Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Consecration Of The Royal Naval And Military Chapter, No. 2404.
auguries of to-day , and he was sure the Print ipals would carry out that augury . The chapter was in very good hands , at least for three years , and they had good companions comini ? on . They could be trained , and taught to act up to the principles of the Order as taught in the chapter by the Principals . He asked that the companions should support the Principals cordially , heart and soul for the first year , and if they did , the chapter to-day
launched would become an ornament to the Province of Kent . No one would rejoice more in that consummation than the Superintendent . He never served in the sister service , but he did serve with a red coat , and he looked back to those years with great pleasure indeed . He repeated that it gave him great pleasure to come down and consecrate the chapter , and see so many companions wearing the red coat , and so he thought they had
started with every prospect of success . The matter was now in the hands of the companions and the chairman to make it a success . For himself he could only thank them for the kindness with which they had received the toast of his health , as they had many other times . He reciprocated their hope that he should be their Superintendent for a great many years , and he trusted that they would go on as smoothly and pleasantly , and that his
health would be received as well as it had been that evening . If so they would still have a very happy province . The principle of Masonry was brotherly love and affection , and the companions would agree with him in wishing that the happy relations between him and them at the present day might long continue . He had the pleasure of drinking the good health of them all .
Comp . STEPHENS , H ., proposed " The Second and Third Principals of the Province , " speaking in high praise of the way in which the ceremonies of the day had been carried out . Comp . Major-Gen . CUMING , in reply , said hewas sorry Comp . Eastcs had been obliged to leave , as he would have said something to invigorate the chapter , and also something , as he was well qualified by his long experierce to do , of
Royal Arch Masonry in the Province of Kent . As to himself , he was only a novice , but the responsibility of his office weighed very much upon him , and if they had seen below his robes they would have seen how he trembled in fear when giving the oration . He was asked where he learned the oration , and when it was in print ; he told his interrogator that the oration had been in his brain several months , and he had reduced it to writing , and he produced it . He
was pleased by the reception it had , and that the companions thought he did credit to himself and to the Order . Having passed through the chair three or four times , he wished to give his idea on Royal Arch Masonry , though he was not a literary man . He framed the oration on what he considered Arch Masonry meant , and what he thought would stimulate the companions to make a closer study of the M . M . Degree . If he had succeeded in a very
small measure he was much gratified , and was glad they had appreciated his endeavours . The encouragement they had given him would prompt him to further endeavour to help Royal Arch Masonry in the Province of Kent . Comp . T . S . WARNE , Prov . G . S . E ., said that if he could take exception to anything that had fallen from the proposer of that toast , gentle and amiable as he always was , he should certainly object to the photograph he had
presented to the brethren of him ( Comp . Warne ) . He had done so by saying that the companions were always pleased to see their good old friend , Comp . Warne , He strongly desired to be called good , and to be called a friend , but he strongly objected to the adjective old . However , there he was , and he could only say that it had been his pleasurable duty on former occasions to be with them . All the Grand Officers were pleased to be under the genial
sway of their Grand Superintendent . When they said they were Grand Officers of Kent , he always maintained they were Grand Officers of no mean province , and when they saw how , under the genial sway of Lord Amherst , Freemasonry had flourished in that province , they had reason to be proud . He carried his mind back , not to ancient history , but lo 14 or 15 3 ears , when he found they had only 10 or 11 chapters . They had more
than double that number now . That was an honour , and an honour to Lord Amherst which he would feel . It had been a most happy and pleasant day ; all were delighted to find themselves taking part in the ceremonies , and if he might wind up , with the permission of Lord Amherst , he would say that those who wanted to see a similar ceremony would do well to be at Maidstone on the 6 th inst .
