Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Freemasons' Magazine, Or General And Complete Library.
in the Strand , on Thursday , May 21 , 1772 , which . was Honoured with the presence of the then Grand Officers , and many other eminent and respectable Brethren . On this occasion he delivered an Oration on the Institution , which , having met with general approbation , was afterwards printed in the first edition of the " ILLUSTRATIONS OF MASONRY" published by him in the same year .
, Having thus far succeeded in his design , Mr . Preston determined to prosecute the plan he had formed , and to complete the Lectures , He employed , therefore , a number of skilful Brethren , at his own expence , to visit different town and country Lodges , for the purpose of gaining information , and these Brethren communicated the result of their visits at a weekly meeting .
When by study and application he had arranged his system , he issued proposals for a regular course of Lectures on all the degrees of Masonry , and these were publicl y delivered b y him at the Mitre Tavern in Fleet-street in 1774 . For ' some years afterwards Mr . Preston indulged his friends by attending several schools of instructionand other stated meetingsto
, , propagate the knowledge of the Science , which had spread far beyond his expectations , and considerabl y enhanced the reputation of the Society . Having obtained the sanction of the Grand Lodge , he continued to be a zealous encourager and supporter ' of all the measures of that assembly which tended to add dignity to the Craft , and in all the
Lodges in which his name was enrolled , which were very numerous , he enforced a due obedience to the laws and regulations of that body . By these means the subscriptions to the charity became much more considerable , and daily acquisitions to the Society were made of some of the most eminent and distinguished characters . At last he was invited by his friends to visit the Lodge of Antiquity , No . 1 , then held at the Mitre
Tavern in Fleet-street , when the Brethren of that Lodge were pleased to admit him a member , and , what was very unusual , elected hirn Master at the same meeting . He had been Master of the Philanthropic Lodge at the Queen ' s Head , Gray ' s Inn Gate , Holborn , above six years , and of several other Lodges before that time . But he was now taught to consider the of the office of
importance the first Master under the English Constitution , and he seemed to regiet that some more eminent ' character in the walks of life had not been selected to support so distinguished a station . Indeed , this too small consideration of his own importance has pervaded his conduct on all occasions , and has operated ( to the disappointment of many of ourpatrons and correspondents ) to prevent to embellish
our gaining permission this Magazine with his Portrait ; and the writer of this brief account has frequently seen him voluntarily assume the subordinate offices of an assembl y over which he has long before presided , on occasions where , from the absence of t -e proper persons , he has conceived that his services would promote the purposes of the meeting . To the Lodge of Antiquity he now began chiefiv to confine his attention , and during his Mastership , which continued for some
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Freemasons' Magazine, Or General And Complete Library.
in the Strand , on Thursday , May 21 , 1772 , which . was Honoured with the presence of the then Grand Officers , and many other eminent and respectable Brethren . On this occasion he delivered an Oration on the Institution , which , having met with general approbation , was afterwards printed in the first edition of the " ILLUSTRATIONS OF MASONRY" published by him in the same year .
, Having thus far succeeded in his design , Mr . Preston determined to prosecute the plan he had formed , and to complete the Lectures , He employed , therefore , a number of skilful Brethren , at his own expence , to visit different town and country Lodges , for the purpose of gaining information , and these Brethren communicated the result of their visits at a weekly meeting .
When by study and application he had arranged his system , he issued proposals for a regular course of Lectures on all the degrees of Masonry , and these were publicl y delivered b y him at the Mitre Tavern in Fleet-street in 1774 . For ' some years afterwards Mr . Preston indulged his friends by attending several schools of instructionand other stated meetingsto
, , propagate the knowledge of the Science , which had spread far beyond his expectations , and considerabl y enhanced the reputation of the Society . Having obtained the sanction of the Grand Lodge , he continued to be a zealous encourager and supporter ' of all the measures of that assembly which tended to add dignity to the Craft , and in all the
Lodges in which his name was enrolled , which were very numerous , he enforced a due obedience to the laws and regulations of that body . By these means the subscriptions to the charity became much more considerable , and daily acquisitions to the Society were made of some of the most eminent and distinguished characters . At last he was invited by his friends to visit the Lodge of Antiquity , No . 1 , then held at the Mitre
Tavern in Fleet-street , when the Brethren of that Lodge were pleased to admit him a member , and , what was very unusual , elected hirn Master at the same meeting . He had been Master of the Philanthropic Lodge at the Queen ' s Head , Gray ' s Inn Gate , Holborn , above six years , and of several other Lodges before that time . But he was now taught to consider the of the office of
importance the first Master under the English Constitution , and he seemed to regiet that some more eminent ' character in the walks of life had not been selected to support so distinguished a station . Indeed , this too small consideration of his own importance has pervaded his conduct on all occasions , and has operated ( to the disappointment of many of ourpatrons and correspondents ) to prevent to embellish
our gaining permission this Magazine with his Portrait ; and the writer of this brief account has frequently seen him voluntarily assume the subordinate offices of an assembl y over which he has long before presided , on occasions where , from the absence of t -e proper persons , he has conceived that his services would promote the purposes of the meeting . To the Lodge of Antiquity he now began chiefiv to confine his attention , and during his Mastership , which continued for some