History Of Freemasonry In Worcestershire.

Royal Arch Masonry in Worcester and the Chapter of St . AVnlstan . " The first record of the Prov . Grand Lodge of Worcester is in the year 1752 , in which year Lord Carysfort , Grand Master , granted a " deputation "

to Sir Robert de Cornwall , as Provincial Grancl Master for the counties of Worcester , Gloucester , Salop , Monmouth , and Hereford . At this time there existed in this extensive province three lodges , one held at the Talbot , Stourbridge , of

which the warrant is dated 1 st August , 1733 ; another at the Swan Inn , Gloucester , warrant dated 28 th March , 1738 ; the third at the Three Horse Shoes , Leominster , warrant dated October

11 th , 1742 . . Subsequent to the establishment of the Prov . Grand Lodge , we find that other lodges were established in the following order : —¦ The "Lodge of Hope , " Stourbridge , No . 241 ,

held at the Crown Inn , warrant dated 1768 . The " Harmonic Lodge , " Dudley , No . 369 , held at the Bush Inn , warrant dated 1784 . The "St . John ' s Lodge , " Bromsgrove , No . 397 , held at the Golden Cross , warrant dated 1786 .

The "Worcester Lodge / ' Worcester , No . 483 , held at the Rein Deer Inn , warrant dated October , 1790 . The Lodge " Mercy and Truth , Evesham , No . 703 , warrant dated 1818 ; closeel November 9 th ,

1834 . The " Hope and Charity , " Kidderminster , No . 523 , held at the Black Horse , warrant dated 1824 .

The " Royal Standard , " Kidderminster , No . 730 , held at the Masonic Hall , warrant dated 1844 ; since removed to the Dudley Arms , Dudley . The " Semper Eidelis , " Worcester , No . 772 , warrant dated 4 th July , 1846 .

The "Olive , " No . 819 , held at the Guildhall , Bromsgrove , warrant dated 1849 ; removed to Dudley 1856 , and the name changed to the "Vernon : " subsequently , in 1865 , removed to the Swan Inn , Stourport .

The "Stability , " Stourbridge , No . 824 , held at the Talbot Hotel , warrant dated 28 th June , 1849 .

The " Perseverance , " Dudley , No . 830 , held at the Swan Inn , warrant dated 185 fj ; removed to the Shenstone Hotel , Halesowen , 1860 . It may be interesting , says Bro . Griffiths , to note the lodges under the Athole Constitution , which were held in this province previous to the

union of 1818 , although he has reason to believe that some of them had ceased to meet lour- before that date . No . 60 , —The Masons' Arms , Great Fish-street , City of Worcester .

No . 160 . —Hiram Lodge , Red Lion Inn , Pontypool , Monmouthshire . No . 170 . —Raven , Kidderminter . No . 246 . —Green Dragon , Dudley , Worcestershire .

No . 316 . —Royal Lebanon Lodge , Boofchal Inn , City of Gloucester . In 1792 we find that H . R . H . the Prince of

AA ales , Grand Master , appointed J . Dent , Esq ., as Prov . Grand Master of Worcestershire . Bro . Dent was a partner in the banking firm of Child and Co ., of London , M . P . for Lancaster , and after * wards M . P . for Poole , Dorsetshire . The official

appointment' is yet preserved iu the archives of Worcester Lodge , and is signed by Bro . Wm . White , G . S . His occupation of the office continued till 1826 , but there is little or uo record of his active participation in the duties of his office .

It is due to him , says Bro . Griffiths , that he devoted considerable attention to the interests of the Craft in general , if not to the Province of AVorcester in particular ; and his duties as Senior Grancl Warden and subsequently as Grand Treasurer ,

combined with his private avocations , prevented his attention to provincial duties . His exertions in furtherance of the union in 1813 are duly acknowledged . In 1826 , it is stated , that he resigned the office of Grand-Treasurer through illhealth , and at the close of that year his death , is recorded .

The brethren of the Worcester Lodge made some effort to obtain the appointment of a Deputy Grand Master from their own members , but in vain . Among existing evidences of this fact to be found in the minutes of the AVorcester Lodge , is a

copy of a letter , dated Dec . 27 th , 1820 , ordered to be sent to the G . Sec , stating their desire to hold a Prov . Grand Lodge , and inquiring if the appointment of a Deputy Prov . Grand Master was registered in the Books of Grand Lodge , and if so , the

name of the brother , but ii not , information as to the proper course of proceedure . At the next meeting of the Worcester Lodge a communication is ordered to be sent to Bro . Thompson , congratulating him upon his appointment as Deputy Prov . Grand JMaster , hoping to