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Article REVIEW. ← Page 2 of 2 Article THE EARLY ORGANISATION OF THE "ANCIENT" MASONS. Page 1 of 1 Article THE EARLY ORGANISATION OF THE "ANCIENT" MASONS. Page 1 of 1
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Review.
all the information that is possible ; but as the lodges have been closed by Imperial ukase since 1821 , there is but little to interest us . In fact , the chart which accompanies this chapter , and in which is traced the course of Masonry in the several countries we have enumerated , shows us almost at a glance all we shall probably care to know about the Craft in these States .
The concluding chapter ( XXVII ) of the volume is devoted to Freemasonry in Germany , where , in spite of the troubles caused at different times by the different High Degree Systems , the progress of the Craft has been real and substantial . In his study of this portion of the work the reader will be very materially assisted by the chart showing the different " Active and Extinct Ruling Bodies " in this portion of Europe .
We have now completed our examination of the fifth volume of this splendid history , and though it is almost natural that the portion of the subject dealt with here should make a less profound impression on the reader , there is no doubt that Bro . Gould has shown himself at his very best in the manner in which he has dealt with these sections of our history . It is difficult to imagine a more trying task than that of compressing into a
moderate compass , while preserving at the same time all the essential matter , an intricate mass of conflicting details , and evolving out of it an intelligible and trustworthy story . But this is precisely vvhat Bro . Gould has done , and though we cannot predict for him any great success in arousing English enthusiasm for continental Masonry—seeing that , as we have
hinted already , it is almost natural for us to fight shy even of the oldest and most highly commended Masonic productions from abroad , —he has achieved the rare merit of presenting us—so far as he has gone—with a clear and concise account ot what in the other Masonic histories we have read is quite unworthy of such a description .
The Early Organisation Of The "Ancient" Masons.
THE EARLY ORGANISATION OF THE "ANCIENT" MASONS .
IV . BY G . B . ABBOTT . It only now remains for me , in order to complete my description of " Morgan ' s Register , " to give a circumstantial account of the " General Register" of members , commenced by Morgan in 1751 , and continued by
Dermott to August , 1755 , the last entry being dated the 14 th of that month —No . 1014 , Samuel Tilt , of No . 5 . Albeit a mere list of names , the register is capable of furnishing a good deal of useful information , and as I have already given some idea of the details contained in it , I may as well enter upon my task at once .
Lodge No . 2 , which met originally at the Turk ' s Head , in Greek-street , and shortly afterwards changed its quarters to the Rising Sun , in Suffolkstreet , had in G . Secretary ' s Morgan's time exactly 8 members , Samuel Ouay , one of the Committee of 17 th July , 1751 , elected the first S . G . W . under G . Master Robert Turner , and installed 5 th December , 1753 , and a habit maker by trade , heading the list ; James Hagan , a peruke maker , at
the Goat and Ass , Pall Mall ; Wm . Taylor , bookseller , Little Suffolk-street , Haymarket ; John Doughty , shoemaker , at the Prince of Wales Arms , Pall Mall ; John Smith , ist , taylor , Stewart ' s-rents , Drury-lane ; John Morgan , the Grand Secretary ; John Mitchell , marked by Dermott as excluded for imposing and demanding assistance from ye Grand Lodge when he was able to work , on the 26 th May , 1754 ; and Richard Coffy , against
whom is written , also in Dermott ' s hand , "deemed unworthy , being the other seven . Of these Wm . Taylor and John Morgan are re-registered under Lodge No . 7 , while John Smith , ist , is marked as having gone to Barbadoes , on 2 nd Aug ., 1751 . In addition to these are entered 4 other members—Nale McColm , a tailor at the Ship , Fleet Ditch ; Fras . Matthews , shoemaker , opposite the White Bear , Prince's-street , Red Lion-square ;
Jas . Murphy , who seems to have been excluded for non-payment of dues on 3 rd July , 1754 ; and Wm . Cowen , against whom is written , " paid his dues and got a certificate from No . 2 . " These four , however , have been interpolated by Dermott , the date of their entrance being , in each case , Sth July , 1752 . Lodge No . 3 , meeting at the " Criple , " comprises ten members , namely , Richard Price , a carpenter , in Sheer-lane , Temple Bar ; Thos . Evans , John
Bandy , Loghlin Mcintosh , elsewhere designated " Ensign , " and elected and installed the first J . G . W . under G . M . Robert Turner ; Michael Lynham , Thomas Humber , Jacob Bixby , Edwd . Turpin , John Smith , 2 nd , described as " a victualler , Criple , Little Britain , " and Henry Looker . Lodge No . 4 , meeting at the Cannon , in Water-lane , Fleet-street , has 18 members , namely , Abraham Ardezoif , of Broad-court , Bow-street ,
Covent Garden , who seems to have been adjudged unworthy of the Society , and discharged on the 17 th July , 1751—the day of the General Assembly ; Wm . Roger Flemin , marked as having been discharged on the ist Jan ., 1752 , and gone to St . Kitt ' s , to which is added , in Dermott ' s writing , " without payg . his dues exclud . ; " James Hagarty , painter , Leatherlane , who was in the chair on 7 th Feb ., 1752 , when Dermott was elected G .
