Proceedings Of A Captive Lodge.

of Rochester . Marched out 17 th June and returned to Chatham on the 30 th June , 1816 . M . D . PALMER , Secretary . 31 st October , 183 . 6 , Brompton . —Brs . Whatley , Mathews , and Palmer where proposed to become Masters of the Lodge , and where regularly Installed as such .

[ During its stay at Brompton the lodge visited by Bros . Drake , 139 > Judge , Hobart ( WM . ) , 306 ; Reeves , Weekes ( W . M . ) , Seers , Chidley , Confer , Casper , 403 ; Thomas ( W . M . ) , 328 ; Brown , 313 E . ; Bullock , 522 I . ; Lucy , 205 E . ; Weinman , 393 ; Lyons , 154 ; Buford , 141 . ] 19 th Dec , 1816 . —[ Bro . Whately elected Master , Bro . E . Butler having hitherto filled that office , without a break , from 1806 . ]

20 th Feb , 1817 , Canterbury—The W . Master , Br . Whatley , and the remainder of the Brethren being present , it was proposed and unanimously adopted , that Br . Butler , the late W . Master , be again placed in the chair until the 27 th Dec , 1817 , and that in consequence of the small number of Brethren present at the Depot , that the W . Master , Br . Butler , be empowered to take the Ark , Warrant , Jewels , and Furniture of the Lodge out with him to

France [ to join the headquarters of the battalion ] , he having received orders to that effect . Br . Butler , of course , re-assumed the government of the Lodge , and the meeting parted in love and harmony .

3 rd April , 1817 . —At a Private Room in St . Amand , France . [ Present , fourteen members , including Bros . E . Butler , W . M . ; T . W . Whatley , W . P . M . ; Camps , 281 Ireland ; Rowland , 8 Canada ; French , 246 Ireland ( 9 th Regiment ) ; and Oonniston , 791 ( Westmeath Militia ) . Future lodge meetings arranged to take place on the first as well as the third Thursday in each month . ]

1 st May , 1817 . —Havrincourt , Near Cambray , in France . Determined , that the Monthly dues should be reduced from one shilling to sixpence for each member . Memo . —Recommended that the Lodge meet regularly every third Thursday for general instruction in the different degrees . 15 th May , 1817 . —Visited by Brothers GreenTillerand Langden ( W . M . )

, , , of No . 454 , held in the 5 th Regiment . [ During the Regiment ' s stay at Cambray , many non-commissioned officers in the 1 st Battalion Rifle Brigade , 23 rd Fusiliers , and Coldstream Guards , initiated in No . 221 ; and amongst the visitors were Brethren from Nos . 874 , 443 E , 205 , 242 , 168 E , 454 ( 5 th Regiment ) , 675 , 253 I . ] 20 th Nov ., 1817 . —The Lodge proceeded to initiate for instruction .

4 th Dec , 1817 . —[ Bros . Whatley chosen as Master and E . Butler as Secretary . ] 27 th Dec , 1817 . —Bro . John Johnson , Assist . Surgeon 9 th Regt , approved of as a Member . [ So far as disclosed by the minutes , this was the first commissioned officer who became a member of the lodge , though I find in the register of Grand Lodge the names of Captains W . Bell and John Elliot , as

having been returned in a list of members , A . D . 1806 . Bro . John Johnson elected Secretary at the next meeting , 1 st January , 1818 , in the place of Bro . Butler , " who had ten ^ orarily volunteered to fill that office . " ] 19 th Feb ., 1818 . —A communication read , enclosing certain Grand Certificates , which were executed and delivered . The Ancient Charges were then rehearsed , and the Lodge closed in due form . [ The minutes of meetings ordinarily signed by the Master , Wardens , and Secretary . ]