The Humorous Side Of Freemasonry.

THE HUMOROUS SIDE OF FREEMASONRY .

BY STREBO . FRANCIS MEBES , M . A . ( circa 1598 ) , says , "He that sparingly or unwillingly praiseth another , seemeth to hunger and thirst after his own praise , " and even at the risk of incurring a censure equal to that contained in the above passage by an eminent writer , it is my intention

on the present occasion to attempt to amuse the reader by reproducing for his consideration a few of the mistakes perpetrated a century ago by Brethren of the Craft , and which , although committed whilst in the performance of duties that denoted their zeal and enthusiasm , will nevertheless serve to " point a moral " even in these days of educational progress .

I have recently become possessed of a mutilated copy of the history of St . John's Lodge , No . 221 , Bolton , bearing the date of 1880 , with introductory remarks by Bro . Wm . James Hughan P . S . G . D . Eng ., and I judge from the general construction of the work that it was compiled by the master hand of the late Bro . G . P . Brockbank P . P . S . G . D . East Lancashire . It contains come curious reading , and a few literal excerpts from what I possess of its sixty odd pages will , I fancy , prove as interesting to your subscribers as any page of a modern Joe Miller .

The consecration of the Lodge ( or installation , for it is thus described in a minute dated 20 th April 1797 ) , having taken place before the Union , it was originally numbered 303 , and afterwards changed to 386 ; then to 268 in the year 1832 , and to 221 in 1863 , which number it still retains .

The meeting of 9 th April 1797 , whioh appears to have been a preliminary one previous to the formal opening of the Lodge , is the cause of the following minutes , recorded in the first Lodge book : — " At this Meeting it was resolved , That every Candidate that dines shall pay the sum of four shillings towards paying the expenses of the day , the some as old subscribing members .

'Tis unanimously a greed that this Loge , No . 303 , shall be call'd St John ' s . Br . Jno . O'Neal in the chair . Br . Thos . Keenan Senr . Warding , Br Dal . Cain Junr . Warding . Call'd to refreshment at half-past 7 O'clock Closed at Eight O'clock . John O'Neill , Master . "

On April 16 th it was " Unanimously agreead that James Savage , Hugh Hamor , Patrick Hughs Sen ., and Patrick Junr ., as Candidates , is to Become Members on the 29 th inst . The reader will understand that any lacuna which may be noticed with regard to dates and minutes of the Lodge transactions , is necessarily not of equal interest with the other minutes which are here given , and for this reason such item is omitted . On 4 th December is recorded : — " The Worshipful ' s Toast from the Chair :

' That Masons may florish like the bea Leaf that grows by the Biver Side that is always green . '

Lodge opened at 4 past 9 . Candidate initiated at 10 m . past 10 , eta . " 1797 . Dec . 17 . —Lodge of an Amergency , the Worshipful John O'Neal in the Chair . Lodge opened on the three degrees of Masonry at 6 O ' clock . Br . John Mulhollen , Tried for charges alleded to him by the Worshipful for misconduct . The Worshipful from the Chair and the Defendant quitted the Lodge Boom . Br . Thomas Keenan , Sr . Warden , took the Chair ; and Br . Cain acts as Sr . Warden , Br . John McGoogan as Jr . Warden . Br . John

Mulhollans Tryal commenced at 7 O ' clock ; Br . Mulhollan for being Intoxicated in Drink , for breaking the 6 th Bule of our By-Laws Fined 6 d ; secondly , for breaking the 12 th Bule , fined 5 s ; and for bad language to the Worshipful it is agreeable by the Members of this Lodge that is heer met that he must make an Humble Submission for so doing ; this is unanimousl y agreed upon that his futer conduct mus be agreeable to the Members of this Lodge . His Tryal lasted until 10 O'clock . Dewly admonished , Br . Mulhollan asked Gods pardon and the Lodges and the Matter is amicabl y settled .

