The Province Of Hertfordshire.

the list of founders Bro . Francis Crew and Bro . W . Lloyd Thomas , of the Hertford Lodge , who also appear in that capacity at the establishment of the Salisbury Lodge . The lodge took at once an important position in the province , which it has since retained . The minutes , though interesting as provincial records , contain little that is of general interest ,

but we must mention a peculiarity in its original by-laws , which led to considerable irregularity on more than one occasion . Like many country lodges , before the introduction of railways and lighted ways , the date of its meeting was regulated by the time of the full moon . The elate of election

of Worshipful Master was on the Thursday after the full moon in November . In the year 18 49 there was no Thursday in November after the full moon , and no lodge was held , the election being delayed until the January of the following year , in which month the Master should have

been installed . The same grave irregularity was repeated in 18 53 . This goes to prove that the discipline exerted by Grand Lodge at that time was feeble . Such a thing nowa-days would be impossible . Moreover , prior to the year 1866 it is not improbable that the clays of meeting were

settled between the landlord of the " Sun " and the members of the lodge , according to their mutual convenience , for a motion was passed in June of that year that the lodge " would be held upon the regular clays appointed , and these clays will be strictly adhered to . "

lhus the Hertford Lodge had now two sturdy daughters , who gave every promise of exuberant life , while the sister of Watford , equally vigorous and full of potentialities , was yet barren . The inauguration of the Cecil Lodge , however , may have stirred the parental feeling dormant in the Watford Lodge , for in the following year another attempt was made

to resuscitate the Craft in its historic home . A warrant dated 22 nd April , 18 39 , was granted to eight members of the Watford Lodge and one of the Cecil to found a St . Alban ' s Lodge , No . 678 , in the Turf Hotel of that city , the first Master being Bro . Alexander Fraser , a Past Master of the

mother lodge . The early career of this daughter lodge was auspicious . A large number of initiates and joining members was secured j and all went well until the year 18 4 6 , when the blight , which seemed to overhang all lodges founded in St . Alban ' s , began to make itself felt . How the difficulties arose is uncertain

but a petition signed by ten members of the lodge was presented to the Provincial Grand Master in Provincial Grand Lodge in June , 18 47 , asking for a full and immediate inquiry into its affairs , accusing certain of the members of un-Masonic and un-brotherly conduct , which prevented sufficient attendance to form a lodge and the members

from paying their subscriptions . The inquiry was accordingly held in the Town Hall , St . Albans , on 17 th June , 18 47 , by the Provincial Grand MasteV

LOVJNG CLP AND SALVERS PRESENTED TO PRO . THE RIGHT HON . T . P . HALSEY , PROVINCIAL GRAND MASTER .

and four assessors . The charge of Masonic misconduct was held to be disproved , but it was found that the lodge was in difficulties owing to the refusal of certain members to pay their subscriptions from some misunderstanding , and it was resolved that application be made for the payment of arrears ,

in default of which they were to be returned as defaulters to Grand Lodge . The matter is not mentioned again in the minutes of Provincial Grand Lodge , but the recommendation and reconciliation must have been futile , for the lodge was

erased by order of Grand Lodge in June , 18 53 . This was the last of the lodges founded under the rule of the Marquis of Salisbury , who resigned in 18 44 , and was succeeded by Bro . William Stuart , of Aldenham Abbey , Provincial Senior Grand Warden , who had been Deputy

Provincial Grand Master from 18 35 to his promotion . His accession to office was speedily followed by the consecration of a lodge as the western outpost of the province . Bro . the Rev . S . Lea Wilson , of Berkhampstead , gathered around him a band of Craftsmen devoted to the speculative art , and obtained a warrant on 4 th December , 18 44 for a

, lodge to be called the Berkhampstead Lodge , No . 742 ( now No . 504 ) , to be held at the King's Arms , the first lodge in the province which had the honour of being consecrated by the Provincial Grand Master in person . Bro . the Rev . S . Lea Wilson was the first Master , but resigned in 18 47

, having moved to Streatham . He was , however , retained as an lion , member , and when the lodge celebrated its jubilee in 18 95 a telegram of congratulation was received from its venerable founder .

It appears to have been customary in the sixties for the members of the lodge , many of whom came from London , to vary their arduous labours by jaunting country excursions . On one occasion they visited Ashridge Park , the seat of Lord Brownlow , and were so well received and attended to that on their return the lodge voted the sum of one guinea for the

purchase of plate as a present to the son of the house steward . The lodge now meets in a room which it has built and furnished contiguous to the King ' s Arms , its original home . In the sixteen years which followed the founding of the Berkhampstead Lodge , Freemasonry was consolidating its

forces in the province , and no further attempt was 111 p . de to found a new centre until 1861 , when a warrant was obtained by certain members of London lodges , who were residing in the neighbourhood of Waltham Cross , to enable them to open a lodge to be named the Gresham , No . 1171 ( now 869 ) , at the

Four Swans Hotel . It was consecrated in the presence of the Provincial Grand Master by one of the founders , Bro . Jeremiah How , the Grand Director of Ceremonies of the Province . ( To be Continued ) .