Records Of Extinct Lodges.

On St . John s Day , 1745 , Edward Orme was again elected Master , John Matthews and Chas Parry , Wardens , and John Gough and John Rowley , Provincial Grand Wardens . No Provincial Grand Master was elected . Bro . Orme appears to have been more successful in keeping the lodge together than his predecessor , as there were better attendances , and from new names occurring it may be supposed that work was done , though

there is no record of it at this period . The Tyler's fee was sixpence each night . Towards the end of this year the attendances became very small , and after a meeting held on the 9 th December , 1746 , there was a complete suspension until March 12 th , 1749 , when the members met at the Swan , Edward Orme being still the Master . The next meeting was on March 29 th 1750 , under the presidency of the same brother .

On April 16 th , 1750 , the Master was absent , but a Past Master acted as S . W ., and I find a note—" admitted Mr . Parry . " On the 13 th June Bro . Dicas was fined twopence for swearing , and a similar penalty was inflicted for the same offence on Bro . Kirkes , who had only been initiated that evening . There was no meeting between July , 1750 , and December 3 rd ,

1751 , at which date there were apparently only nine members of the lodge , who agreed to meet every Tuesday until St . John ' s Day . Meetings were certainly held , but no record was kept of them , and the next minute is dated St . John ' s Day , 1754 , when John Page , an alderman of the city and a member of the lodge , was elected Provincial Grand Master , and John Browne and Fisher Tench , Prov . Grand Wardens . At the same time

Edward Orme was re-elected Master . At the monthly meeting next March there were seven initiations , and at the May meeting £ 2 2 s . was voted to the Infirmary . At a special meeting the same month Bro . Farrington presented four large chairs , and the Master gave the " painting and ornamenting" of them , whilst Bro . Lawton gave a " neat Bible bound in Turkey leather . "

In June , 1755 , £ 2 12 s . was given to Frederick William of Holzendorf , a Prussian and distressed brother . Visitors' names frequently appear ; but in very few cases are the names of their lodges given . In August , Bro . J . Thomas presented brass pedestals and sockets for the candlesticks , and Bro .

Delacour gave the gilding of the same . At the September meeting " Mr , Chas . Parry and Mr . Geo . Leigh were unanimously voted members of this Society , and paid for the use of the lodge Ten Shillings and Sixpence each . " These must have been joining members .

On St . John ' s Day , 1755 , John Page was re-elected Proy . Grand Master and Edward Orme Deputy Grand Master and W . M . The whole of the officers were at this time elected , and the lodge was meeting at the " Assembly House in Watergate-street . " The meetings were regular and well attended ,

the Prov . Grand Master seldom being absent . At the June meeting , 1756 , " Bro . Samuell Bagnall was unanimously expelled the Society for behaviour greatly unworthy a Mason . " At this time John Golborne was Treasurer and Francis O'Brian Secretary .

The next meeting is remarkable as recording the existence of two other lodges in the city . It was held at the Swan in Watergate-street on Midsummer St . John ' s Day , 175 6 , and there were present amongst the visitors the " Master , Wardens , and Brethren of ye Raven Lodge " and the "

Master , Wardens , and Brethren of " ye Feathers Lodge . " The Raven Lodge appears in the Lists as " 203 , Crow , Cow Lane , " warranted in 1775 . The Feathers Lodge is entered as " 209 , Plume of Feathers , Bridges Street , " warranted also in 1775 . Bro . Byrne was Master of the Raven Lodge , and Francis O'Brian suddenly appears as Prov . Grand Secretary .

On St . John s Day , 27 th December , 1756 , John Page , Esq ., was reelected Prov . Grand Master ; Edwd . Orme , Deputy Prov , Grand Master and W . M . ; Bros . Tench and Farrington , Prov . Grand Wardens ; J . Golborne , Prov . Grand Treas . ; and F . O'Brian , Prov . Grand Sec .

In February , 1757 , a meeting was held at the Feathers , in Bridge-street , kept by Bro . Matthew Brown , and in March £ 2 2 s . was again voted to the Infirmary . The following minute is dated May 30 th , 1757 : —

"At a Lodge held at the House of the Rt . Worshipfull Edward Orme , Master of the Assembly Lodge , called by the Direction and appointment of the said Rt . Worshipfull Edward Orme , to keep his Birth Day , being the 29 th inst ., but Happening on a Sunday was Referd . to this Day . Fifteen members were present and there was a Raising . "

At the October meeting " Bro . Wm . Pritchard was a visiting Brother belonging to Chapman ' s Coffee-house Lodge In Sackville-street , London . " In December , 1757 , we find a new method adopted of electing the Master : "The Right Worshipfull the Master nominated the Worshipfull Fisher

