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SATURDAY , 14 TH OCTOBER 1891 . , ., -, — . - ... ¦ .-n .- ^ -. ¦¦ .. ¦ T . ~ , -- ¦ = r ,- _ . r . _ . ¦¦ - ¦ .- _ -

Freemasonry In Wiltshire.

FREEMASONRY IN WILTSHIRE .

ON tbe occasion of tlio installation of Lord Radnor as Provincial Grand Master for Wiltshire it may bo of interest to give some particulars of the early history of Freemasonry in tbe county . As will be seen from our report of the proceedings at the ceremony of installation H . R . H . the Dnke of . Connaught referred to the fact that

the Province was founded in the year 1777 , " during the lifetime of a most distinguished Mason , Bro . Thomas Dunokerley , who was appointed Provincial Grand Master . " We had the pleasure in May last of noticing favourably a comprehensive and valuable work on tbe life and labours

of this remarkable man , by Bro . Henry Sadler P . M . and P . Z ., Grand Tyler and Sub-Librarian of the Grand Lodge of England . Dunokerley asserted himself to be a natural son of George IL , and his biographer shows that his story was believed by powerful patrons , and that ho received

many advantages from their efforts , including a substantial pension . Dunckerley ' s services to the cause of Freemasonry were many and great , and in Mr . Sadler ' s work it is stated that he " exercised active supervision over eighteen different counties . " He took an active part in

Masonic affairs in Wiltshire several years before he was appointed to preside over tbat province , and Mr . Sadler reproduces a charge delivered by him to the Freemasons of Marlborough , and a letter written by him from that town in 1768 . On 22 ud September 1777 , a Provincial Grand

Lodge for Wiltshire was opened at Salisbury "in ample form ; " and Mr . Frederick Hastings Goldney , in his " History of Freemasonry in Wiltshire , " gives the following list of the Freemasons present : —The Most Worshipful Thomas Dnnckcrlev , Esq ., P . G . M ., the Worshipfnl Hugh

Skeats D . P . G . M ., Jos . Hodgson P . G . S . W ., J . Edgar jun . P . G . J . W ., Jauies Wilkinson P . G . T ., Michael Burrough P . G . S ., and T . Shnttleworth P . G . S . B . ; P . G . Stewards-John Norton , Wm . Chubb , Alex . Minty , Wm . Weeks , Geo . Scandover , and D . M . Keele ; Past Grand Tyler

G . Brown , and the Master , Officers , and Brethren of the Salisbury Lodge , No . 47 . The Visiting Brethren were Lord Charles Montagu Pasfc Grand Master for Hants , with six of his Officers ; six brethren from the Ringwood , and four from the Blandford Lodgo , and three brethren

from Lodges in London . It is interesting to note tbat P . G . M . Dunokerley recommended that no Mason should be made in future in Wiltshire for less than 3 guineas . Referring to description of Dunkerley as Proviucial Grand Master for Wiltshire , Bro . Sadler remarked that it is

not strictly correct , Dunckerley having only been appointed to superintend temporarily . The first P . G . M . for Wilts was Thomas Fowke , of Clarges Street , Piccadilly , who was appointed late in 1775 or early in 1776 . Mr . Sadler says : — "I cannot find that he ever did anything in discharge of

the duties of his office , but he had family connections at Salisbury , and was Groom of tho Bedchamber to the Duke of Cumberland . His name -was removed from thc list of Provincial Grand Masters in 1777 ; Dunokerley may therefore fairly be deemed the firsfc real head of the

Province . " His biographer adds : — "In his endeavours to exemplify the proverbial qualities of a new broom , his Masonic zeal appears far to have exceeded his discretion . " This remark refers to a controversy in which Dunckerley promptly proceeded to involve himself with tho " Ancient " Masons at Salisbury . Mr . Sadler writes : —

The period between the years 17 ( 16 and 1796 wa <( a most evantfal one for Freemasonry in England ; it waa a period of consolidation aud permanent improvement . . . It ia not unlikely that a spirit of emulation may Lave had some influence in bringing about this

change , the Grind Lodge being then harassed by au active and powerful rival in the shape of an opposition body of Freemasons * , which had been organised iu London about tbo year 1751 , aud which bad since made rapid progros-3 bath in prosperity and influence . . . In the earlier portion of the period mentioned , the two rival Masouic

Freemasonry In Wiltshire.

bodies were briefly distinguished by the names of Ancicnta and Modems ; the foruior being the general appellation of the opposing fuoion , pud the latter that of the adherents of the regnlar Grand L <*!>{_ formed in 1717 , of which Duuokerlcy waa a most ardent supporttsr .