Comp . Capt . WALKER also replied . Comp . Earl AMHERST proposed the toast of " The Three Principals . " Without good men in the chapter it could not hope to succeed . Comp . Powell had done good service to the province ; he was a founder of the Lord Charles Beresford Lodge , which had done good work , and when it was proposed to have a chapter attached to it , and it came to him to recommend
that a warrant be granted , he had great pleasure in doing so . He was sure the chapter would follow in the footsteps of the lodge . The good men in the chairs knew the ceremonies thoroughly . Comp . Powell had the good of Freemasonry at heart , and fortunately he had good lieutenants in his Second and Third Principals . The ceremonies , of installing to the second
and third chairs were never done better than that evening . They were impressive and important ceremonies and he hoped the two companions who had been installed would carry away the solemn duties they had undertaken to perform . Therr-fore the chapter started well . It had three excellent Principals and he thought it would be very ungraceful on his part if he did not dedicate one glass of wine to them all before leaving .
Comp . POWELL , M . E . Z ., in iesponse , said his motto was " deeds not words . " He was well supported , and should endeavour to do his best ; but no manager or chief was any use unless he was well suppoited by officers . If a general of an army was not well supported by officers he could not succeed . In a chapitr the First Principal would be a cypher unless he was well supported by the other officers . If the officers and companions would give him the support he had a right to expect of them , he had no fear for
himself . This time next > ear he should be delighted with himself , and should have smiling faces all round him , and he would have a smiling face himself , because he should have got rid of a certain amount of responsibility . Any one who took it on him in an earnest manner must feel it was a great lesponsibility—a great responsibility whether the work would be well carried out . He gave them his word that if he was supported in the way he had a right to expect he had no fear for the result .
Comp . Major STEPHENS , H ., assured the M . E . Z ., that he would do his duty if the M . E . Z . would do his . He was sure he would do it well , and so would the assistant officers . They had an excellent First Principal , they could not have a better . He was sure the work would go on smoothly , and that the chapter would succeed .
Comp . Sergeant-Major M ORDEV , J ., also responded , and said he would do his duty well . He could not say more than that . The other toaHs were given before the companions separated .
Consecration Of The Sherborne Chapter, No. 702.
CONSECRATION OF THE SHERBORNE CHAPTER , No . 702 .
An interesting Masonic ceremony was performed at Stroud on Tuesday , the 8 th ultimo , when a new Royal Arch Chapter , for which a warrant was issued by the Grand Chapter of England neirly 12 months ago , was consecrated and formally constituted , in accordance with the impressive ritual ^ of the Order . The chapter is attached to , and bears the name of , the senior
of the two lodges meeting at Stroud , the Sherborne , No . 702 ; but its membership will be supplied by both of the Stroud lodges , and by the other lodges of the mid-Gloucestershire district to which it is convenient . The Sherborne is the fourth chapter on the roll of the province , the threa previously existing chapters being located , one at Cheltenham and two in the city of Gloucester . That at Cheltenham is known as the Chapter of
Unanimity and is attached to the Foundation Lodge , No . 82 . It holds the premier position by virtue of its seniority , and as being affiliated to a lod ^ e which was founded in Cheltenham in the year 1753 , and which has now met in the town of its origin and in a hall built by the liberality of its members for the past 75 years . The senior of the two chapters at Gloucester is attached to the Royal Lebanon Lodge , No . 493 , and was consecrated in the
year 1876 ; the other bears the name of the Lodge Royal Gloucestershire , No . 8 39 , and was consecrated and opened 12 years ago , the late Col . Shadwell Clerke , Grand Scribe E ., Sec . Eng ., presiding at the ceremony . At that time the Provincial Grand Chapter of Gloucestershire had not been formed ; but Comp . Sir Michael Hicks Beach was made the first head of the new chapter with a view to its formation , which took place in the year
following . The present opening of a fourth Royal Arch Chapter is therefore the first ceremony of the kind since Provincial Grand Chapter was constituted . Its foundation is justified by the prosperity of the chapters already established ; but , as a fact , the increase of Royal Arch Masonry is likely to be largely promoted by the relaxation of the conditions of membership on the part of the Grand Chapter , and no long interval is now likely to occur
before the ceremony at Stroud is repeated in connection with other flourishing lodges in the province . The warrant for the formation of the Sherbourne Chapter was granted on the petition of the following companions , viz .: Comps . the Rev . C . J . Martyn , P . Z ., P . G . S . Eng ., G . Supt . Suffolk ; Dr . J . Partridge . P . Z ., P . P . G . D . C ; W . Warman , P . Z . ; J . Albin Roberts ,
P . Z .,, P . P . G . J . ; Gen . Vizard ; A . R . Grieve , P . Z ., P . P . G . R . ; James David , P . Z ., P . P . G . R . ; E . N . Witchell , P . Z , P . G . D . C ; E . Lea ; R . J . Weston , Prov . G . S . B . ; J . Kyle , Rev . W . Lyon , E . Hulbert , M . F . Wood , J . H . Daniels , J . Brown , A . G . Spire , and R . W . Northcott , who are the ' founders " and first members of the chapter .
