The Province Of Devonshire.

Lord Northcote , M . A ., was initiated in the famous "Apollo University Ledge , " No . 357 , Oxford , in 1867 , and is on the roll of Past Masters in the "St . John the Baptist Lodge , " No . 39 , Exeter , as well as served as W . M . of the " Grafton Lodge , " No . 2347 , London . His portrait is by Scott & Sons , Exeter .

BRO . . WHS STOUKKR , PROV . GRAND SKL'RETARY . Major Davie entered the Craft so far back as 1861 , in the "Adams' Lodge , " No . 158 , Sheerness ; joined the " Dunedin , " No . 931 , New Zealand , in 1862 , and in 1874 became a member

of the " Loyal Lodge , " No . 251 , Barnstaple , serving as W . M . in 188 3 , the year of its centenary . As a Prov . Grand Warden of Devon in 188 3 , Prov . Grand Secretary from 1887 , and Dep . Prov . G . M . from 18 9 6 , as well as appointed Asst . G . D . of C . in 18 93 , and Past G . D . of England in 1900 , the acting

Prov . G . M . has done good work for the Fraternity . To Messrs . Vickery Bros ., of Barnstaple , we are indebted for his photograph . The only connected history of Freemasonry in Devon and Cornwall was written by the veteran Craftsman , Bro . W . J . Hughan , P . S . G . D . of England , in 388 9 , who has also compiled brief histories of many of the local lodges . A

valuable history of the senior Lodge , No . 39 , Exeter , has been written by Bro . Andrew Hope , P . M ., P . Prov . G . D ., published in 18 94 , with an introduction by Bro . Hughan . Its warrant or authority of constitution is dated nth July , 1732 , and is the oldest document of the kind preserved by any existing lodge in this country , the oldest lodges generally working by

Warmnls of Con / iniialion . The members assembled in the " New Inn " for very many years . This " trysting-place and place of meeting of the lodge " has a history . It is noted in a Lease of the year 145 6 . In 1554 the Cloth Mart was removed to it , and early in the 17 th Century was used as a

Cloth Exchange or Merchant ' s Hall . The hall was termed the "Apollo Room , " the fellow of which , according to Bro . Andrew Brice ( one of the ancient Craftsmen ) , " scarce any Inn in the Kingdom can truly boast . " Bro . Hope states that the actual room used by our ancient brethren is now the showroom of a drapery establishment in High Street .

The by-laws of the lodge were considered to be so good in 1736 that they were " publicly read and applauded" by the Grand Lodge , and " a Letter of Thanks was ordered to be sent to the members for their handsome beneficence to the General Charity . " The early records are lost , but the minutes of a "Masters' Lodge" exist of J 777-1803 , and those of the ordinary meetings from 1777 . lis three principal

chairs , happily preserved , " black with age , and the gilding on the mottoes and other parts dim from the same cause , " have been much admired , and are very highly prized by the lodge , being , at least , about 150 years old . The fine old copper line engraving of 1764 , is still used as the plate for the summonses , and has at the head a reproduction of

Solomon ' s Temple , published in a work of 1724 , and later , relating to that edifice , at the foot being a representation of the arms of Grand Lodge . The lodge has a special Centenary Jewel , as also has No . 112 , Exeter , reproductions of which are from photos by Scott and Sons .

The next oldest lodge was formed at Devonport ( when P / viiioiilh Dock ) , in 1735 , but only lasted some forty years ; two also in the adjoining town of Plymouth were started in 174 8 , 01160 ! which , according to the late Bro . John Lane ' s invaluable " Masonic Records , 1717-1894 , " collapsed soon

afterwards , but the other continued down to 1828 , when , unfortunately , it was erased . Its removal from the roll is much to be regretted , as it is the only lodge in Devon that had the privilege for its Master , for the time being , of wearing the " Freemasons' Hall Medal , " which Bro . Hughan , in his " Masonic Register" of 18 78 , notes as being obtained in 1783 .

Quoting also by the same authority from his " Royal Freemasons " ( 1885 ) , we find that His Majesty William IV . was initiated in the lodge , when held at the " Prince George , Foxhole Kc \\ " its original place of meeting being the " Pope ' s Head , " Pike Street . The reception is thus alluded to in the

proceedings of the Grand Lodge for 7 th April , 178 7 : — " The Grand Lodge being acquainted that His Royal Highness Prince William Henry had been initiated into Masonry , at No . 86 , the Prince George Lodge , Plymouth , it was thereupon resolved , " & c .

The second lodge on the present roll is the " St . John ' s , '' No . 70 ( formerly 83 ) , Plymouth , and is the senior of those constituted in Devon by the " Ancients " or " Atholl Masons . " It had the privilege of working the Royal Arch Degree by virtue of its warrant from 1759 . It and the Lodge of Fortitude , No . 105 ( formerly 122 ) , have special Centenary Jewel Warrants and were both constituted in the year 1759 .

IIHO . . IOHX IS . ( iOVKR , I' . I ' . d . SKCHKTAHY . ( Photos by E . T . Penrose , Southport ) . Other lodges with the Centenary Jewel privilege , but of ordinary design are " Sincerity , " No . 189 , East Stonehouse , " Friendship , "

No . 202 , Devonport , " Charity , " No . 223 , Plymouth , " True Love and Unity , " No . 24 S , Brixham , and " Loyal , " No . 251 , Barnstaple .