Lodge Histories.

LODGE HISTORIES .

— : o : — ST . MICHAEL'S LODGE , No . 211 .

( Continued from page 133 . ) The second Minute-Book wo have been permitted to inspect , contains in duplicate , but somewhat moro roughly written , tho minutes from 9 th June 1829 to the date at which we closed our risunuj last week . We start , therefore , on the present occasion with tho minutes of January 1848 , when tho ballot for W . M ., Treasurer , and Tvler was

held , the result being that Bro . J . D . kincaid P . M . and Treasurer was for tho third timo ohoseu to fill the chair of K . S ., Bro . Sheard P . M . being elected unanimously to fill Bro . Kincaid ' s place aa Treasurer , and Bro . Speight being re-appointed Tyler . At tho meeting of tho Audit Committee on the 3 rd February the accounts showed a balance in favour of the Lodge slightly in excess of £ ~ > ,

bufc , as in the preceding year , tho house bills and other accounts had not been settled . On this occasion the Tyler produced tho property of tho Lodge , of which a complete inventory is given . It is unnecessary we should enumerate all the articles , as our readers will know well enough of what the majority of them consisted . Bufc there aro sundry to which we shonld wish to call attention . Wo have

already noted that on two occasions the thanks of tho Lodge were unanimously accorded to certain brethren—namely , to Bro . Marks in ono case , and Bro . Blake in the other , each of whom presented the Lodge with a set of gavels . Two such sets appear in this inventory , one being described as of ebony , with silver mounts , and tho other ns of mahogany . Other articles aro " an old Book of Constitutions , "

with " 4 to marked against it in pencil . Ifc would bo interesting to know if this were one of tho 1723 or 1738 editions prepared by Anderson , for in such a case they would possess a value far above an ordinary copy of the same work . Tho next entry is " Rules and Orders of Lodge under Warrant 290 "—thafc is , the warrant constituting the Lodge on the roll of the so-called Grand Lodge of

" Ancients ; " while next in order is " The Ancient Bye-Laws , " which may or may not bo more than ordinarily interesting ; for ifc is impossible without fuller information to determine the nature of these "Bye-Laws . " We can only suggest that they were tho Laws in force during the prao-Union period of the Lodge's existence . It is not a little singular that against " The Warden ' s Chairs " and

" two stands to same " is a pencil entry " nofc found . " A pair of slippers or a chisel might have been mislaid , but nofc so two chairs with their respective stands , which are sufficiently substantial nofc fco be easily mislaid . We find another important entry . Ifc appears that in this month of February 18-48 the Lodgo was iu possession of " Five Minute Books . " In tho earlier of fcho two books we have been

considering , the first Minuto recorded relates to the close of the year 1823 , sothafcfchough the Lodge had enjoyed an existence of close on fifty-three years , reckoning from the date of its warrant to the day on which this inventory was submitted , wo have only been ablo by the aid of tho existing books to traverse a period of about a quarter of a century . It looks , therefore , very much as though , afc this time ,

the Lodge were in possession of a complete set of minute books from the year 1795 , and if our conjecture be right , fche very material question arises as to what in the meantime can have become of these missing books . Perhaps the Tyler , who has been annually reappointed to that office since 1850 , and whose father beforehand had held it for probably as long a period might bo able , and if so ,

wo feel sure he would be most willing , to throw some lighten the subject . Ifc would be a most interesting and valuable discovery if by any suggestion he could offer tho lost minuto books were brought to light . We sincerely trust that some steps may bo taken to this end . A Lodge which in another decade and a-half of years will have completed its firsfc century must doubtless bo anxious to have the official

records of its progress and vicissitudes as complete as possible , and who knows , bufc a little inquiry now may mako them perfect ? But to return to our inventory , of which only one other item need be particularised , namely : " A Print of Brother Gilkes framed aud glazed . " This , too , as the counterfeit presentment of a late distinguished brother , is worthy of all care , and considering the many processes by

which such prints are reproduced , we should think there are many brethren , nofc only of the St . Michael ' s but of other Lodges likewise , who would be glad to possess some memorial in the shape of a photograph or other graph of so worthy an expositor of Masonic lore . At the meeting in November Bro . Pasfc Master Jusfcins gave notice of his intention to move a resolution to the effect thafc a permanent

