M. W. Grand Master sealed, having been transmitted direct to him,

and not sent through the Board ; that, upon perusal, his Royal High- ness found it to contain questions relative to the Order of the Royal Arch, which could not, under any circumstances, be discussed in the Grand Lodge ; and he, therefore, never communicated the receipt of it, nor any part of its contents, either to the Grand Lodge or to
329
made use of irritating and exaggerated statements of facts ; and even bordered upon menaces, with the inten- tion of intimidating the Grand Lodge by the dread of another schism. They laboured under the grievous error of supposing that Boards and superior officers, although lawfully constituted, possessed no authority ; and that as all Masters, Past Masters, and Wardens, are ex-officio members of the Grand Lodge, so the acts of a competent number of such members, wheresoever assembled, are equally valid and binding; forgetting, that as no private Lodge can be legally held without its Master, or his legitimate substitute, so no Grand Lodge can possibly
the Board of General Purposes ; consequently the Board was wholly ignorant of such address having been sent ; and, as it was subsequently withdrawn as improper, the Grand Master had hoped the matter had been set at rest.
That the Board of General Purposes possesses no powers but such as have been delegated to it by the United Grand Lodge, and to which body an appeal is reserved in all cases.
That the Board is not the only channel of communication with the Grand Lodge ; on the contrary, all petitions, appeals, &c., for that Body, addressed to the Grand Secretary, and transmitted at least seven days prior to any Quarterly Communication, so that the same may be read at the General Committee, which meets on the Wednesday pre- vious to the Grand Lodge, must, as a matter of course, go to the Grand Lodge, provided the language be proper ; and every member of the Grand Lodge is at liberty to bring any subject under discus- sion there, provided he give notice at the said General Committee of his intention so to do.
If the meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge, held at Preston, in 1820, or any of the proceedings there adopted, were irregular, the Members who held such an opinion might have preferred their com- plaint in the proper quarter; but which they have never done.
His Royal Highness directs, that this letter may be communicated to the Provincial Grand Lodge on Monday next, for the information of the Brethren who may be then assembled, not as an answer to the printed paper alluded to, because the printing of such paper, and the meeting on the 26th November last, are both so illegal, that no answer could be given to them ; but because the Grand Master is desirous that the Brethren who have seen the paper may, at least, be informed oj the fallacious grounds on which it is framed, although such paper, being illegal, could form no part of the proceedings of a Lodge, or be recognized by them.
We have the honour to be, '
Eight Worshipful Brother, Your most obedient servants and faithful Brothers,
WILLIAM H. WHITE, EDW. HARPER,
330 ILLUSTRATIONS
be constituted, how numerous soever its members may be, except the Grand Master, or a Deputy regularly appointed by himself, were actually present. They even pursued this principle so far as to convene a general meeting of Masons in the county palatine of Lancaster, without the concurrence of the P. G. Master, or his Deputy; and, in their eagerness to confirm their own acts by the countenance of such an authority, they totally lost sight of the plain construction of that simple law, by virtue of which the decree of suspension had been issued and confirmed, that "if any Brother be sum- moned to attend the Grand Master or his Deputy, or the P. G. Master or his Deputy, or any board or committee authorized by the Grand Master, and do not comply, or give sufficient reason for his non-attendance, the summons is to be repeated, and if he still persists in his contumacy, he shall be suspended fnom all masonic rights, and the proceeding notified to the Grand Lodge.120
The P. G. Master, finding all attempts to settle the question ineffectual, transmitted the documents to the Board of General Purposes; and that body, now that the subject was brought regularly before them, proceeded without delay to the performance of their duty ; and, in the examination of the charges, they appear to have been actuated by a desire to discharge that duty faithfully and impartially. On the 5th of December, 18:21, they made their Report to the Grand Lodge, which was read and approved ; and it was then ordered, that " the Lodge No. 31 be further suspended from the exercise of its masonic privileges until the next Quarterly Communica- tion, reserving to the Grand Master the power to restore it previously, if he should see sufficient cause so to do." The Lodge took no notice of this order, but continued occasionally to meet ; and it was therefore resolved by the Grand Lodge, on the 6th March, 1822, " that the Master and Wardens of No. 31 be summoned to show cause, at the next Quarterly Communication, why the Lodge should not be erased from the list of Lodges, and its warrant be withdrawn, for disobedience of the order of the Grand Lodge ; and that, in the mean time, it be suspended from its functions, allowing the members only
M Const. " Of Members, and their Duty." Art 14.
