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.
to raise tho position of the Craft in public estimation . In 1 S 11 then the British Union Lodge boasted of a grocer , a tallow chandler , an innkeeper , and seven innholders ( what was the difference 1 ) , a basket-maker , a baker , three captainsprobably master mariners
, , a mariner , a watchtnakor , a plumber and glazier , and painter and glazier , three cordwainers , otherwise shoemakers , two bricklayers ( who no doubt were li ( odd ) men ) , one wheelwright , a doctor , a merchant , two butchers , a hairdresser , two
shipwrights , three carpenters , one iroufoundor , an appraiser , a dyer ( did he come in of dire necessity ?) , a hatter ( but no matter ) , an engineer , a waiter , and a messmaster . The last probabl y attached to some regiment stationed at Ipswich . We find afterwards a record of an excise
officer , a blacksmith , a joiner , a shopkeeper ( rather vague ) , and a draper , amongst the list of members . At the October Lodge meeting in 1811 , a shoemaker and a painter were initiated , and relief was allowed to two brothers , one belonging to the Scotland LodgeNo .
, 545 , and the other to tho Swansea Lodge , No . 333 . Under date December 3 rd , 1811 , we find Mr . George Wilson , tailor , at Stratford , was proposed by Bro . Levett . seconded by Bro . Cookand Ihirded b
, y Bro . Plaintain . No wonder he was unanimously elected . It seems to haA'e been quite the fashion at this period for candidates to be thirded .
At the St . John ' s Festival following Ave find the brethren '' adjourned at three " o ' clock to a good dinner Avhich was " plentifully supplied , and of which 36 '' brothers partook off . " It is stated also that Bro . Churchman " presented to the ' ¦ Lodge three greater lights or Illimvi naries . "
We also note that " Bro . Birrell of the " Theatrical Lodge visited our Lodge , " and from the handsome address made to "the JR . W . M . Officers and Brothers by " him in Bro . Hines behalf , a play w-as " ordered by the Body of the Lodge , called " the ' Honeymoon' with the Faree of
, "' Darkness Visible , ' as on AVednesday " next being New Year ' s Day . " A foot note is appended that next Lodge Meeting is AVednesday , 1 st January , IS 12 ,
at 5 o ' clock , so no doubt tho brethren went straight from the Lodge in their regalia to attend the Theatre . That this was so is evident from the Minutes of the next Lodge , where it is stated that the undermentioned officers and brethren
¦ —numbering 50 in all—attended the Possession ( sic ) to the Theatre . In the following Month ' s Minutes we find it recorded that "Bro . B . Plaintain proposed that a hearing should take place between Bro . Blasby , a member of this
Lodge , and Bro . Kendell , who has been made and passed at the Theatrical Lodge relative to his being proposed a candidate at this Lodge . An investigation took place , and the business was overlooked . " We gather from this that tho Theatrical
Company at the Theatre—which was we believe in Avhat Avas called the Norwich Circuit at that time—had a Lodge attached to it , but under ivhat authority ' it worked we do not know . At the May Meeting a member of the
Faithful Lodge , No . 99 , Noi-Avich , was relieved , and we find that there Avere literary Masons amongst us in the provinces even in those clays , for it is noted that .- " A
circulating ( sic ) letter Avas received from Bro . P . Pulling , of the Brotherly Love Lodge , No . 617 , held at the George Inn , Martock , Somersetshire , who most earnestly recommended his publication called MasoDic Essays , price half-a-crown . "
AVe don ' t find that the brethren ordered Bro . Pulling ' s book , probably they were like a good many of our brethren novr-aday .-i , and ivere fond of dogmatising about Avhat they knew little about , never seeking for that knoAvledge which they are
urged to acquire in our time honoured charges , but giving Masonic Literature the cold shoulder , preferring to go else-Avhere for the hot joint . The ivorthy brethren no doubt preferred to remain in darknessand to let Masonic literature
, take care of itself , as too many of our brethren do noAv-a-days , we are ashamed to say , —for we find it sinrphy stated as a fit conclusion to tho proceedings ( Bro . Pulling ' s letter having evidently been set aside and ignored ) that :
"St . John the Baptist being IIOAV at hand it ivas agreed to meet at 2 o ' clock on that day , and to dine at 4 o ' clock , every member present to pay for his dinner , and
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.
