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Article THE LODGES AT ROME, ITALY, IN 1735-37. ← Page 2 of 2 Article UNITED GRAND LODGE OF ENGLAND . Page 1 of 3 →
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The Lodges At Rome, Italy, In 1735-37.
through loops made of violin string—evidently the work of an amateur . It was to guard against surprise , no doubt , that such an arrangement of its minute book was adopted by the Roman lodge , for in the event of a domiciliary visit of the papal authorities , the records could easily be removed or destroyed , and the parchment cover left in its entirety .
There are 15 separate entries in the book . The first is without date , and contains the signature of the Master , two Wardens , and 13 members , among whom appear the names of some noted Jacobites : John Stewart , brother to the Earl of Traquair , Dr . James Irvin , Col . William Hay , and William Howard , Master . The Jacobite Duchess of ; Gordon was a Howard .
The next entry is in Latin , and embraces the " original statutes brought down for the Freemasons of the Roman lodge , " and an English translation of the same . These statutes give evidence of their Scottish origin in respect of the prominence they give to the custom of supping in open lodge , and the
presentation of gloves or livery to the brotherhood by initiates on their admission . Foreigners were not admissible except they could speak in English . Absentees were sharply looked after . The following note is appended to the minute of September 16 , 1735
" That it being contrary to the laws of Masonry for a member to absent himself after due warning , it has been thought proper by the Grand Master and the lodge to fine Sir Mar . Constable , M . Fitzmorise , and M . Le Wick in their share of the supper . "
In the first of these minutes is recorded the admission of " George Seton Winton " at a meeting held in Joseppie ' s , in the Corso , August 16 , 1735 . This was the attainted Earl of Winton , who , escaping from the Tower of London while under sentence of death for his share in the Rebellion of 1715 , sought refuge in
the Roman capital , where he resided till his death in 1749 . The minute book under notice was taken possession of by Lord Winton when in August , 1737 , the lodge was suppressed by Pope Clement XII ., by whose order the Tyler , a servant of Dr . Irvin , was sent , as a terror to others , prisoner to the Inquisition , but was soon released .
Meetings were held in " Joseppie ' s on September 26 and 21 and December 27 , 1735 , and on January 4 and February 28 , 173 6 , at which , among others , were admitted one or two French , Neapolitan , and Polish nobles , holding high military rank under their respective sovereigns .
The place of meeting was subsequently changed to " The Three Kings , " Strada Paolina , where , in March , 173 6 , Lord Winton was received as a " Master Mason , " prior to his election as " Great Master" in April of the same year . The admission of Dr . Alexander Cunninghame , afterwards
Sir Alexander Dick of Prestonheld , and Allan Ramsay , junior , son of the celebrated author of the "Gentle Shepherd" and other poetical works , took place on February 2 , 1737 , and on the 23 rd of the same month the " Marquis de Vasse , Brigadier of the French Army and Collonell of Dragoons , " was initiated .
Another communication was held in May , 1737 , and at the last meeting of the lodge , which was held on August 20 th of that year , was admitted "John Murray , " Esqr ., whose signature to the minute identifies him as the Laird of Broughton ,, the devoted friend and Secretary of " Prince Charlie , " but whose subsequent disgrace is known to all students of Scottish history .
We have selected the minute of Murray ' s admission as the subject of our illustration . Its appearance here dispels the illusion under which successive historians of Canongate Kilwinning have claimed for that distinguished lodge the honour ot initiating Murray into Freemasonry . In December , 1738 . he
was " admitted a member " thereof by affiliation . This autograph , along with that of the Jacobite Earl of Kilmarnock , then Grand Master , is appended to the minute of the Grand Visitation to the Canongate Lodge in December , 1742 , and in November of the following year , being present in Grand Lodge , Murray was appointed Junior Grand Warden .
In the oldest existing minute book of Canongate Kilwinning mention is made of visiting brethren from Rome , and on the card of his application Sir Alexander Dick is designated as of the Roman lodge . After passing through the hands of several Jacobite members
of theCraft , the minute book of the Roman lodge was , in 1799 , put into the hands of Sir James Stirling , Baronet , Lord Provost of Edinburgh and Grand Master Mason of Scotland , to be by his lordship deposited in the archives of Grand Lodge , where it has since remained .