Secretary ; John McCormick , marked as discharged ist September , 1751 , and gone to Ireland , ' * without payg . his dues exclud ., " though the latter statement is described as erroneous ; Henry Lewis , at Mr . Foster ' s , jeweller , Wood-street , Cheapside , who some years later got into disgrace ; Arthur Lord , discharged on the ist Jan . 1752 , and described as having gone to Liverpool , and "left ye lodge wth . honour ; " Geo .
Hebden , a cabinetmaker , in White Cross-street , who was in the chair on 14 th Sept ., 1752 , where it was agreed the Grand Committee should grant warrants and dispensations , & c . ; James Owen , an enamelled snuff-box painter , of Cold Bath-fields ; James Bowlas , excluded for misbehaviour and non-payment of dues on ist Jan ., 1752 ; Christopher Pidgeon , a shop-keeper , Aldersgate-street ; Thos . Wooral , excluded ist Jan ., 1752 ,
for non-payment of dues ; Owen Tudor , at "Mr . Bromidge , Ludgatehill , painter , " registered in Lodge No . 5 ; Wm . Boullough , John Palty , Thos . Bibby , Geo . Fay , registered in No . 7 ; James Shee , " gone to Ireland , " an " attorney , Fetter-lane , " and one of the Committee appointed at the General Assembly , 17 th July , 1751 , to draw up Laws and Regulations for the Government of the Ancient Craft ; and John Gibson , excluded ist Jan ., 1752 , for non-payment of dues .
Lodge No . 5 , at the Plaisterers Arms , Gray ' s Inn-lane , contains 20 members , the list being headed by John Gaunt , a painter , of Middlesexcourt , Drury-lane , in whose favour I 3 to . Christ . Byrne , Master of No . 6 , vacated the chair at the meeting of thc Grand Committee on ist April , 1752 ,
" not , " as Dermott says in a footnote , " as his right , but for his acknowledged skill and judgment ; " Hugh Chevirs , also a painter , of Orangecourt , Drury-lane , marked as excluded on the 24 th June , 1752 , for nonpayment of dues ; Richd . Jones ; Geo . Robinson , of Leicester-street , Gray's Inn-lane , painter ; Thos . Figg , victualler , Plaisterers' Arms , Little
The Early Organisation Of The "Ancient" Masons.
