Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Letter Of Bro. W. J. Hughan, Of England, To The Grand Lodge Of Ohio.
from the source indicated—Booh 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 Bro . Clarke , of Shepton-Mallet , having copies of the Whitehall Evening Post , has kindly made several extracts therefrom , and which are now submitted for the information of
the Craft . " ( Whitehall Evenim / Post , December 28 to 31 , 1728 ) , 'Friday ' last being St . John ' s Day there was a great appearance of Freemasons at Stationers' Hall , where a handsome entertainment was provided for them
by twelve stewards chosen for that purpose , after which the following officers were chosen for the ensuing year , viz ., the Rt . Hon'ble the Lord Coleraine , Nathaniel Blackesby , Deputy Grand Master , in the room of Alexander Chock , Esq ., and Sir
James Thornhill and Martin O'Connor , Grand Wardens , in the room of the said Mr . Blackesby and Mr . Joseph Highmore . ' " 'Tis remarkable that there were present the Master of the lodge at Madrid in Spainand the Wardens belonging to the
, Lodge of Carmarthen in South Wales , and a commission was signed by the Grand Master to constitute a lodge in the East Indies .
'" And at the same time the Grand Master ancl Wardens , and most of the gentlemen took tickets to appear in white gloves at the Theater Royal , in Drury Lane , as last night , where the play of Henry IV ., Part II ., was acted for their entertainment , and a Prologue and Epilogue was spoken suitable to the occasion and in honor of that society . '
"This was a very long report for the Post , the paragraphs generally only averaging four or five lines , and is an indirect proof , with others we might mention , of the wonderful prosperity of the Grand Lodge at that time , though only some
eleven years from its constitution . The fact indeed points to the great probability that the Grand Lodge is an outgrowth of numerous lodges , and many members scattered over the country , in addition to the four old lodges and the brethren who directl y instituted it—lodges which were content to accept warrants from the new
Grand Lodge , though previously working according to ancient usage . "In the Constitutions of 1738 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 ancl Feast at Mercer ' s Hall on St . John ' s Day , Friday , 27 December , 1728 . D . Grand Master Choke with his "Wardens , several noble brothers former
Grand officers , and many brethren , duly clothed , attended the Grand Master Elect , in coaches from his Lordship ' s house in Leicester Square 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 ! who appointed Nathaniel Blakerby , Esq ., D . G . Master . "' SIR JAMES THORNHILL ) „ ,, „ , ir < -i , r -v . r rvn „ r GrandWardcns . "' MR . MARTIN 0 CONNER J
"' and the Secretary was continued . ' " In the Post for November 21-23 , 1732 , is the following : " 'Last night a Quarterly Com was held at the Devil Tavern , in Fleet Street , etc ., present Rt . Hon . Lord InchiquinRt .
, Hon . Earl Sutherland , Pro . Grand Master , Ireland , & c , & c . Between £ 40 ancl , £ 50 was brought in for charity from different Lodges . ' "The account in Constitutions , 1738 , and others read thus : ' Grand Lodge in
due form at the Devil 'foresaid , on Tuesday , 21 st November , 1732 , with Lord Coleraine , Lord Southwell , and other former G . Officers ancl those 39 Lodges ' " The amount contributed for charity was surely large for the period , and proves that our predecessors forgot not to cherish that 'distinguishing characteristic of a Freemason ' s heart . '
" From the Post , December 7 th to the 9 th , 1732 , Bro . Clarke has extracted the following : " ' There was a Grand Committee of the Free and accepted Masons from several Lodges met at the Horn Tavern , in Palaceyard , to consider of proper measures for
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Letter Of Bro. W. J. Hughan, Of England, To The Grand Lodge Of Ohio.
from the source indicated—Booh 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 Bro . Clarke , of Shepton-Mallet , having copies of the Whitehall Evening Post , has kindly made several extracts therefrom , and which are now submitted for the information of
the Craft . " ( Whitehall Evenim / Post , December 28 to 31 , 1728 ) , 'Friday ' last being St . John ' s Day there was a great appearance of Freemasons at Stationers' Hall , where a handsome entertainment was provided for them
by twelve stewards chosen for that purpose , after which the following officers were chosen for the ensuing year , viz ., the Rt . Hon'ble the Lord Coleraine , Nathaniel Blackesby , Deputy Grand Master , in the room of Alexander Chock , Esq ., and Sir
James Thornhill and Martin O'Connor , Grand Wardens , in the room of the said Mr . Blackesby and Mr . Joseph Highmore . ' " 'Tis remarkable that there were present the Master of the lodge at Madrid in Spainand the Wardens belonging to the
, Lodge of Carmarthen in South Wales , and a commission was signed by the Grand Master to constitute a lodge in the East Indies .
'" And at the same time the Grand Master ancl Wardens , and most of the gentlemen took tickets to appear in white gloves at the Theater Royal , in Drury Lane , as last night , where the play of Henry IV ., Part II ., was acted for their entertainment , and a Prologue and Epilogue was spoken suitable to the occasion and in honor of that society . '
"This was a very long report for the Post , the paragraphs generally only averaging four or five lines , and is an indirect proof , with others we might mention , of the wonderful prosperity of the Grand Lodge at that time , though only some
eleven years from its constitution . The fact indeed points to the great probability that the Grand Lodge is an outgrowth of numerous lodges , and many members scattered over the country , in addition to the four old lodges and the brethren who directl y instituted it—lodges which were content to accept warrants from the new
Grand Lodge , though previously working according to ancient usage . "In the Constitutions of 1738 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 ancl Feast at Mercer ' s Hall on St . John ' s Day , Friday , 27 December , 1728 . D . Grand Master Choke with his "Wardens , several noble brothers former
Grand officers , and many brethren , duly clothed , attended the Grand Master Elect , in coaches from his Lordship ' s house in Leicester Square 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 ! who appointed Nathaniel Blakerby , Esq ., D . G . Master . "' SIR JAMES THORNHILL ) „ ,, „ , ir < -i , r -v . r rvn „ r GrandWardcns . "' MR . MARTIN 0 CONNER J
"' and the Secretary was continued . ' " In the Post for November 21-23 , 1732 , is the following : " 'Last night a Quarterly Com was held at the Devil Tavern , in Fleet Street , etc ., present Rt . Hon . Lord InchiquinRt .
, Hon . Earl Sutherland , Pro . Grand Master , Ireland , & c , & c . Between £ 40 ancl , £ 50 was brought in for charity from different Lodges . ' "The account in Constitutions , 1738 , and others read thus : ' Grand Lodge in
due form at the Devil 'foresaid , on Tuesday , 21 st November , 1732 , with Lord Coleraine , Lord Southwell , and other former G . Officers ancl those 39 Lodges ' " The amount contributed for charity was surely large for the period , and proves that our predecessors forgot not to cherish that 'distinguishing characteristic of a Freemason ' s heart . '
" From the Post , December 7 th to the 9 th , 1732 , Bro . Clarke has extracted the following : " ' There was a Grand Committee of the Free and accepted Masons from several Lodges met at the Horn Tavern , in Palaceyard , to consider of proper measures for