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Article PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF WEST YORKSHIRE. ← Page 3 of 3 Article ISRAEL LODGE OF INSTRUCTION, No. 205. Page 1 of 2 Article ISRAEL LODGE OF INSTRUCTION, No. 205. Page 1 of 2 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Provincial Grand Lodge Of West Yorkshire.
The Provincial Grand Officers were then appointed and invested as follows : Broo Harry Allen , 1779 ... ... ... Prov . S . G . W . „ J . Arthur Godwin , J . P ., 1311 ... ... Prov . J . G . W .
„ Rev . Langton Samuel Calvert , M . A ., 20 S ... 1 p r p . „ Rev . John Lloyd Brereton , M . A ., 1513 - J P „ Richard Jackson , 289 ... ... ... Prov . G . Treas . „ Henry Slade Childe , 154 ... ... Prov . G . Reg . „ Herbert G . E . Green , 1019 ... ... Prov . G . Sec .
,, Henry Hall Bedford , 139 ... ... ~ ) „ Alfred Rol er . shaw , 44 S ... . A Prov . S . G . Ds . „ Thos . Hoaie Tanner , 337 ... ... ,, W . Roberts Hinings , 600 ... ... ) „ Theophilus Bates , 308 ... ... ... [ Prov . J . G . D 5 . ,, Horatio Scott Wood , 439 ... ... )
,, Thomas Richard Vaux , 20 S ... ... Prov . G . S . of W . ,, William Watson , 61 ... ... ... I / 'brarUn . ,, William Wilson , 1102 ... ... ... Prov . G . D . C . ,, James Sugden , 1301 ... ... ... Prov . D G . D . C . „ Herbert King , 307 ... ... ... } ,, Thomas Heaton , 265 ... ... ... r Prov . A . G . D . Cs . ,, Daniel White , 149 ... ' ... ... J ,, Thomas Shaw , 1514 ... ... ... Prov . G . S . B .
„ Dr . W . Richard Bate * , 1522 } Prov . G . Std . Brs . „ Georte Hollies , 971 ... ... ... j „ T . William Handforth , Mu ; . Bar ., 2491 ... Prov . G . Org . ,, Joseph Matthewman , 1019 ... ... Prov . ' A . G . See . ,, ji . hn Bleazard , 401 ... ... ... Prov . G . Purs ' .
„ Alfr . d Gill , 264 ... ... ... Prov . A . G . Purst . ,, Dr . Isaac Mossop , 974 ... ... . A „ Joseph Best , 302 ... ... ... | ;;g^SZ$258..:::::>GStewlrds-,, William Sharp , 603 ... ... ... | ,, Joseph Greenwood , 1283 ... ... J
„ Thomas Leighton , 296 ... ... ... Prov . G . Tyler . ,, Thomas Chester , 904 ... ... ... Prov . A . G . Tyler . After hearty welcome to distinguished visitors , and a cordial vote of thanks to the Mayor of Doncaster for the use of the rooms , Prov . Grand Lodge was closed . At the dinner which followed about 120 brethren sat down , the Prov . Grand Master presiding . A list comprising the usual toasts was gone through , and some very interesting speeches were made .
Israel Lodge Of Instruction, No. 205.
ISRAEL LODGE OF INSTRUCTION , No . 205 .
