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Article CORRESPONDENCE. Page 1 of 1 Article CORRESPONDENCE. Page 1 of 1 Article LODGES OF INSTRUCTION AND THEIR ADVANTAGES. Page 1 of 1 Article ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION AND ITS FUNDS. Page 1 of 1
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Correspondence.
CORRESPONDENCE .
— : o : — " MASONIC RECORDS" AND BRO . JACOB NORTON .
To the Editor of the FREEMASON s CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —Bro . Jacob's Norton ' s article on what he is pleased to designate my theory on the Philadelphia " Mother " question , in your last issue , demands from me a few words in reply . Into a discussion of the subject of American Masonio precedence I
respectfully decline to be drawn . My work , " Masonio Records , does not venture to decide that question , and what it contains iu reference to America has been written after a very oareful investigation of the known facts ; for the statements in the lengthy article whioh Bro . Norton has written to tell me what he knows about the origin of Masonry in Philadelphia were known to me long
ago . Bro . Norton complains that I have adopted a " new theory , " i . e ., one at variance with the opinions held by my good friend Bro . W . J . Hughan of this country , and by Bro . McCalla of Philadelphia , based on my statement , at page 27 of " Masonic Record * , " in reference to
No . 79 , " Warranted for America , but probably warrant never used . And as this seems to be the matter with which Bro . Norton finds fault , with your permission I will look at the facts , premising at the outset that if I had ignored the reference to this Lodge in the Dublin Edition of the Pocket Companion of 1735 , 1 should have
fairly laid myself open to a charge of incompleteness ; for the Book with ita peculiar statement is well known . I had a copy kindly lent me for personal examination last year ? Now what are the faots in reference to No . 97 , so far as the meagre information will enable ns to judge ?
1 . It is manifest that in 1731 , and not earlier , a Lodge was warranted or constituted hearing this number . At that period Lodges were numbered according to their dates of constitution . No . 76 is the last Lodge dated 1730 , No . 77 bearing date 11 th January
1731 , No . 78 is dated 1731 ( " 1731 " is in the Engraved Lists of 1736-8 ) . No . 79 is without date in the Engraved Lists of 1736-8-9 but is dated " 1731 " in Anderson ' s List of Lodges , in the Constitutions of 1738 .
2 . In tho List of Lodges taken from the Grand Lodge Minute Book which was commenced in 1730 , receiving additions to it from time to time until 1732 , there is an entry opposite No . 79 , " Castle in Highgate . " 3 . In the List of Lodges represented in the Grand Lodge Minute
Book as being present at Grand Lodge on 21 st November 1732 is the " Castle in High-Gate , " on which day that Lodge paid £ 2 2 s Od for its Constitution ; and there is no previous reference to that Lodge in the Grand Lodge Minutes . 4 . No further reference to this Lodgo at Highgate appears in any
list ; for in tbe subsequent lists , viz ., Rawlinson's of 1733 , Pine's Engraved List of 1734 , and the English Edition of Smith ' s Pocket Companion for 1735 , No . 79 is undoubtedly represented by a blank . 5 . In the Dublin Edition , however , of Smith ' s Pocket Companion for 1735 the space corresponding toNo , 79 in the English Edition is
filled up wi'h " the Hoop , in Water Street , in Philadelphia . " 6 . The next recorded entry of No . 79 is in Picart ' s List , early 1735 , in which the number is occupied by " Two Angels and Crown , Little St . Martin's Lane , " or , according to the description in Grand Lodge Minutes of 24 th February 173 * , as "Angel and Crown , in Little St .
Martin ' s Lane , " and in these Minutes 46 Lodges are represented as attending Grand Lodge , tho first 45 being placed in regular order according to their constitution , from No . 1 to No . 128 , whilst the Lodge , or a Lochge appearing again for the first time as No . 79 , is placed at the bofc ^ tiuaf { . he list .
