The Province Of Surrey.

The Province of Surrey .

SOON after the publication of the " Book of Constitutions " in 1723 , there were many applications for the constitution of new lodges , not only in the Metropolis , but also in the neighbouring counties , and still further from London . To look after country lodges it was found necessary to

appoint Provincial Grand Masters , and thus Provincial Grand Lodges were started from the year 1725 . As to these important changes and others consequent upon the extension of the Grand Lodge , the valuable " History of Freemasonry , " by Bro . R . F . Gouldshould be consulted .

, The first Provincial Grand Lodge started was for Cheshire , followed soon by South Wales ( 1726 ) , Warwickshire ( 1728 ) , Shropshire ( 1731 ) , Durham and Northumberland ( 1734 ) , with others abroad , beginning with Bengal

HHO . l- 'HKDKMCK WEST , I ' . G . Il ., Dl ' . PUTY PUOVINCIAT . ( IRANI ) MASTER IN CHAliUE .

( 1728 ) . Several were constituted in iyyo-2 , Surrey dating from the year 1772 , when Bro . Thomas Parker was appointed the premier Provincial Grand Master . There were not many lodges to superintend at that time , and

apparently no records of the period have been preserved . Bro . Parker , of Puttenham and Hampton Lodge , was one of the Grand Stewards in 1772 , Senior Grand Warden in 1775 ( when the foundation of Freemasons' Hall was laid ) , and was a very regular attendant at Grand Lodge . He

was one of the earliest to subscribe to the Freemasons' Hall Fund , his lirst donation of live guineas being acknowledged in 1 773 , unci he subsequently helped the scheme so bountifully that on the 28 th November , 1787 , the thanks of the Grand Lodge were " given to him and the Lodge of Emulation for the liberal and generous present of their subscriptions . " Such subscriptions towards the Hall were

in the form of loans , but when the time for payment arrived quite a number of them were presented to the Grand Lodge . An illustration of the special medal which was given to those who lent the sum of £ 25 or more will be found in the MASONIC ILM ' STKATKH for August , 1902 , under "The Province of Cornwall . "

According to the interesting preface to the invaluable " Masonic Calendar and Directory for the Province of Surrey , 1903 " ( edited by Bros . C . T . Tyler , Provincial Grand Secretary , and W . A . Lathom , Provincial Assistant Grand Secretary ) , Bro . Parker was a member of the Lodge of Friendship , No . 3 ( now No . 6 ) ; the Somerset House

, No . 219 ( which amalgamated with the celebrated lodge , now the Royal Somerset House and Inverness Lodge , No . 4 , in 1774 ) ; and the Royal , No . 251 , which joined the present Royal Alpha Lodge , No . 16 , in 1824 . "A brick tomb on the south side of Seale Church records his decease on

January 22 nd , 1792 , aged sixty-seven years . " His successor was Bro . James Meyrick , F . R . S ., of Wimbledon , who was Treasurer of the Board of Grand Stewards in 178 3 ( having the Hon . Washington Shirley as

President ) , and appointed Junior Grand Warden in 178 4 by H . R . H . the Duke of Cumberland , M . W . Grand Master . Like his predecessor , Bro . James Meyrick was a generous donor to the Freemasons' Hall Fund , and with his brother , John Meyrick , S . G . W ., in 1795 , were prominent members of the Grand Lodge . His death occurred in 181 S .

The third Provincial Grand Master ( appointed by H . R . H . the Duke of Sussex , M . W . Grand Master ) was the Right Hon . Frederick John , Baron Monson , of Burton , in the county of Lincoln , and of Gatton Park , in the county of Surrey , who was installed on ioth June , 18 37 in the

, Masonic rooms of the Surrey Lodge , " White Hart" Hotel , Reigate . One of the Grand Secretaries attended , and the Right Hon . the Earl of Mexborough , Provincial Grand Master of West Yorkshire , and other distinguished brethren , were present in honour of the occasion .

Lord Monson ( the fifth Baron ) was the third initiate of the Apollo University Lodge , Oxford , in 1828 , and was a founder and first Worshipful Master of the Surrey Lodge , No . 416 , which was warranted 4 th January , 18 34 , by H . R . H . the Duke of Sussex , M . W . Grand Master . His lordship was installed as Worshipful Master , on the 15 II 1 of

the same month , in the presence of Lord Mexborough and other officers of the Grand Lodge . It is stated in the preface to the Calendar previously mentioned , that " while his health permitted , the third Provincial Grand Master of Surrey laboured unceasingly as

its chief . His Masonic as well as literary attainments were considerable , and his hospitality at Gatton was proverbial . He was a staunch supporter of the Emulation Lodge of Improvement . " At the Grand Royal Arch Chapter on 25 th April , 1832 ,

being a special convocation , the Most Noble James , Marquis of Abercorn , and the Right Hon . Frederick John , Lord Monson , on the nomination of H . R . H . the Duke of Sussex , Grand Z ., seconded by the Right Hon . Lord Dundas , Grand H ., were balloted for and elected ; their ' exaltation "

taking place at a quarterly convocation of the Grand Chapter on 2 nd May , 1832 , with the Most Noble , the Marquis of Salisbury , K . G ., who had previously been elected . This was a noteworthy event , and the only one of its kind since the Union of the two Grand Chapters in 1817 .

After the decease of Lord Monson in 18 41 , the province was placed in charge of the Grand Registrar ( Bro . Thomas Henry Hall ) until Bro . Alexander Dobie became the Provincial Grand Master in 18 47 , by appointment of the Right Hon . the Earl of Zetland , M . W . Grand Master . Bro . Dobie , who was installed at Chertsey on June 29 th of that year , had the distinction of serving in many offices in Grand Lodge , having been Junior Grand Deacon ( accord-