Freemasonry In The Argentine Republic.

Freemasonry in the Argentine Republic .

ACCORDING to tradition , a military lodge was held in the city of Buenos Ayres , in the year 1806 , during the British occupation , under General W . C . Beresford , which appears to be the earliest trace of Masonry in these parts . In 1812 the "Lautaro" Lodge was formed for purely

political purposes . Its procedure , however , appears to have been based upon the English ritual , the higher grades being reserved for the principals who were sworn to the independence of the countrj ' . After the fall of Dictator Rosas , in 185 . 2 , the Lodge

"Amie des Naufrages " was chartered by the Crand Orient of France , and continued to work in perfect harmony with the English lodges subsequently formed , until the year 1878 , when all relations were ordered to be broken off . On 10 th June , 18 53 , the Earl of Zetland , as Grand Master

of England , issued a warrant for the first English lodge in this Republic , viz ., the " Excelsior , " No . goo ( now 617 ) , which was consecrated on 19 th January , 18 ^ 4 . On 16 th May , 1859 , a warrant was granted by the Grand Lodge of England for the formation of the Lodge " Teuionia , " No . 1092 ( later 790 ) , to several German brethren of the Lodye

JIIIO . F . RIDER HANCOCK ' , DEPUTY DISTRICT GHAXD MASTI . R . " Excelsior , " authorising them to work in the German language . This lodge continued to work until 1871 , when ,

due to the yellow fever epidemic , its working was suspended and the warrant returned . In i 860 , through the medium of the " Excelsior " Lodge , the Grand Lodge of England entered into a treaty with the newly formed Grand Orient of the Argentine Republic ,

whereby the latter was formally recognised , and the Grand Lodge of England authorised to increase its lodges , working in the York rite , under the jurisdiction of a Provincial or District Grand Master . On 6 th August , 186 4 , the Lodge " Star of the South , "

No . 1025 , was warranted in the city of Buenos Ayres . This was followed by the constitution in July , 18 75 , of the Lodge " Light of the South , " No . 1553 , in ( lie city of Rosario de Santa Fe ; Lodge " Southern Cross , " No . 1740 , in the city of Cordova , in 18 7 8 ; Lodge " Victoria , " No . 2329 , in the city of Buenos Ayres , in 1880 ; Lodge " Quilmes , " No . 2459 , in

the suburb of Quilmes , near Buenos Ayres , in 18 93 ; and Lodge " St . John ' s , " No . 2517 , in the suburb of Lomas de Zamora , near Buenos Ayres , in 1894 .

WHO . F . J . JIORPHY , PAST DEPUTY DISTRICT GRAXD MASTER . In July , 1862 , the first District Grand Master was appointed in the person of the Rev . John Chubb Ford , British Chaplain in Buenos Ayres . Upon his resignation in

1868 , Bro . Richard Briscoe Maseiield was appointed and held the office until his death in 1887 . His successor was Bro . George J . Ryan , who had just received the rank of

URO . J . C'OTJ'AS CLAH / C , V . V . H . O . W ., DISTRICT ORAXD BKCRKTAHl . Past Grand Sword Bearer , in commemoration of the Jubilee of her late Most Gracious Majesty the Queen , and on 25 th January , 1888 , he was duly installed , his Deputy being