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Article GRAND LODGE OF SCOTLAND. ← Page 2 of 2 Article SOME ANCIENT YORK MASONS AND THEIR EARLY HAUNTS. Page 1 of 1 Article SOME ANCIENT YORK MASONS AND THEIR EARLY HAUNTS. Page 1 of 1 Article "PERFECT" MASONS. Page 1 of 1
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Grand Lodge Of Scotland.
to our Grand Master for the many important and valuable services he has rendered to thc Craft , and that I utter no idle or unmeaning compliment , but the words of . sober truth , when I say that amongst the many excellent and distinguished brethren who have filled the Masonic throne no one has left it with a higher character for work faithfully and efficiently performed , and no one has carried with him more of the profound respect and deep
affection and gratitude of the Scottish Craft than the Earl of Maraud Kellie . Bro J . DALRYMPLE DUNCAN seconded the resolution , and spoke in high terms of the great services which had been rendered to the cause of Scottish Freemasonry . His lordship ' s visit to the Provincial Grand Lodges had , he said , unquestionably done an incalculable amount of good . Lile had been
breathed into the dry bones of those Provincial Grand Lodges , which were virtually dormant , and the 3 ' were awakening to a sense of their duties and responsibilities , while those which before were active had been spurred on to even greater efficiencj ' . It would be long before the great and valuable services of Lord Mar would fade from the memory of the members of the Grand Lodge .
The resolution was carried amid applause , and the Grand Secretary was instructed to enter it in the records and forward a copy to the Grand Master .
It was reported that during the last two months grants had been made from the funds of the Scottish Benevolence Fund to the extent of £ 175 . It was agreed to invest on heritable security the sum of £ 1000 , at present on credit with the bank . The Special Committee on the Extended Scheme of Scottish Masonic Benevolence recommended ( 1 ) That the following members of Grand Committee be added to the Special Committee : Bros , the Earl ol Rosslyn and Sir Michael R . Shaw-Stewart , Bart ., Col . Sir Archibald
C . Campbell , Bart ., the Earl of Kintore , Provost James Brand , Dr . James Carmichael , Dr . John Falconer , George Fisher , John Graham , C . A ., Geo . Miller , ( J . A ., Col . James T . Stewart , and G . H . M . Thomas ; ( 2 ) That to the Special Committee—in conjunction with Provincial Grand Masters and Bros . Robert F . Shaw-Stewart , J . H . Ballour , W . S ., and VV . F . Vernon , and such others as may hereafter be added , —shall be remitted the carrying out of the resolution to raise funds towards the formation of the new scheme of benevoience .
These recommendations were adopted . It was next ordered that charters be issued in favour of the following new lodges : Sir Walter Scott , Granville , near Sydney ; Cootamundra St . John , Cootamundra ; Sedgwick , Wickham—all of New South Wales . On notification that the Grand Lodge of the Netherlands had arranged to hold a funeral lodge on 19 th October in memory of their late Grand Master , his
Royal Highness Alexander , Prince of Orange , it was resolved that the representative of the Grand Lodgeof Scotland at the Hague be instructed to attend the ceremony in his official capacity . GRAND SECRETARY reported that , in reply to the R . W . Bro . Dr . Craven , on a question recently raised in St . Peter , Thurso , No . 284 , he had given it as his opinion that a brother appearing in a lodge in Highland
costumekilt and doublet , and white tie and gloves—is " properly clothed . " This was approved of . It was reported that a full set of clothing and such jewels as were wanted to complete the set had been obtained for Grand office bearers . It was also reported that the income for the 11 months ending on 25 th ult . was
44028 , being £ 139 in excess of that for the corresponding period of last year . A vidimus by the Grand Cashier of the income and expenditure for the quarter ending 25 th ult . showed that the income had been £ 274 , and . £ 26 in excess of the / Expenditure , which included a part of £ 225 to the Benevolent Fund . The proceedings then closed .
Some Ancient York Masons And Their Early Haunts.
SOME ANCIENT YORK MASONS AND THEIR EARLY HAUNTS .