The genuineness of this Masonic relic was formally attested by " Mr . Andrew Lumisden , " a gentleman who took an active part in the Rebellion of 1 745 , and afterwards joining the royal exile at Rome , became his private secretary . After 40 years'
residence on the Continent , Bro . Lumisden returned to his native country , and died at Edinburgh December 26 th , 1801 . He was a member of "the Lodge of Edinburgh from Dumfermling , " recorded as such in 1 742 . —Keystone .
United Grand Lodge Of England .
UNITED GRAND LODGE OF ENGLAND .
The Quarterly Communication of United Grand Lodge was held on Wednes day evening at Freemasons' Hall , when more than 500 brethren were present Bro . W . W . B . Beach , M . P ., Prov . Grand Master Hants and the Isle of Wi ght presided . Bro . Col . Sir Francis Burdett , Bart ., Prov . Grand Master of Middlesex acted as Deputy Grand Master , and Bro . Thomas Halsey , M . P ., Prov . Grand Ma . ster of Herts , as Past Grand Master . Bro . Sir Gabriel Goldney occupied the Senior Grand Warden ' s chair , and Bro . Major-General Somerset J . Calthorpetook the chair of Junior Grand Warden .
After Grand Lodge had been opened , the GRAND SECRETARY read the minutes of the Quarterly Communication of 3 rd December , 1890 , which were put and confirmed . The GRAND SECRETARY then said he had now to report to Grand Lod ge that he duly notified to H . R . H . the Duke of Connaught the fact of his appointment as Past Grand Master of Grand Lodge , and that the Grand Lodge had voted to his Royal Highness the presentation of the insignia of his office ( which he had read in
the minutes ) . The Duke of Connaught was invested by the M . W . G . M . on the occa . sion of the installation of the Duke of Clarence and Avondale at Reading as Provincial Grand Master of Berks . The Duke of Connaught had the pleasure of expressing through him ( the Grand Secretary ) his warm appreciation of the compliment paid to him by Grand Lodge , and he desired to convey to the Grand Master and the Grand Lodge the assurance that he would wear the insignia of his office with much gratification and pride . ( Applause . )
The GRAND SECRETARY next said he had to report for the information of Grand Lodge that the Grand Steward who was nominated last year for the Royal Somer . set House and Inverness Lodge , No . 4 , Bro . Herbert de Stern having resigned his lodge and become ineligible to act , the lodge had nominated in his place Bro . the Rev . A . W . Oxford , W . M ., and that that nomination had been ratified and approved by the M . W . G . M .
Bro . F . A . PHILBRICK , Q . C , Grand Registrar , said that as a communication had been made to Grand Lodge by the Grand Secretary with regard to the Duke of Connaught , he begged to move that the reply of his Royal Highness be entered upon the minutes of Grand Lodge . He thought it was due to Grand Lodge that his Royal Highness ' s gracious reply in acceptance should appear on Grand Lodge records . The motion was seconded , and carried .
Bro . BEACH then read the following communication from the Most Worshi pful Grand Master :
The Most Worshipful Grand Master regrets to have to inform Grand Lodge that in the month of August last he received a report from the District Grand Lodge of Wellington , New Zealand , that Brother Sir Robert Stout , K . C . M . G ., Past Asst . Grand Director of Ceremonies , and Deputy District Grand Master of Otago and Southland , had obtained a warrant from the Grand Orient of France to establish a lodge under it in New Zealand , and had , under that authority , recently opened a lodge in the town of Wellington in that Colony , of which lodge he is the Master .
On receipt of this information , the Grand Master directed the Grand Secretary to address Brother Sir Robert Stout on the subject , and to call on him for an explanation of the grounds on which he felt himself justified in thus taking part in an invasion of British territory by a foreign Masonic body , and especially by one , many of whose members had been declared by a solemn resolution of the Grand Lodge of England on the 6 th March , 1878 , not to be true and genuine brethren .
