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Article GRAND LODGE OF SCOTLAND. Page 1 of 1 Article WAKEFIELD MASONIC LITERARY SOCIETY. Page 1 of 2 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Grand Lodge Of Scotland.
GRAND LODGE OF SCOTLAND .
A Quarterly Communication of this Grand Lodge was held in the Freemasons Hall , Edinburgh , on the 6 th inst . There was a large attendance of members . The throne was occupied by Bro . Sir Charles Dalrymple , Bart ., M . P ., the Substitute Grand Master ; Bro . J . Dalrymple Duncan , acted as Senior Grand Warden , and Bro . James Drummond , W . S ., P . M . 2 , as junior Grand Warden . Amongst others present were Bro . James Berry , Prov . Grand Master of Forfarshire .
It was reported that the Grand Secretary had received the fo llowing letter dated from Norway : " DEAR BROTHER MURRAY LYON , —I shall be much obliged if you will convey to the Most Worship ful the Grand Master and the other members of the Grand Lodge , my deep sense of appreciation , and my mother ' s , of the mark of affection the representatives of Grand Lodge paid my father in attending his funeral . 1 have lost a most loving father and the Craft of Freemasonry one of its most devoted sons . —Yours fraternally , " ROSSLYN . "
The Grand Secretary had , in the name of Grand Lodge , sent a letter of condolence to the Dowager-Countess of Rosslyn . A vidimus of the income and expenditure prepared by the Grand Cashier for the quarter ending 25 th October showed that the income had been £ S 76 , being £ 370 in excess of the expenditure . There had been 1200 entrants to the Order . The income for the first eleven months of this year had been £ 47 65 , compared
with . £ 474 2 for the corresponding period of last year . It was reported that the income of the Fund of Scottish Masonic Benevolence during the past quarter had been £ 283 , and that ^ 192 had been voted in grants to Masons or thc widows of deceased members of the Craft . An eighth list showing about £ 140 from lodges to the extended scheme was submitted . It was agreed to issue a charter to the Lodge Hinchinbrook , Ingham , Queensland .
On the recommendation of the lodges in the province , Grand Lodge appointed Bro . Major James Johnston to be Provincial Grand Master of Elgin and Moray , in room of Bro . the Hon . George Duff , deceased . It was reported from Grand Committee that the patronage of Grand Lodge had , at the request of the Lodge Dramatic and Arts , No . 757 , been given to a
dramatic entertainment in the Theatre Royal in aid of the approaching grand Masonic bazaar . The Grand Secretary was to consult the Grand Master as to the presence of Lady Camp bell and himself on the occasion ; and authority had been g iven for the appearance of the Craft in full regalia , and it was hoped there would be a large attendance of the office-bearers and members of the Grand Lodge and of subordinate lodges and members thereof . This was approved .
It was reported from Grand Committee that they had considered the report b y the Grand Secretary as to the constitution of Grand Committee . It was led to b y a remit from Grand Lodge in May last to the effect that as during the past year 17 provinces in Scotland , in which were comprised 18 S lodges , had been unrepresented in Grand Committee , the Committee should report what
alterations should be made on the mode of election to secure a more direct representation of each province , and thereby promote a wider interest in the affairs of the Grand Lodge and of the Craft generally . The Grand Secretary had prepared an elaborate report as to the changes on the composition of the Committee , which concluded that altogether the Grand Committee was never more representative in
its composition than under the reformed constitution , and that to its wisdom in counsel , independence , impartiality , and carefulness in the consideration of the manifold subjects coming before it the Craft was largely indebted for the unparalleled success that had during the last 12 years attended the business of Grand Lodge in all its branches . After careful consideration of the remit and of this report Grand Committee unanimously recommended that matters be allowed to remain as they are . This was adopted by Grand Lodge .
Grand Committee reported that Grand Secretary had submitted to them the result of replies to these queries addressed to the home lodges : " Does your lodge meet in premises licensed for the sale of excisable liquors ? Could premises other than licensed be obtained without serious difficulty ? What fees are charged for initiation ? " Having taken into consideration the answers relative to the number of lodges that meet in licensed premises , Grand Committee , while not disposed to
lay down a hard and fast rule on the subject , recommended to Grand Lodge to enjoin all lodges to take the earliest opportunity to arrange for meeting elsewhere and to instruct Provincial Grand Masters to report annually to Grand Lodges the changes in unison with such injunction that have been made in their respective districts during the preceding year . This was adopted by Grand Lodge . Grand Lodge then proceeded to the election of office-bearers .
