The York Grand Lodge.—A Brief Sketch.

THE YORK GRAND LODGE . —A BRIEF SKETCH .

BY BRO . WILLIAM JAMES HUGHAN , PAST SENIOR GRAND DEACON OF ENGLAND , & C , & c . { Continued from Page 21 ) . As to the right of a single Lodge to form itself into a Grand Lodge , in 1725 , or earlier , there can be no question , for the Brethren of that period made their

own Laws , and so pleased themselves ; there being no Regulations in any way affecting such points . Masonic Jurisprudence was unknown , so that Dermott ' s dictum that five Lodges were necessary to be represented at the formation of a new Grand Lodge , and hence the Organization of 1717 was defective , may be dismissed as purely fanciful . It would manifestly be absurd to apply the test of Modern Masonic legislation to any such Organizations .

An important autographical List of the Master Masons in the Lodge at York requires serious and careful treatment , not only because it indicates that the Grand Lodge was not " inactive from 1730 , " as Bro . J . G . Findel states , but such a Roll of members of the Third Degree is of considerable value . I counted thirty-five on this curious parchment register , the only date , following the 27 th , being of July 7 th , 1734 , and then eight more names complete the List .

The Roll begins with the name of ( the Baronet , Sir ) Wm . Milner , and is followed by Edw . Thompson , Jun ., and others . I append a few of the names with the dates traced by me , when they became Masons , with other particulars .

INITIATED . Wm . Milner 4 th Feb ., 1726 G . M ., 1728 Edwd . Thompson , Jun . ? G . M ., 1729 John Johnson 21 st July , 1725 Committee , 1729 Henry Pawson 6 th Sept ., 1725 S . G . W ., 1725 Francis Drake Ditto J . G . W ., 1725

Geo . Reynoldson 4 th Feb ., 1723 J . G . W ., 1726 Geo . Rhodes ioth Jan ., 1723 S . G . W ., 1726 RicbA Marsh Ditto Committee , 1726 Jno . Marsden 2 Sth Dec , 1724 Ditto 1726 Luke Lowther 21 st July , 1725 John Wilmer 12 th Aug ., 1725 D . G . M ., 1726

W '" . Wright 28 th Dec , 1724 Lewis Wood 21 st July , 1725 John Rogers ? Rich 11 . Denton 28 th Dec , 1724 Committee , 1726 Will '" . Stephenson ? Malby Beckwith 6 th Sept ., 1725

Evidently the Register was begun and signed hy the Master Masons after the Grand Lodge was first noted ( 1725 ) , and possibly about the year 1730 . Bro . Bussey includes the Presidents from 1705 with those of the Grand Masters , but in error , as the latter term is not met with in the Records until 1725 , and only a few years earlier elsewhere . Sir George Tempest , Bart ., President 1705 , followed by the Rt . Hon . Robert Benson ( Lord Bingley , 1713 ) , Lord Mayor of York , 1707 ; Sir William Robinson , Bart ., 170 S ; Sir Walter

Hawkesworth , Bart ., 1711 ( and 1720 ) , and Sir George Tempest , Bart ., 1713 , make up an extraordinary Roll for the period and remind one of of Bro . Whitehead ' s rtmark in 1884 , that "a large proportion of the Masons of York were Lord Mayors , Aldermen and Sheriffs , and even down to our own day it has been the samel . " It is also pleasant to remember that the present Lord Mayor of the City of York is Bro . J . Sykcs Rymer , who has been a member of our Correspondence Circle from November 1 S 88 .

Bro . Bussey's List of " Grand Masters" is not very trustworthy , for it includes ( Admiral ) Charles Fairfax , Esq ., 1714 , and omits Sir William Milner , Bart ., 1728-g . The former only appears in the records as Deputy President , and the latter dignitary was fortunately traced by Bro . T . B . Whytehead in a MS . in the Leeds Library . j Edward Bell , Esq ., mentioned as Grand

Master under the year 1725 , is apparently not justified , but Charles Bathurst , Esq ., 1725-G , and Edward Thompson , Esq ., M . P ., for 1729 , are correct . Two others are given about whom we cannot offer any opinion , as they concern dates later than existing minutes , viz ., " 1 733 John Johnson , Esq ., M . D . 1734 John Marsden , Esq . " They were initiated in 1725 and 1724 respectively .

