Bro. William James Hughan.

Bro . William James Hughan .

fTS the select band of AIasonic historians and critics , Brother AV . J . Hughan occupies a leading and " almost unique position , and if not actually the founder of fcho modern school of Alasonic criticism , his first ajijicarancc as a writer on AIasonic subjects was contemjiorancous with the opening

' Saw * ** P ° f * ' hitherto uiiexjilorcd field of research by men of / fw * culture and learning , and the elevation of what had hitherto been a vague and chaotic mass of legends and facts to its jirojicr position in the ranks of literature It is somewhat fortunate for the brotherhood , that so able and jmiiistaking

an investigator as Bro . Hughan has proved himself to be , elected , at the outset of his career , to devote that ability to the investigation of abstruse problems and the elucidation of doubtful beliefs in connection with Alasonic histoiy . Bro . Hughan is a born

antiquarian and archaeologist , and but for the happy circumstance that in the year 1863 , he was initiated into Alasonry , the drift of his lifc would certainly have been in the direction of other archaeological studies , where he would assuredly have left his mark .

Although scarcely a generation has passed since AIasonic literature may be said to have assumed its proper rank with other branches of learning , much has been accomjilished

in that short time , and to Bro Hnghan , more perhaps than to any other man , the happy result is due . Like most pioneers , he found that the attemjit to jilace facts before

cherished traditions and blind beliefs , required some courage and much jierseverancc , and thc writer can well remember the almost p ious horror with which the new views

were regarded in those earl y days by a worthy occupant of tho chair of King Solomon , views which tc his mind threw doubts on the absolute and literal truth of all the

traditions and legends of ancient Freemasonry . All that has long since jiasscd away , and Bro . Hughan and his co-workers are now hailed as thc jireservers of the grand fabric of Freemasonry , and thc destroyers

of nothing but the false and unintelligible . Although Bro . Hughan ' s AIasonic reputation is mainl y built , and will be perpetuated , in connection with literary research , he is

emphaticall y one of the " doers , " and not merely a theorist ; and his record in the cause of Charit y and as a practical cxponentof AIasonic ritual will bear comparison with that of the most ardent and enthusiastic

worker , while , as the friend , jihilosojiher , and guide of all and every seeker after li ght—be he novice 01 veteran—his ready jion and sage advice are instantly forthcoming .

Few men have a wider circle of friends the world over , and those who have the privilege of a closer intimacy have a feeling of love and veneration for the man who

is ever ready lo aid by jien and tongue the cause of universal Brotherhood and Charity . There can be little doubt that it was the humanising tendency of the teachings of Freemasonry , which first attracted the synijiathetic attention of Bro . Hughan towards thc Order ; and in the rajiid jirogrcss of the Craft towards the ideal of universal brotherhood his name will ever be associated .

A \ e should much liko to dwell on the many jioints of interest whicii such a singularl y industrious and successful career reveals ; but Ave fear thc brief sjiaee allotted to us is none too great to jot doivii even a bald record of the jirincijial events and productions of an exceptionall y busy life . No sketch , however , of Bro . Hughan conld claim to be worth y of its subject Avithout a kindly

reference to the Lady who has shared his joys and sorrows , symjiiithised with him in his aspirations towards all that is good and true , and ministered for nearl y a quarter of a century to the needs of a frame never robust and often requiring Avceks of constant care and solicitude , and without whose loving hel p little of the main work of his life could have been accomjilished .

It Avill be almost impossible to notice even in thc briefest Avay the many philanthropic and other movements with which Bro . Hughan has been associated . Debating Societies in his younger days were a great hobb y with him , and for some time he was president of one in Plymouth , many members of which are HOAV distinguished as literary , scientific , and artistic students , and several well knoAvn jiress men . Outside Alasonic work on whicii his main reputation is built

Bro. William James Hughan.