On the motion of Bro . Sir CHARLES DALRYMPLE , the Grand Master , Bro . Sir Archibald Campbell , Bart , M . P ., was unanimousl y re-elected to the hi ghest office . In intimating to the Grand Committee that he would be pleased to again accept office , the Grand Master stated that he would ask the Earl of Haddington and Sir Charks Dalrymple again to act as Depute Grand Master and Substitute Grand Master respectively . Accordingly the following is a complete list of the office-bearers for the year :
Bro . Sir Archibald C . Campbell of Blythswood , Bart ., M . P . Grand Master . ,, Sir Michael R . Shaw-Stewart of Greenock and Black- ) „ „ , „ , hall , Bart j P . Grand Master . ,, Earl of Haddington ... ... ... G . Master Depute . ,, Sir Charles Dalrymple of Newhailes , Bart ., M . P . ... Sub . G . Master . „ Lord Saltoun ... ... ... ... S . G . Warden .
„ J . Dalrymple Duncan , Glasgow ... ... J . G . Warden . ,, D . Murray Lyon ... ... ... ... Grand Secretary . ,, David Reid ... ... ... ... Grand Cashier . ,, Rev . John Glasse , Edinburgh ... ... ... ) „ _ „ Rev . John Murray , Glasgow ... ... _ . - Grand Lhaplains .
,, Lieut .-Col . Campbell , Perth ... ... ... Senior G . Deacon . „ Robert Nisbet , Glasgow ... ... ... Junior G . Deacon . „ P . L . Henderson , Edinburgh ... ... ... Grand Architect . „ A . C . Rait , Edinburgh ... ... ... Grand Jeweller . ,, Colin Gellatly , Glasgow ... ... ... G . Bible Bearer .
„ George Christie , Stirling ... ... ... G . Dir . of Cers . ,, Dr . Pryde , Edinburgh ... ... ... Grand Bard . „ Major F . W . Allan , Glasgow ... ... ... G . Sword Bearer . ,, James A . Moonie , Edinburgh ... ... ... G . Dir . of Music . „ George C . H . M'Naught , Glasgow ... ... Grand Marshal . ' ,, James M . Malloch , Glasgow ... ... ... G . Inner Guard .
The brethren at present comprising the Board of Grand Stewards were re-elected , and the following were elected to the vacant seats : Bros . James Boyd , Glasgow ; Robert Macdonald , Glasgow ; R . W . Johnstone , Uddingston ; Thomas Davies , Kilmarnock ; W . Phillips , Glasgow ; J . H . Forshaw , Aberdeen ; General J . J . Boswell , Melrose ; H . J . Humphreys , Glasgow ; and R . K . Stewart of Murdostown , Newmains ,
Wakefield Masonic Literary Society.
WAKEFIELD MASONIC LITERARY SOCIETY .
LECTURE BY BRO . R . F . GOULD , P . M . QUATUOR CORONATI LODGE , & c .
The first meeting of the winter session of this Society was held at the Masonic Hall , Zetland-street , Wakefield , on Wednesday , the 12 th instant The , Provincial G . Master of West Yorkshire , Bro . T . W . Tew , J . P ., who is the President of the Society , occupied the chair . He was supported by the Deput y Prov . G . M ., Bro . H . Smith , and many other influential members of the Craft . Amongst these were Bros . Major Bolton , P . M ., J . Gerrard , P . M ., and Hedley , of 154 ; B . F . Glover ,
P . M ., II . Goodyear , P . M ., and Schotten , W . M . elect , of 495 ; A . W . Stanfield , P . M ., P . P . G . R ., H . G . E . Green , P . M ., Prov . G . Sec , T . Howden , J . P ., P . M ., W . H . Milnes , P . M ., W . Pickard , P . M ., W . Sanderson , P . M ., W . Ash , P . M ., F . Simpson , P . M ., J . J . Martin , W . M ., Lee , W . Hall , jun ., Dunnill , Banks , E . White , Sheard , Gosney , and Stevenson , of 1019 ; also Bros . W . H . Kingswell , Treasurer
and J . Matthewman , P . M ., Prov . Asst . Grand Secretary , and H . S . Childe , 154 , Honorary Secretaries of the Society . There were also present Bros . C . L . Mason , P . M . 206 9 , P . P . G . T . ; Tudor Trevor , the newly-appointed Prov . Grand Mark Secretary ; W . F . Smithson , P . M ., Grand Deacon of England , and Chairman of the West Yorkshire Charity Committee ; R . Fisher , W . M . 910 ; Atkinson , 910 ; and others .
