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Article CONTENTS. Page 1 of 1 Article ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR GIRLS. Page 1 of 1 Article ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR GIRLS. Page 1 of 1 Article ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR BOYS. Page 1 of 1 Article ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR BOYS. Page 1 of 1 Article FREEMASONRY IN BATH, 1724-1733. Page 1 of 2 →
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Contents.
CONTENTS .
Royal Masonic Institution for Girls 21 Royal Masonic Institution for Boys 21 Freemasonry in Bath , 1724-1733 21 Consecration of the Earl of Carnarvon Chapter ,. No . 1642 22 Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution 23 Funeral of the Late Bro . Davies 23 Exploration of Eastern Palestine 23
REPORTS OF MASONIC MEETINGS — Craft Masonry 23 Royal Arch 2 < i Instruction 26 North Africa 26 Red Cross of Constantine 26 Scotland 25 Amusements ~ 1
Literary , Art , and Antiquarian Notes 27 LEADERS , 28 Answers to Queries 28 CORRESPONDENCEOur Boys" School 28 An Impostor 28 Hervey Memorial Fund 29
Royal Masonic Boys' School 29 Masonic Notes and Queries 29 Reviews 29 Masonic and General Tidings 30 Lodge Meetings for Next Week I . Advertisements : II ., III ., IV ., V ., VI .
Royal Masonic Institution For Girls.
ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR GIRLS .
The January Quarterly Court of the Governors and Subscribers of this Institution was held on Saturday at Freemasons' Hall , Bro . Lieut .-Col . Creaton , Grand Treasurer , V . P ., and Trustee , presiding . There were also present Bros . A . H . Tattershall , Thomas Massa , A . I . Duff Filer ,
S . Rawson , Arthur E . Gladwell , E . Letchworth , Joshua Nunn , J . J . Berry , F . R . W . Hedges ( Secretary ) , and H . Massey ( Freemason ) . After the reading and confirmation of the minutes , the brethren confirmed the recommendation of the General Committee to declare twenty-eight candidates on the list for election in April , and fifteen vacancies .
Bro . J OSHUA NUNN then brought forward the following motion of which he had given notice : "That the following words be added to Law LXXII ., after the word 'provision , ' viz . ' and in cases of exceptional merit and necessity the General Committee are authorised to increase the sum to an amount not exceeding £ 40 . '" In doing so he said it was hardly necessary for him to say many words on the
subject . He believed it was through a misunderstanding at the last meeting that the motion was not carried . He had been since told by his opponents that they did not then uuderstand it . They supposed that it was a proposition to give every girl who left the Institution £ 40 . _ Now it was nothing of the sort ; it was only to be given in exceptional cases . It had only been once in the last two years that the
Committee had given as much as £ 20 . There were exceptional cases in which it was desirable they should have the power of rendering assistance to girls above the amount usually given . To obtain that power he brought forward this motion . He might add that one of his strongest opponents at last meeting , Bro . Henry Smith , the Grand Secretary , representing the large and important
province of West Yorkshire , had told him he thought it was intended by the motion that the Committee should have the power to give £ 40 per girl . Bro . A . E . GLADWELL seconded the motion , and said that he had opposed it formerly because he misunderstood its import in the same way as Bro . H . Smith . If he had understood it he should most assuredly have voted for it ,
and possibly have said a few words in favour of it . It was only lost by a very small majority . He felt sure the supporters of the School would be glad such a motion was passed . Bro . A . J . DUFF FILER did not wish the motion to pass without observation . It occurred to him when the Pupils ' Assistance Fund was started that it was not ( wanted , but that any gifts to the children on leaving the School
should be left entirely in the hands of the managers of the School , who were much better acquainted with the merits of the girls who required assistance for their future career in life than any other medium . The present motion had his most cordial support , and he hoped it would put an end to the fourth charity , which he believed would be a great detriment to the Masonic Charitable Institutions . He never
had subscribed to the Pupils Assistance Fund , and never would . He would much rather support the Institutions which gave sums of money for the benefit of the children . There was only one other observation he wished to make . He need hardly say that the men who were selected to carry out the proposed rule had the confidence of the subscribers , and the only thing to guard against was the exercising the
power they had too often . They would only use it in exceptional and urgent cases . Bro . E . LETCHWORTH had much pleasure in supporting the motion . He believed it would be for the benefit of the interests of the Institution that it should be widely known throughout the Craft and sunnorters of the Institutions
that it had such a fund as this . It would be in the recollection of the members of the Court that some short time since the Earl of Rosslyn , on the occasion of his taking the chair at one of the Charity dinners , said he found out what he thought was a great blot on the Masonic Institutions . Now it was not only desirable for the interests of the Institutions that there should be no blot , but also that there
Royal Masonic Institution For Girls.