A reply has now been received from Brother Sir Robert Stout on the subject , in which he admits the facts alleged , and seeks to justify his action . Under these circumstances , the Grand Master , with much regret , feels that he has no alternative but to make a complaint of the conductof Brother Sir Robert Stout , and to submit the matter , with the correspondence relating thereto , to Grand
Lodge for its consideration and decision . The GRAND SECRETARY thereon read the correspondence which had taken place on the subject . Bro . PHILBRICK , in laying the matter before Grand Lodge , said the Grand Master regretted to have to make a communication to Grand Lodge , and had asked the Grand Lodge to take into consideration the complaint which he made
to it of the conduct of one of the officers of Grand Lodge , and that they should consider and decide upon the circumstances of the case . After the correspondence which had just been read , he thought the facts stood pretty clearly before them . The colony of New Zealand was a colony of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland . Its governor was appointed by the Sovereign of this country , a "" writs went in the name of her Most Gracious Majesty the Queen , and the ultimate
appeal was here to her Majesty in Council . He could not conceive , therefore , apart from Masonic question , a case of a land which was more a colony of this Kingdom . With regard to the Masonic jurisdictions that were there , fiv ' English District Grand Lodges , the District Grand Masters of which was appoint
by the M . W . G . M ., the Deputy of one of them being Sir Robert Stout himself . There were also a District Grand Lodge holding under the Grand Lodge ° Scotland , and one under the Grand Lodge of Ireland , respectively , besides whicfi , as Sir R . Stout mentioned , there was a fourth body which , at a w
recent Quarterly Communication , Grand Lodge declined to recognise being the Grand Lodge of New Zealand . Under those circumstances < three jurisdictions , England , Scotland , and Ireland , being lawful within colony , each having Masons all of whom held allegiance to a Grand Lo g situate within the jurisdiction of the United Kingdom , and there having been
invasion of that colony by any other actual or pretended foreign Masonic jurisd tion whatever , he thought he was not going beyond what the good sense every Mason present would confirm when he said that they had here a clear cas as clear a case as cou'd be—of a territorial Masonic jurisdiction of the ^ . Kingdom . He ventured to say that that which had been alleged by
Bro-Robert Stout , in his long and elaborate defence in answer to the Grand Secre ;> c frail " who challenged him on the matter , would hardly carry the opinion or u Lodge with it . With regard to Bro . Sir Robert Stout himself , his was an extremely clear one , as he himself admitted . In a c 0 such as he ( Bro . Philbrick ) had described , with Masonic W
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Lodges At Rome, Italy, In 1735-37.
through loops made of violin string—evidently the work of an amateur . It was to guard against surprise , no doubt , that such an arrangement of its minute book was adopted by the Roman lodge , for in the event of a domiciliary visit of the papal authorities , the records could easily be removed or destroyed , and the parchment cover left in its entirety .
There are 15 separate entries in the book . The first is without date , and contains the signature of the Master , two Wardens , and 13 members , among whom appear the names of some noted Jacobites : John Stewart , brother to the Earl of Traquair , Dr . James Irvin , Col . William Hay , and William Howard , Master . The Jacobite Duchess of ; Gordon was a Howard .
The next entry is in Latin , and embraces the " original statutes brought down for the Freemasons of the Roman lodge , " and an English translation of the same . These statutes give evidence of their Scottish origin in respect of the prominence they give to the custom of supping in open lodge , and the
presentation of gloves or livery to the brotherhood by initiates on their admission . Foreigners were not admissible except they could speak in English . Absentees were sharply looked after . The following note is appended to the minute of September 16 , 1735
" That it being contrary to the laws of Masonry for a member to absent himself after due warning , it has been thought proper by the Grand Master and the lodge to fine Sir Mar . Constable , M . Fitzmorise , and M . Le Wick in their share of the supper . "
In the first of these minutes is recorded the admission of " George Seton Winton " at a meeting held in Joseppie ' s , in the Corso , August 16 , 1735 . This was the attainted Earl of Winton , who , escaping from the Tower of London while under sentence of death for his share in the Rebellion of 1715 , sought refuge in
the Roman capital , where he resided till his death in 1749 . The minute book under notice was taken possession of by Lord Winton when in August , 1737 , the lodge was suppressed by Pope Clement XII ., by whose order the Tyler , a servant of Dr . Irvin , was sent , as a terror to others , prisoner to the Inquisition , but was soon released .
