Freemasonry In York In The Eighteenth Century.

playbill of 1791 announcing the patronage of the Freemasons , and a performance at the Theatre Royal . Tho name of the Apollo Lodge would seem to point to some regard for music ; and as early as 1764 the Grand Lodge

ordered " that the Freemasons songs , set to music , be bought for tho use of the Lodgo . Bro . Camidge , Organist of York Minster , was an active member of Apollo Lodge in those days . His portrait in oils is now in possession of tho York Lodgo 236 .

Jud ging from tho specimens of tho Masonic muse that have come down to us , it must be admitted that poets must have been scarce in the Lodges ; and in looking through a curious collection of old broadsides and tracts from tho

York Press , collected b y Mr . J . H . Carr , of Fossgnto , I stumbled the other day upon an extraordinaril y rude sample , called the " Mason ' s Song , " from the press of "J . Kendrow , printer , Colliergate , York . " I could well suppose that it was first heard at the York Tavern on the occasion of tho great gathering I have mentioned , in 1770 : —

When Adam in the garden was Along with his companion , Eve , And all the time of their innocence I cannot tell how long they liv'd ; In tbe cool of the day to her he did say ,

Why could you thus break my command ? She was not asham'd , who could her blame ? To kiss her love with his apron on . It was on the twenty-first of Jnne , When all things were both fresh and fair , With fifes and drums we march'd along ,

Our hearts being light and free from care . Then to the church we all did go Where the Scriptures were made known , In unity we did agree Each brother wore his apron on .

See the snn , with his bright beams , He shines o ' er all the verdant plain ; The moon by night she gave her light To all the free born sons of men .

All things were fair and beautiful : Just when the season does come on A pretty maid was very glad To kiss her love with his apron on .

Did you hear the Mason ' s word Was whisper'd round the other night ? No girl at all doth us annoy , Or cares to put us in a fright ; Brethren dear , be of good cheer ,

Our brandy comes both stout and strong , Twelve times a year you must appear Before us all with yonr apron on . When winter frost and snow comes on The fairest flower will decay ; Mortal man when his glass is run

See how he lies in the earth ' s cold clay ! The pretty maid , as well as Eve Must leave this world and soon be gone ; And in short time she will not mind To kiss her love with his apron on .

Brethren dear , I beg your leave All for to end my simple song , Eight hundred and two , both just and true , Unto this loyal Lodge we do belong .

There are five steps we must take , Before the jewels can go on j Our Master fair sits in his chair , GOD save him with his apron on .

Is it possible that the number ( 802 ) may refer to the returns of Lodges acting under Grand Lodge of York at this period ? The few comments I have thus strung together hinge upon the public advertisements and newspaper notices

I have observed , and do not pretend in any sense to give a history of York Freemasonry during the last century . Far more information is to be had from the Grand Lodge minutes now in the custody of the York Lodge , 236 , and to which I have referred for many facts and dates given

above . Still , it is interesting to note the peculiar fashions of our Masonic forefathers , which differ so widely from our present ideas of the best way of conducting our Masonic work , and this must be my excuse for presuming

to occupy so much valuable time . Probabl y if brethren would take the trouble to examine old files of Provincial papers we might come into possession * of many facts connected with Masonry that are at present hidden away in dusty corners of sub-editors' rooms .

I TJNEBALS . --: Bros . W . K . L . & G . A . HTJTTOH , Coffin I Makers and Undertakers , 17 Newcastle Street , Strand , W . C . and 30 Forest Hill Boad , Peekham Bye , S . E i

Bro. John Scott, P.G.D.

BRO . JOHN SCOTT , P . G . D .

I ) RO . JOHN II . SCOTT is a native of Brighton . He was born ) here ex ictly fifty-five years ago . He was educated in one of the many schools with which Brighton abounds , and he has resided here ever since ; he is therefore fast becomiug an old inhabitant of tho ' own , and as snch we are justified in plaoing his portrait in onr Album of Brighton Notabilities . Bro . Scott comes of an artistio

family . His grandfather camo to reside iu Brighton towards tho close of the last century as portrait painter to H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , afterwards George IV . His father , Mr . William Scott , also lived here , and wa ^ well known as a water colour painter and teacher of drawing , and sinco his death , thirty-fonr years ago , Bro . John Scott has well sustained his position as hoad of his profession in

