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Article BRO. LANE'S "HANDY BOOK." ← Page 2 of 3 Article BRO. LANE'S "HANDY BOOK." Page 2 of 3 →
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Bro. Lane's "Handy Book."
great divisions of Metropolitan , Provincial , and Foreign lodges as respects new warrants , erasures , and grand totals , after an exact deduction made for each year as respects removals , revivals , re-instatements , and allowances for errors . From time to time , the great usefulness of this table will be
apparent , as the comparative prosperity of the two rival Grand Lodges may be estimated , and particularly so will the compilation be found an immense boon , as indicative of the varying condition of the "United Grand Lodge , " which began , in 1814 , with a net total of 648 lodges , but whose Roll dwindled down
to so few as 591 in 1832-3 ! At the end of 1888 the Grand Lodge of England reached its highest point of numerical prosperity , having 2104 on its Roll ; but during this year , notwithstanding the new warrants granted , the Register is likely to show the largest number of erasures during any 12 months of
its existence , owing to the formation of the new Grand Lodges of New South Wales and Victoria . According to the aforesaid table , the largest diminution previously was in 1862 , when 94 lodges were erased , consequent on the formation of the Grand Lodge of Canada . In 1857 so many as 41 were erased hailing
from Canada West ; in 186 9 there were 42 removals , on the Grand Lodges of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick being started , and 20 in 1885 belonged to the Grand Lodge of South Australia ; all of which organisations , I am glad to say , are now not only independent , but also exceedingly prosperous and fraternally united .
Bro . Lane summarises the total of lodges from 1723 to 1888 warranted by , and under , the four Grand Lodges of England and the United Grand Lodge as 3 860 in number , out of which great army 1756 have been either erased , because extinct , or enrolled under other Grand Lodges ; with 2104 at the end of 1888 on the Roll , the latest number then allotted being 2298 .
I venture to state that not even in the Grand Lodge archives does there exist such particulars , and that such a table has only been now compiled for the first time . In fact , no one but Bro . John Lane himself could do it , under present circumstances , because no one else has the materials accumulated for such a
purpose , derived from Lists and Registers of all kinds , now located mostly in this country and the United States ; of which he gives full particulars .
The chief portion of the volume is divided into nine chapters , those from the first to the seventh dealing with the several enumerations , 1723-8 to 1793-1813 ; the eighth concerns the " Ancients , " and the ninth the "Union" List of 1814 .
For the preparation of these chapters all engraved Lists , as well as those in MS . and in print , have been carefully consulted , the owners of rare copies , in the most fraternal manner , gladly lending their treasures , or having them transcribed , so that the exact contents may be known ; Bro . Lane having made exact
copies of every edition issued from 1724 to 177 8 . Not a printed List known has been overlooked , whether valuable or otherwise , official or general , and all the MS . Registers in Grand Lodge have been duly transcribed , so that the whole literature on the subject has thus been accumulated , either by originals or copies ,
in the author ' s hands for examination , description , collation , and comparison . Besides which , Bro . Lane has acquired some very rare editions of lodge Lists , one or two being unique , during the progress of his investigations , and has thus been able to add
special information on not a few points hitherto unattainable . One of his treasures , the 176 7 List of Benjamin Cole ' s , is represented by a reproduction of its unique frontispiece , with the Arms' Plate , in the new work , which form artistic additions of considerable value .
Of the invaluable Engraved Lists , 46 are owned by the Grand Lod ge of England , ranging from 1724 to 177 8 , four of which are duplicates . The first edition or issue of 1723 is not to be found
as yet either in that grand collection or in any other , and there are several others of the series lacking , some of which are to be found in other libraries , whilst the remainder are , alas , unknown .
Of . those in the Grand Lodge , the editions of 1 ^ 24 , 1 st of 1725 , 1729 , 2 nd of 1736 , 1739 , 1741 , 1 744 , 1745 , 1750 to 1755 ( inclusive ) , 2 nd of 1756 , 1757-8 , 17 60 , 1 st of 1762 , rst of 1763 , 'st of 176 4 , 1 st of 1765 ( 2 copies ) , 1 st of 1766 ( B . Cole ) , 2 nd
° f 1 768 , 1 st of 176 9 ( 2 copies ) , 1 st of 1770 , 1771-2 , 2 nd of * 773 > 1775 , 2 nd of 177 6 , and 1 st of 1777 ( 2 copies ) are not to be met with elsewhere , and are simply and truly of priceless value , neither hundreds nor thousands of pounds being sufficient to obtain another such set .