After reading the minutes of the last meeting , which were duly passed and signed , the Secretaries announced letters of apology from Bros , the Rev . T . C . Smythe , D . D ., P . G . Chap . ; Rev . Canon Bullock , W . M . ; T . W . Embleton , P . M . 1513 ; Gration , P . M . 1513 ; J . Barker , P . M . 1102 ; J . Atherton , P . M . 439 ; Forth , W . M . 242 ; Symons , W . M . 2330 ; J . W . Monckman , P . M . 101 S ; W . C . Lupton , P . M . 974 ; W . Fennell , W . M . elect 154 ; W . H . Haley , P . W . 1019 ; and H Onley , P . M . 495 , all of whom expressed regret that they were unable to be present on so important occasion .
The PRESIDENT then rose and said : Brethren , —It is my pleasure to-night to introduce to your acquaintance Bro . Robert Freke Gould , Barrister-at-Law , P . M . Quatuor Coronati Lodge , Past Senior Grand Deacon of England , author of the "History of Freemasonry ; its Antiquities , Symbols , Constitutions , " & c . The title of his lecture is " The Degrees of Pure and Antient Freemasonry . " We have all heard much of the great research and deep learning which our gifted
brother has brought to bear upon Masonic history , and we recognise the immense labour which must have been required to produce so elaborate and exhaustive a work as that which bears his name . He is about to give us the result of his own observations whilst investigating the records of the organisations of the Fraternity in the British Empire , France , Germany , and the United States . To-ni ght we all or most of us for the first time meet ^ him face to face , and I think I may in your name
assure him that we shall listen to his remarks with the closest attention and with profound respect . Allow me , however , to prelude his lecture by saying that I , as a Masonic student myself , regard his " History of Freemasonry " as a most able and stupendous effort , a work which rescues the antiquities of Freemasonry from clouds of darkness and uncertainty , and bridges over the chasm of speculation which has so long existed between Antient and Modern
Freemasonry . And here I may mention that in our library at the office in this cit y we possess two copies of Bro . Gould's book . I recommend it to your careful study , for there you will find full and excellent accounts , not only of the ancient mysteries , but of the societies called the Essenes , the Roman Collegia , the Culdees , etc ., and will be able to form some opinion as to modern Freemasonry being or not being in its symbolic forms a successor of the ancient mysteries . This work
of our learned brother forms a bridge or connecting link of evidence between the legendary and the authentic histories of the Craft . Bro . Gould has applied the laws of legal evidence to the traditionary histories , and rescued facts out of that chaos which lies between the mythical romance period and the era of Grand Lodges . This epoch of transition cannot be defined with chronological precision , but from the facts and figures which the lecturer has placed upon his black board ,
an approximate estimate ot it may be made . Much has been said on the subject of lodge minutes , and besides our Bro . Gould , we have Bros . Hughan , Whytehead , Todd , and others , who have given us the results of their research in this direction , but I will not go into that subject . In the formation of the first Grand Lodge in 1717 , we can at any rate say that Mythico-Historical Freemasonry terminates , and the modern history of the Craft commences . It is from this date that
the lecturer will chiefly consider the subject , noting the additions , innovations , and , changes which have characterised this period . In thus briefl y touching upon Bro . Gould and his book , I am quite naturally reminded of a worth y and wellbeloved brother who once was prominent amongst us , and who had the honour of being the first Chairman of our West Yorkshire Charity Committee—I allude to Bro . the Rev . A . F . A . Woodford . A written record of Bro . Woodford ' s opinion
of Bro . Gould ' s labours is still extant , and declares that "his historical studies carried a policy of dynamite , " and that what he called "divine" Bro . Gould describes as " idolatrous . " Now , Dr . Arnold has remarked that " to tax a person with want of reverence because he pays no respect to what we venerate is either irrelevant or mere confusion . " If what our reverend and venerated brother regarded in ancient Freemasonry as " divine , " Bro . Gould , by applying the laws of evidence , discovered