Tench , the Grand Provincial Warden and a Brother of this Lodge , to serve the office of Master for the next year , which was carrd . ' nem . con . ' " On the same night Mr . Arthur Barber , a candidate , " being under age , the Right Worshipfull the Grand Master granted a Dispensation for his admission . "

St . John ' s Day , 27 th December , 1757 , marks another epoch , since we have a separate minute of the meeting of Prov . Grand Lodge . The "Assembly Lodge , " as it was then called , met and transacted some business , after which the lodge was closed and Provincial Grand Lodge was opened . John Page was Prov . Grand Master , and the Masters , Wardens ,

and brethren of the "Assembly House Lodge , " the " Raven Lodge , " and the " Feathers Lodge " were present . " The Secretary by order read the Prov . Grand Masters' deputation , and then the Deputy gave the annual charge . " The following were nominated to office by the Prov . Grand Master : Bros . Edward Orme , D . P . G . M . ; Thomas Farrington and F .

O'Brien , Prov . G . Wardens ; J . Golborne , G . Treas . ; and Jas . Folliott , Grand Sec . "The several lodges were dismissed nnd the Grand Lodge closed in due form . " The Assembly Lodge was then opened a second time and Ki-. li . r Tench was elected W . Master , and Wardens and Deacons were also i-lt cli d . After February meeting , 1758 , it was recorded that a Samuel Gillion ,

Records Of Extinct Lodges.

candidate , was rejected with three black balls . In April it was resolved " That for the future no liquor shall be made use of , or called for before supper , nor any allowed for in the reckoning of this society but what is made use of in the lodge room . " Several military men , as well as persons connected with county families , joined the lodge about this time . Joseph Fluitt was Master of the Feathers Lodge this year , and Thomas Huxley Master of the Raven Lodge .

The next entry is the minute of a " Grand Quarterly Communication , held at the house of Bro . Daniel Smith , known by the name of the White Lyon and King ' s Head , in Northgate-street , " at which the three lodges were represented by their Masters and Wardens . I will transcribe the business , as it is not long :

" The Masters of each lodge returned a list of their members , which was read according to order . The Master of Raven Lodge acquainted ye Right Worshipful Provincl . that they had changed their house of meeting from ye Raven in Cow-lane to ye Golden Lyon in Forest-street , the house of Bro . Ralph Joyns , and moved to have his approbation of the same , which was granted accordingly . . . . He further moved to have the liberty of choosing their officers half-yearly , which was accordingly granted .

The Right Worshipful Grand Master acquainted ye Masters of ye different lodges that he intended to have a procession on next St . John ' s Day , and desired they would recommend it to their members to come decently and properly clothed to attend him . Mr . Deputy recommended that each lodge would pay in their annual contributions to ye Grand Lodge at London , and that peace , harmony , and brotherly love might subsist amongst them , and then closed the lodge in form . "

On St . John ' s Day , 1758 , accordingly a lodge was held "at the Assembly Room in the Exchange at nine o ' clock in the morning , " the Master , Wardens , and 10 brethren being present . A candidate was initiated , the lodge was closed , and " the several lodges being assembled agreeable to the order of the Grand Committee , the Provincial Grand Wardens waited on the Grand Master at his own House and conducted him from thence to the

Assembly Room in the Exchange , where he joyn'd the lodges , and from thence proceeded in due form to the Parish Church of St . John the Baptist , where Divine Service was performed and an excellent discourse on the occasion was then delivered by our Reverend Brother Robert Markham , and upon their return from thence the Grand Lodge open'd . " At this meeting Bro . Orme was again appointed Deputy Grand Master ; the Hon .

Arthur Barry , Senior Grand Warden ; and the Hon . Jno . Smith Barry , Junior Grand Warden ; Holme Burrowes , Grand Treas . ; and Chas . Townsend , Grand Sec . A vote of thanks was passed to Bro . Markham for his sermon , and the Prov . Grand Lodge was closed . The Assembly Lodge was again opened and Edward Orme was again elected Master . In February , 1759 , one James Banks was admitted as a serving brother , or , as

it was termed , " without paying a Fine . " At the May meeting it was resolved that " the Fine to be paid for the admission of every Brother shall be two guineas . " Meetings during this year were occasionally held at the private residence of the Master , and at one of these meetings the Right Hon . Lord Malpas was a visitor . I notice that separate payments were made for each degree by candidates . ( To be continued ) .

Lodge Of Benevolence.