Precisely when the " Grand Lodge of All England at York became dormant we cannot tell , but most probably during the fifth decade of the iast century ,. ! Dr . Anderson , in the " Book of Constitutions " 1738 , practically recognised this Northern Masonic Body , and it may fairly be assumed that when that work was compiled , it was still active . He thus refers to various Grand Lod ges not connected with the premier organization . " But the Old Lodge at YORK City , and the Lodges oi SCOTLAND , IRELAND ,

FKAXCK , and ITALY , affecting Independency , are under their own Grand Masters , tho' they have the same Constitutions , Charges , Regulations , & ic , for substance , with their Brethren of England . " Even so late as 1744 Dr . Dassigny , 4 in his noted " Enquiry , " alluded to "an assembly of Master Masons under the title of Royal Arch Masons" in York , so that we are safe in declining Bro . Findel ' s estimate that the dormancy dated from 1730 . Bro . Gould , the Masonic Historian , agrees with me that the Grand Lodge was at work until 1740-50 circa , and I am quite content with such powerful

support . During the dormancy , the Grand Lodge of the "Ancients" was formed in London , and though started under very humble auspices in 1751 , it rapidly increased in numbers and influence , and soon became a formidable and decidedly unfriendly rival to the original Grand Lodge , which though the first of its kind , was designated " Modern , " and the new creation was termed " Ancient ; " si strangely were the positions and descriptions reversed .

Evidently ths new Organization reckoned on the prolonged dormancy or complete collapse of the " Grand Lodge of all England , " and hence made a free use of the York legend , and the title " York Masons , " thus assuming an antiquity and importance to which they had not the slightest claim . 1 am not referring to the question of their origin , which has been so ably dealt with by Bro , Henry

Sadler , ? and is , more or less , " a thorny subject to decide even now , but simply to draw attention to the confessedly humble character of the early members of the "Ancient" or "Atlioll Masons . " They started a separate body in the year named , and had no Grand Master to rule over them until two years later ; their subsequent extraordinary career being mainly due to the able advocacy of Bro . Laurence Dermott , Grand Secretary from 1752 . 0

It is startling to find that so early as 1751 , the yearof its origin , this new creation was termed " the Most Ancient and Honourable Society of Free and Accepted Masons , " and of course it assembled according to the "Old

lnstitu-I " Freemason , " October 25 th , 1 SS . 1 , " A l . olUr . tion of Coats ot Arms and Descents , " etc . In MS . II " Constitutions , " i 7 . ) S > [»• >•/>¦ ( or Reprint by Lodge No . ^ 07 ( 1 . ) " Menu-rials 0 ) the Masonic Union of ISIJ , " Hughan , 1 S 7 . J , and Bro . Jackson's Facsimi ' e . 0 " Masonic Facts and Fictions , " Sadler , 1 SS 7 . 'i " Freemasons' Chronicle , " July Sth , 18 7 0 . Also " An Old Warrant" by W . J . H . In 1801 .

The York Grand Lodge.—A Brief Sketch.

tions . " Its oldest existing warrant ( No . 6 ) is of 1755 ( present No . 11 ) , and is mild in phraseology compared with two years later , when No . 65 was issued to Nova Scotia . In the latter document it is recited " We the Grand Lodge of the Most Ancient and Hon'ble Fraternity of Free and Accepted York Masons ; " and even for London , a similar title was issued in the following year ( No . 8 , now 15 ) . Inthe"Ahiman Rezon " ' of 1756 ( the first edition of its Laws ) the Regulations for Charity are referred to

" As practised in Ireland , and by York Masons in England . " So there is really no doubt that these so-called "Ancients" posed as York Masons though without any justification whatever . Later on , the first portion was altered so as to read " We the Grand Lodge of the Most Ancient and Honourable Fraternity

of Free and Accepted Masons , ( according to the Old Constitutions granted by His Royal Highness Prince Edwin , at York , Anno Domini Nine hundred twenty and six ) in ample Form assembled , "* which we may as well let pass , with the statement that it belongs to a class of " time immemorial " assertions , that are superior to proof I

The pernicious fiction of the " Ancients " being " York Masons , " and that the Union of December , 1813 , was cemented between the York and London Grand Lodges , instead of the two Grand Lodges in the Metropolis , is still advocated in some quarters , and even perpetuated in quite recent works in the History of the Craft . It is hoped , however , that the ever-increasing Correspondence Circle of the Quatuor Coronati Lodge , and the consequent diffusion of Masonic Li ght , will ere long secure the overthrow of that absurd and harmful notion .

The veritable York Masons emerged from their somnolency on March 17 th , 1761 , when " six of the surviving members revived the Grand Lodge in the House of Mr .-Henry Howard in Lendall , in the said City" ( York ) .

Present . Grand Master , Brother Francis Drake , Esq ., F . R . S . Deputy G . M ., George Reynoldson Grand Wardens , George Coaces and Thomas Mason Together with Brothers Christopher Coulton & Martin Crofts . "

The Visiting Brethren who attended , eleven in number , were members of the Lodge No . 259 , assembling at the " Punch Bowl" in Stonegate , York , which was constituted on February 2 nd , 1761 , so that this subordinate of the Grand Lodge of England ( London ) outnumbered the original members of the revived Grand Lodge ; doubtless that Lodge being formed early in the same year led to tho York brethren deciding to restart the " Grand Lodge of all England , " all the sooner because of the presence of a friendly rival , or possibly No . 259 itself was the actual cause of the Revival .