OF MASONRY. 881
to assemble in Lodge for the purpose of considering their defence." It was also resolved unanimously, that " the thirty-four Brethren, whose names appeared to a printed paper, dated Masonic Committee Room, Castle Inn, North Liverpool, Nov. 26, 1821, circulated to many Lodges, be suspended from their masonic privileges until the next Quarterly Communication, reserving to the Grand Master the power previously to reinstate the whole, or such of them as he may see cause to restore." Copies of these resolutions were sent to the Lodge, and to the thirty- four Brethren respectively.
The Lodge No. 31 now transmitted a paper, bearing date the 1st of April, in which the members denied to the Grand Lodge the right and power of passing the above resolutions, and remonstrated, in very unbecoming and offensive language, against its proceedings on their case. This was followed up by another paper of similar tendency in June, wherein it was avowed " that the Lodge No. 31, notwithstanding the prohibition of the 5th of December last, had continued to hold its masonic meetings in the usual manner ; that, in consequence of a resolution passed in the Lodge, it was impossible for the members to pay any attention to the commands of the Grand Lodge ; and that, under existing circumstances, it was their determination not to do so." Such a flagrant instance of contumacy, and violation of discipline, could not be overlooked ; and, therefore, on motions duly made at the Quarterly Communication in June, 1822, it was resolved unanimously, " That the Lodge No. 31, at Liver- pool, be erased from the list of Lodges, and its warrant forfeited ; that notice of *uch erasure be transmitted to every Lodge upon the registry of the Grand Lodge ; and that no Brother, being at present a member of the said Lodge No. 31, be received, even as a visitor, in any other Lodge ; that these resolutions be communicated to the Grand Lodges of Scotland and Ireland, and to all Lodges in communion with the Grand Lodge of England; that the several Brothers who signed the papers published under the date of the 26th of "Nov., 1821, and the 1st of April, 1822, be summoned to show cause, at the next Quarterly Communication, why they should not be expelled the Fraternity; and that, in the mean time, they be suspended from their masonic privileges; and
332 ILLUSTRATIONS
that notice of such suspension, with the names of the individuals so suspended, be transmitted to all the Lodges, in order that those Brethren may not be re- ceived, even as visitors, in any Lodge, under the penalty attached to the Lodges admitting irregular Masons.121
It is to be regretted that expelled and suspended Brothers, at this extreme period of the business, should have still indulged in the spirit of bitterness, which was calculated to exclude the sympathy and commiseration of Brethren uninterested in the dispute. They issued another appeal to the Lodges, in which they condemn the Brethren who had been reinstated on petition, in no measured language ; and declare that " they wish it to be perfectly understood that they shall not ^tetition to be reinstated; nor shall they be satisfied with reinstatement, unless a full and impartial inquiry be made into the abuses and innovations of which they have complained."
Petitions for readmission continued still to be received and attended to by the Grand Lodge, for the door of for- giveness was not finally closed until the month of March, 1823, when, at the Quarterly Communication, held on the 5th of that month, the Grand Lodge declared " that every possible opportunity had been afforded for the offending Brethren to reconsider and make atonement for their past misconduct ; but, instead of profiting by the indulgence thus granted, they this day transmitted a statement replete with additional insult to the Grand Lodge and other masonic authorities; whereupon, on a motion duly made and seconded, it was resolved unani- mously, that the said Brethren be for ever expelled from Masonry ;" and thus twenty-six individuals, who remain- ed refractory, were finally and for ever excluded from any participation in the business of the Craft.
