Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
English Freemasonry Before 1717.—No. Ii.
mole's words in 16 S 2 , that he had received more than one degree , though not alluded to in his diary . But all , I think , we can fairly say is , that the words of 1682 simply refer to the conferring and reception of a degree . The Harleian MS . of 1663 , as confirmed by-lhe paper-mark , seems to me to point to an inchoate or completed attempt of central government of some kind in the Craft , a sort of gathering themselves together and
organizing . My own opinion long has been that we have in Harleian 1942 perhaps our most valuable MS ., and which is either a draft prepared for a stated meeting , ( place not filled in ) , or the copy of a record which-the transcriber of 1663 could not perfectly read . Of course , the 1663 MS . is copied from another MS . The editor of the 1722 Constitutions , like Anderson in 1738 ,
had probably copied a transcript of the MS ., varied by some other scribe , and there seems not to be the slightest reason now , scientifically , critically , or historically , to doubt the reality and importance of the Harleian MS . itself , .. or the "bona fides " of the unknown publisher of . the 1722 Constitutions and of Anderson . . . " . - '
Where they got this date from of 1663 does not yet appear . But it is a very curious fact , explain it as you will , and to which my attention has been called in the British Museum , that the earliest known printed Masonic evidence actually supports , the paper-mark ; while on the other hand the paper-mark' fully upholds the date given by the earliest Masonic authority •on the MS . I think , then , we may take the MS . as-avowing the existence , ¦
known to many , of a Society or Order of Freemasons in England , which in 1663 , either the first great meeting after the Restoration , or at some other assembly , attempted to form or revive some sort of central government of the scattered lodges or societies up and down the country ; . and we have in this very MS . ' a drafting for consideration , or a' record of approval , of certain forms of government -and
regulation , which , were to give coherence- and consistency alike to individual lodges and the entire , system . It may be said , I know , ' that these regulations point to an unsettled state of things , arid to a change ' " along the whole line" of the Masonic Guilds , in their inner life . and their practical outcome . But , probably , such was the state of the Guilds generally , and ' we need not expect in the seventeenth century to behold a very distinct or settled order of things . I am , myself , inclined to believe
that the admission of the speculative element was gradual , probably long adopted in localities before it was generally recognized , and rather forced on the body by the necessities of the case and the change of circumstances than by any very enthusiastic adhesion or approval of the-Order itself . Randle Holmes ' s evidence is most important , as shewing that he fully recognized a difference between the corfipanies and the society , or societies , of Freemasons , a difference which is distinctly marked , as some will r ' er member , in the Antiquity MS .
' "The old theory that the Society of Freemasons was one with the City Company , or that the Guilds and Companies were all but identical , as Anderson seems to have held , cannot , 1 think , now be sustained ; though many other-writers , like Anderson , both older and modern , have been slightly misled by several facts which , in themselves not a little deceiving , seem to point lo such an assumption and reality . We have a MS . testimony about
1760 , at any rate to a lodge in Chester , which seems , as Bro . Rylands pointed out , to be a minute of a lodge . in Randle Holmes ' s handwriting , and if the marks represent a voting process , we have not only another very important witness to the unchangeability of the customs of a similar society , but a proof—if proof be needed—of the . lax way in which , as was probably the case , any such minutes were kept in those days . The writing of lodge minutes on separate leaves
was a custom which survived to the eighteenth century . Plot's evidence is most striking , because that' of a non-Mason and one hostile to Freemasonry . But he records the fact that lodges existed in Staffordshire and all over Englandof Speculativesand Operatives in 1686 , and had existed for some time , and he even quotes words which seem to coincide with one or two old copies of assumed ritual usages . The evidence of Aubrey serves •also to show that the Freemasons we ' re recognized as a known . existiri ' g society in 1691 . ' " .. ' ¦
Thus we have a " catena" of authorities all pointing to the actuality of . the Society of Freemasons from the earlier to the latest portion of the ' seventeenth century . What , however , its " modus agendi et vivendi , " what . its " norma morum , " & c ., what , the actual conditions of its inner and outer life , is our great difficulty to-day to discover and realize , and
above all how it-was connected with the movement in 17 . 17 . I propose in the next paper to point out some conclusions which serve inevitabl y to suggest themselves from the foregoing facts , and to finish with a few considerations and reflexions on what seems . now to be the imperative duty "; of all Masonic Students . DRYASDUST .