The ceremony of consecration was performed by the Grand Superintendent , the Right Hon . Sir Michael E . Hicks Beach , Bart ., assisted by Comp . R . V . Vastar-Smiih , Prov . G . H . ; and Comp . J . Bruton , Prov . G . J ., as Principals ; and Comps . ihe Rev . C . J . Martyn , G . S . of Suffolk ; Jas . B . Winterbotham , Prov . G . Scribe , E . ; A . Woodward , Prov . G . Scribe N . ; R . P . Sumner , Prov . G . P . S . ; W . B . Wcod , Prov . G . Std . Br . ; and E . N . Witchell , Prov . G . D . C .
The usual formalities were observed in the opening of the chapter , and the charter or warrant of the new chapter having been presented and read , Comp . MARTYN , in eloquent terms , addressed the companions on the origin and principles of the Degree and on the lessons inculcated by its symbols . Next followed the office of consecration as prescribed by the timehonouicd ritual of the Order . The anthem , " Beholdhow good and joyful
a thing " was succeded by a dedicatory prayer and invocation , and then the three Principals ptrambulated the cfapler , bearing richly chased vessels containing corn , wine , oil , and salt , with which in succession the floor of the chapter room was sprinkled . Each oblaiion was marktd by the reading of an appropriate Scripture extract , and by the choral rendering of a verse of an appropriate ode .
The ceremony ( Iced with the formal dedication of the chapter by prayer , and then an anthem was sung before the new chapter was duly constituted by the installation of its luture Principals and officers . The service throughout was an impressive one , its effect being much added to by the excellence of the musical arrangements , for which the Prov . G . Org , Comp . J . A . Matthews was responsible .
The officers of the new chapter was installed and invested as follows Comp . J . Albin Roberts , P . Z ., M . E . Z . ; A . R . Grieve , P . Z ., H . ; R . J . Weston , J . ; J . Partridge , M . D ., I . P . Z . ; W . Warman , Treas . ; R . W . Northcott , S . E . ; J . Kyle , S . N . ; J . David , P . Z ., P . S . ; E . Hulbert , ist A . S . ; M . F . Wood , 2 nd A . S . ; A . G . Spire , Stwd . j and E . N . Witchell , P . Z ., D . C . Among the companions present , in addition to those already mentioned , were :
Comps . J . Bryan , P . Z . 839 , Prov . G . Treas . ; W . R . Porcher , P . Z . 82 , P . P . G . J . ; A . V . Hatton , P . Z . 493 . P . P . G . J . ; George Norman , P . Z . 82 , P . P . G . J . ; Henry S . Crump , P . Z . 493 , P . P . G . S . N . ; W . R . Felton , P . P . G . S . N . ; j . Campbell , P . Z . 839 , P . P . G . S . N . ; J . L . Butler , P . Z . 82 , P . P . G . R . ; J . A . Matthews , P . Z . 439 , P . P . G . R . ;
W . C . Ferris , P . Z . 493 , P . P . A . G . S . ; LI . Kvans , Prov . G . A . S . B . ; Rev . W . S , Fallon , 82 ; E . G . Woodward , 493 ; S . P . Ryland , R . Cheshire , Bucknell , Horace Fisher , Turner , B . Coombe , and Palmer , of 82 ; C . J . P . Smith , 103 j G . L . Wenden , 839 ; H . A . Armitage , 839 , ; J . E . Holloway , 2191 ( Anglo-American ); E . Lea , Gadd , and B . London , of 493 ; and others .