There are 35 others in various libraries as follows : General * jke possesses 1 725 2 nd edit , ( published in facsimile privately ); tiro . J . Newton , 1 734 ( reproduced in facsimile by me this year ); Dr p . E . T . Carson , 1736 1 st edit , ( now being reproduced 2 nd
K o ateI y ^ I 737 editj I 73 8 ' 7 4 -1 th edit > 1 l (> o ~ 2 nd edit ., J 7 o 8 1 st edit , 1770 2 nd edit ., and 177 8 2 nd edit , ( eight in all , le most of any , save our own Grand Lodge ); General Lawrence , i 1 st edit . ; Bro . Asher Barfield , 1740 ; Grand
Bro. Lane's "Handy Book."
Lodge of New York , 1756 1 st edit . ; Grand Lodge of Massachusetts , 1761 ; British Museum , 1762 2 nd edit . ; Provincial Grand Lodge of Worcestershire , 17 6 3 2 nd edit ., 17 66 1 st edit ., 1770 2 nd edit ., 177 6 1 st edit ., and 1778 1 st edit , ( the third in order as to number of copies ); Bro . Geo .
Taylor , 1764 2 nd edit . ( Facsimiled for me by Bro . C . Sackreuter ); Royal Cumberland Lodge , No . 41 , Bath , 1 7 64 3 rd edit . ; Bro . T . Francis , 176 7 1 st edit . ( W . Cole ) ; Grand Lodge of Iowa , 176 7 1 st edit . ( W . Cole ); 1770 2 nd edit ., and 1774 2 nd edit . ; Grand Lodge of Scotland , 1767 2 nd edit . ( W . Cole ); Bro . W .
Watson , 2 nd edit . ( W . Cole ); Bro . John Lane , 176 7 1 st edit . ( B . Cole ) , and 1773 1 st edit . ; Bro . M . C . Peck , 176 7 2 nd edit . ( B . Cole ) ; Probity Lodge , No . 61 , Halifax , 17 6 7 3 rd edit . ( JV .
Cole ); St . John the Baptist Lodge , No . jp , Exeter , 176 9 2 nd edit . ; Bro . J . E . Le Feuvre , 1770 2 nd edit . ; and the York Lod ^ e , No . 236 , York , 1777 2 nd edit . These , with the Grand Lodge collection , make a grand total of 81 , several being duplicates .
The peculiarities of each of these editions are duly noted in the work , and as they are all carefully classified and easily distinguished by the figures for each year , being in heavy Gothic type , nothing could be better either as respects arrangement or classification .
Many of these little gems are unique , and are particularl y interesting , because they afford items of information not elsewhere obtainable , and render it possible to note certain old lodges , through all their changes of locality , whose records are lost , and could not else be traced . Their names also are thereb y chronicled from the earliest known periods .
Through the chapters will be found title-pages in full of all " Books of Constitutions , " names of all Grand Masters , and many other curious particulars , that render them specially useful in this department of Masonic literature , and makes the chapters brimful of out of the way facts . The 1723 Engraved List , now
missing , but evidently represented by the first four pages of the 1724 edition , measuring 5 ! by 2 5 inches , contained 46 lodges in the London district only , of which 22 appeared in the 1729 List
with the first regular enumeration , and 11 continue to this day , viz ., the present Nos . 2 , 4 , 6 , 10 , 12 , 14 , 16 , 18 , 20 ( Chatham ) , 21 , and 23 . Original No . 6 , now No . 8 , is on the fifth page of 1724 edit ., and is also on the Roll , constituted in 1722 .
