Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Occasional Papers.—No. Iv.
has been the same measure of annual Festival apportioned to each of our threo Institutions . A few other points remain to be mentioned . In 1872 H . R . H . The Prince of Wales , then holding the honorary rank of Past G . Master , consented to occupy the position
of Patron of the Institution , and this kindly act was followed up the very next year when His Royal Highness presided with marked success at the anniversary Festival . It should be noted further that at first the distressed brethren were granted annuities ranging according to a
graduated scale from £ 10 to £ 30 per annum , according to age . In 1876 this system was abolished , and the annuitants on both funds received equal annual payments , which have been increased till at the present time the old brethren are paid £ 40 per annum each , and the old ladies
£ 32 . As there are now 155 of the former , and 160 of the latter , with sundry widows receiving one-half their late husbands' annuities it does not requiio a very elaborate amount of reckoning to discover that nofc far short of £ 12 , 000 is needed annually to meet tho requirements of this Institution .
This completes my sketch of "our Masonic Institutions . " It is longer , perhaps , than I had anticipated , but I trust it will be found clear in its details , and above all things an accurate presentation of the facts .
Reviews.
REVIEWS .
All Books intended for Beview should be addressed to the Editor of The Freemason ' s Chronicle , 23 Great Queen Street , "W . C . The History of the Lodge of Unity , No . 183 ( formerly 111 , 376 , 289
290 , 242 , 305 , 215 ) . Extracted from the Minntes and other Docnments of the Lodge , and from the Records and Eegister of Grand Lodge . by George William Speth , P . M . London George Kenning , the Freemason Office , 16 Great Queen-st-reet , W . C . 1881 .
( Concluded from page 4 . ) As regards removals from one place of meeting to another , they have not been very frequent . In 1769 , the year of ifcs constitution , the Locige is said to have met at the Shi p Tavern , Radcliffe ; and in 1781 at the Vine Tavern , Broad-streefc , Radcliffe ; ' but as nothing is known of its doings daring the intermediate period , and as G . Lodge , for
reasons of its own , fixes the latter year as the date when tho Locige commenced work , we can only repeat what Brother Speth points out , namely , that it figures in the engraved lists for 1770 . 4-7 , as meeting at the aforesaid Ship Tavern . ' By 1782 it had removed to King Henry ' s Head , Red Lion-street , Whitechapel . Some time prior to 1804—Bro . Speth snggests the preceding year—it removed to
the White Horse Inn , Friday-street , Cheapside , removing thence in June of the year following to the Horns Tavern , Doctors' Commons . No migration would seem to have occurred between this year ancl 1838 , when minntes were again kept of the procedings , and when the Master , Brother Warriner , assembled the Locige at the George and Vulture Tavern , Cornhill , of which ho was the proprietor , instead
of at the Horns , the funds being in a precarious state . On 27 th May 1839 , ifc was resolved to meet at Bro . Warriner ' s . In 1851 , after an emergency , held at Gerard ' s Hall Tavern , Basinghall-street , arrangements were made for settling at the London Tavern , Gracochurch - Btreet , and on the " disestablishment" of that hostelry , in 1876 , the Lodge moved to its present quarters , the Ship and Turtle .
We have already noticed the flnctuations from time to time in the number of members , and it will be readil y imagined that the iluctnations in the funds must to some extent have kept pretty much on the same level , increasing as the members increased , and diminishing as they diminished . During the earlier years of the Lodge ' s existence ,
it was the custom , as in other Lodges , to appead to the minntes of a meeting a short account showing the receipts and expenditure of the evening . In this case , however , there are no minutes till 1806 , nor is it till 1810 that an Audit Committee reports the Lodge as being indebted to the Treasurer in the sum of £ 7 13 s 3 d . Similar
information , and to a similar effect , ia . all thafc is vouchsafed for 181 . 1 and 1813 . In 1829 wc have the first Financial Report , Iho Lodge being in n state of solvency , but of arrears dne by members £ 70 17 s Gd are not down aa being " bad and doubtful , " and only £ 19 19 s as " good . " In 1810 the figures show an improvement , a mass of arrears havi-ic * been written off , and tho names of tho defaulters erased . Still
arrears , " bad and doubtful" arc estimated afc £ 21 19 s , those considered " good " amounting to £ 33 18 s fid . Ifc is nofc until a fnrthoi period of sixteen years has elapsed thafc wo havo the next , Report . when , in spite of arrears " bad and doubtful " to tlio extent of £ 25 ) , < -, the Lodge assets arc £ 29 10 s 9 d on the General Account , and £ 10 5 s 7 d on the Charity Fund , of whoso existence we rend r . ow for the first time . Since 185 G the Reports havo been rendered regularly
every year , and though there is at , the present time a considerable sum assigned to tho " had and doubtful " arrears column , there is a lanje balance in hand on the General Account . , and a larger balance on the Chant y Account than has ever been previously recorded . Let ua now refer to those noteworthy events and practices in the career of tlie Lodge which Bro . Speth " has thought it desirable to particularise . Among tho latter must be mentioned fcho frcqucnev with which more than one degree was conferred on the same candidate at a single meeting , emergency being the pretext assigned in
Reviews.