The agitation which these events produced did not
12- The expelled and suspended Brethren were sixty-eight in num- ber, and were members of the following Lodges : — Twelve belonged to No. 31, three of whom had been reinstated by petition to the Grand Master ; four belonged to No. 59, who had all been restored by peti- tion; nine to 74; seven to No. 140, two of whom had been restored: one to No. 182; five to No. 348, four of whom had been readmitted; one to No. 378 ; one to number 380, and he had been restored ; five to No. 442. four of whom had been reinstated ; seven to No. 466, four of whom were restored ; twelve to No. 486, three of whom had been restored ; and four to No. 655, who had all been restored.
OF MASONRY. 333
easily subside. The leaven continued to work; and those who refused to submit to the authoritative man- date of the Grand Lodge, or to conciliate by a respectful submission, resolved once more to have recourse to the old system of menace ; and, in September, 1823, the Sea Captains' Lodge at Liverpool, No. 140, having trans- mitted to the Grand Lodge, at its last meeting, a paper dated 29th May, 1823, and signed by John Thompson, W. M., Peter Bairibridge, S. W., Thomas Read, J. W., and Thomas Berry, Sec., in which paper it was declared to be the fixed resolution of the said Lodge to separate itself from the Grand Lodge, unless the warrant of the late Lodge No. 31, at Liverpool, should be reinstated, and the privileges of the twenty-six individuals, who had been expelled from the Craft, were restored ; and it appearing that three of the individuals who had signed the said paper were amongst those who had been so expelled, and the fourth was not registered as a member of the Lodge, it had been ordered, that the Lodge, No. 140, should be summoned to show cause, at this meeting, why its warrant should not be declared forfeited, and the Lodge erased, for continuing or admitting as members, individuals who had been expelled from Masonry, and for transmitting or sanctioning the said paper. And, as no communication could be held with the expelled members, it was intimated to the Lodge that its only admissible representatives would be the regular Past Masters and Past Wardens. And it was ordered, that Thomas Read, who signed the above paper as Junior Warden, without being registered as a member of the Lodge, should be summoned to show cause why he should not be expelled from Masonry, for having affixed his signature to the paper in question. The parties thus summoned not having appeared to answer to the com- plaint, it was ordered ." that the warrant of the Sea Captains' Lodge at Liverpool, No. 140, be, and the same is, hereby declared forfeited, for violating the-laws of the Craft, and for contumacy, and that the Lodge be accord- ingly erased from the list of Lodges: and that the said Thomas Read, so signing himself as J. W. of the Lodge, No. 140, although not registered as a member thereof, be henceforth disqualified from acting as a Mason, or from being recognized or received as such in any Lodge
334 ILLUSTRATIONS
whatever." This prompt example was completely effi- cacious, and from hence we hear no more of opposition or -intemperate resistance to the decrees of the Grand Lodge.
SECT. XIX.
History of Freemasonry from 1823 to 1829.
IN the year 1823, the installation of his Royal High- ness the Duke of York, as Master of the Prince of Wales's Lodge, was performed; and was attended by some cir- cumstances which may be interesting to the Craft. The warrant of constitution had been granted to this Lodge in the year 1787, by his Royal Higness the late Duke of Cumberland, at the instance of his present Majesty, then Prince of Wales. In this warrant, Sir Samuel Hulse, the Honourable Colonel Stanhope, and the late Lord Lake, were nominated as the Master and Wardens; but in the year 1792, their Royal Highnesses the Dukes of York and Clarence were appointed to the latter offices, which they continued to hold till his Majesty's accession in 1820.
