The Province Of Somerset.

560 , was struck off the roll in 18 3 8 when 34 6 . Its warrant of confirmation of the year 1822 is in Grand Lodge . Still another erasure occurred in 1 S 31 , when the Prudence and Industry , No . 59 8 , ceased from its labours at Chard . Its

warrant also is in the Grand Lodge , of A . D . 1799 , and a copy of its by-laws is preserved of 1812 . All the foregoing belonged to the regular Grand Lodge

established in 1717 by four or more old lodges in the

PROVINCIAL GRAND MASTER FROM lsi ' . s TO lMlil .

metropolis . Of the rival authority , known as the "Ancients , of 175 J origin , there was a lodge warranted at the "Shakespeare ' s Head , " Bath , as No . 100 , but only contributed but one year after its start in 1762 . Another of that Grand Lodge got to Taunton about 1771 , bearing the number 26 , which it obtained by the usage of a wan-ant granted to a London lodge in 1753 , which was declared vacant in the following year . The meetings were held at the " Nag ' s

Head" from 1771 , but for how long cannot now be decided . It did not aid the Grand Lodge funds in any way . In 1767 the Armathea was chartered at Bridgwater as No . 150 , but as it appeared in 1768 at Dover , it could hardly have had an

existence in the previous year , and at its second town it only lasted for a few years , and then was removed to Folkestone as the Temple , where it worked until 18 3 8 . Still another

attempt was made to plant an "Ancient , " or "Atholl , " lodge

in Somerset by the issue of a charter for Bath in 1771 , but the warrant was returned two years afterwards , and its number and privileges were transferred to Hythe , where it " found bottom , " and is now the Prince Edwin , No . 125 , but its lirst number was 168 . In recent times the only erasure traced by me is that of the Royal Clarence at Bruton , of 18 40 , and erased in 1853 as 6 95 .