Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Ms. Masonic Constitutions (Or Charges) No. 1.
Masonry Explained , being the substance 0 f a charge delivered at Plymouth , in 1757 . " In the title of this production he sty les himself simply a " Master Mason , " shoAving that he had not boon long enough in the Order to have obtained official
position , ancl in the body of the charge he apoligizes for the apparent presumption of one " who had been so IOAV years a Mason . " It is probable that he AA'as initiated about the year 1755 ; and as he was at that time in the Navy , in one of the Lodges of
Plymouth , AA'lnch Avas then , as IIOAV , frequented by vessels of Avar . In this charge , it is Avorthy of note , that a prayer , Avritten by Dunckerley , appears for the first time , Avhich , slightly abridged , has over since been used in all English ancl American i Lodges at the initiation of a candidate .
Olh'er says , that shortly after Ids return to England ho Avas elected the Master of a Lodge . This must have been in the year 176 G or 1767 ; for in the latter year he received from Lord Blaney , the Grand •Master , the deputation for Provincial ' Grand Master of Hampshire , Avhich I suppose Avould scarcely haA'e been given him if he had not " passed the chair . " Preston
speaks of his " indefatigable assiduity" in the discharge of the duties of the office , and of the considerable progress of Masonry in the province through his instrumentality . He Avas soon after appointed to the superintendoncy of the Lodges in Dorsetshire , Essex , Gloucestershire ,
Somersetshire , and Herefordshire . Ancl some years afterwards the Grand Lodge , in grateful testimony of his zeal in the cause of Masonry , resolved that he should rank as a Past Senior Grand Warden , and in all processions take place next the present Senior Grand Warden for the time being . During the rest of his life Dunckerly
received many evidences of the high esteem ui Avhich lie Avas hold by the Masonic authorities of the clay , and at the time of his . death Avas occupying tho folloAving Prominent positions , in addition to that of f rovincial Grand Master , Avhich
appointment he held from the Prince of Wales , J'ni : Grand Superintendent and Past krand Master of Royal Arch Masons of Jjristol and several counties , appointed by wo Duke of Clarence ; and Supreme Grand faster of the Knights of Rosa Cruris , ^ mplais , and Kadosli , under Prince Ed-M ' am , afterwards Duke of Kent . His
royal kinsmen did not neglect his claims to patronage . But far higher than any of these titles and offices , and of far more lasting importance to tho Craft , AA'as the position occupied by Dunckerley as an instructor of the
Lodges and a Reformer , or at least a remodeller of tho system of lectures . To these duties he Avas called by the Grand Lodge of England , A \ 'hich authorized him to construct a IIOAV code of lectures , a careful reA'isioii of the existing ritual , and a
collation of all ancient formulas . For this task he Avas pre-eminently qualified . Possessed of a fair share of learning , and imbued Avith a philosophical spirit , he Avas prepared to amplify the existing system of Martin Clare by the addition of much
IIOAV symbolism , and the improvement of that Avhich had already been introduced by his predecessor . He Avas also liberal in his vioAvs , and not partaking of tho prejudices then so active , against Avhat Aver ' e called the innovations of Dermotthe did not hesitate
, to avail himself of his labors , as that schismatic had ju'OA'iously not hesitated to profit by the suggestions of the Chevalier Ramsay . Oliver says that he often visited
the Lodges of the " Ancients , for the purpose of ascertaining A \ diat Avere the essential differences betAveen the two systems , and of that which was good ho culled tlie best , and transplanted it into the Avorkings of the legitimate Grand Lodge . The results Avere not eA'anescent , but are
felt even in the ritual of the present clay . The most important AA'as that Avhich affected the third degree . Dunckerley reconstructed the Royal Arch of Dermott , and intro- duced it into the Grand Lodge of England ; : ' " ) not , liOAvever , Avithout opposition , AA'hicli » AA'as only overcome . Oliver says , by the pa-, tronage of the Duke of Clarence and his , OAvn personal influence . By this innova- /
tion , the true word , Avhich had hitherto , been a part of the Master ' s degree , was transferred to the Eoyal Arch , and the third degree AA'as made incomplete , and required to be supplemented by a higher one , Avhich should supply its deficiency . The Master ' s degreeas now given in
Eng-, land ancl America , differs very considerably from that AA'hicli Avas left by Martin Clare , and is indebted for its present organization to the labors of Dunckerley . It might , indeed , : ^ . be properly called Dunekerley's degree .. , ? Dunckerley also introduced into Ms system ¦ ?
