Freemasonry In Norfolk*

effects , notwithstanding the utmost exertions of genuine Freemasons , are felt to this very day . " MACKEY , in his " Lexicon of Freemasonry , " also ascribes the orig in of the Templar and other Orders and Rites to the same personage , but neither the

editor of KENNINC ' S "Cyclopaedia" nor FINDEL attaches any value to the legend about RAMSAY ' S visit to England , the former remarking—" we are not aware of any good evidence of this assertion , " and FiNDEL , on the authority of Dr . Kl . OSS , declaring

that "he was only once in England , and that in 1730 , to receive the degree of Doctor of Law . " However , the question which more immediately concerned the author of this history related , not to the source from which Templar Masonry derived its origin ,

but to the period when it was in evidence that and the manner in which it was being worked in connection with English Freemasonry . Accordingly , he quotes from the records of the St . Andrew's Chapter , Boston , Mass ., the case of the candidate who

on the 28 th August , 176 9 , was " made by receiving the four steps , that of an Excellt , Sup . Excellt , Hoyl . Arch and Kt . Templar , " subsequently sty led "the four Degrees of a Royal Arch Mason , " and refers his readers for other instances to Bro . HUGHAN ' s

" Origin of the English Rite , " pp . 103-108 and Appendix D . Subsequently Bro . LE STRANGE mentions such cases as he has been able to discover in which the Templar Degree is referred to in connection with Norfolk Masonry , and having clone this , he

briefly describes the career of the preccptories established in Norfolk . He has dealt with the " Ancient and Accepted Rite , " and " Mark and Ark Masonry" in a similar fashion , the two chapters of Rose Croix under the Supreme Council of the

Ancient and Accepted Rite being the Albert Edward , at Kings Lynn , for which the Prince of WALES was a petitioner , and the Clarence , at Norwich , named after the late Duke of CLARENCE and AVONDALE . It should be mentioned , however , that in the

Templar and Mark Degrees Norfolk is not a separate Province , but part of the Province of East Anglia , while in the Ancient and Accepted Rite it is included in the East Central District . The " Appendix " comprises , in addition to an " Index of

Names" and a " General Index , " both of which will be found exceedingly useful for purposes of reference by the reader , a short paper , entitled " Was NELSON a Freemason ? " In this article Bro . LE STRANGE mentions that " among the furniture

now in possession of the Lodge of Friendship , No . iol , at Yarmouth , is a stone bearing an inscription relating to NELSON . " Having described the stone , he proceeds : " On each of the long sides is an incised inscription ; that on one side commemorates

the foundation of the Lodge of United Friends" on the nth August , 1797 , < lt Yarmouth—where it still flourishes as No . 313 ; while on the opposite side is the following : " In Memory of Bror . Vt . NELSON , of the Nile & of Burnham Thorpe , in

Norfolk , who lost his life in the arms of Victory , in an engagement with ye Combin'd Fleets of France & Spain , of { sic ) Cape Trafalgar , Oct . 21 , 1805 . Proposed by Bror . J CUTLOVE . " As it appears that the minute books of the lodge relating to this

period have all disappeared , there is , as far as they are concerned , nothing to corroborate " the inference , from the above inscription , that Nelson was initiated in , or became a member of , the Lodge of United Friends ; " but , as Bro . LE STRANGE very

pertinently remarks : " It is , at all events , extremely unlikel y that in a place where Nelson was so well known as he was at Yarmouth , the members of the lodge would have dared to place

on the stone , commemorative of their own constitution , an inscription claiming him as a brother , which , if untrue , would have exposed them to ridicule and contradiction from many who knew the facts . " We are also told that " Bro . ROBERT ELLIOTT

TlIORNE , of Norwich , has in his possession a round black papier machc snuff-box , with gilt Freemasons' emblems on the lid , which was given to his relative , JOHN HARCOURT , by Lord NELSON , and the history of which is authenticated by a letter

written by JOHN HARCOURT ' S daughter , who was present on the occasion , " and likewise of the " Nelsonic Crimson Oakes Medal , " of which there arc two specimens in the Grand Lodge collection and another in the Worcestershire Masonic Library .

