Freemasonry In Cardiff.

Freemasonry in Cardiff .

OF the lodges in Cardiff , the Glamorgan , No . 3 6 , is premier , its warrant dating back to March 15 th , 1 753 , with a renewal in 1777 , thus being the oldest lodge in Wales and the Border Counties . Its origination was from " Atholl " or " Ancient " Grand Lodge ; the signature of the fourth Duke of Atholl appears upon

the warrant as Grand Master , and the principal officers were Bro . Laurence Dermott , Dep . G . M . ; Bro . Thomas Carter , S . G . W . ; Bro . R . Davey , J . G . W . ; and Bro . James Jones , G . S . The proceedings of the lodge have left no tnxe for the succeeding twenty-four years , until the renewal in 1777 , when it is registered upon its charter as 33 of . the

Atholl Grand Lodge , the meetings taking place at a wellknown old hostelry at Bridgend , Glam ., called the " Bear . " Very little history can be gleaned of its proceedings until the year 1808 , when it was removed to Cardiff , permission from the Grand Lodge being endorsed upon the charter . From

this time the minute books are complete , the first entry reading : "The GK . AXD LODGE , by Deputation , was opened at 11 o ' clock on Friday , Nov . 4111 , 5 808 ; Anno Domini 1808 . The Right Worshipful Benjamin Plummer , Esq ., G . M . ; Bro . Williams ( Lodge 126 , W . M . ) , D . G . M . ; Lodge 33 , John Wood , Senr ., W . M . ; John Wood , Junr ., S . W . ; John

Thackwell , J . W ., " the three names last mentioned being the brethren chiefly instrumental in the removal from Bridgend . For a long period the lodge seems to have had no very definite location , though it appears to have been a body of considerable strength , and in 1814 it ranged itself , together

with the other lodges of similar origin , under the banner of the United Grand Lodge of England with the number 50 , which still appears upon certain jewels . This number was changed on September oth , 18 33 , to 43 , and it so continued for thirty years , when , on the 6 th July , 186 3 , a letter was received from the United Grand Lodge giving it the present number , 3 6 .

Many have been the vicissitudes of the lodge also in regard to a place of meeting . In 1813 and onwards , the hostelry , renowned in Cardiff social annals , the " Cardiff Arms , " was its home , but in 18 55 a separate " Freemasons ' Hall " was obtained in Church Street ; again , " new rooms " were entered upon in St . Mary Street . In 1860 we find a

new location in Arcade Buildings ; in 1862 a "Masonic Hall " was arranged in St . Mary Street ; and frc m 18 77 to 18 95 the " Masonic Hall " in the applicably-named " Working Street " was occupied ; and in 18 97 the removal took place to the present most commodious Temple in Guildford Street , of

which we present illustrations from photographs by Bro . W . D . Dighton , who has a reputation more than local for the beauty of his presentments of interiors . Space has been given to the history of the Glamorgan Lodge as representing the Masonry of Cardiff from its earliest known period until the present ; but this must not prejudice

the reader as regards the energy exhibited by the later lodges inaugurated , which evince a lusty life . Of these , the Bute , No . 9 60 , is the largest in the Province of South Wales , and was founded in 186 3 . The Tennant Lodge bears a name honoured in all Masonic annals , that of Bro . Marmaduke Tennant , P . A . G . D . C . of England , and Deputy

Provincial Grand Master , who for nearl y forty years has been connected with Masonry . In 1867 he was installed W . M . of his Lodge , the Afan , No . 8 33 , and has occupied that honourable position during five years . During ( he long period he has been Dep . Prov . G . M . ( since 1 877 ) it has been

acknowledged that he has done more persona ! service to the cause than any other in the district . It need not be added that the family has given to the world a highly talented lady artist , now Lad y Stanley . The Duke of York Lodge , No . 2454 , owes its origin to the Past Masters of the somewhat over-large Bute Lodge , and especially to its first W . M ., Bro . Chas . K . Dovev . It was consecrated with great state by Lord