WILLIAM HUTCHINSON , may be fairly termed the father of Masonic symbolism . No one writer has endeavoured more than he did to give an elevating , and classical , and philosophical tendency to all our Masonic researches and disquisitions . His is a name which ought to be held in reverential regard by all Anglo-Saxon Freemasons . He was born at Barnard Castle , Durham , in 1732 , and died in 1814 . He was a solicitor by profession , but » an antiquary and arcba : ologist by taste —and conviction . He wrote that well-known work " The rlistory and
Antiquities of the County Palatine of Durham , and several other works , being a zealous member of the Antiquarian Society . His "Spirit of Masonry , " his well-known work , was first published in 1775 , with the especial sanction of Grand Lodge , and a second edition was issued in 1795 . Dr . Oliver edited one of the many later editions . Hutchinson had his own peculiar theories , which a later and sounder criticism and a truer exegesis have compelled Masonic students to discard . His etymology and his symbolism are both somewhat strained , though there will be always a large School in
Anglo-Saxon Freemasonry which will adhere to the Christian sympathies and sentiments of Hutchinson . But though we cannot fully agree with all his views , we can admire truly the general groundwork of his admirable work , which will remain a lasting monument , both to his learning and ingenuity , a fitting epitaph , so to say , on the long career of a man and a Mason , whose head and heart went in -nison , whose life was blameless , and whose memory is still fondly regarded by Freemasons wherever the English language is spoken , and as long as Freemasonry itself endures . —Kenning ' s Cyclopaedia of Freemasonry .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Consecration Of The Royal Naval And Military Chapter, No. 2404.
auguries of to-day , and he was sure the Print ipals would carry out that augury . The chapter was in very good hands , at least for three years , and they had good companions comini ? on . They could be trained , and taught to act up to the principles of the Order as taught in the chapter by the Principals . He asked that the companions should support the Principals cordially , heart and soul for the first year , and if they did , the chapter to-day
launched would become an ornament to the Province of Kent . No one would rejoice more in that consummation than the Superintendent . He never served in the sister service , but he did serve with a red coat , and he looked back to those years with great pleasure indeed . He repeated that it gave him great pleasure to come down and consecrate the chapter , and see so many companions wearing the red coat , and so he thought they had
started with every prospect of success . The matter was now in the hands of the companions and the chairman to make it a success . For himself he could only thank them for the kindness with which they had received the toast of his health , as they had many other times . He reciprocated their hope that he should be their Superintendent for a great many years , and he trusted that they would go on as smoothly and pleasantly , and that his
health would be received as well as it had been that evening . If so they would still have a very happy province . The principle of Masonry was brotherly love and affection , and the companions would agree with him in wishing that the happy relations between him and them at the present day might long continue . He had the pleasure of drinking the good health of them all .
