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  • May 19, 1894
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  • FREEMASONRY IN TORQUAY.
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The Freemason's Chronicle, May 19, 1894: Page 3

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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.

Freemasonry In Torquay.

FREEMASONRY IN TORQUAY .

THE regular meeting of the St . John ' s Lodge , No . 328 , was held in the Masonic Hall , Torquay , on Monday evening , 7 th inst ., when there was a very large gathering of members of this and sister Lodges in the neighbourhood . The Lodge was opened by Bro . T .

A . Blackler W . M . After the minutes of the previous meeting had been confirmed , the Worshipful Master called upon Bro . John Chapman P . Prov . G . D . Devon , to deliver a lecture upon the history of their Lodge . Bro . Chapman said : —•

The history of Sfc . John ' s Lodge , No . 328 , is a subject in which I have felt a very deep interest for more than twenty years . It was in the year 1871 that I made a very diligent search for the old records of the

Lodge . Those efforts only proved that the remote events were shrouded in oral tradition , and that the records had been lost ; so that for the valuable links of reliable evidence there had to be substituted "oral

tradition . These , however , are not to be lightly esteemed , for there were several very trustworthy Brethren , founders of fche Lodge , who Jived long enough to hand down the facts connected with the early events of the Lodge to those now living , so that we have very

little difficulty in tracing the landmarks of the founders of the Lodge . I well remember , in the spring of the year 1871 , trying to obtain from the grandson of one of the founders some clue with regard to the original minute book and papers connected with the formation

of the Lodge . The only information I could gather was in a letter from America , intimating that all had been consumed by a fire that had destroyed the household effects of this worthy Brother . While the archives of Grand Lodge and the limited records of this Lodge aro

not sufficient , or within fche compass of our requirements , yet we have a little collateral evidence that will assist us in dealing wifch fche pasfe . Bro . William Taylor , our worthy Secretary , has placed in my hands all the

material that he possesses in order that I might work out the events that have transpired in connection with the Lodge . " At our initiation we are taught to be cautious ; " but some Masonic historians have overlooked

this excellent advice . The efforts of a faithful historian should ever be to rigidly adhere to facts , without straining them to serve the purpose of any preconceived idea . Dr . Arnold , of Rugby , lays it down as an axiom that we should never take for granted that which we

should first prove . Some of our Masonic historians have , unfortunately , disregarded this course . They have taken -for granted that which they cannot prove " . The result is that when some old parchment has been unearthed it has completely upset their preconceived

ideas . They find that our present system of Freemasonry is more ancient than they imagined . " The 1717 theory is exploded , " and the poor historian has to express his regret for being too hasty with his conclusions . I will therefore strive in the present case to

give the past events of the Lodge from the records we have , and if I use any oral tradition ifc shall be such as shall be in harmony with established facts , in order that the events may be removed as far as possible from the sphere of speculation . The Warrant of Constitution that

was granted to this Lodge dates back to the 8 th March 1810 . It had previously been granted to a Lodge in Carnarvon , under the title of the Snowdon Lodge , and was then numbered 494 . The original Charter was dated 25 th December 1786 . There had been another

alteration of the register of the listing of Lodges in the year 1792 , by which it became 404 , and when the Carnarvon Warrant was issued to the Brethren in Torquay , on the 8 th March 1810 , under the title of St . John ' s Lodge , it was numbered 616 .

The Secretary of the Grand Lodge , in a letter dated llth April 1892 , gives me the following as the places of meeting since the Lodge was formed : — 1810 , 8 th March . —Torquay only . 1819 . —Freemasons' Hall , Fleet Street , Torquay .

1827 . —Royal Hotel , Torquay . 1833 . —London Hotel , Torquay . 1836 . —Union Hotel , Torquay . 1840 . —Freemasons' Hall , Temperance St ., Torquay 1853 . —Freemasons' Hall , Park Street , Torquay .

Freemasonry In Torquay.

