History Of R.A. Masonry In The Province Of Lincolnshire.

held in tbe City of Lincoln , most respectfully solicit that in the espr . else of vonr prerogative , VOQ will ho pleased ' oassent toa Grand Sunt of R . A . Masons for tho Province of Lincolnshire . We beg respectfully to represent , that in coospqnence of the long vacancy of snch office , which has not been filled since the decease of tho Rov . Matthew Barnett , great irregularities hive occurred in the Province . We would

only refer as an example to the Petition lately presented to tho Grand Chapter for a Charter anthorisiog a Chapter to be attached to thf Lodge 339 at Boston , whore several of the signatures were those of persons who had never been registered as Companions in tho books of the Grand Chapter , and where one of tho intended petitioners wa « fonnd to be a Brother who had nev r been exalted in any Chapter

whatever , nor do vre believe this to bo a solitary case , for there sire Members of the Fraternity of Freemasons wearing R . A . Jewels in this Province who are unable to give any proof whatever of having been exalted . We might name other instances , but we are anxious that the irregularities shonld be corrected , not to bring any accusation against Brethren and Companions . We therefore pray that you will be

p leased to provide tho remedy by appointing a Grand Superintendent for this Province , and humbly suggest as a proper person to be appointed to that office Comp . the Rev . George Oliver , D . D ., Vicar of Soopwick , near this City , a subscribing member and past First Principal of this Chapter , who was for many years the First Principal of the Aletheia * Chapter at Great Grimsby , in this Province .

Given in open Chapter , No . 374 , this 20 th day of February , 1844 . ( Signed ) Robprt Goodacre , 55 and 374 . Z . J . Osmond Dakeyne , 366 nnd 374 , H . Rd . Sutton Harvey , Past H ., ns J . 1844 . Sept . 5 th . At a Chapter held this day it was proposed that in consequence of Comp . Dr . Oliver-retiring from the active dnties ol

Freemasonry , on account of advanced age , a memorial be forwarded to the M . E . tbe First Grand Principal withdrawing the previous recommendation , and suhstitnting the name of the then First Princi . pal of the Chapter of Concord , viz ., Comp . the Rev . John O mond Dakeyne , M . A ., Rector of South Hykeham , near this City , and Inenm . bent of St . Benedict ' s , Lincoln , a Magistrate of the County , exalted

in the TJniversityt of Cambridge , about 1824 , one to whom the Craft has been much indebted for his zeal and activity since he came to reside in this City , having been principally instrumental in the revival of R . A . Masonry in the Province , a sincere lover of the Royal Art , and well skilled in the Noble Sciences , particularly in those workings established by the last Grand Chapter of Promulgation .

1846 . Mar . 30 . At an extraordinary Convocation , a Patent superscribed by the Three Grand Principals , and subscribed by the Grand Scribe , was read in open Chapter ( the Companions standing ) , nominating and appointing Comp . the Rev . John Osmond Dakeyne , past Z ., as Grand Supt . of R . A . Masonry for the Province of Lincolnshire .

The following letter waa also read and ordered to be entered on the minntes : — "Freemasons' Hall , London , 27 th March , 1846 . " E . Comp . — I have to acquaint yon that the ME . First Principal of the Supreme Grand Chapter of R . A . Masons has been pleased to

appoint the Rev . John O .-miond Dakeyne , of the City of Lincoln , to be Grand Supt . for Lincolnshire , to whom therefore yon will in future address all your communications relating to the Order j excepting the Returns of your Chapter , applications for Certificates , and other matters specially directed by the Regulations of the Order to be made to the Grand Scribe E .. and which are to be forwarded to me .

" ( Signed W . H . WHITE , G . Scribe E . "The Principal of Chapter of Concord , 374 . " 1846 . May 28 . The Principals and Companions of the Chapter of Concord accompanied the G . aud Supt . to pay a visit to the Chapter of St . Botolph at Boston .

1846 . July 22 . Special Convocation . Tn the minntes of this Chapter the first mention occurs of P . G . Chapter . "The Chapter was then resolved into a Provincial Grand Chapter , " when the following Comps . were appointed to hold office I in the Province .

M . E . Comp . E . A . Bromhead - - P . G . H . Comp . J . Middleton . . . P . GR . „ R . Goodacre - . - P . G . SE . „ E . F . Broadbent - . - P . G . N . „ R . Taylor . . . P . G . P . S . „ Osborne .... P . G . O . „ Harrison .... P . G . S . B .

1847 . July 20 . A Provincial Grand Chapter was summoned to meet at the County Assembly Rooms , Lincoln .

PRESENTM . E . Comp . the Rev . J . 0 . Dakeyne . P . G . Snpt . „ „ E . A . Bromhead . . P . G . H . Comp . Rt . Goodarre - - - P . G . S E . „ E . F . Broadbent . . . P . G . S . N .

„ Ralph Tavlor - . - P . G . P . S . „ John Middleton - . - P . G . Reg . „ .... P . G . St . B . „ Osborne - P . G . O . „ Johnson „ J . Stark . . P . Z ., Humber Ch ., Hull .