History Of The. Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.
HISTORY OF THE . ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR BOYS .
( Continued from page ( 341 ) . Later in the year a sub-Committee , consisting of Bros . John Symonds , the Rev . W . H ; Lyall , and F . Binckes , whose name now figures prominently in the proceedings of •the Institution , delivered their report as to the likeliest means to adopt with a view to increasing the resources of the Charity . This . report- was referred back for
further consideration , and before it was submitted finally for adoption , Bro . Binckes tendered his resignation as a member of-the said sub-, Committee . Nevertheless its' suggestions , both originally and ultimately , were eminently practical ' , and we doubt not ' must have exercised a beneficial influence in extending the resources of the Charity , especially in the Provinces , whose laxity of support , bad already been animadverted upon
with a considerable amount of severity . The chief step ' recommended by this sub-Committee was the establishment of provincial organizations for the purpose of promoting the interests of . both the Masonic Schools , the organizations taking the form of Committees . Simultaneously with the preparation of this report the House Committee were busying themselves
111 devising means , for the accommodation of the whole establishment of boys at Wood Green , those only to be excepted who deliberately elected to remain with their families , and in the course of the discussion of this plan they proposed and submitted a full' statement of the cost which such an extension would involve . '
Having succeeded at length in providing the local habitation which alone was needed in order to complete the original idea of the founders of the Institution , and having had the opportunity of judging by practical experience of the beneficial results accruing from a portion of the . establish-
History Of The. Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.
ment being under one roof and educated in accordance with one system , the Executive lost no time in placing all the boys , or at least so many of them as were willing to accept the arrangement , on the same footing . At the same time they were careful to estimate the probabilities of their being in a position to meet the additional outlay . Accordingly , the House Committee charged themselves with the duty of
examining into the receipts and expenditure for a term of six years under r the old system , and for six months of the period that had elapsed since the ' adoption of the mixed system , and on the 2 nd October , 18 5 8 , they handed in their Report . From this we learn that during the six years from March ; . 1851 , to March , 1 S 57 , the sum received in respect of the General Fund amounted to £ 8982 os . Sd ., . the highest total being /' 1746 ' ss . 4 d . for
, the year 1853-4 , and the lowest ' £ 1215 6 s . sd ., for 1 S 51-2 . The exoendituro ' reached £ 5338 7 s . 2 d ., the highest sum disbursed in any one year being £ 1031 8 s . 6 d ., in . 1 S 51-2 and the lowest £ 814 5 s . 8 d ., in 1853-4 . In the same period . £ 1700 was invested . As regards the Building Fund , which had been kept distinct , £ 1350 was contributed b y Grand Lodge and £ 1624 transferred from the General Fund , while the donations and
subscriptions amounted to ' £ 1171 ; these three sources of income amounting ' to £ 4145- For the six months ended 30 th June , 18 58 , the sum expended , in respect of the establishment at Wood Green was £$ 22 13 s . 8 d ., representing an outlay for the whole year of £ 645 7 s . 4 d . Adding to this 10 per Cent , for contingencies and the proportion expended for the resident boys in respect of clothing , namely , . £ 219 7 s . 6 d ., and the total cost of the branch at Wood
Green must "be set down at £ 929 5 s . 6 d . The cost for the year of the 45 boys remaining under the old system appears as £ 572 is . 3 d ., making the total forthe two branches £ 1501 6 s . gd . ' The Committee next considered what would be the cost if th ' e whole of the . boys were placed at . Wood Green , and this they fixed at £ 2129 4 s . 9 d ., towards which they estimated that the year ' s receipts would be sufficient , the last ten months of
185 7 having yielded over £ 2000 , while the year 185 S was expected to give £ 2130 . In order to provide the additional accommodation that would beepme necessary by receiving the whole 70 boys into the school at Wood Green , it was considered thatasum ' of £ 1100 would be requited , but with the experience of the first Building Fund to guide them , the House Committee apprehended that no difficulties would arise in procuring the needful sum .