should not be an impression that a blot existed . If the Earl of Rosslyn had been made aware , as he should have been before he had made the observations , that the House Committees of both the Boys' and Girls' Schools had the power to give the pupils as much as £ 20 when they left the Institutions , he would not have made the observations he did . If the £ 20 was increased to £ 40 , in exceptional cases , he , Bro . Letchworth , thouarht that the principal supporters
of the scheme which had arisen from the noble earl's observations , would be assured that the machinery at the disposal of the General Committees was adequate to meet all circumstances . As Bro . Nunn had observed , very few cases occurred in which it was necessary to make the full grant . It was not at all probable that many such cases would occur . It was a irreat mistake to suppose that the children who left the
Schools left them friendless . No child ever got into the Schools—it was impossible for a child to get into the Boys ' or Girls' School—without the assistance of numerous and influential friends ; and he could not believe that a single child who had been successful in being elected would on leaving those Institutions find himself , or herself , friendless , and without the assistance of those whose aid had been necessary to secure their election .
Bro . b . RAWSON did not rise to oppose the motion ; in fact , he had voted for it at the last Quarterly Court , but as the motion had been objected to by numerous friends on that occasion , and but few were present now , he thought that unless there was a case that required immediate consideration it would be a compliment to the country brethren to adjourn the consideration of the motion to the next Ouarterlv Court , when there would be a numerous
attendance . It was evident from what had been said that some of the brethren who formerly opposed the motion would now support it , and on all grounds he thought it would be best to adjourn the motion . Col . CREATON said , in answer to Bro . Rawson's remarks , that the motion bad been advertised and communicated to the country brethren . He thought it would be a pity to postpone the motion . The country brethren would have the
opportunity in April of objecting to it if they pleased . The principal brethren who had opposed the motion were now in favour of it . Bro . J OSHUA NUNN , in reply , said he was happy to say there was no opposition on the present occasion . He was sorry that there were not more brethren present ; but as all the brethren in the country had been made acquainted by circular and advertisement they had had an opportunity
of attending that day if they had wished to oppose the motion . He sincerely hoped that the step now taken would put down what had been called " a fourth Charity , " which , he could not but think , would be detrimental to the Institution . He had thought so all through , and had expressed himself to that effect to the movers of it . If those who were entrusted with the management of the affairs of the Institution had the power now sought to be given , they
would never use it lavishly . Only once in two years had £ 20 be given to one girl , and the brethren might be sure from that that much money had not been expended this way . On the occasion of the £ 20 being given it would have been increased to £ 30 if the Committee had had the power . It was a most deserving case , and the remaining £ 10 was made up b y the brethren . They did not want a fourth Masonic Charity , but they wanted the power to assist those who required assistance to the amount that was
necessary . He was sorry Lord Rasslyn was not made acquainted with the facts that both the Boys' and Girls' Institutions had the power to grant as high a sum as £ 20 to a child leaving the Institution , for if he had he would not have made the remarks which led to the starting of a fourth Charity . If they had such aCharity he thought it would damage the Institutions materially . The motion was put , and carried unanimously , and a vote of thanks to the Chairman closed the proceedings .
Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.
ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR BOYS .
