History Of The Lodge Of Unanimity And Sincerity, No. 261.

HISTORY OF THE LODGE OF UNANIMITY AND SINCERITY , No . 261 .

( Continued from page 107 ) . It was then moved by Bro . Charles Marsh , seconded by no Thomas Jacobs , and carried unanimously— " ( 1 ) TU . V this lodge do act in strict conformity to the said Acts

f Parliament ; ( 2 ) lhat Bro . thomas Kockett , the esent R . W . M ., and Bro . Charles Marsh , the present R ( Master , do take the oath required by the said Act ; n That the said R . W . Master , Past Master , and Bro . Thomas Jacobs , Secretary , be a Committee to make out a It of the present subscribing members agreeable to the

form sent by the Grand Lodge , together with copy of the ath so taken , and enrol the same with Charles Edwards , Fsrj . Chard , Clerk of the Peace for this county , on or before the nth day of September next . " This was reported to have been duly done at the next meeting of the lodge , n the nth day of September , and the certificate of oath is minutes of that with

set out in the meeting , together a y 0 f the first return to Quarter Sessions and Grand Looge . The number of subscribing members so returned » as only The earlier years of Masonry in Taunton were not prosperous . The lodges were not well attended , and initiates were few . The fabric , in fact , threatened to

collapse , for when the third annual return to Grand Lodge was made , it became necessary to consider , in obedience to instructions from Grand Lodge , whether the Constitution of the lodge should be continued . The true Masonic spirit asserted itself , however , or the Taunton Freemasons would not that day be celebrating their

centenary . The lodge decided to support the Constitution , but it was found advisable to remind the brethren that it was their duty to pay up their arrears , the Grand Secretary informing them that no brother could be relieved from the fund of Charity , or be admitted a member of the Masonic Benefit Society , or have

his daughters received into the Freemasons' Schools , unless his name appeared in the books of Grand Lodge and his fees were paid . It may be interesting to state that the certificate of membership , now granted under the hand and seal of the Grand Master of England and the Grand Secretary , was then granted by the lodge itself . This was

the form of it : — " In the East , where silence rose . Lodge of 'Unanimity and Sincerity , ' No . 433 . These are to certify that Brother A . B . was regularly made a Mason , and admitted to the kind degree of Mason in our Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons , held in the town of Taunton , and countv of Somerset , and numbered as above , and has

behaved during his stay with us as becomes a true and faithful Mason , and as such we recommend him to all regular Lodges throughout the world after due trial and examination , and in case of death or otherwise this might be made an improper use of , we have caused him to sign his name on the margin . Given under our hands and seal

Df our lodge in Taunton this — day 01 — and — of Masonry . " This form was signed by the R . W . M ., the two Wardens , and the Secretary . For seven or eight years after the crisis to which we have alluded , the history of the lodge is nothing more than a record of successive initiations , & c . On April nth , however , Bro . T . Jacobs being

then Master , Provincial Grand Lodge was opened under its banner at the Market House for the purpose of conducting an important local ceremony , namely , laying the foundation-stone of the Taunton and Somerset Hospital . The event is discussed in the lodge minute books with the following brief notice : — " This meeting of brethren was

called on this day by the P . G . M . for the purpose of laying the foundation-stone of the Taunton and Somerset Hospital , which was instituted on the Jubilee-day in the 50 th year of the reign of his present Majesty King George 111 . The brethren from the different lodges in this county were summoned forattendance by the P . G . M ., and theassemblage brethren

of which met on this laudable occasion amounted to two hundred and twenty in number . A procession was formed under the direction of Brother Jacobs , the P . G . SW ., to whom the highest encomiums were passed for his Iu l order and Mason'c zeal . The procession went from the Market House to St . Mary Magdalene's , where an

