History Of Freemasonry In Cornwall.

HISTORY OF FREEMASONRY IN CORNWALL .

LOTSTDOn , SATURDAY , NOVEMBER 11 , 1866 .

By > $ < Bro . WIILIAH JAMES Svanxai , IS , & c , ( Continued from page 362 . ) The charge against a member of the Craft was again alluded to at the meeting , held May 13 th , 1762 . The W . M . in the chair . It was proposed by the

Master , that a letter be sent from this lodge , and one from Bro . P . to Bro . Street , of Bideford , to inquire into the circumstances of the charge laid against Bro . P . on the 13 th . February , and " provided Bro . Street neglect answering to ihe letter to support the

charge as above , " the brother mentioned "is to be entitled to a clearance of the same . " It was unanimously agreed to ; and to make all things sure , the accused was to " deliver his letter to the Master of the lodge to put it into the post office . "

The following is a copy of the letter sent to Bideford .- — "Bro . Street , "Whereas , Bro . Polack stands charged hy you under the imputation of a breach of the degree of

a Master Mason , you are hereby requested by return of post to write to me whether he has or has not been guilty of the breach laid to his charge . The neglect of your answer in due course will entitle him to a release of the expulsion , which in consequence of your charge , this lodge has inflicted on him , by order .

" T . HOETOJT , Secretary . " We find that no answer was vouchsafed to the above , and , in consequence , Bro . Polack was re-instated , according to the resolution of the lodge to that effect .

On June 24 th , it was " proposed and ordered that tht Tyler receive nothing for his attendance this day , and that , as he left the lodge untyled , he is under the censure of the lodge until next meeting . " The W . M . was re-elected on the 12 th Aug ., and

appointed Bros . Edward Snoxell , S . W . ; Jas . IJooten , J . W . ; Thomas Dickinson , Treas . ; Stephen Bell , Sec .

The Secretary from this time usually records the attendance of the brethren , and frequently a list of twenty names commences the minutes . On tho 26 th , there were fifteen visiters from the neighbouring lodges to nine members ! Eor some , time Ealmouth was the centre of Masonry for the county , and

possessed almost unlimited power in the province , from the circumstance of the principal members being located there , and also from the fact of " Love and Honour " being the honoured and revered " mother lodge " in the far west of England . The Tyler seems

to have been rather troublesome , as , on 20 th September , he received nothing for his attendance by resolution of the lodge , " because he was found guilty of admitting a person in the adjoining room . " It was proposed by the S . W ., that " our brother , Thomas

Eichards be allowed the sum of five gaineas , his late sickness causing him to be in " such circumstances as to prevent him taking a journey , which would be of great advantage to him . " It was unanimously agreed to .

December 9 th , 1762 . Lodge opened in due form . It was proposed that a " Ballot be called whether the the entry of March 11 th , 1762 ( of a fine of 7 s . 6 d . for not sending the key ) , be erased in favour of Bro . Allison or not for material reasons , " and decided in

the affirmative . " JNTotice was given at the same meeting that in consequence of a letter sent to the lodge from the regular constituted lodge at Helsfcone , respreseniing that some brethren had applied for a warrant of constitution in opposition to their rights and privileges , as being already iu the town , the

Provincial Grand Secretary promised to acquaint the Grand Lodge of the matter , in " order to prevent such proceedings , as it may prove detrimental to Masonry in general . " The meeting on December 30 th , of the same year

was important , as Bro . Stephen Bell was , by a majority of the lodge elected Master . Bro . Stephen Bell ivas initiated on May , 1762 ; appointed D . Prov . G-. M . of the Province of Cornwall on June 24 th ,

1771 , and Prov . G-. M ., about 1775 . Bro . James Hoten was appointed S . W . Bro . Alexander Moses , J . W .. Bro . Bennett ,. Treasurer , and Bro . Dickinson , Secretary . It ivas proposed by the Treasurer that "In default of not allowing the servants of the house a proper recompense for their trouble in attending

the lodge , that from this time forward they are to he allowed ten shillings and sixpence per quarter from the lodge stock . Unanimously agreed to . May 12 th , 1763 . Lodge opened in due form . Bro . Stephen Bell , E . W . M . It was proposed and

unanimously agreed " That a letter be sent to the Master of each lodge in the county , requesting his and his lodge ' s attendance next St . John the Baptist ' s festival to spend the clay Masonically according to the ancient usages of Masons . " Subsequently a member

of the lodge being sick and afEicted was generously relieved by the lodge to the amount of £ 1 lis . 6 d . St . John the Baptist festival was spent in Masonic fashion at Falmouth , June 2-lth , 1763 , by Bro . Geo . Bell , D . Prov . G . M . of Cornwall ; Bro . Isaac Head

, Prov . G . M . of the Isles of Scilly ; Bro . Stephen Bell , E . W . M . ; Bro . Thomas Yonge , P . M . ; Bro . M . Alii , eon , Prov . G . Sec , and a goodly number of the members aud visitors . The Truro Lodge must have been well nigh shipwrecked of late , as some of its