I am not aware of any other records bearing on this matter , and notwithstanding the quiet humonr of Bro . Norton ' s statement that " the history of the Highgate Lodge , No . 79 , is well known to Bro . Lane , " I am bound to say I know no more . But from what is known I think it is not unreasonable to infer the following : —
( A . ) That the Lodge , wherever it mag have bsen located , that was originally warranted in 1731 as No . 79 , for some cause or other disappeared from the List altogether in 1732 . ( B . ) That late in the year 1732 , the old number beiyvj blank , a new Lodge was constituted at the Castlp , in Highgate , to which the
original number 79 was assigned , and which I distinguish as 79 o . ( C . ) That this Lodgo fell into abeyance or lapsed [ it is blank in 1733-34 ] , and was revived or a new Lodge constituted early in 1735 , at the Two Angels aud Crown , in Little St . Martin ' s Laue , and continued to exist as a London Lodge until 1808 .
( D . ) That the Publisher or Editor of the Dnblin Edition of Smith ' s Pocket Companion of 1733 must have had , at tho time , some valid and satisfactory reason for inserting in his reprint "the Hoop , in Water Street , Philadelphia ; " tho . probability being that ho found it recorded in an Engraved List of 1731 , a copy of whichhoweveris
, , unfortunately vow unknown . I do not claim that these inferences aro altogether and absolutely correct , but they commend themselves to my judgment on an impartial review of the actual facts ; and certainly tho latter inference is as likely to be correct as-. Bro . Norton's theory that the Dnblin
Editor " probably heard that a Lodgo m t at the Hoop Tavern , in Water Street , Philadelphia , " and concluded that tho Lodge in Philadelpbia ought to go into the empty space on the Lodgo List , " " and so he popped it iu accordingly . " At any rat-5 , my inferences harmonize with the published fragment of Bell ' s letter , the genm ' nenosf of which I am not called on to doeidv .
lo Bro . Norton ' s statement , thcroforo , that " thora can remain no doubt that No . 79 was born in Kighgato , London , about 1730 , T certainly demur . It is , I think , very evident from the foregoing that No . 79 was not at Highgate until tho end of 1732 , and that , consequently , there must have been some Lodged No . 79 prior to the
Correspondence.
Lodge at Highgate , which appears subsequently to have taken the vacant place and number of the original Lodge . I fear I have trespassed largely on your space , bnt the subject ia important and interesting ; and in taking leave of it , I beg to thank Bro . Norton for his kindly appreciation of the value of my " Masonio Records . "
Yours fraternally , JNO . LANE Torquay , 15 tb Febrnary 1887 .
Lodges Of Instruction And Their Advantages.
LODGES OF INSTRUCTION AND THEIR ADVANTAGES .
To the Editor of the FREJOIASON s CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —You have often enlarged upon the value of Lodges of Instruction as nurseries of the Craft , and as a means of enabling young Masons to fit themselves for positions they may be called npon to fill , and to which it is the laudable ambition of every
one to aspire . But there is a still deeper importance attaching to these Lodges of Instruction , to many of which are attached Benevolent Associations , especially intended to aid our Masonio Charities . I was very pleased the other evening to be a visitor at one of onr City Lodges , and to hear the initimation that by means of two or
three snch Associations as were mentioned , one of them had sent up within the last four years no less than 4 , 080 guineas to the three Institutions , another was about to make up a sum of one thousard guineas this year , aud a third nine hundred guineas . There are few men who have Freemasonry at all at heart who cannot spare
a shilling weekly in order to constitute himself a life governor of one or other of the Charities ; and the scheme , so simple in itself , shows to demonstration how much good can bo done by many , with . out the slightest self sacrifice , or infringing at all upon one's pecuniary interest . Let ua imagine what a splendid tribnte of
Loyalty to the Throne and devotion to the Craft might be raised were all the Benevolent Associations connected with our Lodges of Instruction to send the result of their year ' s efforts to the special fund suggested in your editorial columns recently , in aid of tbe Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution . The five shillings each from
all members of English Freemasonry—so modestly estimated by you at 80 , 000—supplemented by the accumulated funds from Associations attached to Lodges of Instrnction , would raise a " stately and superb edifice" to tbe honour of onr beloved Sovereign such as could not be surpassed by any other loyal exertions , and would pro
vide the Craft with such a memento of the Jubilee year as Masons could point to with honest pride , and which would confer an inesti . matable boon upon many of our less fortunate brethren and widows who are seeking comfort and solace in their declining days . Trusting this little " suggestion " may be incorporated with your own ,
Believe me , Dear Sir and Brother , to remain , Yours sincerely and fraternally , A SUBSCRIBER
Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution And Its Funds.
ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION AND ITS FUNDS .
To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —As some of your readei-3 who may be intending , bnt have not hitherto subscribed to this Institution , may not know there are two separate funds in it—one for the Males and ono for the Widows—nor of the state of their accounts , it might be
as well to enlighten them . On Wednesday , the 9 fch instant , at the General Committee Meeting , for deciding how many annuitants were to be added to each Fund , the Secretary informed those present that there was a balance of £ 5 , 600 to the good on the Widows' account , but that some £ 2000 Stock had to be sold out on account of the Male
Fund , to meet requirements ; consequently the Committee decided to increase the number to be elected on the former , from three present vacancies to twenty-five , besides the usual three deferred ; at the same time no addition was made to the six vacancies on the Male Fund besides what might occur in the usual way through death or
withdrawal , how , if tbe contributors would—while not forgetting tho Widows—throw a larger amount into the Male Fund , it " would enable the deficiency in the Stock to be made good , and in addition equalise matters . The number of applicants 77—28 to be elected =
43 , 51—9 = 42 , so that though the number to be left out is nearly equal , yet it is not in proportion to the number of applicants , for nino isnear ' y one-sixth of fifty-one , and twenty-eighb 13 considerably loss than one . third of seventy-seven ; however , it is too lato to make alteration this year , but it would pave the way for next year . Yours fraternally , P . M . 1607 .
There aro 69 , 299 Knights Templar in the United States . General Bonaparte was made a Mason at Malta , in 1798 . The ancient Operative Masons had three ceremonies . Tho first , an open ceremony , in which the apprentice was sworn at abont fourteen years of ago or thereabouts , and entered on the Guild record
by the Master of nny private Lodge or meeting of his workmen ; the second , a ceremonial of freedom , with an oath of secrecy conferred npon examination of skill , when the apprentice had attained twentyof and his
one years age , proved capabilities ; the third degreo was conf-rred upon snch Craftsmen as had merited to become tho Masters of Work , or act as Foreman or Warden under some Master Master . — Kneph ,
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Correspondence.
CORRESPONDENCE .
— : o : — " MASONIC RECORDS" AND BRO . JACOB NORTON .
To the Editor of the FREEMASON s CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —Bro . Jacob's Norton ' s article on what he is pleased to designate my theory on the Philadelphia " Mother " question , in your last issue , demands from me a few words in reply . Into a discussion of the subject of American Masonio precedence I
respectfully decline to be drawn . My work , " Masonio Records , does not venture to decide that question , and what it contains iu reference to America has been written after a very oareful investigation of the known facts ; for the statements in the lengthy article whioh Bro . Norton has written to tell me what he knows about the origin of Masonry in Philadelphia were known to me long
ago . Bro . Norton complains that I have adopted a " new theory , " i . e ., one at variance with the opinions held by my good friend Bro . W . J . Hughan of this country , and by Bro . McCalla of Philadelphia , based on my statement , at page 27 of " Masonic Record * , " in reference to
No . 79 , " Warranted for America , but probably warrant never used . And as this seems to be the matter with which Bro . Norton finds fault , with your permission I will look at the facts , premising at the outset that if I had ignored the reference to this Lodge in the Dublin Edition of the Pocket Companion of 1735 , 1 should have
fairly laid myself open to a charge of incompleteness ; for the Book with ita peculiar statement is well known . I had a copy kindly lent me for personal examination last year ? Now what are the faots in reference to No . 97 , so far as the meagre information will enable ns to judge ?
1 . It is manifest that in 1731 , and not earlier , a Lodge was warranted or constituted hearing this number . At that period Lodges were numbered according to their dates of constitution . No . 76 is the last Lodge dated 1730 , No . 77 bearing date 11 th January
1731 , No . 78 is dated 1731 ( " 1731 " is in the Engraved Lists of 1736-8 ) . No . 79 is without date in the Engraved Lists of 1736-8-9 but is dated " 1731 " in Anderson ' s List of Lodges , in the Constitutions of 1738 .
