Provincial Grand Lodge Of Sussex.

Bro . W . DAWES , Prov . G . S . W ., briefly seconded the proposition , remarking that he felt he could not interpose between the meeting and the very eloquent address which their Deputy Prov . Grand Master had made . Bro . the Rev . J . O . MCCAROGHER , P . P . G . Chap ., paid a brief tribute of respect to Sir Walter Burrell , his friend of 36 years' standing , and moved that a copy of the resolution should be forwarded to the Dowager Lady Burrell . The proposition , with this addition , was unanimously carried .

The roll of the lodges in the province was next called , every lodge being represented in the meeting . The reports of the Board of Finance , the Charities' Committee , the Committee for the especial June installation meeting , and of the Committee of the Burrell portrait presentation were presented and adopted . A letter from the Dowager Lady Burrell was read , acknowledging , in graceful terms , the receipt of the portrait of her late husband .

The PROV . GRAND SECRETARY read statistics showing the numerical strength of the province , and the progress made during the year ; the lodges now numbering logo brethren . Bro . R . Crosskey was unanimously re-elected Prov . Grand Treasurer for the ensuing year . The Deputy Prov . Grand Master then appointed the following brethren Provincial Grand Officers for the ensuing year , and invested those present

with the insignia of their respective offices , viz .: — Bro . George Smith , P . M . 38 ... ... ... Prov . G . S . W . „ C . W . Hudson , P . M . 315 ... ... ... Prov . G . J . W . „ Rev . J . Puttick ... ... ... Prov . G . Chap . .. Rev . L . D . Dowdall . 2 ' 7 i ... ... ... Prov . G . Chan .

„ R . Crosskey , P . M . 1306 ... ... ... Prov . G . Treas . „ Gerard Ford , P . M . 271 ... ... ... Prov . G . Reg . „ V . P . Freeman , P . M . 732 ... ... Prov . G . Sec , „ Reginald Blaker , P . M . 311 ... ... Prov . G . S . D . „ E . Broadbridge , P . M . 1636 , and P . M . 1797 ... Prov . G . J . D .

„ G . R . Lockyer , P . M . 315 ... ... Prov . G . S . of W „ H . Kemball Cook , P . M . 811 ... ... Prov . G . D . of C „ C . H . Haine , W . M . mo ... Prov . G . A . D . ofC „ J . Stedman , P . M . 1303 ... ... ... Prov . G . Swd . Br „ Herbert Woodhams , P . M . 1141 ... ... Prov . G . Std . Br

„ E . Collings , W . M . 56 ... ... ... Prov . G . Std . Br „ H . S . Gates , W . M . 1636 ... ... ... Prov . G . Org . „ B . Burfield , P . M . 1821 ... ... ... Prov . G . A . Sec . „ S . Peters , J . W . 311 , and P . M . 1821 ... ... Prov . G . Purst . „ B . Sargent , P . M . 1184 ... ... ... Prov . G . A . Purst .. W . H . Russell . P . M . ... ... ... -,

„ T . C . Woodman , P . M . 271 „ S . H . Soper , P . M . 732 ... ... ... „ „ ~ c . , „ E . Bamply de Warre , W . M . - 465 ... ... Prov * G ' Stwds * „ H . E . Price , W . M . 1466 ... „ J . J . Allinson , W . M . 1842

„ T . Hughes ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Tyler . All business being ended , the Provincial Grand Lodge was closed in due form , when the brethren adjourned to the banqueting room , where they sat down to an excellent banquet . In the absence of the W . Bro . John Henderson Scott , D . P . G . M ., the Prov . G . S . W ., Bro . George Smith , presided . The usual Masonic toasts were duly honoured . Those bearing reference to the Grand Lodge of England were given from the chair .

Bro . Col . SHADWELL H . CLERKE , G . S ., responded for " The Officers of Grand Lodge , Present and Past . " Bro . R . CROSSKEY , Prov . G . Treasurer , proposed " The R . W . the Prov . Grand Master of Sussex , his Royal Highness the Duke of Connaught , " remarking that his H . R . H ., though absent , had expressed great interest in the province over which he had recently been placed by his Royal brother , and was absent in India , serving his country .