VISIT OF THE GRAND TREASURER AND THE GRAND TYLER , On the evening of the 12 th inst ., about 70 brethren assembled at the Rising Sun Tavern , Globe-road , under the presidency of Bro . Ben . Da Costa , Preceptor , as W . M . ; Bro . J . Berlyn , W . M . 205 , as S . W . ; and Bro . L . A . Da Costa , P . M . 1349 , as J . W . Amongst those who attended were many of the leading workers and Preceptors of the East-End , including Bros . I . P . Cohen , P . M . 20 K ; F ,
Bromhead , P . P . G . S . of W . Essex j Basil Stewart , P . M . ¦ Henry Stiles , P . M . ; Yetton , P . M . ; ] . J . HaU , P . M . ; Gaskell , P . M . ; W . H . Toye , P . M . ; and several other Past Masters . The Grand Treasurer , Bro . W . M . Stiles , and the Grand Tyler , Bro . H . Sadler , attended by invitation from the lodge , the former to work the ceremony of installation , and the latter to deliver an historical lecture . The Grand Treasurer commenced the proceedings by installing Bro . Ben . Da
Costa in a masterly and painstaking manner , in which he was ably assisted by Bro , W . A . Scurrah , Vice-President of the Board of General Purposes , who officiated as Director of Ceremonies . The three addresses were rendered in a mo . rt eloquent manner , eliciting the hearty applause of the brethren . The lodge having been called off for a few minutes , work was resumed , and the W . M . requested the attention of the brethren to Bro . Sadler , who would address them on the subject of " Operative and Speculative Freemasonry . "
Bro . SADLER then delivered the following address •. Worshipful Master , — Before commencing the address which I have undertaken to deliver , I should like , with your permission , to offer my congratulations to the members of this lodge of instruction on the slight deviation they have made from the time-Konoured track which has been hitherto followed by lodges of instruction generally . I allu Je to their adoption of the practice of varying tne ordinary weekly proceedings by
occasionally inviting some brother to address them on subjects not included in the recognised category of Masonic teaching . My own presence here to-night is doubtless a sufficient proof that I cordially concur in the alteration , and the number of brethren now assembled in this room may be taken as conclusive evidence of its general popularity . 1 consider that the Israel Lodge of Instruction is most fortunate in having as its Secretary a brother whose Masonic zeal and intelligent
energy have largely contributed towards bringing it up to the prosperous and almost unique position which it now occupies , and , while giving him all possible credit for having been the means of introducing the improvement referred to in this particular lodge of instruction , 1 regret that I cannot award him the palm of having been the real originator , so far as the regular lodges are concerned . I have good reasons for believing , and no doubt he will be glad to hear it , that the
practice of delivering lectures other than those of a strictly Masonic character in our lodges , is a very ancient one , but , like many other of our old customs , its actual beginning is lost in the obscurity of the past . In support of this statement I will read a few extracts from the records of an old and distinguished lodge , now known as the Lodge of Friendship , No . 6 , which occupies the unique position of being the first lodge regularly constituted by the Grand Lodge of England
after its formation in the year 1717 . ( Bro . Sadler here read pp . 112 , 113 of "The Life of Thomas Dunckerley , " containing the extracts referred to . ) Now a few words on the recognised lectures or sections of the Craft . No doubt some of ycu have heard , as I have occasionally , some unenthusiastic brother remark , " I don ' t care for those Sections , I don ' t see much in them , " or words to that effect . For my own part I think there is a great deal in the Sections and 1 am only sorry
that the practice of working them in the regular lodges , as was formerly the case , is now virtually discontinued . It seems to me almost impossible for anyone to properly understand and appreciate our ceremonies without at least some knowledge of the Sections , and the better we are acquainted with them the more beauties shall we find in Freemasonry . With regard to age , I should say there is very little , if any , difference between that of the Sections and that of the ceremonies , although neither of them were always worked quite in the same way as
Israel Lodge Of Instruction, No. 205.