BY BRO . T . B . WHYTEHEAD . Continued from page 504 . One Christopher Hutton , a glover , was Lord Mayor in 1713 , and it is possible that Charles Hutton may have been one of the family . He kept the Black Swan Hotel , in Coney-street .
The next month of 1725 was a busy one from a Masonic point of view , and , indeed , for the rest ot the year an extraordinary amount of vitality seems to have been infused into the body .
August 10 th , 1725 . At a private lodge held this day at the Star Inn , in Stonegate , the underwritten persons were admitted and sworne into the Antient Society of Free Masons , viz .: The Worsl . Mr . Wm . Scourfield , ¦) Mr . Marsden , 7 ,,, , > lo . Bilton . Mr . Reynoldson , j Wardens * )
Of Marsden and Reynoldson we have heard before , but this is the first time Scourfield ' s name occurs , and that in the important position of Master . There was a certain James Scourfield , a wholesale apotheca ^' , who was Sheriff in 1706 , and probably this was a member of the same family . I shall try to make out something more about him , as he afterwards became a thorn in the side of the old lodge , as will be seen later . Of the identity of Edward Bell , Esq ., I am not able to make anything .
Another Iodge was held at the Star , on the 12 th of August , under the presidency of "The Worshipful Philip Huddy , Mr ., " with the same VVardens , when John Wilmer was sworn and admitted . Thus within two months ihe Iodge appears to have had three Worshipful Masters , but as on the next occasion , in September , Scourfield is again named as Master , it is probable that the brother who presided for the evening was entered as Master . Philip Huddy is another individual of whom I can make nothing at present .
The next meeting , held on the 6 th September , 1725 , at the Star , was very important , as it saw the admission of brethren who alterwards played a leading part in York Masonry . Wm . Scourfield was Master and Jonathan Porritt and Mr . Marsden were Wardens , and the following
brethren were admitted : " William Pawson , F . dmond Aylward , Jon . Pawson , francis Drake , and Malby Beckwith , " a . nd it is recorded that "Anew lodge being called at the same time and p lai ; e , " Henry Pavvson was also admitted . Jonathan Porritt was probably one of the Porritt family who were Yoik brewers , one of whomRobert Porrittwas Sheriff in 1704 .
, , 'I he Paw .-ons were wine merchants , and one of them served as Sheiiff in 1678 , another was Lord Mayor in 1703 , and the above Henry Pawson was Sheriff in 1723 . They were a branch of a Le eds family of some importance ,
Some Ancient York Masons And Their Early Haunts.
and the Henry Pawson who was initiated in 1723 married a daughter of Bro . Robert Fairfax , of whom I have spoken . It is the figure of Francis Drake that gives special prominence to this entty . Francis Drake was the author of many learned books , but that which principally made his reputation was his folio history ol York , which is now a most valuable and standard work , and brings a long price in the
book market . Hargrove , in his history of Yoik , gives a short memoir of Drake . He says he was born at Pontefract , of which place his father was vicar in 1695 , which would make him 30 years of age at the time of his initiation . He was a surgeon of some local eminence , and married a daughter of John Woodyeare , of Crookhill , and had two sons , the elder of whom was vicar of St . Mary ' s , Beverley , and the other the rector of Isleworth .
Our brother was an F . R . S ., and in 1736 published his ( history of York . Another of his works was " The Parliamentary History of England to thc Restoration , " and he was also the author of many minor works . He died in 1770 , and a monument to his memory is to be seen in St . Mary ' s Church , Beverley . Hargrove says : "In personal appearance Mr . Drake was about the middle size , rather slender , and in his countenance possessed
much of the sickly languor which generally accompanies the sludious . In society he was chcerlul and very agreeable , and in his political opinions warmly attached to the cause of the Stuarts . " The lact ol Bro . Drake ' s father being vicar of Pontefracts accounts for his getung hold of the valuable old parchment constitution presented by him 10 the
lodge at York , and endorsed as having been found at Ihe demolition of the celebrated castle of that town . The demolition was commenced in 1649 , so that Mr . Drake , sen ., probably either witnessed the exhumation 'ol this literary treasure , or at any rate had ils history at first hand . Bro . J . l ' odd teiis me that he thinks he will be able to identify the John Drake on the old York gauge with the family of this Francis Drake .
