Masonic Blunderers Once More.

ance of the Eoyal Arch before 1740 , tho irregularities above given , could not ( as Bro . Hnghan claims ) have been due to " the promotion of Eoyal Arch Masonry " in 1734 or 1735 . The next trouble about irregular Lodges , Preston places in 1738 . He says : "A number of dissatisfied brethren withdrew themselves from their Lodges and held meetings in different places for the

initiation of persons into Masonry * * * In consequence of the bro . icli which had been made in the friendly intercourse between tho Grand Lodges of London and York ( he ought to have said , " in oonsequence of the Grand Lodge of York having been dormant since 1730 " ) these disaffected brethren * * * assumed , without any legal authority , the character of York Masous . Certain measures being adopted to check

their progress . They made no considerable addition to their numbers , till , taking advantage of a murmur * * * among the Lodges in London , on account of some innovations that had lately been introdncerl * * * This imprudent measure of tho regular Lodges offended many old Masons ; but through the mediation of John Ward , Esq . * * * matters were in some measure accommodated . " Again : —

In 1739 . "Brethren again met in unwarranted Lodges , and initiated persons into Masonry on small and unworthy considerations . To disappoint the views of these irregular Masons , and to distinguish tho persons thus received into Masonry , tho Grand Lodge silently acquiesced in the imprudent measures which oven the urgency of the case could not warrant . This had the intended effect , but gave rise

to a new subterfuge . The brethren who seceded * * * immediately announced independency , and assuming the appellation of Ancient Masons , propagated an opinion that tho ancient tenets and practices were preserved by them , while the regular Lodges had adopted new plans , and being composed of modern Masons , to counteract the resolutions of tho Grand Lodge , a new Grand Lodge was instituted in

London . * * * A civil rebellion ensued , and under the feigned name of the Ancient York Constitutions its Lodges daily inoreased * * * and under the false appellation of the York banner , they gained the countenance of the Scotch and Irish Masons , who readily joined in condemning the measures of the Lodges in London , which , they insisted , tended * * * to introduce novelties and to subvert the

original plan of the society . " From Preston's history , one would infer that the secession , the declaration of independence , and the formation of the Antients' Grand Lodge , took place simultaneously in 1739 or 1740 ; the truth is , the first formation of the said Grand Lodge was in 1751 ; whether the original six Lodges , or even part of them survived since 1739 , is , to

say the least , doubtful . It is my opinion that from the very start of Masonry , there was a succession of unscrupulous Masons who conferred Masonry for small sums of money . Dermott , in 1756 , complained that somebody then conferred the Eoyal Arch degree . Within my recollection , in Boston attempts have been made two or more times to establish such illegal Lodges . They failed in their

attempts , because the Mason makers were neither men of position , means , nor talent , and such may have been the case in England with the old Mason makers . Even the concern of 1751 would have melted away , if Dermott , quite a ( jenius in his way , had not placed himself at the head of it . In the earlier charters granted by Dermott he styled his concern " The Grand Lodge of the most Ancient and

Honourable Fraternity of Free and Accepted York Masons . " This he could do with impunity , because there was no Grand Lodgo at York from 1730 to 1761 . Bnt in the Charters he granted after 1761 he styled his concern "The G . L ., & c , of Free and Accepted ( not York Masons , but ) Masons according to the old Constitution granted by His Eoyal Highness Prince Edwin of York . " Now Dermott

nndoubtedly changed tho mode of recognition in every degree of Craft Masonry . About the Masters' degree he says : — " About the year 1717 some joyons companions who had passed the degree of a craft ( though very rusty ) resolved to form a Lodge for themselves , in order to recollect what had formerly been diotated to them , or if that should be impracticable , to substitute something

new * * * At this meeting the question was asked , whether any person in the assembly knew the Masters' part ? and being answered in the negative , it resolved nem con that tho deficiency should be made up with a new composition . " This accounts as to why the Masters' part differed in the two Grand Lodges . Bnt even Dermott furnishes no hint as to why they differed in the first and second

degrees , nor did he even allude to the existence of any difference in the two first degrees . That Dermott ' s statements are a tissue of falsehooods , Bro . Meyers himself conceded , by admitting that there was only one degree before 1717 , & c . The establishment and perpetuation of the 1751 Grand Lodge was therefore entirely due to the talent and cheek of Dermott .