The Records of this meteoric visitor cover a period of some three years , and are treasured in the Library of the present" York Lodge , " No . 236 , which has so long been the Home of the Archives of the extinct Grand Lodge . The York G .-and Lodge soon absorbed all its members , and in fact began by selecting one of the visitors as its Grand Secretary and Treasurer , and another was then and there elected a member .

The second start was made by the Grand Lodge of England ( London ) in 17733 by the " Apollo " 4 being warranted in York , but it failed to keep on the Register after 1805 . As to its career , and that of the Lodge of 1761 , 1 must refer brethren to my History published in 188 9 , to Bro . T . B . Whytehead's brochure on the subject , and to Bro . J . Ramsden Riley ' s interesting volume . * The third attempt to plant a Lodge permanently in the City by the original Grand Lodge was entirely successful , when the "Union , " now the famous "York Lodge , " was launched in 1777 . During the latter part of the 19 th century especially , Freemasonry has flourished in the ancient City " as the palm tree . "

The minutes of the revived Grand Lodge appear to begin with Grand Officers of a former period , and probably represent those who hold office when the organisation became dormant under the new regime . Warrants were issued for subordinate Lodges , and quite a brisk business was done in that respect during the succeeding 30 years . The first , strange to say , was chartered to " French Prisoners of War on their Parol" in York , but not for the initiation of any subjects of Great Britain and Ireland . Other French Lodges were scattered over England , or held under British auspices , and well serve a qualified Historian to describe their meetings .

LODGES ON THE YORK ROLL . 1 French Lodge , " Punch Bowl , " York ioth June , 1762 . ( 2 ) A Lodge in York City ? ( 3 ) " Turk ' s Head , " Scarborough 19 th August , 1762 . ( 4 ) " Royal Oak , " Ripon 31 st July , 1769 . ( 5 ) " Crown , " Knaresborough 30 th October , 1769 . ( 6 ) "Duke of Devonshire , " Macclesfield , Cheshire ... 24 thSeptember , 1770

( 7 ) — Hovingham 29 th May , 1773 . ( H ) — Snainton , near Malton 14 th December , 177 8 " 109 " Druidical Lodge , Rotherham , 30 th November , 1778 ( 10 ) Fortitude Lodge , " Sun , " Hollingwood ( Lane . ) ., 27 th November , 1790 ( 11 ) f" Grand Lo . of England , South of the Trent , " 29 th March , 1779 , < 1 . " Lodge of Perfect Observance , " Mitre Tavern , London . ( . 2 . " Lodge of Perseverance & Triumph , " " Queen ' s Head , " London .

It will be seen that of these Lodges eight were domiciled in Yorkshire , one each in Cheshire and Lancashire , and the other consisted of the Grand Lodge which was chartered in 1779 , to assemble under the wing of the " Lodge of Antiquity" No . 1 , London , during the period of its difficulty with the ori ginal Grand Lodge of England . There were really three Lodges , besides that Grand Lodge during the temp arary secession , viz ., the Lodge of Antiquity , and the two

constituted as Nos . 1 and 2 on 15 th November and 9 th August , 1779 , respectively . The York authorities did not favour Lodge enumeration , only No . I is noted until the 9 th was warranted , when it is described as " 109 "; the addition of 100 to the Register being more entertaining than precise . As to Lodge enumeration and such intricate matters I must refer those interested to the late Bro . Lane ' s colossal \ vork . G

Now , be it observed and remembered that no Lodges were chartered by the York Grand Lodge other than the foregoing , and consequently , these and these alone are , or were , entitled to the appellation of York Lodges , and its members of " York Masons . " In 1789 the unfortunate struggle between the "Antiquity " and the Grand Lodge was happily ended on terms honourable to bath sides , thus , finally , the mushroom Grand Lodge and its subordinates came to an end , and the " Lodge of

Antiquity " was once more united to the premier Grand Lodge which it helped to form . Some three years later the " Grand Lodge of all England " at York ceased to work , and , with its subordinates , finished its course before the century expired ; probably owing to the superior advantages possessed by the Grand Lodge of England situated in London , and because of the difficulties incident to carrying on a Provincial and mainly local body , lacking in many points the influence and position of the premier authority ,

1 "Ahiman Rezon , " 175 6 , p . S . j . - "Old Atholl Warrants , " Lane . "Freemason , " April iSth , iSyi . ; l " History of the Apollo Lo jge , " Ifitir / tan , ISSJ . The " Apollo LoJge , York . " 1 \ Ii . VVnyteheid , " Frcemison , " June ioth , 1330 . ' " " Yorkshire Lodges , " Eilev , 1 S 85 . « "Masonic Records , 1717-18 ^ 4 , " Lane , 1395 . ( Grand Lodge , London . )