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Article BYE-LAWS OF THE YORK LODGE: No. 236. ← Page 5 of 5 Article EARLY MEETINGS OF THE GRAND LODGE OF ENGLAND. Page 1 of 3 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Bye-Laws Of The York Lodge: No. 236.
recess Avithin the Cathedral Church of York , ancl then ancl there opened a Chapter of Free ancl Accepted Masons of the most sublime degree of Royal Arch . " Sunday was , at that time , the regular day of meeting for the Chapter .
The first notice Ave have of the Knight Templar Degree is November 29 , 1779 , and it is said to be the earliest official document knoAvn in Great Britain and Ireland , relating to Knights Templar in connection with Freemasonry .
Soon after 1780 , the Grand Lodge of York exhibited signs of decay Avhich finally led to its dissolution . The superior influence of the Grand Lodge of London , its succession of Royal and Noble Grand Masters , aud its branches spread over the
whole kingdom ancl into foreign countries , rapidly attracted a large numbers of Masons to its standard : Ave find the lodges holding under York giving place to new ones under Avarrants from London , until even in the City of York itself , the great majority of Masons owed no allegiance to the ancient
body that had for so long a period assembled within its Avails . The meetings of the Grand Lodge became irregular , and the last meeting of Avhich Ave have a record was held August 231792 for the election of officers , when
, , Bro . Ed . Wolley was elected Grand Master ; Bro . Geo . Kitson , Grand Treasurer : Bro . Thos . Richardson , S . G . W . ; ancl Bro . Williams , J . G . W . Thus the end came ; and an institution that had flourished in York
from the time of the Heptarchy , ancl had run a useful ancl honourable course , ceased to exist ; but Ave may say that in spirit it Avas removed to the Capital , for in principal it Avas identical Avith the present Grand Lodge of England , Avhich is , in modern times , the true representative of Ancient York Mason rv .
Such is a resume of the interesting little book published for the York Lodge , and edited by Bros . P . M . Cowling ancl Todd , and Ave thank them in the name of the Craft ancl of Masonic students , for their valuable and interesting and Avell-Avritten work .
[ We trust that this creditable volume may be perused by all Masonic Students , as Ave have never seen a more concise , nor Ave will add , a more correct account of the earliest Masonic Grand Lodges . We are quite sure tnat Bro . W . J . Hughan will concur in this . —ED . ]
Early Meetings Of The Grand Lodge Of England.
EARLY MEETINGS OF THE GRAND LODGE OF ENGLAND .
BY AA'ILLIAJI J .-UIES HUGHAN . STUDENTS of Masonic History will be aware that but little is knoAvn about the institution of the Grand Lodge of England in 1710-7 , and for that little we are mainly
indebted to the He v . James Anderson , D . D . There are , hoAvever , other indications of the importance ancl position of Freemasonry in the early jiart of last century than those furnished iu our Books of Constitutions—Historical Introductions . —from A . D , 1723 .
One important work especially , Avritten in 1721 , ancl ' printed in 1722 , dedicated to the Grand Master of the Freemasons of Great Britain and Ireland ( there being but one Grand Master at that period , viz ., in England ) , ancl containing many curious
allusions to the Fraternity , has not yet been fully considered as it deserves , and it is our intention to treat of it shortly . Because , hoAvever , Ave obtain our knowledge of tho Grand Lodge and its meetings from the source indicated—Book of Constitutions—some have thought fit to doubt almost its very existence until years later than 1717 , and hence any other evidence of
its condition becomes valuable , and should be carefully noted . Our good Brother Clarke , of Sliepton-Mallet , having copies of the " Whitehall Evening Post , " has kindly made several extracts therefrom , and Avhich are IIOAV submitted for the information of the Craft : —
( W . E . Post , December 28 th . to 31 st , 1728 ) , "Friday last being St . John ' s Day there Avas a great appearance of Freemasons at Stationers' Hall , Avhere a handsome entertainment Avas provided for them by 12 stewards chosen for that purpose
, after Avbich tho following officers Avere chosen for the ensuing year , viz , the lit . Iionble . the Lord Coleraine , Nathaniel Blackesby , Escp , Deputy G-rantl Master , in the room of Alexander Chock , Esq ., and Sir James Thornhill ancl Martin O'Connor ,
Grand Wardens in the room of the said Mr . Blackesby and Mr . Jos . Highmore . " " 'Tis remarkable that there Avere present the Master of the Lodge at Madrid in Spain , and the Wardens belonging to the Lodge of Carmarthen in South Wales , and a Commission Avas signed by the Grand
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Bye-Laws Of The York Lodge: No. 236.
recess Avithin the Cathedral Church of York , ancl then ancl there opened a Chapter of Free ancl Accepted Masons of the most sublime degree of Royal Arch . " Sunday was , at that time , the regular day of meeting for the Chapter .