appropriate sermon was preached by Bro . Guerin , the P . G . Chaplain , after which the brethren marched to the spot , where the foundation-stone was laid in true Masonic order , ihe whole procession returned to Mr . Upham's , at the Market House , where a room was fitted up in triumphal and architectural style , and an elegant dinner was provided . 1 whole

ne of the brethren dined and spent the day in conviviality and brotherly love . " The Taunton Lodge was pW represented in P . G . Lodge at this time . The ,: uM-was j 0 hn Leigh , Esq . Bro . H . Sully and Bro . T . Rrl ° 1 ri- , offices of P - - Senior and Junior Wardens , ZZ' D' £ 'nPard was P-G . Treasurer , Bro . Robert Kinglake

A ? M ,-I 1 n Word Bearer , Bro . Richard White was P . G . and W 6 A' Guerin > Cha P lain > and Bros . J . Buncombe to th ! ' adon > Stewards . For several years subsequent but in e a vent L Freemasonry in Taunton suffered depression , shnn » ¦ 1 . £ ht whicn had been temporarily obscured an en f Wlth renewed brilliancy , and the lodge enjoyed euidan ,.,, "" sampled prosperity . Under the zealous nrn !; " J- . ° - Arthur Chichester , the P . G . M ., the dls

at p" " P yed renewed Masonic zeal , and his presence that rul , ' mtlate some of the leading townsmen of Esq Wr "g ^ S Sir Thomas Lethbridge , T . M . Chater , late Spr ? JJ Beadon . Mr . Charles Cox ( father of the «« wS ?& l 2 ' ° ' - J > W - Marriote ' and otherS ) mason ™ L ° , ° T ' h ° P es of those wh ° feared that Freea new era ° v - me exfinct - The ' ° dge entered upon Va "ous w ' av ft i j Were nuinerous and frequent , and in tn > s time whi .- 1 Iod Se showed signs of prosperity . At ¦ Waster M 0 " , s known as 'he Union took place , and the

November t . T cne 10 d S assembled on Tuesday , tion , accnr * ' / P P ose of taking the Union obligabr elhren ™ "g to . ^ « B ^ ations of Grand Lodge . The Ar ( nurfhir + . \ s ! owto evince their gratitude to Bro . and a dutifn ? J , r his zeal as Provincial Grand Master , Grand MaT * " !? yaI addre ss was presented to the then Pj ac'ng such » uf Duke of Sussex , thanking him for T „ installs til ? J ? enthusiastic Mason at their head . Market H" ! . 0 " 01 B ™ - Chichester took place at the

and the occ «? n launton > on 'he 30 th of December , 1817 , 0 cl ° ck on tS one of much splendour . At one 0 rder , movedLcJ ? f ocession ' formed in proper Masonic f'vice was n „ f MaTV Magdalene ' s Church , and Divine Lod ge of Pern ; t , ^ . y Br 0 - Cresswell , Chaplain of the erpettial Friendship , at Bridgwater , and an

History Of The Lodge Of Unanimity And Sincerity, No. 261.

appropriate sermon was preached by Bro . Lethbridge , Chaplain of the Lodge of Unanimity and Sincerity , Taunton . A Masonic anthem , written by Bro . Cummins , of the Royal York Lodge , Bristol , and composed by Bro . Field , of Bath , was sung at this service . The increased vitality of the lodge at this period was indicated in several ways . A lodae of instruction was started , the minor offices

of lodges were filled , a Masonic library was commenced , and material of the accepted nature was added to the fabiic . Much of this prosperity was due to the exertions of Bro . J . Pinchard , during whose term of office the strength and influence of the lodge increased ; and the brethren did not allow his services to pass without recognition , lor upon his vacating the chair of K . S . in ISIS in favour of Bro . Chas .