There is , of course , nothing antecedently improbable in Nelson having been a Mason , but while " there is not enough , " as Bro . LE STRANGE remarks , in the facts he mentions , and which wc have referred to , " to enable us to affirm positivel y that NELSON

Freemasonry In Norfolk*

was a Freemason , " we agree with him that , so far as it goes " the presumption points strongly towards that conclusion . " . It remains for us to express the pleasure we have derived from a careful perusal of the work , and the satisfaction wc have

had in noting in outline the general tenour of its contents . There can be no doubt that it is a very valuable addition to the limited number of Provincial Histories which have heretofore been compiled , both on the score of the intrinsic merits it

possesses as a compilation , and also because as Norfolk was one of the earliest homes of Masonry in the Provinces , it is not unreasonable to expect that such a work must of necessity contain much valuable information , as to the usages and customs of the brethren

during a very considerable portion of last century . It is to be regretted that so many of the earlier records have been lost , but in this respect the lodges in Norfolk are by no means singular , while Bro . LE STRANGE has been more fortunate than some of

his brother historians in having lighted upon minute books and evidence of a trustworthy character , which take him back to within 20 years of the date of the constitution of the earliest lodge , that is to say , for upwards of 150 out of the 170 years

since Masonry first made its influence felt in the county . He has also been fortunate in the character of the evidence he has accumulated , and by its means has been able to build up a sketch of Norlolk Masonry that may be relied upon for its truth . What

he tells us is vouched for , not the creation of a too lively imagination . Above all , he has exhibited both judgment and ability in the manner in which he has fulfilled his task , It is essentiall y a readable volume , as well as one that is valuable for the insi ght

it gives into the Masonic history of Norfolk . It is , moreover , externally , as well as in respect of what it contains , a goodly volume , well printed , and with a portrait of the distinguished

Mason who , for close on 20 years , has ruled the Province . We trust it will find a place on the bookshelves of all who take an interest in the progress and development of the Craft throughout this country .

Royal Masonic Institution For Girls.

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR GIRLS .

A Quarterly Court of Subscribers to this Institution was held on Thursday at Freemasons' Tavern , Bio . Henry Smith , P . G . D , P . D . Prov . G . M . West Yorkshire , in the chair . Supporting the Chairman on the dais were Bros . Frank Richardson , A . C . Spaull , George Everett , W . F . Smithson , and C . E . Keyser . Bro . HEDGES , Sec , having read the minutes of the previous Quarterly Couit ,

Bro . S . J . ATTENBOROUGH asked the opinion of the Court whether the Chairman of the last Court was right in ruling that the motion he ( Bro . Attenborough ) made for the addition of two candidates to the list ( Ruth Janet Chowne and Victoria Griffiths ) was out of order . The motion arose out , of the rejection of these cases by the General Committee on the ground that the fathers of the rejected candidates had ceased subscribing to a lodge before the candidates were

born , and he contended that this was not within the laws of the Institution , the fathers having subscribed the requisite number of seven years . As he read the rules the Quarterly Court had the absolute power either to increase or decrease the number of candidates and he wanted the powers preserved . He moved that in the opinion of the Court the Chairman of the Quarterly Court of January , 1896 , was not right in ruling as out of order his ( Bro . Attenborough's )

amendment that these two candidates were eligible . Bro . W . RAUCUKFE , P . M ., Sec . 211 , asked whether the petitions-were sent in in good time ? Bro . ATTKNUOROUGII said yes . The CHAIRMAN said he should put the minutes for verification . The Court

had listened with considerable patience to Bro . Attenborough . Bro . ATTKNUOROUGII said he was not moving that the minutes be rescinded or interfered with in any way ; what he wa ted was an opinion of the Court thit the Chairman acted contrary to the laws of the Institution in ruling him out ol order when he moved his amendment to add two names to the list .

Ihe motion for the confirmation of the minutes was then carried . Bro . S . J . ATTENIIOROUGII said he was then in order in bringing forward nis motion for a declaration that the Chairman of the Court of January , 1896 , «' - not justified in rulintr as out of order his motion for adding- two nimes to the

list-Bro . W . RAHCUITE seconded the motion . , Bro . FRANK RICHARDSON thought it would be injudicious to pass any sue " resolution . The cases had been sifted before . Where would they be if tne )' put cases on the list that the Quarterly Court as a body knew nothing about : Bro . ATTENIVOUOUGH said the cases he mentioned had been before the

Petitions Committee , which had held that they were eligible according to th laws of the Institution . He would not think of getting up and spring ing on tli Court cases that had not been enquired into by the Petitions Committee . '" General Committee declined to put the cases on . He had asked the Cou to accept them , and Jie was ruled out of order . , 1

Bro . Attenborough s motion was supported by 10 members and oppose" 16 . It was therefore lost . . L The CHAIRMAN said that now that this was over he must say he thoug ht Chairman of the Court of January was perfectly right .

Bro . HEDGES having read the summaries of meetings of Committees , ^ Bro . ATTENBOROUGH again brought the matter forward , and moved , ' j in the opinion of this Court the General Committee , in rejecting the cases Ruth Janet Chowne and Victoria Griffiths on the ground that the fatn " , (| , c ceased subscribing to a lodge before the candidates were born , exceeded powers given them by the laws of the Institution , and that in order to rectify