2 . In tho List of Lodges taken from the Grand Lodge Minute Book which was commenced in 1730 , receiving additions to it from time to time until 1732 , there is an entry opposite No . 79 , " Castle in Highgate . " 3 . In the List of Lodges represented in the Grand Lodge Minute
Book as being present at Grand Lodge on 21 st November 1732 is the " Castle in High-Gate , " on which day that Lodge paid £ 2 2 s Od for its Constitution ; and there is no previous reference to that Lodge in the Grand Lodge Minutes . 4 . No further reference to this Lodgo at Highgate appears in any
list ; for in tbe subsequent lists , viz ., Rawlinson's of 1733 , Pine's Engraved List of 1734 , and the English Edition of Smith ' s Pocket Companion for 1735 , No . 79 is undoubtedly represented by a blank . 5 . In the Dublin Edition , however , of Smith ' s Pocket Companion for 1735 the space corresponding toNo , 79 in the English Edition is
filled up wi'h " the Hoop , in Water Street , in Philadelphia . " 6 . The next recorded entry of No . 79 is in Picart ' s List , early 1735 , in which the number is occupied by " Two Angels and Crown , Little St . Martin's Lane , " or , according to the description in Grand Lodge Minutes of 24 th February 173 * , as "Angel and Crown , in Little St .
Martin ' s Lane , " and in these Minutes 46 Lodges are represented as attending Grand Lodge , tho first 45 being placed in regular order according to their constitution , from No . 1 to No . 128 , whilst the Lodge , or a Lochge appearing again for the first time as No . 79 , is placed at the bofc ^ tiuaf { . he list .
I am not aware of any other records bearing on this matter , and notwithstanding the quiet humonr of Bro . Norton ' s statement that " the history of the Highgate Lodge , No . 79 , is well known to Bro . Lane , " I am bound to say I know no more . But from what is known I think it is not unreasonable to infer the following : —
( A . ) That the Lodge , wherever it mag have bsen located , that was originally warranted in 1731 as No . 79 , for some cause or other disappeared from the List altogether in 1732 . ( B . ) That late in the year 1732 , the old number beiyvj blank , a new Lodge was constituted at the Castlp , in Highgate , to which the
original number 79 was assigned , and which I distinguish as 79 o . ( C . ) That this Lodgo fell into abeyance or lapsed [ it is blank in 1733-34 ] , and was revived or a new Lodge constituted early in 1735 , at the Two Angels aud Crown , in Little St . Martin ' s Laue , and continued to exist as a London Lodge until 1808 .
( D . ) That the Publisher or Editor of the Dnblin Edition of Smith ' s Pocket Companion of 1733 must have had , at tho time , some valid and satisfactory reason for inserting in his reprint "the Hoop , in Water Street , Philadelphia ; " tho . probability being that ho found it recorded in an Engraved List of 1731 , a copy of whichhoweveris
, , unfortunately vow unknown . I do not claim that these inferences aro altogether and absolutely correct , but they commend themselves to my judgment on an impartial review of the actual facts ; and certainly tho latter inference is as likely to be correct as-. Bro . Norton's theory that the Dnblin
Editor " probably heard that a Lodgo m t at the Hoop Tavern , in Water Street , Philadelphia , " and concluded that tho Lodge in Philadelpbia ought to go into the empty space on the Lodgo List , " " and so he popped it iu accordingly . " At any rat-5 , my inferences harmonize with the published fragment of Bell ' s letter , the genm ' nenosf of which I am not called on to doeidv .
lo Bro . Norton ' s statement , thcroforo , that " thora can remain no doubt that No . 79 was born in Kighgato , London , about 1730 , T certainly demur . It is , I think , very evident from the foregoing that No . 79 was not at Highgate until tho end of 1732 , and that , consequently , there must have been some Lodged No . 79 prior to the
Correspondence.
Lodge at Highgate , which appears subsequently to have taken the vacant place and number of the original Lodge . I fear I have trespassed largely on your space , bnt the subject ia important and interesting ; and in taking leave of it , I beg to thank Bro . Norton for his kindly appreciation of the value of my " Masonio Records . "
Yours fraternally , JNO . LANE Torquay , 15 tb Febrnary 1887 .