Secretary to the Lodge be elected , and that in consideration of his services his dues shonld be remitted . This proposition was carried afc the meeting in February 1849 , and the office was conferred on Bro . Kincaid P . M . Meantime Bro . Douglas Drysdale , who had been elected a joining member in February 1846 , and served the office of I . G . in 1847 , and that of J . W . in 184 S , was chosen by a majority of

votes to bo W . M . for the year 1849 , and ho was installed accordingly afc the usual meeting . Bro . Drysdale , therefore , as still a member of the Lodge , enjoys the twofold honour of being its senior member and senior Pasfc Master , his connection with tho St . Michael ' s Lodge dating back , as we have just shown , to tho year 18-16 . Unfortunately , the Lodge does not seem to have been , financially , in a very sonnd state ,

there being afc the commencement of Bro . Drysdale ' s Mastership a small balance in hand to fche extent of less than £ 2 , bufc with outstanding liabilities to the extent of £ 25 . This circumstance may very possibly havo exercised a depressing influence , for the attendance appears to have been less numerous than usual , and so it remained also dnring the Mastership of Bro . Woodgates , who succeeded

Bro . Drysdale . This view seems to be confirmed by tho minute recording the presentation of a Pasfc Master ' s jewel to Bro . Drysdale , which , however , ifc is noted was paid for " by the private subscriptions of tho members of the Lodge , " instead of out of the Lodg .: funds . ^ Moreover , many of tho brethren were in arrear of ( heir subscriptions , and afc fche meeting in November , in 1850 , no less than

Lodge Histories.

six of these defaulters had their names struck off the roll , and ifc is added , " It was then resolved ( tho whole nf the brethren constituting tho Lodge being present)—That tho joining foo bo reduced for tho present from two guineas to ono guinea . " Also , "That fcho annual subscription bo reduced from four pounds to three guineas , one-half to bo paid in February and the other half in October in each year ,

nnd that the number of banquets for the present be reduced to four , to take placo in the months of January , February , March and November . " Tho " whole of tho brethren constituting tho Lodgo " wero six in number , including Bro . Yonng , elected a joining member at this very meeting . It may lie ns well to mention hereabouts that Rro . Speight , tho present Tyler , was elected to fill thafc office in place

of his late father . in October 18 o 0 , during Bro . Woodgates s year of office as Worshipful Master , and that on tho motion of Bro . Kincaid tho day of meoting ' was in January 1 S 51 changed back from the third to tho second Tuesday in tho month . These changes seem to havo boon attended with satisfactory results . Three joining members—of whom Bro . . T . J . Blako G . S ., and formerly Past Master of tho Lodgo , was

ono— wore elected ; while in the following February another joining member and three initiates , among them being liro . Charles Greenwood , the present Treasurer and a Pasfc Master of tho Lodgo , wero successfully ballotted for . After tho Auditors' report , which showed a balance in hand of over £ G , had boon read , Bro . Crawford was installed W . M ., and appointed his Officers . Among tho rest of fcho

busmosss transacted on this occasion may bo mentioned a motion , unanimously carried , to the effect thafc , iu consideration of his many and important services to tho Lodgo , Bro . Blako should resume his rank as ono of its Pasfc Masters . A Past Master ' s jewel was also voted to Bro . Woodgates , tho retiring W . M ., and this token of respect ; was presented to that brother afc the next meeting . In April Bro .

