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Article FREEMASONRY IN ENGLAND. Page 1 of 7 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Freemasonry In England.
FREEMASONRY IN ENGLAND .
( Continuedfrom p . 530 . ) THE tews and regulations of the Grand Lodge as now constituted ( A . D . 1717 ) , meeting Avith the entire concurrence of the brethren of the four old Lodges , they considered their personal attendance at the future quarterly communications as unnecessary , and like the newly constituted Lodges ,
considered themselves sufficiently represented by their Master and Wardens , feeling assured that no measure of importance would be adopted without their concurrence . But those officers in their attendance on Grand Lodge found that the other Lodges being equally represented with the four original , would , as they increased in number , have the poAver of gaining an immense majority of votesand therebbe enabled to encroach
onel-, y , even subvert , the privileges of the original Masons of England , which had been vested in the four old Lodges . They , therefore , with the assistance of the brethren , formed a code of laws for the future government of the Society , to which Avas annexed a conditional clause , Avhich runs thus i "Every annual Grand Lodge lias an inherent power and authority to makenew regulations or to alter thesefor the real benefit of this Ancient
, fraternity ; provided always , THAT THE OLD LAND-MARKS BE CAREFULLY PRESERVED ; and that such alterations and new regulations be proposed and agreed to at the third quarterly communication preceding the annual grand feast ; and that they be offered also to the perusal of all the brethren before dinner , in writing , even of the younr /
estapprentice ; the approbation and the consent of the majority of all the brethren present , being absolutely necessary to make the same binding and obligatory . " This remarkable clause , and thirty-eight regulations preceding it , all of which are printed in the first edition of the Book of Constitutions , were approved , and confirmed by one hundred and fift y brethren , at an annual assembly and feast , held at Stationers' Hail , ore
St . John the Baptist ' s day , 172-1 , and in their presence subscribed by the Masters and Wardens of the four old Lodges on the one part ; and by Philip , Duke of Wharton , then Grand Master ; Theophilus Desaguliers , M . D ., _ andE . llS ., Deputy Grand Master ; Joshua Tirason , and William Hawkins , Grand Wardens ; and the Masters and Wardens of sixteen Lodges which had been constituted between 1717 and 1721 , on the other
part . And the Grand Master for the time being , his successors , and tbe Master of every Lodge to be hereafter constituted , were thereby bound to preserve those LAVS inviolate for ail time coming . In commemoration of " this , it has been an established custom since that time for the Master of the oldest Lod ge to attend the installation of Grand Master , and taking precedence of every other brother presentthe Grand Master onl ted
, y excep , to deliver the Book of the Original Constitutions to him on his engaging to support and abide by the ancient charges and regulations . By these Avise precautions , the Constitutions of our ancient brethren were established as a basis on which the future Masonic jurisdiction of England was to be founded , and the ancient regulations and landmarks
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Freemasonry In England.
FREEMASONRY IN ENGLAND .
( Continuedfrom p . 530 . ) THE tews and regulations of the Grand Lodge as now constituted ( A . D . 1717 ) , meeting Avith the entire concurrence of the brethren of the four old Lodges , they considered their personal attendance at the future quarterly communications as unnecessary , and like the newly constituted Lodges ,
considered themselves sufficiently represented by their Master and Wardens , feeling assured that no measure of importance would be adopted without their concurrence . But those officers in their attendance on Grand Lodge found that the other Lodges being equally represented with the four original , would , as they increased in number , have the poAver of gaining an immense majority of votesand therebbe enabled to encroach
onel-, y , even subvert , the privileges of the original Masons of England , which had been vested in the four old Lodges . They , therefore , with the assistance of the brethren , formed a code of laws for the future government of the Society , to which Avas annexed a conditional clause , Avhich runs thus i "Every annual Grand Lodge lias an inherent power and authority to makenew regulations or to alter thesefor the real benefit of this Ancient
, fraternity ; provided always , THAT THE OLD LAND-MARKS BE CAREFULLY PRESERVED ; and that such alterations and new regulations be proposed and agreed to at the third quarterly communication preceding the annual grand feast ; and that they be offered also to the perusal of all the brethren before dinner , in writing , even of the younr /
estapprentice ; the approbation and the consent of the majority of all the brethren present , being absolutely necessary to make the same binding and obligatory . " This remarkable clause , and thirty-eight regulations preceding it , all of which are printed in the first edition of the Book of Constitutions , were approved , and confirmed by one hundred and fift y brethren , at an annual assembly and feast , held at Stationers' Hail , ore
St . John the Baptist ' s day , 172-1 , and in their presence subscribed by the Masters and Wardens of the four old Lodges on the one part ; and by Philip , Duke of Wharton , then Grand Master ; Theophilus Desaguliers , M . D ., _ andE . llS ., Deputy Grand Master ; Joshua Tirason , and William Hawkins , Grand Wardens ; and the Masters and Wardens of sixteen Lodges which had been constituted between 1717 and 1721 , on the other
part . And the Grand Master for the time being , his successors , and tbe Master of every Lodge to be hereafter constituted , were thereby bound to preserve those LAVS inviolate for ail time coming . In commemoration of " this , it has been an established custom since that time for the Master of the oldest Lod ge to attend the installation of Grand Master , and taking precedence of every other brother presentthe Grand Master onl ted
, y excep , to deliver the Book of the Original Constitutions to him on his engaging to support and abide by the ancient charges and regulations . By these Avise precautions , the Constitutions of our ancient brethren were established as a basis on which the future Masonic jurisdiction of England was to be founded , and the ancient regulations and landmarks