the majority of cases , though in certain instances no excuse at all was tendered . Another matter which has struck Bro . Speth aa singular is , " tho frequency with which a brother , having received his first degree in some other Lodge , " requested tho Lodgo of Unity to grant him a further degree , this request being " immediately granted , without his in any way becoming a member . " Some cases ,
too , are mentioned in which persons , chiefly of the waiter class , wore initiated , freo of expense , only the payment for thoir registering fees to tho Grand Lodge being demanded . It seems also that " Ancient " Masons were received into tho Lodge , aud had tho degrees according to the " Modern " system conferred upon them . This process was known as that of " translation , " the fee charged for it being
a guinea and a half , while the fee for initiation in the regular way was considerably moro than double that sum . A solitary instance of a brother being expelled the Lodge occurred in 1806 , the charge against the culprit being " for conducting himself on several occasions in a manner unbecoming a man aud a Mason , whilst in the Lodge , and thereby bringing into disrepute that respect which has
ever attended the Lodge of Unity . " Opportunity was afforded the member for escaping the threatened sentence on his " making an apology for his conduct , and defraying the expenses such conduct had occasioned to the Lodge . " However , as ho " refused to comply , and at tho same time used intemperate language , " the sentence was passed by a majority . The same year Masons wore cautioned
against a certain brother , member of a country Lodge , " who , under the cloak of Masonry , had swindled divers members of the Lodge of several hundred pounds . " Early next year the Lodge , which had changed from a Supper to a Dinner Lodge , found the expense too great , and reconstituted itself a Supper Lodgo , and as the quarterages were reduced soon afterwards , its numerical strength increased ,
former members , who had resigned , being invited to return , " freo of expense . " In 1808 tho Worshipful Master was presented with a ticket for Grand Feast , and shortly afterwards the same compliment was paid to the Secretary , but the practice , which soon became an annual one , has long since lapsed , probably , snggests Bro . Speth , during the period 1815-38 , for which the minutes are not forth .
coming . In 1809 Bro . Godwin was officially thanked for his services in Grand Locige in connection with the impeachment of a certain Lodge . Letters of thanks were also ordered to be written to the Worshipfnl Masters of Prosperity ( Bro . J . Blackwell ) and Good Intent ( Bro . W . Smith ) for their services on the same occasion . Bro . W . Smith ' s reply is so full of good sense and so Masouic in its tone , that we take leave to reproduce it iu its entirety : —
" To the R . W . M . and Brethren of the Lodge of Unity . " Brethren , —With the most sincere acknowledgments of gratitude and respect , I beg leave to return you my best thanks for the honour you have been pleased to confer on me ; for when I consider the nature of our Society , and the individual respectability of your Lodge , I can but feel proud on the occasion .
" I am indeed exceedingly sorry thafc any necessity should havo existed for bringing forward any private Lodge to the Tribunal of the Graud Master , especially when the regulations of our Society are so salutary and mild , and so intelligible . If we cast a retrospective glance into the annals of former times , wo shall find that the Revolutions of Empires and of States have arisen from a non-observance
of tho laws and from a neglect of political jurisprudence ; as then in States , so it is in Societies—for tho laws aro tbe ligaments of its union and the very soul of ifcs continuance . If , then , I havo in any measure prevented the causes that produce such baleful consequences , I consider I have done no more than my duty , no more than any
brother of our Order is bound to perform . " I cannot conclude without expressing my tribute of approbation tiBros . Blacklock and Godwin for their upright , manly , and uniform conduct , and at the same time beg to assure tho Lodgo of Unity of the gratitude with which I have received their approbation of my conduct , and with all clue consideration and fraternal affection ,
I subscribe myself , yours , & c , J . W . SMITH . " It is satisfactory to bo told in reference to this matter that Bro , Bkcklock , who was the prime mover , appeared as a visitor iu the Lodgo of Unity as W . M . of tho Lodgo ho had impeached and caused to be punished .
