-
Articles/Ads
Article Visit of the British Association to York. ← Page 2 of 2 Article Untitled Page 1 of 1
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Visit Of The British Association To York.
are visiting not only the birthplace of the Association but the ancient city which is the ' Mecca' of English Freemasonry , having Masonic traditions , more or less authentic , reaching so far back as the ioth century . We shall show this afternoon five MS . copies of the Ancient Charges , of which there are upwards of twenty known
to be in existence , and in nearly all of these the tradition is recited that Prince Edwin , son of King Athelstan , ' loved well Masons , ' and 'delited . . . '—Read ( pp . 39-40 York Rolls . )* This Prince Edwin had his seat at Auldby , which is about nine miles from York , and tradition says that he built the first
stone church in York on the site of the present Minster . The Masons of Ireland still call themselves Ancient York Masons , and their universal tradition is that the brethren of this name originated at Auldby . York is the only place having any tradition of General Assemblies of Masons exercising authority and control over the Masonic Body in ancient times . In the Fabric Rolls of York Minster , mention
is made of the lodge wherein the Masons were ' atte your werke atte ye son rysing' according to the Rules of 1370 fixed by ' ye Chapitre of ye Kirk of Saint Petyr ' and as carried out by the ' Maistyr Masons . ' There was a bell in the Minster tower known as the Masons' Bell , which doubtless rang out at high time and past high time . It is recorded
that in the reign of Queen Elizabeth , Sir Thomas Sackville being G . M . at York , the fraternity was so numerous and influential that the Queen , being jealous of secret associations , sent an armed force to York to break up the Annual Communication . Some of the officers were however initiated , and
found the true objects of the Fraternity , which were reported to the Queen , and the Masons were not afterwards disturbed . The famous Historian of York , Francis Drake , was J . G . W ., and in 1726 , on St . John ' s Day , he delivered a noted speech at the Festival , in which he claimed for the Old Lodge at
York the title of ' Grand Lodge of All England . ' This ancient and important body continued until 1792 , when it finally became extinct .
Most of the documents and articles which will be shown to you then came into the possession of the York Lodge , then called the Union Lodge , which had been warranted from London in 1777 . The most important of these are the i \\ e MS . copies of Ancient Charges before referred to ; a Parchment Roll beginning with 19 th March , 1712 ; the Old
Rules of Grand Lodge of 1726 ; a List of M . M ' s . ; and a book of 1705 containing accounts . Amongst the articles of furniture are some which you see around you , notably the old banner , the obligation pedestal and the three candlesticks on the three pedestals , and the tracing board hanging on the
wall of the staircase . These relics are displayed for your inspection , and the brethren will be delighted to give further information round the table . It may be interesting to mention the various lodges which have existed in the city in addition to the Old Time
Immemorial Grand Lodge of All England . In 1761 there was founded by authority of the Grand Lodge in London , the lodge at ' The Punch Bowl' an inn which still survives in Stonegate . This lodge only worked until 1764 , and its records are in our possession . The second lodge was the
Apollo , warranted in 1773 , which flourished till 1805 and met in the ' George' Inn in Coney Street , an ancient hostelry which was demolished about thirty years ago . Its reccrds are in the possession of the Humber Lodge , at Hull . The York Lodge was warranted by the London Grand Lodge in 1777 as the Union Lodge , No . 504 , meeting at Lockwood s
Coffee House . In 1792 it became No . 331 , and in 1833 No . 28 7 , and in 186 3 it took its present No . 23 6 . In 1870 the name was changed to the York Lodge to more completely identify it with the Masonic city in which it has flourished . The Eboracum Lodge , No . 1611 , was founded in 1876 ; the Agricola Lodge , No . 1991 , in 188 3 and the Albert Victor
, Lodge , No . 2328 , in 1889 , all being strong and prosperous , so that it can truly be said that our ' Mecca ' has kept the light of Masonry brightly burning , and maintained the long and honourable traditions of the Craft which we York Masons regard as such a priceless heritage . "
Regrets for absence were received from Bros . J . B . Whytehead , P . M . Nos . 1611 and 2328 , P . G . Std . Br . England ; J . Hughes ; Canon Watson , W . M . Albert Victor , No . 2328 , P . P . G . C . ; J . G . Butcher , K . C , York Lodge , No . 236 ; G . D . Faber , C . B ., M . P ., York Lodge , No . 236 ; and
several other brethren . The lodge was duly closed , and then followed an exhibition of ancient documents and other Masonic treasures belonging to the York Lodge , No . 236 , and afterwards the brethren were entertained to light refreshments in the banqueting
room of the York Lodge . It was felt that this had been a most interesting and successful gathering , and one which would be appreciated and long remembered , especially by the visiting brethren of the British Association .