Meetings were held in " Joseppie ' s on September 26 and 21 and December 27 , 1735 , and on January 4 and February 28 , 173 6 , at which , among others , were admitted one or two French , Neapolitan , and Polish nobles , holding high military rank under their respective sovereigns .
The place of meeting was subsequently changed to " The Three Kings , " Strada Paolina , where , in March , 173 6 , Lord Winton was received as a " Master Mason , " prior to his election as " Great Master" in April of the same year . The admission of Dr . Alexander Cunninghame , afterwards
Sir Alexander Dick of Prestonheld , and Allan Ramsay , junior , son of the celebrated author of the "Gentle Shepherd" and other poetical works , took place on February 2 , 1737 , and on the 23 rd of the same month the " Marquis de Vasse , Brigadier of the French Army and Collonell of Dragoons , " was initiated .
Another communication was held in May , 1737 , and at the last meeting of the lodge , which was held on August 20 th of that year , was admitted "John Murray , " Esqr ., whose signature to the minute identifies him as the Laird of Broughton ,, the devoted friend and Secretary of " Prince Charlie , " but whose subsequent disgrace is known to all students of Scottish history .
We have selected the minute of Murray ' s admission as the subject of our illustration . Its appearance here dispels the illusion under which successive historians of Canongate Kilwinning have claimed for that distinguished lodge the honour ot initiating Murray into Freemasonry . In December , 1738 . he
was " admitted a member " thereof by affiliation . This autograph , along with that of the Jacobite Earl of Kilmarnock , then Grand Master , is appended to the minute of the Grand Visitation to the Canongate Lodge in December , 1742 , and in November of the following year , being present in Grand Lodge , Murray was appointed Junior Grand Warden .
In the oldest existing minute book of Canongate Kilwinning mention is made of visiting brethren from Rome , and on the card of his application Sir Alexander Dick is designated as of the Roman lodge . After passing through the hands of several Jacobite members
of theCraft , the minute book of the Roman lodge was , in 1799 , put into the hands of Sir James Stirling , Baronet , Lord Provost of Edinburgh and Grand Master Mason of Scotland , to be by his lordship deposited in the archives of Grand Lodge , where it has since remained .
The genuineness of this Masonic relic was formally attested by " Mr . Andrew Lumisden , " a gentleman who took an active part in the Rebellion of 1 745 , and afterwards joining the royal exile at Rome , became his private secretary . After 40 years'
residence on the Continent , Bro . Lumisden returned to his native country , and died at Edinburgh December 26 th , 1801 . He was a member of "the Lodge of Edinburgh from Dumfermling , " recorded as such in 1 742 . —Keystone .
United Grand Lodge Of England .
UNITED GRAND LODGE OF ENGLAND .
The Quarterly Communication of United Grand Lodge was held on Wednes day evening at Freemasons' Hall , when more than 500 brethren were present Bro . W . W . B . Beach , M . P ., Prov . Grand Master Hants and the Isle of Wi ght presided . Bro . Col . Sir Francis Burdett , Bart ., Prov . Grand Master of Middlesex acted as Deputy Grand Master , and Bro . Thomas Halsey , M . P ., Prov . Grand Ma . ster of Herts , as Past Grand Master . Bro . Sir Gabriel Goldney occupied the Senior Grand Warden ' s chair , and Bro . Major-General Somerset J . Calthorpetook the chair of Junior Grand Warden .
After Grand Lodge had been opened , the GRAND SECRETARY read the minutes of the Quarterly Communication of 3 rd December , 1890 , which were put and confirmed . The GRAND SECRETARY then said he had now to report to Grand Lod ge that he duly notified to H . R . H . the Duke of Connaught the fact of his appointment as Past Grand Master of Grand Lodge , and that the Grand Lodge had voted to his Royal Highness the presentation of the insignia of his office ( which he had read in
the minutes ) . The Duke of Connaught was invested by the M . W . G . M . on the occa . sion of the installation of the Duke of Clarence and Avondale at Reading as Provincial Grand Master of Berks . The Duke of Connaught had the pleasure of expressing through him ( the Grand Secretary ) his warm appreciation of the compliment paid to him by Grand Lodge , and he desired to convey to the Grand Master and the Grand Lodge the assurance that he would wear the insignia of his office with much gratification and pride . ( Applause . )
The GRAND SECRETARY next said he had to report for the information of Grand Lodge that the Grand Steward who was nominated last year for the Royal Somer . set House and Inverness Lodge , No . 4 , Bro . Herbert de Stern having resigned his lodge and become ineligible to act , the lodge had nominated in his place Bro . the Rev . A . W . Oxford , W . M ., and that that nomination had been ratified and approved by the M . W . G . M .