Bro . Lane is very cautious as to expressing any definite opinion of that "Philo-Musicae" lodge of 1724 , the history of which is one of the most curious and interesting of all Masonic bodies . The volume of its records is preserved in the British Museum , and I understood that Bro . W . H . Rylands , F . S . A .,
has all the materials ready for publication . The sooner its minutes are made known the better . The author says ( p . 7 ) , that it was " not recognised as a regular lodge , " and yet its location , name , and days of meeting are written in the
official copy of the 1725 List in Grand Lodge , as if for another issue , say in 1726 , of which there is not one extant . I do not consider the evidence is sufficient to justify its being placed amongst unrecognised lodges , and so should not have styled it such , as Bro . Lane has done .
I entirely share his views as to the warrant question in relation to certain London lodges and also all early lodges . The authority was to constitute , and not warrants , as subsequentl y issued . As to this , the " Handy-Book " deserves careful study , for the point is of considerable importance .
Of our old friend , "No . 79 , Philadelphia , " Bro . Lane observes , " The precise origin of this record is uncertain , and its appearance in this List [ Dublin , 1735 ] has , since its discovery by
Bro . Hughan , been the occasion of much controversy on both sides of the Atlantic ; " but is unable to finally settle the point , though his deliverance on the subject is well worthy , of general adoption , so far as it goes .
The 1770 Engraved List has not the " signs" as the previous issues , that of 1774 beginning the brief printed series , which was ultimately " bowled out" by the printed calendars ; first started in 1775-6 , not recognised , and from 1777 , Dy tne Grand
Lodge to 1813 , that for 1814 being of a different style , and those from 1815 being of the size with which we are all so familiar . It is well to bear in mind that Engraved Lists were for the years of issue , but Calendars , always published during the previous year , in advance , according to the custom which still prevails .
The particulars relating to the Act of Parliament of 1 799 will be news to many , and really startling in character to all ordinary readers , certain warrants issued from 1800 to 1811 , 46 in number , "having no connection whatever with the former lodges , ivhose numbers , & c , they received , " and vet seven have
centenary warrants ! I hen again , 22 Lodges had warrants , virtually representing defunct lodges ( of much earlier dates ) , from 1809 to i 8 i 2 , the years of origin of the extinct bodies being recited . The original of one was granted in 1724 , the 2 nd issue being of 1812 , and is now No . 335 , Corsham . For the " Ancients , " some extraordinary facts have been elucidated . Eighteen lodges are noted with new warrants , but
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Bro. Lane's "Handy Book."
great divisions of Metropolitan , Provincial , and Foreign lodges as respects new warrants , erasures , and grand totals , after an exact deduction made for each year as respects removals , revivals , re-instatements , and allowances for errors . From time to time , the great usefulness of this table will be
apparent , as the comparative prosperity of the two rival Grand Lodges may be estimated , and particularly so will the compilation be found an immense boon , as indicative of the varying condition of the "United Grand Lodge , " which began , in 1814 , with a net total of 648 lodges , but whose Roll dwindled down
to so few as 591 in 1832-3 ! At the end of 1888 the Grand Lodge of England reached its highest point of numerical prosperity , having 2104 on its Roll ; but during this year , notwithstanding the new warrants granted , the Register is likely to show the largest number of erasures during any 12 months of
its existence , owing to the formation of the new Grand Lodges of New South Wales and Victoria . According to the aforesaid table , the largest diminution previously was in 1862 , when 94 lodges were erased , consequent on the formation of the Grand Lodge of Canada . In 1857 so many as 41 were erased hailing
from Canada West ; in 186 9 there were 42 removals , on the Grand Lodges of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick being started , and 20 in 1885 belonged to the Grand Lodge of South Australia ; all of which organisations , I am glad to say , are now not only independent , but also exceedingly prosperous and fraternally united .
Bro . Lane summarises the total of lodges from 1723 to 1888 warranted by , and under , the four Grand Lodges of England and the United Grand Lodge as 3 860 in number , out of which great army 1756 have been either erased , because extinct , or enrolled under other Grand Lodges ; with 2104 at the end of 1888 on the Roll , the latest number then allotted being 2298 .
I venture to state that not even in the Grand Lodge archives does there exist such particulars , and that such a table has only been now compiled for the first time . In fact , no one but Bro . John Lane himself could do it , under present circumstances , because no one else has the materials accumulated for such a
purpose , derived from Lists and Registers of all kinds , now located mostly in this country and the United States ; of which he gives full particulars .