Gray ' s Inn-lane ; Chas . McCarty , Flower de Luce-court , Gray's Inn-lane ; Wm . Waters , Owen Tudor—originally registered under No . 4—of Bridelane—all painters ; Banbury Fox and Thos . Ottarah , weavers , opposite the Two Brewers , Brick-lane , Spital Fields , marked as having left by certificate , the former on 20 th April , 1752 , soon after which he joined old No . 12 , and the latter on 13 th January , 17 ^ 2 . afterwards joining old No . a :
Richd . Allen , Tash-court , Gray ' s Inn-lane , snuff box maker ; Richard Fowler , King ' s Arms , Little Moor Fields , clock maker ; John Dowling , 3 , Orange-court , Drury-lane , peruke maker ; John Carey , near the Boot , Dowgate Hill , hair curler ; James Geo . Smith , of No . 2 , Tash-court , breeches maker , excluded 24 th June , 1752 , for non-payment of dues ; Lawrence Folliot , Golden Seal , Castle-street , Long Acre , taylor ; John
Adams , a painter , at the Plaisterers' Arms ; John Morris , weaver , opposite the Two Brewers , Brick-lane , discharged 27 th December , 1751 , and soon after joined old No . 9 Lodge ; Evan Gabriel , bricklayer , next door to the Black Dog , Drury-lane ; and Barthw . Scully , papersmith , by the White Horse , Hozier-lane . Lodge No . 6 , at the Globe , Bridges-street , Covent Garden , has 19
members—Joseph Kelly , one of the Committee of 17 th July , 175 1 , for compiling Laws and Regulations , heading the list , with Ant . Gau standing next , and Philip McLoughlin , another of the same Committee , third . This last seems to have left the lodge on 29 th July , 1751 , and gone to Ireland . Then follow Christopher Byrne , John Dayly , Edward Ryan , Andrew Byrne , declared off by certificate 27 th December , 1751 ; Alexr . Erwin , excluded for
nonpayment ; James Drummond , made a Mason 20 th May , 1751 , and excluded afterwards ; Thos . Kelly , Palk Redman , Robt . Sinclare , excluded for non-payment ; Patrick Conway , left 24 th June , 1752 , joined No . 4 ; J . Cailot , left with certificate ; Thos . Weer , Wm . Carney , James Cousins , all excluded for non-payment ; Joseph Cannon , marked gone to Ireland ; and John Kelly , victualler , Globe , Bridges-street .
The above gives an aggregate of 79 members , of which 12 belong to No . 2 ; 10 to No . 3 ; iS to No . 4 ; 20 to No . 5 ; and 19 to No . 6 ; but one of the members—Owen Tudor—figures under both No . 4 and No . 5 ; and there are four names , as I have said , interpolated by Dermott on Sth July , 1752 , as belonging to Lodge No . 2 ; so that the actual brethren registered by Grand Secretary Morgan members of these lodges , were only
74 all told ; and assuming , as we are justified in doing , lhat they were all members on the 17 th July , 1751 , these represent the full extent of the possible muster in General Assembly at the Turk ' s Head , Greek-street , on that day , of the " Ancient" Craft in England , according to the old institution , so far as is disclosed by this General Register of Morgan ' s . Yet from this insignificant General Assembly , which , if every member were present ,
could only have comprised 74 Masons , mostly painters , bricklayers , tailors , and the like , sprung that powerful organisation , which held its own successfully for 62 years against their socially more influential rivals , the Regular Masons of England , and then united with them on terms of the most perfect equality—if , indeed , they did not in some things exercise even a preponderating influence—in building up the present " United Grand Lodge of England . "
The above constitute the original group of lodges ; those which follow carry us forward to the date of Dermott ' s election as Grand Secretary—7 th February , 1752 , two of them , however , Nos . 7 and 10 , having had only a very brief existence , being excluded from the roll on the 27 th Dec , 1752 . Lodge No . 7 , which is described in the column headed " From Whence , " as hailing from " St . John , " and as being a " New Constitution by Petn ., "
met at the Fountain , Mon mouth-street , Seven Dials—its day of constitution being given in the Lodge List No . 1 as 29 th July , 1751 . It seems to have consisted originally of eight members , of whom G . Fay joined from No . 4 , and John Morgan , G . Sec , from No . 2 , four other members having subsequently been added . John Hamilton , who heads the list , appears to have been anything but a reputable brother , and in June , 1 754 , when Master of No . 10
was ignomintously expelled the Society . George Fay , from No . 4 , is marked as discharged " 20 th October , 1751 , and it is added in Dermott's handwriting " Deem'd unworthy the Society from non-payment of dues , breaking his obligatn , and several misdemeanors at No . 6 and other lodges , " though a later entry would seem to reinstate his character , somewhat as we read " Oct . 5 th , 1752 , Richard Stringer in the chair , Bro . Fay's charge
being re-examined and found ( o be worthy , and the accusation false and malicious . " The other members are John Willis , an upholder of the Haymarket ; John Holland , a mason , of Monmouth-street ; William Taylor , from No . 2 ; John Morgan , from No . 2 ; Stephen Deveaux , made 15 th August , 1751 ; Barnaby Hackett , entered on 21 st August ; Wm . Furlong , John McDowell , and Wm . McDowell , and Wm . Woodman , the register numbers of the last four being Nos . 97 , 100 , 101 , and 108 .
