History Of The Lod Ge Of Emulation , No. 21.

History of the Lodge of Emulation , No . 21 .

( B y HEXRY S . MH . KK , Sub-Librarian to the Grand Lodge of England . )

f ^ EB . 3 rd . — "A Committee was appointed to get a chest made for the furniture of the Lodge , agreeable to the order of the 2 rst October last . " The chest was provided and paid for on the 7 th April . It ought to have been a good article , according to the following items in the Treasurer ' s accounts .

" Paid Bro ' - James Finch for a Mahogany Chest , and altering the Pedestal , £ 6 . " April 21 st . — " The RAV . M . made a Motion , which was seconded , ' That in order to promote a knowledge of Masonry among the members , a Lodge of Instruction be

established , to meet once a fortnight , and that Two Shillings and Sixpence be allowed from the fund of the Lodge toward defraying the expence of each Meeting . It passed in the affirmative . "

June 2 nd . — " Ordered that the 1 reasurer do pay Bro" ' - Fox the sum of One Pound Eleven Shillings and Sixpence for a Mahogany Balloting Box . " Dec . 15 th . — "The Removal of the Lodge was taken into consideration , and after consulting the Landlords and arguing the case maturely , it was determined that this Lodge

be removed from The Paul ' s Head to The London Tavern . " Bro" " . Weldon made a motion that a Chair , not exceeding Five Guineas in value , be ordered for the use of the Master , which was seconded and carried . " Dec . 27 th . —Being the Festival of St . John for the

investiture of the Officers , a larger number of brethren attended than was usually the case , eighteen members and six visitors being present , twenty-three of whom partook of supper at 2 s . 6 d . per head . Something out of the common evidently

occurred on this occasion , for on the reading of the minutes at the following meeting , January 3 rd , 1774 , it was ordered , "That a part of the rough minutes be expunged and not entered in the Minute Boole . " Some light is thrown upon the transaction in a motion subsequently made at the same meeting , by Bro . Fox and

seconded by Bro . White , "That the R . W . Master be depos'd as not qualified for such station , for the following reasons : Because he exercis'd an arbitrary and unconstitutional power in the Lodge by Controuling free Debate , by permitting a visitor to speak and refusing that privilege to a member who

had twice pass'd the Chair with Honour , because , admitting that his views were well intended , the unpliancy and intemperance of his conduct instead of conciliating social harmony must have generated Disgust .

" Because with a spirit repugnant to every idea of peace and amity he set up Self Will against General Opinion , thereby provoking universal discontent and occasioning the defection of several members , because he insulted the P . M . with the most scurrilous invectives for having contradicted his opinion in the Lodge , which produced an affray

Disgraceful ! lo the Society in General & particularly to this Lodge as a general defection was likely to ensue . "The Question being put , if pass'd in the affirmative , on which the Chair being declar'd vacant ; it was order'd , That the Lodge do proceed to the Election of a New Master next

Lodge Night . " The name of the brother whose conduct gave rise to this unusuall y drastic proceeding was John Weldon , who was initiated 2 nd October , 177 1 , and was elected to the Chair Dec . 15 II 1 , 1773 .

Me had evidently not been a Mason long enough to learn the respect due to a Past Master , especially one of the standing of William White , he being the only member who had twice "Pass'd the Chair . " At the ensuing meeting the Lodge proceeded to the

election of a New Master when Bro . Fox was chosen for the remainder of the term , and " on taking the Chair was pleased to continue the former Officers . "

Strange to say Bro . Weldon attended several meetings after his deposition and is invariably described by the Secretary as P . M . ; he tendered his resignation in 1775 . 1 776 , Feb . 5 th . —" Bro" ' . White proposed and was seconded by Bror . S . Clark , ' That after the 24 th June next the Lodge should meet but once a month : that the Master

should be Elected Annually , and the Subscription for the year should be one Guinea . This proposition was ordered to be laid on the Table until the last meeting in May , that the brethren might have time to give the matter full consideration , which they doubtless did for on the motion being

brought up on the 20 th May it was carried unanimously . Oct . 21 st . —At this meeting , on the proposition of Bro . White , a Committee of the Lodge was appjinted to be held on the 4 th November " for the dispatch of Business . " The report of the said Committee was brought before the

Lodge Nov . 18 th , wherein it was recommended , "First , That the fee for making a Mason in this Lodge be increased to £ 3 . 3 . —including therein the fees for registering and also for raising . ' " Second , ' That each person visiting this Lodge ( who is

a regular member of some Lodge according to the Constitution of England ) shall pay for each visit 2 ft , and that each person on visiting this Lodge , not being such member as aforesaid , shall pay for each visit 3 / - and that each past , present and future Grand Officer , and member of the Stewards Lodge shall be admitted as Visitors free of

expence . "Third , 'That the Lodge be summoned agreeable to the manner formerly used viz' , by printed Letter , the Plate for which is now in possession of the Lodge . ' "Fourth 'That a new Book be provided with a printed Title for inserting the Names of Members and Visitors

attending this Lodge . ' " Fifth ' That a Lodge of Instruction shall be held on the first Monday in each Month at The Flee- in Well Court , Queen St . Cheapside , and that the sum of 5 - shall be from time to time allowed out of the fund of this Lodge towards

the expenccs thereof . ' " Ordered unanimously , that the said Resolutions be confirmed by this Lodge . " 1778 , March 16 th . — "The R . W . M . reported from last Lodge of Instructions , that 5 - was found lo be too small an

allowance on that occasion ; it was therefore proposed that 106 be allowed for that purpose in future , and that the private Lodge be held for the future at the London Tavern , on the first Monday in every Month ; all of which was unanimously agreed to . "

July 20 th . — " Bro" ' - Preston having requested , in his before mentioned Letter to the R . W . M ., that he may be discontinued as an honorary member of this Lodge , on ace ' - of some late Transactions in the Society , in which he is particularly concerned , until matters are properly settled ; it was ordered , that his name be discontinued on the List of Members . "

Aug . 17 th . —The minutes of this meeting indicate trouble , the Lodge Jewels being missing and also the Tyler , who was suspected of having taken them away . A private Committee was appointed , consisting of live members "in order to make such enquiries , and to lake such steps as they might think necessary , for the recovery of the said Jewels . "

The Committee made their report at the next Lodge meeting , to the purport that , having interviewed the Tyler , he admitted having pawned the Jewels " with one Mrs . Hart a Pawnbroker in Grub Street , to which place l . rov . Pugh immediately went and redeemed the said Jewels lor 12 s . qd .

" The Committee therefore recommend that , in future a Lock be fixed on one of the small drawers within the Chest belonging to this Lodge , and that the R . W . Master do loci ;