Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Notes On The Old Minute Books Of The British Union Lodge, No 114, Ipswich. A.D. 1762.
Under date Feby . 2 nd , 1 S 0 S , we find it ordered that the Treasurer pay 20 s ., being a gift for the relief of Bro . Forrester , now confined in the old gaol for debt . " One is glad to find our Brethren remembering the Tyler ' s toast ancl their duty to all poor and distressed Masons . One comes across curious names in
these Minutes . One Brother is called Christian Anchor , another Wm . Kettle , then we have Suter , ancl Ribbins , and other odd cognomens , such as Bro . Curtis-Plumb , etc . A candidate Avas proposed in May , 1808 , ancl rejected by " five black ancl negative
beans , " ancl a memo is p laced at the bottom of the Minutes to the effect " that the bylaws say no -mention shall ever be made of the above . "
A A'ery suitable reminder to be read at the next meeting , ivhen the Minutes Avere confirmed , and one which many a garrulous Mason in our own day would do Avell to bear in mind . Too often , we grieve to say , an adverse ballot in our country lodges has become the town gossip , ancl it would be Avell if some such caution as
above Avere added the the by-laws of all lodges , as much unpleasantness Avould be saved thereby . We think we are right in saying , hovrever , that the British Union of to-day adopts a better plan , and rarely or neA'er blackballs a candidate . When an
unsuitable person ' s name is brought forward a hint is quietly given to the proposes ancl the name is withdrawn before it goes to the ballot , and this seems to us much the best plan . At St . John Baptist's Festival in 1809 ,
65 members dined , so the lodge was evidentl y prospering . 17 th Aug ., 1809 . —X Lodge was opened at the Fleece , in St . Matthews , to attend the funeral of a brother , when 38 members of the Lodge attended . After the minister
had concluded the service at the grave a solemn dirge was sung , and the R . W . M . delivered an oration . Under date 25 Octr ., 1809 , we find the brethren celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of the Accession of George III . when the
, British Union and Perfect Friendship Lod ge met together at the Coach and Horses Hotel , and proceeded to St . Clement ' s Church where an excellent sermon
was delivered by the Revd . Dr . Bailey Wallace , Rector of St . Mary Stoke . The Lodges voted £ 2 10 s . each to the General Fund for the relief of the industrious poor of the toivn of Ipswich , in token of their respect for the day " and his Majesty ' s sacred person and government . "
Our brethren were evidently as loyal ond law-abiding then as they are now , in spite of the statements to the contrary of our many maligners in the Catholic Church .
On the Srd Nov ., 1809 , we find that Bro . Joseph Cooper , of the Green Man Inn , " on his deathbed having requested the Worshipful Master and brethren to follow his remains to the ground , " the sanction of the Prov . Grand Master haA'inff been
obtained , a Masonic procession Avas formed , ancl the brother was buried with Masonic rites . Under date Feby . 6 th , 1810 , Ave find a candidate , Capt . Thos . Richess , elected , initiated , passed and raised on the same evening . Bro . Robert King was W . M . at this time .
Now this brother , AVIIO Avas a P . M . at the time of his election to the chair of this old lodge , becomes an interesting personage to our brother Knights Templar when we tell them that his name ancl those of Bros . John Gooding and Saml . Girling , ( who was W . M . in 1811 , ) all members of
this Lodge , occur in the Charter of the Prudence Preceptory of Knights Templars , as the petitioners named speciall y " with several other Knights of the said Order residing in Ipswich , to whom was granted the Charter to hold the Encampment of
Prudence in this year 1810 . " This Charter has the following superscription : " To those lohom it may concern , Greeting , and more particularly to the Knights Companions of the Royal , Exalted . Religiousand Military Order of
, E . R . D . M ., K . D . S . H ., Grand Elected Knights Templars of St . John of Jerusalem , " etc ., ancl it is noticeable that with reference to recent proceedings in Great Priory , reported in the Freemason , where it was decided to restore the old title
Masonic , which had been eliminated in the new Statutes as not being archaic , that the Avarcl Masonic does not occur once in this Charter of 1810 . The British Union Lodge therefore may 2 o
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Notes On The Old Minute Books Of The British Union Lodge, No 114, Ipswich. A.D. 1762.