LODGE OF BENEVOLENCE .

I he monthl y meeting of the Lodge of Benevolence was held on Wednesday evening at Freemasons' Hall . Bro . James Brett , P . G . P ., Senior Vice-President , occupied the President ' s chair ; Bro . VV . Stephen ' s , Past Grand Pursuivant , took the Senior Vice-President ' s chair ; and Bro . VV . H . Perryman the chair of Junior Vice-President . There were also

present—Bros . J . H . Matthews , C . A . Cottebrune , Henry Garrod , Chas . Fredk . Hogard , Thomas Cubitt , Wm . Mann , G . P . Britten , E . F . Storr , Charles Dairy , Thos . Cull , F . R . Spaull , P . M . 1124 ; Edward Ayling , W . M . 975 ; James Cockburn , W . M . 1381 ; Frederick Snee , W . M . 704 ; Alfred Avery , P . M . 619 ; Geo . Free , P . M . 73 ; Edwd . Fenner , P . M . No . 1 ; I . Mason , P . M . 1567 ; G . Hakewill , W . M . 1150 ; Thos . T . Kennett , W . M . 1716 ; Jno . Wver , P . M . 1314 ; R . G . Barton , W . M . 60 ; A . Nicols , W . M . 1974 ; Wm . Edmonds , P . M . 309 ; Robert James Vincent , W . M . 1963 ; Stephen Crane , W . M . 933 ; Arthur E . Gladweli , P . M . 172 ; \ V . Chas . Hall , W . M . 749 ; Thos . Markland , I . P . M . 144 : H . M .

Harris , P . M . and W . M . 205 ; W . S . Cantrell , W . M . 1871 ; Jno . Goddard , W . M . 771 ; Edward Grisbrook , P . M . 1501 j John Tovell , W . M . 1489 ; W . H . Hooper , P . M . 435 ; John Smith , W . M . 1257 ; Richard Trill , P . M . 1320 ; J . Bond , P . M . 101 ; Frederick Binckes , P . M . Grand Stewards Lodge ; W . J . Cattermole , l . P . M . 217 ; j . H . Taylor , I . P . M . 1767 ; Wm . H . Dean , P . M . 417 S ] . J . Pope , P . M . 1305 ; R . A . Smith , W . M . 13 ; A . W . Carvin , W . M . 176 S ; E . H . Bramley , W . M . 957 ; Col . Shadwell H . H . Clerke , G . Sec . ; H . G . Buss , Asst . G . Sec . ; W . Dodd , Neville Green , H . Sadler , Grand Tyler ; and Henry Massey , P . M . 1928 ( Freemason ) .

The brethren first confirmed grants recommended to the Grand Master at the last meeting to the amount of £ 55 , and then proceeded with the new list . On this there were as many as 34 cases . Two of these were deferred , not being complete . The remaining 32 were relieved with a total sum of £ 825 , which was made up as follows : One grant of ^ 100 (^ 100 ) ; three grants of £ 50 each (^ 150 ); two of £ 40 each ( £ 80 ); seven of £ 30 each ( £ 210 ); three of £ 25 each ( £ 75 ); four of ^ 20 each ( £ 80 ); four of £ 15 each ( £ 60 ); six of £ 10 each ( £ 60 ); and two of ^ 5 each ( £ 10 ) . Lodge , after sitting three hours , was closed .

Royal Masonic Institution For Girls.

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR GIRLS .

The monthly meeting of the General Committee of this Institution was held on Thursday afternoon at Freemasons' Hall , Col . Creaton , Past Grand Treasurer , in the chair . There were also present Bros . J . H . Matthews , John A . Rucker , Frank Richardson , James Peters , E . H . Finney , Samuel H . Parkhouse , J . J . Caney , A . H . Tattershall , F . R . W . Hedges , Secretary , and H . Massey ( Freemason ) .

After the reading and confirmation of the minutes of the former meeting , and the reading of the minutes of the Quarterly Court , and of the House Committee , and of the Audit Committee for information , Bro . FRANK RICHARDSON , P . G . D ., said that at the last meeting of the

House Committee it was the unanimous feeling of the Committee that Miss Redgrave ' s salary was not commensurate with her attainments , and therefore on behalf of the House Committee he gave notice that at the next meeting of the General Committee he should move that Miss Redgrave ' s salary be increased from £ 75 to £ 95 per annum .

Cheques in payment of the quarterly accounts were then authorised to be signed by the Chairman . One petition was received and examined , and the Candidate ordered to be placed on the list for the next April election . The Committee adjourned after passing a vote of thanks to the Chairman .