History Of Freemasonry In Worcestershire.

assist in laying the foundation stone of St . Clement ' s Church , which is declined for reasons shown . The invitation and reply are given .- —¦ " Be ST . CLEMENT ' S CHURCH . " To tlie Grand Master of the Society of Free ,

masons . " The committee appointed to conduct the rebuilding St . Clement's Church beg to inform the Grand Master and Society of Freemasons that the foundation stone of the UOAV church will be laid by

the Worshipful the Mayor of Worcester , on Tuesday , the 19 th instant , at 12 o ' clock , on which occasion the company of the Grand Master , and any part of the society , will be deemed a favour . " By order of the committee ,

" THOS . LLOYD , Secretary , & c . " Worcester , "St . Clement's 13 th June , 1821 .

'•' The committee propose meeting the Mayor and Corporation at the Bridge at 12 o'clock . " To this was sent the following reply -. — " WOECESTEE LODGE , 526 . " Gentlemen , —I am commanded by the

Worshipful Master to acknoAvledge the receipt of your favour of 13 th June , and to convey the thanks of the Master and brethren for your polite invitation . We regret we are obliged to decline it , but we cannot consistently consent to take a secondary

part in any procession in Avhich as Masons Ave consider ourselves entitled to act as principals . " I have the honour to be , " With great respect , " Your most obedient servant , " THOMAS SPINNEY . " June 17 th , 1821 . "

In 1821 several meetings Avere called Avithout sufficient members being present to open the lodge . At the close of the year the W . M . is reelected , and £ 5 are voted to the widow of a brother . In the folloAving year several members are added

to the roll , and in 1823 the by-laws are revised . On the 4 th September of that year "the brethren are invited by the D . Prov . G . M . of the count y of Gloucester ' to attend at TeAvkesbury to lay the first stone for the new bridge at tlie Myfche , '

which the brethren decline as a lodge , ' in consequence of the shortness of the notice ; ' but the permission of the D . Prov . G . M . of Worcester , shire , Brother Dods , is obtained to enable any of the brethren Avho may choose to do so to attend . " In 1825 , at a meeting , May 2 nd , W . Brother

Ballard is again elected W . Master , several brethren join the lodge , and five Craftsmen are raised , Bro . Spinney visiting the lodge for this purpose . At this meeting , a letter is read from the W . M . of the Foundation Lodge ,

Cheltenham , inviting ' the Worcester Lodge to assist , in laying the foundation stone of a new Pump Room at Pitville Spa , near Cheltenham . ' In consequence of the lodge being unprovided Avith a banner , it Avas determined not to accept

the invitation as a lodge , although several brethren expressed their intention of attending . " In 1826 Ave find a curious entry , " paid to H . Deighton secret service money £ 2 7 s . Od ., but the nature of the secret service is not disclosed . "

In Feb ., 182 S , "twenty-three pounds are repaid to Bro . Dent , such sum having been paid to Widow Allen in 1819 for regalia for Royal Arch Chapter , Avhich Avas promised to be paid to the late Bro . Alien . "

Promotion Avas sometimes rapid ; Bro . J . B . Hyde Avas raised in 17 th May , and on 4 th November he is elected to the presidential chair . HOAVever this Avas a case of " promotion by merit , " for in subsequent years his valuable sendees in

initiation , passing and raising are recognised , his aid being invoked by many subsequent Masters . On 7 th April , 1831 , " at a regular lodge duly summoned , there being only one member present the lodge Avas not opened . " In this year returns of Grand Lodo-e dues show 41 members .

In 1838 , the bylaAvs are again revised , and "the Master is requested to provide a place of safety for the pictures belonging to the lodge . In 1834 , it Avas resolved that the lodge be provided Avith the Avorking tools for the three degrees .

In 1835 , it appears from the minutes that the lodge had no Master . Bro . Hyde is unanimously elected but fails to attend during the year , the chair being taken by old members of the lodge installed , or othnnvise .

In 1836 , it is resolved "that it is expedient for the lodge to purchase its own Avine , and that a certain sum ( to be agreed on ) be alloAved to Bro . Burnidge for each bottle that may be drunk . " Bra . Shelfcon is appointed Steward to take care of the Avine- The Avine committee are afterwards

empowered to purchase six dozen of the corporation stock , if soid ( duty included not exceeding 55 s . per dozen ) , and that the Masonic Avine be only used on regular lodge days . Four dozen were bought at 58 s . ( 3 d . , and various sums are after-