The Four Old Lodges.

1723 List ( Constit . ) , and in the account of the Revival (§ - ) confirm one another , Dr . Anderson being answerable for the numeration in both cases , and the Lodges numbered 1 , 2 , 3 , and 4 respectively in § 3 , may without doubt be

identified with those bearing similar numbers in § 2 . The 1738 List ( Constit . ) makes this clear as regards § 2 , but only inferentially so far as concerns the 1723 List , which ,

had it stood alone , would have been open to various interpretations , having been compiled prior to the Regulation of 27 th December 1727 . ( See Note 3 , p 405 . )

§ 34 . —I . The analogy between the Grand Lodges , in England and Scotland respectively , ^) deri ves anoth er illustration , from the fact that the most ancient Lodge under the Masonic constitution of each of these

countries , seceded for a time from the governing body . (' ) Iu 1737 , it was resolved b y the Grand Lodge of Scotland , ( ) that all Lodges should be enrolled according to

their seniority , which should be determined from the authentic documents which they produced ; those producing none to be put at the end of the roll .

On 30 th November 1743 ( ) a letter was read from the Lodge of Kilwinning , complaining that thoy were only second on the roll , while , as the mother Lodge of Scotland , they were entitled to the first place . The Grand

Lodge decreed , that as the Lodge of Kilwinning had produced no documents to show that they were the oldest Lodge iu Scotland , and as the Lodge of St . Mary ' s Chapel had shewn thoir records as far back as 1598 , the latter had an undoubted right to continue first on the roll . ( )

In consequence of this decision , Mother Kilwinning , although it had been a consenting party to the erection of the new Grand Lodge , withdrew from it in 1743 , and

re-asserting its independence , continued to exercise all the functions of a Grand Lodge until , in 1807 , a reconciliation was effected between it and the present Grand Lodge of Scotland .

It being conceded that Mother Kilwinning shonld be placed at the head of the roll of the Grand Lodge , and that her daughter Lodges , as soon as the roll should be arranged and corrected , should be entitled to be ranhed

accordmg lo the dates of their original charters , and of those granted by the Grand Lodge ; , also that the Master of tbe Mother Lodgo Kilwinning for the time being , should bo ipso facto Provincial Grand Master for the Ayrshire district . ( )

II . Here unfortunately the analogy ceases ; our oldest English Lodge , ori ginal No . 1 , now the Lodge of Antiquity , though it resumed , as a matter of course , its position as No . 1 on tlie roll of the " Constitutional "

Grand Lodge , after the temporary secession of 1779-90 , ( ) it was shortly afterwards superseded by the Grand Stewards' Lodge , a creation of 1735 , and , in 1813 , became also junior to a Lodge dating from 1759 only ( ) : original Nos . 3 and 4 have experienced still harsher treatment .

III . It will doubtless be contended , that the Masonic re-union of 1813 was no mere healing of a schism , such as would admit of the rights of the parties being resumed as they existed prior to the breach , but a union of two

Masonic societies ( by agreement ) of coequal authority , who each contracted away its separate rights and privileges , in consideration of the ample power and authority which was thereb y to vest in the one Masonic body , produced by the fusion of the two independent Grand Lodges .

IV . But , the Four Old Lodges were the " Common Ancestors" of both " Moderns and Ancients , " and however indisposed the latter may have been , to yield precedence to Warranted Lodges ( of the " Moderns " ) , though of prior

The Four Old Lodges.

date to their own , it is scarcely conceivable that the negociations pending in 1810-13 , for a union of the rival Grand Lodges , would have been iu any way jeopardised , had the " Moderns " mado the precedency of the " Old Lodges " over all other Lodges ( " Modern or Ancient , " ) a condition precedent to signing away their independent existence .

Indeed , the acquiescence of tho " Ancients " in the precedency claimed for the Grand Stewards' Lodgo , negatives any such conclusion .

