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Article PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF LINCOLNSHIRE. Page 1 of 1 Article PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF LINCOLNSHIRE. Page 1 of 1 Article Original Correspondence. Page 1 of 2 Article Original Correspondence. Page 1 of 2 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Provincial Grand Lodge Of Lincolnshire.
PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF LINCOLNSHIRE .
Thursday , the 18 th of May , was the day appointed for the Provincial Grand Lodge of Freemasons , in Lincolnshire , and Grantham the town selected for holding the meeting . Eaily in the day a considerable number of brethren arrived , and met at the Exchange at high twelve for the
business of the Lodge . In the minds of many persons we know very well that a prejudice exists against Freemasonry , and for many reasons . The religionist , who , not knowing the arcana of the Order , imagines it somewhat of a usurpation of their own exclusive
rig ht of dictating to men and women what they ought to believe ; others , anxious to penetrate thc veil , and unable to do so , fall back upon the argument that " there is nothing in it ; " the public lives of many of its members are often held up to derision ; and , it is a fact , that among
the few there is objection taken to this speculative science . We need only say that they do not know what it is that they condemn , and , consequently , their condemnation is but of little effect . Nor do Masons fear it . They attend their meetings and transact their business ,
caring little for what the outside world may say about them . It is their custom to meet once a year , and then they fix upon a central town , and representatives from each Lodge are present . These are called meetings of " Grand Lodge , " and the ceremonies are of course much more
imposing . Grand Lodge was held at the Exchange , in High-street , and the Lodge was , as usual , opened in the first degree by the officers of the Doric Lodge ( Grantham ) . The ordinary announcements having been made , his Grace the Duke of
St . Albans entered the Lodge , supported by his officers , and we need hardly say that the procession was a most elaborate and imposing one . His Grace having ascended the dais , the brethren standing meanwhile , the hymn of
invocation was sung with spirit and effect , and the supplication said by Bro . Dr . Ace , who looked exceedingly imposing in his many colouredrobes . Grand Lodge was then opened , Bro . J . Lambert , P . G . O ., presiding at the organ .
The business for transaction was not very extensive , and to some extent it was less interesting than it might have been from the fact tbat the brethren at the lower end of the room had a difficulty in hearing the various transactions of the Committees , whose reports
were read . From these reports , we learned that Freemasonry had progressed very considerably during the year , more than seven hundred members being on the books at the present time . The funds , too , appeared to be in a very healthy state .
The Chanty Committee had met at an earlier hour , and awarded various sums to aged widows of Freemasons , and a report was read by Bro . Radley , showing the workings of lads sent from this province into the Masonic Institution for Boys .
In connection with this subject , the name of Bro . Sutclift'e , P . S . W ., of the Grimsby Lodge , was specially and honourbly mentioned . This worthy and deserving member of the fraternity was last year appointed P . G . S ., and he anpears to have thoroughly interested himself in the work .
for , by liberal contributions from himself and his family , and the co-operation of the Lincolnshire Lodges , he succeeded in sending to the Funds of the School no less than a thousand guineas , one-seventh of the whole amount contributed during the year . A special expression of
gratitude was proposed and seconded in Lodge , and his Grace the Duke said he felt he should be very remiss if he did not mention the especial pride and satisfaction it gave him to find that Bro . Sutcliffe had made such efforts for supporting the institution . Bro . Binckes , Secretary of the Boys' School ,
then rose and said he was deputed by the Governors to be present , in order to acknowledge their appreciation of the very handsome donations forwarded them by Bro . Sutcliffe , and they would have thought it a neglect of duty had they omitted to make special acknowledgement , not only of his exertions , but also of his own liberality . Bro . Sutcliffe , who spoke very much under
Provincial Grand Lodge Of Lincolnshire.
the influence of emotion , and who was not distinctly heard in consequence , said what he had done had been a labour of love , and he would have done more had it been in his power .
W . Bro . Chas . Michell Nesbitt , 712 , was then unanimously re-elected P . G . Treasurer for the ensuing year , and the following officers were then invested by his Grace r—W . K . Smith , 712 , D . Prov . G . M .
T . H . Oldman , 422 Prov G . S . W . R . J . Boyall , 352 Prov G . J . W . Rev . D . Ace , D . D ., 422 Prov G . Chap . W . G . Moore , 287 Prov G . Reg . C . M . Nesbitt , 712 Prov G . Treas .
