A History Of The Craft In Cornwall.

form one symmetrical Cornish arch , with the keystone of charity conspicuous and prominent . Our history commences with the ancient town of Falmouth , wherein the light of Masonry has been brilliant for more than a century from the constant supply of nourishing " cornAvineand oil " by the

, , oldest lodge in the county of Cornwall , which has for more than a hundred years been represented at eA'ery meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge as first on the list , and has kept a faithful record of its transactions from the 12 fch June , 1751 , down to the present time .

The warrant of the Love aud Honour Lodge ( now numbered 75 in the books of the Grand Lodge ) was granted during the Grand Mastership of William Lord Byron , dated 20 fch May , 1751 , whilst the Grand Master was absent from England , as it Avas not until

March , 16 th , 1752 , that mention was made of the brethren and members of the Grand Lodge , who , " Avith great demonstrations of joy , expressed their pleasure at the sight of their Grand Master , who had been abroad for several years , and lately returned in health

and safety . " Unfortunately the original warrant is lost , but its place is supplied by another which fully acknowledges its antiquity and exact date . ( Reference will be made to this important document at the proper time . ) By virtne of a dispensation aud deputation from the Grand Master , Bro . George Bell was appointed

Deputy Grand Master , for the purpose of constituting the lodge , Avhich was consecrated in due form on the 12 th of June , 1751 , when Bros . William Pye , Alexander Moses , and Matthew Allison Avere appointed the Master and Wardens respectively . The first volume of minutes commences on the day of

opening , and concludes on the 11 th September , 1771 . The first vote passed by the lodge Avas on the 12 th of June , 1751 , and , being the beginning of its active existence , is most interesting . It Avas " ordered by the unanimous consent of the lodge , that the

thanks of the lodge to the Right Worshipful Bro . William Lord Byron , Baron of Rochdale , in the county of Lancaster , Grand Master , be returned for the honour he has been pleased to confer upon us in sending his deputation to our Bro . George Bell , Esq .,

for constituting us into a regular lodge . " It was next resolved " That the lodge shall be held at the house of EdAvard Snoxell , being the sign of the King ' s Arms in Falmouth . " " Bro . George Bell , Esq ., and Bro . Micou Meluss

having apply'd to be raised Masters ( being FelloAv Crafts ) , it was unanimously approved of , and they were accordingly so raised . " On considering this minute it seems strange that Bro . George Bell was selected as the deputation , when he was not a Master Mason ( although , of course , he may have been the Master of a lodge , according to

the old regulations ) especially Avhen five of the promoters Avere Master Masons as will be seen by the following list of the petitioners , George Bell , Esq ., F . C ; William Pye , Esq ., M . M . ; Alexander Moses , M . M . ; Matthew Allison , M . M . ; John Hill , M . M . ; Thomas Harrison , M . M . ; Micou Meluss , P . O . ;

Captain J . Sherburne , P . O . ; aud S . Pitchford , F . C . We do not wonder at the fact of Bro . George Bell not being a Master Mason , as that degree ivas not so easily obtained as now , for although the four ; : time immemorial" lodges retained their original poAA'er of

" passing" and " raising , " the other lodges were not alloAved the same privilege until many years after-Avards , it having been the custom to confer the "Fellow Craft" and " Master Mason " degrees' upon all members initiated by them at the Grand Lodge only .

A Fellow Craft Avas not exempted from being a Warden , nor prohibited from becoming a Master of a lodge . He might even as a FelloAv Craft be elected Grand Master if endowed with the other perquisites ( see the " old charges " ) .

We have no means of knowing how long Bro . George Bell had been a Mason before joining the Love and Honour Lodge , because the regular certificates Avere not issued until 1755 . As the members of the Craft increased , the regulations referring to the

Master ' s degree Avere attended with many invonveniences , and therefore , on November 22 , 1725 "it Avas ordained that the Master of a lodge , Avith his Wardens and a competent number of the lodge assembled in due form , can make Masters and FelloAv

Crafts at discretion . " By this authority the lodge acted in conferring the Master's degree , and it will be noted that the remaining Fellow Crafts were not long iu availing themselves of the same privilege .

"Mr . Edward Snoxell , Mr . Richard James , Mr . William Sartorius , and Mr . James Bohenna , jun ., together with Abraham Iienfroy for a Tyler , having been recommended by several members of the lodge as proper persons to be made Masons , it was

unanimously resolved that a lodge be summoned to meet on Tuesday the 18 th instant for that purpose . " " Mr . James Bohenna having urgent business desired his admission might be postponed . The Tyler proposed refusing to stand , it Avas unanimously agreed

to admit William Hill , Esq ., and Mr . Peter Hill that even . " It will be perhaps Avell to mention that Mr . James Behenna ' s name does not occur in the list of members in this volume of minutes , and that it is unlikely he

ever Avas initiated . We apprehend the reason of the two fresh candidates being mentioned Avas to complete the maximum number of initiates for one evening according to the old Regulations , art . 4 . ( " No lodge shall make more