they are now . There is , however , reliable evidence that the method of impurti ., 1 Masonic knowledge by means of question and answer has been in practice fro *" a very early period in the history of Speculative Masonry , and it is not all unlikely to have been one of the ancient customs of the Operative Fraternity Now , Worshipful Master , having finished these preliminary observations , I w ;] i proceed with my address , I am perfectly well aware that I have before me a critical and a discriminating audience , and I am glad that it is so . I shall not
therefore , ask the brethren to give me their patient and careful attention , becau-r . ' I know they will readily do that without any solicitation on my pirt , but I will ask them this favour—should I , in the course of my address , make any remark or statement which may not be quite clear to them , or would seem to require expla nation , 1 should be glad if they mide a note of it , either mental or otherwise and if I can answer the question offhand I will do so when my address is finished , but should I be unable to do that , I should be obliged if they would put their question
in writing , and I will give it my best consideratijn , and come here on somefutu occasion and endeavour to elucidate the matter . You are doubtless aware brethren , that within our ranks , as well as outside of them , there are sceptics who are inclined to dispute our having the slightest connection , either with the masons who were employed at the erection of the Temples at Jerusalem or with their successors in the building art much nearer our own time , and , looking at the subject from one standpoint only , without knowledge either of the ancient usages and
customs of the Fraternity of Operative Masons , or of the origin and history of Speculative Masonry , it would appear that there were some grounds tor these objections . I need hardly say that the standpoint I refer to is that of i gnorance For my part , however , I have not the shadow of a doubt upon the question I am perfectly satisfied that this grand Brotherhood of ours is directly descended from those enlightened bands of skilful architects and masons' whose splendid works ( those grand and statel
y buildings erected to the service and glory of God ) excite our warmest admiration , not only for the skill and perseverance displayed in their construction but for their exquisite beauty of workmanship . I have not the remotest intention brethren , of taxing your good nature to the extent of asking you to believe that the Three Degrees were worked in the days of Ancient Jerusalem , or even at a much latrr period , precisely as they are now , but we are taught in the bible and also in our lectures , that King Solomon divided the various artificers ( at the
building of the Temple ) into three classes , a circumstance particularly marked b y Masons , as it is from the plans of that monarch to carry on that magnificent structure that we deduce the origin of our present system of government . " I am strongly of opinion that this triple division also gave rise to our Three Degrees in Speculative Masonry , for there were undoubtedly three grades or classes in the Operative Fraternity , namely , Apprentices , Fellows or Craftsmen , and Masters or Overseers , although I am inclined to think that the ceremony observed by the
Operatives in conferring or confirming these distinctions was of a very brief and simple character . The term Fellow , I should imagine , was at first only applied to the ordinary workman , who had duly served his apprenticeship , while the Masters were , of course , those who directed them and superintended the work . I will now endeavour to point out what I consider to be unmistakable links connecting our present system of Speculative , or Symbolic Masonry , with the Operative Masonry of past ages . First , as to the name by which our assemblages are
knownlodges . In a non-Masonic sense , the term lodge has been from time immemorial , applied to a small building either appended to , or adjacent to a larger one . For instance , many of our old country mansions and castles still hive one or more smaller houses in their vicinity known as the " lodge . " I am not now alluding to the small building , generally of one storey , to be found at the principal gates of a park and usually designated " the lodge , " although I am of opinion that in such cases the name is really derived from the Masons' lodge , but I happen
to be acquainted with certain other small houses having no connection whatever with a park ( although situated in the neighbourhood of old churches and other building ; . ) , each of which still bears the name of "lodge . " You are not , hoivever , to infer that I consider thc present structure is the one actually occupied by the Masons during the erection of the original larger edifice , but only that in all probability it stands on the same site . Names of places , you know , survive hundreds of years after the events which gave rise to them are forgotten . The