Kemeys Kemeys-Tynte , a vote of thanks was recorded in the lodge minutes for his zeal in the cause of Masonry in general , and the interests of this lodge in particular , during the time of his filling the office of W . M ., a period unprecendented in the annals of the lodge for the number of Masons admitted as members and the number of Masons made in the lodge . At this time , as we have stated , the

Duke of Sussex was Grand Master of the Order , and under nis zealous guidance English Freemasonry attained to a high and an honourable position . The Taunton Lodge testified to his Masonic worth by resolving , February nth , 1 S 1 S , on the motion of Bro . Pinchard , that his Royal Highness be applied to tor leave to add to the title ol the lodge by naming it "The Royal Sussex Lodge of Unanimity

and Sincerity . " I his was seconded by Bro . Lake , the most efficient Secretary , and adopted , but the title was subsequently dropped . In 1 S 20 Bro . C . Kemeys-Tynte succeeded Bro . Arthur Chichester in the Grand Mastership of the province , and the Lodge of Unanimity and sincerity , then numbered 497 , approached him with their fraternal congratulations . On February 4 th , 1821 ,

the members made arrangements lor laying the cornerstone of the new Market House , and the ceremony was subsequently performed with Masonic honours . For 10 or 12 years subsequent to this event the lodge pursued the even tenour of its way , and nothing occurred save a change of number to 327 in January , 1833 , during the Mastership of Bro . Eales White , to disturb the even cause of Masonic

labour . Ihe lodge was soon after removed from the London Inn to Mrs . Sweet ' s , and thence to Fackrelt's Hotel , next to Gill ' s Hotel , and subsequently to Clarke's Hotel . On the 3 rd of August , 1858 , the lodge met to receive the Provincial Grand Lodge ot Somerset on the occasion of laying the foundation-stone of the new tower of St . Mary Magdalene , which ceremony was duly performed with Masonic

honours . This was a grand day in launton . The procession marched to the site of ¦ the tower in regular Masonic order , accompanied by banners , flags , bands of music , the public schools , and operative Masons , from the Shire Hall , where the Provincial Grand Lodge was held , through Shuttern , into High-street , down through and back North-street , and round the Parade . The

foundation-stone was duly laid at the north-east corner , Colonel Kemeys-Tynte , the Provincial Grand Master , perfoiming the ceremony , and he was assisted by Bro . L > . Falconer , Provincial Grand treasurer ; Bros . Abraham , Hellard , and Buckler , bearing the elements of consecration . They afterwards attended Divine service in the church , where the sermon was preached by Bro . the Vicar of Yeovil , Provincial

Grand Chaplain . In November , 1 S 60 , the death of the Right Worshipful Master , Colonel Tynte , was announced to the lodge , who passed a vote of condolence with his family , and expressed their deep sense of the loss which the province had sustained by his lamented death , and for a short time the Mastership was held by Capt . Bridge . On September 30 th , 1863 , at an ordinary monthly meeting

of the lodge , the Worshipful Master , Dr . Woodforde , reported that he had received a letter from the Grand Secretary , dated 6 th July , announcing . that , in consequence of the revision of the register of the several lodges , the lodge would in future be known by No . 261 , instead of 327 as heretofore . On January 27 th , 1864 , the present popular Worshipful Master was elected to the high and responsible

position of Grand Master of the Province , a circumstance upon which the lodge felt naturally proud , seeing that he was a Past Grand ot 261 , and had been connected with it for many years . The P . G . M . appropriately held his first P . G . Lodge at Taunton , which accordingly took place at the Shire Hall . The next appearance ot the brethren of the lodge before the public was on the occasion of the laying

of the foundation-stone of the Taunton College School , now the King's College , which took place on the 10 th of April , 186 S , when there was a grand procession of inhabitants to the site at Mountlands , where the ceremony was performed by the then Worshipful Master , Bro . Clarke , who was assisted by Bro . the Rev . H . J . Adair , as Chaplain ; Bro . W . Reed , as Past Master ; Bro . Butler , as

Senior Warden ; and Bro . Lake , as Junior Warden . On the 7 th of October , in the same year , a motion of regret at the retirement from the Provincial Grand Mastership of Col . Adair was passed by the Lodge , and at the same time an address of congratulation was forwarded to the Earl of Carnarvon on his appointment to that important office , a position which his lordship has filled to this day . Bro .

