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Article MASONIC NOTES AND QUERIES. ← Page 2 of 4 →
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Masonic Notes And Queries.
W . M . from Dec . 1790 , to Dec . 1792 , and again from June , 1795 to March , 1796 , about which time , it appears he died , and a new election was held . The first item ot interest I find is in reference to re-maklng Masons , and I copy entire those parts of the minutes referring thereto .
Oct . 5 tli , 17 S 5 . — " Bro . Jackson , after stating that the decline of Solomon's Lodge , the reasons foi it , the derival of the charter from an ancient Grand Master , aud tlie advantages which Avould accure from its altering the mode of constituting and making , by the prevention of seduction , which appears at present to be the case of a lodge under a pretended ancient Constitution from Pliiladephia , moved that the ancient bretluan of the lod do constitute themselves into an ancient lod
ge ge , under the reasons aforesaid , and the authority given by the Grand Lod ge of the State . Argued and referred to by Bro . Jackson , and report their sentiments to the lodge with respect to the propriety of re-making and constituting Solomon ' s Lodge on an ancient establishment for the future . Bro . Beecroft seconded the motion , which was unanimously agreed to . Pive ancient Masons being present , constituted themselves accorland
dingy , Bro . Bcercroft , acting as Master , reported that they had a full right and power to re-make and constitute an ancient lodge for tbe reasons given in the motion , also as it appears the original Constitution was ancient , as well as ou account of theauthority of the Grand Loclge , and that Solomon's Lodge , be , and it is hereby constituted an ancient Lodge , by the name of Solomon ' s Lodge Avhich redort Avas agreed to to bthe
y lodge . " Ordered by the ancient Masons , and agreed to by the whole that they met for the purpose of re-making Bro . B . W . Junior Grand Warden , and the old officers of Solomon's Lodge tomorrow , at 8 o ' clock in the mornine-.
Dec . 1 st , 17 S 5 . — " The AV . M . informed the lodge that in consquence of the procediugs ofthe last general meeting he had waited on the Grand Master , who had called a Grand Lodge Avere laid before them in regard to making ancient Masons , and they had approved the same . " _ Dec . 15 th , 17 S 5 . — " Ordered that the lodge do met on Monday Might next , in order to raise the officers of the Grand Lod ge , and to and raise Clark °
pass Bro . , and to raise Bro . Pierce to the third degree . " In 1786 and 17 S 7 I find that many " Modern Masons were Ancient" by petition . In June , 17 SG a brother illegally made a Mason in a spurious lodge made application to this Lodge , and took his degrees , paying half the regular fees therefor .
July , 2 nd , 1789 . —The WM . read a letter from a Bro . saying he had had an account presented to him by the Treasurer , for arrears , amounting to £ 1 , lis , 9 d . " Ordered that a committee be appointed to examine the several accounts against all the members of the lodge during the time the craft worked as modern Masons , and since the time of their becoming ancients . " The books immediately subsequent to this being destroyed I cannot give the report of this committee , bnt at the next meeting , July 16 th , 1789 , I find that a petition was read from
AVilliam AVatt , " a member of this lodge during the time the lodge worked us modern Masons , praying to be initiated to the degrees he held therein . " It was ordered that Saturday aiight be set apart for' that purpose , and that the D . G . M . be informed thereof by the AV . M . Accordingly , on July ISth , " a particular meeting was held for the purpose of entering , passing , and raising Bro . A \ att , who had received the same in this lod
degrees ge Avhen modern . " All the degrees were conferred on the same ' night . The fees and dues varied somewhat during the time of my examination of the records . In 1785 they were as follows making , £ 2 3 s Gd ; passing , 15 s ; raising 15 s ; admission to membership , £ 1 Is 6 d . These sums Avere respectively equal to _ . ? 9 , 4-2 J- ; $ 3 , 25 , and § 4 , 66 . The annual dues Avere 24 s , or § 520
,. In 1793 the Entered Apprentice fees were "two guieeas to the Treasurer , and 51 to the Tyler . " In 1797 the fees for each initiation , passing , and raising , were S 9 , 32 J , 54 , 66 * , and § ' 1 , 66 : 5-. In 1778 the fees to the Grand Lodge were 10 s 6 d for initiation , and 2 s 4 d for quaterages . These were reduced in 1790 to 4 s 8 d , and Is 2 d . The only return of members I find was in 1792 , when it is recorded that this lodge returned the dues of members to the Graud Lodge as follows twent y-nine one year each , four three Quarters each , two two quatere seven initiations . Jan . 1 st , 1795 , it Avas
" Pesolved , That any member of this lodge not attending at every regular meeting shall pay 2 s 4 d , without a legal and sufficient excuse . " In 1797 the fines were changed to fifty cents for the first absence , one dollar each for the second and third , and from the fourth to be discontinued as a member . Such a laAV , if now in force , would tend very materially to increase the funds of our lodges , or decrease the membership . On one occassion the
Tyler Avas fined eight dollars for neglect of duty on a night of meeting . Prom 1797 onwards , for some years , the records shoAV that a' ^ contribution was taken up every night Avhiuh Avas expended in refreshments , an account of which is set forth Avith due particularity showing that the J . W . had actual instead of meteaphorical duties to perform during the hours of refreshment . The usual supply was a gallon .