to be an idol , the author of the "History of Freemasonry" was bound to pull it down and have it ground to powder . Bro . Gould has pulled down many Masonic idols , and dispelled numerous misconceptions ; he has removed the impeding masses of tradition which choked the sources and checked the flow of Masonic knowledge ; he has lived down much of the opposition which was made to his views ; has been connected with , and been highly esteemed by , Bro . Woodford , and now is one of the
chief of that small band of pioneers who , b y founding the Quatuor Coronati Lodge , set on foot a movement of Masonic inquiry and research , and kindled a burning zeal for information , whose results it would be impossible at present either to anticipate or estimate . The progress in Masonic knowledge which has taken place during the Grand Mastership of our M . W . G . M ., the Prince of Wales ,
has not only been great , but also satisfactory , because it has been obtained b y legitimate methods . We in West Yorkshire are anxious to participate in that progress , we are loyal to established Constitutions , and we will be charitable to the views of all writers . We welcome Bro . Gould as the exponent of the new Masonic school , and I call upon him now to give us his opinions upon the subject which has been duly announced to you .
Bro . R . b . UOULD , who was most warmly received , then delivered a lecture " On the Degrees of Pure and Ancient Freemasonry , " the leading features of which may be summarised as follows : —The lecturer in the first instance drew attention to the infinity of Degrees , and proceeded to show that by tracing backwards they , one and all , with the exception of the first three , gradually dropped
off in the process of the genealogical inquiry . This brought them to the year 1717 , the date of formation of the Grand Lodgeof England . That year was an important one , and formed a dividing line between the domain of Ancient and Modern Freemasonry . But it was not until the example set in London had been followed in Edinburgh ( 1736 ) that the old system was practically supplanted by the new , and from this period a feature was added to Freemasonry—its universality—
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Grand Lodge Of Scotland.
GRAND LODGE OF SCOTLAND .
A Quarterly Communication of this Grand Lodge was held in the Freemasons Hall , Edinburgh , on the 6 th inst . There was a large attendance of members . The throne was occupied by Bro . Sir Charles Dalrymple , Bart ., M . P ., the Substitute Grand Master ; Bro . J . Dalrymple Duncan , acted as Senior Grand Warden , and Bro . James Drummond , W . S ., P . M . 2 , as junior Grand Warden . Amongst others present were Bro . James Berry , Prov . Grand Master of Forfarshire .
It was reported that the Grand Secretary had received the fo llowing letter dated from Norway : " DEAR BROTHER MURRAY LYON , —I shall be much obliged if you will convey to the Most Worship ful the Grand Master and the other members of the Grand Lodge , my deep sense of appreciation , and my mother ' s , of the mark of affection the representatives of Grand Lodge paid my father in attending his funeral . 1 have lost a most loving father and the Craft of Freemasonry one of its most devoted sons . —Yours fraternally , " ROSSLYN . "
The Grand Secretary had , in the name of Grand Lodge , sent a letter of condolence to the Dowager-Countess of Rosslyn . A vidimus of the income and expenditure prepared by the Grand Cashier for the quarter ending 25 th October showed that the income had been £ S 76 , being £ 370 in excess of the expenditure . There had been 1200 entrants to the Order . The income for the first eleven months of this year had been £ 47 65 , compared
with . £ 474 2 for the corresponding period of last year . It was reported that the income of the Fund of Scottish Masonic Benevolence during the past quarter had been £ 283 , and that ^ 192 had been voted in grants to Masons or thc widows of deceased members of the Craft . An eighth list showing about £ 140 from lodges to the extended scheme was submitted . It was agreed to issue a charter to the Lodge Hinchinbrook , Ingham , Queensland .