F . D . Marsden , 712 Prov G . Sec . F . Snaith , 272 Prov G . S . D . A . Woodrow , 4 6 9 Prov G . J . D . W . J . Mantle , 297 Prov G . S . W . } . R . Boyall , 362 Prov G . D . C . Wm . P 00 les . 33 S Prov G . A . D . C .
F . Foster , 588 Prov G . S . B . J . C . Lambert , 588 Prov G . O . Bro . C . Smyth , 712 Prov G . P . E . F . Hudson , 352 Prov G . Steward . Rev . J . C K . Saunders , 1286 „ „
W . Pigott , 1282 . ,, „ W . T . B . Hamlyn , 422 H . Watson , 1386 „ „ J . Allen , 838
Hearty good-wishes having been expressed , the Provincial Grand Lodge was closed in due form , and the brethren adjourned to a sumptuous banquet , provided at the Guildhall , in the best
style by Bro . Bnckett , of the Angel Hotel ( late of the "Great Northern , " Lincoln ) ; the chair being taken by his Grace the Duke of St . Albans . The Provincial Grand Lodge will be held in 1875 at Boston . —Spalding Free Press .
Original Correspondence.
Original Correspondence .
[ We do not hold ourselves responsible for , or even as approving of , the opinions expressed by our correspondents , but w ; wish , in a spirit of fair play toall , ' to permit—within certain necessary limits—free discussion . — Eu . J
MASONS' MARKS . To the Editor of the Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother ,
The ill-considered , hasty , and erroneous statements of Bro . Chalmers I . Paton on this subject , have , as regards their main points , been so thoroughly controverted by the learned brother
who writes under the modest nom de plume ol " A Masonic Student , " and by my able and worthy friend , Bro . W . J . Hughan ( whose literary services to the Craft all must be delighted to see recognised by the M . W . Grand Master ) , that it would be quite superfluous for any one
else to add a word to these observations , so far as the actnal question of Masons' Marks is concerned . There are , however , two or three assertions made by Bro . C . I . Paton , collateral to the main
issue as to the marks , but important in themselves , which are equally inaccurate with the rest . These have been entirely passed over in the discussion , and it certainly seems desirable to have them rectified .
I have waited for some time in the hope that some more able brother would stir in the matter , but as no else seems disposed to do so , I venture to " put my spoon in the kail , " even at the risk of the penalty threatened in the Scottish proverb quoted by Bro . Paton . I hope , however , that in
ray case , our English proverb that " too many cooks spoil the broth , " will not prove to be true . In Bro . C . I . Paton ' s letter , in The Freemason of April 11 ( p . 22 r ) , he asserts that "The Grand Lodge of Mark Masters in England was only constituted a few years ago , to take charge , or
to . speak of the mark lodges in England ; but all those English lodges received their charters from Scotland , and along with them their ritual , which they could have no right to change , and in which it is distinctly laid down as a fixed rule
that candidates are to choose no other mark than one with an odd number of points , " and again , further on , he re-asserts that ' * all the lodges of Mark Masters in England are daughters of the Supreme Grand Royal and Chapter of Scotland . "
Original Correspondence.
It is possible that a brother who is a fluent writer on Freemasonry , and who possesses the undoubted abilities and acquirements of Bro . Paton , can really be so ignorant of the status of Mark
Masonry in England as not to know that the Mark Masters' degree was worked by many lodges in this country long before the Supreme Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Scotland itself existed .
This being so , I would first recommend Bro . C . I . Paton to peruse the introduction to the Constitutions ofthe Grand Lodge of Mark Masters of England , which I presume , he cannot have seen , and then proceed to give the following particulars , as facts within my own knowledge , confirmatory of the statements there made .
The Mark Masters and other degrees not now recognised by the United Grand Lodge of England , were regularly worked in an old lodge , No . 01 , in this town , date of foundation
unknown , but which , after many years' labour , ceased to exist about the year 1818 , the seals of which , including those for the Ark Mariners , the Royal Arck , the Knights Templar , and the Red Cross degrees , are now in my own possession .
T . hese degrees were also worked , under the Craft warrants , in the Knights of Malta Lodge , at Hinckley , in this Province , now No . 50 , on the Craft register and No . 30 in that of the Mark Grand Lodge , which was founded in the year 1767 .