Under date Feby . 2 nd , 1 S 0 S , we find it ordered that the Treasurer pay 20 s ., being a gift for the relief of Bro . Forrester , now confined in the old gaol for debt . " One is glad to find our Brethren remembering the Tyler ' s toast ancl their duty to all poor and distressed Masons . One comes across curious names in
these Minutes . One Brother is called Christian Anchor , another Wm . Kettle , then we have Suter , ancl Ribbins , and other odd cognomens , such as Bro . Curtis-Plumb , etc . A candidate Avas proposed in May , 1808 , ancl rejected by " five black ancl negative
beans , " ancl a memo is p laced at the bottom of the Minutes to the effect " that the bylaws say no -mention shall ever be made of the above . "
A A'ery suitable reminder to be read at the next meeting , ivhen the Minutes Avere confirmed , and one which many a garrulous Mason in our own day would do Avell to bear in mind . Too often , we grieve to say , an adverse ballot in our country lodges has become the town gossip , ancl it would be Avell if some such caution as
above Avere added the the by-laws of all lodges , as much unpleasantness Avould be saved thereby . We think we are right in saying , hovrever , that the British Union of to-day adopts a better plan , and rarely or neA'er blackballs a candidate . When an
unsuitable person ' s name is brought forward a hint is quietly given to the proposes ancl the name is withdrawn before it goes to the ballot , and this seems to us much the best plan . At St . John Baptist's Festival in 1809 ,
65 members dined , so the lodge was evidentl y prospering . 17 th Aug ., 1809 . —X Lodge was opened at the Fleece , in St . Matthews , to attend the funeral of a brother , when 38 members of the Lodge attended . After the minister
had concluded the service at the grave a solemn dirge was sung , and the R . W . M . delivered an oration . Under date 25 Octr ., 1809 , we find the brethren celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of the Accession of George III . when the
, British Union and Perfect Friendship Lod ge met together at the Coach and Horses Hotel , and proceeded to St . Clement ' s Church where an excellent sermon
was delivered by the Revd . Dr . Bailey Wallace , Rector of St . Mary Stoke . The Lodges voted £ 2 10 s . each to the General Fund for the relief of the industrious poor of the toivn of Ipswich , in token of their respect for the day " and his Majesty ' s sacred person and government . "
Our brethren were evidently as loyal ond law-abiding then as they are now , in spite of the statements to the contrary of our many maligners in the Catholic Church .
On the Srd Nov ., 1809 , we find that Bro . Joseph Cooper , of the Green Man Inn , " on his deathbed having requested the Worshipful Master and brethren to follow his remains to the ground , " the sanction of the Prov . Grand Master haA'inff been
obtained , a Masonic procession Avas formed , ancl the brother was buried with Masonic rites . Under date Feby . 6 th , 1810 , Ave find a candidate , Capt . Thos . Richess , elected , initiated , passed and raised on the same evening . Bro . Robert King was W . M . at this time .
Now this brother , AVIIO Avas a P . M . at the time of his election to the chair of this old lodge , becomes an interesting personage to our brother Knights Templar when we tell them that his name ancl those of Bros . John Gooding and Saml . Girling , ( who was W . M . in 1811 , ) all members of
this Lodge , occur in the Charter of the Prudence Preceptory of Knights Templars , as the petitioners named speciall y " with several other Knights of the said Order residing in Ipswich , to whom was granted the Charter to hold the Encampment of
Prudence in this year 1810 . " This Charter has the following superscription : " To those lohom it may concern , Greeting , and more particularly to the Knights Companions of the Royal , Exalted . Religiousand Military Order of
, E . R . D . M ., K . D . S . H ., Grand Elected Knights Templars of St . John of Jerusalem , " etc ., ancl it is noticeable that with reference to recent proceedings in Great Priory , reported in the Freemason , where it was decided to restore the old title
Masonic , which had been eliminated in the new Statutes as not being archaic , that the Avarcl Masonic does not occur once in this Charter of 1810 . The British Union Lodge therefore may 2 o