* EXTRACT FROM YORK ROLE , NO . I . " The Constitutions of Masonrie . " " King Athelfton who was a worthy King of England & brought this land in good reft & peace & builded many great
workes as Abbyes Toures & oth mann ™ of Buildings & loved well mafons & he had a Son named Edwin & he loved mafons much more than his Father & he was a great praction r in Geomatrie & he delited much to talke & commune with Mafons & to learn of them ( kill & cunning & afterward for
love he bore to mafons & to their Science he was made a mafon & he pcured for them of y ° King his father a chart r & Comifsion to hold every yeare an afsembly wherefoev they would within y ° Realm of England & to correct within themfelves defaults & trefpafses y were done within y craft & he himfelf held an Afsemblie at YORK and there he
made mafons & gave them the charge & taught them y" manners & commanded y rule to be kept ever after & alfo tooke for them y" charter to keep & alfo gave orcr y' it fhould be renued from King to King . And when y" Afsembly was gathered together he made pclamation y' all old Mafons or l had writeings or undr ftanding of ° charge &
young y any y y ° mann" concerning y" f Science y' were made before in this Land or any oth y' they fhould bring them forth & when they had viewed & examined there found fotne in french fome in Greek , fome in Englifh & fome in oth Languages ci y ° intent & meaning of them was found all out & he had
made a book thereof how y Craft was founded & he himfelf gave command y' it fhould be read or told when y' any Mafons fhould be made & to give them y" charge And from y * day to this day Man '" of Mafons have been kept & obferved in y' forme as well as men might Obferve & governe it . "
NOTE . —This Roll is of the date of 1600 or thereabouts and is the oldest of theYork MSS . It is endorsed " Found in Pontefract Castle at the demolishing , and given to the Lodge by Francis Drake 1732 . "
Ar00701
It is reported from Chicago that eight hundred Masons of Illinois , Ohio , Indiana and Wisconsin assembled at the Englewood Masonic Temple recently to witness the presentation of the Masonic silver trowel to the Mystic Star Lodge of Englewood . The trowel , which is to travel around the globe , as a symbol of brotherly love and affection in the Order , is to remain in the possession of the local lodge for
thirty days , and then continue on its long journey . The trowel was started on its trip by the Justice Lodge of New York city last October , and already has passed to seven different Grand Jurisdictions and states in the United States and Canada . Twelve years will be required for it to go the entire journey . The emblem came to Chicago from Elkhart , Ind .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Visit Of The British Association To York.
are visiting not only the birthplace of the Association but the ancient city which is the ' Mecca' of English Freemasonry , having Masonic traditions , more or less authentic , reaching so far back as the ioth century . We shall show this afternoon five MS . copies of the Ancient Charges , of which there are upwards of twenty known
to be in existence , and in nearly all of these the tradition is recited that Prince Edwin , son of King Athelstan , ' loved well Masons , ' and 'delited . . . '—Read ( pp . 39-40 York Rolls . )* This Prince Edwin had his seat at Auldby , which is about nine miles from York , and tradition says that he built the first
stone church in York on the site of the present Minster . The Masons of Ireland still call themselves Ancient York Masons , and their universal tradition is that the brethren of this name originated at Auldby . York is the only place having any tradition of General Assemblies of Masons exercising authority and control over the Masonic Body in ancient times . In the Fabric Rolls of York Minster , mention
is made of the lodge wherein the Masons were ' atte your werke atte ye son rysing' according to the Rules of 1370 fixed by ' ye Chapitre of ye Kirk of Saint Petyr ' and as carried out by the ' Maistyr Masons . ' There was a bell in the Minster tower known as the Masons' Bell , which doubtless rang out at high time and past high time . It is recorded
that in the reign of Queen Elizabeth , Sir Thomas Sackville being G . M . at York , the fraternity was so numerous and influential that the Queen , being jealous of secret associations , sent an armed force to York to break up the Annual Communication . Some of the officers were however initiated , and
found the true objects of the Fraternity , which were reported to the Queen , and the Masons were not afterwards disturbed . The famous Historian of York , Francis Drake , was J . G . W ., and in 1726 , on St . John ' s Day , he delivered a noted speech at the Festival , in which he claimed for the Old Lodge at
York the title of ' Grand Lodge of All England . ' This ancient and important body continued until 1792 , when it finally became extinct .