No . 10 , described as a " new constitution , " of ist February , 1752 , starts with six members , namely , Edwd . Field , against whom Dermott has written " Broke up his L . on his Mr-ship without reason , " David Crawley , Josh . McGannon , Richard Hatch , Dudley McGee , and Laurence Dermott , described as joining from No . 26 , Dublin , as having been made on the 14 th Jan . 1740-1 , and as being a painter living in Butler ' s Alley , Moorfields 5 Ctawley , Hatch , and McGee have "Non Attendee . " entered against their
respective names , while Dermott left the lodge on the 24 th February , 1752 , shortly after his election as G . Sec . No . 9 , constituted 30 th Jan ., 1752 , started with nine members , John Morris and Thos . Ottara—probably O'Hara—Thos . Kaan , Isaac Daking , John Dissal , Moris Willoughby , Charles Murray , Joseph Whitehead , and Josh Henley , and a few names further on we come to Michael Healey , Laurence Dermott , from No . 10 , Edwd . Butcher , & c , & c , & c .
No . 8 , of date 29 th January , 1752—in the Lodge List January appears , but in this Register " Feb . " is inserted , evidently in error—opens with five names—James Bradshaw , peruke maker ; Thos . Blower , tallow-chandler ; and Richard Darling Guest , the first W . M ., S . W ., and J , W . respectively , and Alexr . Fife , of Beaufort Buildings , Strand , and Robert Glave , vintner , Sheer Lane , Temple Bar .
These constitute the lodges which were placed on the roll between the 17 th July , 1751 , and the 5 th February , 1752 , Robt . Glave , the last entry , standing No . 128 on the Register . But from the 128 brethren must be deducted first of all the four members of No . 2 , inserted on 8 th July , 1732 , then seven members registered twice over , and lastly about 17 , who are
marked as having gone or been discharged on dates anterior to that of Dermott ' s election . The result is that when the officers " of Nos . 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 > 8 , 9 , and 10 , being the representatives of all the ancient Masons in and adjacent to London , " met together at the Griffin Tavern , Holborn , on the 5 th February , 1752 , and elected Laurence Dermott G . Secretary in succession to John Morgan , resigned , the Ancient Craft mustered certainly not more than 100 brethren all told .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Review.
all the information that is possible ; but as the lodges have been closed by Imperial ukase since 1821 , there is but little to interest us . In fact , the chart which accompanies this chapter , and in which is traced the course of Masonry in the several countries we have enumerated , shows us almost at a glance all we shall probably care to know about the Craft in these States .
The concluding chapter ( XXVII ) of the volume is devoted to Freemasonry in Germany , where , in spite of the troubles caused at different times by the different High Degree Systems , the progress of the Craft has been real and substantial . In his study of this portion of the work the reader will be very materially assisted by the chart showing the different " Active and Extinct Ruling Bodies " in this portion of Europe .
We have now completed our examination of the fifth volume of this splendid history , and though it is almost natural that the portion of the subject dealt with here should make a less profound impression on the reader , there is no doubt that Bro . Gould has shown himself at his very best in the manner in which he has dealt with these sections of our history . It is difficult to imagine a more trying task than that of compressing into a
moderate compass , while preserving at the same time all the essential matter , an intricate mass of conflicting details , and evolving out of it an intelligible and trustworthy story . But this is precisely vvhat Bro . Gould has done , and though we cannot predict for him any great success in arousing English enthusiasm for continental Masonry—seeing that , as we have
hinted already , it is almost natural for us to fight shy even of the oldest and most highly commended Masonic productions from abroad , —he has achieved the rare merit of presenting us—so far as he has gone—with a clear and concise account ot what in the other Masonic histories we have read is quite unworthy of such a description .
The Early Organisation Of The "Ancient" Masons.
THE EARLY ORGANISATION OF THE "ANCIENT" MASONS .
IV . BY G . B . ABBOTT . It only now remains for me , in order to complete my description of " Morgan ' s Register , " to give a circumstantial account of the " General Register" of members , commenced by Morgan in 1751 , and continued by
Dermott to August , 1755 , the last entry being dated the 14 th of that month —No . 1014 , Samuel Tilt , of No . 5 . Albeit a mere list of names , the register is capable of furnishing a good deal of useful information , and as I have already given some idea of the details contained in it , I may as well enter upon my task at once .