This Report was submitted at the usual Committee on the date aforesaid , when it was agreed to . recommend it for adoption by the next Quarterly Court . On the 18 th October , this recommendation was adopted and the Report was referred back to the General Committee in order that its proposals might be carried into effect . The following month , it was arranged that a circular letter should beaddressed to . the lodges inviting them to send
Stewards to the next years Festival , particular attention'being directed to . the resolution to place all the "boys at the Wood Green School and the increased expenditure which would be thereby necessitated . In December , it was announced that Lord Panmure , Deputy Grand Master , had kindly , undertaken to preside at the Festival in question , and in April 1859 it was stated that the proceeds exceeded £ 2000 , including a sum of
£ 306 9 s . from the Province of West Yorkshire . Thus it is clear that the ¦ contemplated ' extension of the new plan to the whole of the establishment was regarded with satisfaction by the Craft generally , the prominence given to the appearance of West Yorkshire among the contributories being noticeable chiefly in consequence of the Report , to which allusion has already been made , which recommended the establishment of provincial
organizations in connection with our Chanties , and from which it appears that there was a great dearth of support among . our country lodges , though the latter were the reverse of unwilling to accept the . benefits conferred by the said Charities . In June following , the Treasurer was authorised to draw on the bankers to . the extent of £ 400 , in order to provide for the extra accommodation at Wood Green . In August a . resolution was passed to the
effect that all the boys should be . lodged at Wood Green , provided , of course , their parents were agreeable to the arrangement ; and , in March , i 860 , we find that 66 of them were so lodged , only four of the total strength of the establishment electing to remain under the whole plan . Thus , within eightyears from the adoption of the proposal to found a School of our own , and in three years after the premises at Wood Gree . n had been purchased and
suitably fitted , hardly a trace ot the old plan remained . And the funds would seem to have been forthcoming , in order to meet the increased outlay , even more readily than in the years we have passed under review . Each new effort in the direction of improvement appears to have been met by a corresponding increase in zeal and liberality on the part ol the Craft . 11
one day we read of the sale of a portion of the funded property accumulated by the Institution , on some other day we come across an entry showing that a certain amount of new Stock had been purchased . Yet , only a few years before , it was gravely hinted that , having regard to the claims of the other Institutions , the provision of an annual sum of , £ 1500 was beyond the strength of the Craft to accomplish . . ¦
Beyond the fact that Bro . Viscount Raynham , M . P ., presided at the Festival in i 860 , when a sum of about £ 1650 was raised by the exertions of , the Board of Stewards , there is little to arrest our attention till we enter on . the year 1861 , when the Minutes furnish evidence as to the condition of the School and the relations existing between the educational and governmental staffs . . As regards the character of the School as an educational
establishment , we have the report of the Rev . Charles James Dyer , Diocesan Inspec- ' tor of Schools , in which are set forth all the necessary particulars to guide us in forming an opinion of the tuition and its results . In announcing that considerable improvement had been made since his previous report , ' the rev . gentleman is careful to indicate that the School was very far from being so efficient as those interested in its welfare must desire , judging from the
standard he had applied in examining the boys , he felt he was justified in recording progress ; but he goes on to say : "At tKe same time , I must admit that this standard , although relatively a fair one , was absolutely very moderate , and it will require much assiduity and energy combined with a vigorous and expansive system to advance this Institution to a position capable of competing with other first-class commercial schools . " Several
recommendations were made by Mr . Dyer , and the Committee seem to have been well pleased with his advice , and took steps to act upon it . Nor could this report , as it happened , have come more opportunely . In January , 1861 , a Committee—consisting of Bros . John Symonds , H . J . Thompson , J . R . Sheen , A . H . Hewlett , and H . G . Warren—was appointed for
the purpose of inquiring into the management of the Institution ; but particularly with respect to certain allegations which had been made from time to time at the different Committees , full powers being at the same time conferred upon them to summon members of the House Committee , and also to ask for all such papers and books as they might consider it desirable to examine . ( T ° l > e continued . )
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
English Freemasonry Before 1717.—No. Ii.