celebrated lexicographer , Dr . John Ogilvie , in the "Comprehensive English Dictionary , " gives , amongst others , the following definitions of the word "lodge : " 1 . A small house or habitation in a park or forest ; 2 . A temporary habitation , a hut ; 3 . A small house or tenement appended to a larger one , as the porter ' s lodge ; 4 . A meeting of Freemasons , or the place where they meet . Novv , isit not quite feasible that while engaged in the erection of those splendid cathedrals , abbeys , castles , and other noble edifices , that the Masons should have found
it necessary to erect somewhere adjacent to their work a building , or buildings , in which they could assemble without fear of interruption , to give and receive instruction in their several duties , to perform their ceremonies ( for I feel sure they had ceremonies , however brief they may have been ) , and probably , also , to execute those beautiful examples of the sculptor ' s art , for which many of these old fabrics are remarkable ? The same building would also serve as a W _ A dwelling-place for some ofthe woikmen , for we must bear in mind that nnny of
these old structures were erected at a considerable distance from any town or village . We are told in our Second Lecture that the two great p ill irs at-the porchway or enhance of King Solomon ' s Temple were formed holluu ' i the better to serve as archives to Masonry , for therein were deposited the Constitutional Rolls . Now I do not know what may hive been the first ideas of other brethren with rtgard to the _ nature of Constitutional Rolls , but I very well remember that when I first became acquainted with the expression I was rather at a
loss to know what particular kind ot roll a Constitutional Roll might be , and tne dictionary didn ' t help me . In order , therefore , that you may clearly understand what this article is like , which is so often mentioned , but now very seldom seen in our lodges , I have brought two of them with me for your inspection and aNo in support of my own statements , but as one of them was written about 250 y ? - " : ago , I do not suppose you will all be able to understand it without a little practiceso , to save timeI will give you a brief description of its contents ,
, , and when 1 have done you can examine it for yourselves . I mVt > however , remark that manuscripts of this character were not only the forerunners and immediate predectssors of our Book of Constitutions , bul the ancestors , if I may so term them , of our charges and lectures . They are know as the " Manuscript Charges or Constitutions of the British Freemasons , an were used in the Operative Masonic lodges , and probably also in early Speculativ
lodges at the reception of candidates and possibly on certain other occasions , my thinking they form the strongest and most important links in the cnii'i evidence connecting Operative with Speculative Masonry , although it was n until a comparatively recent period that their real historic value and importanwas generally acknowledged , probably because they were practically unkno . v n the Craft of the present generation , nothing having been done to bring them un 1
its notice . Less than 30 years ago , only about a dozen of them ware known ^ in existence , now there arc at least 70 classified and located ( live of which ar- * properly of the Grand Lodge of England ) , and fresh versions of them are c tinually being brought to light from the most out of the way places and in most unexpected manner . There is naturally a strong family resemblance in ; of them , but some vary in matteis of detail , according to their age or the loca ^ y
in which they were written . ln order to distinguish them , for the purp " reference , our learned brethren of antiquarian proclivities have adop ' s practice of naming them , generally after tne person who his been so f ortun ' . A to discover them or bring them under the notice of the Fraternity .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Provincial Grand Lodge Of West Yorkshire.
The Provincial Grand Officers were then appointed and invested as follows : Broo Harry Allen , 1779 ... ... ... Prov . S . G . W . „ J . Arthur Godwin , J . P ., 1311 ... ... Prov . J . G . W .
„ Rev . Langton Samuel Calvert , M . A ., 20 S ... 1 p r p . „ Rev . John Lloyd Brereton , M . A ., 1513 - J P „ Richard Jackson , 289 ... ... ... Prov . G . Treas . „ Henry Slade Childe , 154 ... ... Prov . G . Reg . „ Herbert G . E . Green , 1019 ... ... Prov . G . Sec .
,, Henry Hall Bedford , 139 ... ... ~ ) „ Alfred Rol er . shaw , 44 S ... . A Prov . S . G . Ds . „ Thos . Hoaie Tanner , 337 ... ... ,, W . Roberts Hinings , 600 ... ... ) „ Theophilus Bates , 308 ... ... ... [ Prov . J . G . D 5 . ,, Horatio Scott Wood , 439 ... ... )
,, Thomas Richard Vaux , 20 S ... ... Prov . G . S . of W . ,, William Watson , 61 ... ... ... I / 'brarUn . ,, William Wilson , 1102 ... ... ... Prov . G . D . C . ,, James Sugden , 1301 ... ... ... Prov . D G . D . C . „ Herbert King , 307 ... ... ... } ,, Thomas Heaton , 265 ... ... ... r Prov . A . G . D . Cs . ,, Daniel White , 149 ... ' ... ... J ,, Thomas Shaw , 1514 ... ... ... Prov . G . S . B .
„ Dr . W . Richard Bate * , 1522 } Prov . G . Std . Brs . „ Georte Hollies , 971 ... ... ... j „ T . William Handforth , Mu ; . Bar ., 2491 ... Prov . G . Org . ,, Joseph Matthewman , 1019 ... ... Prov . ' A . G . See . ,, ji . hn Bleazard , 401 ... ... ... Prov . G . Purs ' .