Lodge No . 2 , which met originally at the Turk ' s Head , in Greek-street , and shortly afterwards changed its quarters to the Rising Sun , in Suffolkstreet , had in G . Secretary ' s Morgan's time exactly 8 members , Samuel Ouay , one of the Committee of 17 th July , 1751 , elected the first S . G . W . under G . Master Robert Turner , and installed 5 th December , 1753 , and a habit maker by trade , heading the list ; James Hagan , a peruke maker , at
the Goat and Ass , Pall Mall ; Wm . Taylor , bookseller , Little Suffolk-street , Haymarket ; John Doughty , shoemaker , at the Prince of Wales Arms , Pall Mall ; John Smith , ist , taylor , Stewart ' s-rents , Drury-lane ; John Morgan , the Grand Secretary ; John Mitchell , marked by Dermott as excluded for imposing and demanding assistance from ye Grand Lodge when he was able to work , on the 26 th May , 1754 ; and Richard Coffy , against
whom is written , also in Dermott ' s hand , "deemed unworthy , being the other seven . Of these Wm . Taylor and John Morgan are re-registered under Lodge No . 7 , while John Smith , ist , is marked as having gone to Barbadoes , on 2 nd Aug ., 1751 . In addition to these are entered 4 other members—Nale McColm , a tailor at the Ship , Fleet Ditch ; Fras . Matthews , shoemaker , opposite the White Bear , Prince's-street , Red Lion-square ;
Jas . Murphy , who seems to have been excluded for non-payment of dues on 3 rd July , 1754 ; and Wm . Cowen , against whom is written , " paid his dues and got a certificate from No . 2 . " These four , however , have been interpolated by Dermott , the date of their entrance being , in each case , Sth July , 1752 . Lodge No . 3 , meeting at the " Criple , " comprises ten members , namely , Richard Price , a carpenter , in Sheer-lane , Temple Bar ; Thos . Evans , John
Bandy , Loghlin Mcintosh , elsewhere designated " Ensign , " and elected and installed the first J . G . W . under G . M . Robert Turner ; Michael Lynham , Thomas Humber , Jacob Bixby , Edwd . Turpin , John Smith , 2 nd , described as " a victualler , Criple , Little Britain , " and Henry Looker . Lodge No . 4 , meeting at the Cannon , in Water-lane , Fleet-street , has 18 members , namely , Abraham Ardezoif , of Broad-court , Bow-street ,
Covent Garden , who seems to have been adjudged unworthy of the Society , and discharged on the 17 th July , 1751—the day of the General Assembly ; Wm . Roger Flemin , marked as having been discharged on the ist Jan ., 1752 , and gone to St . Kitt ' s , to which is added , in Dermott ' s writing , " without payg . his dues exclud . ; " James Hagarty , painter , Leatherlane , who was in the chair on 7 th Feb ., 1752 , when Dermott was elected G .
Secretary ; John McCormick , marked as discharged ist September , 1751 , and gone to Ireland , ' * without payg . his dues exclud ., " though the latter statement is described as erroneous ; Henry Lewis , at Mr . Foster ' s , jeweller , Wood-street , Cheapside , who some years later got into disgrace ; Arthur Lord , discharged on the ist Jan . 1752 , and described as having gone to Liverpool , and "left ye lodge wth . honour ; " Geo .
Hebden , a cabinetmaker , in White Cross-street , who was in the chair on 14 th Sept ., 1752 , where it was agreed the Grand Committee should grant warrants and dispensations , & c . ; James Owen , an enamelled snuff-box painter , of Cold Bath-fields ; James Bowlas , excluded for misbehaviour and non-payment of dues on ist Jan ., 1752 ; Christopher Pidgeon , a shop-keeper , Aldersgate-street ; Thos . Wooral , excluded ist Jan ., 1752 ,
for non-payment of dues ; Owen Tudor , at "Mr . Bromidge , Ludgatehill , painter , " registered in Lodge No . 5 ; Wm . Boullough , John Palty , Thos . Bibby , Geo . Fay , registered in No . 7 ; James Shee , " gone to Ireland , " an " attorney , Fetter-lane , " and one of the Committee appointed at the General Assembly , 17 th July , 1751 , to draw up Laws and Regulations for the Government of the Ancient Craft ; and John Gibson , excluded ist Jan ., 1752 , for non-payment of dues .