Brighton . This year Bro . Scott will be represented at the forth , coming Exhibition of tho Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours in London by a large drawing of " Rouen from Bonsecours . " Bro . Scott has never taken a prominent part in local politics , his professional duties requiring his personal attention . Besides which , the Bturdy independence of his own oharaoter has disinclined

him , perhaps unfitted him , for Co-operation or alliance with party movements . Ho is , however , aotivo in doing a good turn to his friends and neighbours when the opportunity presents itself to hira of serving them . Ho has worked energetically and to some purpose on many testimonial committees—notably the Kuhe , Oordy Burrows , Dr . Griffith , and the Gavin Pocook testimonials . He has served as

Steward to the Artists' General Benevolent Institution on three occasions , and to the Royal Masonio Institution for Aged Freemasons and their Widows , and for the Masonio Boys' School , always presenting a handsome list of subscriptions and donations . On the presentation to the Rev . Dr . Griffith , on 20 th February 1872 , he was selected as one of the gentlemen who were to speak only for five

minntes on the worth of the Rev . Dr . 's oharaoter in its diffierent aspeots . The Eev . J . H . North spoke of him as a friend ; Mr . Douglas Fox spoke of him as a teaoher ; the Rev . R . S . Smith spoke of him as a clergyman ; the Rev . J . B . Figgis , on bis non-aectarian character ; Mr . F . Merrifield , on his connection with science and art ; Mr . Edward Maitland , as a man of high attainments ; Mr . Albert

Creak , as an old schoolfellow ; Mr . W . J . Smith , on his Christian philanthropy ; and Bro . John H . Scott on his social qualities . When it was proposed to place a monument over the grave of tbe Eev H . Christopherson , Bro . Scott was reqnested to second the resolution at a public meeting held at the Royal Pavilion . At the co-nmemoration of the Sir Walter Scott Centenary , on the 10 th Angust 1871 , Bro .

Scott was call upon to return thanks for the toast of Prosperity to the Town of Brighton , which he did in a short but striking and ingenious speech which was mnoh applauded . It is , however , as a Freemason that Bro . Scott has most distinguished himself . Of course , it is impossible to follow him in his doings amongst the mystio brotherhood ; but it is well known he has attained the highest

Masonic honours , not only in the town of Brighton but in the Province of Sussex , and that the Grand Master , H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , has conferred upon him high office in the Grand Lodge of England . That these rewards have been well merited is evident from the spontaneous and splendid acknowledgment of his services by his brethren in June last , when he was presented with a purse of

700 guineas , a silver goblet , and a beautifully illuminated and handsomely bound record of this magnificent testimonial . Of that event the Freemason of 9 th June 1883 says;— " Oar brethren will read with deep interest of the notable testimonial of regard and affection presented to Bro . Scott , of Brighton , P . G . D ., by his Sussex and Brighton brethren . It must have been a most gratifying presentation to Bro . Scott himself , and one that many of us will feel

snre no one has better deserved . We congratulate him and all concerned on this most striking evidence of Masonic sympathy and goodwill . " Although , as stated , Bro . John Scott has never cared to take part in local administration , he has , in his own particular sphere , rendered Brighton many invaluable services , which he is too modest to detail , but which entitle him nevertheless to the liveliest gratitude of his fellow-townsmen . —Brighton Times .

The Grand Lodge of Massachusetts held two Special Communications in February , and one in March , in addition to the regular Quarterly Communication on the 12 th of the latter month , when arrangements were made for striking a medal to commemorate the one hundred and fiftieth

anniversary of the introduction of Freemasonry into Massachusetts , and a Past Grand Master ' s jewel was presented to M . W . Bro . Samuel C . Lawrence , P . G . M ., in testimony of his grand work in behalf of the Temple at Boston .

From the Report of Proceedings of the twenty-fifth Triennial Convocation of the General Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of the United States , held in August 1883 , in Denver , Colorado , it appears that in the jurisdictions constituting this General Grand Chapter there were

112 , 589 members in 1882 as against 109 , 540 in 1880 . The total fund amounted to 9 , 764 dollars , and the disbursements to 2 , 790 dollars . Comp . Alfred F . Chapman , of Boston , Massachusetts , is the General Grand Hig h Priest , and Comp . Christopher G . Fox , of Buffalo , New York , General Grand Secretary . The next Triennial Convocation will be held in Washington , D . C ., 28 th September 1886 .