History Of Freemasonry In Worcestershire.

numbered CO , tinder the Athol or York Constitution , was held at the Stonemasons Arms , Great Fish-street , iu 1757 . The Grand Lodge Roll of that year contains returns from 354 lodges , and the lodge at

Worcester numbers 39 members . It appears that one Avas excluded and deemed umvorthy , and another was similarly dealt Avith for clandestinely making-Masons for one shilling each !

The columns of Sorrow's Worcester Journal , the second oldest in England , have fortunately aided Bro . Griffiths in his industrious researches , and have supplied proofs of the existence of the early lodge upon which he has commented , and

with reference to which he remarks , " A paragraph in JJerrovfs Worcester Journal , in 1769 , justifies a belief in its existence at that date , where it is announced that ' A Company of Comedians , from London , AA ould perform by desire of the

Lodge of Freemasons / " The next reference to Freemasonry in Worcester , is also found in the Joumcd in the form of an advertisement . It is

dated April 1 st , 1790 , and the following is a verbatim copy of it : —

"MASONRY . " Iu all ages , by all sectaries , and in all nations the advantages of Masonry have been manifest . No society since the creation of the globe have ever been so universal and so respectable . They never have contaminated their laAvs , nor like many

premature societies exposed themselves to ridicule and contempt . The brethren must feel a secret satisfaction Avhen they are informed a lodge under the auspicious names of the Right Honourable Lord D ly and W d , the Right Honourable the Earl of Ply th , and the Right Honourable the Earl of Gov try ( gentlemen and brothers resident in this county ) Avill be

instituted ; and when the brethren recollect the politeness , affability , and humanity of the noble patrons , Avho can doubt of success ? For the purpose of promoting a constitution , chapters are held every Sunday evening at the Rein Deer , till it is brought to its Avished for crisis . The company of

every brother is requested . " Bro . Griffiths doubts the authenticity of this advertisement , and thinks that , as these noble brethren ( if brethren they AY ere ) , took no interest on the subject , " the AA'ish Avas father to the

thought or the head of the advertiser . " It may be noted that the date is April 1 , and that the wording of the advertisement evidently displays ignorance of the appropriate use of Masonic

terms . The first minute book of Worcester Lodge is

lost or mislaid , but the second commencing Jan . 1820 , is accessible . A copy of the interim Avarrant , dated Oct . 2 , 1790 , is here given : — No . 573 .

To Bros . D . B . Curwen , Thomas Smith , Jos . Dillon , Richard Hill , Moses Leviston , John Barnesley , Edward Connop , and John Whitaker , residing in and near the city of Worcester . " Brethren ,

"You are hereby authorised to assemble as a regular Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons at the Rein Deer Inn , in the city of Worcester aforesaid , under the title or denomination of the Worcester Lodge , and to make , pass , and raise Masons

as occasion shall require , and to do every other act as a reo ; ular lodge of Freemasons until a warrant of Constitution shall be made out .

" By the Deputy Grand Master ' s command , "W M . WHITE , G . S . " In the following year , 31 brethren are enrolled . One is very soon erased for misconduct , " plain evidence , " says the author " of the determination

to have none but ' good men and true' in the Worcester Lodge . '" The Avarrant or charter Avas granted by Lord Rawdon , aftenvards Earl of Moira , Acting Grand Master , under the authority of H . R . H . the Prince

of Wales , Grand Master . It was signed by Rawdon , A . G . M ., P . Parker , D . G . M ., and Avitnessed by William White , G . Sec , and is dated Oct . 9 , 1790 .

A letter is given from E . Lechmere ( great uncle to Sir Antony Lechmere , and who at the time AvasM . P . for Worcester ) , declining the honour of appointment as W . M ., although says Bro . Griffiths , it is questionable AAdiether he Avas of the

fraternity . There is no evidence of the number of meetings between the date of the interim warrant and the consecration of the lodge , but letters are iu existence to prove that the lodge was held in high estimation by many leading Masons of the time .

The author is indebted again to the Worcester Journal for an account of the consecration in its issue of May 25 , 1791 . " The Worcester Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons , No . 574 , held at the Rein Deer Inn , in

this city , was regularly consecrated on Thursday , the 19 th instant , after which the members in regular order proceeded to St . Martin ' s Church , Avhen an excellent sermon was preached on the