The records of the Lodge , and from other sources with regard to the erection of the present Masonic Hall , reveal the fact that the foundation stone was laid on Thursday , 28 th day of May 1857 , by the then D . Prov . G . M ., under the title of St . John ' s Lodge , No . 411 ,

the number having been altered on the roll of Grand Lodge from 616 to 411 . Bro . F . Thomas P . M . was the W . M . of the Lodge on that auspicious occasion , and was supported by Bro . Dr . C . Paget Blake , R . N ., S . W ., and Bro . E . Appleton J . W . The first intimation on

this subject in the minute book appears in connection with a meeting held on the 17 th of March 1857 , when a report from the Building Committee was introduced . It was then " proposed by Bro . Dr . Paget Blake S . W . that in accordance with the recommendation of the

Committee fche building of the proposed Masonic Hall should be immediately commenced , and that the available funds of the Lodge , present and prospective , should be devoted to that purpose . " The resolution was

carried unanimously , and also one for the turning of the first sod for the building , on Monday , 23 rd of March , at 4 o ' clock in the afternoon . With fche exception of the foregoing statement , there is very scant information in the minute book with regard to the erection of the

Masonic Hall ; but it appears that an Emergency Lodge was held to meet the Prov . Grand Lodge for the purpose of assisting in laying the foundation stone of the new Masonic Hall , afc which there were about 130 Brethren present . We gather from the proceedings of the first

meeting of the Lodge , after the laying of the foundation stone of the building , namely , 2 nd June 1857 , thafc Bro . Sherrard aud Bro . Briscoe Hooper proposed and seconded a vote of thanks to the W . M . for his great kindness and energy in carrying out the arrangements

of Prov . Grand Lodge , and also to Bros . Webber and Cash , who acted as Stewards for the day . A vote of thanks was also accorded to Bro . E . Appleton for his energetic and gratuitous services as architect on the occasion . There was also a vote of thanks to the

Chairman of the Board of Health ( Mr . Kitson ) for his kindness in allowing the use of the Town Hall for the Prov . Grand Lodge . The next vote of thanks is one that opens up a matter of interest with regard to the history of a very pleasing event that took place in the

Lodge four years after its formation . It was a vote of thanks to Mr . W . N . Peckins for the gift of a silver jewel that had beeu presented to one of the founders of the Lodge , in the year 1814 . On the face of the jewel

is engraved the following inscription : — " Presented by the Members of St . John ' s Lodge , No . 623-616 , to Bro , John Simms P . M ., for his unremitting zeal and attention to the duties of Masonry , and his assiduous exertions thereof in instructing the brethren . In the year of

St . John ' s Lodge is now worn by the senior P . M ., and reminds us of our worthy predecessor , and also forms an important link that binds us to the early history of Brethren . The events that wero recorded in the minute

Masonry 5814 , and of our Lord 1814 . " On the obverse side of the jewel is engraved : — " The St . John ' s Lodge , No . 623-616 at Torquay , Devon , according to ancient constitution of the Grand Lodge of England . " This early memento of Masonic zeal and ability in

book , as well as the ceremony in connection with the laying of the foundation stone , were regarded of sufficient importance that they specially resolved that fche last vote should be forwarded to the " Torquay Chronicle , " for insertion in that journal . These

resolutions also place before us the names of those who took an active parfc in the erection of the building . But before we conclude this part of our notice of the efforts of the Brethren , we would not overlook the valuable services rendered by Bros . Bowden , Melluish , Goss ,

Harland and Whiteway . It is to be regretted that a more complete statement of facts connected with the erection of the building , fche several changes of fche Lodge premises , and fche general working of the Lodge , were not recorded on the minutes . I have had the

pleasure , however , of perusing a copy of both the " Torquay Directory" and the " Torquay Chronicle , " each of which contained , at the time , an excellent report of the proceedings in connection with the laying of

tne foundation stone of the new Masonic Hall , From these reports we gather the fact that the Right Hon . Hugh Earl Fortescue Prov . G . M . of Devonshire

