The "Moderns" And Royal Arch Masonry.

the Degree was originally Parted under the wing of the lodge held at the ' ¦ Punch Bowl , " York , which was warranted bv lhe " Moderns . " As . however , " tune rolled on " it "'as supported by the members of the '' Grand Lodge of ; iil Enjand , " held in the same city . The point to be noted being

thai no actual records exist prior to the > ear 1762 , of Royal Arch Lodges or Chapters and that save ai York already noted , there are no other English Minutes extant of an earlier due than 1765 . Those for the chapter at London begin 22 nd March , 1765 , and the first minutes relating to Royal Arch Masonry at Bolton is of lhe year 1767 .

Bro . Crossley has faced an entry in the minute book of the Probity Lodge , Halifax , of January 9 th , 1765 , to the effect that the proposition which was made to establish " a Rjyal Arch Lodge , " was adopted . For the 30 th of the same month and year he has also found the actual minute of a Royal Arch Meeting , at which three brethren were made " Royal Archs . " The minutes are continued in part to July 30 th , 1766 , when they cease , and are not to be met with again until the year 1790 , when the chapter was worked for about = 50 years .

The evidence is lacking at present respecting the means by which the Halifax brethren obtained a knowledge of Royal Arch Masonry . We know that the first minute of a " Modern " Royal Arch chapter in London is dated 22 nd March , 1765 , but the previous existence of that chapter is clearly established by reference to the same book of records . This chapter originated the Sup . Grand Chapter of the " Moderns , " so its position and prominence

lead me to consider that it may have been one of the sources , or the chief source , from which the other " Modern " chapters obtained " light" and information . Unfortunately , we cannot tell how the Degree was started under the regular Grand Lodge , either in London , or at York , Halifax , Bolton , and other places . Of course , it would be easy to be contented with the supposition that the brethien at Halifax got their information from York ,

but whither so or not that does not clear up the question , lor we shall then have to decide as to the source to which the lodge of the " Punch Bowl" in that city was indebted for their knowledge of the Degree . The fact is , we now know ot Royal Arch lodges , or chapters , at York , Halitax , London , and Bolton from 1762 to 1767 , which , so lar , have not been proved to have been working together as due to a common origin , and the mystery is not

lessened when we temember , neither the chapter at Halifax nor the one at Bolton became connected with the Grand Chapter before mentioned until many years afterwards . The chapter started by the latter organisation at Bury in 1769 was composed originally of members exalted at Bolton , though the Bolton companions did not join th-t Grand Chapter until 178 5 I The lirs-t regular chapter at York was not warranted until 1778 , and the Sincerity

Chapter at Hahlax—the one alluded to by Bro . Crossley as working from 1790—was not chartered by the same authority until the year noted ( 1790 ) . The information now afforded by Bro . Crossley tends to date back Royal Arch Masonry under the " Moderns" to a rather earlier period than has generally been assigned to that Degree under such auspices , and , moreover , is another link in the evidence which go < s to prove that the " Moderns "

were active supporters and workers of the " Royal Arch " at a period when the " Ancients" hnve generally been considered to have had the monopoly , or almost tre exclusive ownership . It is curious that Yorkshire in two instances—York and Haliiax—have earlier Royal Arch records than London or fclsf where , and , what is even more curious , ihey are—as all the oldest are

—ol ' •Modern ' origin . The records relating to that Degree under the "Ancients" may not have been krpt for some \ ears alter Royal Arch Masonry was wurked by that body . On this point , as with others relating thereto , I have pleasure in reierring my readers to " Masonic Facts and Fictions , " by Bro . H . Sadler , as the best Book on the subject .

The History Of The Royal Masonic Institution For Girls

THE HISTORY OF THE ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR GIRLS

FROM ITS ORIGIN , 178 S , TO ITS CENTENARY , 18 S 8 .

( Continued from page 532 ) . In tiie matter of health , we have already shown that every possible precaution Avas taken in order to prevent the admission of children who were radically unsound , and the same care was taken to preserve them in health when once they were admitted . There was

ail apothecary attached to the Institution , and the honorary medical staff were as strict in the fulfilment of their duty as the other memhers of the Committee . Yet , in spite of these precautions , the cases are not infrequent of children who were scrofulous or had some ophthalmic affection , and these , besides being most tenderly cared for , were

either boarded out or placed at the sea-bathing infirmary at Margate ; or they were returned to their parents or friends , an allowance of 3 s . 6 i . or 5 s . per week being paid for their maintenance . There were also occasional outbreaks of measles , and such other diseases as children are liable to ; but , generally speaking , the doctors were

Successful in arresting the spread of the disease , and no long time elapsed ere the Matron ' s reports as regards the children ' s health were as satisfactory as usual . Once there was a case of smallpox , and on inquiry it was found that the child had been inoculated in the ordinary way ; while in February , 1801 , a girl who was presented as

a candidate was certified to have been vaccinated , Dr . Jenner ' s discovery of vaccination as a preventive of smallpox having been recognised by the medical faculty a few years previously . In this instance the Committee showed themselves strictly conservative , and insisted on having their rule as to a candidate being inoculated with smallpox adhered to . On one occasion also , Mr . Boys , a member of the medical staff , expreseditas his opinionthat the children were too closely engaged m needlework , and as a result measures were taken that they should be aJlowedmoretimeforrecreation . Great care was observed as regards the sanitary arrangements , the drainage being well looked after , and attention drawn to nuisances in the vicinity that Avere likely to prove detrimental to health . The diet was regular , sufficient , and of the best quality ; while on special occasions the children were treated to