A Quarterly General Court of the Governors and Subscribers was held at Freemasons' Hall , Great Queen-street , on Monday last , Lieut .-Col . Creaton , Grand Treasurer , in the chair , when a large number of brethren attended , including Bros . A . J . Duff-Filer , G . Bolton , C . H . Webb ,
W . M . ferryman , Leopold Kur , Jas . I ' reeman , H . T . Moore , H . T . Venn , J . G . Stevens , J . J . Berry , Win , Roebuck , J . Murray , J . Terry , Wm . Mann , Richard Tyrrell , William Paas , D . M . Dewar , C . F . Matier , J . G . Chancellor , S . J . Benton , S . Dawson , A . E . Gladwell , W . F . C . Moutric , W . H . Spaull , Chas . Sanders , S . Rosenthal , H . S . Goodall , Alf . Williams , AbnerTorrington , A . Tisley , T . Cubitt , George BIythe , W . W . Morgan , jun ., Edward
Baxter , E . C . Woodward , Col . Peters , F . Binckes ( Secretary ) , and E . C . Massey ( Freemason ) . The minutes of the various Boards and Committees having been read and approved , the Court proceeded to the consideration of the list of condidates from which twenty boys are to be elected on nth April next , when the case of Arthur Harvey Collingwood excited a good deal of discussion . Bro . MATIER submittcd | that as the lad was entitled
to something over £ 40 a year , applicable for educational purposes , he was not in a position to stand in need of the benefits of the Institution ; and he added that if this Ud was admitted he should place his own boy before the Com mittec as a candidate for the same advantages . Bro . GLADWELL , following , approved of all Bro . Matier had said , and drew attention to the agesof the "children " said to be dependent on the mother , viz ., a girl , aged 33 ;
Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.
a boy , aged 22 , & c , and urged that it was fair to infer that "children" of those ages could be doing something for their own support . The SECRETARY read a letter and various telegrams from different parts of the country , urging that [ the case should be removed from the list , or that a Targe amount of subscriptions would be lost . Bro . J . G . STEVENS spoke as representing several lodges
in East London , which were liberal supporters of the Chanties , and he endorsed all that had fallen frpm Bros . Matier and Gladwell . Bro . R . STEWART supported the action of the House Committee , in recommending that the case be retained on the list ; urging that this was not a pauper Institution , and that , as the widow's income was only £ 106 , she was , after her former comparatively affluent position , so reduced in
circumstances as to give her son a claim to become a candidate for election . Bro . GIRLING said that the discussion had been carried on with spirit and animosity ( an expression he declined to withdraw when asked to do so ) , and that it was evidently useless to expect anything but an unfavourable result . He had been supported by many influential Masons in bringing forward this case ; but as their intention was evident he
desired to withdraw the boy s name from the list . The SECRETARY having explained that as the case had come before the Court as a final appeal , it would be necessary for the Court to pass a resolution . Bro . MATIER proposed that the name of Arthur Harvey Collingwood be erased from the list of candidates j and the proposition having been seconded , was put to the vote , and carried .
The list of candidates for election as passed by the Court numbered seventy-six . Bro . Binckes having withdrawn , Bro . R . W . STEWART , V . P ., proposed "That , to commemorate the twenty years' services of the Secretary , Bro . Binckes , and in recognition of the ability sho vn during that period , also having regard to the success achieved through his exertions , a grant of £ 200 be made
to him out of the funds of the Institution , " and in doing so said that , however much they had differed in the late discussion , he did not think there would be much difference of opinion upon this matter . Their Secretary had served them faithfull y for . twenty years . When he entered on his duties the income of the Institution was about £ 1800 a year ; now it was £ 13 , 000 , and had 250 children under its protection . The total
received during those twenty years amounted to as much as £ 192 , 000 . Bro . MATIER in seconding the proposition said that he had had a number of communications , and the general expression was one . of regret , either that the amount was not larger , or that it could not be received year after year .
The proposition on being put from the chair was carried unanimously , and Bro . BINCKES on being recalled and informed of the resolution returned his thanks to the Court for this mark of their approbation , which he received with the greater pleasure from the fact of its being a unanimous vote .
Freemasonry In Bath, 1724-1733.
FREEMASONRY IN BATH , 1724-1733 .
