Records Of Old Lodges.

The extraordinary researches as to this nobleman ' s name and family are graphically described by M . W . Bro . W . S . Gardner and others in the Proceedings of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts . The strange thing about the lodge in the city of Bath is , that the members bad assembled previously as a lodge , ancl yet no evidence has transpired as to their authority for so doing . The warrant , he it remembered , was o-ranted April 26 th , 1733 , The first record preserved commences December 28 th 1732

, , and is as follows : — " The Lodge met at Brother Eobinson ' s , the Bear , in Bath , ancl regularl y form'd themselves . " Present : Mr . Hugh Kennedy , Master ; Mr . Wm . Howell , Mr . Steph . Martin , Wardens .

" Members : Mr . George Eamstord , Mr . Charles Gomm , Mr . Thos . Collins , Mr . Johnson Robinson , Mr . St . John Smyth , Mr . Joseph Wooley , Mr . Christopher Fleming . " Our able Brother Ashley considers that " it is evident this was not the commencement of this lodge , for it is to be noticed that the year before the date of the warrant , it is stated , as in the ordinary way of entry , that the lodge met , it had then its own Master ancl Wardenswithout any mention of their being elected

, , — -was initiating and raising members , and performing ceremonies ; thus making it probable that this was one of the private lodges already referred to , , as having destroyed its records for fear of their falling into strange hands , and , ' like one of the four old London lodges ( No . 3 ) , " whose constitution was from time immemorial , yet thought it better to come under a new constitution , tho' they wanted it not , " and we are the more warranted in saying this , from the minute

entered on the 18 th May , 1733 , when the new warrant was read . The minute mentioned by Bro . Ashley is a very curious one indeed , ancl well -worthy of careful consideration , by all interested in such inquiries . It is rarely we . meet with any of such an age now , ancl especially is this true as respects England , which possesses but few Masonic records prior to the last century , whereas Scotland has them back to tbe -16 th century . " Friday , the 18 th of May , Lodge met and by warrant from ye G . M . Ld . Montague , were Constituted into a Regular Lodge . When ye officers chosen

were : — " Hugh Kennedy , Master . " Charles De Labelly , Sen . Warden ; Steph . Martin , Jun . Warden . ' ¦ ¦ Fellow Crafts Present : —I ' ll-. Thos . Bragg , Mr . Jno . Wiltshire , Mr . Jno . West . " Masters Present : —Mr . Jno . Plummer , Mr . Jas . Taughan , Mr . Wm . Howel , Mr . Geo . Wrainsford , Mr . St . Jno . Smith , Mr . Jos . Woolley . " Pass'd Masters : —Mr . Johnson Robinson , Mr . Felix Farley , Mr . Philip Greenslade , Mr . Rutland Gill . " Absent : —Mr . Thos . Collins .

" Accounts of ye Lodge : —Ballanc d this night when due to Box , one Pound , one Shilling , one Penny . " According to the foregoing , there were 16 brethren present , ancl the character of tbe record fully confirms Bro . Ashley ' s supposition that 1733 did not witness the beginning of the lodge , the only point to elucidate being when the lodge orig inated as mentioned in the record of December , 1732 . We shall again investigate

the matter prior to closing this " spark , " ancl seek to discover a little light where it is so much needed , in order that the interesting history may be fully completed as respects tbe commencement of actual masonic work at Bath . It will be noted that the record of May 18 th , 1733 , is a most important one , and allows plenty of scope to our imagination in seeking to determine its exact bearing . The lodge , before 1773 , might have met under " dispensation . " As to its being of especial value there cannot be a doubt , because of the title "Pass'd Master . " There were three classes present , and , including the " entered apprentices " of which there were none at that date , comprised , in fact , rour . masonic