Lodge No . 5 , at the Plaisterers Arms , Gray ' s Inn-lane , contains 20 members , the list being headed by John Gaunt , a painter , of Middlesexcourt , Drury-lane , in whose favour I 3 to . Christ . Byrne , Master of No . 6 , vacated the chair at the meeting of thc Grand Committee on ist April , 1752 ,
" not , " as Dermott says in a footnote , " as his right , but for his acknowledged skill and judgment ; " Hugh Chevirs , also a painter , of Orangecourt , Drury-lane , marked as excluded on the 24 th June , 1752 , for nonpayment of dues ; Richd . Jones ; Geo . Robinson , of Leicester-street , Gray's Inn-lane , painter ; Thos . Figg , victualler , Plaisterers' Arms , Little
The Early Organisation Of The "Ancient" Masons.
Gray ' s Inn-lane ; Chas . McCarty , Flower de Luce-court , Gray's Inn-lane ; Wm . Waters , Owen Tudor—originally registered under No . 4—of Bridelane—all painters ; Banbury Fox and Thos . Ottarah , weavers , opposite the Two Brewers , Brick-lane , Spital Fields , marked as having left by certificate , the former on 20 th April , 1752 , soon after which he joined old No . 12 , and the latter on 13 th January , 17 ^ 2 . afterwards joining old No . a :
Richd . Allen , Tash-court , Gray ' s Inn-lane , snuff box maker ; Richard Fowler , King ' s Arms , Little Moor Fields , clock maker ; John Dowling , 3 , Orange-court , Drury-lane , peruke maker ; John Carey , near the Boot , Dowgate Hill , hair curler ; James Geo . Smith , of No . 2 , Tash-court , breeches maker , excluded 24 th June , 1752 , for non-payment of dues ; Lawrence Folliot , Golden Seal , Castle-street , Long Acre , taylor ; John
Adams , a painter , at the Plaisterers' Arms ; John Morris , weaver , opposite the Two Brewers , Brick-lane , discharged 27 th December , 1751 , and soon after joined old No . 9 Lodge ; Evan Gabriel , bricklayer , next door to the Black Dog , Drury-lane ; and Barthw . Scully , papersmith , by the White Horse , Hozier-lane . Lodge No . 6 , at the Globe , Bridges-street , Covent Garden , has 19
members—Joseph Kelly , one of the Committee of 17 th July , 175 1 , for compiling Laws and Regulations , heading the list , with Ant . Gau standing next , and Philip McLoughlin , another of the same Committee , third . This last seems to have left the lodge on 29 th July , 1751 , and gone to Ireland . Then follow Christopher Byrne , John Dayly , Edward Ryan , Andrew Byrne , declared off by certificate 27 th December , 1751 ; Alexr . Erwin , excluded for
nonpayment ; James Drummond , made a Mason 20 th May , 1751 , and excluded afterwards ; Thos . Kelly , Palk Redman , Robt . Sinclare , excluded for non-payment ; Patrick Conway , left 24 th June , 1752 , joined No . 4 ; J . Cailot , left with certificate ; Thos . Weer , Wm . Carney , James Cousins , all excluded for non-payment ; Joseph Cannon , marked gone to Ireland ; and John Kelly , victualler , Globe , Bridges-street .