In 1801 , it was moved that a Locige Board in the three Degrees should bo provided at the expense of tho Lodge , but an amondmenfc to the effect that it shonld bo left open to the generosity of tho members was preferred , the Treasurer offering to subscribe a guinea towards the expeuses , and a Bro . Panll agreeing to furnish the board complete with lock and keys , & c , & c , while Bro . Brodie W . M . agreed
to furnish a silver trowel , wiih a whalebone handle , for the explanation . In December 1 S 10 Bro . I ' aull fulfilled his promise , but £ 3 8 s ¦ , v ; is paid a brother for pain ! ing tlio Board , towards which the Treasuier , Bvo . , fonts , does not appear to h-. ivo contributed his guinea , while Bro . Brodie , in November lull , moved thafc a trowel should bo provided out , of the Lodge Funds , and in the May following sent iu
his " little bill . " On 3 rd May . 181 . 0 , a Senor Don Juan Baptist Morand was propo-cd , balloted Tor and approved ; mad " , passed , and raised , the case being one of real emergency this time . Bro . Morand then paid his initiation fee of three and a-half guineas , three years' subscription as ;>; i honorary member , and two shiiliivj-s and sixpence for a Masonic
caV-mlar . IVo further defrayed the supper bill and the other ex . peases of ihe evening . On 23 id July the Tyler was dismissed , "in i-ouscqiionce cf complaints as to non-delivery of letters . " Previous to elosinrf , it was argued that the Lodgo should adjourn over August
nnd September , as it would be au impiovomotit to tho funds , tho Lodge being at the time indebted to the Treasurer in the sum of f' 7 13 s 3 d . It was also agreed , notwithstanding this indebtedness , ; o present Bro . Gill with a £ 7 jewel iu recognition of his services . Three years later , motion waa made aud carried unanimously that Bro . Gill should be authorised to purchase for himself , out of the
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Occasional Papers.—No. Iv.
has been the same measure of annual Festival apportioned to each of our threo Institutions . A few other points remain to be mentioned . In 1872 H . R . H . The Prince of Wales , then holding the honorary rank of Past G . Master , consented to occupy the position
of Patron of the Institution , and this kindly act was followed up the very next year when His Royal Highness presided with marked success at the anniversary Festival . It should be noted further that at first the distressed brethren were granted annuities ranging according to a
graduated scale from £ 10 to £ 30 per annum , according to age . In 1876 this system was abolished , and the annuitants on both funds received equal annual payments , which have been increased till at the present time the old brethren are paid £ 40 per annum each , and the old ladies
£ 32 . As there are now 155 of the former , and 160 of the latter , with sundry widows receiving one-half their late husbands' annuities it does not requiio a very elaborate amount of reckoning to discover that nofc far short of £ 12 , 000 is needed annually to meet tho requirements of this Institution .
This completes my sketch of "our Masonic Institutions . " It is longer , perhaps , than I had anticipated , but I trust it will be found clear in its details , and above all things an accurate presentation of the facts .
Reviews.
REVIEWS .
All Books intended for Beview should be addressed to the Editor of The Freemason ' s Chronicle , 23 Great Queen Street , "W . C . The History of the Lodge of Unity , No . 183 ( formerly 111 , 376 , 289
290 , 242 , 305 , 215 ) . Extracted from the Minntes and other Docnments of the Lodge , and from the Records and Eegister of Grand Lodge . by George William Speth , P . M . London George Kenning , the Freemason Office , 16 Great Queen-st-reet , W . C . 1881 .
