No. Xii.—Doyles Lodge, Guernsey.

No . XII . —DOYLES LODGE , GUERNSEY .

LONDON , SATURDAY , JUNE 13 , 1863 .

In our notice of the province of Guernsey we alluded to Doyle's Lodge of Fellowship , as having been founded by Sir John Doyle . Farther investigation has lead us to believe that , while Sir John was undoubtedly the founder of

Doyle ' s Lodge as noAv existing , he nevertheless established it upon the basis of a much older lodge . There are two charters for Doyle's Lodge . One was granted by the the Duke of Athol , Grand Master of Ancient York Masons in 1807 ,

to Sir John Doyle , David Watson , and Thomas Le Lievre . This charter is numbered 98 , and a note says , "This warrant is registered in the Grand Lodge , vol . III ., letter 0 and E , 17 th March , 1762 . " Ifc would appear , therefore , that the

lodge now known as Doyle's really originated in 1762 , and is consequently the most ancient in the Channel Islands .

The second charter of Doyle ' s is dated 1810 , and was issued by Sir John . Doyle himself for some unexplained purpose . It reads as follows : "No . 5 , GUERNSEY ESTABLISHMENT . " To all and every our Ri ght Worshipful ,

Worshipful , and Loving Brethren . " We , Lieutenant-General Sir John Doyle , Bart ., E . G ., Colonel of the 87 th Regiment of Eoot , Lieutenant-Governor of Guernsey , arid commanding-in-chief His Majesty ' s Forces in the

Islands of Guernsey and Alderney , Provincial Grand Master under the authority of His Eoyal Highness George Augustus Frederick Prince of Wales , & c , & c , Grand Master of the most Ancient and Honourable Society of Free and Accepted Masons , send Greeting .

Priaulx , David Watson , Thomas Bell , and several "KNOW YOU THAT WEj at the humble petition of our right trusty and well-beloved brethren , Anthony other brethren residing in the Island of Guernsey , do hereby constitute the said brethren into a

regular Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons , under the title or denomination of ' Doyle ' s Lodge of Fellowshi p / to be opened in the Island of Guernsey aforesaid and we do further , at their said petition , and of the great trust and confidence

reposed in eveiy of the said above-named brethren , hereby appoint Anthony Priaulx to be Master , David Watson to be Senior Warden , and Thomas Bell to be Junior Warden for opening the said loclge

and for such further time only as shall be thought proper by the brethren thereof ; ifc being our will that this our appointment of the above officers shall in no wise affect any future election of officers of the lodge , but that such election shall be

regulated agreeable to such bye-laAvs of the said lodge as shall be consistent with the general laws of the society , contained in the " ook of Constitutions "; and we will and require the said Anthony Priaulx to take special care that all and every of the

said brethren are or have been regularly-made Masons , ancl that they do observe , perform , and keep the rules and orders contained in the ' Book of Constitutions . ' And , further , that yon do , from time to time , cause to be entered in a book

to be kept for that purpose an account of your proceedings in the lodge , together with all such rules , orders , and regulations as shall be made for

the good government of the same ; that in no Avise you omit once in every year to send to us , or the Grand Master , or to Sir Peter Parker , Baronet , & c , Deputy Grand Master , or to the Provincial Grand Master for the time being , an account in

writing of your said proceedings , and copies of all such rules , orders , and regulations as shall be made as aforesaid , together with a list of the members of the lodge and such a sum of money as may-suit the circumstances of the lodge , and

reasonably be expected , towards the Grand Charity . Moreover , we hereby will and require you , the said Anthony Priaulx , as soon as conveniently may be , to send to us an account in writing of what may be done by virtue of these presents .

" Given at Government House , Guernsey , under our hand and seal , the llth day of June , 1810 , A . z . 5810 , A . D . 1810 .

" J . DOYLE , " Prov . G . M . for the Islands of Guernsey , Jersey , Alderney , and Sark" By command of the Prov . G . M . " B . E . ABBEY ,

"Prov . G . Sec . " This charter is headed " No . 5 , Guernsey Establishment "—a proof that at the period of its date there were four other lodges existing . The future historian of the province will do well to

endeavour to recover traces of those lodges , Ifc will be observed that Sir John Doyle was the Provincial Grand Master for Guernsey , Jersey , Alderney , and Sark , and it is evident thafc at thafc time Guernsey had pre-eminence of Jersey in Masonic matters .