Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Early Meetings Of The Grand Lodge Of England.
Master to constitute a Lodge in the East Inches . " " Ancl at the same time the Grand Master and Wardens , ancl most of the gentlemen present took tickets to appear in Avhite gloves at the Theatre Royal in Drury
Lane as last night , Avhere the Play of Henry IV ., Part II ., was acted for their Entertainment , and a Prologue and E pilogue Avas spoken suitable to the occasion , and in honour of that society . " This Avas a very long report for the
"Post , " the paragraphs generally only averaging four or five lines , and is an indirect proof , Avith others Ave mi ght mention , of the Avouderful prosperity of the Grand Lodge at that time , though only some eleA'en years from its constitution .
The fact indeed points to the great probability that the Grand Lodge is an outgroAvth of numerous Lodges , and many members scattered OA'er the country , in addition to the four old Lodges , ancl the Brethren AVIIO directly instituted it—Lodges Avhich Avere
content to accept Warrants from the neAv Grand Lodge , though previously working according to ancient usage . In the Constitutions of 173 S is the following account of the meeting , not quite in agreement with the foregoing , and a much shorter narrative of the business . The editions since simply perpetuate the same meagre extract .
" Assembly and Feast at Mercer ' s Hall on St . John ' s Day , Friday , 27 Dec , 1728 . D . Grand Master Choke Avith bis Wardens , several noble Brothers , former Grand Officers , aud many Brethren , duly clothed , atteuded the Grand Master Elect in coaches
from his Lordshi p ' s House in Leicestersquare to the Hall Eastward ; and all Things being regularly transacted as above , D . G . M . Choke proclaimed aloud our noble Brother . VIII . James King , Lord Viscount
Kingston , Grand Master of Masons ! Avho appointed Nathaniel Blakerby , Esq ., D . G ., Master . Sir JAMES TIIOKNIIILL , 1 Grand Mr . MARTIN O'CONNER , J Wardens , ancl the Secretary was continued . "
IN the Post for November 21 st-23 rd , 1732 , is the folloAving : — "Last ni g ht a Quarterly Com was held at the Devil Tavern , in Fleet-street , & c , present Rt . Hon . Lord Iiichiquin , Rt . Hon . Earl Sutherland , Pro . Grand Master ,
Ireland , & c ., tfec . Between , £ 40 ancl £ 50 was brought in for charity from different Lodges . " The account in Constitutions 1738 , ancl others read thus : —• " Grand Lodge in due form at the Devil 'foresaidon Tuesday ,
, 21 st November , 1732 , with Lord Coleraine , Lord Southwell , and other former 67 . Officers and those of 49 Lodges . " The amount contributed for charity was surely large for the period , ancl proves that our predecessors forget not to cherish that
" distinguishing characteristic of a Freemason ' s heart . " From the 'Post , ' Dec . 7 th to the 9 th 1732 , Bro . Clarke has extracted the folloAving : —
" There AA-as a Grand Committee of the Free and accepted Masons from several Lodges met at the Plom Tavern , iu Palaceyard , to consider of proper measures for raising by subscrip tion , a sum of money for the relief of their poor Brethren
throughout England and Ireland . " It is important to note that the historians of the Grand Lodge of Englaud are silent as to this meeting , and doubtless at that time Avere not anxious for the poverty of many of their members being published
to the Avorld . This paragraph preserves the account of the first meeting of the Grand Lodge of England to provide for a systematic benevolent scheme , and Avas in all probability the beginning , in a humble Avay , of our present
Grand Lodge of BeneA'olence . But let us also note the fact that the revival , as it is called of the Society , only occurred some 1-5 years before this meeting , and yet funds Avere being accumulated to relieve distressed Brethren , ancl the casual
sums previously obtained—even as much as upwards of , £ 40 at a meeting , Avere insufficient for the purpose .
Surely all this points to the tact that there Avere more Masons in existence than those initiated since 1717 , and that in all probability it was the operative portion of the Fraternity who required assistance . At the period in question , a great many Noblemen belonged to the Order , and it is
not likely that a society of " yesterday " w-ould have secured their patronage to the extent that Freemasonry did , neither is it probable that the class of their Members Avas such as to Avant pecuniary aid ; so that Ave may relieA'e iu distress as formerly ,
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Early Meetings Of The Grand Lodge Of England.
