History Of Freemasonry In Cornwall.

HISTORY OF FREEMASONRY IN CORNWALL .

IiONDOF , SATURDAY , FEBRUARY 0 , 1867 .

By > fr Bro . WILLIAM JAMES HTJCUIAS - , IS , etc , ( Continued from page 63 . ) The subject alluded to was brought before the lodge on the 25 th January , 1787 , asfolloAA'S : — "A motion was made and seconded , and on a

ballot agreed by a majority of fourteen ,, that Bro . P be admitted into the lodge to defend himself of the charges alleged against hint , consisting of two , viz ., for initiating gentlemen into the mysteries of Masonry unconstitutionally , as

of the county of Cornwall , and of his conduct towards Miss A . " He Avas accordingly admitted , and having stated his defence retired from the lodge , Avhen his remarks were taken into consideration by the members , and on a motion

beingmade and seconded that the resolution passed 24 th August , 1786 , forbidding Bro . P to visit the lodge be rescinded . The ballot was taken , and the majority of two in a large lodge decided the matter .

February Sth , 1 / 8 / . —By a majority of eight black balls , Bro . Q was expelled the lodge , for Avhy the minutes do not state . We feel happy in mentioning that such cases were of very rare occurrence in Love and Honour .

The concluding minute of this volume of the records of the lodge gives a little insight into the Truro Lodge . May 10 th , 1787 . —The E . W . M . desired the Secretary to Avrite the lodge at Truro ( " In answer

to their letter of 26 th April , intimating they intended to discontinue their lodge , and enclosing an inventory of their jewels for sale " ) to express his sorrow , and that he hoped they would find means to continue their attachment to Masonry , and their

lodge in particular , aud also to inform them that he and his lodge Avould be ready at any time to attend at Truro and initiate whenever in their

poAver . The nest volume ofthe minutes ( i . e ., the fourth ) commences 10 th Slay , 1787 , in . continuation of the last , but until 25 th October of the same year nothing special is recorded , Avhen Mr . Eichard Williams was balloted for , accepted , and initiated

gratis for the services he means to perform for the lodge in painting the portraits of the several Masters . It would be interesting to know the various

reasons that have led the brethren of various ancient lodges to initiate others than Tylers free . No doubt the practice Avas frequently adopted , especially when service AA'as rendered to the lodge . In the present clay such a mode of initiation would

only be allowable when the candidate Avas to be a serving brother or Tyler . We may mention that about this time the minutes are written Avith great care and exactness , and in full detail . The lodge Avas opened in ample form , 31 st

December , and Avas attended hy a very numerous company of members and visitors . Sir John St . Aubyn , P . G . M ., Benjamin Hearne , Esq ., D . P . G . M ., G . George , Esq . ' , P . S . W ., Francis St . Aubyn , and other distinguished Masons

beingpresent . Two candidates Avere severally initiated , passed , and raised the same night , aud two Fellow Crafts were raised to the sublime degree of Master Masons by desire of the Most Worshipful the Provincial Grand Master .

At the next . lodge a motion was made by the Immediate Past Master , "that any brother in future to be initiated into the mysteries of Masonry should pay four guineas as his initiation fee . "

The subject of the loan of £ 25 to the Grand Hall Fund , and the dividend thereon , having- been deferred for some months , the matter Avas finally settled 24 th June , 1788 , when the lodge decided that the members intended to receive the first

dividend on the £ 25 ( sometime since advanced to the Grand Lodge ) , and to apply the same to the fund of charity . The Secretary Avas directed to answer a letter dated the 20 th May last , aud received from the Lodge of Unanimity ( No . 238 ) ,

Wakefield , Yorkshire , and to inform that lodge that the Lodge of Love and Honour would subscribe for two copies of Brother Eichard Linnear ' s poetical works .

The members unanimously agreed to haA'e a copper plate engraved for lodge certificates . We suppose the certificates referred to must be for clearance certificates , as they are called , for brethren who resign membership , as it cannot

mean the regular certificate granted to members on receiving- either of the three degrees , as the registering regulations had been adopted by the Grand Lodge some twenty years before this date . On 28 lh August the lodge subscribed two guineas

for a chance in an organ to be raffled , Avith Avhat success Ave may see farther on . Brother D'Houvitte was proposed to become an honorary member ( on account of his being