Bro . HOMFRAY , Deputy G . M . of South Wales , proposed "The W . Deputy Prov . Grand Master , Bro . J . H . Scott , P . G . D ., and the Officers of Prov . Grand Lodge , Present and Past . " He expressed his sense of the privilege conferred upon him by having so important a toast entrusted to him . He regretted that Bro . Scott was not present , but he had heard of the wonderful thines he had done for Freemasonrv in Sussex , and he was sure

all present would join him in wishing their Deputy Provincial Grand Master such improved health as would again enable him to come amongst them as usual . Bro . V . P . FREEMAN , Provincial Grand Secretary , in acknowledging the toast , referred in kindly terms to the great interest Bro . Scott had taken in the province , to his work in framing the reports presented at the annual meeting , and to the great respect which his zealous labours in the cause of

Freemasonry for the last thirty years had inspired in all the brethren who were acquainted with him . He knew no one in Freemasonry who so thoroughl y deserved such an eloquent tribute of praise as that which Bro . Scott had himself paid to the memory of their late Prov . G . Master in his afternoon address .

After the toast of "The Visitors" had been acknowledged by Bro . MARMADUKE TENNANT , Bro . Col . SHADWELL H . CLERKE proposed " The Health of the Chairman . " The latter , briefly responding , and leaving to catch his train , gave up his seat to Bro . R . Crosskey . " The Masonic Benevolent Institutions , " proposed by Bro . J . M . KIDD , was acknowledged by Bro . F . BINCKES in an effective and characteristic speech .

Bro . Lieut .-General RANDOLPH , P . P . G . S . W ., gave " The Worshipful Masters of the Lodges in the Province . " Bro . LANGTON , W . M ., Royal Clarence , 271 , responded . After "The Stewards" had been proposed by Bro . R . CROSSKEY , and acknowledged by Bro . E . BROADBRIDGE , the Tyler ' s toast completed the programme .

During the evening some pleasing vocal selections were given by Miss Jessie Moore , Miss Darlington , Mr . C . T . West , and Mr . G . Marten tjarhng ; the duties of accompanist beinn- ably carried out by Bro . 'H . S . ^ ates , Prov . G . Org ., and Mr . C . T . West . An especial word of praise is due to the Stewards , Bros . H . Kemball H T ? £ ' naId Blaker , E . Broadbridge , G . R . Lockyer , C . H . Haine , ™* J ; , ^ > for tf > e admirable manner in which thev laboured to promote the pleasure and comfort of the large company .

Iii. Constitutions Of 1756.*

III . CONSTITUTIONS OF 1756 . *

The question of the revision of the Book of Constitutions , 173 S , came on for consideration by the Grand Lodge , June 27 , 1 754 ; the matter having frequently been introduced to the " Committee oi Charity" bv Bro . Jonathan Scott . It was resolved that the work should be revised " , " and the necessary Alterations and Additions made consistent with the Laws and Rules of Masonry . " A Committee was then elected , consisting of the Grand Master and the Grand Officers , George Payne and four other Past

Grand Masters , two Past D . G . M . ' s , one P . G . W ., the Rev . John Entick , M . A ., and two more brethren . The G . M . or D . G . M ., and "any three others of the Committee , " to form a quorum . New Rules were agreed to on . Nov . 29 , 1754 , and the Committee "desired further Time , " which was duly granted . At which Grand Lodge the new edition was first submitted , I cannot say , but probably at the Grand Feast of 1756 . The following is the title page , the size being quarto , as before :

The Constitutions of the Ancient and Honourable Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons , containing Their history , Charges , Regulations , & c , Collected and Digested By Order of the Grand Lodge from their old Records , For the Use of the Lodges , By James Anderson . Carefully Revised , Continued and Enlarged , with many Additions , By John Entick , M . A . London : Printed for Brother J . Scott , at the Black Swan in Pater-noster Row . MDCCLVI . In the Vulgar Year of Masonry , 5756 . "

The frontispiece ( " Boitard delin—B . Cole sculp , et dedit " ) represents the genius of Freemasonry seated on a throne , London being seen in the background , the dome of St . Paul ' s appearing as a prominent figure , and a portion of the old London Bridge being also visible . On tesselated pavement in the front are working tools scattered about , the arms of the Grand Lodge being depicted at the right of the figure . No motto is given . The plate

did duty also for the Constitutions of 1767 . The reverse of the title page is blank ; then follows a leaf , containing on one side what may be termed the dedication by the Committee— " To the Most Noble James Brydges , Marquis of Carnarvan , Grand Master of Masons , " and on the other side " The Sanction , " which is not dated , but signed by " Carnarvan , Grand Master ; ThomasManningham , Deputy Grand Master ; Horatio Tovsnshcnd

fames Dickson , Wardens ; and John Revis , Secretary . " In the "Sanction " it is stated that " the said necessary Additions and Alterations were made , and this new Book has been published wilh great Care and Fidelity from the Records of Masonry by our Brother the Rev . John Entick , M . A ., under the Inspection of our said Committee , " by which it will appear that Bro . Entick was virtually the " Author and Compiler" of the 1756