Lodges Of Instruction And Their Advantages.
LODGES OF INSTRUCTION AND THEIR ADVANTAGES .
To the Editor of the FREJOIASON s CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —You have often enlarged upon the value of Lodges of Instruction as nurseries of the Craft , and as a means of enabling young Masons to fit themselves for positions they may be called npon to fill , and to which it is the laudable ambition of every
one to aspire . But there is a still deeper importance attaching to these Lodges of Instruction , to many of which are attached Benevolent Associations , especially intended to aid our Masonio Charities . I was very pleased the other evening to be a visitor at one of onr City Lodges , and to hear the initimation that by means of two or
three snch Associations as were mentioned , one of them had sent up within the last four years no less than 4 , 080 guineas to the three Institutions , another was about to make up a sum of one thousard guineas this year , aud a third nine hundred guineas . There are few men who have Freemasonry at all at heart who cannot spare
a shilling weekly in order to constitute himself a life governor of one or other of the Charities ; and the scheme , so simple in itself , shows to demonstration how much good can bo done by many , with . out the slightest self sacrifice , or infringing at all upon one's pecuniary interest . Let ua imagine what a splendid tribnte of
Loyalty to the Throne and devotion to the Craft might be raised were all the Benevolent Associations connected with our Lodges of Instruction to send the result of their year ' s efforts to the special fund suggested in your editorial columns recently , in aid of tbe Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution . The five shillings each from
all members of English Freemasonry—so modestly estimated by you at 80 , 000—supplemented by the accumulated funds from Associations attached to Lodges of Instrnction , would raise a " stately and superb edifice" to tbe honour of onr beloved Sovereign such as could not be surpassed by any other loyal exertions , and would pro
vide the Craft with such a memento of the Jubilee year as Masons could point to with honest pride , and which would confer an inesti . matable boon upon many of our less fortunate brethren and widows who are seeking comfort and solace in their declining days . Trusting this little " suggestion " may be incorporated with your own ,
Believe me , Dear Sir and Brother , to remain , Yours sincerely and fraternally , A SUBSCRIBER
Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution And Its Funds.
ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION AND ITS FUNDS .
To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —As some of your readei-3 who may be intending , bnt have not hitherto subscribed to this Institution , may not know there are two separate funds in it—one for the Males and ono for the Widows—nor of the state of their accounts , it might be
as well to enlighten them . On Wednesday , the 9 fch instant , at the General Committee Meeting , for deciding how many annuitants were to be added to each Fund , the Secretary informed those present that there was a balance of £ 5 , 600 to the good on the Widows' account , but that some £ 2000 Stock had to be sold out on account of the Male
Fund , to meet requirements ; consequently the Committee decided to increase the number to be elected on the former , from three present vacancies to twenty-five , besides the usual three deferred ; at the same time no addition was made to the six vacancies on the Male Fund besides what might occur in the usual way through death or
withdrawal , how , if tbe contributors would—while not forgetting tho Widows—throw a larger amount into the Male Fund , it " would enable the deficiency in the Stock to be made good , and in addition equalise matters . The number of applicants 77—28 to be elected =
43 , 51—9 = 42 , so that though the number to be left out is nearly equal , yet it is not in proportion to the number of applicants , for nino isnear ' y one-sixth of fifty-one , and twenty-eighb 13 considerably loss than one . third of seventy-seven ; however , it is too lato to make alteration this year , but it would pave the way for next year . Yours fraternally , P . M . 1607 .
There aro 69 , 299 Knights Templar in the United States . General Bonaparte was made a Mason at Malta , in 1798 . The ancient Operative Masons had three ceremonies . Tho first , an open ceremony , in which the apprentice was sworn at abont fourteen years of ago or thereabouts , and entered on the Guild record
by the Master of nny private Lodge or meeting of his workmen ; the second , a ceremonial of freedom , with an oath of secrecy conferred npon examination of skill , when the apprentice had attained twentyof and his
one years age , proved capabilities ; the third degreo was conf-rred upon snch Craftsmen as had merited to become tho Masters of Work , or act as Foreman or Warden under some Master Master . — Kneph ,