Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
History Of The Emulation Lodge Of Improvement, No. 256.
History of the Emulation Lodge of Improvement , No . 256 .
( By Bro . HKXKV SADLER , Sub-Librarian to the Grand Lodge of England ) .
HAVIXG undertaken the compilation of an historical sketch of the Emulation Lodge of Improvement , I am of opinion that it Avould be advisable , before entering directly upon that subject , to offer a feAV brief remarks on the general history and condition of the Cr . Cft in the English Metropolis and the important events Avhich immediately preceded the inauguration of this celebrated school of Masonic instruction .
U . K . II . Til ! -: DUK 1-: OF SUSSEX , ( iHAXI ) MASTKH , ls | ::-i : >
Down to the year 1813 , and for about sixty years prior to that period , there were two Grand Lodges in London , each having mam' subordinate lodges under its jurisdiction in nearly every part of the civilized world . The older of these bodies Avas established in the year 1717 , and has been
variously designated "The Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of England , " "The Regular Grand Lodge , " "The Modern Grand Lodge , " and , later , "The Grand Lodge under the Prince of Wales , " George , Prince of Wales , afterwards King George the Fourth , having been its Grand Master from 1 790 to 1813 .
The other Grand Lodge started in the year 173 1 as a Grand Committee , Avhich blossomed into a Grand Lodge two years later . This body Avas known as " The Grand Lodge of the Ancients , " or , to give it its full description , " The Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons According to the Old Institutions . " Its members were also designated "Athole
Masons , " because two Dukes of that name had presided over them as Grand Masters . For the sake of brevity and as a simple distinction these two Societies were , and still are , referred to by Masonic Avriters as " Ancients " and "Moderns , " the " Ancients " being the organization of 175 1 ,
and the "Moderns" that of 1717 . At lirst sight this description of them naturally appears somewhat strange , but it can be explained in this Avay : The regular Grand Lodge of 1717 , although undoubtedl y the elder as an organized body , had , for certain reasons , so
altered the ceremonies and deviated from the old customs of the Craft , that , according to their opponents of 175 1 , they had forfeited their right to the title of "Ancient , " Avhile they themselves , having preserved the traditional usages and ceremonies unaltered , were the real "Ancient" Masons , and no doubt there Avas a certain amount of truth in these
allegations . A strong and bitter rivalry existed between the two Societies for many years , promoted and fostered , I regret to sav , chielly by some of the leading Masons on both sides . In fact , it Avas at first a struggle for absolute poAver and supremacy on the part of the Moderns—the older and possibly more respectable community—and for existence as
an organization on the part of the Ancients , who Avere stigmatized by their rivals as seceders , schismatics , rebels , and even still more offensive terms were applied to them . In the course of years the anger of these two rival societies became softened , they found that neither of them
could gain the mastery , and as they became better acquainted they learned to respect each other , and , naturally so , for thev were both animated by the same noble motive—the dissemination of the grand principles of Brotherly Love , Relief , and Truth . Owing to the exertions of some of the more enlightened
members of both Grand Lodges , an Union , on terms mutually honourable , Avas finally consummated in the year 1813 . Since this period , our Society has been knoAvn as the United Grand Lodge of Ancient , Free , and Accepted Masons of England .
As may readily be gathered from the reason given for the names of "Ancients" and "Moderns" having been applied to the opposing factions , various discrepancies existed in their customs and ceremonies . It is of course quite impossible to even hint at the nature of those differences in
11 . 1 :. 11 . nil-: DI ; KI-: OF KUNT , CKAXD AIASTKH , INIS . the columns of a public periodical , suffice it to say that thev had given rise to much contention—and in order to ensure something like harmony in the future , it was essential that considerable tact and forbearance should be exercised . In
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
History Of The Emulation Lodge Of Improvement, No. 256.
History of the Emulation Lodge of Improvement , No . 256 .
( By Bro . HKXKV SADLER , Sub-Librarian to the Grand Lodge of England ) .
HAVIXG undertaken the compilation of an historical sketch of the Emulation Lodge of Improvement , I am of opinion that it Avould be advisable , before entering directly upon that subject , to offer a feAV brief remarks on the general history and condition of the Cr . Cft in the English Metropolis and the important events Avhich immediately preceded the inauguration of this celebrated school of Masonic instruction .
U . K . II . Til ! -: DUK 1-: OF SUSSEX , ( iHAXI ) MASTKH , ls | ::-i : >
Down to the year 1813 , and for about sixty years prior to that period , there were two Grand Lodges in London , each having mam' subordinate lodges under its jurisdiction in nearly every part of the civilized world . The older of these bodies Avas established in the year 1717 , and has been
variously designated "The Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of England , " "The Regular Grand Lodge , " "The Modern Grand Lodge , " and , later , "The Grand Lodge under the Prince of Wales , " George , Prince of Wales , afterwards King George the Fourth , having been its Grand Master from 1 790 to 1813 .
The other Grand Lodge started in the year 173 1 as a Grand Committee , Avhich blossomed into a Grand Lodge two years later . This body Avas known as " The Grand Lodge of the Ancients , " or , to give it its full description , " The Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons According to the Old Institutions . " Its members were also designated "Athole
Masons , " because two Dukes of that name had presided over them as Grand Masters . For the sake of brevity and as a simple distinction these two Societies were , and still are , referred to by Masonic Avriters as " Ancients " and "Moderns , " the " Ancients " being the organization of 175 1 ,
and the "Moderns" that of 1717 . At lirst sight this description of them naturally appears somewhat strange , but it can be explained in this Avay : The regular Grand Lodge of 1717 , although undoubtedl y the elder as an organized body , had , for certain reasons , so
altered the ceremonies and deviated from the old customs of the Craft , that , according to their opponents of 175 1 , they had forfeited their right to the title of "Ancient , " Avhile they themselves , having preserved the traditional usages and ceremonies unaltered , were the real "Ancient" Masons , and no doubt there Avas a certain amount of truth in these
allegations . A strong and bitter rivalry existed between the two Societies for many years , promoted and fostered , I regret to sav , chielly by some of the leading Masons on both sides . In fact , it Avas at first a struggle for absolute poAver and supremacy on the part of the Moderns—the older and possibly more respectable community—and for existence as
an organization on the part of the Ancients , who Avere stigmatized by their rivals as seceders , schismatics , rebels , and even still more offensive terms were applied to them . In the course of years the anger of these two rival societies became softened , they found that neither of them
could gain the mastery , and as they became better acquainted they learned to respect each other , and , naturally so , for thev were both animated by the same noble motive—the dissemination of the grand principles of Brotherly Love , Relief , and Truth . Owing to the exertions of some of the more enlightened
members of both Grand Lodges , an Union , on terms mutually honourable , Avas finally consummated in the year 1813 . Since this period , our Society has been knoAvn as the United Grand Lodge of Ancient , Free , and Accepted Masons of England .
As may readily be gathered from the reason given for the names of "Ancients" and "Moderns" having been applied to the opposing factions , various discrepancies existed in their customs and ceremonies . It is of course quite impossible to even hint at the nature of those differences in
11 . 1 :. 11 . nil-: DI ; KI-: OF KUNT , CKAXD AIASTKH , INIS . the columns of a public periodical , suffice it to say that thev had given rise to much contention—and in order to ensure something like harmony in the future , it was essential that considerable tact and forbearance should be exercised . In