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Article PROVINCIAL. ← Page 9 of 36 →
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Provincial.
that triangles form the plan , elevations , windows , and even every detail of windows ; not in one part , but in all ; not only here , but abroad . The friendly feeling of the Brethren of our Order has always distinguished it , more particularly in past times . Variations were perpetually occurring in the architecture of the middle ages during three hundred years ; yet these are found to be nearly simultaneous all over Europe , showing the intercommunication existing between the Lodges in different countries ; and that a novelty or beauty was scarcely
discovered in one Lodge or country , but it was freely communicated to other Lodges and countries ; whilst it is equally well known that the governing principles of Ereemasonry , and more especially those of geometry and architecture , were almost entirely unknown to the popular world . AVith the revival of learning arose an affectation of everything classical . Gothic architecture decayed , and there ceased to be much necessity for retaining those Masonic operative secrets that were no longer in use , and Ereemasonry itself somewhat declined . Many valuable Masonic secretsbeing upon paperwere destroyed by the Craft at the
, , instigation of Sir Christopher AVreu , who , with other Brethren , were fearful of the possibility of their getting into the hands of those not of the Order . One thing he did , —he founded the Lodge of Antiquity . About one hundred years since , when this Lodge , No . 35 , was founded , Masonry was nearly at the lowest point . Our number is now thirty-five , originally it was twenty-five ; but when that blot upon the escutcheon of Ereemasonry , I mean that division in the Craft , when it was split into "Ancient Masons , " under the Duke of Athol , and "Modern Masons" under the Prince Regenta difficulty arose as to what was our number ;
, , for , as the Ancient and Modern Masons , each had their numbers , beginning at No . 1 , there were thus two of the same number . When the whole were amalgamated under the late Duke of Sussex , it was decided by lot that the Ancient Freemasons should retain their own number ; and the Modern Masons' number , when the same , should be changed for the next in succession—thus our old number changed from twenty-five to thirty-eight ; after which several warrants falling iu ,
our number was reduced to thirty-five , at which it has remained for many years . The fortunes of our Lodge have been as various as its localities . In 1804 , there , were twenty-three members ; in 1 S 23 they had dwindled to five ; and so heavy were its resj > onsibilities , that it was proposed to sell the furniture to pay them off . This desecration was fortunately prevented by Bro . L . Samuel , P . M , who , this day , completes his fifteenth anniversary as a member , and his thirteenth as treasurer , stepping forward and paying them off at once . The well-known Dr . Currie was , sixty-five years since , Master of this Lodge , and presented the
snuffbox that always adorns our table . Admiral Murray was , for five years , master ; whilst Bros . James Aspinall , Sir Joshua Walmsley , M . P ., Bramley Moore , Thomas Littledale , and other mayors ofthe town , have presided over us ; and we will hope , that as the present Mayor , J . B . Lloyd , is a Mason , he will some day occupy the chair that I now unworthily fill . The savings-bank at the top of Lord-street was built by Freemasons for Freemasonry , and was long used as such ; but painful circumstances occurred , whereby it got alienated from our Order , though by tbe oriinal deed it would have been a Masons' Hall so long as a
g single Mason of our Lodge l'emained . This Lodge , with other Brethren of the Craft , had the honour of laying the first stone of a statue of George III ., Great George ' s-square ; but it was afterwards removed to London-road . The Craft here also assisted in laying the first stone of the Sailor ' s Home ; and afterwards , Bro . Drinkwater , of this Lodge , laid the foundation-stone of St . George ' s Hall . Our chapter is of a date coeval with the Lodge ; formerly , all Lodges by their warrant could have a chapter , but now every chapter requires a warrant . During the war a great compliment was paid to Freemasonry . Under Lord Sidmouth ' s Act all
secret societies were suppressed , except the Freemasons , although they were obliged annually to register the Lodge , and declare the names of all the members ; bnt even this requirement is not now made , except by the Grand Lodge in London , showing still further the high opinion entertained by tbe government of the principles and practices of the Craft . The AV . M . then went through the history of the Lodge 35 , which was very interesting to the Brethren , and concluded a most eloquent speech amidst immense applause .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Provincial.