The above gives an aggregate of 79 members , of which 12 belong to No . 2 ; 10 to No . 3 ; iS to No . 4 ; 20 to No . 5 ; and 19 to No . 6 ; but one of the members—Owen Tudor—figures under both No . 4 and No . 5 ; and there are four names , as I have said , interpolated by Dermott on Sth July , 1752 , as belonging to Lodge No . 2 ; so that the actual brethren registered by Grand Secretary Morgan members of these lodges , were only
74 all told ; and assuming , as we are justified in doing , lhat they were all members on the 17 th July , 1751 , these represent the full extent of the possible muster in General Assembly at the Turk ' s Head , Greek-street , on that day , of the " Ancient" Craft in England , according to the old institution , so far as is disclosed by this General Register of Morgan ' s . Yet from this insignificant General Assembly , which , if every member were present ,
could only have comprised 74 Masons , mostly painters , bricklayers , tailors , and the like , sprung that powerful organisation , which held its own successfully for 62 years against their socially more influential rivals , the Regular Masons of England , and then united with them on terms of the most perfect equality—if , indeed , they did not in some things exercise even a preponderating influence—in building up the present " United Grand Lodge of England . "
The above constitute the original group of lodges ; those which follow carry us forward to the date of Dermott ' s election as Grand Secretary—7 th February , 1752 , two of them , however , Nos . 7 and 10 , having had only a very brief existence , being excluded from the roll on the 27 th Dec , 1752 . Lodge No . 7 , which is described in the column headed " From Whence , " as hailing from " St . John , " and as being a " New Constitution by Petn ., "
met at the Fountain , Mon mouth-street , Seven Dials—its day of constitution being given in the Lodge List No . 1 as 29 th July , 1751 . It seems to have consisted originally of eight members , of whom G . Fay joined from No . 4 , and John Morgan , G . Sec , from No . 2 , four other members having subsequently been added . John Hamilton , who heads the list , appears to have been anything but a reputable brother , and in June , 1 754 , when Master of No . 10
was ignomintously expelled the Society . George Fay , from No . 4 , is marked as discharged " 20 th October , 1751 , and it is added in Dermott's handwriting " Deem'd unworthy the Society from non-payment of dues , breaking his obligatn , and several misdemeanors at No . 6 and other lodges , " though a later entry would seem to reinstate his character , somewhat as we read " Oct . 5 th , 1752 , Richard Stringer in the chair , Bro . Fay's charge
being re-examined and found ( o be worthy , and the accusation false and malicious . " The other members are John Willis , an upholder of the Haymarket ; John Holland , a mason , of Monmouth-street ; William Taylor , from No . 2 ; John Morgan , from No . 2 ; Stephen Deveaux , made 15 th August , 1751 ; Barnaby Hackett , entered on 21 st August ; Wm . Furlong , John McDowell , and Wm . McDowell , and Wm . Woodman , the register numbers of the last four being Nos . 97 , 100 , 101 , and 108 .
No . 10 , described as a " new constitution , " of ist February , 1752 , starts with six members , namely , Edwd . Field , against whom Dermott has written " Broke up his L . on his Mr-ship without reason , " David Crawley , Josh . McGannon , Richard Hatch , Dudley McGee , and Laurence Dermott , described as joining from No . 26 , Dublin , as having been made on the 14 th Jan . 1740-1 , and as being a painter living in Butler ' s Alley , Moorfields 5 Ctawley , Hatch , and McGee have "Non Attendee . " entered against their
respective names , while Dermott left the lodge on the 24 th February , 1752 , shortly after his election as G . Sec . No . 9 , constituted 30 th Jan ., 1752 , started with nine members , John Morris and Thos . Ottara—probably O'Hara—Thos . Kaan , Isaac Daking , John Dissal , Moris Willoughby , Charles Murray , Joseph Whitehead , and Josh Henley , and a few names further on we come to Michael Healey , Laurence Dermott , from No . 10 , Edwd . Butcher , & c , & c , & c .
No . 8 , of date 29 th January , 1752—in the Lodge List January appears , but in this Register " Feb . " is inserted , evidently in error—opens with five names—James Bradshaw , peruke maker ; Thos . Blower , tallow-chandler ; and Richard Darling Guest , the first W . M ., S . W ., and J , W . respectively , and Alexr . Fife , of Beaufort Buildings , Strand , and Robert Glave , vintner , Sheer Lane , Temple Bar .
These constitute the lodges which were placed on the roll between the 17 th July , 1751 , and the 5 th February , 1752 , Robt . Glave , the last entry , standing No . 128 on the Register . But from the 128 brethren must be deducted first of all the four members of No . 2 , inserted on 8 th July , 1732 , then seven members registered twice over , and lastly about 17 , who are
marked as having gone or been discharged on dates anterior to that of Dermott ' s election . The result is that when the officers " of Nos . 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 > 8 , 9 , and 10 , being the representatives of all the ancient Masons in and adjacent to London , " met together at the Griffin Tavern , Holborn , on the 5 th February , 1752 , and elected Laurence Dermott G . Secretary in succession to John Morgan , resigned , the Ancient Craft mustered certainly not more than 100 brethren all told .