Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Grand Lodge Of Ireland And The "Antient" Grand Lodge Of England.
declared "duly qualified for the office of Grand Secretary , " was unanimously elected over his solitary competitor , Bro . John Morris , Past Master of No . 5— " installed ( in the Ancient Manner ) " by the presiding oficer assisted by Bro . Morgan and the Masters present , proclaimed , and saluted , and at once received the books , papers , Src , pertaining to his new
office . On this day Bro . Dermott had been a member of the " Antient Society " for a brief time only , and therefore the knowledge he exhibited of the Ritual of Initiation , Passing , Installation , & c , and of the General Regulations can have been derived only—or at all events must have been derived principally—from the work he had done as member and Master of
Lodge No . 26 , Dublin . But it is not necessary to lay any great stress on the circumstances of this meeting , and the inference to be drawn from them , in the teeth of the overwhelming testimony which is to be found in later minutes . It is impossible , indeed , that evidence more direct and convincing can be obtained of the justice of Bro . CRAWLEY ' theory than is
furnished in the minutes of the Grand Committee ol the 24 th June , 1 752 , when Bro . Dermott , [ having been re-installed Grand Secretary , " repeated the whole ceremony of Instating Grand , Ike , in the manner which he had
learned from Brother Edward Spratt , Esq ., the celebrated Grand Secretary of Ireland , " and " the long recital " of which , we are told , " gave great satisfaction to the audience , many of which who never had an opportunity of hearing the like before . "
At the meeting of Grand Committee on the 2 nd September , 1752 , after the transaction of certain business , it was " Resolved that this Grand Committee shall be formed immediately into a Working Lodge of Master Masons in Order to hear a Lecture from the Grand Secretary , Laurence Dermott . The Lodge was Open'd in Ancient form of Grand Lodge and
every part of Real freemasonry was traced and explained : except the Royal Arch . " In the minutes of the Gth December , 1752 , in the course of a discussion relating to certain MSS . said to have been in possession of Bro . John Morgan , we read as follows : " It was further said that many Manuscripts were lost amongst the lodges lately Modernized where a vestige
of the Ancient Craft was not suffered to be revived or practized . And that it was for this reason so many of them withdrew from Lodges ( under the Modern Sanction ) to support the true Ancient System . That they found the freemasons from Ireland and Scotland had been initiated in the very same manner as themselves , which confirm'd their system and practice as
rig ht and just . Without which none could be deemed legal , though possessed of all the books and papers on Earth . " On the 24 th June , 1755 , Grand Master Vaughan in the chair , " the Grand Secretary was Order'd to examine the Officers ' of particular Lodges as to their Abilities in Installing their successors , upon which examination it was thought necessary to
Order the said Secretary to attend the installation of several Lodges , which the G . S . promised to perform . " On the 24 th June , 1756 , a similar order was made , when the G . Secretary " declared many of them were incapable of performance" and it was "Order'd that" he " shall attend such diffident lodges and having obtain'd
the consent of the members of the said lodges he shall Solemnly Install and invest the several Officers according to the Antient Custom of the Craft . " On the 2 nd March , 1757 , Orders were given " that a General Meeting of Master Masons shall be held in this Room "—at the Five Bells— " on the 13 th Inst' -, in Order to compare and Regulate several
things ( relative to the Antient Craft ) , which cannot be committed to writing ; " and at the same time it was ordered that " the Masters ol the Royal Arch shall also be summoned to meet , in Order to regulate things relative to that most valluable branch of the Craft . " Accordingly , on the 13 th March when , Senior Grand Warden Nisbett was in the chair ; " The
Grand Lodge being Open'd according to the Antient Custom , & c , the cause of meeting was declared , and the G ' - Secretary call'd out a certain number of the Masters to attend the Grand Master ' s Orders , and work the Lodge . In the course of this business the G > Secretary , Lau . Dermott , Traced and explained the i > ' , 2 and 3 part of the Antient Craft , and
settled many things ( then disputed ) to the entire satisfaction of all the brethren present , who faithfully promised to adhere strictly to the Ancient system , and to cultivate the same in their several lodges . " To this minute are appended the names of 46 brethren belonging to 25 lodges . In the minutes of the 24 th lune following , with Uro . W . Holford , D . G . M ., in
the chair , we read that "Some of the Masters of Lodges beg'd that the Grand Lodge might be form'd into a Grand Procession , and that the Grand Secretary should exhibit the Method of Installing Grand Master , Jtc . for the Instruction of the several lodges present . " This was accordingly done , and " the whole of the ceremonies ( except one which cannot be written )
were perform'd with General Satisfaction , " and after an excellent speech from the Dep . Grand Master " the Officers of 36 lodges with the Grand Officers Return'd thanks to the Grand Secretary for his most excellent behaviour on this day , " the minute being attested b y W . Holford , D . G . M , It is not , however , necessary to go on multiplying this class of evidence .
