Harmonic Lodge, No. 216, Liverpool.

HARMONIC LODGE , No . 216 , LIVERPOOL .

"A change has come over the scene" of late years , for whereas formerly lodge histories were the exception , now they are rapidly becoming the rule , and many are the works published relative to the eventful past of numerous old lodges . This is as it should be , and proves that whatever may be our experience as

to the interest manifested with respect to Masonic literature generally , a readable and well got-up history of a lodge , such as the one before us of No . 216 , Liverpool , is bound to take , and be eagerly perused by students , quite apart from any connection with the especial object of the publication .

The author of the " History and Records of the Harmonic Lodge " is Bro . Joseph Hawkins , P . M ., & c , * and the publisher and printer is Bro . Charles Ratcliffe , who " in the most handsome manner has undertaken at his own expense and risk the

publishing of this book , " both author and publisher agreeing that any profit arising from its sale shall be devoted to the Masonic Charities , so that the work is particularly creditable to the two more immediately concerned .

Bro . Hawkins has done his best under the circumstances , for , though the lodge was formed by warrant of 22 nd April , 179 6 , as No . 299 , by the " Ancient" Grand Lodge , the records are missing until we come down to the year 1819 , and there is also another break in the minutes later on . Notwithstanding

these drawbacks , a number of interesting facts have been dovetailed into the work in an admirable manner concerning the Craft in Liverpool ; and an excellent introduction prepares the ordinary reader to duly appreciate and estimate the value of the narration , as the career of the lodge is duly unfolded .

We are told that the Grand Lodge of England brought in a Second Degree , which was termed " Fellow Craft , " and the "Ancients" likewise accused the "Moderns" of having modernised the Third Degree— " that of Passed Fellow Craft or Master Mason—and no doubt there were grounds for the

accusation . " Had our brother maintained that both Degrees were introduced by the senior Grand Lodge , we should be in exact agreement , for there is as much evidence in the one case as in the other . It is quite probable there was " a strongly dissatisfied

Operative element , which continued to meet independent of the Grand Lodge , as had been their custom prior to 1717 , and that this element was re-inforced by numerous lodges struck off the roll of the 1717 Grand Lodge . " In fact , we consider the evidence

points in this direction , the malcontents starting a rival organisation in 175 1 , which body eventually chartered the " Harmonic " at Liverpool . At the "Union" the subordinates of the two Grand Lodges were numbered alternately , the junior having the ballot in its favour for No . 1 . Bro . Hawkins shows how this

operated at Liverpool , by No . 32 , of 1786 , taking precedence long before No . 86 , of 1753 ( Prescot ) , and No . 216 , of 1796 , being ahead of No . 241 , of 1780 .

The " serious quarrel which arose between some of the Liverpool lodges and the United Grand Lodge" is fully detailed , and adds much to the permanent value of the work , so little being known now of that most lamentable occurrence .

The " Ancient lodges in Liverpool—five in number— -A . D . 1806 , agreed to a set of rules for the government of a Committee of Charity , the chief regulations being as follows :

The MASTERS , WARDENS , and other BRETHREN of the ANCIENT LODGES in LIVERPOOL , being desirous more consistently , more fully , and at the same time more conveniently , to perform the indispensable duty of relieving the Distresses of the Brotherhood , than is practicable in their Private Lodges , or by the Officers

individually at their places of residence , have agreed to form a COMMITTEE of CHARITY , to receive the applications , to consider the merit of petitioners , and to order suitable distributions ; which shall be established in the following manner , and conducted by the following Rules : —

I . THAT the Committee shall consist of the Masters , Wardens , and other Officers , for the time being of Lodges No . 20 , 25 , 276 , 299 , and 302 , or any other Ancient Lodge that may hereafter be established in Liverpool , out of whom shall be chosen a President for General Meetings , a Treasurer , and a Secretary , who shall continue in office for Six Months ; but the Master of each Lodge shall , in

regular succession , according to seniority , be President for the Ordinary Nights of Meeting . III . THIS charity shall extend only to those under the Ancient Constitution of Free Masons ; and , to prevent impositions , no brother shall be entitled to this

charity unless he can produce a certificate from the Grand Lodge , of his having been made in an Ancient Lodge , or satisfy the Committee to that effect ; and that no Member rejected by this Committee for relief , shall hereafter be assisted from the Funds thereof , without a General Committee for that purpose called .

IV . THAT every Ancient Lodge that maybe attached hereafter to this Committee shall pay the sum of One Guinea in the first instance , and those , as well as the existing ones , shall pay Fifteen Shillings and Sixpence for each Mason that may be initiated in their respective Lodges , and each Master shall , on the night of his attendance , render in an account , in writing , of the names and number of

initiations of the Lodge to which he belongs ; and pay the money due therefrom to the Treasurer , or , in his absence , to the Secretary , under the penalty of One Guinea for non-performance thereof ; and the Treasurer shall not pay any sum

or sums of money out of the Fund without a written order , signed by at least Three Masters of Lodges , and in that case they shall not order a sum exceeding Ten Shillings and Sixpence . VI . THAT every Subscriber to the respective Ancient Lodges in this Town

Harmonic Lodge, No. 216, Liverpool.

shall pay to this charity , through the medium of the respective Masters , One Shilling and Sixpence half-yearly . IX . THAT , in case of any dispute as to the exact time of Meeting , it is hereby agreed that Mr . Aspinwall ' s Clock shall be the criterion for this Committee .