By V . W . Bro . WILLIAM J AMES HUGHAN , P . G . D . of England , Hon . Member 41 , & c , & c . Dedicated to the W . Bro . Dr . Henry Hopkins , M . A ., F . C . P ., P . M . 43 , W . M . 41 , & c , & c , P . P . G . S . W . Warwickshire .
The fact of the "Constitutions of the Freemasons" of A . D . 1738 containing no reference to a lodge at Bath before the one of A . D . 1733 ( present No . 41 ) seems to have led many to suppose that this lodge was the first warranted for the city . There was , however , one much earlier chartered , viz ., latter part of 1723 , or in 1724 . There is an engraved list preserved , unique of 1723 , but all the lodges
therein are for the London district and neighbourhood . If any list of lodges was issued for 1724 , no copy is known at the present time , but of 1725 two copies are still extant . In both of the latter date is to be found a lodge at the "Queen ' s Head , Bath , " and as it was the first warrant ever issued by the Grand Lodge of England for any part of the " country , " Bath may rightly be termed the premier
Masonic provincial city 0 / England . At and before that year the Grand Lodge had warranted about fifty lodges , but none for a country district ; and when the lodges were known by their numbers several had collapsed , so that the lodge at Bath , on the numeration of 1729-30 , was numbered 28 . It was one of the most distinguished lodges , as respects
the membership , of any ever warranted before or since 1724 . We cannot decide exactly when it ceased to exist , but certainly not before 1736 . My friend Bro . Robert Freke Gould , S . G . D . of England , and author of "The Four Old Lodges , " & c , has been most kind and energetic in his researches on this point in the record -, of the Grand Lodge , and considers it was about the year 1737 . It was left out of the engraved lists of 173 S-0 . On March 2 nd , 1732 , the
Grand Lodge archives contain a notice of payment of on e guinea from the lodge for " Charity . " Bro . Gould agree with me as to the possibility , and even probability , of jt having been constituted in 1723 . However , to be within _ the mark , we accept the year 1724 , under the Grand Mas " tership of the Earl of Dalkeith or that of the Duke of Richmond . There was not another Grand Lodge in England at this period , and , indeed , the one in London was the first of its kind : the " assemblies" at York and other
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Contents.
CONTENTS .
Royal Masonic Institution for Girls 21 Royal Masonic Institution for Boys 21 Freemasonry in Bath , 1724-1733 21 Consecration of the Earl of Carnarvon Chapter ,. No . 1642 22 Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution 23 Funeral of the Late Bro . Davies 23 Exploration of Eastern Palestine 23
REPORTS OF MASONIC MEETINGS — Craft Masonry 23 Royal Arch 2 < i Instruction 26 North Africa 26 Red Cross of Constantine 26 Scotland 25 Amusements ~ 1
Literary , Art , and Antiquarian Notes 27 LEADERS , 28 Answers to Queries 28 CORRESPONDENCEOur Boys" School 28 An Impostor 28 Hervey Memorial Fund 29
Royal Masonic Boys' School 29 Masonic Notes and Queries 29 Reviews 29 Masonic and General Tidings 30 Lodge Meetings for Next Week I . Advertisements : II ., III ., IV ., V ., VI .
Royal Masonic Institution For Girls.
ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR GIRLS .
The January Quarterly Court of the Governors and Subscribers of this Institution was held on Saturday at Freemasons' Hall , Bro . Lieut .-Col . Creaton , Grand Treasurer , V . P ., and Trustee , presiding . There were also present Bros . A . H . Tattershall , Thomas Massa , A . I . Duff Filer ,
S . Rawson , Arthur E . Gladwell , E . Letchworth , Joshua Nunn , J . J . Berry , F . R . W . Hedges ( Secretary ) , and H . Massey ( Freemason ) . After the reading and confirmation of the minutes , the brethren confirmed the recommendation of the General Committee to declare twenty-eight candidates on the list for election in April , and fifteen vacancies .