Comp . STEPHENS , H ., proposed " The Second and Third Principals of the Province , " speaking in high praise of the way in which the ceremonies of the day had been carried out . Comp . Major-Gen . CUMING , in reply , said hewas sorry Comp . Eastcs had been obliged to leave , as he would have said something to invigorate the chapter , and also something , as he was well qualified by his long experierce to do , of
Royal Arch Masonry in the Province of Kent . As to himself , he was only a novice , but the responsibility of his office weighed very much upon him , and if they had seen below his robes they would have seen how he trembled in fear when giving the oration . He was asked where he learned the oration , and when it was in print ; he told his interrogator that the oration had been in his brain several months , and he had reduced it to writing , and he produced it . He
was pleased by the reception it had , and that the companions thought he did credit to himself and to the Order . Having passed through the chair three or four times , he wished to give his idea on Royal Arch Masonry , though he was not a literary man . He framed the oration on what he considered Arch Masonry meant , and what he thought would stimulate the companions to make a closer study of the M . M . Degree . If he had succeeded in a very
small measure he was much gratified , and was glad they had appreciated his endeavours . The encouragement they had given him would prompt him to further endeavour to help Royal Arch Masonry in the Province of Kent . Comp . T . S . WARNE , Prov . G . S . E ., said that if he could take exception to anything that had fallen from the proposer of that toast , gentle and amiable as he always was , he should certainly object to the photograph he had
presented to the brethren of him ( Comp . Warne ) . He had done so by saying that the companions were always pleased to see their good old friend , Comp . Warne , He strongly desired to be called good , and to be called a friend , but he strongly objected to the adjective old . However , there he was , and he could only say that it had been his pleasurable duty on former occasions to be with them . All the Grand Officers were pleased to be under the genial
sway of their Grand Superintendent . When they said they were Grand Officers of Kent , he always maintained they were Grand Officers of no mean province , and when they saw how , under the genial sway of Lord Amherst , Freemasonry had flourished in that province , they had reason to be proud . He carried his mind back , not to ancient history , but lo 14 or 15 3 ears , when he found they had only 10 or 11 chapters . They had more
than double that number now . That was an honour , and an honour to Lord Amherst which he would feel . It had been a most happy and pleasant day ; all were delighted to find themselves taking part in the ceremonies , and if he might wind up , with the permission of Lord Amherst , he would say that those who wanted to see a similar ceremony would do well to be at Maidstone on the 6 th inst .
Comp . Capt . WALKER also replied . Comp . Earl AMHERST proposed the toast of " The Three Principals . " Without good men in the chapter it could not hope to succeed . Comp . Powell had done good service to the province ; he was a founder of the Lord Charles Beresford Lodge , which had done good work , and when it was proposed to have a chapter attached to it , and it came to him to recommend
that a warrant be granted , he had great pleasure in doing so . He was sure the chapter would follow in the footsteps of the lodge . The good men in the chairs knew the ceremonies thoroughly . Comp . Powell had the good of Freemasonry at heart , and fortunately he had good lieutenants in his Second and Third Principals . The ceremonies , of installing to the second
and third chairs were never done better than that evening . They were impressive and important ceremonies and he hoped the two companions who had been installed would carry away the solemn duties they had undertaken to perform . Therr-fore the chapter started well . It had three excellent Principals and he thought it would be very ungraceful on his part if he did not dedicate one glass of wine to them all before leaving .
Comp . POWELL , M . E . Z ., in iesponse , said his motto was " deeds not words . " He was well supported , and should endeavour to do his best ; but no manager or chief was any use unless he was well suppoited by officers . If a general of an army was not well supported by officers he could not succeed . In a chapitr the First Principal would be a cypher unless he was well supported by the other officers . If the officers and companions would give him the support he had a right to expect of them , he had no fear for
himself . This time next > ear he should be delighted with himself , and should have smiling faces all round him , and he would have a smiling face himself , because he should have got rid of a certain amount of responsibility . Any one who took it on him in an earnest manner must feel it was a great lesponsibility—a great responsibility whether the work would be well carried out . He gave them his word that if he was supported in the way he had a right to expect he had no fear for the result .
Comp . Major STEPHENS , H ., assured the M . E . Z ., that he would do his duty if the M . E . Z . would do his . He was sure he would do it well , and so would the assistant officers . They had an excellent First Principal , they could not have a better . He was sure the work would go on smoothly , and that the chapter would succeed .
Comp . Sergeant-Major M ORDEV , J ., also responded , and said he would do his duty well . He could not say more than that . The other toaHs were given before the companions separated .
Consecration Of The Sherborne Chapter, No. 702.
CONSECRATION OF THE SHERBORNE CHAPTER , No . 702 .