From what we have furnished already , it is clear as the sun at high noon ( 1 ) that four months after his appointment as Grand Secretary of the " Antient " Masons of England , Bro . Dermott repeated the ceremony of installation " in the manner which he had learn'd from Bro . Edward Spratt , Esq ., the celebrated Grand Secretary of Ireland , " and ( 2 ) that on several
occasions during the five years that followed , he " traced and explained " the various parts of Freemasonry , settling many matters then in dispute to the entire satisfaction of his audience , and instructed the Masters of lodges in the work of installing their successors in office . In this , then , we have
proof , direct and overwhelming , that the Ritual of Ireland was adopted by the " Antient" Society of English Masons . What further we have to say on this or other branches of Bro . CRAW LEV ' theory must be reserved for another a > tide .
United Grand Lodge Of England.
UNITED GRAND LODGE OF ENGLAND .
The following is the business to be transacted in Grand Lodge on Wednesday next , the 5 th inst . 1 . The minutes of the Quarterly Communication of the 6 th March for confirmation . 2 . The minutes of the Grand Festival of the 24 th April for confirmation . 3 . Appointment and investiture of President of the Board of General
Purposes . 4 . Election of members of the Board of General Purposes . 5 . Election of members of the Colonial Board . 6 . Election of Grand Lodge Auditor . 7 . Election of members for the Committee of Management of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution for Aged Freemasons and Widows of
Freemasons . 8 . Report of the Board of Benevolence for the last quarter , in which are recommendations for the following grants , viz .: A brother of the Windsor Castle Lodge , No . 77 i ,. Windsor ... £ 50 o o A brother of the Lewis Lodge , No . 11 S 5 , Wood Green 50 o o
A brother of the Hindpool Lodge , No . 1225 , Barrow-in-Furness ... 50 o o A brother of the Amherst Lodge , No . 1223 , Westerham 50 o o A brother of the Israel Lodge , No . 2057 , London 50 o o A brother of the Yarborough Lodge , No . 554 , London 75 ° ° The widow of a brother of the Lodge of Fidelity , No . 3 , London 50 o o A brother of the Fowey Lodge , No . 977 , Fowey 5 ° ° °
9 . REPORT OF THE BOARD OV GENERAL PURPOSES . TO the United Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of England . The Board beg to report that , with the view of facilitating the correspondence with the several Grand Lodges in Germany , it is desirable that the Most Worshipful Grand Master be empowered to appoint as a Grand Officer in place of a
" Grand Secretary for German Correspondence , " an " Assistant Grand Secretary , for German Correspondence , " to rank immediately after the Assistant Grand Secretary , and the Board accordingly recommend that Rule 18 , Book of Constitutions be altered by substituting an Assistant Grand Secretary for German Correspondence for the words " a Grand Secretary for German Correspondence . "
The Board have further to report in compliance with the resolutions of Grand Lodge on the 6 th March last , viz . -. " That the Board of General Purposes be requested to submit to Grand Lodge proposals for the purpose of bringing the jurisdiction of the Colonial Board under that of the General Board , and unifying the affairs of the General Craft , as was the case before 1838 ; " that they recommend the following alterations in the Book of Constitutions : 1 . That Rule 254 be altered to read as follows :
The Board shall consist of the Grand Master , Pro Grand Master . Deputy Grand Master , the Grand Wardens of the year , the Grand Treasurer , the Grand Registrar , the Deputy Grand Registrar , a President . Past Presidents , the President of the Board of Benevolence , the Grand Director of Ceremonies , and twenty-four other members . 2 . That rule 255 be altered to read as follows :
The President and six of such other members shall be annually appointed by the Grand Master at the Quarterly Grand Lodge in June , and the Grand Lodge shall , on the same day elect the remaining 18 members from among the actual Masters and Past Masters of lodges . A Master and Past Master or more than one Past Master of the same lodge shall not be
elected on the same Board ; but this shall not disqualify any Past Master being a subscribing member and Master of another lodge , from being elected for and representing such other lodge as Master . 3 . That in Rule 256 the word elected be inserted before the word " Members . " 4 . That in Rule 271 the prefix sub before the word " Committees" in tinfirst line he omitted .
