The History Of Selby, Its Abbey, And Its Masonic Associations.

THE HISTORY OF SELBY , ITS ABBEY , AND ITS MASONIC ASSOCIATIONS .

Bead by FRATER J . T . ATKINSON , 1 ° , before a meeting of the Torlc College of Bosiarucians , held in the Masonic Hall , Selby , in the month of May , 1881 . IT affords me very great pleasure indeed in giving you a most hearty and fraternal welcome to the good old town of Selby , which now , for the first timehas been honoured by the presence of the York College of Rosicrucians .

, There is , for obvious Masonic reasons , great fitness in your visit here , and I give you this welcome in a twofold capacity : first , as a Brother Mason , and next , in my official capacity as one of the Churchwardens of the Abbey Church , having had the privilege of being one of its official guardians for the last seven years . I have ventured to call Selby " a good old town" and I think I may fairl

, y claim for it to be such , inasmuch as it has been known to history for over 800 years , and also on account of the splendid pile of buildings which the piety of our ancestors has erected , and to which I shall speedily call your attention . Although there is no record of Selby earlier than the time of William the Conqueror , still its name seems to indicate its Danish origin—Selby , i . e ., " Sealby , or the place of the seal or sea-calf ; " and also from the fact that a few

years ago Roman remains were discovered ; and also hazel twigs in coffins formed of trunks of trees , as hereafter mentioned , would to a certain extent prove that it was not unknown in those early times . Doubtless , its favourable situation on the banks of the river Ouse , in the midst of a well-wooded and rich pasture and corn-growing district , would tend , even in Anglo-Saxon timesto make it a lace of some little importance . After the battle of

Stam-, p ford Bridge in September , 1066 , which virtuall y terminated the Danish power in England , their fleet , which lay at Riccall , about three or four miles from here , was captured by King Harold , and his greed in retaining the treasure may have in some measure caused the disastrous defeat of Senlac in the following month .

But the real history of Selby undoubtedly commences with the founding of the Abbey in 1069 , and the manner was stated to be as follows : Benedict , a secular monk in the Abbey of Auxerre , in France , was ordered by St . Germain to leave his own country ancl go to a land which he would show him . The Saint told him that the place was at Selby , in England , situate on the river Ouse , near the cit y of York , which was ordained for his praise . He therefore set out

for England in search of the spot , having- concealed in his arm miraculousl y the gift of the Saint ' s finger , which was then preserved on the hi gh altar ; but the place of his destined labour being then unknown , he got directed to " Salisbury , " where , making the acquaintance of a pious monk called Edward , who afterwards was one of the witnesses to the charter granted b y the Conqueror , and therein st yled "Edward of Salisbury , " and showing him the precious relic

, he was most kindly received and helped on his way , having also ^ peived from him many beautiful and precious gifts , long preserved in the Abbey of Selby . Amongst them was a golden phylactery , of considerable size and beauty , also a certain covering for the altar decorated with rich workmanship in loom-work , the design representing our Lord on the cross , the twelve apostles , and four evangelists . St . Germain then again appeared to him , and to prevent further mistake distinctl y repeated the syllables of the word Selb y , " and shewed him the place in the vision . Benedict went on his way rejoicing , and arriving at Lynn , in Norfolk , took shipping for York , and after