Most Masons know that Drake and five other members of this Iodge revived it in the year 1761 , after a suspension of about 30 jx-ars , and if a few such active spirits as that of the historian had remained 10 guide the destinies of that ancient body later in the century , there is no doubt that " the old Lodge at York " would have been preserved to our own day and would have been the most interesting link with the Masonic past that could have been lelt to
our care . Malby Beckwith , who is last named as an initiate , was a goldsmilh and jeweller , and died in 1742 . His son , who must have been initiated at a later period , was one of the revivalists with Drake . On the 6 ih October , 1725 , the lodge met again at Borehams , and " Antho . Hall and Philemon Marsh " were admitted . Marsh , I think , is the same person named subsequently as keeping an inn in Peiergate .
On November 3 rd , there was another meeting at "Mr . Hutton's , at the Black Swan , in Cone 3 ' -street . " 'J his house has for over 2 uo years been one of the most famous ol our old established hostelries , and up to the present da 3 ' it preserves its ancient reputation and has retained an exttn ^ ive coumy connection . At this last named meeting that irrepressible Britisher , "John Smith , " was sworn in .
On December ist there was a meeting at Mr . John Gibson ' s , when W . Bro . E . Bell was present as Master , and Mr . Etty and Mr . Porritt were VVardens . The candidates were " Will . Sothcron , Geo . Wilson , and Jos . Lodge . " Here we have another instance of a name appearing as an officer without any prior mention in the existing minutes . This Etty was a painter , but no relative of Ettv , R . A ., the York painter , whose bones rest under tho
shade of St . Mary ' s Abbey . He was a friend of Henry Giles , the glass painter , referred to previously , and is mentioned by Thoresby , of Leeds , as having been present at a festive gathering of York artists in which he took part in 1702 . ( To be continued ) .
"Perfect" Masons.
"PERFECT" MASONS .
BRO . HUGHAN contributed a very sensible letter to the Canadian . Craftsman of last month on the subject of the physical qualifications of candidates for reception into our Fraternity . This is a question which has probably caused almost as much anxiety , at all events , the consumption of almost as much ink and paper on the part of the Grand Masters of the different Grand Lodges in the United States as that of Masonic jurisdiction
itself . It is hardly possible to take up the printed proceedings of any of the American Grand Lodges without discovering in its pages a more or less elaborate dissertation on the necessit 3 ' for all condidates being physically perfect . One Grand Master will be found arguing most elaborately , if not very learnedly , that to admit a man with a wooden leg would be an outrage on Masonic common sense . Another labours under the impression , and
proves to his own satisfaction , that a man who has a cataract in one of his eyes is physically disqualified , while a third will tell you that less than the proper complement ot fingers or toes is cqualty fatal to admission into the Craft . This is very funny , and some day no doubt we shall hear of a man having been rejected who had had the tip of his nose shaved off or lost the lobe of one ear . To be consistent , these learned exponents of Masonic
law should insist on the rejection of bald-headed men , men wearing false teeth , men with anchylore joints , men suffering from hernia or pitted with the small-pox , & c , because in all these cases the physical perfection of the men has been destroyed to a greater or less degree . Bro . Hughan very justly ridicules the American exposition of this imaginary law as to bodily perfection on the ground that if you accept the sound-of-bod 3 '
-limb-andwind theory , because it is included in the Old Charges of freemasons , you must accept a great many other rules which are also included in them , but which it would be impossible lor any Grand Lodge ol the present day to insist on being observed . We are only afraid Bro . Hughan has paid these American Grand Masters the compliment of being loo serious over a matter whichin ihe very nature of things , must be egrtgiously absurd . VVe have
, never heard of a woden leg , or a cataract in the 1-3 'e , or the loss of a thumb disabling a man from the appreciation and practice of any system of morals . It is just possible that a wooden-headed man might not be able to distinguish between ti ^ ht and wrong ; but though it might be necessary to draw the line at woodin-heads , we cannot for the life of us see the slightest objection
to a wooden-legged candidate becoming a Mason , and a very good one , too . From our point of view he is as eligible as the man who wears a wig , or has paid five and twenty guineas for his teeth . So long as a man ' s heart is all right—that is , in the sense in which the phrase is commonly understood—it matters little what kind of head-gear , if any , he sports , or whether it is to art or nature that he is indebted for his walking apparatus .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Grand Lodge Of Scotland.
