Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Freemasonry In Dorsetshire.——History Of The Province.
being the oldest lodge in Dorset at the present time . Lyme is out of the running , for it Avas erased after only sixteen years' troubled existence , and its present warrant is only forty-five years old . Poole has a splendid and uninterrupted record dating from 1765 receiving its centenary jewel two years before
, Weymouth . Its number has been altered six times , but its name , never . The number was originally 33 8 ; it is now 137 . So far as we can learn , the Poole Masons did not choose their name till 1778 . The earlier minutes are quaint and interesting , and the most remarkable feature is the severity
with which those ancient Masons came clown on offending brethren . In one case we read that an unfortunate brother , Nathaniel Brooks , " not having visited the lodge since his arrival this season " was summarily expelled ; and another , Thomas Mercerwas similarly dealt with for being absent six
, nights in succession . There were Masonic giants in those days ! "Amity" Lodge has had several meeting places in its long history , and did not settle in its present commodious habitat till 1881 , when the premises were purchased and adapted and vested in trustees .
As already stated , the first Provincial Grand Lodge was held at Poole in 1780 by Bro . Thomas Dunckerley , Prov . Grand Master . Bro . Dunckerley was always a good friend to Lodge " Amity , " and one of the most cherished of the lodge ' s possessions is that distinguished Mason ' s portrait , clone by Bro . P . Van Dyke about 1785 . Dunckerley
frequently visited the lodge , and on one occasion ( so the minute runs ) , August 12 th , 1783 , " the day was spent in good order and decorum by the brethren on the water with Bro . Dunckerley in honour of the Prince of Wales ' s birthday , and the evening was concluded with grand fireworks by Bro .
Ford . " Dunckerley often presided in the lodge , and we read of his initiating two brethren at least . It will at once be seen with what good reason Poole Masons cherish the memory of Thomas Dunckerley and prize his portrait . Bro . Philip Van Dyke , the painter , was initiated in the
Caledonian Lodge , London , in 1777 , and exalted in the " Durnovarian " Chapter at Dorchester about 1783 . It is believed there is only one other portrait of Dunckerley extant , and that at Bristol . The picture was engraved , but there are only one or two copies in existence .
INTKRIOIl OK AMITY LODGK , l'OOLIO .
Dunckerley continued his patronage of Poole lodge until his death in 1795 . Poole has supplied two Provincial Grand Masters to the province and three Deputy Provincial Grand Masters . Lodge " Amity " is rich in " furniture , " the gifts by grateful brethren having been numerous and costly , but there is none more prized than the famous " biscuit , "
which is an object of interest to all who visit the lodge . There is a strong Royal Arch chapter , with warrant dated 1780 , and a Mark lodge ( consecrated 1871 ) , which , after being in abeyance for several years , was revived in 18 97 .
" All Souls" Lodge , Weymouth , is one of the handsomest and best equipped lodges in the provinces . The lodge room is magnificently fitted up , and the richness of the furniture and the wealth of paintings give it an air of opulence and warmth of colour seldom seen . The oldest
gift in the lodge is the cushion on which the Volume of the Sacred Law—a valuable Black Letter Bible , dated 1640—noAV rests . The cushion was given by Bro . Gould in 1776 . The minutes of the lodge have revealed many interesting facts which we cannot from lack of space go into . The lodge is one of the strongest and perhaps the wealthiest in
the province , and a glance at the illustration will . indicate what a palatial home Masonry has in Weymouth . " All Souls " has supplied some of the best of Masons who ever saw the light , and the " Historical Notes , " published a few years ago by W . Bro . Zillwood Milledge , is an unique
record of splendid Masonic work . Bro . Milledge , we regret to say , died quite recently . Attached to " All Souls , " besides the Royal Arch chapter and Mark lodge , is a Knights Templar preceptory , a priory of the Order of Malta , and a Rose Croix Chapter .