Constitutions , just as Dr . Anderson was of the previous editions . It is not a little amusing to find that the " Sanction " warns " all the brethren against being employed , or concerned in writing and spreading , printing and publishing , any other Books relating to Masons or Masonry , and against using any other Book in any Lodge as a Lodge Book , as they shall be answerable to the Grand Lodge ; " for Bro . J . Scott , the Printer and Publisher of the 1756

" Constitutions , " had for sale " The Pocket Companion and History of the Masons" of 1754 . which contained "An Abstract of their Laws , Constitutions , Customs , Charges , Orders , and Regulations , " and advertised it at the back of page 339 , which concludes the official volume . He also announced two pamphlets , being Masonic Sermons by the Rev . John Entick , preached respectively at St . Stephen , Walbrook , on June 25 th , 1750 ( second edition ) ,

and at the Poultry on October 26 th , 1752 , besides other non-Masonic works . This " Companion " is well known to this day , and was most popular for many years , a second edition being issued in 1759 , and a third in 1764 . The Rev . John Entick , who it seems was born in 1713 , brought out an "English Spelling Dictionary" in 1771 . He died in 1773 . His Masonic offices , so far as I can trace , may be brifly stated , viz ., Grand Steward in

1 755 , and Junior Grand Warden 1758 . This latter honour is not noted in the Grand Lodge Calendars , with lists of Grand Officers down to 1813 ; but the appointment was conferred by Lord Aberdour , G . M ., on February 14 , 1758 , vice Bro . Vandevelde , deceased , and Bro . Entick attended the Grand Lodge , April 14 th , 1758 , in that capacity , being duly noted as such in the later " Constitutions . "

Benjamin Cole ' s name will be familiar to brethren who , like myself , take pleasure in studying the beautifully engraved lists of lodges of the last century . These little gems are peculiar to the Grand Lodge of England and are exceedingly rare and valuable , a complete set being unknown . They range from 1723 to 1778 .

The History , partly Apocryphal , of " Masonry from the Creation , " begins at page 1 , of the consecutive pagination , Part 1 comprising VI . Chapters , the last referring to " Masonry in Scotland till the Union of the Crowns . " Part 2 begins with " the Union of the Crowns 1603 , to the Re * storation in 1660 , " Chap . I ., the second Chapter continuing the History to 1688 , the third being described as " Chap . II ., " in error at page 176 , which

takes the reader to the year 1721 , thus " overlapping , " as Bro . Gould appropriately expresses it , the period of transition . " No . IV . is brief , not going beyond the year 1724 , thc fifth continues the narrative to the end of 1729 ; the sixth to March 18 , 1734 ; the seventh and last covers the important period from March 30 , 1734 , to December 4 , 1755 . The lists of erased Lodges are often of special value , and the names of all the Grand Officers

being duly noted under each year , makes the volume a most useful compila < tion for those who have not the Calendars at hand . "The Old Charges " begin at page 26 9 , the old form of 1723 being preferred to that of 1738 , and wisely so . The "General Regulations" from page 277 to page 320 are , naturally , of considerable importance , though I must not stay to consider them in detail now . " The usual Free Masons

Songs " there is no need to mention , though they occupy from pages 321 to 330 . The " List of the Grand Masters or Patrons " is introduced at page 331 , beginning with " Austin the Monk , thefirst Archbishop of Canterbury , " to the " Marquis of Carnarvan" ( 1755 ) , followed at pp . 333-4 , with the Provincial Grand Masters appointed 1726-1755 ; the work ending with the

valuable " List of Regular Lodges , according to their Seniority and Constitution , by order of the Grand Master , " comprising pages 335 to 330 , thc back of the last page containg an advertisement of Books " printed for and sold by Bro . Jonathan Scott . " This list of lodges will be found in the " Masonic Magazine" for May , 1879 , explained and transcribed by Bro . R . F . Gould , the last date being February 26 , 1756 .

A perfectly clean and complete copy of the Constitutions 1756 , with a good margin , is rarely met with , and consequently it may fairly be considered one of the rarest and most valuable of the series 1723-1784 . In my researches , strange to say , I have come across more copies of the premier Edition , though of course , for real interest and importance , the latter enjoys undisputed pre-eminence . W . J . HUGHAN .