Most of the documents and articles which will be shown to you then came into the possession of the York Lodge , then called the Union Lodge , which had been warranted from London in 1777 . The most important of these are the i \\ e MS . copies of Ancient Charges before referred to ; a Parchment Roll beginning with 19 th March , 1712 ; the Old
Rules of Grand Lodge of 1726 ; a List of M . M ' s . ; and a book of 1705 containing accounts . Amongst the articles of furniture are some which you see around you , notably the old banner , the obligation pedestal and the three candlesticks on the three pedestals , and the tracing board hanging on the
wall of the staircase . These relics are displayed for your inspection , and the brethren will be delighted to give further information round the table . It may be interesting to mention the various lodges which have existed in the city in addition to the Old Time
Immemorial Grand Lodge of All England . In 1761 there was founded by authority of the Grand Lodge in London , the lodge at ' The Punch Bowl' an inn which still survives in Stonegate . This lodge only worked until 1764 , and its records are in our possession . The second lodge was the
Apollo , warranted in 1773 , which flourished till 1805 and met in the ' George' Inn in Coney Street , an ancient hostelry which was demolished about thirty years ago . Its reccrds are in the possession of the Humber Lodge , at Hull . The York Lodge was warranted by the London Grand Lodge in 1777 as the Union Lodge , No . 504 , meeting at Lockwood s
Coffee House . In 1792 it became No . 331 , and in 1833 No . 28 7 , and in 186 3 it took its present No . 23 6 . In 1870 the name was changed to the York Lodge to more completely identify it with the Masonic city in which it has flourished . The Eboracum Lodge , No . 1611 , was founded in 1876 ; the Agricola Lodge , No . 1991 , in 188 3 and the Albert Victor
, Lodge , No . 2328 , in 1889 , all being strong and prosperous , so that it can truly be said that our ' Mecca ' has kept the light of Masonry brightly burning , and maintained the long and honourable traditions of the Craft which we York Masons regard as such a priceless heritage . "
Regrets for absence were received from Bros . J . B . Whytehead , P . M . Nos . 1611 and 2328 , P . G . Std . Br . England ; J . Hughes ; Canon Watson , W . M . Albert Victor , No . 2328 , P . P . G . C . ; J . G . Butcher , K . C , York Lodge , No . 236 ; G . D . Faber , C . B ., M . P ., York Lodge , No . 236 ; and
several other brethren . The lodge was duly closed , and then followed an exhibition of ancient documents and other Masonic treasures belonging to the York Lodge , No . 236 , and afterwards the brethren were entertained to light refreshments in the banqueting
room of the York Lodge . It was felt that this had been a most interesting and successful gathering , and one which would be appreciated and long remembered , especially by the visiting brethren of the British Association .
* EXTRACT FROM YORK ROLE , NO . I . " The Constitutions of Masonrie . " " King Athelfton who was a worthy King of England & brought this land in good reft & peace & builded many great
workes as Abbyes Toures & oth mann ™ of Buildings & loved well mafons & he had a Son named Edwin & he loved mafons much more than his Father & he was a great praction r in Geomatrie & he delited much to talke & commune with Mafons & to learn of them ( kill & cunning & afterward for
love he bore to mafons & to their Science he was made a mafon & he pcured for them of y ° King his father a chart r & Comifsion to hold every yeare an afsembly wherefoev they would within y ° Realm of England & to correct within themfelves defaults & trefpafses y were done within y craft & he himfelf held an Afsemblie at YORK and there he
made mafons & gave them the charge & taught them y" manners & commanded y rule to be kept ever after & alfo tooke for them y" charter to keep & alfo gave orcr y' it fhould be renued from King to King . And when y" Afsembly was gathered together he made pclamation y' all old Mafons or l had writeings or undr ftanding of ° charge &
young y any y y ° mann" concerning y" f Science y' were made before in this Land or any oth y' they fhould bring them forth & when they had viewed & examined there found fotne in french fome in Greek , fome in Englifh & fome in oth Languages ci y ° intent & meaning of them was found all out & he had
made a book thereof how y Craft was founded & he himfelf gave command y' it fhould be read or told when y' any Mafons fhould be made & to give them y" charge And from y * day to this day Man '" of Mafons have been kept & obferved in y' forme as well as men might Obferve & governe it . "
NOTE . —This Roll is of the date of 1600 or thereabouts and is the oldest of theYork MSS . It is endorsed " Found in Pontefract Castle at the demolishing , and given to the Lodge by Francis Drake 1732 . "
Ar00701
It is reported from Chicago that eight hundred Masons of Illinois , Ohio , Indiana and Wisconsin assembled at the Englewood Masonic Temple recently to witness the presentation of the Masonic silver trowel to the Mystic Star Lodge of Englewood . The trowel , which is to travel around the globe , as a symbol of brotherly love and affection in the Order , is to remain in the possession of the local lodge for
thirty days , and then continue on its long journey . The trowel was started on its trip by the Justice Lodge of New York city last October , and already has passed to seven different Grand Jurisdictions and states in the United States and Canada . Twelve years will be required for it to go the entire journey . The emblem came to Chicago from Elkhart , Ind .