mole's words in 16 S 2 , that he had received more than one degree , though not alluded to in his diary . But all , I think , we can fairly say is , that the words of 1682 simply refer to the conferring and reception of a degree . The Harleian MS . of 1663 , as confirmed by-lhe paper-mark , seems to me to point to an inchoate or completed attempt of central government of some kind in the Craft , a sort of gathering themselves together and
organizing . My own opinion long has been that we have in Harleian 1942 perhaps our most valuable MS ., and which is either a draft prepared for a stated meeting , ( place not filled in ) , or the copy of a record which-the transcriber of 1663 could not perfectly read . Of course , the 1663 MS . is copied from another MS . The editor of the 1722 Constitutions , like Anderson in 1738 ,
had probably copied a transcript of the MS ., varied by some other scribe , and there seems not to be the slightest reason now , scientifically , critically , or historically , to doubt the reality and importance of the Harleian MS . itself , .. or the "bona fides " of the unknown publisher of . the 1722 Constitutions and of Anderson . . . " . - '
Where they got this date from of 1663 does not yet appear . But it is a very curious fact , explain it as you will , and to which my attention has been called in the British Museum , that the earliest known printed Masonic evidence actually supports , the paper-mark ; while on the other hand the paper-mark' fully upholds the date given by the earliest Masonic authority •on the MS . I think , then , we may take the MS . as-avowing the existence , ¦
known to many , of a Society or Order of Freemasons in England , which in 1663 , either the first great meeting after the Restoration , or at some other assembly , attempted to form or revive some sort of central government of the scattered lodges or societies up and down the country ; . and we have in this very MS . ' a drafting for consideration , or a' record of approval , of certain forms of government -and
regulation , which , were to give coherence- and consistency alike to individual lodges and the entire , system . It may be said , I know , ' that these regulations point to an unsettled state of things , arid to a change ' " along the whole line" of the Masonic Guilds , in their inner life . and their practical outcome . But , probably , such was the state of the Guilds generally , and ' we need not expect in the seventeenth century to behold a very distinct or settled order of things . I am , myself , inclined to believe
that the admission of the speculative element was gradual , probably long adopted in localities before it was generally recognized , and rather forced on the body by the necessities of the case and the change of circumstances than by any very enthusiastic adhesion or approval of the-Order itself . Randle Holmes ' s evidence is most important , as shewing that he fully recognized a difference between the corfipanies and the society , or societies , of Freemasons , a difference which is distinctly marked , as some will r ' er member , in the Antiquity MS .
' "The old theory that the Society of Freemasons was one with the City Company , or that the Guilds and Companies were all but identical , as Anderson seems to have held , cannot , 1 think , now be sustained ; though many other-writers , like Anderson , both older and modern , have been slightly misled by several facts which , in themselves not a little deceiving , seem to point lo such an assumption and reality . We have a MS . testimony about
1760 , at any rate to a lodge in Chester , which seems , as Bro . Rylands pointed out , to be a minute of a lodge . in Randle Holmes ' s handwriting , and if the marks represent a voting process , we have not only another very important witness to the unchangeability of the customs of a similar society , but a proof—if proof be needed—of the . lax way in which , as was probably the case , any such minutes were kept in those days . The writing of lodge minutes on separate leaves
was a custom which survived to the eighteenth century . Plot's evidence is most striking , because that' of a non-Mason and one hostile to Freemasonry . But he records the fact that lodges existed in Staffordshire and all over Englandof Speculativesand Operatives in 1686 , and had existed for some time , and he even quotes words which seem to coincide with one or two old copies of assumed ritual usages . The evidence of Aubrey serves •also to show that the Freemasons we ' re recognized as a known . existiri ' g society in 1691 . ' " .. ' ¦
Thus we have a " catena" of authorities all pointing to the actuality of . the Society of Freemasons from the earlier to the latest portion of the ' seventeenth century . What , however , its " modus agendi et vivendi , " what . its " norma morum , " & c ., what , the actual conditions of its inner and outer life , is our great difficulty to-day to discover and realize , and
above all how it-was connected with the movement in 17 . 17 . I propose in the next paper to point out some conclusions which serve inevitabl y to suggest themselves from the foregoing facts , and to finish with a few considerations and reflexions on what seems . now to be the imperative duty "; of all Masonic Students . DRYASDUST .