The following Memorial was shortly afterwards pre- sented to his Majesty, who was graciously pleased to accede to the prayer of it, in terms as flattering to the Lodge as they were characteristic of that accomplished urbanity so peculiarly possessed by the revered sovereign of these realms : —
WE, your Majesty's most dutiful and loyal subjects, the Acting Master, Wardens, and Brethren of the Prince of Wales's Lodge, humbly entreat permission to approach your Majesty with the expres- sion of our affectionate attachment to your Majesty's person. Un- willing to break in upon your Majesty's privacy during the first period of your happy accession to the throne of these realms, we have hitherto refrained from presenting this our humble Petition. For many years past it has been the highest honour of which our Lodge can boast, and, at the same time, its greatest pride, to recognize your Majesty as its patron and protector, in the character of Master of the Lodge.
In making this our earnest solicitation, that the same high patron- age may be continued to us, we trust we are not acting incompatibly with our respectful duty to a beloved Sovereign, or presuming to much upon that condescending benignity which has hitherto been so graciously manifested towards us.
We fuithcr humbly petition, that the Lodge may be permitted to
OF MASONRY. 335
retain the jewel so long worn by its members, as their most honour- able and distinctive badge, and be empowered to present it to all future members of the Lodge ; or if your Majesty should be pleased to make any alteration herein, we shall bow with dutiful submission to the royal will: and, under every circumstance, feel the deepest sense of gratitude,- veneration, and affection, for past acts of kindness and beneficence. As your Majesty has long possessed the love and confidence of the Society of Freemasons, so may you, Sire, continue to live in the hearts of all men; from no class, however, can this prayer be offered up to the Great Architect of the Universe with more fervour and sincerity, than from those individuals who have the high honour to be members of the Prince of Wales's Lodge.
(Signed, &c.)
The first duty of the Lodge being thus performed, and happily sanctioned by the gracious reception which this Memorial had the good fortune to meet with ; the attention of the Brethren was next directed to the Royal Senior Warden, the Duke of York, whose support, under existing circumstances, would so effectually preserve and perpetuate the proud connexion which had so long existed between the Lodge and its Royal Founder. The following letter was therefore transmitted to his Royal Highness by Lord Dundas, the Master : —
MAY IT PLEASE YOUR ROYAL
We, the undersigned, the Acting Master, Wardens, and Brethren of the Prince of Wales's Lodge, having, for many years, been honoured with the name of your Royal Highness as Senior Warden, together with that of his Royal Highness the Duke of Clarence, as Junior Warden of the Lodge, by the especial appointment of his present Majesty when Prince of Wales, most respectfully beg leave to repre sent, that the Lodge has, upon a recent Memorial presented to the King, received the proud distinction of his Majesty's gracious per- mission to act under the royal patronage ; it being, however, incom- patible with the dignity of the throne, that the Lodge should continue to recognize his Majesty as its Master, with great humility we crave permission to tender this office to your Royal Highness's acceptance.
Should we be fortunate enough to obtain your Royal Highness's assent to this our respectful solicitation, we shall, indeed, feel ourselves most highly honoured ; and we can only add. that it will be an addi- tional stimulus to our exertions, in promoting the welfare, respecta- bility, and prosperity of a Lodge, which is already deeply sensible of the lustre it has acquired by having their beloved Sovereign for its immediate patron.
With every sentiment of respect and dutiful attachment, we have the honour to subscribe ourselves,
Your Royal Highness's Most devoted and obedient humble Servants, (Signed, &c.)
336 ILLUSTRATIONS
His Royal Highness, with the greatest kindness and condescension, acceded to the request of the Brethren ; and, the preliminary measures being completed, the installation of the Master Elect took place on Saturday, March 22, 1823, at the Thatched House Tavern, St. James's Street. His Royal Highness the Duke of Sussex performed the ceremony, and conducted the whole pro- ceedings with the greatest masonic dignity. When the new Master had been installed, and had received the customary salutations, he appointed and invested his Deputy Master, Wardens, and other officers ; after which the warrant, the book of constitutions, the Bible, square, and compasses, the bye-laws, and the working tools, were »reserited by different Brethren, accompanied by appro- priate addresses. The former were presented by Sir Frederick Fowke, P. S. G. W. the Deputy Master, with the following address: —
I have peculiar pleasure in presenting to your Royal Highness a document of equal interest to you, Sir, and to ourselves. It is the Warrant of Constitution of the Prince of Wales's Lodge, which was granted by your Royal Highness's uncle, the late Duke of Cumber- land, as Grand Master, at the instance of his present Majesty, then Prince of Wales.