of brand }' , a gallon of Avine , a venison ham , bread , cheese , & c . Brand , was § 2 , 00 , and Avine § 1 , 75 , to § 2 , 00 , per gallon . Occasionally there are entires for segars after for tumblers and ates . Prom July 1 st to Dec . 31 sfc , 1797 , I find entries amounting to § 4 , 50 for tnmblers alone . In 1836 the renting committee were authorized to sell the dishes , knives , forks , & c , belonging to the lodge , so we may conclude the entertainment was thenceforth dispensed vfitli . In 1801 a special committee used to meet at the lodge room
every Sunday . Their duties do not appear to be defined in the record book , but in a small book kept by them I find minutes of eight meetings , at Avhich there were usually four members present , sometimes five . They kept an accurate account of the amount paid for refreshments at each meeting , Avhich varies from fifty cents to " 4 , 94— -the total for the eight meetings being § 29 , 00 . In 1810 a "lecturing societ" used to meet on Sundays
y , usually in the morning , sometimes evenings , and occasionally both . The number iu attendance varied'from four to fourteen , generally about nine . They kept a cash book , in Avhich all their receipts ancl expenses are set forth , collecting twelve and a half cents from each person present to defray the expenses of the meeting , which included a moderate supply of fluids . One entry is ' so quaint that I copy it entire :
" At a regular meeting of the lecturing society of Solomon ' s Lodge No . 1 , June 9 th , A . M ., 5811 ; present , Bros . Griggs , Peck and Sisson . There not being a sufficient number of member present to do business , they turned to eating up the bread and cheese , and drinking the brandy . They then retired in good order and harmony . " The last meeting recorded is April 6 th , 1812 , Avhen there Avere eight . persons present , who contributed twenty-five cents each and bought three bottles of Avine to finish up Avith . In 1817 it was
Mesolved , That that portion of the By-laws Avhich compels the lodge to be closed before refreshment be repealed . " In 1821 all visiting brothers staying to refreshment were required to contribute twenty-five cents each , to go into the the general fund . This rule was afterwards extended to include members of the Lodge . These convival scenes seem to have been conducted Avith decorum , as became Masonsand intemperance was discouraged .
, In 1794 there is a record of a charge perferred against a brother for coming into the lodge disguised in liquor . He Avas excluded till he complied with By-laws Avhich he had transgressed . He aftenvards came up and begged pardon , was admonished by the AV , M ., and restored to his seat . All work was then clone in the first degree , Avhich causes some curious speculation in my mind , as to certain matters . Por
instance , in June , 1788 , a Bro . Avas elected S . D ., and the same night petitioned for his third degree , and Avas raised July 21 . The next year a Tyler Avas elected June 18 th , petitioned for his third degree Sept . 3 rd , and Avas raised Oct . 15 th . At funerals the lodge was opened on the first step of Masonry , and preceded to the Hall of the Grand Lodge , AA'here they were joined by the Grand Officers and other lodgessEAMasons
. .. could become members by petition , which had to lie over one meeting . Brethren petitioned for each degree , which Avas referred to a committee of examination , Avho reported at the next meeting , when a ballot Avas had . All these itens are prior to 1797 .
I'KEESIASONS' ALMANACKS . "Wanted a list of the various Freemasons' Almanachs that have been printed at home and abroad .- —ETHEMEBLDES
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Masonic Notes And Queries.