On the recommendation of the lodges in the province , Grand Lodge appointed Bro . Major James Johnston to be Provincial Grand Master of Elgin and Moray , in room of Bro . the Hon . George Duff , deceased . It was reported from Grand Committee that the patronage of Grand Lodge had , at the request of the Lodge Dramatic and Arts , No . 757 , been given to a
dramatic entertainment in the Theatre Royal in aid of the approaching grand Masonic bazaar . The Grand Secretary was to consult the Grand Master as to the presence of Lady Camp bell and himself on the occasion ; and authority had been g iven for the appearance of the Craft in full regalia , and it was hoped there would be a large attendance of the office-bearers and members of the Grand Lodge and of subordinate lodges and members thereof . This was approved .
It was reported from Grand Committee that they had considered the report b y the Grand Secretary as to the constitution of Grand Committee . It was led to b y a remit from Grand Lodge in May last to the effect that as during the past year 17 provinces in Scotland , in which were comprised 18 S lodges , had been unrepresented in Grand Committee , the Committee should report what
alterations should be made on the mode of election to secure a more direct representation of each province , and thereby promote a wider interest in the affairs of the Grand Lodge and of the Craft generally . The Grand Secretary had prepared an elaborate report as to the changes on the composition of the Committee , which concluded that altogether the Grand Committee was never more representative in
its composition than under the reformed constitution , and that to its wisdom in counsel , independence , impartiality , and carefulness in the consideration of the manifold subjects coming before it the Craft was largely indebted for the unparalleled success that had during the last 12 years attended the business of Grand Lodge in all its branches . After careful consideration of the remit and of this report Grand Committee unanimously recommended that matters be allowed to remain as they are . This was adopted by Grand Lodge .
Grand Committee reported that Grand Secretary had submitted to them the result of replies to these queries addressed to the home lodges : " Does your lodge meet in premises licensed for the sale of excisable liquors ? Could premises other than licensed be obtained without serious difficulty ? What fees are charged for initiation ? " Having taken into consideration the answers relative to the number of lodges that meet in licensed premises , Grand Committee , while not disposed to
lay down a hard and fast rule on the subject , recommended to Grand Lodge to enjoin all lodges to take the earliest opportunity to arrange for meeting elsewhere and to instruct Provincial Grand Masters to report annually to Grand Lodges the changes in unison with such injunction that have been made in their respective districts during the preceding year . This was adopted by Grand Lodge . Grand Lodge then proceeded to the election of office-bearers .
On the motion of Bro . Sir CHARLES DALRYMPLE , the Grand Master , Bro . Sir Archibald Campbell , Bart , M . P ., was unanimousl y re-elected to the hi ghest office . In intimating to the Grand Committee that he would be pleased to again accept office , the Grand Master stated that he would ask the Earl of Haddington and Sir Charks Dalrymple again to act as Depute Grand Master and Substitute Grand Master respectively . Accordingly the following is a complete list of the office-bearers for the year :
Bro . Sir Archibald C . Campbell of Blythswood , Bart ., M . P . Grand Master . ,, Sir Michael R . Shaw-Stewart of Greenock and Black- ) „ „ , „ , hall , Bart j P . Grand Master . ,, Earl of Haddington ... ... ... G . Master Depute . ,, Sir Charles Dalrymple of Newhailes , Bart ., M . P . ... Sub . G . Master . „ Lord Saltoun ... ... ... ... S . G . Warden .
„ J . Dalrymple Duncan , Glasgow ... ... J . G . Warden . ,, D . Murray Lyon ... ... ... ... Grand Secretary . ,, David Reid ... ... ... ... Grand Cashier . ,, Rev . John Glasse , Edinburgh ... ... ... ) „ _ „ Rev . John Murray , Glasgow ... ... _ . - Grand Lhaplains .
,, Lieut .-Col . Campbell , Perth ... ... ... Senior G . Deacon . „ Robert Nisbet , Glasgow ... ... ... Junior G . Deacon . „ P . L . Henderson , Edinburgh ... ... ... Grand Architect . „ A . C . Rait , Edinburgh ... ... ... Grand Jeweller . ,, Colin Gellatly , Glasgow ... ... ... G . Bible Bearer .