History Of The. Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.
HISTORY OF THE . ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR BOYS .
( Continued from page ( 341 ) . Later in the year a sub-Committee , consisting of Bros . John Symonds , the Rev . W . H ; Lyall , and F . Binckes , whose name now figures prominently in the proceedings of •the Institution , delivered their report as to the likeliest means to adopt with a view to increasing the resources of the Charity . This . report- was referred back for
further consideration , and before it was submitted finally for adoption , Bro . Binckes tendered his resignation as a member of-the said sub-, Committee . Nevertheless its' suggestions , both originally and ultimately , were eminently practical ' , and we doubt not ' must have exercised a beneficial influence in extending the resources of the Charity , especially in the Provinces , whose laxity of support , bad already been animadverted upon
with a considerable amount of severity . The chief step ' recommended by this sub-Committee was the establishment of provincial organizations for the purpose of promoting the interests of . both the Masonic Schools , the organizations taking the form of Committees . Simultaneously with the preparation of this report the House Committee were busying themselves
111 devising means , for the accommodation of the whole establishment of boys at Wood Green , those only to be excepted who deliberately elected to remain with their families , and in the course of the discussion of this plan they proposed and submitted a full' statement of the cost which such an extension would involve . '
Having succeeded at length in providing the local habitation which alone was needed in order to complete the original idea of the founders of the Institution , and having had the opportunity of judging by practical experience of the beneficial results accruing from a portion of the . establish-
History Of The. Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.
ment being under one roof and educated in accordance with one system , the Executive lost no time in placing all the boys , or at least so many of them as were willing to accept the arrangement , on the same footing . At the same time they were careful to estimate the probabilities of their being in a position to meet the additional outlay . Accordingly , the House Committee charged themselves with the duty of
examining into the receipts and expenditure for a term of six years under r the old system , and for six months of the period that had elapsed since the ' adoption of the mixed system , and on the 2 nd October , 18 5 8 , they handed in their Report . From this we learn that during the six years from March ; . 1851 , to March , 1 S 57 , the sum received in respect of the General Fund amounted to £ 8982 os . Sd ., . the highest total being /' 1746 ' ss . 4 d . for
, the year 1853-4 , and the lowest ' £ 1215 6 s . sd ., for 1 S 51-2 . The exoendituro ' reached £ 5338 7 s . 2 d ., the highest sum disbursed in any one year being £ 1031 8 s . 6 d ., in . 1 S 51-2 and the lowest £ 814 5 s . 8 d ., in 1853-4 . In the same period . £ 1700 was invested . As regards the Building Fund , which had been kept distinct , £ 1350 was contributed b y Grand Lodge and £ 1624 transferred from the General Fund , while the donations and
subscriptions amounted to ' £ 1171 ; these three sources of income amounting ' to £ 4145- For the six months ended 30 th June , 18 58 , the sum expended , in respect of the establishment at Wood Green was £$ 22 13 s . 8 d ., representing an outlay for the whole year of £ 645 7 s . 4 d . Adding to this 10 per Cent , for contingencies and the proportion expended for the resident boys in respect of clothing , namely , . £ 219 7 s . 6 d ., and the total cost of the branch at Wood
Green must "be set down at £ 929 5 s . 6 d . The cost for the year of the 45 boys remaining under the old system appears as £ 572 is . 3 d ., making the total forthe two branches £ 1501 6 s . gd . ' The Committee next considered what would be the cost if th ' e whole of the . boys were placed at . Wood Green , and this they fixed at £ 2129 4 s . 9 d ., towards which they estimated that the year ' s receipts would be sufficient , the last ten months of
185 7 having yielded over £ 2000 , while the year 185 S was expected to give £ 2130 . In order to provide the additional accommodation that would beepme necessary by receiving the whole 70 boys into the school at Wood Green , it was considered thatasum ' of £ 1100 would be requited , but with the experience of the first Building Fund to guide them , the House Committee apprehended that no difficulties would arise in procuring the needful sum .