History Of R.A. Masonry In The Province Of Lincolnshire.

Tho minntes of the proceedings of this Chapter are not forthoom . ¦ ng . Owing to tho removal of the Rev . J . 0 . Dakeyno from the connty ¦ nrao time in 1817-8 , the office of P . G . Supt . appears to have again become vacant , and at a Chapter held September 19 th , 1848 , it was

¦ irdered — " That Scriho E . do communicate with tho Grand Scribes on the -mbj"Cf of aopoinUn ? a new P . G . Snpt . for Lincolnshire . " 1848 . Nov . 14 . A special Chapter was convened to receive a oommnnicntion relative to this appointment , and M . E . Comp . E . A .

Rromhpad P . G . H ., reported tho resnlt o ? an interview with M . E . the Right Hon . the Earl of Yarborough , Grind H . Depnty Grand Master > f Encrland , and Provincial Grand Master for Lincolnshire , in which hat M . E . and Exalted Comp . had expressed his willingness to accept the appointment if snch appeared to be desirable to the Comoanions

generally , and conducive to the interests of R . A . Masonry in this Province . A resolution to that effect having been carried unanimously , rhe Scribe E . ( being also Prov . Grand H . ) was authorized to communicate to his Lordship in the usual manner this expression of feeling , and to take snob stops as might be requisite to secure tho

npnointmont of his Lordship consistent with the regulations of the Order . 1849 . That this appointment was dnlv made appears from tho minutes of the Chapter hold July 17 th , 1849 , when a Dispensation ,

" From the Right Hon . the Earl of Yarborongh , Grand Supt . for the Province of Lincolnshire , for exalting Bro . Charles Mann as a serving Companion " Was read in open Chapter , a copy of the Dispensation being inserted in the Minutes . *

1851 . Sep . 30 . A Special Convocation met for the purpose of making arrangements for the Provincial Grand Chanter on the 27 th October next , for the enthronement of tho Right Hon . the Earl of Yarborough , Charles Anderson Worsley Pelham , as the Provincial

Grand Snpt . for Lincolnshire . Comp . Bromhead , as P . G . H ., stated what had been done , and it was agreed that all the furniture , jewels , & o ., belonging to the Chapter of Concord be lent to the P . G . Chapter for the occasion .

1851 . Oct . 27 . At a Special Convocation held at the County Assembly Rooms , Lincoln , the Right Hon . the Earl of Yarborough was duly enthroned as the P . G . Snpt . for Lincolnshire . "The Principals having vacated their chairs to the respective Officers of the P . G . Chapter , the business of the Convocation was carried on and completed by them .

" ( Signed ) CHAS . NAIRNE Z . " 1856 . Feb . 19 . M . E . Comp . Chas . Nairne P . Z ., communicated to this Chapter his appointment by the M . E . Provincial Grand Sapfc ., as his " Deputy Snpt . " for this Province ; the appointment being dated the 22 nd day of August 1855 .

The present Provincial Grand Chapter was constituted in 1875 , when the M . E . Comp . William Henry Smyth , of E'kington Hall , near Louth , was appointed Prov . Grand Superintendent ( the date of his Patent being Mar . 25 , 1875 ) . He wns duly installed and enthroned at

Lincoln , on the 19 th Angus ' ; , 1875 , by the M . E . Comp . John Pearson Bell , M . D , J . P ., Prov . Grand Superintendent for N . and E . Yorkshire . Prov . Grand Chapter at that time consisted of thirty-eight Members , all Subscribing Companions of one or other of the Five Chapters of the Province as follows : —

St . Botolph ' s 272 ... 8 Sfc . James ' s ... 712 ... 5 Concord ... 297 ... 11 Oliver 792 ... 9 All Saints ... 422 ... 8

Three of these are subscribers to two Chapters . Tvventy-eighfc Members of this P . G . Chapter were exalted in this Province , ten having been exalted in ofch ° r Provinces prior to Private Chapters being formed in their own neighbourhood . The Private Chapters in the Province at that time consisted of the

five above named , taken \ n the order in which they appear on the Registry of the Supreme Grand Chapter of England . Taking them , however , in the order in whioh they were constituted , we find

1 st . Chapter of Concord , 297 , held in the City of Lincoln , founded Aug . 21 st , 1808 , and attached to the Witham Lodge , whose then nnmber on the Registry of Modern Lodges was 374 . Unfortunately the old Charter of this Chapter is lost . It was held continuously from 1808 to 1859 inclusive , but fell into abeyance from 1860 to 1868 .

Notes from old Register Book , Chapter of Concord , Dating from Aug . 21 st , 1808 . 1809 . May 2 . Name altered to Chapter of Independence , ( Concord ) already in the County . f

1817 . Ang . 21 st . Triple Triennial Festival . This seems to point to the probability of three Chapters then existing , the third perhaps was the Aletheia J at Great Grimsby , mentioned