5 . That Rules 282 to 28 7 be repealed . 7 . That with the view of making more intelligible Rule 1311 , Ihe fallowing words be inserted between the words " have " and " served " in the fourth line , the words or previously lo Ihe installation of such Master shall have . S . That Rule 212 be altered by adding the words or has withdrawn as aforesaid .
The Board have to report that the following presentations have been made in the Library and Museum since the last meeting of Grand Lodge , all of which have been accepted with thanks .
TITLE OR OBJECT . BY WHOM PRESENTED . History of St . John the baptist Lodge , No . 3 y . ., Andrew Mope , P . M . No . yj . History of Washington Lodge , No . fit ) Pennsylvania | . Henry Williams , W . M . No . 59 . An Old Masonic Medal ( silver ) llarry N . Price , P . M ., itc . An Old Masonic Seal J . S . Haddon , P . P . G . W . Somerset . The " Moira " Apron K . H . K , Dyett , Sec . No . , iyj , Antigua . Engraved Portrait of Sir Matthew VV .
Ridley , Bart ., P . G . Master Sir M . W . Ridley , Bart . Facsimile of the " Hall " Medal Frederick Neild , W . M . No . 235 . The Gerrish Collection of Music William H . Gerrish , Boston , Mass . Selections from Sunny Memories John Chapman , P . P . G . O . Devon . Seven Masonic Prints C . II . Webb , P . M . No . 174 . Man Hunting in the Desert . ' ... Sir Charles Warren , G . C . M . C , & c .
The Board also submit a statement of the Grand Lodge accounts at the lasl meeting of the Finance Committee , held on l- ' riday , the 17 th day of Miy instant , showing a balance in the Bank of England ( Law Courts Branch ) ol , £ 7322 18 s . iod ., and in the hands of the Grand Secretary for petty cash , £ \« n , and for servants' wages , / 100 . ( Signed ) RICHARD LOVKI . AND LOVELAND , President .
Freemasons' Hall , London , W . C , 21 st May , 1895 . This being the last meeting of the present Board , it was resolved unanimously That the members of the Board of General Purposes desire to place on record their high appreciation of the skill , courtesy and ability displayed hy the President , Bro . Loveland Loveland , in presiding over their deliberations during the past year .
21 st May , 1895 . V . ERNF . ST POCOCK , Vice-President . 10 . NOTICES or MOTION . 1 . By Bro . J AI . BF . KT FAKNFIKI . D , P . Asst . G . D . of C . That the sum of / . ' 70 be given from the Fuud of General Purposes ; that the " money be placed in the hands of the Secretary of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution for Aged Freemasons and Widows of Freemasons , to supply the inmates of the Institution at Croydon with coals during tli' - winter months .