This Report was submitted at the usual Committee on the date aforesaid , when it was agreed to . recommend it for adoption by the next Quarterly Court . On the 18 th October , this recommendation was adopted and the Report was referred back to the General Committee in order that its proposals might be carried into effect . The following month , it was arranged that a circular letter should beaddressed to . the lodges inviting them to send
Stewards to the next years Festival , particular attention'being directed to . the resolution to place all the "boys at the Wood Green School and the increased expenditure which would be thereby necessitated . In December , it was announced that Lord Panmure , Deputy Grand Master , had kindly , undertaken to preside at the Festival in question , and in April 1859 it was stated that the proceeds exceeded £ 2000 , including a sum of
£ 306 9 s . from the Province of West Yorkshire . Thus it is clear that the ¦ contemplated ' extension of the new plan to the whole of the establishment was regarded with satisfaction by the Craft generally , the prominence given to the appearance of West Yorkshire among the contributories being noticeable chiefly in consequence of the Report , to which allusion has already been made , which recommended the establishment of provincial
organizations in connection with our Chanties , and from which it appears that there was a great dearth of support among . our country lodges , though the latter were the reverse of unwilling to accept the . benefits conferred by the said Charities . In June following , the Treasurer was authorised to draw on the bankers to . the extent of £ 400 , in order to provide for the extra accommodation at Wood Green . In August a . resolution was passed to the
effect that all the boys should be . lodged at Wood Green , provided , of course , their parents were agreeable to the arrangement ; and , in March , i 860 , we find that 66 of them were so lodged , only four of the total strength of the establishment electing to remain under the whole plan . Thus , within eightyears from the adoption of the proposal to found a School of our own , and in three years after the premises at Wood Gree . n had been purchased and
suitably fitted , hardly a trace ot the old plan remained . And the funds would seem to have been forthcoming , in order to meet the increased outlay , even more readily than in the years we have passed under review . Each new effort in the direction of improvement appears to have been met by a corresponding increase in zeal and liberality on the part ol the Craft . 11
one day we read of the sale of a portion of the funded property accumulated by the Institution , on some other day we come across an entry showing that a certain amount of new Stock had been purchased . Yet , only a few years before , it was gravely hinted that , having regard to the claims of the other Institutions , the provision of an annual sum of , £ 1500 was beyond the strength of the Craft to accomplish . . ¦
Beyond the fact that Bro . Viscount Raynham , M . P ., presided at the Festival in i 860 , when a sum of about £ 1650 was raised by the exertions of , the Board of Stewards , there is little to arrest our attention till we enter on . the year 1861 , when the Minutes furnish evidence as to the condition of the School and the relations existing between the educational and governmental staffs . . As regards the character of the School as an educational
establishment , we have the report of the Rev . Charles James Dyer , Diocesan Inspec- ' tor of Schools , in which are set forth all the necessary particulars to guide us in forming an opinion of the tuition and its results . In announcing that considerable improvement had been made since his previous report , ' the rev . gentleman is careful to indicate that the School was very far from being so efficient as those interested in its welfare must desire , judging from the
standard he had applied in examining the boys , he felt he was justified in recording progress ; but he goes on to say : "At tKe same time , I must admit that this standard , although relatively a fair one , was absolutely very moderate , and it will require much assiduity and energy combined with a vigorous and expansive system to advance this Institution to a position capable of competing with other first-class commercial schools . " Several
recommendations were made by Mr . Dyer , and the Committee seem to have been well pleased with his advice , and took steps to act upon it . Nor could this report , as it happened , have come more opportunely . In January , 1861 , a Committee—consisting of Bros . John Symonds , H . J . Thompson , J . R . Sheen , A . H . Hewlett , and H . G . Warren—was appointed for
the purpose of inquiring into the management of the Institution ; but particularly with respect to certain allegations which had been made from time to time at the different Committees , full powers being at the same time conferred upon them to summon members of the House Committee , and also to ask for all such papers and books as they might consider it desirable to examine . ( T ° l > e continued . )