Charles Lake , who had held the office of Lodge Secretary for five and twenty years , during perhaps its most prosperous period , died in 1870 , amidst the profound regret of the brethren , and a vote of condolence was passed on the occasion . From this date until the beginning of 1 S 79 the records of the lodge contain nothing more important than the ordinary routine

business , but the increasing number of initiations testify to the increasing popularity of the lodge and the growth of Masonic spirit . In January , 18 79 , a very important and desirable departure was made in the history of the lodge , for on the 13 th of that montn the brethren met to consecrate a new hall . It had long been tele that in their very nature licensed premises were unsuitable to the

due observance of Masonic rites , and an opportunity having arisen the brethren purchased tne Masonic Hall , whicn was elegantly fitted up for the future work of Freemasonry . The credit of this important movement is due to Bros . Villar , Meyler , Adams , Showers , Pollard , and others . A limited liability company was formed , entirely composed of Masons , with a capital of £ 1500 in £ 5

shares , most of which have now been taken up . A fair proportion of these shares have fallen into the lodge by a very laudable practice which has arisen among the brethren of presenting their shares to the lodge upon passing the chair , so that eventually the hall , which is now the property of the company , will become the absolute property of the lodge itself . Since then considerable alterations and

improvements have been made , and the lodge can now boast of having one ol the moasr . suitable and spacious Masunic halls in the Province of Somerset . The ceremony of dedication , as we have said , took place on Monday , January 131 I 1 , 18 79 , in the presence of a laigeg thering of bicthien troin all paits of Somerset and ihe neighboring provinces . 1 he ceremony commenced wuh Divine service at the Church

of St . Mary Magdalene , which the brethren attended in full Masonic regalia . The sermon was preached by the then Chaplain ot the lodge , Bro . the Rev . 1 . Randeil . The ceremony of consecration was performed by the K . W . P . G . M ., the Right Hon . the Earl of Carnarvon , who was assisted by Bro . Else , D . P . G . M ., Bro . Dr . Woodforde , P . P . G . W ., and Bro . T . Meyler , P . P . G . R . This was

succeeded by a banquet at the Victoria Rooms , over which the Earl of Carnarvon presided , The Master at the time was Bro . W . Adams , to whom , and to Bro . Villar , is also due the initiation of a scheme by which the voting power of the lodge in connection with the Masonic Chanties has been mote than trebled during the last decade . 1 hus from a small and almost insignificant oiganisation in Taunton ,

meeting in a small and insignificant private room , with scarcely 20 members , this lodge hasgroivn to a society of more than 100 subscribing members , meeting in its own noble hall in the Crescent , nourishing in funds , and delighting in those Masonic excellences which it is the pride and joy of all good Masons Co cultivate . 1 c attains its louth year under especially favourable circumsiauces , a d

promises , important as it now is , to become a still more influential society in the town and province . it may be interesting to state tha . pnor to the removal of the llmmster Lodge to Taunton a Freemasons' lodge existed in the town under the name of ttie St . George ' s Ludge , which met at the tountaiu Inn . It was limited by

its rules to about a score of members , who , from the minutes that aie in the possession of Bro . T . Meyler , Town Clerk of launton , evidently comprised the leauing inhabitants of the town . How that lodge became extinct , or whether it was merged into the Lodge of Unanimity and sincerity , dues not appear from the records to which reference has been made .

Masonic Ball Of The Whitwell Lodge, No. 1390, At Millom.

MASONIC BALL OF THE WHITWELL LODGE , No . 1390 , AT MILLOM .