The first notice Ave have of the Knight Templar Degree is November 29 , 1779 , and it is said to be the earliest official document knoAvn in Great Britain and Ireland , relating to Knights Templar in connection with Freemasonry .
Soon after 1780 , the Grand Lodge of York exhibited signs of decay Avhich finally led to its dissolution . The superior influence of the Grand Lodge of London , its succession of Royal and Noble Grand Masters , aud its branches spread over the
whole kingdom ancl into foreign countries , rapidly attracted a large numbers of Masons to its standard : Ave find the lodges holding under York giving place to new ones under Avarrants from London , until even in the City of York itself , the great majority of Masons owed no allegiance to the ancient
body that had for so long a period assembled within its Avails . The meetings of the Grand Lodge became irregular , and the last meeting of Avhich Ave have a record was held August 231792 for the election of officers , when
, , Bro . Ed . Wolley was elected Grand Master ; Bro . Geo . Kitson , Grand Treasurer : Bro . Thos . Richardson , S . G . W . ; ancl Bro . Williams , J . G . W . Thus the end came ; and an institution that had flourished in York
from the time of the Heptarchy , ancl had run a useful ancl honourable course , ceased to exist ; but Ave may say that in spirit it Avas removed to the Capital , for in principal it Avas identical Avith the present Grand Lodge of England , Avhich is , in modern times , the true representative of Ancient York Mason rv .
Such is a resume of the interesting little book published for the York Lodge , and edited by Bros . P . M . Cowling ancl Todd , and Ave thank them in the name of the Craft ancl of Masonic students , for their valuable and interesting and Avell-Avritten work .
[ We trust that this creditable volume may be perused by all Masonic Students , as Ave have never seen a more concise , nor Ave will add , a more correct account of the earliest Masonic Grand Lodges . We are quite sure tnat Bro . W . J . Hughan will concur in this . —ED . ]
Early Meetings Of The Grand Lodge Of England.
EARLY MEETINGS OF THE GRAND LODGE OF ENGLAND .
BY AA'ILLIAJI J .-UIES HUGHAN . STUDENTS of Masonic History will be aware that but little is knoAvn about the institution of the Grand Lodge of England in 1710-7 , and for that little we are mainly
indebted to the He v . James Anderson , D . D . There are , hoAvever , other indications of the importance ancl position of Freemasonry in the early jiart of last century than those furnished iu our Books of Constitutions—Historical Introductions . —from A . D , 1723 .
One important work especially , Avritten in 1721 , ancl ' printed in 1722 , dedicated to the Grand Master of the Freemasons of Great Britain and Ireland ( there being but one Grand Master at that period , viz ., in England ) , ancl containing many curious
allusions to the Fraternity , has not yet been fully considered as it deserves , and it is our intention to treat of it shortly . Because , hoAvever , Ave obtain our knowledge of tho Grand Lodge and its meetings from the source indicated—Book of Constitutions—some have thought fit to doubt almost its very existence until years later than 1717 , and hence any other evidence of
its condition becomes valuable , and should be carefully noted . Our good Brother Clarke , of Sliepton-Mallet , having copies of the " Whitehall Evening Post , " has kindly made several extracts therefrom , and Avhich are IIOAV submitted for the information of the Craft : —
( W . E . Post , December 28 th . to 31 st , 1728 ) , "Friday last being St . John ' s Day there Avas a great appearance of Freemasons at Stationers' Hall , Avhere a handsome entertainment Avas provided for them by 12 stewards chosen for that purpose
, after Avbich tho following officers Avere chosen for the ensuing year , viz , the lit . Iionble . the Lord Coleraine , Nathaniel Blackesby , Escp , Deputy G-rantl Master , in the room of Alexander Chock , Esq ., and Sir James Thornhill ancl Martin O'Connor ,
Grand Wardens in the room of the said Mr . Blackesby and Mr . Jos . Highmore . " " 'Tis remarkable that there Avere present the Master of the Lodge at Madrid in Spain , and the Wardens belonging to the Lodge of Carmarthen in South Wales , and a Commission Avas signed by the Grand