An interesting Masonic ceremony was performed at Stroud on Tuesday , the 8 th ultimo , when a new Royal Arch Chapter , for which a warrant was issued by the Grand Chapter of England neirly 12 months ago , was consecrated and formally constituted , in accordance with the impressive ritual ^ of the Order . The chapter is attached to , and bears the name of , the senior
of the two lodges meeting at Stroud , the Sherborne , No . 702 ; but its membership will be supplied by both of the Stroud lodges , and by the other lodges of the mid-Gloucestershire district to which it is convenient . The Sherborne is the fourth chapter on the roll of the province , the threa previously existing chapters being located , one at Cheltenham and two in the city of Gloucester . That at Cheltenham is known as the Chapter of
Unanimity and is attached to the Foundation Lodge , No . 82 . It holds the premier position by virtue of its seniority , and as being affiliated to a lod ^ e which was founded in Cheltenham in the year 1753 , and which has now met in the town of its origin and in a hall built by the liberality of its members for the past 75 years . The senior of the two chapters at Gloucester is attached to the Royal Lebanon Lodge , No . 493 , and was consecrated in the
year 1876 ; the other bears the name of the Lodge Royal Gloucestershire , No . 8 39 , and was consecrated and opened 12 years ago , the late Col . Shadwell Clerke , Grand Scribe E ., Sec . Eng ., presiding at the ceremony . At that time the Provincial Grand Chapter of Gloucestershire had not been formed ; but Comp . Sir Michael Hicks Beach was made the first head of the new chapter with a view to its formation , which took place in the year
following . The present opening of a fourth Royal Arch Chapter is therefore the first ceremony of the kind since Provincial Grand Chapter was constituted . Its foundation is justified by the prosperity of the chapters already established ; but , as a fact , the increase of Royal Arch Masonry is likely to be largely promoted by the relaxation of the conditions of membership on the part of the Grand Chapter , and no long interval is now likely to occur
before the ceremony at Stroud is repeated in connection with other flourishing lodges in the province . The warrant for the formation of the Sherbourne Chapter was granted on the petition of the following companions , viz .: Comps . the Rev . C . J . Martyn , P . Z ., P . G . S . Eng ., G . Supt . Suffolk ; Dr . J . Partridge . P . Z ., P . P . G . D . C ; W . Warman , P . Z . ; J . Albin Roberts ,
P . Z .,, P . P . G . J . ; Gen . Vizard ; A . R . Grieve , P . Z ., P . P . G . R . ; James David , P . Z ., P . P . G . R . ; E . N . Witchell , P . Z , P . G . D . C ; E . Lea ; R . J . Weston , Prov . G . S . B . ; J . Kyle , Rev . W . Lyon , E . Hulbert , M . F . Wood , J . H . Daniels , J . Brown , A . G . Spire , and R . W . Northcott , who are the ' founders " and first members of the chapter .
The ceremony of consecration was performed by the Grand Superintendent , the Right Hon . Sir Michael E . Hicks Beach , Bart ., assisted by Comp . R . V . Vastar-Smiih , Prov . G . H . ; and Comp . J . Bruton , Prov . G . J ., as Principals ; and Comps . ihe Rev . C . J . Martyn , G . S . of Suffolk ; Jas . B . Winterbotham , Prov . G . Scribe , E . ; A . Woodward , Prov . G . Scribe N . ; R . P . Sumner , Prov . G . P . S . ; W . B . Wcod , Prov . G . Std . Br . ; and E . N . Witchell , Prov . G . D . C .
The usual formalities were observed in the opening of the chapter , and the charter or warrant of the new chapter having been presented and read , Comp . MARTYN , in eloquent terms , addressed the companions on the origin and principles of the Degree and on the lessons inculcated by its symbols . Next followed the office of consecration as prescribed by the timehonouicd ritual of the Order . The anthem , " Beholdhow good and joyful
a thing " was succeded by a dedicatory prayer and invocation , and then the three Principals ptrambulated the cfapler , bearing richly chased vessels containing corn , wine , oil , and salt , with which in succession the floor of the chapter room was sprinkled . Each oblaiion was marktd by the reading of an appropriate Scripture extract , and by the choral rendering of a verse of an appropriate ode .