W . M . from Dec . 1790 , to Dec . 1792 , and again from June , 1795 to March , 1796 , about which time , it appears he died , and a new election was held . The first item ot interest I find is in reference to re-maklng Masons , and I copy entire those parts of the minutes referring thereto .
Oct . 5 tli , 17 S 5 . — " Bro . Jackson , after stating that the decline of Solomon's Lodge , the reasons foi it , the derival of the charter from an ancient Grand Master , aud tlie advantages which Avould accure from its altering the mode of constituting and making , by the prevention of seduction , which appears at present to be the case of a lodge under a pretended ancient Constitution from Pliiladephia , moved that the ancient bretluan of the lod do constitute themselves into an ancient lod
ge ge , under the reasons aforesaid , and the authority given by the Grand Lod ge of the State . Argued and referred to by Bro . Jackson , and report their sentiments to the lodge with respect to the propriety of re-making and constituting Solomon ' s Lodge on an ancient establishment for the future . Bro . Beecroft seconded the motion , which was unanimously agreed to . Pive ancient Masons being present , constituted themselves accorland
dingy , Bro . Bcercroft , acting as Master , reported that they had a full right and power to re-make and constitute an ancient lodge for tbe reasons given in the motion , also as it appears the original Constitution was ancient , as well as ou account of theauthority of the Grand Loclge , and that Solomon's Lodge , be , and it is hereby constituted an ancient Lodge , by the name of Solomon ' s Lodge Avhich redort Avas agreed to to bthe
y lodge . " Ordered by the ancient Masons , and agreed to by the whole that they met for the purpose of re-making Bro . B . W . Junior Grand Warden , and the old officers of Solomon's Lodge tomorrow , at 8 o ' clock in the mornine-.
Dec . 1 st , 17 S 5 . — " The AV . M . informed the lodge that in consquence of the procediugs ofthe last general meeting he had waited on the Grand Master , who had called a Grand Lodge Avere laid before them in regard to making ancient Masons , and they had approved the same . " _ Dec . 15 th , 17 S 5 . — " Ordered that the lodge do met on Monday Might next , in order to raise the officers of the Grand Lod ge , and to and raise Clark °
pass Bro . , and to raise Bro . Pierce to the third degree . " In 1786 and 17 S 7 I find that many " Modern Masons were Ancient" by petition . In June , 17 SG a brother illegally made a Mason in a spurious lodge made application to this Lodge , and took his degrees , paying half the regular fees therefor .
July , 2 nd , 1789 . —The WM . read a letter from a Bro . saying he had had an account presented to him by the Treasurer , for arrears , amounting to £ 1 , lis , 9 d . " Ordered that a committee be appointed to examine the several accounts against all the members of the lodge during the time the craft worked as modern Masons , and since the time of their becoming ancients . " The books immediately subsequent to this being destroyed I cannot give the report of this committee , bnt at the next meeting , July 16 th , 1789 , I find that a petition was read from
AVilliam AVatt , " a member of this lodge during the time the lodge worked us modern Masons , praying to be initiated to the degrees he held therein . " It was ordered that Saturday aiight be set apart for' that purpose , and that the D . G . M . be informed thereof by the AV . M . Accordingly , on July ISth , " a particular meeting was held for the purpose of entering , passing , and raising Bro . A \ att , who had received the same in this lod
degrees ge Avhen modern . " All the degrees were conferred on the same ' night . The fees and dues varied somewhat during the time of my examination of the records . In 1785 they were as follows making , £ 2 3 s Gd ; passing , 15 s ; raising 15 s ; admission to membership , £ 1 Is 6 d . These sums Avere respectively equal to _ . ? 9 , 4-2 J- ; $ 3 , 25 , and § 4 , 66 . The annual dues Avere 24 s , or § 520
,. In 1793 the Entered Apprentice fees were "two guieeas to the Treasurer , and 51 to the Tyler . " In 1797 the fees for each initiation , passing , and raising , were S 9 , 32 J , 54 , 66 * , and § ' 1 , 66 : 5-. In 1778 the fees to the Grand Lodge were 10 s 6 d for initiation , and 2 s 4 d for quaterages . These were reduced in 1790 to 4 s 8 d , and Is 2 d . The only return of members I find was in 1792 , when it is recorded that this lodge returned the dues of members to the Graud Lodge as follows twent y-nine one year each , four three Quarters each , two two quatere seven initiations . Jan . 1 st , 1795 , it Avas
" Pesolved , That any member of this lodge not attending at every regular meeting shall pay 2 s 4 d , without a legal and sufficient excuse . " In 1797 the fines were changed to fifty cents for the first absence , one dollar each for the second and third , and from the fourth to be discontinued as a member . Such a laAV , if now in force , would tend very materially to increase the funds of our lodges , or decrease the membership . On one occassion the
Tyler Avas fined eight dollars for neglect of duty on a night of meeting . Prom 1797 onwards , for some years , the records shoAV that a' ^ contribution was taken up every night Avhiuh Avas expended in refreshments , an account of which is set forth Avith due particularity showing that the J . W . had actual instead of meteaphorical duties to perform during the hours of refreshment . The usual supply was a gallon .