" Faith and Unanimity" Lodge , Dorchester , No . 417 , is of comparatively recent origin , but behind it lies a history scarcely surpassed in interest by any . lodge in the province . The first lodge of which any records exist , was the "Durnovarian , " founded in 1774 , being one of the four lodges existing at that time in Dorset . In 1782-8 , there
were only three lodges at work in the county , of which " Durnovarian" was one . There was also a chapter in existence here , and though scant records remain there are incidental references to it .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Freemasonry In Dorsetshire.——History Of The Province.
being the oldest lodge in Dorset at the present time . Lyme is out of the running , for it Avas erased after only sixteen years' troubled existence , and its present warrant is only forty-five years old . Poole has a splendid and uninterrupted record dating from 1765 receiving its centenary jewel two years before
, Weymouth . Its number has been altered six times , but its name , never . The number was originally 33 8 ; it is now 137 . So far as we can learn , the Poole Masons did not choose their name till 1778 . The earlier minutes are quaint and interesting , and the most remarkable feature is the severity
with which those ancient Masons came clown on offending brethren . In one case we read that an unfortunate brother , Nathaniel Brooks , " not having visited the lodge since his arrival this season " was summarily expelled ; and another , Thomas Mercerwas similarly dealt with for being absent six
, nights in succession . There were Masonic giants in those days ! "Amity" Lodge has had several meeting places in its long history , and did not settle in its present commodious habitat till 1881 , when the premises were purchased and adapted and vested in trustees .
As already stated , the first Provincial Grand Lodge was held at Poole in 1780 by Bro . Thomas Dunckerley , Prov . Grand Master . Bro . Dunckerley was always a good friend to Lodge " Amity , " and one of the most cherished of the lodge ' s possessions is that distinguished Mason ' s portrait , clone by Bro . P . Van Dyke about 1785 . Dunckerley
frequently visited the lodge , and on one occasion ( so the minute runs ) , August 12 th , 1783 , " the day was spent in good order and decorum by the brethren on the water with Bro . Dunckerley in honour of the Prince of Wales ' s birthday , and the evening was concluded with grand fireworks by Bro .
Ford . " Dunckerley often presided in the lodge , and we read of his initiating two brethren at least . It will at once be seen with what good reason Poole Masons cherish the memory of Thomas Dunckerley and prize his portrait . Bro . Philip Van Dyke , the painter , was initiated in the
Caledonian Lodge , London , in 1777 , and exalted in the " Durnovarian " Chapter at Dorchester about 1783 . It is believed there is only one other portrait of Dunckerley extant , and that at Bristol . The picture was engraved , but there are only one or two copies in existence .
INTKRIOIl OK AMITY LODGK , l'OOLIO .
Dunckerley continued his patronage of Poole lodge until his death in 1795 . Poole has supplied two Provincial Grand Masters to the province and three Deputy Provincial Grand Masters . Lodge " Amity " is rich in " furniture , " the gifts by grateful brethren having been numerous and costly , but there is none more prized than the famous " biscuit , "
which is an object of interest to all who visit the lodge . There is a strong Royal Arch chapter , with warrant dated 1780 , and a Mark lodge ( consecrated 1871 ) , which , after being in abeyance for several years , was revived in 18 97 .
" All Souls" Lodge , Weymouth , is one of the handsomest and best equipped lodges in the provinces . The lodge room is magnificently fitted up , and the richness of the furniture and the wealth of paintings give it an air of opulence and warmth of colour seldom seen . The oldest
gift in the lodge is the cushion on which the Volume of the Sacred Law—a valuable Black Letter Bible , dated 1640—noAV rests . The cushion was given by Bro . Gould in 1776 . The minutes of the lodge have revealed many interesting facts which we cannot from lack of space go into . The lodge is one of the strongest and perhaps the wealthiest in
the province , and a glance at the illustration will . indicate what a palatial home Masonry has in Weymouth . " All Souls " has supplied some of the best of Masons who ever saw the light , and the " Historical Notes , " published a few years ago by W . Bro . Zillwood Milledge , is an unique
record of splendid Masonic work . Bro . Milledge , we regret to say , died quite recently . Attached to " All Souls , " besides the Royal Arch chapter and Mark lodge , is a Knights Templar preceptory , a priory of the Order of Malta , and a Rose Croix Chapter .
" Faith and Unanimity" Lodge , Dorchester , No . 417 , is of comparatively recent origin , but behind it lies a history scarcely surpassed in interest by any . lodge in the province . The first lodge of which any records exist , was the "Durnovarian , " founded in 1774 , being one of the four lodges existing at that time in Dorset . In 1782-8 , there
were only three lodges at work in the county , of which " Durnovarian" was one . There was also a chapter in existence here , and though scant records remain there are incidental references to it .