to our Grand Master for the many important and valuable services he has rendered to thc Craft , and that I utter no idle or unmeaning compliment , but the words of . sober truth , when I say that amongst the many excellent and distinguished brethren who have filled the Masonic throne no one has left it with a higher character for work faithfully and efficiently performed , and no one has carried with him more of the profound respect and deep
affection and gratitude of the Scottish Craft than the Earl of Maraud Kellie . Bro J . DALRYMPLE DUNCAN seconded the resolution , and spoke in high terms of the great services which had been rendered to the cause of Scottish Freemasonry . His lordship ' s visit to the Provincial Grand Lodges had , he said , unquestionably done an incalculable amount of good . Lile had been
breathed into the dry bones of those Provincial Grand Lodges , which were virtually dormant , and the 3 ' were awakening to a sense of their duties and responsibilities , while those which before were active had been spurred on to even greater efficiencj ' . It would be long before the great and valuable services of Lord Mar would fade from the memory of the members of the Grand Lodge .
The resolution was carried amid applause , and the Grand Secretary was instructed to enter it in the records and forward a copy to the Grand Master .
It was reported that during the last two months grants had been made from the funds of the Scottish Benevolence Fund to the extent of £ 175 . It was agreed to invest on heritable security the sum of £ 1000 , at present on credit with the bank . The Special Committee on the Extended Scheme of Scottish Masonic Benevolence recommended ( 1 ) That the following members of Grand Committee be added to the Special Committee : Bros , the Earl ol Rosslyn and Sir Michael R . Shaw-Stewart , Bart ., Col . Sir Archibald
C . Campbell , Bart ., the Earl of Kintore , Provost James Brand , Dr . James Carmichael , Dr . John Falconer , George Fisher , John Graham , C . A ., Geo . Miller , ( J . A ., Col . James T . Stewart , and G . H . M . Thomas ; ( 2 ) That to the Special Committee—in conjunction with Provincial Grand Masters and Bros . Robert F . Shaw-Stewart , J . H . Ballour , W . S ., and VV . F . Vernon , and such others as may hereafter be added , —shall be remitted the carrying out of the resolution to raise funds towards the formation of the new scheme of benevoience .
These recommendations were adopted . It was next ordered that charters be issued in favour of the following new lodges : Sir Walter Scott , Granville , near Sydney ; Cootamundra St . John , Cootamundra ; Sedgwick , Wickham—all of New South Wales . On notification that the Grand Lodge of the Netherlands had arranged to hold a funeral lodge on 19 th October in memory of their late Grand Master , his
Royal Highness Alexander , Prince of Orange , it was resolved that the representative of the Grand Lodgeof Scotland at the Hague be instructed to attend the ceremony in his official capacity . GRAND SECRETARY reported that , in reply to the R . W . Bro . Dr . Craven , on a question recently raised in St . Peter , Thurso , No . 284 , he had given it as his opinion that a brother appearing in a lodge in Highland
costumekilt and doublet , and white tie and gloves—is " properly clothed . " This was approved of . It was reported that a full set of clothing and such jewels as were wanted to complete the set had been obtained for Grand office bearers . It was also reported that the income for the 11 months ending on 25 th ult . was
44028 , being £ 139 in excess of that for the corresponding period of last year . A vidimus by the Grand Cashier of the income and expenditure for the quarter ending 25 th ult . showed that the income had been £ 274 , and . £ 26 in excess of the / Expenditure , which included a part of £ 225 to the Benevolent Fund . The proceedings then closed .
Some Ancient York Masons And Their Early Haunts.
SOME ANCIENT YORK MASONS AND THEIR EARLY HAUNTS .
BY BRO . T . B . WHYTEHEAD . Continued from page 504 . One Christopher Hutton , a glover , was Lord Mayor in 1713 , and it is possible that Charles Hutton may have been one of the family . He kept the Black Swan Hotel , in Coney-street .
