A NAME ?

IN the Articles of Union between tho two Grand Lodges of Freemasons of England in 1813 , it was agreed in tie Gtfi Clause that "the Grand Incorporated Lodge shall then be opened , in due form , under the stile ( sic ) and title of the United Grand Lodge of Ancient Freemasons of

England . " These articles were signed at the Palace of Kensington on the 25 th November 1813 , by Augustus Frederick , G . M ., on behalf of " the Grand Lodge of the Society of Freemasons under the Constitution of England , "

and by Edward , G . M ., on behalf of "the Grand Lodge of Freemasons of England , according to the Old Institutions . " The seal of e » ch of the Grand Lodges was affixed on the 1 st December 1813 .

It is perhaps needless to remark that " Augustus Frederick" was H . R . H . the Duke of Sussex , and " Edward " was H . B * H . the Duke of Kent , father of Her Most

Gracious Majesty , whom God preserve . In the " Order of Proceedings of the Grand Assembly of Freemasons , on the Union of the two Grand Lodges on St . John ' s Day , 27 th December 1813 , " wo

read" The Act of Union shall then be read by tho Master of the Ceremonies .

" A Grand Chaplain shall proclaim aloud , after sound of trumpet" Hear ye—This is the act of Union , engrossed , in confirmation of Articles solemnly concluded between the two Grand Lodges of Free and Accepted Masons of

England , and signed , sealed , and ratified by tho two Grand Lodges respectively , by which they aro to bo hereafter aud for ever known and acknowledged by the

style and title of "tho United Grand Lodge of Ancient Freemasons of England . " How say you , Brothers Representatives of the two Fraternities ? Do you accept of , ratify , and confirm tho same ?"

" To which the Assembly will answer— ' We do accept , ratify , and confirm tho same . ' The Grand Chaplain shall thon say— ' And may the Great Architect of the Universe make the Union perpetual ? ' To which all the Assembly will say— 'So mote it be . '

" Tho two Grand Masters will then affix the Great Seals of their respective Grand Lodges to tho said Act of Union . " The other Grand Chaplain , after sound of trumpet , shall then proclaim— ' Be it known to all men , that the

Act of Union between the two Grand Lodges of Free and Accepted Masons of England , is solemnly signed , sealed , ratified , and confirmed and the two Fraternities arc one , to ho from henceforth known and acknowledged by the

sty lo and title of "THE UNITED G RAND LODGE OF AX WENT FREEMASONS OP ENGLAND ; " and may the Great Architect of the Universe make their Union eternal . ' " And the Assembly will say ' Amen . ' "

The first printed Proceedings of the United Grand Lodge are those of the 2 nd March 1814 , when the Minutes of the Grand Assembly of the 27 th December 1813 wero read and confirmed .

These printed Proceedings are headed " United Grand Lodge of Antient Free-Masons of England . " It will be noted " Ancie-nt" is here changed to " Antient" and " Freemasons " to ' Free-Masons . "

The 1814 title was continued for only about a year . The Proceedings of the 29 th May 1815 , 31 st May 1815 , 7 th June 1815 , 23 rd August 1815 , and 6 th December 1815 , do not give any specific title whatever to the United Grand Lodge . In those of the 31 st May we read . " The M . W .

Grand Master stated , that he had convened this Specia Grand Lodge , pursuant to the Resolution of the Special Grand Lodge , held on the 1 st of February last , that the laws read at that Grand Lodge might again be brought before the Craft for their reconsideration ; but , inasmuch as

several alterations had been made to them by the Board of General Purposes , in consequence of suggestions from the Masters or Officers of Lodges who had perused them , His Royal Hig hness submitted that the better mode might be to havo only those alterations and additions now read , to

afford the brethren an opportunity of expressing their sentiments thereon , and that being approved , the Laws as this day agreed to should lay open for the inspection oi the Craft for another month , after which His Royal Highness would couveno another Special Grand Lodge , when the Laws , as now amended , should be submitted for

What's In A Name ?

confirmation . " They were so confirmed on the 23 rd AugUBt 1815 . It is possiblo an alterattonthe in style and title was then discussed .

Tho first use by the United Grand Lodge of the word "accepted" was , I believe , in a circular signed by William H . White and Edw . Harper , Grand Secretaries , to Masters of Lodges , dated 8 th January 181 G , which

commences" WORSHIPFUL MASTER , The Most Worshipful His Royal Highness the Grand Master has directed us to make the following communication to you , for the information of tho Brethren of your Lodge .

The happy ro-uniou , in one Fraternity , of all tho Free and Accepted Masons of England , so long aud so ardently the wish of every heart , made it obvious that increased accommodation would be required for the Grand Lod ge , " & c , & c .

The Proceedings of the Quarterly Communication of 6 th March 1816 , have no distinctive title , but they contain a letter signed by John Soane , addressed" To His Royal Highness the M . W . Grand Master , and the United Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons of England . "

Tho next use of the term " Free and Accepted " is in the title of tbo United Grand Lodge Proceedings of 24 th April and 5 th June 1816 , which were printed together . This runs " United Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of England , " which is , I believe , the only time , this particular title was used on Proceedings .

On tho 4 th September 1816 , the title changed to "United Grand Lodge of Antient Free and Accepted Masons of England , " aud with the exception cf two addresses to His Majesty King George the Fourth , in 1820 ; in which the " Antient" was dropped , this title was

continued until the 25 th April 1821 , when "Antient " became " Ancient , " and the title "United Grand Lodsje of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of England" has continued to be printed on Grand Lodge Proceedings until the present day . Is it correct ? It certainl y is not the title which was adopted at the Uniou .

Turning now to the Constitutions we are thrown into greater doubt . The earliest Constitutions after the formation of the original Graud Lodge of England are dated 1723 . In these the Institution is termed " THE RIGHT WORSHIPFUL

FRATERNITY OF ACCEPTED FREE MASONS . " In the 1738 issue , on the title , we read " ANCIENT AND HONOURABLE FRATERNITY OP FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS , " but the

actual Constitutions are headed — " RIGHT WORSHIPFUL FRATERNITY OF THE FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS , " and tho General Regulations merely say that they apply to " Free and Accepted Masons . "

The substitution of italics for capitals in certain words is the only alteration in the 1756 , 1767 and 1769 Constitutions ; but in the 1784 Constitutions the title runs " Antient Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons , " the dedication

is to the " Grand Master of the Ancient and Honourable Society of Free and Accepted Masons , " and the actual text of the Constitutions is headed " Constitutions of the Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons . "

None of these give us a proper clue to the title of the Grand Lodge adopted at the Union . We now turn to the records of the other Grand Lodge , of which the Duke of Kent was Grand Master in 1813 .

Its first printed Constitutions are those of 1756 , and the title merely refers to " The Institution of Freemasonry . " In the body of the work , both as a heading to the " Old Charges " and to the " General Regulations , " the simple term " Free and Accepted Masons" is used . The 1764

edition offers nothing for remark nor do other English editions of the last century , but in the 1800 , 1801 and 1807 editions we find this second Grand bod y described as " The Most Ancient and Honourable Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons . "

As early as 1751 the Irish Grand Lodge adopted the title used by the second English Body , in 1800 , but if . has long abandoned it , and describes itself now as " The Grand Ledge of Free and Accepted Masons of Ireland .

The Official Calendars of the Grand Lodge of England up to 1813 refer to the " Grand Lodge of England" and to " The Society of Freemasons . " The current Freemasons' Calendar , officially published