History Of Freemasonry In Cornwall.

in much reduced circumstances through the decease of the " partner of her joys and SOITOAVS . " Only five brethren were present 23 rd December , A . D . 1777 , and the following statement Avas made , as an explanation of the long vacation :

" It appearing that no regular lodge has been held since the 7 th July , 1772 , the brethren this night assembled have thought it necessary here to set forth tho reasons why no regular lodge hath been before held . "

The R . W . M . vras under a necessity from the nature of the office he holds under government to repair to London in July , 1772 , soon after the last regular lodge Avas held , where he was detained a considerable time , and after his return to St . Ives ,

before any regular lodge Avas held , he was commanded upon duty to the West Indies . During the absence of the Master the S . W . Bro . Hicks

died , and by the constitution of the lodge it Avas appointed to be held at his house , but upon his decease , the house falling into the occupation of other persons , it became inconvenient to continue the lodge there , and the Master having been

called into Ireland , Avas absent a considerable time . Since his return difficulty has arisen to find a proper room wherein to hold the lodge , and it has only been AA'ithin a feAV days past , that the brethren have been able to procure a room at the Queen ' s

Head , in St . L es , proper for the purpose . What a chapter of grievances indeed ! The brethren assembled ivere evidently determined to make up for lost time , numerous meetings were soon held , several invitations took place , joining members

presented themselves , and the finances soon improved . One guinea to the General Charity , and a similar amount to the Hall Fund of the Grand

Lodge Avere granted , and the brethren had the honour of a visit from the D . P . G . M . who Avas gratified to Avitness the improvement effected in so short a time . The members resolved that they would defray

the expenses attending the interment of their late Tyler , AATIOIII Ave trust received a summons to attend the Grand Lodq-e above . Tlie lodge minutes contain the folloAving , 16 fh March , A . D . 1779;—

-" Whereas a- manifesto being produced last night and agreed to be referred to this present evening , and in the intermediate time a letter having been received from the Grand Lodge respecting the said manifesto , they Avere both read

in a full lodge , Avhen it was unanimously agreed to send the folloAving letter : " Ship Lodge , St . Ives , March 16 , 1779 . Bro . Hesseltine , —This lodge having received a letter enclosing a manifesto from a lodge styling

themselves the Lodge of Antiquity , dated the 13 th January , 1779 , and also a letter from the committee of Charity appointed by the Grand Lodge , dated January 29 fch , 1779 , it Avas the unanimous resolution of this lodge ( after both letters

beingread ) to treat the former Avith the contempt it deserved , and to continue our allegiance to the lodge from whence it had its sanction , Avhich Ave must desire you to communicate to Grand Lodge . Signed by order of the R . W . M ., and brethren assembled , W . Worth , Secretary .

Although in possession of the facts relating to the Lodge of Antiquity andGrandLodge , we do not think it Avise to do more than simply state the decision of the lodge . The Freemasons in Cornwall have ahvays been very constitutional , and most

continuous and hearty supporters of the Grand Lodge from A . D . 1751 . The Masons of St . Ives , in common Avith the inhabitants thereof , were much alarmed and terrified at the " wars and rumours of Avars" that were so

general about this period , and so greatly were they distressed thereby , that the lodge and its duties were laid aside for awhile , as the Secretary declares no meetings were held by reason of the alarms given to the country by the combined fleets of France and Spain , wliich threatened an invasion . One of the strangest minutes Ave have ever read

is recorded on 18 th January , 1780 . "Amotion being made that : — ' There appears to be a sad blot on the escutcheon of Masonry , which Ave , the members present , endeavour to account for thus : That those brethren who have above erased their

names Avith their own hands , taking- umbrag-e at some supposed misconduct in the Master ' s not proceeding to the election -of a Master , because so impetuous and turbulent as wholly to prevent the Secretary ' s entering the intended Mason . "

April 4 th , 1780 . Present , four members only . " The above explanation of the interruption that happened on the 18 th of January , may , in some degrees account for the vacuum of lodges from that date to this . "

We haA'e lot the Secretary speak for himself , but although ho does not say the effect of this disagreement , it evidently caused the dissolution