Bro . J OSHUA NUNN then brought forward the following motion of which he had given notice : "That the following words be added to Law LXXII ., after the word 'provision , ' viz . ' and in cases of exceptional merit and necessity the General Committee are authorised to increase the sum to an amount not exceeding £ 40 . '" In doing so he said it was hardly necessary for him to say many words on the
subject . He believed it was through a misunderstanding at the last meeting that the motion was not carried . He had been since told by his opponents that they did not then uuderstand it . They supposed that it was a proposition to give every girl who left the Institution £ 40 . _ Now it was nothing of the sort ; it was only to be given in exceptional cases . It had only been once in the last two years that the
Committee had given as much as £ 20 . There were exceptional cases in which it was desirable they should have the power of rendering assistance to girls above the amount usually given . To obtain that power he brought forward this motion . He might add that one of his strongest opponents at last meeting , Bro . Henry Smith , the Grand Secretary , representing the large and important
province of West Yorkshire , had told him he thought it was intended by the motion that the Committee should have the power to give £ 40 per girl . Bro . A . E . GLADWELL seconded the motion , and said that he had opposed it formerly because he misunderstood its import in the same way as Bro . H . Smith . If he had understood it he should most assuredly have voted for it ,
and possibly have said a few words in favour of it . It was only lost by a very small majority . He felt sure the supporters of the School would be glad such a motion was passed . Bro . A . J . DUFF FILER did not wish the motion to pass without observation . It occurred to him when the Pupils ' Assistance Fund was started that it was not ( wanted , but that any gifts to the children on leaving the School
should be left entirely in the hands of the managers of the School , who were much better acquainted with the merits of the girls who required assistance for their future career in life than any other medium . The present motion had his most cordial support , and he hoped it would put an end to the fourth charity , which he believed would be a great detriment to the Masonic Charitable Institutions . He never
had subscribed to the Pupils Assistance Fund , and never would . He would much rather support the Institutions which gave sums of money for the benefit of the children . There was only one other observation he wished to make . He need hardly say that the men who were selected to carry out the proposed rule had the confidence of the subscribers , and the only thing to guard against was the exercising the
power they had too often . They would only use it in exceptional and urgent cases . Bro . E . LETCHWORTH had much pleasure in supporting the motion . He believed it would be for the benefit of the interests of the Institution that it should be widely known throughout the Craft and sunnorters of the Institutions
that it had such a fund as this . It would be in the recollection of the members of the Court that some short time since the Earl of Rosslyn , on the occasion of his taking the chair at one of the Charity dinners , said he found out what he thought was a great blot on the Masonic Institutions . Now it was not only desirable for the interests of the Institutions that there should be no blot , but also that there
Royal Masonic Institution For Girls.
should not be an impression that a blot existed . If the Earl of Rosslyn had been made aware , as he should have been before he had made the observations , that the House Committees of both the Boys' and Girls' Schools had the power to give the pupils as much as £ 20 when they left the Institutions , he would not have made the observations he did . If the £ 20 was increased to £ 40 , in exceptional cases , he , Bro . Letchworth , thouarht that the principal supporters
of the scheme which had arisen from the noble earl's observations , would be assured that the machinery at the disposal of the General Committees was adequate to meet all circumstances . As Bro . Nunn had observed , very few cases occurred in which it was necessary to make the full grant . It was not at all probable that many such cases would occur . It was a irreat mistake to suppose that the children who left the
Schools left them friendless . No child ever got into the Schools—it was impossible for a child to get into the Boys ' or Girls' School—without the assistance of numerous and influential friends ; and he could not believe that a single child who had been successful in being elected would on leaving those Institutions find himself , or herself , friendless , and without the assistance of those whose aid had been necessary to secure their election .