In my sketch ofthe History of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Leicestershire , 1870 , ( pp . 66-9 ) I have given copies of some curious old certificates , issued by their lodge , and also some extracts from the lodge books , of which the following entries may suffice for present
services . Joseph Dudley was arked and marked on St . John ' s Day , 1827 . The Square William May , on the same day The Half Moon . Bro . Joseph King marked and arked , March 23 rd , 1828 . The 7 Stars .
Although St . John ' s Lodge ( now 279 ) in this town never worked the Mark as a separate degree , I well recollect , after being passed in it , thirtyfive years ago , having the sign inimical of a Mark Man and Mark Master communicated to me .
In company with five or six other Leicester brethren , I was advanced to the Mark Masters ' degree , sixteen years ago , in the old Newstead Lodge , No . 47 , at Nottingham , which , like the lodge at Hinckley , founded almost contemporaneously with it , has continued from its
foundation to work the Mark degree , in connection with the Craft Lodge , down to the present day , but , unlike the latter , it is one of the very few timeimmtmorial lodges , which has yet recognised the Mark Grand Lodge , but in the midst of its territory or jurisdiction , it continues , in isolated independence , a little imperium in imperio .
Here , we have three positive instances of lodges in this neighbourhood , in which the Mark Degree has been worked from about . a century ago , and also in two , out of the three cases , of the correctness of the statements in the Mark Book of Constitutions , that notwithstanding the
non-recognition of this degree by the United Grand Lodge at the union in 1813 , "the Mark Degree continued to be extensively worked in the Northern and Midland districts of England . " The first warrant issued to an English Mark Masters' Lodge under the Scottish Constitution
was , I believe , that to the Bon Accord Lodge , in London , less than twenty years ago . I have a copy of the ritual used in the lodge at that time ( differing essentially , in some respects from the working at Nottingham ) , which singularly enough , contains no mention of the
candidates Mark being required to have an odd number of lines , indeed , the candidate did not select it himself , but it was presented to him by the R . W . M ., " subject to the confirmation of the Registrar . " I fully admit , however , the
accuracy of Bro . C . I . Paton ' s statement that such a requirement was part of the Scottish system of working . When the newly-established Grand Lodge of Mark Masters , in 1856 , promulgated their first
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Provincial Grand Lodge Of Lincolnshire.
PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF LINCOLNSHIRE .
Thursday , the 18 th of May , was the day appointed for the Provincial Grand Lodge of Freemasons , in Lincolnshire , and Grantham the town selected for holding the meeting . Eaily in the day a considerable number of brethren arrived , and met at the Exchange at high twelve for the
business of the Lodge . In the minds of many persons we know very well that a prejudice exists against Freemasonry , and for many reasons . The religionist , who , not knowing the arcana of the Order , imagines it somewhat of a usurpation of their own exclusive
rig ht of dictating to men and women what they ought to believe ; others , anxious to penetrate thc veil , and unable to do so , fall back upon the argument that " there is nothing in it ; " the public lives of many of its members are often held up to derision ; and , it is a fact , that among
the few there is objection taken to this speculative science . We need only say that they do not know what it is that they condemn , and , consequently , their condemnation is but of little effect . Nor do Masons fear it . They attend their meetings and transact their business ,
caring little for what the outside world may say about them . It is their custom to meet once a year , and then they fix upon a central town , and representatives from each Lodge are present . These are called meetings of " Grand Lodge , " and the ceremonies are of course much more
imposing . Grand Lodge was held at the Exchange , in High-street , and the Lodge was , as usual , opened in the first degree by the officers of the Doric Lodge ( Grantham ) . The ordinary announcements having been made , his Grace the Duke of
St . Albans entered the Lodge , supported by his officers , and we need hardly say that the procession was a most elaborate and imposing one . His Grace having ascended the dais , the brethren standing meanwhile , the hymn of
invocation was sung with spirit and effect , and the supplication said by Bro . Dr . Ace , who looked exceedingly imposing in his many colouredrobes . Grand Lodge was then opened , Bro . J . Lambert , P . G . O ., presiding at the organ .
The business for transaction was not very extensive , and to some extent it was less interesting than it might have been from the fact tbat the brethren at the lower end of the room had a difficulty in hearing the various transactions of the Committees , whose reports
were read . From these reports , we learned that Freemasonry had progressed very considerably during the year , more than seven hundred members being on the books at the present time . The funds , too , appeared to be in a very healthy state .