“The Freemason's Chronicle: 1894-05-19, Page 3” Masonic Periodicals Online, Library and Museum of Freemasonry, 1 Aug. 2025, django:8000/periodicals/fcn/issues/fcn_19051894/page/3/.
  • List
  • Grid
Title Category Page
ELECTION TACTICS. Article 1
SOMERSETSHIRE. Article 2
NORTH AND EAST YORKSHIRE. Article 2
FREEMASONRY IN TORQUAY. Article 3
CENTENARY: LODGE OF HOPE, No. 302. Article 4
GRAND LODGE OF SCOTLAND. Article 5
ERRORS OF MASONIC WRITERS. Article 5
Untitled Ad 5
Untitled Ad 6
Untitled Ad 6
Untitled Ad 6
Untitled Article 6
THE INSTITUTIONS, &c. Article 6
Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution. Article 7
CLERICAL BLUNDERS. Article 8
NEW MASONIC WORKS. Article 8
Untitled Ad 8
Untitled Ad 8
REPORTS OF MEETINGS. Article 9
PROVINCIAL. Article 9
ROYAL ARCH. Article 11
MARK MASONRY. Article 11
GREAT TRIENNIAL HANDEL FESTIVAL. Article 11
ORIGIN OF FREEMASONRY. Article 11
Masonic Sonnets, No. 90. Article 12
LODGE MEETINGS FOR NEXT WEEK. Article 12
Untitled Ad 12
Untitled Ad 12
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.

Freemasonry In Torquay.

FREEMASONRY IN TORQUAY .

THE regular meeting of the St . John ' s Lodge , No . 328 , was held in the Masonic Hall , Torquay , on Monday evening , 7 th inst ., when there was a very large gathering of members of this and sister Lodges in the neighbourhood . The Lodge was opened by Bro . T .

A . Blackler W . M . After the minutes of the previous meeting had been confirmed , the Worshipful Master called upon Bro . John Chapman P . Prov . G . D . Devon , to deliver a lecture upon the history of their Lodge . Bro . Chapman said : —•

The history of Sfc . John ' s Lodge , No . 328 , is a subject in which I have felt a very deep interest for more than twenty years . It was in the year 1871 that I made a very diligent search for the old records of the

Lodge . Those efforts only proved that the remote events were shrouded in oral tradition , and that the records had been lost ; so that for the valuable links of reliable evidence there had to be substituted "oral

tradition . These , however , are not to be lightly esteemed , for there were several very trustworthy Brethren , founders of fche Lodge , who Jived long enough to hand down the facts connected with the early events of the Lodge to those now living , so that we have very

little difficulty in tracing the landmarks of the founders of the Lodge . I well remember , in the spring of the year 1871 , trying to obtain from the grandson of one of the founders some clue with regard to the original minute book and papers connected with the formation

of the Lodge . The only information I could gather was in a letter from America , intimating that all had been consumed by a fire that had destroyed the household effects of this worthy Brother . While the archives of Grand Lodge and the limited records of this Lodge aro

not sufficient , or within fche compass of our requirements , yet we have a little collateral evidence that will assist us in dealing wifch fche pasfe . Bro . William Taylor , our worthy Secretary , has placed in my hands all the

material that he possesses in order that I might work out the events that have transpired in connection with the Lodge . " At our initiation we are taught to be cautious ; " but some Masonic historians have overlooked

this excellent advice . The efforts of a faithful historian should ever be to rigidly adhere to facts , without straining them to serve the purpose of any preconceived idea . Dr . Arnold , of Rugby , lays it down as an axiom that we should never take for granted that which we

should first prove . Some of our Masonic historians have , unfortunately , disregarded this course . They have taken -for granted that which they cannot prove " . The result is that when some old parchment has been unearthed it has completely upset their preconceived

ideas . They find that our present system of Freemasonry is more ancient than they imagined . " The 1717 theory is exploded , " and the poor historian has to express his regret for being too hasty with his conclusions . I will therefore strive in the present case to

give the past events of the Lodge from the records we have , and if I use any oral tradition ifc shall be such as shall be in harmony with established facts , in order that the events may be removed as far as possible from the sphere of speculation . The Warrant of Constitution that

was granted to this Lodge dates back to the 8 th March 1810 . It had previously been granted to a Lodge in Carnarvon , under the title of the Snowdon Lodge , and was then numbered 494 . The original Charter was dated 25 th December 1786 . There had been another

alteration of the register of the listing of Lodges in the year 1792 , by which it became 404 , and when the Carnarvon Warrant was issued to the Brethren in Torquay , on the 8 th March 1810 , under the title of St . John ' s Lodge , it was numbered 616 .

The Secretary of the Grand Lodge , in a letter dated llth April 1892 , gives me the following as the places of meeting since the Lodge was formed : — 1810 , 8 th March . —Torquay only . 1819 . —Freemasons' Hall , Fleet Street , Torquay .