On the occasion of the opening at Salisbury of the Provincial Grand Lodge for Wiltshire of the "Moderns , " Dunckerley " took occasion to observe that an assembly had lately been formed in Salisbury of persons who called themselves Ancient Masons , and pretended to derive an

authority from the Duke of Athol . He informed the Lodge that the Duke had disclaimed any knowledge of or connection wifch persons acting nnder that sanction . " In making this assertion Dunckerley was quite wrong , as the " Ancients" of Salisbury speedily proved . They

applied to the Duke of Athol , and were soon jn a position to publish an authoritative contradiction of Dunckerley ' s statements , which appeared in tho Salisbury Journal of 24 th November 1777 . This vindication by the " Ancients " of the legality of their position drew

from Dunckerley a lengthy vindication of hia action , which was published in our columns ou 15 th December 1777 . Dunckerley ended by declaring , " I therefore conclude , with respect to the Lodge , No . 200 , at Salisbury , of Ancient Masons— ' Debile funclamentum fullit opus . ' " As

the Lodgo in question found itself unable to make any headway and in 1783 transferred its allegiance to the " Modorns , " Dunckerley ' s conclusion would seem to have beon warranted by the facts . Bebides his quarrel with the " Ancients , " ho had considerable trouble with the members

of his own Salisbury Lodge , who , as letters published by Bro . Sadler show , more than ouco questioned the validity of his appointment as" P . G . M ., und refused to subaiifc to his authority . After the Sarum Lodge had been struck off" the list for contumacious behaviour , and restored at

Dunckerley ' s desire , the Grand Lodge , when farther troubles arose in 1783 , requested Dunokerley to resign " the Superintendency of tho County of Wilts , " in order to promote " future good humour " in the Sarum Lodge , which step he emphatically refused to take . The central

authority finally compromised matters by directing the Sarnm Lodge to correspond immediately with one of the Grand Secretaries ou all business of the society , and requesting Dunckerley not to interfere in tho affairs of that Lodge .

Dunckerley replied that he would obey the commands of the Graud Master , bnt would nofc permit any member of the Sarum Lodge to be present at any Provincial Grand Lodge thafc he inis-hfc hold in future for Wiltshire . Whether

Dunckerley and fche Sarem Lodge were ever reconciled . his biographer has not been able to discover ; but "there appears , " says Mr . Sadler , " to have been a fractious

spirit among its members , for , in 1800 , fresh complications arose with the authorities , which led to the final erasure of the Lodge , on the 25 th of November 1801 . " —Salisbury Journal .

Freemasonry In Madagascar.

FREEMASONRY IN MADAGASCAR .

THE Catholic World is somewhat surprised to learn of a lawsnifc that bas just been tried in Madagascar . Two Freemasons had a dispute with the Vicar-Apostolic , Monsignor Cazet , which resulted in an appeal to the Law Courts . Some time ago these Freemasons sent round a

circular to all PJaropeans on the island , inviting them to join the Masonic Lodges . The Vicar , hearing of this , retaliated by circulating a tract written by D . D . Legur , entitled "The Freemasons ; what they do , and what

they want . " He declared thafc in the tract there were no personal attacks . However , on the case beiug brought before the Consular Court , the Bishop was condemned fco pay a fine of 15 , 000 francs . He appealed against this sentence , and the case is to be tried again . —Echo .

We are informed that the Deputy Grand Master for Nottinghamshire—Bro . tbe Rev . F . V . Bussell , M . A . —has promised to preside on tbe occasion of the delivery by Bro . James Stevens of his lecture on the Ritual and Ceremonial , in the Aunesley Lodge , No . 1 _ 35 , afc fche Masonic Hall , Nottingham , on Friday , the 27 t'n instant .

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