Llangattock at the same date , September 27 th , 1 S 94 , as the new Temple was inaugurated . This lodge is chiefly composed of professional men . The Prince Llewellyn Lodge , No . 2570 , is not a very large one , but contains members of the professional class . It is honoured by the chaplaincy of the Right Rev . the Lord

Bishop of Llandaff , Grand Chaplain of England , whose Masonic career dates from 18 43 , when his lordship was initiated in the Apollo University Lodge , No . 357 , Oxford . The Loyal Commercial Lodge , No . 2720 , was founded in 18 9 8 , under W . Bro . W . J . Jenkins , and Bro . Llewelyn Jones

as Secretary , and its membership list is filled chiefly b y commercial men . But this list does not exhaust the list of Masonic bodies which have their homes in the Cardiff Temple . There are others ; the Cier-daf Chapter , Rose Croix , is an old

institution . One of its well-known emblems , a pelican , is the subject of a carving in wood gilded , of considerable age , which decorates the gallery of the Temple . Three Royal Arch Chapters exist , St . John ' s , Sir George Elliott , No . 960 , and Marmaduke Tennant Chapter , attached respectively to the Glamorgan , Bute , and Tennant Lodges .

There are besides the Langley Mark Lodge , No . 28 , and the St . John ' s Royal Ark Mariners , No . 28 . When it is added that this long array of Masonic federations exists in fraternal activity and friendliness , it will be seen that Freemasonry in Cardiff is a social force that has to be reconed with . This force consists of over 900 members , but there

are lodges working successfully also at Penarth and Barry , the former the Windsor Lodge , No . 1754 , and the latter the Barry , No . 2357 , who add companies bringing up the total to uyi .

Some results of this force when transmuted into charitable deeds , may be judged from the year ' s report of the " Masonic Educational and Widow ' s Fund of the Eastern Division of South Wales . " This fund directl y owes its origin to Bro . Marmaduke Tennant , aided by the active exertions of the lodges generally . At the last meeting of its Court of

Governors , the Hon . Treasurer , Bro . John Rogers , P . Prov . S . G . W ., P . M . 1573 , reported a credit balance of £ 4 , 519 17 s . and was " expecting more . " This fund is worked entirel y without detriment to the contributions of the lodges to other and central funds . Among the many proofs of the origin of Freemasonry in

Cardiff and the whole district , the production of a monthly journal and review entitled the " CRAFTSMAN' " is highl y satisfactory . This publication commenced in January , 18 94 , and has been marked by great editorial ability , being filled with interesting articles upon Masonic matters local and general . Well written , well printed , and well illustrated , it reflects great credit upon the editor , Bro . F . J . Harries , Past Prov . Grand Steward South Wales ( E . D . ) , The writer is

indebted to the " CKAI-TSMAX " for much local history . He must also acknowledge his indebtedness to a veteran in the Craft , Bro . Samuel Cooper , P . M . 3 6 , Glam ., P . P . S . G . W . ( Craft ) , P . Z . 3 6 . St . John ' s , P . G . H . ( Royal Arch ) , who has known Freemasonry and Freemasons in Cardiff since J 865 , and during this period of thirty-live years has held many

offices , as his titles show , up to those of highly selective character . Unfortunately confined to the house by longcontinued ill-health , he still watches with interest all proceedings , and details with pleasure the events which have happened under the various Provincial Grand Masters of his period , commencing with R . W . Bro . Colonel

Kemeys-Tynte ; then R . W . Bro . Theodore Mansel Talbot , installed in 186 5 ; R . W . Bro . Sir George Elliott , 1877 ; R . W . Bro . Lord Llangattock , 18 94 . The writer is also indebted largely to Bro . George Garry , Past Prov . S . G . Warden , who , not only as a high office holder , but as a vigorous worker in regard to Masonic Charities and as a student of the deeper aspects of Freemasonry among the Quatuor Coronati , is highly esteemed by all his brethren .