perhaps his chief labours have been in the direction of Biblical research and Sunday School work . In the former his success has been perhaps only second to that achieved in Alasonry , and there are feAv students whose knowledge of the various editions of the English Bible is more thorough than that of Bro . Hughan . Of the more jiractical AA-OI-IC of Sunday School teaching it is sufficient to say that

the self-abcgiiation involved in the almost uninterrupted de \ r otion of one day in the Aveek for nearly 30 years to this arduous labour is on a par with his many sacrifices in the cause of education and progress . Bro . Hughan ' s first connection with Alasonry dates from 1863 , when he was initiated in St . Aubyn Lodge , No . 954 , Devonport , and on his removal to Truro he became Secretary of No . 331 , subsequently

joining the Fortitude Lodge , No . 131 , of which ho quickly- became S . AV . and AV . AL in 1868 , filling the chair again after an interval of ten ycars in 1878 . As early as 1864 he joined the Emulation Lodge of Improvement , and later on also identified himself with the sister Lodges , Stabilit y and Confidence . But AVC must perforce bridge over a wide gap in this connection by simpl y saying

that not even Bro . Hughan ' s tenacious memory and grip of facts and figures could present a fairly accurate and comjilote list of the many lodges , chapters , and organisations with which he has been from time to time associated . Room , however , must be found to record the fact that in conjunction . Avith Bro . Gould , the late Bro . liev . A . F . A . AVoodford , Bro . Sir Charles AVarren , Bro . AValter Besant , ancl others he became a founder of the

HOAV famous Quatuor Coronati Lodge , which , with its vigorous off-spring , the Correspondence Circle , is HOAV exercising . such . . ., an influence in all parts of the , world .

As might be cxjiceted , the comp liment of honorary membership has fallen on his shoulders thick and fast , and , as these spontaneous , tokens of esteem and apjireciatiou are perhaps the best indication of the value of Bro . Hughan ' s

services , Ave may mention that his name is on the roll of scores of lodges , chapters , and conclaves , Ac ., throughout the world , Avhile special honorary membershiji has been conferred for aid rendered

to the Charities and other reasons by the folloAving lodges : St . John ' s . No , 279 , and John of Gaunt , No , 523 , Leicester ; Nos . 245 and 590 , Jersey ; Alother Kilwinning , No . 0 . and St . Marv ' s . No . 1 . Scotland :

30 , Exeter ; 41 , Bath ; 70 , Plymouth ; 250 , Hull ; 47 , Duudalk , and 350 , Omagh , Ireland ; Kilwin- ' ning , Cincinnati , Ohio ; Frnnklinj Philadcljihia , P ' a ; Fortitude , No ' 47 , La Grange , Kentucky ; and

417 , 432 , and 477 , New Zealand . Chapters—Lafayette , No . 5 , AVashingtoi ) , D . C ; Jerusalem , No . 3 , Philadelphia , P ' a ; and 41 , Bath ( the first centenary celebrated in England , at which W . J . Hughan

gave the address on R . A . Alasonry ) . The 30 ° , 31 ° , and 32 ° , were also conferred J [ ononis- Causa ; by Supreme Council 33 ° , "because of his literary services to the Craft . " Nor must AVC omit to mention the vi'i'v siiccinl distiiK-finn imiilicil in

( he ajqioinfiiieiit , by the Prince of Wales , AI . AV . Grand Alaster , to the jiast rank of Senior Grand Deacon of England- —an honour rarely conferred ; as also ( hat of Past Assistant Grand ? Sojourner in Grand Chapter . Very ICAV of the many lodge histories have been jmblishcd during

the last 20 ycars , Avithout his assistance and an introduction from his pen , while the great number of works that have been dedicated tn him jireeludo our mentioning more than a feAv of the more iinjioi taut , viz ., "Kcnning ' s Archseological Library , " Vol . I . ; Bro . Geo . F . Fort ' s

" Critical Inquiry into the Condition of the Conventual Buildings and their Relation to Secular Guilds in the Middle Ages , " and Bro . John Lane ' s "Handy Book to the Study of Lists of Lodges , " which , as au evidence of the regard entertained for him by one of his closest friends , AVO cannot refrain from quoting in full : —

"To my dear and highly-esteemed friend , the Righfc Worshipful Brother AVilliam James Hughan , P . AI . 131 , Ac , P . Prov . S . G . W . of Cornwall , Past Senior Grand Deacon of England , Past Senior Giand AVarden of Iowa , in recognition of his indefatigable zeal , jicrsislcnt research , and invaluable services in relation to fhe literature and

antiquity of Freemasonry throughout the world , and as a jiersonal tribute of thanks for his constant assistance and " encouragement during many years of AIasonic study and investigation , I grnlcliiil , - and fraternall y dedicate this work . — -Ls'O . LANE . — Bannercross-, Torquay , July 20 th , 1889 , "