Some Memorials Of The Globe Lodge, No. 23, And Of The "Red Apron."

one of the oldest and most respected . They had a veryfair sample of the Grand Officers amongst their own members , who were now standing round the table , but if they were to resume their seats he should feel more at ease during the short time he should occupy their attention . He had learnt to-night in the Lodge room that the early records of the

Lodge had been lost , and no one could possibly regret that loss more than he did himself , for he well knew how intensely interesting they would have been to the Masons of the present generation . It would be but small consolation to the brethren to tell them that they were not at all singular

in this respect , but it was nevertheless a fact , much to be regretted , that probably not more than a half-dozen Lodges in London were in possession of their records reaching back for a period of 150 years . Personally he only knew of three . They were the Lodge of Antiquity , No . 2 ; the , Lodge of Friendship , No . 6 ; and the Old King ' s Arms Lodge . No . 28 ; which old Lodge , he was glad to see , had a representative

SPECIAL CENTENARY JEWEL OF THE GLOBE LODGE , No . 2 . 't . Centenary Wtirraul granted 1804 . here to-night in the person of Bro . Newland , its much esteemed Past Master and Treasurer . The early history of English Masonry and of old English Lodges was to him a

most fascinating study , and when he heard to-night that their old records had disappeared , it occurred to him , that should an opportunity offer , he would call their attention to a few incidents relating to the early career of their Lodge that had come under his notice in the course of Masonic research ,

which , he thought , would probably interest them more than the usual after-dinner oratory , and , by so doing , enable them to draw a comparison between the Freemasonry of the period when this Lodge was constituted , and the gigantic Institution it has since become .

Bro . Sadler then addressed the Lodge as above indicated , and a hearty vote of thanks was accorded to him . The Treasurer ( Bro . Charles Martin , P . A . G . D . C ) , in referring to the interesting address which they had listened to with so much pleasure , said Bro . Sadler would confer a

still greater favour on the brethren if he would consent to dictate the substance of it to a short-hand writer , so that they could get it printed for preservation , and every member be in possession of a copy . Bro . Sadler , in response , said he would readily accede to

the request , but he thought he could do even better than that . He had omitted much he would have said , knowing

that he was in front of a musical entertainment , but if the brethren would give him time ( his hands being rather full j tist now ) he would himself write the address for the printer , as near as he could remember , and possibly make a few additions to it , which he has now done . You are , no doubt , aware Brethren , that the Globe Lodge

was constituted on the i 8 th September , 1723 . It was not however , then known by its present name , indeed , it had no name , nor had it a number , neither had any other Lodge . At that period Lodges were simply distinguished by the names of the taverns at which they were held , and it was not

until live or six years after this Lodge was constituted that it was deemed advisable that the Lodges should bear consecutive numbers . This curious little book which I will pass round for inspection , will serve to simplify my remarks on this subject . As you will observe from the inscription on

the cover , it was presented to the Grand Lodge some years ago . On the frontispiece it bears the date 1729 , and is the first List in which the Lodges bear numbers . It is known as " Pine's Engraved List of Lodges , " and when I tell you it is the only one of that y ^ ear known to be

in existence , you will readily understand how valuable it is , and I am sure you will take the greatest care of it . We have two earlier lists of a similar kind in the Grand Lodge Library , namely , for 1723 and 1725 , but in them the signs of the taverns , their locality , and the clays of meeting only are given .

If you will turn to No . 23 in the List , you will find the sign of The-Half Moon in Cheapside , and that was the house at which this Lodge had its birth , although it could not have remained there very long , for , in the 1725 List , it was stated to be held at The Sun , South side of St . Paul ' s Church Yard , going back to the former house in 1726 . It is a rather

curious coincidence that at the first enumeration of the Lodges , this Lodge should have been given the number 23 , and after all the intervening years since 1729 , having had live different numbers in the interval , it should now be under its original number .

The Half-Moon , in Cheapside , was the earliest Masonic house of which we have any definite knowledge , and also the scene of the first Masonic banquet recorded . On the 24 th of June , 1731 , the Grand Lodge held a meeting there . Elias Ashmole , the Antiquary , in his celebrated Diary ,

under date March 10 th , 1682 , writes that he received a summons to a Lodge to be held next day , at Masons' Hall , London ; he says : " Accordingly I went , and about Noone were admitted to the Fellowship of Free Masons , Sir Williatn Wilson , Knight , Capt . Rich . Borthwick , Mr . Will . Woodman , Mr . Wm . Grey , Mr . Samuell Taylor , and Mr . William Wise . "

He gives also the names of several brethren who were present on the occasion , and finishes the entry thus : " Wee all dyned at the Halfe Moone Taverne in Cheapeside , at a Noble Dinner , prepaired at the charge of the New Accepted Masons . " The Lodge remained at The Half Moon until 1755 when

, it was removed to The Bell , in Noble Street , thence , in 1757 , to The Salutation , in Newgate Street , where it met until 1762 , and then made another move to The Fountain , on Snow Hill . In 176 4 we find it meeting at another celebrated Masonic tavern , The Globe , in Fleet Street . At this period Lodges

generally began to be distinguished by names , and , although the Lodge only remained there four years , it has ever since been known as " The Globe Lodge . " From 1768 till 1792 , it was held at The Crown and Rolls , in Chancery Lane , so-called from its proximity to The Rolls House , or Record

Office . During the year 1792 , the Lodge returned to The Globe , but only remained there for a short time , for in the following year we line ! it located at The White Hart , Holborn , where it continued to meet till 1815 , when it was removed to The Freemasons' Tavern , and in 186 5 , on the completion of

the Lodge rooms in the new Building of Freemasons' Hall , it took up its quarters there . It will thus be seen that the Lodge has only been held at ten different houses during the 180 years of its existence , and that the last 88 years have been passed on the Grand Lodge premises .