The Province Of Cheshire.

The Province of Cheshire .

PART II . —EXTINCT LODGES .

THE " Royal Chester" held a very high position in ( lie province , as will be explained farther on , when the origin and progress of the Provincial Grand Lodge have to be considered . '' Bro . Ambrose Onne was raised a Master Mason and Bro . Jos . Briscoe was made a Fclloiv Craft ,

and paid their usual lines" ( December , 1743 ) . In the following year the members met at the " Coach and Horses , " " Royal Oak , " and the " Swan " at various times , the latter being selected for 1745 , but in the next year the " Coach and Horses" was again patronized , and was so favoured until

] 755 ) when , onward to 1 7 85 , sometimes the lodge was convened at the "Swan , " at other times at the "Assembly House , " the " Feathers , " or the " Coach and Horses , " the latter continuing from 1 7671111 ( 11 the " Feathers " once more had a chance from 1785 to 1824 . Occasionally the members held their meetings at the " Master ' s House . " In 1786 the

lodge was erased , being reinstated , however , in the following year , until its final erasure in 1838 . At a Master ' s Lodge in 1758 eight brethren were raised ( so Bro . Armstrong tells us ) in the same year . Thomas Cholmondeley , M . P ., was initiated ( W . M . 13 years later ) and

, in 1771 the Earl of Cholmondeley was admitted by the brethren , who assembled at the house of the Deputy Prov . Grand Master ( Bro . Orme ) . In 1773 Sir Thomas Broughton , Bart ., and live others were initiated , and jointly contributed ten guineas to the Freemasons' Hall Fund , London . In the

official report of the Grand Lodge the gift is credited to " No . 7 8 , Coach and Horses , Chester , " no names being mentioned .

On June 3 rd , 176 5 , Sir Robert Salusbury Cotton , Bart ., was initiated , and eleven years later became the W . M . The Chester Chronicle during the second half of the iSth century usually contained an annual advertisement of the Festival of St . John the Evangelist , copies of which were kindly sent me by Bro . J . C . Robinson , formerly of that city . The following is a sample : —

" Chester , June 19 , 1777 . " Such of the Brethren of the Ancient and Honourable Society of Free and accepted Masons as intend celebrating the Festival of St . John , are desired to meet the Provincial Grand Master and the rest of the Brethren at the Coaeli and Horses on Tuesday the 24 th inst , at

ten o ' clock in the morning , thence to proceed in united procession to attend Divine Service at St . John ' s Church . Dinner to be ready at two . Sir Robert Salusbury Cotton , Bart , Master . "

On 30 th January , 177 8 , is a curious advertisement , which appeared also subsequently for a similar purpose . "At the ball and supper given on Wednesday last by the Chapter of the Most Ancient and HOXOUKABLE OHDEK OF HICCABITES a held at the Talbot , there was

jiresent a most numerous and brilliant assembly of the principal ladies and gentlemen of the place and neighbourhood ; many new members were admitted , and the evening was concluded with every mark of joy and festivity . "

This society was composed of " Brothers and Sisters , " and " Ladies and Gentlemen of capability and good character may be admitted as members . " About this time the old lodge was at a low ebb , and initiations occurred with fewer than the statutory seven being present . On December 27 th , 1782 , it is

stated" Miss Lettice Banister appointed Lady Patroness . " In the same paper under date December 31 st , 17 / g , the decease of the Master was noted who had occupied the chair for a few years .

" Wednesday night in this city , of a long and painful disorder , which he bore with true Christian resignation , the Rev . Mr . Lane , truly lamented by his family and numerous acquaintance , who have lost in him a sincere and valuable friend . "

In June , 1780 , the summer festival was celebrated by a procession to St . John's Church , when " an excellent sermon was preached by the Rev . Bro . Crane , " who was one of the most distinguished and energetic workers in the district . He joined the lodge in 1777 , and was the Master in 1781 .

There was considerable trouble with the lodge Treasurer in 1812 , and all attempts failed to secure a settlement . Four years later the Grand Lodge agreed to receive from the lodge a sum of money in full discharge of all clues , so the members had a fair start once more , and in March , 1829 ,

Bro . Benjamin Brassey was elected the \ Y \ M . He was the last to hold that of / ice , and continued in the chair until the lodge was erased in 18 3 8 . The next at Chester was started at the " Raven , " Cow Lane , in J 755 as No . 203 , paying for its constitution on the

, 4 th December . It met at the "Golden Lion" from 1758 for several years , and was then called after ( he name of that hostelry . Its erasure as 133 occurred in 1792 . Another was also formed in the same year at the " Plume of Feathers , " being numbered 209 . First of all it was known

as the "Feathers , " and then , from 179 6 . as the " Loyal British . " Although it managed to hold on until the " Union " enumeration , it iinally succumbed in 1828 .