2 . By Bro . WILLIAM WOODWARD , P . M . 1920 . That a circular be issued from Grand Lodge setting forth the scheme s » g ' gtsted by him , under which the Freemasons of England would contribute to the Decoration Fund of St , Paul ' s Cathedral a sum sufficient for th * completion of the Cupola and Transepts , that the opinion of the Craft he ascertained through such circular , and that such steps be taken thereafter 1 " secure the end in view as may commend themselves to Grand Lodge .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Grand Lodge Of Ireland And The "Antient" Grand Lodge Of England.
declared "duly qualified for the office of Grand Secretary , " was unanimously elected over his solitary competitor , Bro . John Morris , Past Master of No . 5— " installed ( in the Ancient Manner ) " by the presiding oficer assisted by Bro . Morgan and the Masters present , proclaimed , and saluted , and at once received the books , papers , Src , pertaining to his new
office . On this day Bro . Dermott had been a member of the " Antient Society " for a brief time only , and therefore the knowledge he exhibited of the Ritual of Initiation , Passing , Installation , & c , and of the General Regulations can have been derived only—or at all events must have been derived principally—from the work he had done as member and Master of
Lodge No . 26 , Dublin . But it is not necessary to lay any great stress on the circumstances of this meeting , and the inference to be drawn from them , in the teeth of the overwhelming testimony which is to be found in later minutes . It is impossible , indeed , that evidence more direct and convincing can be obtained of the justice of Bro . CRAWLEY ' theory than is
furnished in the minutes of the Grand Committee ol the 24 th June , 1 752 , when Bro . Dermott , [ having been re-installed Grand Secretary , " repeated the whole ceremony of Instating Grand , Ike , in the manner which he had
learned from Brother Edward Spratt , Esq ., the celebrated Grand Secretary of Ireland , " and " the long recital " of which , we are told , " gave great satisfaction to the audience , many of which who never had an opportunity of hearing the like before . "
At the meeting of Grand Committee on the 2 nd September , 1752 , after the transaction of certain business , it was " Resolved that this Grand Committee shall be formed immediately into a Working Lodge of Master Masons in Order to hear a Lecture from the Grand Secretary , Laurence Dermott . The Lodge was Open'd in Ancient form of Grand Lodge and
every part of Real freemasonry was traced and explained : except the Royal Arch . " In the minutes of the Gth December , 1752 , in the course of a discussion relating to certain MSS . said to have been in possession of Bro . John Morgan , we read as follows : " It was further said that many Manuscripts were lost amongst the lodges lately Modernized where a vestige
of the Ancient Craft was not suffered to be revived or practized . And that it was for this reason so many of them withdrew from Lodges ( under the Modern Sanction ) to support the true Ancient System . That they found the freemasons from Ireland and Scotland had been initiated in the very same manner as themselves , which confirm'd their system and practice as
rig ht and just . Without which none could be deemed legal , though possessed of all the books and papers on Earth . " On the 24 th June , 1755 , Grand Master Vaughan in the chair , " the Grand Secretary was Order'd to examine the Officers ' of particular Lodges as to their Abilities in Installing their successors , upon which examination it was thought necessary to
Order the said Secretary to attend the installation of several Lodges , which the G . S . promised to perform . " On the 24 th June , 1756 , a similar order was made , when the G . Secretary " declared many of them were incapable of performance" and it was "Order'd that" he " shall attend such diffident lodges and having obtain'd
the consent of the members of the said lodges he shall Solemnly Install and invest the several Officers according to the Antient Custom of the Craft . " On the 2 nd March , 1757 , Orders were given " that a General Meeting of Master Masons shall be held in this Room "—at the Five Bells— " on the 13 th Inst' -, in Order to compare and Regulate several
things ( relative to the Antient Craft ) , which cannot be committed to writing ; " and at the same time it was ordered that " the Masters ol the Royal Arch shall also be summoned to meet , in Order to regulate things relative to that most valluable branch of the Craft . " Accordingly , on the 13 th March when , Senior Grand Warden Nisbett was in the chair ; " The
Grand Lodge being Open'd according to the Antient Custom , & c , the cause of meeting was declared , and the G ' - Secretary call'd out a certain number of the Masters to attend the Grand Master ' s Orders , and work the Lodge . In the course of this business the G > Secretary , Lau . Dermott , Traced and explained the i > ' , 2 and 3 part of the Antient Craft , and
settled many things ( then disputed ) to the entire satisfaction of all the brethren present , who faithfully promised to adhere strictly to the Ancient system , and to cultivate the same in their several lodges . " To this minute are appended the names of 46 brethren belonging to 25 lodges . In the minutes of the 24 th lune following , with Uro . W . Holford , D . G . M ., in
the chair , we read that "Some of the Masters of Lodges beg'd that the Grand Lodge might be form'd into a Grand Procession , and that the Grand Secretary should exhibit the Method of Installing Grand Master , Jtc . for the Instruction of the several lodges present . " This was accordingly done , and " the whole of the ceremonies ( except one which cannot be written )
were perform'd with General Satisfaction , " and after an excellent speech from the Dep . Grand Master " the Officers of 36 lodges with the Grand Officers Return'd thanks to the Grand Secretary for his most excellent behaviour on this day , " the minute being attested b y W . Holford , D . G . M , It is not , however , necessary to go on multiplying this class of evidence .