( Concluded from page 4 . ) As regards removals from one place of meeting to another , they have not been very frequent . In 1769 , the year of ifcs constitution , the Locige is said to have met at the Shi p Tavern , Radcliffe ; and in 1781 at the Vine Tavern , Broad-streefc , Radcliffe ; ' but as nothing is known of its doings daring the intermediate period , and as G . Lodge , for
reasons of its own , fixes the latter year as the date when tho Locige commenced work , we can only repeat what Brother Speth points out , namely , that it figures in the engraved lists for 1770 . 4-7 , as meeting at the aforesaid Ship Tavern . ' By 1782 it had removed to King Henry ' s Head , Red Lion-street , Whitechapel . Some time prior to 1804—Bro . Speth snggests the preceding year—it removed to
the White Horse Inn , Friday-street , Cheapside , removing thence in June of the year following to the Horns Tavern , Doctors' Commons . No migration would seem to have occurred between this year ancl 1838 , when minntes were again kept of the procedings , and when the Master , Brother Warriner , assembled the Locige at the George and Vulture Tavern , Cornhill , of which ho was the proprietor , instead
of at the Horns , the funds being in a precarious state . On 27 th May 1839 , ifc was resolved to meet at Bro . Warriner ' s . In 1851 , after an emergency , held at Gerard ' s Hall Tavern , Basinghall-street , arrangements were made for settling at the London Tavern , Gracochurch - Btreet , and on the " disestablishment" of that hostelry , in 1876 , the Lodge moved to its present quarters , the Ship and Turtle .
We have already noticed the flnctuations from time to time in the number of members , and it will be readil y imagined that the iluctnations in the funds must to some extent have kept pretty much on the same level , increasing as the members increased , and diminishing as they diminished . During the earlier years of the Lodge ' s existence ,
it was the custom , as in other Lodges , to appead to the minntes of a meeting a short account showing the receipts and expenditure of the evening . In this case , however , there are no minutes till 1806 , nor is it till 1810 that an Audit Committee reports the Lodge as being indebted to the Treasurer in the sum of £ 7 13 s 3 d . Similar
information , and to a similar effect , ia . all thafc is vouchsafed for 181 . 1 and 1813 . In 1829 wc have the first Financial Report , Iho Lodge being in n state of solvency , but of arrears dne by members £ 70 17 s Gd are not down aa being " bad and doubtful , " and only £ 19 19 s as " good . " In 1810 the figures show an improvement , a mass of arrears havi-ic * been written off , and tho names of tho defaulters erased . Still
arrears , " bad and doubtful" arc estimated afc £ 21 19 s , those considered " good " amounting to £ 33 18 s fid . Ifc is nofc until a fnrthoi period of sixteen years has elapsed thafc wo havo the next , Report . when , in spite of arrears " bad and doubtful " to tlio extent of £ 25 ) , < -, the Lodge assets arc £ 29 10 s 9 d on the General Account , and £ 10 5 s 7 d on the Charity Fund , of whoso existence we rend r . ow for the first time . Since 185 G the Reports havo been rendered regularly
every year , and though there is at , the present time a considerable sum assigned to tho " had and doubtful " arrears column , there is a lanje balance in hand on the General Account . , and a larger balance on the Chant y Account than has ever been previously recorded . Let ua now refer to those noteworthy events and practices in the career of tlie Lodge which Bro . Speth " has thought it desirable to particularise . Among tho latter must be mentioned fcho frcqucnev with which more than one degree was conferred on the same candidate at a single meeting , emergency being the pretext assigned in
Reviews.
the majority of cases , though in certain instances no excuse at all was tendered . Another matter which has struck Bro . Speth aa singular is , " tho frequency with which a brother , having received his first degree in some other Lodge , " requested tho Lodgo of Unity to grant him a further degree , this request being " immediately granted , without his in any way becoming a member . " Some cases ,
too , are mentioned in which persons , chiefly of the waiter class , wore initiated , freo of expense , only the payment for thoir registering fees to tho Grand Lodge being demanded . It seems also that " Ancient " Masons were received into tho Lodge , aud had tho degrees according to the " Modern " system conferred upon them . This process was known as that of " translation , " the fee charged for it being
a guinea and a half , while the fee for initiation in the regular way was considerably moro than double that sum . A solitary instance of a brother being expelled the Lodge occurred in 1806 , the charge against the culprit being " for conducting himself on several occasions in a manner unbecoming a man aud a Mason , whilst in the Lodge , and thereby bringing into disrepute that respect which has
ever attended the Lodge of Unity . " Opportunity was afforded the member for escaping the threatened sentence on his " making an apology for his conduct , and defraying the expenses such conduct had occasioned to the Lodge . " However , as ho " refused to comply , and at tho same time used intemperate language , " the sentence was passed by a majority . The same year Masons wore cautioned
against a certain brother , member of a country Lodge , " who , under the cloak of Masonry , had swindled divers members of the Lodge of several hundred pounds . " Early next year the Lodge , which had changed from a Supper to a Dinner Lodge , found the expense too great , and reconstituted itself a Supper Lodgo , and as the quarterages were reduced soon afterwards , its numerical strength increased ,
former members , who had resigned , being invited to return , " freo of expense . " In 1808 tho Worshipful Master was presented with a ticket for Grand Feast , and shortly afterwards the same compliment was paid to the Secretary , but the practice , which soon became an annual one , has long since lapsed , probably , snggests Bro . Speth , during the period 1815-38 , for which the minutes are not forth .