X . THAT no Committee ( except a General one ) can relieve any distressed Brother Mason or Family , with more than Five Pounds at onetime , or in one year , from the date of such relief . [ Signed by the Masters of the five lodges , Chairman , Treasurer , and Secretary . ]

This body did some real good work whilst so combined , and set an example which might well be followed by not a few lodges grouped in large towns in the present day . The "Rules and Orders , " A . D . 1787 , supplied by the "Ancients" to the "Harmonic" Lodge in 179 6 , both for the Craft and Royal Arch , with the necessary alterations agreed to by the

members , are exactly reproduced by the Historian , and are both interesting and valuable . Each " Ancient " lodge had the right to work the Royal Arch Degree according to the regulations laid down , many of which were of a very stringent character , and should be consulted by all brethren who desire reliable information on this important subject .

Of the lodge by-laws , we may as well note a few as follows just to illustrate the customs of the earlier days of the Fraternity

II . THAT the Lodge shall meet at the Hours hereafter mentioned ; viz ., * from the Vernal Equinox to the Autumnal Equinox , at Seven o ' clock in the Evening , and sit till Ten ; and from the Autumnal Equinox aforesaid to the Vernal Equinox following , from Six to Nine o ' clock ; and if any Member be absent one Hour after

the Appointed Time of Meeting he shall be fined One Shilling , and if absent the whole Night , or Time of Business , he shall be fined Five Shillings , except such Absentee be Sick , Lame , in Confinement , or upwards of Three Miles from the Place of Meeting ; and that all such Fines shall be deposited in the Fund for the Relief of indigent Brethren .

* The Vernal Equinox upon or near the Twenty-first of March ; Autumnal Equinox upon or near the Twenty-second of September . III . THAT the Master shall be chose by Ballot ; viz ., the Wardens shall stand Candidates for the Chair on the stated Lodge Night next before each St . John ' s Day ; and the Candidates shall withdraw , while every free Member gives his Vote in favour of him which he deems most worthy ; each free Member having one Vote , and the Master Twof Votes .

When done , the Master shall order the Candidates before him ; and having carefully examined the Poll , shall then audibly declare him ( that hath the Majority ) duly elected . Then the Master Elect shall nominate one for the senior Warden ' s Chair , at

which Time the present Master and Brethren shall nominate one in Opposition , to be ballotted for in like manner ; and so on in the choice of all the inferior Officers ; and that no Person shall be put in such Election , but such as are deemed to be able and worthy of Performance .

f That is , when the Number of Votes happen to be equal . In such case the Master has two Totes ; otherwise he has but a single Vote . VI . THAT all the Members of this Lodge shall dine together upon ( or near ) every St . John ' s Day ; that each Member shall pay seven Shillings & 6 d , on the Lodge Night ( next ) before such Feast Day , towards defraying the Charges of the Festival . That the Wardens shall be appointed Stewards to transact all Matters

relating to the Feast . That the new Master and other Officers shall be immediately installed after dinner , at which Time all and every of the Accompts belonging to the Feast , and Lodge Affairs in general , shall be properly settled , and delivered to the new Officers ; and that all Visitors who dine at such Feast shall pay Ten shs . & 6 d . over and above the constant Members ; Sojourners always at the Discretion of the Majority .

XIV . That on a Lodge Night , in the Master ' s Absence , the past Master may take his place * ; and in his absence the senior Warden , ! and in his Absence the junior Warden ; and in the Absence of all the Officers , the Members according to Seniority and Merit shall fill the absent Officers' Places . f And it is hereby

Ordered and Declared , That every Officer absent on a Lodge Night , whether stated or on an Emergency , shall be fined a discretionary Fine , * over and above the common Fine of private Members ; except for the Reasons mentioned in the second and thirteenth Rules . i

* It is the undoubted Right of the Wardens to fill the Chair , even though a former Master be present : but the Wardens generally waive this Privilege , upon a Supposition that the Past Masters are best acquainted with the Business of the Lodge . ¦ \ X Marginal note " leave out . "

XXIV . That in order to preserve Good Harmony , and encourage ( working ) Master Masons , it is hereby Ordered and Declared , That no Brother under the Degree of a Master Mason , shall be admitted to Visit this Lodge , upon any Pretence whatsoever .

Other rules are inserted of about the year 1799 , and it appears the lodge was known as the "Concord" until 1819 , when the title was changed to its present appellation . Though the minutes , as we have already remarked , are all lost prior to the

latter year , Bro . Hawkins has managed to get hold of several particulars of an earlier date , and these he has so ably weaved into the connected narrative that we did not at first detect the unfortunate break in the Records .

The original warrant of the lodge is given in a fine facsimile , bearing the seal of the Duke of Athol , Grand Master , and also that of the Grand Lodge ( or rather Grand Chapter ) of the " Antients . " It is curious to note that the seal of the " Ancient "

Grand Chapter has been used , but as it was precisely the same as that of the Grand Lodge , save the legend , & c , the error was certainly not one of vital importance . The re-construction of the lodge in 18 3 8 was scarcely on sufficient lines to preserve the actual continuity of the " Harmonic . " Only two members were really on the roll , and they

resigned the same night , —7 th August , 18 3 8 , —as the lodge was revived . As Bro . Hawkins observes , " it is entirely owing to these two brethren that the lodge is now in existence , " but does our brother fancy that two members now , under such circumstances , wouid be sufficient to preserve the existence of the lodge ? It may be so , but to our mind three at least should