The second annual ball under the auspices of the Whitwell Lodge , No . 1390 , and under the patronage of Earl Bective , M . P ., K . W . P . G . M . ; Bros . L . F . B . Dykes , Dovenby Hall , Cockermouth , D . P . G . M . ; Lieut .-Col . Sewell , D . P . G . M . M . ; Lord Muncaster , M . P ., P . P . S .

G . W . ; Sir James Ramsden , P . G . D . England ; H . Cook , P . P . S . u . W . ; and J . Lindow Burns-Lindow , P . D . P . G . M ., was held in the County Hall , Millom , on Friday , tne 3 rd inst . As at the previous ball , the room , which is a very large and commodious one , was divided into two unequal parts , the smaller part being retained for the supper-room and

buffet , whilst ihe larger was set aside lor dancing . Ihe room was moot elaborately decorated with plants , mirrors , flags , festoons in holly , & c . ; two photographs of the Right Worshipful Grand Master being placed in a prominent position . The lodge banner was placed at the head of the room , as was the lodge number ( 1390 ) in the gas jets . The floor was covered with holland , which gave general

satisfaction . All arrangements were carried out by a strong com mittee , and especial credit is due to Bro . J . Atkinson for his . indelatigable exertions to make the ball a success . Large vases were placed at each corner of the room , in which were placed large acacias , which added much to the beauty of the room . Dancing commhnced at nine p . m .,

10 the strains of Haslam ' s Quadrille Band , which gave the greatest satisfaction . Bros . John Mills , P . tVl ., P . P . S . G . D . ; W . Atkinson , P . M ., P . P . G . O . ; and G . Hill , P . M ., ably acted as M . C . ' s . During the evening the members of the different Degrees appeared in full dress in the following order : Craft , Royal Arch , Mark , Red Cross , and Knight Templar , which greatly enhanced the pleasuie of those present .

I he supper and refreshment department was under the management of Bro . R . Shepherd , of the West County Hotel , who made an excellent spread and gave every satisfaction . There were two sittings down to supper , the tables not being able to hold the large number present . At the conclusion of the supper , the toast of "The Queen" was given and heartily drunk , and the National Anthem sung . Dancing was kept up with great spirit until six a . m .

Presentation To Bro. Dr. F. E. Pocock.

PRESENTATION TO BRO . DR . F . E . POCOCK .

Bro . Dr . F . E . Pocock , of Kensington , P . M . and P . Z . 1 S 91 , and present M . E . Z . 1642 , was , on Thursday evening , the 16 th inst ., presented by the Brussels Medical Graduates ' Association with a handsome 18 carat gold keyless watch with centre seconds hand and £ repeating action—just the very thing for a medical man . The testimonial also included a large solid silver centre piece , weighing about

130 or 140 ozs ., and the Committee , still having a balance in hand , added a splendid electro-plated soup tureen . These articles were accompanied by a beautifully executed illustrated address , setting forth that the members of the Association were desirous of showing their appreciation of the services rendered by Bro . Pocock during the nearly 10 years that he had acted as Honorary Secretary to the

Association . All the articles bore Bio . roeock s monogram , as well as the following inscription : " Presented to F . buieat PoCock , Esq ., M . D ., by tne Brussels Medical Graduates' Association , 111 rcco ^ nuun ot tne valuaole services rendered by him as Honorary secretary during nearly 10 years . February 16 , 1 S 88 . "

among those present on the occasion we noticed several prominent Freemasons , among others Bros . Dr . Uantord Thomas , Coroner for Middlesex ; Dr . Beresford Kvley , Dr . D . S . Skinner , P . P . G . VV . Devon ; Dr . A . VV . Orwin and Dr . W . Gayton ( who acted as Honorary Secretary and Treasurer respectively to the Testimonial Committee ) , and many others .

Bro . Sir Michael Hicks-Beach , Bart ., M . P ., was present at the Council which the Queen held at Windsor on Tuesday , and kissed hands on appointment to the Presidency of the Board of Trade ,