The chief portion of the volume is divided into nine chapters , those from the first to the seventh dealing with the several enumerations , 1723-8 to 1793-1813 ; the eighth concerns the " Ancients , " and the ninth the "Union" List of 1814 .
For the preparation of these chapters all engraved Lists , as well as those in MS . and in print , have been carefully consulted , the owners of rare copies , in the most fraternal manner , gladly lending their treasures , or having them transcribed , so that the exact contents may be known ; Bro . Lane having made exact
copies of every edition issued from 1724 to 177 8 . Not a printed List known has been overlooked , whether valuable or otherwise , official or general , and all the MS . Registers in Grand Lodge have been duly transcribed , so that the whole literature on the subject has thus been accumulated , either by originals or copies ,
in the author ' s hands for examination , description , collation , and comparison . Besides which , Bro . Lane has acquired some very rare editions of lodge Lists , one or two being unique , during the progress of his investigations , and has thus been able to add
special information on not a few points hitherto unattainable . One of his treasures , the 176 7 List of Benjamin Cole ' s , is represented by a reproduction of its unique frontispiece , with the Arms' Plate , in the new work , which form artistic additions of considerable value .
Of the invaluable Engraved Lists , 46 are owned by the Grand Lod ge of England , ranging from 1724 to 177 8 , four of which are duplicates . The first edition or issue of 1723 is not to be found
as yet either in that grand collection or in any other , and there are several others of the series lacking , some of which are to be found in other libraries , whilst the remainder are , alas , unknown .
Of . those in the Grand Lodge , the editions of 1 ^ 24 , 1 st of 1725 , 1729 , 2 nd of 1736 , 1739 , 1741 , 1 744 , 1745 , 1750 to 1755 ( inclusive ) , 2 nd of 1756 , 1757-8 , 17 60 , 1 st of 1762 , rst of 1763 , 'st of 176 4 , 1 st of 1765 ( 2 copies ) , 1 st of 1766 ( B . Cole ) , 2 nd
° f 1 768 , 1 st of 176 9 ( 2 copies ) , 1 st of 1770 , 1771-2 , 2 nd of * 773 > 1775 , 2 nd of 177 6 , and 1 st of 1777 ( 2 copies ) are not to be met with elsewhere , and are simply and truly of priceless value , neither hundreds nor thousands of pounds being sufficient to obtain another such set .
There are 35 others in various libraries as follows : General * jke possesses 1 725 2 nd edit , ( published in facsimile privately ); tiro . J . Newton , 1 734 ( reproduced in facsimile by me this year ); Dr p . E . T . Carson , 1736 1 st edit , ( now being reproduced 2 nd
K o ateI y ^ I 737 editj I 73 8 ' 7 4 -1 th edit > 1 l (> o ~ 2 nd edit ., J 7 o 8 1 st edit , 1770 2 nd edit ., and 177 8 2 nd edit , ( eight in all , le most of any , save our own Grand Lodge ); General Lawrence , i 1 st edit . ; Bro . Asher Barfield , 1740 ; Grand
Bro. Lane's "Handy Book."
Lodge of New York , 1756 1 st edit . ; Grand Lodge of Massachusetts , 1761 ; British Museum , 1762 2 nd edit . ; Provincial Grand Lodge of Worcestershire , 17 6 3 2 nd edit ., 17 66 1 st edit ., 1770 2 nd edit ., 177 6 1 st edit ., and 1778 1 st edit , ( the third in order as to number of copies ); Bro . Geo .
Taylor , 1764 2 nd edit . ( Facsimiled for me by Bro . C . Sackreuter ); Royal Cumberland Lodge , No . 41 , Bath , 1 7 64 3 rd edit . ; Bro . T . Francis , 176 7 1 st edit . ( W . Cole ) ; Grand Lodge of Iowa , 176 7 1 st edit . ( W . Cole ); 1770 2 nd edit ., and 1774 2 nd edit . ; Grand Lodge of Scotland , 1767 2 nd edit . ( W . Cole ); Bro . W .
