Notes On The Old Minute Books Of The British Union Lodge, No 114, Ipswich. A.D, 1762.

to raise tho position of the Craft in public estimation . In 1 S 11 then the British Union Lodge boasted of a grocer , a tallow chandler , an innkeeper , and seven innholders ( what was the difference 1 ) , a basket-maker , a baker , three captainsprobably master mariners

, , a mariner , a watchtnakor , a plumber and glazier , and painter and glazier , three cordwainers , otherwise shoemakers , two bricklayers ( who no doubt were li ( odd ) men ) , one wheelwright , a doctor , a merchant , two butchers , a hairdresser , two

shipwrights , three carpenters , one iroufoundor , an appraiser , a dyer ( did he come in of dire necessity ?) , a hatter ( but no matter ) , an engineer , a waiter , and a messmaster . The last probabl y attached to some regiment stationed at Ipswich . We find afterwards a record of an excise

officer , a blacksmith , a joiner , a shopkeeper ( rather vague ) , and a draper , amongst the list of members . At the October Lodge meeting in 1811 , a shoemaker and a painter were initiated , and relief was allowed to two brothers , one belonging to the Scotland LodgeNo .

, 545 , and the other to tho Swansea Lodge , No . 333 . Under date December 3 rd , 1811 , we find Mr . George Wilson , tailor , at Stratford , was proposed by Bro . Levett . seconded by Bro . Cookand Ihirded b

, y Bro . Plaintain . No wonder he was unanimously elected . It seems to haA'e been quite the fashion at this period for candidates to be thirded .

At the St . John ' s Festival following Ave find the brethren '' adjourned at three " o ' clock to a good dinner Avhich was " plentifully supplied , and of which 36 '' brothers partook off . " It is stated also that Bro . Churchman " presented to the ' ¦ Lodge three greater lights or Illimvi naries . "

We also note that " Bro . Birrell of the " Theatrical Lodge visited our Lodge , " and from the handsome address made to "the JR . W . M . Officers and Brothers by " him in Bro . Hines behalf , a play w-as " ordered by the Body of the Lodge , called " the ' Honeymoon' with the Faree of

, "' Darkness Visible , ' as on AVednesday " next being New Year ' s Day . " A foot note is appended that next Lodge Meeting is AVednesday , 1 st January , IS 12 ,

at 5 o ' clock , so no doubt tho brethren went straight from the Lodge in their regalia to attend the Theatre . That this was so is evident from the Minutes of the next Lodge , where it is stated that the undermentioned officers and brethren

¦ —numbering 50 in all—attended the Possession ( sic ) to the Theatre . In the following Month ' s Minutes we find it recorded that "Bro . B . Plaintain proposed that a hearing should take place between Bro . Blasby , a member of this

Lodge , and Bro . Kendell , who has been made and passed at the Theatrical Lodge relative to his being proposed a candidate at this Lodge . An investigation took place , and the business was overlooked . " We gather from this that tho Theatrical

Company at the Theatre—which was we believe in Avhat Avas called the Norwich Circuit at that time—had a Lodge attached to it , but under ivhat authority ' it worked we do not know . At the May Meeting a member of the

Faithful Lodge , No . 99 , Noi-Avich , was relieved , and we find that there Avere literary Masons amongst us in the provinces even in those clays , for it is noted that .- " A

circulating ( sic ) letter Avas received from Bro . P . Pulling , of the Brotherly Love Lodge , No . 617 , held at the George Inn , Martock , Somersetshire , who most earnestly recommended his publication called MasoDic Essays , price half-a-crown . "

AVe don ' t find that the brethren ordered Bro . Pulling ' s book , probably they were like a good many of our brethren novr-aday .-i , and ivere fond of dogmatising about Avhat they knew little about , never seeking for that knoAvledge which they are

urged to acquire in our time honoured charges , but giving Masonic Literature the cold shoulder , preferring to go else-Avhere for the hot joint . The ivorthy brethren no doubt preferred to remain in darknessand to let Masonic literature

, take care of itself , as too many of our brethren do noAv-a-days , we are ashamed to say , —for we find it sinrphy stated as a fit conclusion to tho proceedings ( Bro . Pulling ' s letter having evidently been set aside and ignored ) that :

"St . John the Baptist being IIOAV at hand it ivas agreed to meet at 2 o ' clock on that day , and to dine at 4 o ' clock , every member present to pay for his dinner , and