But I must now recall to mind Bro . Preston ' s account of the origin of the Ancients ; he says , that in 1738 the English Masons , in order to keep out of their Lodges the irregulars , changed something in their ritual ( which is understood to mean their mode of recognition ) , and that in 1739 the Grand Lodge silently acquiesced in tho change ; and this change gave great offence to the Scotch and Irish Masons ,

& c , all which , for obvious reasons , he gave us in very obscure language , which I shall , however , endeavour to make a little more clear . Modes of recognition consist of signs or words , or both . Let us now suppose that before 1738 , when an Apprentice wanted to make himself known to a Brother Mason , he gave the brother a slap on tho buck , and the word was " Tweedledee : " aud a Fellow Craft to make

himself known as such gave two slaps on the back of the brother and gave the word " Tweedledum . " Whether Preston ' s alleged change meant the introduction of entire new sign 3 aud words , or whether the mode of recognition of the Apprentice was changed into the former mode of recognition of tho Fellow Craft , aud vice vwsv , , I know not . But be that as it may , his account about the offence the Scotch and Irish brethren took thereat is clear enough . But here comes tho

been passed in 1734 . Anderson does not mention such a resolution . In 1735 Anderson mentions a resolution condemning a book called " Freemason's Vu . de Mecv . m . " Tho question is , where did Preston got hold of his statements about 1734 ?

Masonic Blunderers Once More.

qnestion . There is no donbt that both in Scotland and in Ireland Masons give the same si ^ ns and words in the first two degrees , as is given by English Masons . Hence , at some period subsequent to 1738 , the Scotch and Irish brethren must have conformed their modes of recognition to that of the Grand Lodge of Eugland . Tho qnestion then comes , w 7 iere , when , and why have our Scotch and Irish

brethren adopted the said change which their predecessors of the last centnry condemned as innovations and novelties ? The fact is , the statoments of Preston with regard to the origin of the Ancients are on a par with his compact of 1721 , with his nar . rative abont the Grand Lodge of York , and other historical blunders . The ritual of 1730 , discovered a few years ago by Bro . Abbott , is

snfficient to upset the notion that any change was made since then by English Masons in tho first two degrees . Now for another Masonic blunderer . In the preface to " Hntohinson ' s Spirit of Masonry , " Dr . Oliver gives an account of the Grand Lodge procession of 1742 , and of the counter procession of the " Scald and miserable Masons , " who met the G . L . procession in

front of the old Somerset House , and the picture thereof , called " Geometrical view of the Grand procession of the scald miserable Masons , " & o . To which Dr . Oliver adds : '' Anderson thus notioes the circumstance : Some unfaithful brethren , disappointed in their expectations of the high offices and honours of the society , had joined a number of the buffoons of the

day , in a scheme to exhibit a mockery of the public procession to the Grand Feast . This , as may well be supposed , furnished mirth to the gaping crowd , and disgust to the fraternity , who , wisely recollecting themselves , determined in future to confine their operations within the limits of their own assembly . " The whole of the above paragraph appeared in the said work ,

between quotation marks , as the writing of Dr . Anderson . The trnth however is , I could find no such paragraph in Anderson ' s writings . Nor could Anderson have written remarks of events which took place in 1742 , about three years after he was dead and buried , for he died in May 1739 . I sincerely hope that Bro . Gould ' s History will be free from

blunders . I trust that ho is endowed with sufficient courage to tread upon the toes of those who deserve it , and that he will discard the notion of " Masonic Courtesy " when dealing with Masonic misleaders . I would also respectfully suggest , that when his History is finished he should render a great service to the Craft by followin » it np with " Anecdotes of Masonic Blunderers . " For the

