Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Freemasonry In Dorsetshire.——History Of The Province.
The Provincial Grand Chapter , dating it from its official organisation , is a comparatively modern institution . Comp . Eliot was appointed first Provincial Grand Superintendent in 1841 , and Provincial Grand Chapters were held by him in that year , and in 18 47 , 18 49 , 1850 , and 1851 . He was succeeded by Comp . Willett , who held his first and only
Provincial Grand Chapter in Weymouth on September 16 th , 18 * 57 . He died soon after , and the chair remained vacant until 1861 , when Comp . Gundry was appointed . He held his lirst Provincial Grand Chapter in 1 S 62 . Comp . Gundry was succeeded by Comp . Montagu ( a most worthy Mason ) ,
who was followed by Comp . Montague Guest , who has filled the lirst chair of the province ever since . There are ten chapters at the present time , and all tire in an exceedingly healthy condition . The oldest chapter is Poole , whose charter dates back to 1780 .
The present P . G . S . E . is M . E . Comp . W . Barlow Morgan , whose conspicuous services were rewarded last year with Grand Chapter honours .
IXTEIUOR 01 ' ALL SOULS LODGK ( LOOKING KAST ) .
Mark Masonry is fairly flourishing in the province . Colonel Brymer , M . P ., is Provincial Grand Mark Master , and live Mark lodges owe him allegiance . There are only two Preceptories in the province , held at Weymouth and Wimborne . Sir R . N . Howard is V . E . Prov . Prior . The warrant of Weymouth Preceptor }* is dated 18 47
, and the Wimborne , 1867 . The Priory of the Order of Malta and the Rose Croix Chapter are held at Weymouth . The latter warrant has date 1852 . Coming to the records of the individual lodges , it may be
staled , on Bro . W . J . Hughan ' s authority , that though there are now fifteen thriving lodges in existence , and two or three of them of great antiquity , the warrants of only two of them bear the eighteenth century date , namely , Poole and Weymouth . Between these two lodges not a little friendly rivalry exists as to pride of place , and after examination of the facts it will be admitted to be a case of primus inter -hares .
Beyond all question , the first lodge constituted in the province was at Weymouth in 173 6 , but it only existed for a few years , and was erased in 1754 . The history of these first beginnings of Masonry in Weymouth is lost in the mists of antiquity , and it is not even
known where the first lodge met . Several others followed and had a fugitive existence , including the " Arimatbea , " a memento of which exists to this day in a cushion upon which the Volume of the Sacred Law reposes in the Dorchester Lodge ! Needless to say , Weymouth Masons would like that cushion .
The history of " All Souls , " the present Weymouth Lodge , began on October 24 th , 1767 , and then not in Weymouth , but at the Vine Tavern , Tiverton , in Devonshire . It appears that a fire occurred at the Vine , and the Masons were burnt out and their warrant burnt .
There had been a " Weymouth" Lodge in 1776 , which was erased in 1785 , and the late Bro . Zillwood Milledge , in his admirable records , established beyond reasonable doubt the fact that the members of " Weymouth " Lodge were the
founders of " All Souls" Lodge in Weymouth . On the petition of the members of the " Weymouth" Lodge , the warrant of " All Souls" was removed in 1803 from Tiverton to Weymouth , and the first meeting of " All Souls " Lodge , in Weymouth , was held in June , 1804 , the furniture and jewels of the defunct " Weymouth " Lodge being used .
For several years the lodge continued to meet at the King ' s Head ; then at the Royal Hotel , and removed to the Masonic Hall in 1816 . A warrant of confirmation was granted in 1866 and a centenary jewel in 1867 . ¦ That the first lodge was constituted at Weymouth , even
the most ardent Poole Masons will not deny , but it is hi its unbroken continuity that "Amity" Lodge , Poole , enjoys a proud pre-eminence . As a matter of fact , Poole was the third lodge constituted , both Weymouth and Lyme Regis preceding it , but Poole is not unwilling 'to give Weymouth whatever advantage it may be entitled to from its brilliant if broken history , so long as it is not denied the high title of
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Freemasonry In Dorsetshire.——History Of The Province.
