Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
History Of The Anchor And Hope Lodge, No. 37, Bolton.
period , a distinction certainly in which the members justly take pride . Bro . Brockbank is not a novice at Lodge histories , neither is Bro . Newton , for we have amongst our Masonic treasures some excellent little works by them illustrative of Lodge and Chapter life from late last century . The present contribution , however , is by far
the most important from them , and I should be glad , if the authors were not unfavourable to such a view , to see the whole of its pages transferred to the columns of the MASONIC MONTHLY . With the hope of that desire being gratified , provided the editor sees " eye to eye " with me , ( and I feel sure he will , knowing that for many years he has
done his utmost to induce competent brethren to do for their Lodges what Bros . Brockbank and Newion have done for theirs , ) I shall not now seek to do more than point out the chief characteristics of the compilation . The Lodge was warranted on the 23 rd day of October 1732 ,
so that its sesqui-centennial will be celebrated on the 23 rd October 1882 , for which a committee has been already elected to make the necessary arrangements , and at which , if it were only possible , the writer would gladly be present . The original warrant is still preserved , with almost religious veneration , by the members . In the
genial review of the history of No . 37 by the editor of the Freemason , our Rev . Brother states that it is probably the oldest original document of this character now in existence . * The oldest , however , is in the proud possession of the St . John the Baptist Lodge , No . 39 , Exeter , warranted the 11 th day of July in the same year . It is worth enquiry
and careful search to find out if any old Lodges in London have original warrants dated earlier than these two Lodges . No . 39 was the senior of No . 37 in 1732 , but it was erased 1745 , and was not restored to an old number until some years later . There are certainly senior Lodges to No . 37 , but they are either in the Metropolitan District or became Country Lodges of late years .
The editor of the Freemason has drawn attention to the curious fact that in the warrant of No . 39 the name of " Montacute " occurs as " G . M . " Quite a considerable correspondence and discussion were waged recently , by members of our respected Grand Lodge of Massachusetts as to the name of this Viscount of 1732 , because one of its
Lodges was called after that nobleman . I believe it ended in the Lodge being named "Montague , " which appeared to be the correct desi gnation ; but the enquiry was most exhaustive in character and most creditably conducted . Singular to state , the warrant of No . 37 , of the same year , has " Montague ; " whereas , in the Constitutions of
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
History Of The Anchor And Hope Lodge, No. 37, Bolton.
period , a distinction certainly in which the members justly take pride . Bro . Brockbank is not a novice at Lodge histories , neither is Bro . Newton , for we have amongst our Masonic treasures some excellent little works by them illustrative of Lodge and Chapter life from late last century . The present contribution , however , is by far
the most important from them , and I should be glad , if the authors were not unfavourable to such a view , to see the whole of its pages transferred to the columns of the MASONIC MONTHLY . With the hope of that desire being gratified , provided the editor sees " eye to eye " with me , ( and I feel sure he will , knowing that for many years he has
done his utmost to induce competent brethren to do for their Lodges what Bros . Brockbank and Newion have done for theirs , ) I shall not now seek to do more than point out the chief characteristics of the compilation . The Lodge was warranted on the 23 rd day of October 1732 ,
so that its sesqui-centennial will be celebrated on the 23 rd October 1882 , for which a committee has been already elected to make the necessary arrangements , and at which , if it were only possible , the writer would gladly be present . The original warrant is still preserved , with almost religious veneration , by the members . In the
genial review of the history of No . 37 by the editor of the Freemason , our Rev . Brother states that it is probably the oldest original document of this character now in existence . * The oldest , however , is in the proud possession of the St . John the Baptist Lodge , No . 39 , Exeter , warranted the 11 th day of July in the same year . It is worth enquiry
and careful search to find out if any old Lodges in London have original warrants dated earlier than these two Lodges . No . 39 was the senior of No . 37 in 1732 , but it was erased 1745 , and was not restored to an old number until some years later . There are certainly senior Lodges to No . 37 , but they are either in the Metropolitan District or became Country Lodges of late years .
The editor of the Freemason has drawn attention to the curious fact that in the warrant of No . 39 the name of " Montacute " occurs as " G . M . " Quite a considerable correspondence and discussion were waged recently , by members of our respected Grand Lodge of Massachusetts as to the name of this Viscount of 1732 , because one of its
Lodges was called after that nobleman . I believe it ended in the Lodge being named "Montague , " which appeared to be the correct desi gnation ; but the enquiry was most exhaustive in character and most creditably conducted . Singular to state , the warrant of No . 37 , of the same year , has " Montague ; " whereas , in the Constitutions of