to raise tho position of the Craft in public estimation . In 1 S 11 then the British Union Lodge boasted of a grocer , a tallow chandler , an innkeeper , and seven innholders ( what was the difference 1 ) , a basket-maker , a baker , three captainsprobably master mariners
, , a mariner , a watchtnakor , a plumber and glazier , and painter and glazier , three cordwainers , otherwise shoemakers , two bricklayers ( who no doubt were li ( odd ) men ) , one wheelwright , a doctor , a merchant , two butchers , a hairdresser , two
shipwrights , three carpenters , one iroufoundor , an appraiser , a dyer ( did he come in of dire necessity ?) , a hatter ( but no matter ) , an engineer , a waiter , and a messmaster . The last probabl y attached to some regiment stationed at Ipswich . We find afterwards a record of an excise
officer , a blacksmith , a joiner , a shopkeeper ( rather vague ) , and a draper , amongst the list of members . At the October Lodge meeting in 1811 , a shoemaker and a painter were initiated , and relief was allowed to two brothers , one belonging to the Scotland LodgeNo .
, 545 , and the other to tho Swansea Lodge , No . 333 . Under date December 3 rd , 1811 , we find Mr . George Wilson , tailor , at Stratford , was proposed by Bro . Levett . seconded by Bro . Cookand Ihirded b
, y Bro . Plaintain . No wonder he was unanimously elected . It seems to haA'e been quite the fashion at this period for candidates to be thirded .
At the St . John ' s Festival following Ave find the brethren '' adjourned at three " o ' clock to a good dinner Avhich was " plentifully supplied , and of which 36 '' brothers partook off . " It is stated also that Bro . Churchman " presented to the ' ¦ Lodge three greater lights or Illimvi naries . "
We also note that " Bro . Birrell of the " Theatrical Lodge visited our Lodge , " and from the handsome address made to "the JR . W . M . Officers and Brothers by " him in Bro . Hines behalf , a play w-as " ordered by the Body of the Lodge , called " the ' Honeymoon' with the Faree of
, "' Darkness Visible , ' as on AVednesday " next being New Year ' s Day . " A foot note is appended that next Lodge Meeting is AVednesday , 1 st January , IS 12 ,
at 5 o ' clock , so no doubt tho brethren went straight from the Lodge in their regalia to attend the Theatre . That this was so is evident from the Minutes of the next Lodge , where it is stated that the undermentioned officers and brethren
¦ —numbering 50 in all—attended the Possession ( sic ) to the Theatre . In the following Month ' s Minutes we find it recorded that "Bro . B . Plaintain proposed that a hearing should take place between Bro . Blasby , a member of this
Lodge , and Bro . Kendell , who has been made and passed at the Theatrical Lodge relative to his being proposed a candidate at this Lodge . An investigation took place , and the business was overlooked . " We gather from this that tho Theatrical
Company at the Theatre—which was we believe in Avhat Avas called the Norwich Circuit at that time—had a Lodge attached to it , but under ivhat authority ' it worked we do not know . At the May Meeting a member of the
Faithful Lodge , No . 99 , Noi-Avich , was relieved , and we find that there Avere literary Masons amongst us in the provinces even in those clays , for it is noted that .- " A
circulating ( sic ) letter Avas received from Bro . P . Pulling , of the Brotherly Love Lodge , No . 617 , held at the George Inn , Martock , Somersetshire , who most earnestly recommended his publication called MasoDic Essays , price half-a-crown . "
AVe don ' t find that the brethren ordered Bro . Pulling ' s book , probably they were like a good many of our brethren novr-aday .-i , and ivere fond of dogmatising about Avhat they knew little about , never seeking for that knoAvledge which they are
urged to acquire in our time honoured charges , but giving Masonic Literature the cold shoulder , preferring to go else-Avhere for the hot joint . The ivorthy brethren no doubt preferred to remain in darknessand to let Masonic literature
, take care of itself , as too many of our brethren do noAv-a-days , we are ashamed to say , —for we find it sinrphy stated as a fit conclusion to tho proceedings ( Bro . Pulling ' s letter having evidently been set aside and ignored ) that :
"St . John the Baptist being IIOAV at hand it ivas agreed to meet at 2 o ' clock on that day , and to dine at 4 o ' clock , every member present to pay for his dinner , and