coming . In 1809 Bro . Godwin was officially thanked for his services in Grand Locige in connection with the impeachment of a certain Lodge . Letters of thanks were also ordered to be written to the Worshipfnl Masters of Prosperity ( Bro . J . Blackwell ) and Good Intent ( Bro . W . Smith ) for their services on the same occasion . Bro . W . Smith ' s reply is so full of good sense and so Masouic in its tone , that we take leave to reproduce it iu its entirety : —
" To the R . W . M . and Brethren of the Lodge of Unity . " Brethren , —With the most sincere acknowledgments of gratitude and respect , I beg leave to return you my best thanks for the honour you have been pleased to confer on me ; for when I consider the nature of our Society , and the individual respectability of your Lodge , I can but feel proud on the occasion .
" I am indeed exceedingly sorry thafc any necessity should havo existed for bringing forward any private Lodge to the Tribunal of the Graud Master , especially when the regulations of our Society are so salutary and mild , and so intelligible . If we cast a retrospective glance into the annals of former times , wo shall find that the Revolutions of Empires and of States have arisen from a non-observance
of tho laws and from a neglect of political jurisprudence ; as then in States , so it is in Societies—for tho laws aro tbe ligaments of its union and the very soul of ifcs continuance . If , then , I havo in any measure prevented the causes that produce such baleful consequences , I consider I have done no more than my duty , no more than any
brother of our Order is bound to perform . " I cannot conclude without expressing my tribute of approbation tiBros . Blacklock and Godwin for their upright , manly , and uniform conduct , and at the same time beg to assure tho Lodgo of Unity of the gratitude with which I have received their approbation of my conduct , and with all clue consideration and fraternal affection ,
I subscribe myself , yours , & c , J . W . SMITH . " It is satisfactory to bo told in reference to this matter that Bro , Bkcklock , who was the prime mover , appeared as a visitor iu the Lodgo of Unity as W . M . of tho Lodgo ho had impeached and caused to be punished .
In 1801 , it was moved that a Locige Board in the three Degrees should bo provided at the expense of tho Lodge , but an amondmenfc to the effect that it shonld bo left open to the generosity of tho members was preferred , the Treasurer offering to subscribe a guinea towards the expeuses , and a Bro . Panll agreeing to furnish the board complete with lock and keys , & c , & c , while Bro . Brodie W . M . agreed
to furnish a silver trowel , wiih a whalebone handle , for the explanation . In December 1 S 10 Bro . I ' aull fulfilled his promise , but £ 3 8 s ¦ , v ; is paid a brother for pain ! ing tlio Board , towards which the Treasuier , Bvo . , fonts , does not appear to h-. ivo contributed his guinea , while Bro . Brodie , in November lull , moved thafc a trowel should bo provided out , of the Lodge Funds , and in the May following sent iu
his " little bill . " On 3 rd May . 181 . 0 , a Senor Don Juan Baptist Morand was propo-cd , balloted Tor and approved ; mad " , passed , and raised , the case being one of real emergency this time . Bro . Morand then paid his initiation fee of three and a-half guineas , three years' subscription as ;>; i honorary member , and two shiiliivj-s and sixpence for a Masonic
caV-mlar . IVo further defrayed the supper bill and the other ex . peases of ihe evening . On 23 id July the Tyler was dismissed , "in i-ouscqiionce cf complaints as to non-delivery of letters . " Previous to elosinrf , it was argued that the Lodgo should adjourn over August
nnd September , as it would be au impiovomotit to tho funds , tho Lodge being at the time indebted to the Treasurer in the sum of f' 7 13 s 3 d . It was also agreed , notwithstanding this indebtedness , ; o present Bro . Gill with a £ 7 jewel iu recognition of his services . Three years later , motion waa made aud carried unanimously that Bro . Gill should be authorised to purchase for himself , out of the