Letter Of Bro. W. J. Hughan, Of England, To The Grand Lodge Of Ohio.

raising by subscription , 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 England are silent as to this meeting , ancl doubtless at that time were not anxious for the poverty of many of their members being published to the world .

"This paragraph preserves the account of the first meeting of the Grand Lodge of England to provide for a systematic benevolent scheme , ancl was , in all probability , tho beginning , in a humble way , of our present Grand Lodge of Benevolence .

" But let us also note the fact that the revival , as it is called , of the Society , only occurred some fifteen years before this meeting , and yet funds were being accumulated to relieve distressed brethren , and the casual sums previously obtained—even as much as upwards of £ 40 at a meetingwere insufficient for the purpose .

" Surely all this points to the fact that there were 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 the Order , and it is not likely that a society of ' yesterday ' would have secured their patronage to the extent that Freemasonry did , neither is it probable that the class of their members was such as to want pecuniary aid ; so

that we may relieve in distress as formerly , because of the great accession of gentlemen who did not want such sums , were feeling the need of their old system being restored , under the Grand Lodge , determined to make strenuous efforts to help them .

"From St . James Evening Post , 1733 , is extracted as follows : "' On Monday next , at eight in the morning , the Society of " Honorary Freemasons , " will proceed from Whitehall in several barges to Richmondwith a grand

, concert of music , and return to Fulham , where an elegant entertainment will be provided for them . ' " At the Grand Lodge held March 30 ,

1734 , the same paper states , 'Thev also appointed the Rev . Mr . Orator Henley for their Chaplain for the ensuing year , ' and that John Ward , Esq ., appointed Senior Grand Warden , ' was M . P . for Newcastle under Lyne . '

" We look in vain for any report of the appointment of Bro . Henley in any of the Books of Constitutions , but there is no reason to doubt the fact of such an office being then customary , though no word is said about such office ( Grand Chaplain ) until many years subsequently , when the unfortunate Rev . William Dodd , D . D ., was appointed .

" The Rev . Bro . Henley signalized his appointment by the following advertisement in St . James Evening Post , June 23 , 1733 : " ' By command of the Rt . Hon , and Rt . Worshipful the Grand Master of the

Ancient ancl Honorable Society of free ancl accepted Masons of the last General Assembly , Mercer ' s Hall , and for the entertainment of the Brethren , at the Oratory , the corner of Lincoln ' s Inn Fields , near Clare Market , on Thursday next , the 25 th instant , June , at 6 in the evening , will he delivered an Eulogiuni upon Freemasonry , the first oration on that subject .

"' N . B . —At the Feast the Brethren were desired by the Grand Officers to come clothed to this oration . It will be spoken in the proper habiliment . "' Price of the seats to all persons whatsoever , Masons or others—Two shillings . '

" It was not the first Oration on Freemasonry , but we should much like to know what was said by our Bro . Orator Henley . " * Wishing all the regular Grand Lodges generally and tho Grand Lodge of Ohio in

particular , peace ancl prosperity , Believe me , a faithful Brother of the Craft , WILLIAM JAMES HUGIIAN . Truro , England , 1876 .