The Albion Lodge, Quebec.

THE ALBION LODGE , QUEBEC .

WILLiAM JAKES HUGHAN . HAVING had occasion latel y to look into the origin of the Albion Lodge , Quebec , it has occurred to me that a sketch of its history would be acceptable to the readers of the Masonic Magazine . A few years ago , when I

claimed for Philadelphia the honour of being the Premier Masonic City of America ( viz ., of A . D . 1730 ) , Bro . Tisdall ( since deceased ) answered the claim by putting in a prior date for the Albion Lodge , Quebec ( viz ., A . D . 1721-2 ) . He declared he had seen the warrant with that year thereon , ancl many shared his confidence that the Lodge named was the oldest in America . The mistake of Bro . Tisdall ' s , ancl others , was doubtless due to the fact that in the

Freemasons' Calendar ( G . L . of England ) the years of constitution of the 'Ancients " are left vacant , whilst those of the regular Grand Lodge ( or "Moderns " ) are inserted . No .- 16 , Royal Alpha , is dated 1722 , ancl No . 17 , Albion ( when on the Roll ) , was left blank as to the year , which led many to suppose ditto was meant , and so with the other "Ancient" lodges . By the publication of my " Masonic Register of Lodges " this error has been dispelled ; and since then

the issue of the " At-holl Lodges , " by Bro . Gould ( S . G . D . ) has finally removed all grounds for doubt on the subject , so far as the " Ancients " are concerned . No lodges hailing from that Grand Lodge were warranted for any part of America before the year 1757 , the first apparently being for Halifax , N . S . According to Bro . J . F . Brennan , this authority for Nova Scotia Avas not made use of for several years . The next " Ancient" charters for any part of America Avere 69 , Philadelphia , of A . D . 1758 ; ancl 89 , of 1761-4 . for the same city .

A careful examination of the "Atboll Lodges , " b y Bro . Gould , will prepare the reader for the statement that not one of the "Ancient" lodges can produce any proof of existence prior to 1750 , and that the No . IX . which distinguished the Albion Lodge during part of the last century cannot therefore be of an earlier year than 1751 . But the year of issue alone is not any proof of continuous working from the date of origin . Many lodges were warranted from time to time by the "Ancients" bearing the same number throughout . The

, present Mount Moriah ( No . 34 , of London ) , Bro . Gould states , had no less than four warrants from the first on 9 th January , 1754 , to the last on 19 th March , 1783 . It was 31 under the "Ancients " during this period , and after three lapses , and new warrants issued , it AA'as again reissued in 1783 , in each case bearing the number 31 , but of course taking date only from the period when again chartered , the number preserving the precedence , not the continuity . The No .

9 is another instance of several Avarrants , the first being granted in 1751 , for London , and likel y enough signed by the Masters of Nos . 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , ancl 7 , they being authorised so to do and to act as Grand Master until a suitable brother was installed in that office . * In 1757 the lodge had lapsed , ancl was again issued for London , being purchased by No . 50 . Bro . Gould tells me he found in the minutes of the Stewards' Lodof " Ancients " that BroClarkeSGW

ge . , ..., and others gave five guineas for the vacant No . 9 , 17 th April , 1771 , making its third issue , and the fourth was on the 6 th June , 1787 , according to the minutes of the Grand Lodge , Avhen it was transferred to the Royal Artillery ( 4 th Battalion ) . On 30 th September , 1777 , Bro . James Cook , the Master of No- 9 , delivered up the warrant at the Grand Lodge , so that as to its having