1798 . Feby . 20 . —A charge layed to Bro . O'Neal for charging the Members of the Lodge to meet clandestinely ; a Cometa chose by the Worshipful , to absent themselves from the Lodge Boom to an a jacin Boom to decide the matter ; the Committee agreeing and finding Br . O'Neill colpable of an error for Schandlelizing the Lodge is find five shillings , and is to make an humble submission to the Lodge for the offence . Br . O'Neal made an humble apology for the offence . Lodge closed at 50 minutes past 10 , when the greatest harmony subsisted .

1800 . Apl . 3 . —Agreed that the Lodge shall be shifted to the house of Brother Bichard Clarkson , the sign of the Lord Admiral Nelson , on Bolton Moor . May 18 . —Besolved , that a Boyal Arch Chapter shall be held . 5 Brethren agreed to be made Arch Masons . Opened tho Lodge on the 3 rd degree , and these 5 Brothers past the Chair at 5 O ' clock and pd . 7 / 6 . Soon after opened the Boyal Arch Chapter , these Brn . were made Exclant and Shuper Exclant Masons and Likeeves Holy Boyal Arch Masons .

1802 . Jan . 1 . —A procession took place in which No . 196 joined , wh . was guarded by the Military stationed in the town , and a letter of thanks was addressed by the Seer , of Lodge 196 to the Commanding Officer . " A note by the compiler says : — "The Cash Book records that £ 2 0 s 6 d was reed , towards the Expenses from different brethren of the 17 Light Dragoons . "

Book No . 2 contains a code of by-laws numbering 18 , and the quaint spelling of words will be especially remarked . In pseudo-German fashion , the Secretary has added capital letters not only to some of the substantives , but also to other words .

Bule the 1 st . ftesolved that this Lodge Shall Meet on the First Monday of Every Calinder Month in order to act and Transact such business As seems Meet unto them For the Well Being of the Antient Craft , at the house of Mrs . Lawson ' s , Hand and Banner , Deans Gate , and Every Member Shall Pay one Shilling , Sixpence to Be spent and Sixpence to the fund Tyler , and Candles To be paid out of the same .

Bule the 2 nd . Besolved that Every Brother Stall pay Three Shillings and sixpence on Every St . John ' s day , and Every Br . Absent on that day Shall pay the same Except Sickness or Confinement . Bule the 3 rd . Resolved that no Brother will be chosen by Senority to Preside as Master or Aney other office in the Lodge , except he Merits it .

The Humorous Side Of Freemasonry.

Bule the 4 th . Resolved that Every Br . Shall appear Glean and as Decent as he Can with an Apron , such as is worn by Antient Masons , Likewise that Every Subscribing Br . shall ware in his Breast that Mark of distinction that is worn by Antient Masons on the Regular Meeting Nights .

Bule the 5 th . Besolved that any Br . that shall Curse , Sware , or use aney Unbecoming Language in Diragation of God's name intendedly , or Aggravate another Br . to disturbe the Harmony of the Lodge whilst engaged in that Most Serious and Solimn , for every such offence shall forfeit sixpence . Rule the 6 th .

Besolved that Aney Br . Coming on our Begular Meeting Disguised in Liquor shall pay for the First offence Sixpence , And for Every other one Shilling , to go to the fund For the Belief of Indegent Brethren . Bule the 7 th . Besolved that Aney Br . Absenting himself on our Begular Meeting Night without him on his next Meeting Assigns a proper Beason For Every Such offence shall forfeit one Shilling .

Bule the 8 th . Besolved that Any Old Mason that wishes To Joyn this Lodge , if he bound Found worthey To Becom a member , for his admission he shall Pay the Sum of Ten Shillings and Sixpence , and Likewise to pay his own Begestrie . Bule the 9 th .

Besolved that if aney Br . Shall Bedicule aney other Br . in Begard of his Beligion , Trade , or Profession , Shall for Every such offence Pay Ten Shillings , and not to admitted to Sit in the Lodge until he pays the same , and Makes an humble Submission For his Transgression . All fines and forfeits to be put in the Fund for tho Belief of Distressed Brothers .