Bro . b . RAWSON did not rise to oppose the motion ; in fact , he had voted for it at the last Quarterly Court , but as the motion had been objected to by numerous friends on that occasion , and but few were present now , he thought that unless there was a case that required immediate consideration it would be a compliment to the country brethren to adjourn the consideration of the motion to the next Ouarterlv Court , when there would be a numerous
attendance . It was evident from what had been said that some of the brethren who formerly opposed the motion would now support it , and on all grounds he thought it would be best to adjourn the motion . Col . CREATON said , in answer to Bro . Rawson's remarks , that the motion bad been advertised and communicated to the country brethren . He thought it would be a pity to postpone the motion . The country brethren would have the
opportunity in April of objecting to it if they pleased . The principal brethren who had opposed the motion were now in favour of it . Bro . J OSHUA NUNN , in reply , said he was happy to say there was no opposition on the present occasion . He was sorry that there were not more brethren present ; but as all the brethren in the country had been made acquainted by circular and advertisement they had had an opportunity
of attending that day if they had wished to oppose the motion . He sincerely hoped that the step now taken would put down what had been called " a fourth Charity , " which , he could not but think , would be detrimental to the Institution . He had thought so all through , and had expressed himself to that effect to the movers of it . If those who were entrusted with the management of the affairs of the Institution had the power now sought to be given , they
would never use it lavishly . Only once in two years had £ 20 be given to one girl , and the brethren might be sure from that that much money had not been expended this way . On the occasion of the £ 20 being given it would have been increased to £ 30 if the Committee had had the power . It was a most deserving case , and the remaining £ 10 was made up b y the brethren . They did not want a fourth Masonic Charity , but they wanted the power to assist those who required assistance to the amount that was
necessary . He was sorry Lord Rasslyn was not made acquainted with the facts that both the Boys' and Girls' Institutions had the power to grant as high a sum as £ 20 to a child leaving the Institution , for if he had he would not have made the remarks which led to the starting of a fourth Charity . If they had such aCharity he thought it would damage the Institutions materially . The motion was put , and carried unanimously , and a vote of thanks to the Chairman closed the proceedings .
Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.
ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR BOYS .
A Quarterly General Court of the Governors and Subscribers was held at Freemasons' Hall , Great Queen-street , on Monday last , Lieut .-Col . Creaton , Grand Treasurer , in the chair , when a large number of brethren attended , including Bros . A . J . Duff-Filer , G . Bolton , C . H . Webb ,
W . M . ferryman , Leopold Kur , Jas . I ' reeman , H . T . Moore , H . T . Venn , J . G . Stevens , J . J . Berry , Win , Roebuck , J . Murray , J . Terry , Wm . Mann , Richard Tyrrell , William Paas , D . M . Dewar , C . F . Matier , J . G . Chancellor , S . J . Benton , S . Dawson , A . E . Gladwell , W . F . C . Moutric , W . H . Spaull , Chas . Sanders , S . Rosenthal , H . S . Goodall , Alf . Williams , AbnerTorrington , A . Tisley , T . Cubitt , George BIythe , W . W . Morgan , jun ., Edward
Baxter , E . C . Woodward , Col . Peters , F . Binckes ( Secretary ) , and E . C . Massey ( Freemason ) . The minutes of the various Boards and Committees having been read and approved , the Court proceeded to the consideration of the list of condidates from which twenty boys are to be elected on nth April next , when the case of Arthur Harvey Collingwood excited a good deal of discussion . Bro . MATIER submittcd | that as the lad was entitled
to something over £ 40 a year , applicable for educational purposes , he was not in a position to stand in need of the benefits of the Institution ; and he added that if this Ud was admitted he should place his own boy before the Com mittec as a candidate for the same advantages . Bro . GLADWELL , following , approved of all Bro . Matier had said , and drew attention to the agesof the "children " said to be dependent on the mother , viz ., a girl , aged 33 ;
Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.
a boy , aged 22 , & c , and urged that it was fair to infer that "children" of those ages could be doing something for their own support . The SECRETARY read a letter and various telegrams from different parts of the country , urging that [ the case should be removed from the list , or that a Targe amount of subscriptions would be lost . Bro . J . G . STEVENS spoke as representing several lodges
in East London , which were liberal supporters of the Chanties , and he endorsed all that had fallen frpm Bros . Matier and Gladwell . Bro . R . STEWART supported the action of the House Committee , in recommending that the case be retained on the list ; urging that this was not a pauper Institution , and that , as the widow's income was only £ 106 , she was , after her former comparatively affluent position , so reduced in
circumstances as to give her son a claim to become a candidate for election . Bro . GIRLING said that the discussion had been carried on with spirit and animosity ( an expression he declined to withdraw when asked to do so ) , and that it was evidently useless to expect anything but an unfavourable result . He had been supported by many influential Masons in bringing forward this case ; but as their intention was evident he
desired to withdraw the boy s name from the list . The SECRETARY having explained that as the case had come before the Court as a final appeal , it would be necessary for the Court to pass a resolution . Bro . MATIER proposed that the name of Arthur Harvey Collingwood be erased from the list of candidates j and the proposition having been seconded , was put to the vote , and carried .