The Provincial Grand Chapter , dating it from its official organisation , is a comparatively modern institution . Comp . Eliot was appointed first Provincial Grand Superintendent in 1841 , and Provincial Grand Chapters were held by him in that year , and in 18 47 , 18 49 , 1850 , and 1851 . He was succeeded by Comp . Willett , who held his first and only
Provincial Grand Chapter in Weymouth on September 16 th , 18 * 57 . He died soon after , and the chair remained vacant until 1861 , when Comp . Gundry was appointed . He held his lirst Provincial Grand Chapter in 1 S 62 . Comp . Gundry was succeeded by Comp . Montagu ( a most worthy Mason ) ,
who was followed by Comp . Montague Guest , who has filled the lirst chair of the province ever since . There are ten chapters at the present time , and all tire in an exceedingly healthy condition . The oldest chapter is Poole , whose charter dates back to 1780 .
The present P . G . S . E . is M . E . Comp . W . Barlow Morgan , whose conspicuous services were rewarded last year with Grand Chapter honours .
IXTEIUOR 01 ' ALL SOULS LODGK ( LOOKING KAST ) .
Mark Masonry is fairly flourishing in the province . Colonel Brymer , M . P ., is Provincial Grand Mark Master , and live Mark lodges owe him allegiance . There are only two Preceptories in the province , held at Weymouth and Wimborne . Sir R . N . Howard is V . E . Prov . Prior . The warrant of Weymouth Preceptor }* is dated 18 47
, and the Wimborne , 1867 . The Priory of the Order of Malta and the Rose Croix Chapter are held at Weymouth . The latter warrant has date 1852 . Coming to the records of the individual lodges , it may be
staled , on Bro . W . J . Hughan ' s authority , that though there are now fifteen thriving lodges in existence , and two or three of them of great antiquity , the warrants of only two of them bear the eighteenth century date , namely , Poole and Weymouth . Between these two lodges not a little friendly rivalry exists as to pride of place , and after examination of the facts it will be admitted to be a case of primus inter -hares .
Beyond all question , the first lodge constituted in the province was at Weymouth in 173 6 , but it only existed for a few years , and was erased in 1754 . The history of these first beginnings of Masonry in Weymouth is lost in the mists of antiquity , and it is not even
known where the first lodge met . Several others followed and had a fugitive existence , including the " Arimatbea , " a memento of which exists to this day in a cushion upon which the Volume of the Sacred Law reposes in the Dorchester Lodge ! Needless to say , Weymouth Masons would like that cushion .
The history of " All Souls , " the present Weymouth Lodge , began on October 24 th , 1767 , and then not in Weymouth , but at the Vine Tavern , Tiverton , in Devonshire . It appears that a fire occurred at the Vine , and the Masons were burnt out and their warrant burnt .
There had been a " Weymouth" Lodge in 1776 , which was erased in 1785 , and the late Bro . Zillwood Milledge , in his admirable records , established beyond reasonable doubt the fact that the members of " Weymouth " Lodge were the
founders of " All Souls" Lodge in Weymouth . On the petition of the members of the " Weymouth" Lodge , the warrant of " All Souls" was removed in 1803 from Tiverton to Weymouth , and the first meeting of " All Souls " Lodge , in Weymouth , was held in June , 1804 , the furniture and jewels of the defunct " Weymouth " Lodge being used .
For several years the lodge continued to meet at the King ' s Head ; then at the Royal Hotel , and removed to the Masonic Hall in 1816 . A warrant of confirmation was granted in 1866 and a centenary jewel in 1867 . ¦ That the first lodge was constituted at Weymouth , even
the most ardent Poole Masons will not deny , but it is hi its unbroken continuity that "Amity" Lodge , Poole , enjoys a proud pre-eminence . As a matter of fact , Poole was the third lodge constituted , both Weymouth and Lyme Regis preceding it , but Poole is not unwilling 'to give Weymouth whatever advantage it may be entitled to from its brilliant if broken history , so long as it is not denied the high title of