From what we have furnished already , it is clear as the sun at high noon ( 1 ) that four months after his appointment as Grand Secretary of the " Antient " Masons of England , Bro . Dermott repeated the ceremony of installation " in the manner which he had learn'd from Bro . Edward Spratt , Esq ., the celebrated Grand Secretary of Ireland , " and ( 2 ) that on several
occasions during the five years that followed , he " traced and explained " the various parts of Freemasonry , settling many matters then in dispute to the entire satisfaction of his audience , and instructed the Masters of lodges in the work of installing their successors in office . In this , then , we have
proof , direct and overwhelming , that the Ritual of Ireland was adopted by the " Antient" Society of English Masons . What further we have to say on this or other branches of Bro . CRAW LEV ' theory must be reserved for another a > tide .
United Grand Lodge Of England.
UNITED GRAND LODGE OF ENGLAND .
The following is the business to be transacted in Grand Lodge on Wednesday next , the 5 th inst . 1 . The minutes of the Quarterly Communication of the 6 th March for confirmation . 2 . The minutes of the Grand Festival of the 24 th April for confirmation . 3 . Appointment and investiture of President of the Board of General
Purposes . 4 . Election of members of the Board of General Purposes . 5 . Election of members of the Colonial Board . 6 . Election of Grand Lodge Auditor . 7 . Election of members for the Committee of Management of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution for Aged Freemasons and Widows of
Freemasons . 8 . Report of the Board of Benevolence for the last quarter , in which are recommendations for the following grants , viz .: A brother of the Windsor Castle Lodge , No . 77 i ,. Windsor ... £ 50 o o A brother of the Lewis Lodge , No . 11 S 5 , Wood Green 50 o o
A brother of the Hindpool Lodge , No . 1225 , Barrow-in-Furness ... 50 o o A brother of the Amherst Lodge , No . 1223 , Westerham 50 o o A brother of the Israel Lodge , No . 2057 , London 50 o o A brother of the Yarborough Lodge , No . 554 , London 75 ° ° The widow of a brother of the Lodge of Fidelity , No . 3 , London 50 o o A brother of the Fowey Lodge , No . 977 , Fowey 5 ° ° °
9 . REPORT OF THE BOARD OV GENERAL PURPOSES . TO the United Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of England . The Board beg to report that , with the view of facilitating the correspondence with the several Grand Lodges in Germany , it is desirable that the Most Worshipful Grand Master be empowered to appoint as a Grand Officer in place of a
" Grand Secretary for German Correspondence , " an " Assistant Grand Secretary , for German Correspondence , " to rank immediately after the Assistant Grand Secretary , and the Board accordingly recommend that Rule 18 , Book of Constitutions be altered by substituting an Assistant Grand Secretary for German Correspondence for the words " a Grand Secretary for German Correspondence . "
The Board have further to report in compliance with the resolutions of Grand Lodge on the 6 th March last , viz . -. " That the Board of General Purposes be requested to submit to Grand Lodge proposals for the purpose of bringing the jurisdiction of the Colonial Board under that of the General Board , and unifying the affairs of the General Craft , as was the case before 1838 ; " that they recommend the following alterations in the Book of Constitutions : 1 . That Rule 254 be altered to read as follows :
The Board shall consist of the Grand Master , Pro Grand Master . Deputy Grand Master , the Grand Wardens of the year , the Grand Treasurer , the Grand Registrar , the Deputy Grand Registrar , a President . Past Presidents , the President of the Board of Benevolence , the Grand Director of Ceremonies , and twenty-four other members . 2 . That rule 255 be altered to read as follows :
The President and six of such other members shall be annually appointed by the Grand Master at the Quarterly Grand Lodge in June , and the Grand Lodge shall , on the same day elect the remaining 18 members from among the actual Masters and Past Masters of lodges . A Master and Past Master or more than one Past Master of the same lodge shall not be
elected on the same Board ; but this shall not disqualify any Past Master being a subscribing member and Master of another lodge , from being elected for and representing such other lodge as Master . 3 . That in Rule 256 the word elected be inserted before the word " Members . " 4 . That in Rule 271 the prefix sub before the word " Committees" in tinfirst line he omitted .