„ George Christie , Stirling ... ... ... G . Dir . of Cers . ,, Dr . Pryde , Edinburgh ... ... ... Grand Bard . „ Major F . W . Allan , Glasgow ... ... ... G . Sword Bearer . ,, James A . Moonie , Edinburgh ... ... ... G . Dir . of Music . „ George C . H . M'Naught , Glasgow ... ... Grand Marshal . ' ,, James M . Malloch , Glasgow ... ... ... G . Inner Guard .
The brethren at present comprising the Board of Grand Stewards were re-elected , and the following were elected to the vacant seats : Bros . James Boyd , Glasgow ; Robert Macdonald , Glasgow ; R . W . Johnstone , Uddingston ; Thomas Davies , Kilmarnock ; W . Phillips , Glasgow ; J . H . Forshaw , Aberdeen ; General J . J . Boswell , Melrose ; H . J . Humphreys , Glasgow ; and R . K . Stewart of Murdostown , Newmains ,
Wakefield Masonic Literary Society.
WAKEFIELD MASONIC LITERARY SOCIETY .
LECTURE BY BRO . R . F . GOULD , P . M . QUATUOR CORONATI LODGE , & c .
The first meeting of the winter session of this Society was held at the Masonic Hall , Zetland-street , Wakefield , on Wednesday , the 12 th instant The , Provincial G . Master of West Yorkshire , Bro . T . W . Tew , J . P ., who is the President of the Society , occupied the chair . He was supported by the Deput y Prov . G . M ., Bro . H . Smith , and many other influential members of the Craft . Amongst these were Bros . Major Bolton , P . M ., J . Gerrard , P . M ., and Hedley , of 154 ; B . F . Glover ,
P . M ., II . Goodyear , P . M ., and Schotten , W . M . elect , of 495 ; A . W . Stanfield , P . M ., P . P . G . R ., H . G . E . Green , P . M ., Prov . G . Sec , T . Howden , J . P ., P . M ., W . H . Milnes , P . M ., W . Pickard , P . M ., W . Sanderson , P . M ., W . Ash , P . M ., F . Simpson , P . M ., J . J . Martin , W . M ., Lee , W . Hall , jun ., Dunnill , Banks , E . White , Sheard , Gosney , and Stevenson , of 1019 ; also Bros . W . H . Kingswell , Treasurer
and J . Matthewman , P . M ., Prov . Asst . Grand Secretary , and H . S . Childe , 154 , Honorary Secretaries of the Society . There were also present Bros . C . L . Mason , P . M . 206 9 , P . P . G . T . ; Tudor Trevor , the newly-appointed Prov . Grand Mark Secretary ; W . F . Smithson , P . M ., Grand Deacon of England , and Chairman of the West Yorkshire Charity Committee ; R . Fisher , W . M . 910 ; Atkinson , 910 ; and others .
After reading the minutes of the last meeting , which were duly passed and signed , the Secretaries announced letters of apology from Bros , the Rev . T . C . Smythe , D . D ., P . G . Chap . ; Rev . Canon Bullock , W . M . ; T . W . Embleton , P . M . 1513 ; Gration , P . M . 1513 ; J . Barker , P . M . 1102 ; J . Atherton , P . M . 439 ; Forth , W . M . 242 ; Symons , W . M . 2330 ; J . W . Monckman , P . M . 101 S ; W . C . Lupton , P . M . 974 ; W . Fennell , W . M . elect 154 ; W . H . Haley , P . W . 1019 ; and H Onley , P . M . 495 , all of whom expressed regret that they were unable to be present on so important occasion .