The History Of The Royal Masonic Institution For Girls

extra fare , as on Christmas Day , the day of the Anniversary Festival , the Anniversary of the Matron ' s appointment ; and in summer time there was supplied a dinner of green peas or beans and bacon , with gooseberry pies . On the 25 th October , 1809 , "being the day on which His Majesty" George HI . entered on " the 50 th ( or Jubilee )

Year of his Reign , and the same being intended to be celebrated as a Day of Public Thanksgiving , " it was ordered that the children should attend Divine service , and "that an extra allowance of a dinner , to consist of Eoast Pork and Plum Puddings be provided forthem , and also a Holiday on the occasion . " For purposes of rest and recreation the

children seem to have had only the usual weekly half-holidays and whole holidays on state occasions , the Midsummer and Christmas vacations , which are the lot of most school children , being unknown . Indeed , from the time they entered until their term expired the Girls appear to have been kept as far removed as possible from home

associations , nor Avere they allowed to visit or be visited by their friends and relations , except by the special sanction of the authorities , or in accordance with certain stringent regulations , to which reference has already been made , and which from the social standing of those from whom the School was recruited , do not strike us as being unnecessarily

harsh or severe . In fact , our Girls' Institution , for considerably more than the first 50 years of its existence , was nothing else than an ordinary Charity School , such as Avas then , and is still , common enough in England . The children Avore a uniform dress of coarse material , with mobb caps and pinbefores , and Avhen going to church

or out Avalking Avith their friends , they appeared 111 long cloaks with , badges affixed , and plain sfcrarw bonnets . They were provided Avith the plainest of food , and their instruction Avas confined to reading , Avriting , and arithmetic—the Secretary being for a time their instructor in the last two subjects—ueedleAvork , and domestic duties .

They Avere also taught the catechism of the Church of England , and every now and then Ave find batches of the elder girls Avere confirmed , a Grand Chaplain assisting them in their work of preparation , and a bishop of the said Anglican Church administering to them the rite . But this inferiority in the character of the School originally must not

be alloAved to detract from the merit of Bro . Ruspini in founding it , or of the Governors AVIIO administered its affairs . They found a number of Masons destitute , and they did their utmost to alleviate their necessities by maintaining and educating their female children according to the station in life to Avhich they mostly belonged . Their

care for these " objects , ' as they are spoken of repeatedly 111 the earlier minutes , extended even further . They apprenticed the children on leaving to domestic service or minor trades , Avatched OA-er and protected their interests Avhile they Avere apprentices , and when their terms of service had expired they reAvarded them , if their

conduct had been satisfactory . There is no doubt they greatly benefited the children AVIIO Avere admitted , but they Avere benefited in accordance Avith the station in life in Avhich God had placed them . We are doing no more—though Avhat we do is on a more ambitious

scalethan the founder and his supporters proposed to themselves to do ; and if the tone and character of the School are higher than they Avere , it is because , as Ave have pointed out already , in the majority of cases the jiarents and friends of the Girls AVIIO aro admitted stand higher in the social scale than did those of the earlier pupils .

As may Avell be imagined , in so protracted a period as 18 years , many changes occurred of Avhich it is necessary we should take notice . In the first place , the number of children , Avhich Avas originally 15 , and Avhich , Avhen the occupancy of the house in Somers Place East came to an end , had about doubled itself , Avas sloAvly

augmented by small accretions of tAvo or three at a time , until by the middle of the year 1802 it reached 60 , and in August 1808 Avas further raised to 62 , at Avhich it remained for a long period . Among the changes caused by death , resignation , or dismssal in the staff of officials it has already been stated that Bro . Adam

Gordon Avas appointed acting Treasurer 111 July , 1795 , during the absence on duty at Portsmouth of Sir Peter Parker , Bart ., D . G . M . and Treasurer , and the two Avere elected joint Treasurers annually until 1800 , Avhen owing to ill-health Bro . Gordon resigned , and Avas succeeded by Bro . W . Forssteen . For the brief remainder

of his life Bro . Gordon held the office of Trustee , and at his death he bequeathed a legacy of £ 100 in order to constitute his son , William Gordon , a Life Governor . Sir Peter Parker , too , on becoming Trustee in 1804 , resigned the Treasurership , and Bro . Forssteen had the office to himself , retaining it till 1816 , Avhen he in turn

resigned on the score of ill-health . In 1804 Bro . C . Cuppage , AVIIO had creditably fulfilled the duties of Secretary for close on 15 years , died , and Avas succeeded by Bro . W . Dignam , AVIIO did not , hoAvever , continue in office long , as in January , 1806 , he sent in his resignation , and the folloAving month Avas succeeded hy a former rival , Bro . James

Cole . Six years later Bro . Cole retired , and Bro . J . W . Hucklebridge became Secretary , the duties of ' Avriting-master , which had heretofore been discharged by the Secretary , being entrusted to a separate officer in the person of Mr . Shorman . Fortunately , these numerous changes in so important a post do not seem to have greatly impaired

the efuciency of the business arrangements . The Committees Avere regular in their attendance and scrupulous in the discharge of their duties . The Treasurer , too , Avas almost always at hand to give advice , and many of the most prominent Masons of the day took a delight in rendering such services as Avere in their poAver , Avhile the Countess of Loudoun and Moira , Avho had succeeded the Duchess 01 Cumberland as Patroness , and her noble husband , the Earl of Moira , A . G . M ., materially assisted by their example and the direct personal interest they took in the children in promoting the success of the Institution . ( To be continued . )