„ Alfr . d Gill , 264 ... ... ... Prov . A . G . Purst . ,, Dr . Isaac Mossop , 974 ... ... . A „ Joseph Best , 302 ... ... ... | ;;g^SZ$258..:::::>GStewlrds-,, William Sharp , 603 ... ... ... | ,, Joseph Greenwood , 1283 ... ... J
„ Thomas Leighton , 296 ... ... ... Prov . G . Tyler . ,, Thomas Chester , 904 ... ... ... Prov . A . G . Tyler . After hearty welcome to distinguished visitors , and a cordial vote of thanks to the Mayor of Doncaster for the use of the rooms , Prov . Grand Lodge was closed . At the dinner which followed about 120 brethren sat down , the Prov . Grand Master presiding . A list comprising the usual toasts was gone through , and some very interesting speeches were made .
Israel Lodge Of Instruction, No. 205.
ISRAEL LODGE OF INSTRUCTION , No . 205 .
VISIT OF THE GRAND TREASURER AND THE GRAND TYLER , On the evening of the 12 th inst ., about 70 brethren assembled at the Rising Sun Tavern , Globe-road , under the presidency of Bro . Ben . Da Costa , Preceptor , as W . M . ; Bro . J . Berlyn , W . M . 205 , as S . W . ; and Bro . L . A . Da Costa , P . M . 1349 , as J . W . Amongst those who attended were many of the leading workers and Preceptors of the East-End , including Bros . I . P . Cohen , P . M . 20 K ; F ,
Bromhead , P . P . G . S . of W . Essex j Basil Stewart , P . M . ¦ Henry Stiles , P . M . ; Yetton , P . M . ; ] . J . HaU , P . M . ; Gaskell , P . M . ; W . H . Toye , P . M . ; and several other Past Masters . The Grand Treasurer , Bro . W . M . Stiles , and the Grand Tyler , Bro . H . Sadler , attended by invitation from the lodge , the former to work the ceremony of installation , and the latter to deliver an historical lecture . The Grand Treasurer commenced the proceedings by installing Bro . Ben . Da
Costa in a masterly and painstaking manner , in which he was ably assisted by Bro , W . A . Scurrah , Vice-President of the Board of General Purposes , who officiated as Director of Ceremonies . The three addresses were rendered in a mo . rt eloquent manner , eliciting the hearty applause of the brethren . The lodge having been called off for a few minutes , work was resumed , and the W . M . requested the attention of the brethren to Bro . Sadler , who would address them on the subject of " Operative and Speculative Freemasonry . "
Bro . SADLER then delivered the following address •. Worshipful Master , — Before commencing the address which I have undertaken to deliver , I should like , with your permission , to offer my congratulations to the members of this lodge of instruction on the slight deviation they have made from the time-Konoured track which has been hitherto followed by lodges of instruction generally . I allu Je to their adoption of the practice of varying tne ordinary weekly proceedings by
occasionally inviting some brother to address them on subjects not included in the recognised category of Masonic teaching . My own presence here to-night is doubtless a sufficient proof that I cordially concur in the alteration , and the number of brethren now assembled in this room may be taken as conclusive evidence of its general popularity . 1 consider that the Israel Lodge of Instruction is most fortunate in having as its Secretary a brother whose Masonic zeal and intelligent
energy have largely contributed towards bringing it up to the prosperous and almost unique position which it now occupies , and , while giving him all possible credit for having been the means of introducing the improvement referred to in this particular lodge of instruction , 1 regret that I cannot award him the palm of having been the real originator , so far as the regular lodges are concerned . I have good reasons for believing , and no doubt he will be glad to hear it , that the
practice of delivering lectures other than those of a strictly Masonic character in our lodges , is a very ancient one , but , like many other of our old customs , its actual beginning is lost in the obscurity of the past . In support of this statement I will read a few extracts from the records of an old and distinguished lodge , now known as the Lodge of Friendship , No . 6 , which occupies the unique position of being the first lodge regularly constituted by the Grand Lodge of England
after its formation in the year 1717 . ( Bro . Sadler here read pp . 112 , 113 of "The Life of Thomas Dunckerley , " containing the extracts referred to . ) Now a few words on the recognised lectures or sections of the Craft . No doubt some of ycu have heard , as I have occasionally , some unenthusiastic brother remark , " I don ' t care for those Sections , I don ' t see much in them , " or words to that effect . For my own part I think there is a great deal in the Sections and 1 am only sorry
that the practice of working them in the regular lodges , as was formerly the case , is now virtually discontinued . It seems to me almost impossible for anyone to properly understand and appreciate our ceremonies without at least some knowledge of the Sections , and the better we are acquainted with them the more beauties shall we find in Freemasonry . With regard to age , I should say there is very little , if any , difference between that of the Sections and that of the ceremonies , although neither of them were always worked quite in the same way as
Israel Lodge Of Instruction, No. 205.