The next month of 1725 was a busy one from a Masonic point of view , and , indeed , for the rest ot the year an extraordinary amount of vitality seems to have been infused into the body .
August 10 th , 1725 . At a private lodge held this day at the Star Inn , in Stonegate , the underwritten persons were admitted and sworne into the Antient Society of Free Masons , viz .: The Worsl . Mr . Wm . Scourfield , ¦) Mr . Marsden , 7 ,,, , > lo . Bilton . Mr . Reynoldson , j Wardens * )
Of Marsden and Reynoldson we have heard before , but this is the first time Scourfield ' s name occurs , and that in the important position of Master . There was a certain James Scourfield , a wholesale apotheca ^' , who was Sheriff in 1706 , and probably this was a member of the same family . I shall try to make out something more about him , as he afterwards became a thorn in the side of the old lodge , as will be seen later . Of the identity of Edward Bell , Esq ., I am not able to make anything .
Another Iodge was held at the Star , on the 12 th of August , under the presidency of "The Worshipful Philip Huddy , Mr ., " with the same VVardens , when John Wilmer was sworn and admitted . Thus within two months ihe Iodge appears to have had three Worshipful Masters , but as on the next occasion , in September , Scourfield is again named as Master , it is probable that the brother who presided for the evening was entered as Master . Philip Huddy is another individual of whom I can make nothing at present .
The next meeting , held on the 6 th September , 1725 , at the Star , was very important , as it saw the admission of brethren who alterwards played a leading part in York Masonry . Wm . Scourfield was Master and Jonathan Porritt and Mr . Marsden were Wardens , and the following
brethren were admitted : " William Pawson , F . dmond Aylward , Jon . Pawson , francis Drake , and Malby Beckwith , " a . nd it is recorded that "Anew lodge being called at the same time and p lai ; e , " Henry Pavvson was also admitted . Jonathan Porritt was probably one of the Porritt family who were Yoik brewers , one of whomRobert Porrittwas Sheriff in 1704 .
, , 'I he Paw .-ons were wine merchants , and one of them served as Sheiiff in 1678 , another was Lord Mayor in 1703 , and the above Henry Pawson was Sheriff in 1723 . They were a branch of a Le eds family of some importance ,
Some Ancient York Masons And Their Early Haunts.
and the Henry Pawson who was initiated in 1723 married a daughter of Bro . Robert Fairfax , of whom I have spoken . It is the figure of Francis Drake that gives special prominence to this entty . Francis Drake was the author of many learned books , but that which principally made his reputation was his folio history ol York , which is now a most valuable and standard work , and brings a long price in the
book market . Hargrove , in his history of Yoik , gives a short memoir of Drake . He says he was born at Pontefract , of which place his father was vicar in 1695 , which would make him 30 years of age at the time of his initiation . He was a surgeon of some local eminence , and married a daughter of John Woodyeare , of Crookhill , and had two sons , the elder of whom was vicar of St . Mary ' s , Beverley , and the other the rector of Isleworth .
Our brother was an F . R . S ., and in 1736 published his ( history of York . Another of his works was " The Parliamentary History of England to thc Restoration , " and he was also the author of many minor works . He died in 1770 , and a monument to his memory is to be seen in St . Mary ' s Church , Beverley . Hargrove says : "In personal appearance Mr . Drake was about the middle size , rather slender , and in his countenance possessed
much of the sickly languor which generally accompanies the sludious . In society he was chcerlul and very agreeable , and in his political opinions warmly attached to the cause of the Stuarts . " The lact ol Bro . Drake ' s father being vicar of Pontefracts accounts for his getung hold of the valuable old parchment constitution presented by him 10 the
lodge at York , and endorsed as having been found at Ihe demolition of the celebrated castle of that town . The demolition was commenced in 1649 , so that Mr . Drake , sen ., probably either witnessed the exhumation 'ol this literary treasure , or at any rate had ils history at first hand . Bro . J . l ' odd teiis me that he thinks he will be able to identify the John Drake on the old York gauge with the family of this Francis Drake .