Bro . F . A . PHILBRICK , Q . C , Grand Registrar , said that as a communication had been made to Grand Lodge by the Grand Secretary with regard to the Duke of Connaught , he begged to move that the reply of his Royal Highness be entered upon the minutes of Grand Lodge . He thought it was due to Grand Lodge that his Royal Highness ' s gracious reply in acceptance should appear on Grand Lodge records . The motion was seconded , and carried .
Bro . BEACH then read the following communication from the Most Worshi pful Grand Master :
The Most Worshipful Grand Master regrets to have to inform Grand Lodge that in the month of August last he received a report from the District Grand Lodge of Wellington , New Zealand , that Brother Sir Robert Stout , K . C . M . G ., Past Asst . Grand Director of Ceremonies , and Deputy District Grand Master of Otago and Southland , had obtained a warrant from the Grand Orient of France to establish a lodge under it in New Zealand , and had , under that authority , recently opened a lodge in the town of Wellington in that Colony , of which lodge he is the Master .
On receipt of this information , the Grand Master directed the Grand Secretary to address Brother Sir Robert Stout on the subject , and to call on him for an explanation of the grounds on which he felt himself justified in thus taking part in an invasion of British territory by a foreign Masonic body , and especially by one , many of whose members had been declared by a solemn resolution of the Grand Lodge of England on the 6 th March , 1878 , not to be true and genuine brethren .
A reply has now been received from Brother Sir Robert Stout on the subject , in which he admits the facts alleged , and seeks to justify his action . Under these circumstances , the Grand Master , with much regret , feels that he has no alternative but to make a complaint of the conductof Brother Sir Robert Stout , and to submit the matter , with the correspondence relating thereto , to Grand
Lodge for its consideration and decision . The GRAND SECRETARY thereon read the correspondence which had taken place on the subject . Bro . PHILBRICK , in laying the matter before Grand Lodge , said the Grand Master regretted to have to make a communication to Grand Lodge , and had asked the Grand Lodge to take into consideration the complaint which he made
to it of the conduct of one of the officers of Grand Lodge , and that they should consider and decide upon the circumstances of the case . After the correspondence which had just been read , he thought the facts stood pretty clearly before them . The colony of New Zealand was a colony of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland . Its governor was appointed by the Sovereign of this country , a "" writs went in the name of her Most Gracious Majesty the Queen , and the ultimate
appeal was here to her Majesty in Council . He could not conceive , therefore , apart from Masonic question , a case of a land which was more a colony of this Kingdom . With regard to the Masonic jurisdictions that were there , fiv ' English District Grand Lodges , the District Grand Masters of which was appoint
by the M . W . G . M ., the Deputy of one of them being Sir Robert Stout himself . There were also a District Grand Lodge holding under the Grand Lodge ° Scotland , and one under the Grand Lodge of Ireland , respectively , besides whicfi , as Sir R . Stout mentioned , there was a fourth body which , at a w
recent Quarterly Communication , Grand Lodge declined to recognise being the Grand Lodge of New Zealand . Under those circumstances < three jurisdictions , England , Scotland , and Ireland , being lawful within colony , each having Masons all of whom held allegiance to a Grand Lo g situate within the jurisdiction of the United Kingdom , and there having been
invasion of that colony by any other actual or pretended foreign Masonic jurisd tion whatever , he thought he was not going beyond what the good sense every Mason present would confirm when he said that they had here a clear cas as clear a case as cou'd be—of a territorial Masonic jurisdiction of the ^ . Kingdom . He ventured to say that that which had been alleged by
Bro-Robert Stout , in his long and elaborate defence in answer to the Grand Secre ;> c frail " who challenged him on the matter , would hardly carry the opinion or u Lodge with it . With regard to Bro . Sir Robert Stout himself , his was an extremely clear one , as he himself admitted . In a c 0 such as he ( Bro . Philbrick ) had described , with Masonic W