Greenwood , who had shown himself prepared to tako an active part in the labours of tho Lodgo , was raised to fcho degree of M . M ., and immediately afterwards was invested with tho collar and jewel of Junior Deacon for tho rest of tho year . Bro . Yonng was unanimously elected W . M . for tho year 1852 , Bro . Sheard P . M . being re-elected Treasurer , and Bro . Speight being reappointed Tyler ; and in

February tho installation and appointment of Officers took place , Bro . Greenwood being invested as S . D . A Past Master ' s jewel was voted to Bro . Crawford , while tho report of tho Audit Committee showed a balance , albeit a small one , on the right side , with no liabilities apparently outstanding . On election night in January 1853 , Bro . Gibbon S . W . was chosen W . M . for tho year , Bros . Sheard

and Speight being re-chosen Treasurer and Tyler respectively . A Mr . Thomas Hill was proposed for ballot , bnfc a pencil memorandum is inserted at foot of tho minutes to tho effect that the said Mr . Hill never appeared . This year Bro . Greenwood was appointed J . W ., while Bro . Young ' s services as W . M . received tho usual recognition in the shape of a three guinea Past Master ' s jewel . In November ifc

is noted that "application was made by Bro . Saml . Dart , many years since a member of this Lodge , to recommend his petition to the Lodge of Benevoionce for Relief . Tho Petition having been read , and his statement heard , it was resolved to recommend fche same , and ifc was signed in open Lodge accordingly . " In January 1854 Bro . Earle was chosen W . M ., while Bro . Sheard was re-elected Treasurer , a

resolution bcingpassod to the effect , that "Thethauksof the Lodge begiven " to him " for the care aud attention ho has evinced in fche discharge of his office . " Certainly his statement showed a most satisfactory financial state of things , the not assets of the Lodge being set down as in excess of £ 25 , and this was afterwards increased . The following curious entry occurs in the minutes of this meeting : —Ifc is

reported that " the fnrmture and jewels wero examined with tho inventory , which have been found correct , with the exception of one Deacon's Collar and Jewel , which the Tyler states he could not find after the last banquet , although strict search was made for it at the time , and also on the next day , and as both the Deacons' Collar and Jewels were used on that occasion , it is supposed that one of the

brethren must have put it up with his apron by accident . " This year Bro . Greenwood became S . W . Subsequently a resolution thafc " all complimentary votes proposed in the Lodge shonld in future be taken by ballot " was agreed to—a very nice resolution we think , and one which might bo imitated in other Lodges . About this time , also , we note that a cash account is entered afc foot of fcho minutes for fche

different meetings—nofc always , but frequently ; a proof that great attention was being paid to the finances of the Lodge . In May 1854 Bros . Drysdale , Jones and Kincaid was appointed a Committee " for the purpose of completing the jewels and providing suitable furniture for the Lodge , and that the sum of Ten Pounds be placed afc their disposal towards that purpose . " Notice of motion was likewise

given for raising the joining fee to Four Guineas as before , and this was carried at the next meeting in October , while in November ifc was unanimously agreed that the Lodge should in future hold a meeting in December . On 9 th January 1855 , Bro . Chas . Greenwood was nuanimoiisly elected W . M . for tho year , and dnly installed afc tho next meeting . The Report of tho Committee appointed to inquire

into the expediency of having a banquet at the end of every meeting was unfavourable , on the ground that the Lodge fnnds , even if the subscription were raised to £ 1 as before , would not justify the additional expense . At the installation meeting in February the Lodge Committee reported favourably as to the state of the funds , and also recommended that a Deacon's Collar and Jewel and a Treasurer ' s collar

and Jewel , together with two dozen Masonic Glasses , be purchased . Ifc was also proposed that m future the Tyler be held responsible for the safe custody of the Collars and Jewels . In March , in response to a letter from the Grand Secretary announcing tho completion of the Asylum for Aged Freemasons at Croydon , and thafc all thafc was needed was a small sum to pay off tho balance , £ 1 was

voted ont of the Lodge funds towards that object . In December ihe allowance to the Tyler was increased to ten shillings , but afc the meeting in January 185 G , so much of the minutes as related to this increase was rescinded . Bro . F . C . Jones was elected W . M . in succession to Bro . Greenwood , to whom , on his retirement from the chair , the customary compliment of a P . M . 's jewel , in recognition of