Proceedings Of A Captive Lodge.

cases . Where either condensation has been necessary , or it has seemed advisable to interpolate any observations of my own , brackets are employed . Emergency . —Proceedings of the Military Lodge , No . 183 . Held at the House of Brother Francis Smith , No . 7 , Rue Cordon , at Valenciennes , on the 30 th January , 1806 . ' . 5806 . - .

The Brethren of the Lodge , to the Number of Ten , being assembled and joined by the Ancient Masons of different Lodges under the Constitution of England , Ireland , and Scotland , present at Valenciennes , open'd in due form on the first degree in Masonry , with the W . Master , Brother Butler , in the Chair .

[ Here follow thirty-two names of brethren certified as " present , " including that of " Lord Viscount Barrington by proxy . " ] Mr . Thomas Depution was proposed , approved nem . con ., and initiated and passed , which being performed he returned thanks in clue form , and the lodge [ was ] closed in peace , harmony , and Brotherly love . J . Dow , Secy . Signed , E . BUTLER , Master .

[ A regular meeting was held at the same place on the 6 th February , and on the 21 st February , and 15 th May , at the Pavilion of Liberty , Valenciennes ; the minutes commonly signed by the Master , Wardens , and Secretary ; two or three meetings usually held monthly . ] 19 th June , 1806 . —An election of officers took place for the ensuing 6 Months : —E . Butler , Master ; John Bates , Sen . Warden , Robt . Ware , Junr .

Warden ; Jn . Dow , Secretary ; P . Saunders , Treas . ; T . Gregory , S . Deacon ; Jn . Moore , J . Deac . ; J . Cox , P . M . ; and Jas . Moffat , Tyler . St . John ' s Day . —The officers renewed their obligations , and Divine Service rehearsed by the W . Master . [ Forty-two brethren present , inclnding Colonel E . R . Cope . Capt . Geo . Kerr , and Monsieur de Chevrand "from the French Lodge . " ]

4 th August , 1806 . —Sergeants J . Jones , W . Leeds , Jas . Gilmore , S . Jarvis , Wm . Hiokey , T . Walters , J . Robinson , Hy . Matthews , and Corporal Edw . Missitt , of the 9 fch Regiment , initiated and passed . 6 th Nov ., 1806 . — -Resolved that during the winter months the Lodge should only meet once a month . 27 th Dec , 1806 . —[ Present ] Lord Viscount Barrington and Colonel E . R .

Cope by Proxy . [ Two meetings only were held in 1807 , and none whatever in 1808 . In the former year an application for relief was favourably entertained b y the "Ancient" Grand Lodge . * The minutes of the Steward ' s Lodge—corresponding to our existing Lodge of Benevolence , recording the following : — Steward ' s Lodge , 21 st Jan ., 1 S 07— Edward Butler , W . M . ; John Bates , S . W . ; John Dow ' Pat Saunders Kobt

J . W . ; ; . Ware ; Isaac Cox , and others , Members of Lodge 183 in the 9 th Regiment , prisoners of War at Vallenciennes in France , being cast away and shipwrecked in or about March , 1806 , and thereon carried to Yiillenciemies , and in great distress , were ordered 4 G-. s . ( Guineas ) each . —lO . G . s .

A further sum of twenty guineas appears to have been voted to the brethren of No . 183 by the Steward ' s Lodge , since , on a renewed application for assistance on the 16 th September , 1807 , the dispensers of the bount y of Grand Lodge declined to accede to it , upon the ground "that the 26 brothers , prisoners of war at Valenciennes , had already received 60 guineas from the general fund , and it also appearing that onl y five of the petitioners were members of Lodges under the ' Ancient' Constitution . " ]