5 . That Rules 282 to 28 7 be repealed . 7 . That with the view of making more intelligible Rule 1311 , Ihe fallowing words be inserted between the words " have " and " served " in the fourth line , the words or previously lo Ihe installation of such Master shall have . S . That Rule 212 be altered by adding the words or has withdrawn as aforesaid .
The Board have to report that the following presentations have been made in the Library and Museum since the last meeting of Grand Lodge , all of which have been accepted with thanks .
TITLE OR OBJECT . BY WHOM PRESENTED . History of St . John the baptist Lodge , No . 3 y . ., Andrew Mope , P . M . No . yj . History of Washington Lodge , No . fit ) Pennsylvania | . Henry Williams , W . M . No . 59 . An Old Masonic Medal ( silver ) llarry N . Price , P . M ., itc . An Old Masonic Seal J . S . Haddon , P . P . G . W . Somerset . The " Moira " Apron K . H . K , Dyett , Sec . No . , iyj , Antigua . Engraved Portrait of Sir Matthew VV .
Ridley , Bart ., P . G . Master Sir M . W . Ridley , Bart . Facsimile of the " Hall " Medal Frederick Neild , W . M . No . 235 . The Gerrish Collection of Music William H . Gerrish , Boston , Mass . Selections from Sunny Memories John Chapman , P . P . G . O . Devon . Seven Masonic Prints C . II . Webb , P . M . No . 174 . Man Hunting in the Desert . ' ... Sir Charles Warren , G . C . M . C , & c .
The Board also submit a statement of the Grand Lodge accounts at the lasl meeting of the Finance Committee , held on l- ' riday , the 17 th day of Miy instant , showing a balance in the Bank of England ( Law Courts Branch ) ol , £ 7322 18 s . iod ., and in the hands of the Grand Secretary for petty cash , £ \« n , and for servants' wages , / 100 . ( Signed ) RICHARD LOVKI . AND LOVELAND , President .
Freemasons' Hall , London , W . C , 21 st May , 1895 . This being the last meeting of the present Board , it was resolved unanimously That the members of the Board of General Purposes desire to place on record their high appreciation of the skill , courtesy and ability displayed hy the President , Bro . Loveland Loveland , in presiding over their deliberations during the past year .
21 st May , 1895 . V . ERNF . ST POCOCK , Vice-President . 10 . NOTICES or MOTION . 1 . By Bro . J AI . BF . KT FAKNFIKI . D , P . Asst . G . D . of C . That the sum of / . ' 70 be given from the Fuud of General Purposes ; that the " money be placed in the hands of the Secretary of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution for Aged Freemasons and Widows of Freemasons , to supply the inmates of the Institution at Croydon with coals during tli' - winter months .
2 . By Bro . WILLIAM WOODWARD , P . M . 1920 . That a circular be issued from Grand Lodge setting forth the scheme s » g ' gtsted by him , under which the Freemasons of England would contribute to the Decoration Fund of St , Paul ' s Cathedral a sum sufficient for th * completion of the Cupola and Transepts , that the opinion of the Craft he ascertained through such circular , and that such steps be taken thereafter 1 " secure the end in view as may commend themselves to Grand Lodge .