they are now . There is , however , reliable evidence that the method of impurti ., 1 Masonic knowledge by means of question and answer has been in practice fro *" a very early period in the history of Speculative Masonry , and it is not all unlikely to have been one of the ancient customs of the Operative Fraternity Now , Worshipful Master , having finished these preliminary observations , I w ;] i proceed with my address , I am perfectly well aware that I have before me a critical and a discriminating audience , and I am glad that it is so . I shall not
therefore , ask the brethren to give me their patient and careful attention , becau-r . ' I know they will readily do that without any solicitation on my pirt , but I will ask them this favour—should I , in the course of my address , make any remark or statement which may not be quite clear to them , or would seem to require expla nation , 1 should be glad if they mide a note of it , either mental or otherwise and if I can answer the question offhand I will do so when my address is finished , but should I be unable to do that , I should be obliged if they would put their question
in writing , and I will give it my best consideratijn , and come here on somefutu occasion and endeavour to elucidate the matter . You are doubtless aware brethren , that within our ranks , as well as outside of them , there are sceptics who are inclined to dispute our having the slightest connection , either with the masons who were employed at the erection of the Temples at Jerusalem or with their successors in the building art much nearer our own time , and , looking at the subject from one standpoint only , without knowledge either of the ancient usages and
customs of the Fraternity of Operative Masons , or of the origin and history of Speculative Masonry , it would appear that there were some grounds tor these objections . I need hardly say that the standpoint I refer to is that of i gnorance For my part , however , I have not the shadow of a doubt upon the question I am perfectly satisfied that this grand Brotherhood of ours is directly descended from those enlightened bands of skilful architects and masons' whose splendid works ( those grand and statel
y buildings erected to the service and glory of God ) excite our warmest admiration , not only for the skill and perseverance displayed in their construction but for their exquisite beauty of workmanship . I have not the remotest intention brethren , of taxing your good nature to the extent of asking you to believe that the Three Degrees were worked in the days of Ancient Jerusalem , or even at a much latrr period , precisely as they are now , but we are taught in the bible and also in our lectures , that King Solomon divided the various artificers ( at the
building of the Temple ) into three classes , a circumstance particularly marked b y Masons , as it is from the plans of that monarch to carry on that magnificent structure that we deduce the origin of our present system of government . " I am strongly of opinion that this triple division also gave rise to our Three Degrees in Speculative Masonry , for there were undoubtedly three grades or classes in the Operative Fraternity , namely , Apprentices , Fellows or Craftsmen , and Masters or Overseers , although I am inclined to think that the ceremony observed by the
Operatives in conferring or confirming these distinctions was of a very brief and simple character . The term Fellow , I should imagine , was at first only applied to the ordinary workman , who had duly served his apprenticeship , while the Masters were , of course , those who directed them and superintended the work . I will now endeavour to point out what I consider to be unmistakable links connecting our present system of Speculative , or Symbolic Masonry , with the Operative Masonry of past ages . First , as to the name by which our assemblages are
knownlodges . In a non-Masonic sense , the term lodge has been from time immemorial , applied to a small building either appended to , or adjacent to a larger one . For instance , many of our old country mansions and castles still hive one or more smaller houses in their vicinity known as the " lodge . " I am not now alluding to the small building , generally of one storey , to be found at the principal gates of a park and usually designated " the lodge , " although I am of opinion that in such cases the name is really derived from the Masons' lodge , but I happen