Watson , 2 nd edit . ( W . Cole ); Bro . John Lane , 176 7 1 st edit . ( B . Cole ) , and 1773 1 st edit . ; Bro . M . C . Peck , 176 7 2 nd edit . ( B . Cole ) ; Probity Lodge , No . 61 , Halifax , 17 6 7 3 rd edit . ( JV .
Cole ); St . John the Baptist Lodge , No . jp , Exeter , 176 9 2 nd edit . ; Bro . J . E . Le Feuvre , 1770 2 nd edit . ; and the York Lod ^ e , No . 236 , York , 1777 2 nd edit . These , with the Grand Lodge collection , make a grand total of 81 , several being duplicates .
The peculiarities of each of these editions are duly noted in the work , and as they are all carefully classified and easily distinguished by the figures for each year , being in heavy Gothic type , nothing could be better either as respects arrangement or classification .
Many of these little gems are unique , and are particularl y interesting , because they afford items of information not elsewhere obtainable , and render it possible to note certain old lodges , through all their changes of locality , whose records are lost , and could not else be traced . Their names also are thereb y chronicled from the earliest known periods .
Through the chapters will be found title-pages in full of all " Books of Constitutions , " names of all Grand Masters , and many other curious particulars , that render them specially useful in this department of Masonic literature , and makes the chapters brimful of out of the way facts . The 1723 Engraved List , now
missing , but evidently represented by the first four pages of the 1724 edition , measuring 5 ! by 2 5 inches , contained 46 lodges in the London district only , of which 22 appeared in the 1729 List
with the first regular enumeration , and 11 continue to this day , viz ., the present Nos . 2 , 4 , 6 , 10 , 12 , 14 , 16 , 18 , 20 ( Chatham ) , 21 , and 23 . Original No . 6 , now No . 8 , is on the fifth page of 1724 edit ., and is also on the Roll , constituted in 1722 .
Bro . Lane is very cautious as to expressing any definite opinion of that "Philo-Musicae" lodge of 1724 , the history of which is one of the most curious and interesting of all Masonic bodies . The volume of its records is preserved in the British Museum , and I understood that Bro . W . H . Rylands , F . S . A .,
has all the materials ready for publication . The sooner its minutes are made known the better . The author says ( p . 7 ) , that it was " not recognised as a regular lodge , " and yet its location , name , and days of meeting are written in the
official copy of the 1725 List in Grand Lodge , as if for another issue , say in 1726 , of which there is not one extant . I do not consider the evidence is sufficient to justify its being placed amongst unrecognised lodges , and so should not have styled it such , as Bro . Lane has done .
I entirely share his views as to the warrant question in relation to certain London lodges and also all early lodges . The authority was to constitute , and not warrants , as subsequentl y issued . As to this , the " Handy-Book " deserves careful study , for the point is of considerable importance .
Of our old friend , "No . 79 , Philadelphia , " Bro . Lane observes , " The precise origin of this record is uncertain , and its appearance in this List [ Dublin , 1735 ] has , since its discovery by
Bro . Hughan , been the occasion of much controversy on both sides of the Atlantic ; " but is unable to finally settle the point , though his deliverance on the subject is well worthy , of general adoption , so far as it goes .
The 1770 Engraved List has not the " signs" as the previous issues , that of 1774 beginning the brief printed series , which was ultimately " bowled out" by the printed calendars ; first started in 1775-6 , not recognised , and from 1777 , Dy tne Grand
Lodge to 1813 , that for 1814 being of a different style , and those from 1815 being of the size with which we are all so familiar . It is well to bear in mind that Engraved Lists were for the years of issue , but Calendars , always published during the previous year , in advance , according to the custom which still prevails .
The particulars relating to the Act of Parliament of 1 799 will be news to many , and really startling in character to all ordinary readers , certain warrants issued from 1800 to 1811 , 46 in number , "having no connection whatever with the former lodges , ivhose numbers , & c , they received , " and vet seven have
centenary warrants ! I hen again , 22 Lodges had warrants , virtually representing defunct lodges ( of much earlier dates ) , from 1809 to i 8 i 2 , the years of origin of the extinct bodies being recited . The original of one was granted in 1724 , the 2 nd issue being of 1812 , and is now No . 335 , Corsham . For the " Ancients , " some extraordinary facts have been elucidated . Eighteen lodges are noted with new warrants , but