History Of Freemasonry In Cornwall.

February , but no minutes are registered of the fact by the Secretary , as was customary . At nearly every meeting of late , a member Avas accepted and initiated the same evening , because of " leaving England to go abroad . " This gives one a faint idea of how Freemasonry so rapidly became

knoAvn , worked and flourished on the Continent so soon after its revival in 1717 . On April 26 , 1753 , " Brother Lane Canon proposed himself as a member of the lodge , and it was unanimously agreed to . " On reference to subsequent minutes we find that this brother was raised to the degree of a Master Mason

on September 27 th of the same year , and from the fact of the date of his receiving the third degree being the only notice appended to his name in the list of members at' the commencement of the minute book , together ivitli his " proposing himself as a

member , " we consider lie Avas a joining member , and the second in that capacity since the formation of the lodge . The Master was in the chair , and apparently must have been much engaged for some hours , if Ave

judge from the business done and suppese the rituals of the three degrees were of the same length as those agreed on at the union in 1813 . On May 10 th , 1753 , one Entered Apprentice , three Fellow Crafts , and two Master Masons completed the work for the evening . The unusual minute

occurs of the " Provincial and Master iu the chair , alternately . " Brother Sartorious received the public thanks of the lodge for the arms of the Freemasons which were brought this even ( excellently performed ) and placed in the lodge . "

May 31 st , 1753 : — "Provincial in the chair ; four brethren were raised . Brothers Bluett , sen ., Kempthorn , LaskeA , and J . AVilliams Avere desired to act a 3 Stewards at the grand feast . The Secretary was ordered to advertise the feast day in the General Fvening Post two separate days , and to p 2 'epare

tickets and summonses for the general feast . The next meeting Ave propose giA-ing in full , as it refers to the election of the W . M . and other officers for the ensuing six months .

June 14-th , 1753 . — " Provincial in the chair . Mr . Stephen Gregg , Commander of the ship ' Conquest , ' going abroad , requested to be admitted au Entered Apprentice , and it- was unanimously agreed to by the lodge . Bro . William Mitchell AHIS this even raised a Master . Bro . Lewis Jones Avas this eveu made a

Fellow Craft . Bro . Josiah Cock was this even made an Entered Apprentice , as AY as also Brother Stephen Gregg . Brother Henry Pye favoured us with a visit . Bro . William Hill , Esq ., was chosen -Master of the lodge for the following six months , and appointed Mr . Thomas Milles , sen ., and Mr . George Peard , Junior Wardens . Mr . M . Allison was desired to

continue Secretary . Bro . Stephen Jago Guenap was elected by ballot Treasurer . We are not quite sure whether the ballot was really necessary or optional at this date . ( Art . 1 , page 291 , Constitutions , 1756 , " The Grand Treasurer is chosen by the Grand Lodge . " No reference is made to the Treasurer of a lodge either in this edition or in the old Constitutions of 1728 ) .

" Ou July 12 th , 1753 , Brother Elias Pomeroy was made a Fellow Craft , and at the request of Brother Young , and by the permission of the Provincial , he was raised Master , as he sails to-morrow . " Brother Cock unfortunately was ill with the gout , and sent an excuse , saying , he could not

possibly attend . " At a quarterly communication of the Grand Lodge , in 172-1 , " It was resolved that no man can be admitted a member of a particular lodge , without previous notice one month before given to the said lodge , unless by dispensation . The restrictions in regard to

the three degrees , however , were not agreed to until November , 1753 . The P . G . M . occupied the chair of the third lodge follovving the above , and had the satisfaction of hearing that Lieutenant Hamilton , of the ancient and far-famed Pendennis Castle , had offered himself a

member of the lodge , and the brethren unanimously accepted him . Subsequently , Bro . Enys desired to be excused as a member , as he Avas settled in London . On September 13 th , no less than six visiting

brethren were present . The next four meetings were unimportant . The Deputy Master occupied the chair , alternately with- the P . G . M . ou the 29 fch November , but ' the precise meaning attached to " deputy " in this case ig not clear , as it may mean the D . P . G . M ., or an Acting

W . M . merely . December 3 rd , 1753 . — " Extra lodge ; Provincial iu the chair . This even was balloted for and admitted to the degree of au Entered Apprentice , Captain William Leslie , and as he Avas going abroad , he was made a Fellow Craft .

" A motion was made for his being raised Master , and it was unanimously agreed to raise him next lodge night . " The next meeting occurred on the 13 th of the same month , when the same brother was duly raised to the

sublime degree of M . M . Unless the case was very special , indeed , this was the best that could be done for the emergency , as by resolution of Grand Lodge , Nov . 23 , 1753 , no lodge was permitted to make and raise the same brother at one and the same meeting . Six months' term of office is much shorter than the

time required for honours now , and almost as soon as the brethren of the Falmouth Lodge had quietly settled down Jto the work with their new officers ,