V . If , however , the action of the Grand Lodge of Scotland with regard to "Mother Kilwinning , " cannot be instanced as at present coinciding with the policy pursued

by our own Grand Lodge , is it not possible to follow the precedent established by our Scottish brethren , and to place the Olcl Lodges at the head of the roll , without numbers ?

VI . The story of the great schism mig ht have had a very different ending , had the Old Lodges wavered in their loyalty to the governing body they set up ; a real flavour of antiquity would thereby have been communicated to the so-called " Ancients , " tho countenance of tho creators of tho

Masonic Union of 1717 , would doubtless have found general acceptation as a return to the "' Old Constitutions" and the Masonic historian of to-day , mig ht have hesitated to charactise as an anachronism , tho familiar title by which the regular Masons have been distinguished from the " Seceders . "

If , however , they could not reasonably expect any reward for their fidelity , they at least merited an immunity from punishment , but in the result , as has been already narrated ,

the Old Lodges who did not secede ( i . e . join the Ancients ) were degraded , whilst the actual seceders ( as represented by their Senior Lodge ) , were exalted to the highest position on the roll .

History repeats itself—the charge preferred against the Grand Lodge of England by the York Masons , a century ago , of " despising the origin from whence it sprang "Q ) has derived yet a further illustration , from the hard measure meted out to the survivors of the Four Old Lodges , who as

their creation , the " Premier Grand Lodge of the World , " has advanced so as to have become a wonder and a pattern to the universal craft , havo themselves steadily retrograded

from the foremost position they once occupied , until , in the end , their ancient privileges have passed out of the domain of reality , and constitute an almost forgotten page of Masonic history .

Committee Meeting—Boys' School.

COMMITTEE MEETING—BOYS' SCHOOL .

THE General Committee of the Royal Masonio Institution for Boya met last Saturday at Freemasons' Hall . There were present Bros . Hyde Pulleu ( in tho chair ) , George J . Row , H . Browse , Don . M . Dewar , J . W . M . Dosell , W . H . Ferryman , H . Massey , Joyce Murray , Richard Morris , C . J . Rushworth , W . Mann , F . Adlard , J . Boyd , and F . Binckes Secretary . After reading and confirmation of

the minutes , the salary of one of the Masters was increased from £ 65 to £ 75 a year . Authority was given for the edncation of one boy out of the School , and the ordinary allowance for that purpose was granted . The Secretary informed the brethren of the lamented death of Bro . Jesse Turner , and of Bro . John Symonds' resignation as

Trustee of the Institution . Harry Newboult , an applicant for the sixth time for admission to the School at next election , was withdrawn by his friends , he having obtained a presentation for Christ ' s Hospital . In reply to Bro . Joyce Murray , Bro , Binckes said thafc Bro . Benjamin Head had recovered from his recent severe illness .

Committee Meeting Of The Benevolent Institution.

COMMITTEE MEETING OF THE BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION .

THE Committee of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution met on Wednesday afternoon , at Freemasons' Hall , when there were present Bros . Colonel Creaton ( in the chair ) , W . Stephens , Raynham Stewart , James Brett , L . Steau , John G . Stevens , F . Adlard , C . A . Cottebrune , Hyde Pullen , 2 T . G . Philips , J . M . Case , S . Rawson , J . Newton , Jabez Hogg , C . F . Hogard , W . H . Main , and James Terry

Secretary . After the reading and confirmation of tho minutes , and the reception of the House Committee's Report , Bro . Colonel Creaton said that the Committee felt that a greenhouse was a necessity at the Institution . An estimate had been obtained , but he thought other estimates should be got for it . The brethren having authorised the obtaining of other estimates , Bro . Colonel Creaton

reported that the gardener ' s lodge was progressing favourably , and the walls were ready to receive the framework for the roof . A cheque for £ 140 on account was ordered to be drawn for the builders , and directions were given for insuring the cottage , and for an estimate for a reinsurance of the Institution at Croydon to be obtained . Five petitioners were placed on the list , and a notice of motion given by Bro . Raynham Stewart concluded the proceedings .