The list of candidates for election as passed by the Court numbered seventy-six . Bro . Binckes having withdrawn , Bro . R . W . STEWART , V . P ., proposed "That , to commemorate the twenty years' services of the Secretary , Bro . Binckes , and in recognition of the ability sho vn during that period , also having regard to the success achieved through his exertions , a grant of £ 200 be made
to him out of the funds of the Institution , " and in doing so said that , however much they had differed in the late discussion , he did not think there would be much difference of opinion upon this matter . Their Secretary had served them faithfull y for . twenty years . When he entered on his duties the income of the Institution was about £ 1800 a year ; now it was £ 13 , 000 , and had 250 children under its protection . The total
received during those twenty years amounted to as much as £ 192 , 000 . Bro . MATIER in seconding the proposition said that he had had a number of communications , and the general expression was one . of regret , either that the amount was not larger , or that it could not be received year after year .
The proposition on being put from the chair was carried unanimously , and Bro . BINCKES on being recalled and informed of the resolution returned his thanks to the Court for this mark of their approbation , which he received with the greater pleasure from the fact of its being a unanimous vote .
Freemasonry In Bath, 1724-1733.
FREEMASONRY IN BATH , 1724-1733 .
By V . W . Bro . WILLIAM J AMES HUGHAN , P . G . D . of England , Hon . Member 41 , & c , & c . Dedicated to the W . Bro . Dr . Henry Hopkins , M . A ., F . C . P ., P . M . 43 , W . M . 41 , & c , & c , P . P . G . S . W . Warwickshire .
The fact of the "Constitutions of the Freemasons" of A . D . 1738 containing no reference to a lodge at Bath before the one of A . D . 1733 ( present No . 41 ) seems to have led many to suppose that this lodge was the first warranted for the city . There was , however , one much earlier chartered , viz ., latter part of 1723 , or in 1724 . There is an engraved list preserved , unique of 1723 , but all the lodges
therein are for the London district and neighbourhood . If any list of lodges was issued for 1724 , no copy is known at the present time , but of 1725 two copies are still extant . In both of the latter date is to be found a lodge at the "Queen ' s Head , Bath , " and as it was the first warrant ever issued by the Grand Lodge of England for any part of the " country , " Bath may rightly be termed the premier
Masonic provincial city 0 / England . At and before that year the Grand Lodge had warranted about fifty lodges , but none for a country district ; and when the lodges were known by their numbers several had collapsed , so that the lodge at Bath , on the numeration of 1729-30 , was numbered 28 . It was one of the most distinguished lodges , as respects
the membership , of any ever warranted before or since 1724 . We cannot decide exactly when it ceased to exist , but certainly not before 1736 . My friend Bro . Robert Freke Gould , S . G . D . of England , and author of "The Four Old Lodges , " & c , has been most kind and energetic in his researches on this point in the record -, of the Grand Lodge , and considers it was about the year 1737 . It was left out of the engraved lists of 173 S-0 . On March 2 nd , 1732 , the
Grand Lodge archives contain a notice of payment of on e guinea from the lodge for " Charity . " Bro . Gould agree with me as to the possibility , and even probability , of jt having been constituted in 1723 . However , to be within _ the mark , we accept the year 1724 , under the Grand Mas " tership of the Earl of Dalkeith or that of the Duke of Richmond . There was not another Grand Lodge in England at this period , and , indeed , the one in London was the first of its kind : the " assemblies" at York and other