Rule the 10 th . Resolved that no Br . shall Receive a Certificate until he is one year a Subscribing Member Excepting he is Leveing the Kingdom , or Going to some other part , or Entering into his Majesties Service , and then give his O . B . that he is not Decaiving the Lodge . Rule the 11 th .

Resolved that no Modern Mason or aney Subscribemg those to Belongs will be admitted in this Lodge while Engaged in that Most Serious and Solimn , the Better to Enable them to keep the Antient Craft from being Adulterated , and that Every visiting Brother shall pay as much as a Subscribeing Member , that is one Shilling , First Visit Free .

Rule the 12 th . Besolved that if any Member Belonging to this Lodge should Devulge aney Secrets whatsoever to aney person not Belonging to this Lodge First offence shall Forfeit Five Shillings and will not be admitted to sit in the Lodge untill he pays the same and Makes an humble Submission for his Transgression and if Found Guilty of the same a Second time Fined 10 s 6 d , third time Excluded and Reported to the Grand Lodge .

Bule the 13 th . Besolved that Every Br . Belonging to this Lodge Shall Be Carefull in offering his interest to aney Man Desireing to Becom a Mason without first applying by petiton , so that no Reflection May Be Carried further By him if not admitted .

Rule the 14 th . Resolved that no person hereafter shall becom a Mason in this Lodge But such as are of Abel Body , Honest Parentage , Good Reputation in the neighbourhood where he Resides , and an observer of the Law of the Land . Rule the 15 th .

Resolved that no Man Be Admitted a Member of this Lodge without previous notice of one month before Given , Unless Some Cause May Appear Legal to the whole Lodge . Bule the 16 th .

Besolved that aney Man who wishes to be made a Mason in this Lodge Shall Send 10 s 6 d with bis pettiton , and if approved of it shall be Detained as part of his Admission Money , and on his First Entering this Lodge shall pay One Pound one , and before he Becomes a Master Mason he Shall Cleare of the whole which is To Be £ 2 2 s 6 d and pay his own Begestrie and Tyler .

Rule the 17 th . Besolved that if any Br . Comes on a stated Lodge Night with a foul shirt , with a Beard , Silk or Coloured Handkerchief , shall pay a tine of Twopence for Every such offence . Bule the 18 th .

Besolved that no Certificate shall be granted to aney Brother untill he shall have paid all arrears due to the Lodge , likewise Discharged all Debts he may have Contracted with any Brother of the same in the house wherein the Lodge is kept in order to Soport the Credit of the Lodge , Except Love granted from the Creditor . ( To be continued . )

Ad00902

THE " SAFE . " PURSE . PATENTED BY THE HON . MRS . PERY . , ^^^^\ PREVENTS all danger of losing ' m & gBBS ^ % \ \ . money while carrying it about . " ^ aBjI ft < f ' ? $ * 'V ^ Cannot be snatched from the hand . B & ffi * H & xid $$ ^ y ~ ~~ ^ . Adjusted to size , leaving fingers and * " ^ miBPsffijfeii ; ^ v ^* - thumb free for other purposes . Sate ^ w ^& H ^** fim ., ""* " "" mm and convenient for frequent use . No \ ilrL ^" ^^^ fahiP scrambling for pockets , no time lost m opening ^ H ^*« t ^^ V bags or other receptacle . To be had at all ^ BKlBBfeSMW Fancy Goods Warehouses . Wholesale at the ^ BaBliiililliiv Depot , where sample purses can be obtained l ^^ H ^ ffi ^ P ^ by enclosing 3 d extra in stamps , at prices ^ HnnRjB |> M ™ BPOT ° : * SAFE PURSE SYNDICATE , LTD ., Wmm 7 WOOD ST ., LONDON , E . C , W ^ RK