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Ms. Masonic Constitutions (Or Charges) No. 1.
Masonry Explained , being the substance 0 f a charge delivered at Plymouth , in 1757 . " In the title of this production he sty les himself simply a " Master Mason , " shoAving that he had not boon long enough in the Order to have obtained official
position , ancl in the body of the charge he apoligizes for the apparent presumption of one " who had been so IOAV years a Mason . " It is probable that he AA'as initiated about the year 1755 ; and as he was at that time in the Navy , in one of the Lodges of
Plymouth , AA'lnch Avas then , as IIOAV , frequented by vessels of Avar . In this charge , it is Avorthy of note , that a prayer , Avritten by Dunckerley , appears for the first time , Avhich , slightly abridged , has over since been used in all English ancl American i Lodges at the initiation of a candidate .
Olh'er says , that shortly after Ids return to England ho Avas elected the Master of a Lodge . This must have been in the year 176 G or 1767 ; for in the latter year he received from Lord Blaney , the Grand •Master , the deputation for Provincial ' Grand Master of Hampshire , Avhich I suppose Avould scarcely haA'e been given him if he had not " passed the chair . " Preston
speaks of his " indefatigable assiduity" in the discharge of the duties of the office , and of the considerable progress of Masonry in the province through his instrumentality . He Avas soon after appointed to the superintendoncy of the Lodges in Dorsetshire , Essex , Gloucestershire ,
Somersetshire , and Herefordshire . Ancl some years afterwards the Grand Lodge , in grateful testimony of his zeal in the cause of Masonry , resolved that he should rank as a Past Senior Grand Warden , and in all processions take place next the present Senior Grand Warden for the time being . During the rest of his life Dunckerly
received many evidences of the high esteem ui Avhich lie Avas hold by the Masonic authorities of the clay , and at the time of his . death Avas occupying tho folloAving Prominent positions , in addition to that of f rovincial Grand Master , Avhich
appointment he held from the Prince of Wales , J'ni : Grand Superintendent and Past krand Master of Royal Arch Masons of Jjristol and several counties , appointed by wo Duke of Clarence ; and Supreme Grand faster of the Knights of Rosa Cruris , ^ mplais , and Kadosli , under Prince Ed-M ' am , afterwards Duke of Kent . His
royal kinsmen did not neglect his claims to patronage . But far higher than any of these titles and offices , and of far more lasting importance to tho Craft , AA'as the position occupied by Dunckerley as an instructor of the
Lodges and a Reformer , or at least a remodeller of tho system of lectures . To these duties he Avas called by the Grand Lodge of England , A \ 'hich authorized him to construct a IIOAV code of lectures , a careful reA'isioii of the existing ritual , and a
collation of all ancient formulas . For this task he Avas pre-eminently qualified . Possessed of a fair share of learning , and imbued Avith a philosophical spirit , he Avas prepared to amplify the existing system of Martin Clare by the addition of much
IIOAV symbolism , and the improvement of that Avhich had already been introduced by his predecessor . He Avas also liberal in his vioAvs , and not partaking of tho prejudices then so active , against Avhat Aver ' e called the innovations of Dermotthe did not hesitate
, to avail himself of his labors , as that schismatic had ju'OA'iously not hesitated to profit by the suggestions of the Chevalier Ramsay . Oliver says that he often visited
the Lodges of the " Ancients , for the purpose of ascertaining A \ diat Avere the essential differences betAveen the two systems , and of that which was good ho culled tlie best , and transplanted it into the Avorkings of the legitimate Grand Lodge . The results Avere not eA'anescent , but are
felt even in the ritual of the present clay . The most important AA'as that Avhich affected the third degree . Dunckerley reconstructed the Royal Arch of Dermott , and intro- duced it into the Grand Lodge of England ; : ' " ) not , liOAvever , Avithout opposition , AA'hicli » AA'as only overcome . Oliver says , by the pa-, tronage of the Duke of Clarence and his , OAvn personal influence . By this innova- /
tion , the true word , Avhich had hitherto , been a part of the Master ' s degree , was transferred to the Eoyal Arch , and the third degree AA'as made incomplete , and required to be supplemented by a higher one , Avhich should supply its deficiency . The Master ' s degreeas now given in
Eng-, land ancl America , differs very considerably from that AA'hicli Avas left by Martin Clare , and is indebted for its present organization to the labors of Dunckerley . It might , indeed , : ^ . be properly called Dunekerley's degree .. , ? Dunckerley also introduced into Ms system ¦ ?