Most Masons know that Drake and five other members of this Iodge revived it in the year 1761 , after a suspension of about 30 jx-ars , and if a few such active spirits as that of the historian had remained 10 guide the destinies of that ancient body later in the century , there is no doubt that " the old Lodge at York " would have been preserved to our own day and would have been the most interesting link with the Masonic past that could have been lelt to
our care . Malby Beckwith , who is last named as an initiate , was a goldsmilh and jeweller , and died in 1742 . His son , who must have been initiated at a later period , was one of the revivalists with Drake . On the 6 ih October , 1725 , the lodge met again at Borehams , and " Antho . Hall and Philemon Marsh " were admitted . Marsh , I think , is the same person named subsequently as keeping an inn in Peiergate .
On November 3 rd , there was another meeting at "Mr . Hutton's , at the Black Swan , in Cone 3 ' -street . " 'J his house has for over 2 uo years been one of the most famous ol our old established hostelries , and up to the present da 3 ' it preserves its ancient reputation and has retained an exttn ^ ive coumy connection . At this last named meeting that irrepressible Britisher , "John Smith , " was sworn in .
On December ist there was a meeting at Mr . John Gibson ' s , when W . Bro . E . Bell was present as Master , and Mr . Etty and Mr . Porritt were VVardens . The candidates were " Will . Sothcron , Geo . Wilson , and Jos . Lodge . " Here we have another instance of a name appearing as an officer without any prior mention in the existing minutes . This Etty was a painter , but no relative of Ettv , R . A ., the York painter , whose bones rest under tho
shade of St . Mary ' s Abbey . He was a friend of Henry Giles , the glass painter , referred to previously , and is mentioned by Thoresby , of Leeds , as having been present at a festive gathering of York artists in which he took part in 1702 . ( To be continued ) .
"Perfect" Masons.
"PERFECT" MASONS .
BRO . HUGHAN contributed a very sensible letter to the Canadian . Craftsman of last month on the subject of the physical qualifications of candidates for reception into our Fraternity . This is a question which has probably caused almost as much anxiety , at all events , the consumption of almost as much ink and paper on the part of the Grand Masters of the different Grand Lodges in the United States as that of Masonic jurisdiction
itself . It is hardly possible to take up the printed proceedings of any of the American Grand Lodges without discovering in its pages a more or less elaborate dissertation on the necessit 3 ' for all condidates being physically perfect . One Grand Master will be found arguing most elaborately , if not very learnedly , that to admit a man with a wooden leg would be an outrage on Masonic common sense . Another labours under the impression , and
proves to his own satisfaction , that a man who has a cataract in one of his eyes is physically disqualified , while a third will tell you that less than the proper complement ot fingers or toes is cqualty fatal to admission into the Craft . This is very funny , and some day no doubt we shall hear of a man having been rejected who had had the tip of his nose shaved off or lost the lobe of one ear . To be consistent , these learned exponents of Masonic
law should insist on the rejection of bald-headed men , men wearing false teeth , men with anchylore joints , men suffering from hernia or pitted with the small-pox , & c , because in all these cases the physical perfection of the men has been destroyed to a greater or less degree . Bro . Hughan very justly ridicules the American exposition of this imaginary law as to bodily perfection on the ground that if you accept the sound-of-bod 3 '
-limb-andwind theory , because it is included in the Old Charges of freemasons , you must accept a great many other rules which are also included in them , but which it would be impossible lor any Grand Lodge ol the present day to insist on being observed . We are only afraid Bro . Hughan has paid these American Grand Masters the compliment of being loo serious over a matter whichin ihe very nature of things , must be egrtgiously absurd . VVe have
, never heard of a woden leg , or a cataract in the 1-3 'e , or the loss of a thumb disabling a man from the appreciation and practice of any system of morals . It is just possible that a wooden-headed man might not be able to distinguish between ti ^ ht and wrong ; but though it might be necessary to draw the line at woodin-heads , we cannot for the life of us see the slightest objection
to a wooden-legged candidate becoming a Mason , and a very good one , too . From our point of view he is as eligible as the man who wears a wig , or has paid five and twenty guineas for his teeth . So long as a man ' s heart is all right—that is , in the sense in which the phrase is commonly understood—it matters little what kind of head-gear , if any , he sports , or whether it is to art or nature that he is indebted for his walking apparatus .