The Chanty Committee had met at an earlier hour , and awarded various sums to aged widows of Freemasons , and a report was read by Bro . Radley , showing the workings of lads sent from this province into the Masonic Institution for Boys .
In connection with this subject , the name of Bro . Sutclift'e , P . S . W ., of the Grimsby Lodge , was specially and honourbly mentioned . This worthy and deserving member of the fraternity was last year appointed P . G . S ., and he anpears to have thoroughly interested himself in the work .
for , by liberal contributions from himself and his family , and the co-operation of the Lincolnshire Lodges , he succeeded in sending to the Funds of the School no less than a thousand guineas , one-seventh of the whole amount contributed during the year . A special expression of
gratitude was proposed and seconded in Lodge , and his Grace the Duke said he felt he should be very remiss if he did not mention the especial pride and satisfaction it gave him to find that Bro . Sutcliffe had made such efforts for supporting the institution . Bro . Binckes , Secretary of the Boys' School ,
then rose and said he was deputed by the Governors to be present , in order to acknowledge their appreciation of the very handsome donations forwarded them by Bro . Sutcliffe , and they would have thought it a neglect of duty had they omitted to make special acknowledgement , not only of his exertions , but also of his own liberality . Bro . Sutcliffe , who spoke very much under
Provincial Grand Lodge Of Lincolnshire.
the influence of emotion , and who was not distinctly heard in consequence , said what he had done had been a labour of love , and he would have done more had it been in his power .
W . Bro . Chas . Michell Nesbitt , 712 , was then unanimously re-elected P . G . Treasurer for the ensuing year , and the following officers were then invested by his Grace r—W . K . Smith , 712 , D . Prov . G . M .
T . H . Oldman , 422 Prov G . S . W . R . J . Boyall , 352 Prov G . J . W . Rev . D . Ace , D . D ., 422 Prov G . Chap . W . G . Moore , 287 Prov G . Reg . C . M . Nesbitt , 712 Prov G . Treas .
F . D . Marsden , 712 Prov G . Sec . F . Snaith , 272 Prov G . S . D . A . Woodrow , 4 6 9 Prov G . J . D . W . J . Mantle , 297 Prov G . S . W . } . R . Boyall , 362 Prov G . D . C . Wm . P 00 les . 33 S Prov G . A . D . C .
F . Foster , 588 Prov G . S . B . J . C . Lambert , 588 Prov G . O . Bro . C . Smyth , 712 Prov G . P . E . F . Hudson , 352 Prov G . Steward . Rev . J . C K . Saunders , 1286 „ „
W . Pigott , 1282 . ,, „ W . T . B . Hamlyn , 422 H . Watson , 1386 „ „ J . Allen , 838
Hearty good-wishes having been expressed , the Provincial Grand Lodge was closed in due form , and the brethren adjourned to a sumptuous banquet , provided at the Guildhall , in the best
style by Bro . Bnckett , of the Angel Hotel ( late of the "Great Northern , " Lincoln ) ; the chair being taken by his Grace the Duke of St . Albans . The Provincial Grand Lodge will be held in 1875 at Boston . —Spalding Free Press .
Original Correspondence.
Original Correspondence .
[ We do not hold ourselves responsible for , or even as approving of , the opinions expressed by our correspondents , but w ; wish , in a spirit of fair play toall , ' to permit—within certain necessary limits—free discussion . — Eu . J
MASONS' MARKS . To the Editor of the Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother ,
The ill-considered , hasty , and erroneous statements of Bro . Chalmers I . Paton on this subject , have , as regards their main points , been so thoroughly controverted by the learned brother
who writes under the modest nom de plume ol " A Masonic Student , " and by my able and worthy friend , Bro . W . J . Hughan ( whose literary services to the Craft all must be delighted to see recognised by the M . W . Grand Master ) , that it would be quite superfluous for any one
else to add a word to these observations , so far as the actnal question of Masons' Marks is concerned . There are , however , two or three assertions made by Bro . C . I . Paton , collateral to the main
issue as to the marks , but important in themselves , which are equally inaccurate with the rest . These have been entirely passed over in the discussion , and it certainly seems desirable to have them rectified .
