Lodge Histories.

LODGE HISTORIES .

( Continued from page 105 ) . RESUMING our summary of Bro . Crossley ' s History of this Lodgo , we now come to tho 24 th November 1762 , when a regular meeting was held , at whioh Wm . Finch was initiated . In connection with this ceremony the minutes record the reading of " the several — : o : — THE LODGE OF PROBITY , No . 61 .

charges contained in the Book of Constitutions , as also our Bye Laws , " and this gives rise to a query , in the book before us , as to how often this is now done , even in Lodgos of superior working ? We are afraid this must be regardod as an old-fashioned custom , either considered unnecessary nowadays , or " crowded out "in the ever increasing calls made on the Mason of the present time ; while , on the other

hand , the increased facilities which now exist for providing each member with a printed copy of the Bye Laws and other matters has , in part , made their frequent repetition in connection with the ceremonies all but unnecessary . It is by weighing such matters , apparently trivial in themselves , that wc are able to gauge the advance and development of the Masonic Order , and form some sort of idea of the class

of men who were associated with it in the earlier days of its establishment . Another peculiarity of these days is observable from the minutes , which record , on many occasions , that the Master had " duly and regularly gone thro ' the apprentices work , " even where there was no candidate

to initiate . Our views on this point are known to our readers ; we think it far better to have some regular routine of work , either the rehearsal of a ceremony , a lecture on one or other of the tracing boards , or a discussion

on some topic of interest—the latter , as likely to be more attractive , for choice—set down for each Lodge meeting , so that , whether there is a candidate or not , the brethren may not lose the opportunity of being instructed in some of

the working of Freemasonry , or its peculiar teachings . Early in 1763 a Brother ' s " address to the Lodge was received for leave of absence till the 4 th Wednesday in March . " Bro . Crossley remarks this seems to imply that " tho By-Laws were not only stringent , but the penalty was carried out . " It would certainly be somewhat of a novel experience for a Lodge of the present day to be asked

to excuse the absence of a member for two meetings , as was the case in 1763 . The minute of the 8 th June following is interesting . It is the first mention of the celebration of the Festival of St . John the Baptist , and is the first occasion where a new appointment of Officers is mentioned . Among these latter are the Senior and Junior Deacons , and this is accredited as being the first record , so

far as has yet been discovered , of the appointment of Deacon in a Lodge under the Grand Lodge of England , though there is mention of this office in Lodges under the Antients . But , says the historian , the most strange appointment of the day is that of W . M ., Bro . Wm . Gream being elected for the year . This brother was only initiated on the 23 rd Febrnarv nrecedinsr , was passed on tha

23 rd March , raised on the 9 th May , and installed as W . M . on the 8 th June— " advancement of a very rapid character , and one which in our time might be envied by such brethren who prefer high rank to hard Masonic ploddu > g " & . From Watson ' s " History of Halifax" it seems

this William Grreme was " a gentleman of fortune , author of a Bhort speech addressed to tbe Antient and honourable Society of Free and Accepted Masons 24 th June 1763 , " which address was printed by Brother P . Darby , 1763 . Strenuous efforts have been made to discover a copy of this address , but so far without success . It would be very interesting , both

locally and generally , but it is more than doubtful if it will ever be brought to light now . At this samo meeting " the members present subscribed 12 d each , making a total of 17 s , which was given to Bro . Jas . Wilson , being an object of charity . " On the 13 th July 1763 " it was agreed to send to tho Grand Lodgo tho sum of £ 2 2 s

as a gratuity . The minutes of 12 th September 1764 show that the brethren of that period , like their fellows of to-day , were not wholly for themselves , but that they took an interest in outside affairs . It is recorded that on this date £ 31 10 s was " subscribed by the members for the Defence of the Orcan intended to be set up in Halifax

Church , 22 nd August 1764 . " This it appears was a sort of guarantee fund , to defray the costs of a suit which was entered into in opposition to tho proposed organ . Tbe guarantee amounted together to £ 720 , of which twenty-five per cent , was ultimately called up , in order to pay tho expenses incurred . Those who were in favour of the organ won the day .

On 9 th January 1765 , a " proposition for establishing a Royal Arch Lodge" was adopted . This Chapter was ultimately formed , the first meeting being held on the 30 th of the same month . "This was tbe first known Eoyal Arch Chapter in the north of England , with the exception of the one at York ; which at this time was in abeyance . " About this time it was proposed to receive a Jew as a member of tho Lodge , but the nomination was refused ,

proving that the Urder in tnose clays was not so cosmopolitan as it is at the present . A member was admitted at an Extraordinary Lodge , 28 th October 1764 , and subsequently passed and raised , whose certificate is still in possession of the Lodge , a fac simile thereof being introduced in the work under notice . This certificate is addressed " To the Right Worshipful Masters , Wardens

and Brethren of the Antient and Honourable Society of Free and Accepted Masons , " and , after recording tho regular admission of the brother referred to , concludes , " He having behav'd himself as a worthy Brother , we

recommend him to your Friendship and Protection , after due examination . " It is signed by the Master , two

Wardens and Secretary . On 30 th September 1765 the Lodge removed to the Old Cock Inn , particular care being apparently taken to see that the Lodge room was proof against " cowans . " This remained the home of the Lodge until September 1782 , when a move was made to the Union Cross Inn , from

whence the Lodge returned to tne via . UOCK inn in LWremaining there until 1869 , when the present Freemasons ' Hall was built . An Extraordinary Lodge meeting was held on 31 st January 1766 , to make arrangements for tho members to attend the funeral of a Brother who died that morning . It was arranged that the whole body of the

Lodge attend at the Lodge room the following Sunday , at 1 o ' clock , in order to attend the said funeral . It appears that a pall , gloves for every member , and new plain aprons were ordered ; and it is recorded that all the members assembled as arranged , the expenses paid by tho Lodgo totalling up to M 17 s 9 d . On the 19 th and 20 fch June