Lodge Histories.

the first entry in the earliest Minute , of the 10 th March 1784 , when the Lodge met at the White Lyon , Prince ' s Stairs , Rotherhithe , and was presided over by a visitor , Bro . Scurry , of the King ' s Arms Lodge . On the 15 th

September following the Lodge was removed to the Bull's Head , Rotherhithe , and the Wardens appear to have been appointed . The initiation fee at this period was £ 2 7 s , and the annual subscription 12 s , while among the expenditure

of the year was two guineas for rough and perfect ashlars , with triangle and blocks , and twelve aprons . It was no uncommon practice in these times to confer two or three

degrees on a candidate at one meeting , although , says the compiler , in most instances it was foreigners or seafaring candidates who were thus advanced . There are the usual

references to half-yearly elections of Master and other Officers , as was customary at this period , and in 1778 , we find a Minute that " Bro . John Noble was proposed to become a member of this Lodge , which was second'd

and third'd , and carried nem con . " The financial state of fche Lodge was not very bright , the balance due to Treasurer at end of 1785 being -613 19 s 8 H ; at end of 1786 , £ 12 Os 2 d ; and at end of 1787 £ 7 9 s Of d .

, The income for the year 1786 was £ 18 3 s 8 | d . In 1788 the Lodge was removed to the White Lion , and in 1790

to the Jamaica House , Bermondsey . During this latter year there were no initiates , and the Lodge appears to have been on the decline , a motion being carried at the last meeting of the year that all members who did not pay up

their arrears be discontinued till they were paid . The following year the chair was declared vacant , throngh the non-attendance of the Master , and a Brother Alexander

was elected m his stead . This brother appears to have done well . He was re-elected to the office , and initiations seem to have been very numerous , no less than twenty - nine gentlemen being received during the two years the

Lodge waa under the rule of Brother Alexander . On the minutes of 1792 appears a proposition that a Masters '

Lodge be held every fifth Tuesday , and during this year the first record of a Lod ge Festival is noted . The dinner was provided by the two Wardens ; each member paying 5 s , and each visitor 6 s 6 d ; thirty-two brethren were

present , and the sum realised was £ 9 2 s , leaving a profit of 4 s 7 d . During this year a Tyler ' s jewel was presented to the Lodge , which jewel is still used by the Tyler on duty . The initiation fee was raised to £ 2 12 s Gd in 1791 ,

and another 5 s added to it the following year , the latter increase appearing to be the result of agreeing to a suggestion by the then Grand Secretary , in reference to a request made by the Governors of the Cumberland School

( the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls of to-day ) , that a sum be set aside for the Charity from each " making " fee . In December 1794 it was resolved that all candidates be

received or rejected by ballot , and that a majority either way should determine . In 1795 the Lodgo agreed to contribute any proportionable expense attending the prosecution of three persons who intruded themselves into the

Peace and Plenty Lodge , No . 67 , but little , if anything , appears to have been done in the matter . In 1796 the Lodge removed twice , on the last occasion to the Gregorian Arms , Bermondsey , where it continued until 1800 . The

fees were again increased in 1797 to the following amounts : annual subscription £ 1 Is , payable quarterly ; seafaring and country members 6 s per annum , and 2 s on Lodge nights when presentand 8 s on the feast day when

, they dine ; initiation , £ 3 3 s ; joining , 3 s Gd . Every regular member had to pay 6 s on feast day if ho dined . The minntes of 1799 record the swearing of tho register

as directed by the Act of Parliament passed at thafc time . The Lodge removed to the Ship ou the Wall in 1800 , and to the Lyon and Castle , Bermondsey , the following year . At this point of the Lod ^ e History Brother Newton has

inserted a copy of the certificate formerly issued by the Sincerity Lodge , the use of which certificates were discontinued by Grancl Lodgo resolvingin 1818 "that no

, , Lod go shall grant a private certificate , except for the purpose of obtaining a Grand Lodge certificate . " In 1806 five shillings was added to the initiation fee towards

assisting the Charity School ; a present of one guinea was ™ adc to one brother , and seven shillings voted to another , K ' he being in distress . " In 1807 appears a resolution that no liquor be called for at the Lodge expense until the

-R . W . M . takes the chair , ancl that after the Lodge is opened no Br . charge his glass until so ordered by the R . W . M . " At fi , ] ater meeting the same year ifc was resolved that neither wine nor punch be drunk at this Lodge before

