Lodge Minutes, Etc.—No. 10.

lodges holding of the Kilwinning Lodge are irregular . ' It was represented to the meeting by Br . Begg that of late certain persons pretending to derive authority from the Lodges of Dumblane and

Lismahagow , had been in the practice of entering Apprentices in this city for these respective lodges , and also of passing Fellow Crafts and raising Master Masons , and that as he conceived these proceedings to be illegal , he had thought it

prudent to state them to the meeting . * The members were therefore called upon to deliver their sentiments , which being done , it was resolved unanimously that the procedure of these persons

alleging authority from the Dumblane and Lismahagow Lodges appears to this meeting to be illegal , this meeting being of opinion that these lodges had no right or title to delegate authority to any of their members beyond their own bounds .

And therefore the meeting resolve to report the said proceedings to the Grand Lodge of Scotland to the end that such regulations and orders may be adopted by that lodge as may seem meet . These minutes are appointed to be reported to the

Grand Lodge by Br . Begg , as Master of the senior lodge present , and by Br . Alexander Park , as Secretary elected to this meeting . " ALEXB PABE , Secy . JOHN BEGG , R . W . M .

In August , 1794 . "The committee were in general of opinion that as the candidate was blind and could not distinguish colours , that he could not properly be admitted a member . " " The members of this committee were generally

of opinion that the attendance they were often called to with respect to the particular business of the lodge as office-bearers , they were of opinion that the funds of the lodge should defray their expense , which should not exceed 4 d . each .

Agreed accordingly . " On the 29 th Septr ., 1794 , two brethren " from the Operative Lodge of Banff , No . 121 , were passed Fellow Craft , and afterwards raised to the sublime degree of Master Masons , having paid half a guinea

each to the funds of the lodge , and admitted in consequence thereof full members qf this lodge . " The two country lodges above referred to still continuing to make Masons in Glasgow , Br . Begg on the 23 rd October , 1794 , resolved to go to Edinburgh anent the matter , and shortly after

Lodge Minutes, Etc.—No. 10.

comes back with extract of Grand Lodge , which says , " that no lodge holding of the Grand Lodge of Scotland has authority to make any members out of their own district under the severest penalty of being erased from the Grand Lodge books . "

On the 3 rd Dec , 1794 , proposed to hold the coming festival in the Buck's Head Inn , when Bro . John Grasme said " if the lodge would dine in that place he would take it as a particular favour , and put a guinea in the bottom of the first bowl of punch for the good of the lodge . " ( To le continued ?)

Freemasonry—Past And Present.

FREEMASONRY—PAST AND PRESENT .

No . 1 . —OPERATIVE AND SPECULATIVE FEEEMASONEY BEFORE A . D . 1716 . By Bro . W . J . HUGHAN , Prov . G . Sec . Cornwall . Thelas'tfew years willbe remarkable , Masonically , for a considerable addition of evidence respecting

the character of Freemasonry anterior to the eighteenth century , as likewise for an increase of published records of lodges during- that eventful period . While some attempt to deprecate the study of our history , and speculations as to the

origin of the fraternity , it seems generally to be admitted by intelligent brethren that the time has arrived for the facts of the Craft to be published , for all absurd stories and unhistoric statements to be abolished at once and for ever from our records ,

and for the history of the Order to be written , according to the laws of evidence rather than of fiction .

There are minute books of several lodges still in existence which date long before A . D . 1716 , some as far back as the sixteenth century , and others preserved commence only a short while before the " Revival . "

All such records that we know of , either from personal examination or published excerpts by competent brethren , decidedly confirm the fact that other candidates were admitted than operative Masons before the last century , although it is not

certain that such brethren became officers before the middle of the seventeenth century . The records of some of these lodges never mention aught of operative Masonry , either as a condition of Membership , or asthebasis of organization ,

while others do . Among the latter class the old lodges are generally to be found , and were mostly instituted as much for the financial benefit of their