collection of materials for such a work there will be no need to sneeze over old mnsty folios , or to spend years hunting in libraries . The said materials are scattered everywhere , and ready for gathering . For instance begin with the old MSS ., Anderson , Hutchinson , Preston , Oliver , in short the English and American Masonic-litersture in general . Volumes of anecdotes of Masonic blunderers

mi » ht be collected from those sources , and when these are exhausted he " would find a wealthy mine of blunders in the legends and writings of the high degreers , for the higher Masons mount the more blunders they make . Such a work might be issued in volumes , or in monthly or weekly parts , I think it would he more remunerative , as far as pounds , shillings and pence is concerned , than the History . The said work wonld find its way

into every public and private library , and even Masons , who as a rule do not relish serious reading , and do not care abont history , as they aTe by no means averse to fun and humour , 99 out of every 100 brethren would readily subscribe to the " Anecdotes , " where _ nnun « l n «— n mnnl / 1 ^ .. ^ af TM o TiTof-n ^ Tr l ? nt-. fTia rnnllTT nroal : am'wlpA uionuij ^ . . uuv vnnj *^ t uw-

eUrtiUUiy UJIU lyuuni IUIWU jx * u > . -. w . . g « u , *«~ the work would render the Craft wonld be , the driving away from the Masonic press of all kinds of pretenders , dreamers , and blunderers , be they scribblers or orators . BOSTON , U . S ., 4 th May 1883 .

Installation Meetings, &C.

INSTALLATION MEETINGS , & c .

— : o : — UNITED LODGE , No . 697 . THE installation festival of this Lodge was held at Colchester on Wednesday , May 16 th , and passed off most successfully . The Lodge was opened at 3 p . m . by Bro . Thomas G . Mills W . M ., when two brethren were raised . Bro . G . A . Eustace ( W . M . elect ) S . W . was then introduced and duly installed as W . M . for the ensuing year , the ceremony being performed by Bro . Col . Somerville Burney P . G . D * P . M . and also one of the Fonudors of the Lodge . At its conclusion ,

the new W . M . appointed and invested his Officers for the ensuing year as follows : —Bros . C . D . Marshall S . W ., Eoberfc Smith J . W . Rev . W . Morgan Jones Chaplain , Thomas Enstaco P . M . P . P . G . S . B . Treasurer , Thomas Eix P . M . P . P . G . S . B . Secretary , S . H . Ellis S . B . A . S . B . Sparling J . D ., E . Clowes W . M . 650 M . C ., J . T . Bailoy I . G ., Simon Munson Tyler , G . P . Hazoll and J . G . Eenshaw Stewards . A

vote of thanks was uuanimously passed to Bro . Col . Burney , for bi 8 kindness in attending and performing the ceremony of the day . The sum of five guineas was voted towards theBrightlingseaEelief Fund . The annual banquet followed at the George Hotel , when an excellent repast was served A la Busse by Mrs . Gniver . At its conclusion tho usual Loyal and Masonic toasts were given and responded to , and Bro 3 . C . Osmond , A . F . Amos , A . S . B . Sparling , C . D . Marshall , & c-i

kindly contributed some capital vocal music between the toasts . Among those present either in Lodge , or at the festive board , were Bros . H . S . Somerville-Bnrney P . G . D ., Thomas J . Balling P . M . 51 P . G . Sec , Eev . E . H . Crato P . M . 697 P . P . G . C , Thomas Eix P . M . Secretary 697 P . P . G . S . B ., Thomas Eustace P . M . Treasurer 697 P . P . G . S . B ., E . Clowes W . M . 650 , W . Sowman W . M . 51 , A . Gosling P . M . 697 , Eev . A . Pcrtweo W . M . 433 P . P . G . C , J . J . Cavil W . M . 1312 , J . & Wiseman P . M . and Secretary 433 P . P . G . A . D . C ., C . Osmond J . W « 61