Lodge Histories.

supper , " and about the same time the subscription was raised to seven shillings per quarter . In 1808 it was resolved that three black balls on tbe ballot should exclude a candidate . In 1811 a letter was received from

the Committee at Lloyds , soliciting aid in support of the British prisoners in France . This was immediately responded to , with a collection of £ 2 15 s 7 d , and at the next meeting a further sum of £ 2 16 s 6 d was collected for the

same purpose . In 1812 is recorded the initiation of Bro . James Norris , who was well known to a large circle of Freemasons for many years , as filling the office of Warden at the Roval Masonic Benevolent Institntion for some time

prveious to his death , which took place on 21 st December 1884 ; he then being 95 years of age . The Lodge moved back to the Jamaica House in 1814 , and during that year

voted various sums in charity . In 1816 a widow ' s petition to the Lodge of Benevolence was signed—the first mentioned on the minutes—with the gratifying result that a donation of £ 10 was made . In 1820 there is a minute

limiting fche powers of fche Lodge of Instruction , which for some years previously appears to have been in existence . It was , indeed , the custom to propose members at the Lodo-e of Instruction for initiation at the following regular

Lodge meeting . The minute of 1820 enjoins that such Lodge of Instruction be confined solely and exclusively for the purposes of Masonic Instruction , and that the mother Lodge shall not be liable for any expense thereby .

A collection was made in 1822 on behalf of a brother , and the money expended in goods , which were sent fco him at the Cape of Good Hope , where he then resided . In 1827 a communication was received from tbe Grand Master ,

requesting the presence of the Master and Wardens at the laying of the foundation stone of the Caledonian Asylum , Holloway , which invitation was duly attended to . For some years the Lodge now made but little progress . Elections and installations were postponed , new members

were but few , and the attendance of brethren seldom more than five or six at any meeting , and sometimes only three or four . This went on until 1837 , when an effort appears to have been made to revive the Lodge . It was removed to the Kings' Arms , Elephant Stairs , Rotherhithe , and

several brethren became joining members . The fees were raised : Initiation to £ 4 14 s 6 d , and joining to 10 s , exclusive of Grand Lodge dues or refreshment of any kind ; still the Lodge does not appear to have made progress .

The quarters were removed , first to the Angel , then to 144 High-street , Wapping , then to Tower Shades , Tower Hill , and nexfc to the Green Man and Bell , Lower Thames Street . In 1841 reference is made to a

communication from Grand Lodge as to the publication of the proceedings afc Lodge Meetings , opinions being much divided as to the propriety of issuing the Freemasons' Quarterly Review or similar publications . Two gentlemen were initiated in

1842 , making but three since 1828 , a period of 16 years , but there were three the following year , and a general revival of the Lodge appears to have set in . In 1844 , first mention is made of the Royal Masonic Annuity Fund , the

balloting paper , consisting of 48 votes , being then disposed of . In 1845 , the Lodge removed to Sfc . Katharine Dock Hotel , staying there until 1848 , when it took up quarters at the Crooked Billet , Tower Hill . From thence it removed , in

1857 , to the Cheshire Cheese Tavern , Crutched Friars , where it remained until 1869 , when it migrated to the Guildhall Tavern , Gresham Street , where the meetings are now held . Bro . Dovey , who is still a member of the

Lodge , was initiated in 1846 , during which year arrangements were made for a summer outing , the members o £ this Lodge uniting wifch those of Friendship , No . 248 , and Nepfcure , No . 22 , in a trip to Gravesend . In 1850 the

Worshipful Master offered his services as a Steward on behalf of the Girls' School , while the Treasurer signified his intention of being * " one of fche Stewards at the Festival for the United Charities . " In 1853 a testimonial was

presented to Bro . Mortleman , on his completing his 50 th year of membership , the testimonial taking the Form of a handsome snuff box , presented , in the name of the ladies of the members , afc the Summer

Festival of the Lodge , held at the Roebuck , Woodford . Iu 1859 Brother " pendlebury , the present Assistant Grand Secretary , who was then under age , was initiated , soecial sanction ' beiny obtained from the Grand Master , on

account of his being about to leave England for India . The death of Bro . Mortleman , to whom we have already referred , is recorded in I 860 ; for some years previous to this the Lod ^ e had rendered him assi stance , both from