to be acquainted with certain other small houses having no connection whatever with a park ( although situated in the neighbourhood of old churches and other building ; . ) , each of which still bears the name of "lodge . " You are not , hoivever , to infer that I consider thc present structure is the one actually occupied by the Masons during the erection of the original larger edifice , but only that in all probability it stands on the same site . Names of places , you know , survive hundreds of years after the events which gave rise to them are forgotten . The
celebrated lexicographer , Dr . John Ogilvie , in the "Comprehensive English Dictionary , " gives , amongst others , the following definitions of the word "lodge : " 1 . A small house or habitation in a park or forest ; 2 . A temporary habitation , a hut ; 3 . A small house or tenement appended to a larger one , as the porter ' s lodge ; 4 . A meeting of Freemasons , or the place where they meet . Novv , isit not quite feasible that while engaged in the erection of those splendid cathedrals , abbeys , castles , and other noble edifices , that the Masons should have found
it necessary to erect somewhere adjacent to their work a building , or buildings , in which they could assemble without fear of interruption , to give and receive instruction in their several duties , to perform their ceremonies ( for I feel sure they had ceremonies , however brief they may have been ) , and probably , also , to execute those beautiful examples of the sculptor ' s art , for which many of these old fabrics are remarkable ? The same building would also serve as a W _ A dwelling-place for some ofthe woikmen , for we must bear in mind that nnny of
these old structures were erected at a considerable distance from any town or village . We are told in our Second Lecture that the two great p ill irs at-the porchway or enhance of King Solomon ' s Temple were formed holluu ' i the better to serve as archives to Masonry , for therein were deposited the Constitutional Rolls . Now I do not know what may hive been the first ideas of other brethren with rtgard to the _ nature of Constitutional Rolls , but I very well remember that when I first became acquainted with the expression I was rather at a
loss to know what particular kind ot roll a Constitutional Roll might be , and tne dictionary didn ' t help me . In order , therefore , that you may clearly understand what this article is like , which is so often mentioned , but now very seldom seen in our lodges , I have brought two of them with me for your inspection and aNo in support of my own statements , but as one of them was written about 250 y ? - " : ago , I do not suppose you will all be able to understand it without a little practiceso , to save timeI will give you a brief description of its contents ,
, , and when 1 have done you can examine it for yourselves . I mVt > however , remark that manuscripts of this character were not only the forerunners and immediate predectssors of our Book of Constitutions , bul the ancestors , if I may so term them , of our charges and lectures . They are know as the " Manuscript Charges or Constitutions of the British Freemasons , an were used in the Operative Masonic lodges , and probably also in early Speculativ
lodges at the reception of candidates and possibly on certain other occasions , my thinking they form the strongest and most important links in the cnii'i evidence connecting Operative with Speculative Masonry , although it was n until a comparatively recent period that their real historic value and importanwas generally acknowledged , probably because they were practically unkno . v n the Craft of the present generation , nothing having been done to bring them un 1
its notice . Less than 30 years ago , only about a dozen of them ware known ^ in existence , now there arc at least 70 classified and located ( live of which ar- * properly of the Grand Lodge of England ) , and fresh versions of them are c tinually being brought to light from the most out of the way places and in most unexpected manner . There is naturally a strong family resemblance in ; of them , but some vary in matteis of detail , according to their age or the loca ^ y
in which they were written . ln order to distinguish them , for the purp " reference , our learned brethren of antiquarian proclivities have adop ' s practice of naming them , generally after tne person who his been so f ortun ' . A to discover them or bring them under the notice of the Fraternity .