1827 . —Royal Hotel , Torquay . 1833 . —London Hotel , Torquay . 1836 . —Union Hotel , Torquay . 1840 . —Freemasons' Hall , Temperance St ., Torquay 1853 . —Freemasons' Hall , Park Street , Torquay .

Freemasonry In Torquay.

The records of the Lodge , and from other sources with regard to the erection of the present Masonic Hall , reveal the fact that the foundation stone was laid on Thursday , 28 th day of May 1857 , by the then D . Prov . G . M ., under the title of St . John ' s Lodge , No . 411 ,

the number having been altered on the roll of Grand Lodge from 616 to 411 . Bro . F . Thomas P . M . was the W . M . of the Lodge on that auspicious occasion , and was supported by Bro . Dr . C . Paget Blake , R . N ., S . W ., and Bro . E . Appleton J . W . The first intimation on

this subject in the minute book appears in connection with a meeting held on the 17 th of March 1857 , when a report from the Building Committee was introduced . It was then " proposed by Bro . Dr . Paget Blake S . W . that in accordance with the recommendation of the

Committee fche building of the proposed Masonic Hall should be immediately commenced , and that the available funds of the Lodge , present and prospective , should be devoted to that purpose . " The resolution was

carried unanimously , and also one for the turning of the first sod for the building , on Monday , 23 rd of March , at 4 o ' clock in the afternoon . With fche exception of the foregoing statement , there is very scant information in the minute book with regard to the erection of the

Masonic Hall ; but it appears that an Emergency Lodge was held to meet the Prov . Grand Lodge for the purpose of assisting in laying the foundation stone of the new Masonic Hall , afc which there were about 130 Brethren present . We gather from the proceedings of the first

meeting of the Lodge , after the laying of the foundation stone of the building , namely , 2 nd June 1857 , thafc Bro . Sherrard aud Bro . Briscoe Hooper proposed and seconded a vote of thanks to the W . M . for his great kindness and energy in carrying out the arrangements

of Prov . Grand Lodge , and also to Bros . Webber and Cash , who acted as Stewards for the day . A vote of thanks was also accorded to Bro . E . Appleton for his energetic and gratuitous services as architect on the occasion . There was also a vote of thanks to the

Chairman of the Board of Health ( Mr . Kitson ) for his kindness in allowing the use of the Town Hall for the Prov . Grand Lodge . The next vote of thanks is one that opens up a matter of interest with regard to the history of a very pleasing event that took place in the

Lodge four years after its formation . It was a vote of thanks to Mr . W . N . Peckins for the gift of a silver jewel that had beeu presented to one of the founders of the Lodge , in the year 1814 . On the face of the jewel

is engraved the following inscription : — " Presented by the Members of St . John ' s Lodge , No . 623-616 , to Bro , John Simms P . M ., for his unremitting zeal and attention to the duties of Masonry , and his assiduous exertions thereof in instructing the brethren . In the year of

St . John ' s Lodge is now worn by the senior P . M ., and reminds us of our worthy predecessor , and also forms an important link that binds us to the early history of Brethren . The events that wero recorded in the minute

Masonry 5814 , and of our Lord 1814 . " On the obverse side of the jewel is engraved : — " The St . John ' s Lodge , No . 623-616 at Torquay , Devon , according to ancient constitution of the Grand Lodge of England . " This early memento of Masonic zeal and ability in

book , as well as the ceremony in connection with the laying of the foundation stone , were regarded of sufficient importance that they specially resolved that fche last vote should be forwarded to the " Torquay Chronicle , " for insertion in that journal . These

resolutions also place before us the names of those who took an active parfc in the erection of the building . But before we conclude this part of our notice of the efforts of the Brethren , we would not overlook the valuable services rendered by Bros . Bowden , Melluish , Goss ,

Harland and Whiteway . It is to be regretted that a more complete statement of facts connected with the erection of the building , fche several changes of fche Lodge premises , and fche general working of the Lodge , were not recorded on the minutes . I have had the

pleasure , however , of perusing a copy of both the " Torquay Directory" and the " Torquay Chronicle , " each of which contained , at the time , an excellent report of the proceedings in connection with the laying of

tne foundation stone of the new Masonic Hall , From these reports we gather the fact that the Right Hon . Hugh Earl Fortescue Prov . G . M . of Devonshire

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