of brand }' , a gallon of Avine , a venison ham , bread , cheese , & c . Brand , was § 2 , 00 , and Avine § 1 , 75 , to § 2 , 00 , per gallon . Occasionally there are entires for segars after for tumblers and ates . Prom July 1 st to Dec . 31 sfc , 1797 , I find entries amounting to § 4 , 50 for tnmblers alone . In 1836 the renting committee were authorized to sell the dishes , knives , forks , & c , belonging to the lodge , so we may conclude the entertainment was thenceforth dispensed vfitli . In 1801 a special committee used to meet at the lodge room
every Sunday . Their duties do not appear to be defined in the record book , but in a small book kept by them I find minutes of eight meetings , at Avhich there were usually four members present , sometimes five . They kept an accurate account of the amount paid for refreshments at each meeting , Avhich varies from fifty cents to " 4 , 94— -the total for the eight meetings being § 29 , 00 . In 1810 a "lecturing societ" used to meet on Sundays
y , usually in the morning , sometimes evenings , and occasionally both . The number iu attendance varied'from four to fourteen , generally about nine . They kept a cash book , in Avhich all their receipts ancl expenses are set forth , collecting twelve and a half cents from each person present to defray the expenses of the meeting , which included a moderate supply of fluids . One entry is ' so quaint that I copy it entire :
" At a regular meeting of the lecturing society of Solomon ' s Lodge No . 1 , June 9 th , A . M ., 5811 ; present , Bros . Griggs , Peck and Sisson . There not being a sufficient number of member present to do business , they turned to eating up the bread and cheese , and drinking the brandy . They then retired in good order and harmony . " The last meeting recorded is April 6 th , 1812 , Avhen there Avere eight . persons present , who contributed twenty-five cents each and bought three bottles of Avine to finish up Avith . In 1817 it was
Mesolved , That that portion of the By-laws Avhich compels the lodge to be closed before refreshment be repealed . " In 1821 all visiting brothers staying to refreshment were required to contribute twenty-five cents each , to go into the the general fund . This rule was afterwards extended to include members of the Lodge . These convival scenes seem to have been conducted Avith decorum , as became Masonsand intemperance was discouraged .
, In 1794 there is a record of a charge perferred against a brother for coming into the lodge disguised in liquor . He Avas excluded till he complied with By-laws Avhich he had transgressed . He aftenvards came up and begged pardon , was admonished by the AV , M ., and restored to his seat . All work was then clone in the first degree , Avhich causes some curious speculation in my mind , as to certain matters . Por
instance , in June , 1788 , a Bro . Avas elected S . D ., and the same night petitioned for his third degree , and Avas raised July 21 . The next year a Tyler Avas elected June 18 th , petitioned for his third degree Sept . 3 rd , and Avas raised Oct . 15 th . At funerals the lodge was opened on the first step of Masonry , and preceded to the Hall of the Grand Lodge , AA'here they were joined by the Grand Officers and other lodgessEAMasons
. .. could become members by petition , which had to lie over one meeting . Brethren petitioned for each degree , which Avas referred to a committee of examination , Avho reported at the next meeting , when a ballot Avas had . All these itens are prior to 1797 .
I'KEESIASONS' ALMANACKS . "Wanted a list of the various Freemasons' Almanachs that have been printed at home and abroad .- —ETHEMEBLDES