I have waited for some time in the hope that some more able brother would stir in the matter , but as no else seems disposed to do so , I venture to " put my spoon in the kail , " even at the risk of the penalty threatened in the Scottish proverb quoted by Bro . Paton . I hope , however , that in
ray case , our English proverb that " too many cooks spoil the broth , " will not prove to be true . In Bro . C . I . Paton ' s letter , in The Freemason of April 11 ( p . 22 r ) , he asserts that "The Grand Lodge of Mark Masters in England was only constituted a few years ago , to take charge , or
to . speak of the mark lodges in England ; but all those English lodges received their charters from Scotland , and along with them their ritual , which they could have no right to change , and in which it is distinctly laid down as a fixed rule
that candidates are to choose no other mark than one with an odd number of points , " and again , further on , he re-asserts that ' * all the lodges of Mark Masters in England are daughters of the Supreme Grand Royal and Chapter of Scotland . "
Original Correspondence.
It is possible that a brother who is a fluent writer on Freemasonry , and who possesses the undoubted abilities and acquirements of Bro . Paton , can really be so ignorant of the status of Mark
Masonry in England as not to know that the Mark Masters' degree was worked by many lodges in this country long before the Supreme Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Scotland itself existed .
This being so , I would first recommend Bro . C . I . Paton to peruse the introduction to the Constitutions ofthe Grand Lodge of Mark Masters of England , which I presume , he cannot have seen , and then proceed to give the following particulars , as facts within my own knowledge , confirmatory of the statements there made .
The Mark Masters and other degrees not now recognised by the United Grand Lodge of England , were regularly worked in an old lodge , No . 01 , in this town , date of foundation
unknown , but which , after many years' labour , ceased to exist about the year 1818 , the seals of which , including those for the Ark Mariners , the Royal Arck , the Knights Templar , and the Red Cross degrees , are now in my own possession .
T . hese degrees were also worked , under the Craft warrants , in the Knights of Malta Lodge , at Hinckley , in this Province , now No . 50 , on the Craft register and No . 30 in that of the Mark Grand Lodge , which was founded in the year 1767 .
In my sketch ofthe History of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Leicestershire , 1870 , ( pp . 66-9 ) I have given copies of some curious old certificates , issued by their lodge , and also some extracts from the lodge books , of which the following entries may suffice for present
services . Joseph Dudley was arked and marked on St . John ' s Day , 1827 . The Square William May , on the same day The Half Moon . Bro . Joseph King marked and arked , March 23 rd , 1828 . The 7 Stars .
Although St . John ' s Lodge ( now 279 ) in this town never worked the Mark as a separate degree , I well recollect , after being passed in it , thirtyfive years ago , having the sign inimical of a Mark Man and Mark Master communicated to me .
In company with five or six other Leicester brethren , I was advanced to the Mark Masters ' degree , sixteen years ago , in the old Newstead Lodge , No . 47 , at Nottingham , which , like the lodge at Hinckley , founded almost contemporaneously with it , has continued from its
foundation to work the Mark degree , in connection with the Craft Lodge , down to the present day , but , unlike the latter , it is one of the very few timeimmtmorial lodges , which has yet recognised the Mark Grand Lodge , but in the midst of its territory or jurisdiction , it continues , in isolated independence , a little imperium in imperio .
Here , we have three positive instances of lodges in this neighbourhood , in which the Mark Degree has been worked from about . a century ago , and also in two , out of the three cases , of the correctness of the statements in the Mark Book of Constitutions , that notwithstanding the
non-recognition of this degree by the United Grand Lodge at the union in 1813 , "the Mark Degree continued to be extensively worked in the Northern and Midland districts of England . " The first warrant issued to an English Mark Masters' Lodge under the Scottish Constitution
was , I believe , that to the Bon Accord Lodge , in London , less than twenty years ago . I have a copy of the ritual used in the lodge at that time ( differing essentially , in some respects from the working at Nottingham ) , which singularly enough , contains no mention of the
candidates Mark being required to have an odd number of lines , indeed , the candidate did not select it himself , but it was presented to him by the R . W . M ., " subject to the confirmation of the Registrar . " I fully admit , however , the
accuracy of Bro . C . I . Paton ' s statement that such a requirement was part of the Scottish system of working . When the newly-established Grand Lodge of Mark Masters , in 1856 , promulgated their first