Notes On The Old Minutes Of British Union Lodge, Ipswich.

NOTES ON THE OLD MINUTES OF BRITISH UNION LODGE , IPSWICH .

BY WILHAM JAMES HUGHAN . I HAVE read the notes on the old Records of the British Union Lodge , No . 114 , Ipswich , with much pleasure , and am glad that they have been so efficiently made

by our Brother Emra Holmes ( the numerous titles are omitted which follow his name , for which I ask forgiveness ) . The history of the old Lodge is well worth preservation , and to complete as far as possible the information on the subject , I have answered Brother Holmes' questions which he has fraternally addressed to me through the medium of the Masonic

Magazine . The transcript of warrant of the Lodge should have been given if the original is to bo obtained , and also date of its constitution . By reference to some of my lists it appears that the Lodge was warranted January 21 st 1762 as No . " 270

, , , Green Man , Ipswich , Suffolk . " Subsequently it became " 214 , Philby ' s Coffee House , Ipswich , " and its name is correctly giveu as British Union Lodge in my lists of 1777 and 1779 . In consequence of the alteration in numbers in A . D . 1781 , it

became 173 ; in A . D . 1792 , 147 ; at the union of December , 1813 ( 1814 list ) , 180 ; in A . D . 1832 , 131 ; and in A . D . 18 G 3 , 114 , at which it still remains . The Lodge is well entitled to its centenary warrant , which the members thereof are doubtless proud in

possessing . The "Royal Alfred Lodge , '' mentioned in the Records September , 1770 , was held at Diss , Norfolk , No . 404 , and was struck off the roll of Lodges A . D . 1790 . The history of Masonry noticed in the minutes of 21 st December 1777 was in

, , all probability the noted " Illustrations of Masonry , " by William Preston , the best work of its kind issued in this country during the last century . Published originally in 1772 , and a second edition in 1775 , with many additions and editions

subsequently . For years it was dedicated to the M . W . G . M . Lord Petre , and well deserved the extensive support it received , as did also a less pretensions work , the

fact . We are open to prove that there are " Spirit of Masonry , " by Brother Hutchinson , which first saw the light iu 1775 . Bro . Holmes cannot evidently be aware of the character of the Book of

Constitutions bought by the Lodge on the 6 th January , 1778 , or he would not have said , " 10 s . % d . rather a high figure for the ivork . " It is a large volume , with frontispiece , quarto size , first title being of date 1767 , with pages , and an appendix of pages . It is a very scarce work now , and

a clean good copy is worth many half guineas , which our Brother would discover if he found a copy for sale anywhere . ¦ The Constitutions of last century contained a long traditional account of the Society , and a valuable history of the Grand Lodge

from 1727 , which added much to the bulk and real worth of the volume , and have rendered the various editions from 1723 to 1784 prizes much sought after and highly appreciated by Masonic Bibliographers .

We most heartily endorse Bro . Holmes ' remarks as to Masonic Banquets , and especially so when he says , " We are strongly of opinion that the Lodge funds should never be trenched upon , exceptin exercise of hospitality tostrangers , and the members who

stay to supper , or dinner , or whatever name it goes by , should be content to fay for it . ' ' Though we do not expect to live many years in this beautiful world , we yet hope to see the clay when the Grand Lodge will require Lodges to keep a separate and independent Fund for Refreshmentsor pass

, a law that no portion of the funds shall be devoted to any purposes but those strictly . in accordance with the demands of the Society and charity generally . On the Sth June , 1781 , I see it was decided to subscribe for a copy of the

official Grand Lodge Calendar . They were issued in 1777 ; but prior to that date thenplace was filled hy the authorized Lists of Lodges by Pine or Cole from 1723 . We cannot understand Lodges in the present clay being without such useful

publications as our Masonic Calendars . The visitor at the Lodge held in June , 1782 , was from the "United Traders ' Lodge , " held at Cross Street , Hatton Garden , at the sign of the "Pewter Platter ;'' and why its name cannot be found in the " Cosmopolitan Masonic Ca-