The ceremony ( Iced with the formal dedication of the chapter by prayer , and then an anthem was sung before the new chapter was duly constituted by the installation of its luture Principals and officers . The service throughout was an impressive one , its effect being much added to by the excellence of the musical arrangements , for which the Prov . G . Org , Comp . J . A . Matthews was responsible .
The officers of the new chapter was installed and invested as follows Comp . J . Albin Roberts , P . Z ., M . E . Z . ; A . R . Grieve , P . Z ., H . ; R . J . Weston , J . ; J . Partridge , M . D ., I . P . Z . ; W . Warman , Treas . ; R . W . Northcott , S . E . ; J . Kyle , S . N . ; J . David , P . Z ., P . S . ; E . Hulbert , ist A . S . ; M . F . Wood , 2 nd A . S . ; A . G . Spire , Stwd . j and E . N . Witchell , P . Z ., D . C . Among the companions present , in addition to those already mentioned , were :
Comps . J . Bryan , P . Z . 839 , Prov . G . Treas . ; W . R . Porcher , P . Z . 82 , P . P . G . J . ; A . V . Hatton , P . Z . 493 . P . P . G . J . ; George Norman , P . Z . 82 , P . P . G . J . ; Henry S . Crump , P . Z . 493 , P . P . G . S . N . ; W . R . Felton , P . P . G . S . N . ; j . Campbell , P . Z . 839 , P . P . G . S . N . ; J . L . Butler , P . Z . 82 , P . P . G . R . ; J . A . Matthews , P . Z . 439 , P . P . G . R . ;
W . C . Ferris , P . Z . 493 , P . P . A . G . S . ; LI . Kvans , Prov . G . A . S . B . ; Rev . W . S , Fallon , 82 ; E . G . Woodward , 493 ; S . P . Ryland , R . Cheshire , Bucknell , Horace Fisher , Turner , B . Coombe , and Palmer , of 82 ; C . J . P . Smith , 103 j G . L . Wenden , 839 ; H . A . Armitage , 839 , ; J . E . Holloway , 2191 ( Anglo-American ); E . Lea , Gadd , and B . London , of 493 ; and others .
WILLIAM HUTCHINSON , may be fairly termed the father of Masonic symbolism . No one writer has endeavoured more than he did to give an elevating , and classical , and philosophical tendency to all our Masonic researches and disquisitions . His is a name which ought to be held in reverential regard by all Anglo-Saxon Freemasons . He was born at Barnard Castle , Durham , in 1732 , and died in 1814 . He was a solicitor by profession , but » an antiquary and arcba : ologist by taste —and conviction . He wrote that well-known work " The rlistory and
Antiquities of the County Palatine of Durham , and several other works , being a zealous member of the Antiquarian Society . His "Spirit of Masonry , " his well-known work , was first published in 1775 , with the especial sanction of Grand Lodge , and a second edition was issued in 1795 . Dr . Oliver edited one of the many later editions . Hutchinson had his own peculiar theories , which a later and sounder criticism and a truer exegesis have compelled Masonic students to discard . His etymology and his symbolism are both somewhat strained , though there will be always a large School in
Anglo-Saxon Freemasonry which will adhere to the Christian sympathies and sentiments of Hutchinson . But though we cannot fully agree with all his views , we can admire truly the general groundwork of his admirable work , which will remain a lasting monument , both to his learning and ingenuity , a fitting epitaph , so to say , on the long career of a man and a Mason , whose head and heart went in -nison , whose life was blameless , and whose memory is still fondly regarded by Freemasons wherever the English language is spoken , and as long as Freemasonry itself endures . —Kenning ' s Cyclopaedia of Freemasonry .