that triangles form the plan , elevations , windows , and even every detail of windows ; not in one part , but in all ; not only here , but abroad . The friendly feeling of the Brethren of our Order has always distinguished it , more particularly in past times . Variations were perpetually occurring in the architecture of the middle ages during three hundred years ; yet these are found to be nearly simultaneous all over Europe , showing the intercommunication existing between the Lodges in different countries ; and that a novelty or beauty was scarcely
discovered in one Lodge or country , but it was freely communicated to other Lodges and countries ; whilst it is equally well known that the governing principles of Ereemasonry , and more especially those of geometry and architecture , were almost entirely unknown to the popular world . AVith the revival of learning arose an affectation of everything classical . Gothic architecture decayed , and there ceased to be much necessity for retaining those Masonic operative secrets that were no longer in use , and Ereemasonry itself somewhat declined . Many valuable Masonic secretsbeing upon paperwere destroyed by the Craft at the
, , instigation of Sir Christopher AVreu , who , with other Brethren , were fearful of the possibility of their getting into the hands of those not of the Order . One thing he did , —he founded the Lodge of Antiquity . About one hundred years since , when this Lodge , No . 35 , was founded , Masonry was nearly at the lowest point . Our number is now thirty-five , originally it was twenty-five ; but when that blot upon the escutcheon of Ereemasonry , I mean that division in the Craft , when it was split into "Ancient Masons , " under the Duke of Athol , and "Modern Masons" under the Prince Regenta difficulty arose as to what was our number ;
, , for , as the Ancient and Modern Masons , each had their numbers , beginning at No . 1 , there were thus two of the same number . When the whole were amalgamated under the late Duke of Sussex , it was decided by lot that the Ancient Freemasons should retain their own number ; and the Modern Masons' number , when the same , should be changed for the next in succession—thus our old number changed from twenty-five to thirty-eight ; after which several warrants falling iu ,
our number was reduced to thirty-five , at which it has remained for many years . The fortunes of our Lodge have been as various as its localities . In 1804 , there , were twenty-three members ; in 1 S 23 they had dwindled to five ; and so heavy were its resj > onsibilities , that it was proposed to sell the furniture to pay them off . This desecration was fortunately prevented by Bro . L . Samuel , P . M , who , this day , completes his fifteenth anniversary as a member , and his thirteenth as treasurer , stepping forward and paying them off at once . The well-known Dr . Currie was , sixty-five years since , Master of this Lodge , and presented the
snuffbox that always adorns our table . Admiral Murray was , for five years , master ; whilst Bros . James Aspinall , Sir Joshua Walmsley , M . P ., Bramley Moore , Thomas Littledale , and other mayors ofthe town , have presided over us ; and we will hope , that as the present Mayor , J . B . Lloyd , is a Mason , he will some day occupy the chair that I now unworthily fill . The savings-bank at the top of Lord-street was built by Freemasons for Freemasonry , and was long used as such ; but painful circumstances occurred , whereby it got alienated from our Order , though by tbe oriinal deed it would have been a Masons' Hall so long as a
g single Mason of our Lodge l'emained . This Lodge , with other Brethren of the Craft , had the honour of laying the first stone of a statue of George III ., Great George ' s-square ; but it was afterwards removed to London-road . The Craft here also assisted in laying the first stone of the Sailor ' s Home ; and afterwards , Bro . Drinkwater , of this Lodge , laid the foundation-stone of St . George ' s Hall . Our chapter is of a date coeval with the Lodge ; formerly , all Lodges by their warrant could have a chapter , but now every chapter requires a warrant . During the war a great compliment was paid to Freemasonry . Under Lord Sidmouth ' s Act all
secret societies were suppressed , except the Freemasons , although they were obliged annually to register the Lodge , and declare the names of all the members ; bnt even this requirement is not now made , except by the Grand Lodge in London , showing still further the high opinion entertained by tbe government of the principles and practices of the Craft . The AV . M . then went through the history of the Lodge 35 , which was very interesting to the Brethren , and concluded a most eloquent speech amidst immense applause .