The PRESIDENT then rose and said : Brethren , —It is my pleasure to-night to introduce to your acquaintance Bro . Robert Freke Gould , Barrister-at-Law , P . M . Quatuor Coronati Lodge , Past Senior Grand Deacon of England , author of the "History of Freemasonry ; its Antiquities , Symbols , Constitutions , " & c . The title of his lecture is " The Degrees of Pure and Antient Freemasonry . " We have all heard much of the great research and deep learning which our gifted
brother has brought to bear upon Masonic history , and we recognise the immense labour which must have been required to produce so elaborate and exhaustive a work as that which bears his name . He is about to give us the result of his own observations whilst investigating the records of the organisations of the Fraternity in the British Empire , France , Germany , and the United States . To-ni ght we all or most of us for the first time meet ^ him face to face , and I think I may in your name
assure him that we shall listen to his remarks with the closest attention and with profound respect . Allow me , however , to prelude his lecture by saying that I , as a Masonic student myself , regard his " History of Freemasonry " as a most able and stupendous effort , a work which rescues the antiquities of Freemasonry from clouds of darkness and uncertainty , and bridges over the chasm of speculation which has so long existed between Antient and Modern
Freemasonry . And here I may mention that in our library at the office in this cit y we possess two copies of Bro . Gould's book . I recommend it to your careful study , for there you will find full and excellent accounts , not only of the ancient mysteries , but of the societies called the Essenes , the Roman Collegia , the Culdees , etc ., and will be able to form some opinion as to modern Freemasonry being or not being in its symbolic forms a successor of the ancient mysteries . This work
of our learned brother forms a bridge or connecting link of evidence between the legendary and the authentic histories of the Craft . Bro . Gould has applied the laws of legal evidence to the traditionary histories , and rescued facts out of that chaos which lies between the mythical romance period and the era of Grand Lodges . This epoch of transition cannot be defined with chronological precision , but from the facts and figures which the lecturer has placed upon his black board ,
an approximate estimate ot it may be made . Much has been said on the subject of lodge minutes , and besides our Bro . Gould , we have Bros . Hughan , Whytehead , Todd , and others , who have given us the results of their research in this direction , but I will not go into that subject . In the formation of the first Grand Lodge in 1717 , we can at any rate say that Mythico-Historical Freemasonry terminates , and the modern history of the Craft commences . It is from this date that
the lecturer will chiefly consider the subject , noting the additions , innovations , and , changes which have characterised this period . In thus briefl y touching upon Bro . Gould and his book , I am quite naturally reminded of a worth y and wellbeloved brother who once was prominent amongst us , and who had the honour of being the first Chairman of our West Yorkshire Charity Committee—I allude to Bro . the Rev . A . F . A . Woodford . A written record of Bro . Woodford ' s opinion
of Bro . Gould ' s labours is still extant , and declares that "his historical studies carried a policy of dynamite , " and that what he called "divine" Bro . Gould describes as " idolatrous . " Now , Dr . Arnold has remarked that " to tax a person with want of reverence because he pays no respect to what we venerate is either irrelevant or mere confusion . " If what our reverend and venerated brother regarded in ancient Freemasonry as " divine , " Bro . Gould , by applying the laws of evidence , discovered
to be an idol , the author of the "History of Freemasonry" was bound to pull it down and have it ground to powder . Bro . Gould has pulled down many Masonic idols , and dispelled numerous misconceptions ; he has removed the impeding masses of tradition which choked the sources and checked the flow of Masonic knowledge ; he has lived down much of the opposition which was made to his views ; has been connected with , and been highly esteemed by , Bro . Woodford , and now is one of the
chief of that small band of pioneers who , b y founding the Quatuor Coronati Lodge , set on foot a movement of Masonic inquiry and research , and kindled a burning zeal for information , whose results it would be impossible at present either to anticipate or estimate . The progress in Masonic knowledge which has taken place during the Grand Mastership of our M . W . G . M ., the Prince of Wales ,
has not only been great , but also satisfactory , because it has been obtained b y legitimate methods . We in West Yorkshire are anxious to participate in that progress , we are loyal to established Constitutions , and we will be charitable to the views of all writers . We welcome Bro . Gould as the exponent of the new Masonic school , and I call upon him now to give us his opinions upon the subject which has been duly announced to you .
Bro . R . b . UOULD , who was most warmly received , then delivered a lecture " On the Degrees of Pure and Ancient Freemasonry , " the leading features of which may be summarised as follows : —The lecturer in the first instance drew attention to the infinity of Degrees , and proceeded to show that by tracing backwards they , one and all , with the exception of the first three , gradually dropped
off in the process of the genealogical inquiry . This brought them to the year 1717 , the date of formation of the Grand Lodgeof England . That year was an important one , and formed a dividing line between the domain of Ancient and Modern Freemasonry . But it was not until the example set in London had been followed in Edinburgh ( 1736 ) that the old system was practically supplanted by the new , and from this period a feature was added to Freemasonry—its universality—