Master to constitute a Lodge in the East Inches . " " Ancl at the same time the Grand Master and Wardens , ancl most of the gentlemen present took tickets to appear in Avhite gloves at the Theatre Royal in Drury
Lane as last night , Avhere the Play of Henry IV ., Part II ., was acted for their Entertainment , and a Prologue and E pilogue Avas spoken suitable to the occasion , and in honour of that society . " This Avas a very long report for the
"Post , " the paragraphs generally only averaging four or five lines , and is an indirect proof , Avith others Ave mi ght mention , of the Avouderful prosperity of the Grand Lodge at that time , though only some eleA'en years from its constitution .
The fact indeed points to the great probability that the Grand Lodge is an outgroAvth of numerous Lodges , and many members scattered OA'er the country , in addition to the four old Lodges , ancl the Brethren AVIIO directly instituted it—Lodges Avhich Avere
content to accept Warrants from the neAv Grand Lodge , though previously working according to ancient usage . In the Constitutions of 173 S is the following account of the meeting , not quite in agreement with the foregoing , and a much shorter narrative of the business . The editions since simply perpetuate the same meagre extract .
" Assembly and Feast at Mercer ' s Hall on St . John ' s Day , Friday , 27 Dec , 1728 . D . Grand Master Choke Avith bis Wardens , several noble Brothers , former Grand Officers , aud many Brethren , duly clothed , atteuded the Grand Master Elect in coaches
from his Lordshi p ' s House in Leicestersquare to the Hall Eastward ; and all Things being regularly transacted as above , D . G . M . Choke proclaimed aloud our noble Brother . VIII . James King , Lord Viscount
Kingston , Grand Master of Masons ! Avho appointed Nathaniel Blakerby , Esq ., D . G ., Master . Sir JAMES TIIOKNIIILL , 1 Grand Mr . MARTIN O'CONNER , J Wardens , ancl the Secretary was continued . "
IN the Post for November 21 st-23 rd , 1732 , is the folloAving : — "Last ni g ht a Quarterly Com was held at the Devil Tavern , in Fleet-street , & c , present Rt . Hon . Lord Iiichiquin , Rt . Hon . Earl Sutherland , Pro . Grand Master ,
Ireland , & c ., tfec . Between , £ 40 ancl £ 50 was brought in for charity from different Lodges . " The account in Constitutions 1738 , ancl others read thus : —• " Grand Lodge in due form at the Devil 'foresaidon Tuesday ,
, 21 st November , 1732 , with Lord Coleraine , Lord Southwell , and other former 67 . Officers and those of 49 Lodges . " The amount contributed for charity was surely large for the period , ancl proves that our predecessors forget not to cherish that
" distinguishing characteristic of a Freemason ' s heart . " From the 'Post , ' Dec . 7 th to the 9 th 1732 , Bro . Clarke has extracted the folloAving : —
" There AA-as a Grand Committee of the Free and accepted Masons from several Lodges met at the Plom Tavern , iu Palaceyard , to consider of proper measures for raising by subscrip tion , a sum of money for the relief of their poor Brethren
throughout England and Ireland . " It is important to note that the historians of the Grand Lodge of Englaud are silent as to this meeting , and doubtless at that time Avere not anxious for the poverty of many of their members being published
to the Avorld . This paragraph preserves the account of the first meeting of the Grand Lodge of England to provide for a systematic benevolent scheme , and Avas in all probability the beginning , in a humble Avay , of our present
Grand Lodge of BeneA'olence . But let us also note the fact that the revival , as it is called of the Society , only occurred some 1-5 years before this meeting , and yet funds Avere being accumulated to relieve distressed Brethren , ancl the casual
sums previously obtained—even as much as upwards of , £ 40 at a meeting , Avere insufficient for the purpose .
Surely all this points to the tact that there Avere more Masons in existence than those initiated since 1717 , and that in all probability it was the operative portion of the Fraternity who required assistance . At the period in question , a great many Noblemen belonged to the Order , and it is
not likely that a society of " yesterday " w-ould have secured their patronage to the extent that Freemasonry did , neither is it probable that the class of their Members Avas such as to Avant pecuniary aid ; so that Ave may relieA'e iu distress as formerly ,