The instrument. Sir, is now rendered doubly valuable to us, from the proud accession we have this day acquired in the person of your Royal Highness as Master of the Lodge, who received your appoint- ment as Senior Warden soon after the first formation of the Lodge. May we, Sir, long continue to act under the sanction of this warrant, which so closely connects the Lodge with your Royal Highness's family ; and which, while it elicits our affectionate attachment to its illustrious members, will ever be a gratifying memento of that duty and allegiance which, as men and Masons, we owe to our Sovereign and immediate patron. I have also to present to your Royal Highness the Book of Constitutions, which contains the general Laws of Masonry, and the Orders and Regulations established by the United Grand Lodge of England, for the guidance and orderly government of the Society. To these Orders and Regulations it is our duty, as good and faithful Masons, to submit, in the perfect confidence, that, as they have been framed with great deliberation and wisdom, so we may be satisfied that the interests of the Fraternity will be best consulted by a strict and willing adherence to the salutary provisions which they contain.
All the necessary forms in the Lodge being now con- cluded, the newly installed Master, accompanied by his Royal Brother, retired into a private room, and the rest of the Brethren adjourned to the drawing-room. When dinner was announced, they were marshalled by the
OF MASONRY- 337
Director of Ceremonies, and went in procession to the Banqueting-roorn, where they took their seats according to a previous arrangement, that they might receive their Royal Highnesses in due form.
The two Princes entered the room at seven o'clock, amidst the cheers and congratulations of the assembly ; and the newly installed Master took the chair, supported -on the right by the Duke of Sussex and Sir John Doyle, and on the left by Lord Dundas and Sir F. Fowke, Bart. About ninety distinguished Brethren, including upwards of forty Grand Officers, sat down to this animating banquet, exhibiting a magnificent display of masonic talent, character, and respectability. Several addresses were delivered after dinner by his Royal Highness the Duke of Sussex, Sir John Doyle, and other individuals; and nothing could exceed the perfect satisfaction and pleasure which were visible on every countenance ; heightened by beholding the Royal Brothers badge of innocence, and bqnd of friendship," seated by each other's side, and contributing largely to the soci- ality of all around them. They retired soon after eleven o'clock, which was the signal for the meeting to break up, as the Brethren were unwilling, from a respectful feeling towards the Illustrious Brothers, to protract their conviviality beyond the hour at which the Royal Chair- man had quitted his post.
The author of the little pamphlet122 from which the above particulars have been extracted, concludes his account of this festival with the following observation: — " Men, ignorant of the real objects of Masonry, and accustomed to speak slightingly of it, may, from oc- currences like these, be induced to entertain a more favourable opinion of an institution which folly may misrepresent, or malevolence calumniate ; but while, in conformity with its precepts, we continue to be peaceable subjects, and while kings and princes are enrolled under its banners, we may defy the darts of slander, and claim the respect and confidence of the community; for the principles of Freemasonry invari- ably lead its members TO FEAR GOD, LOVE THEIR NEIGH- BOUR, AND HONOUR THEIR KING.
122 Printed and published by Brother Thiselton, Goodge-street. 16
338 ILLUSTRATIONS
The enterprising traveller, Belzoni, to whose researches science is so much indebted, prosecuted his antiquarian inquiries with such independent perseverance, that, neg- lecting his own emolument, he consigned the results of his labours and discoveries to the sole benefit of this country.123 In stature he was gigantic; and to this accidental perfection he himself modestly attributes some portion of his success amongst a people little better than savages. It is well known that iie lost his life in
133 He gives the following summary of his labours in the year 1820; — u My native place is the city of Padua ; I am of a Roman family which had resided there for many years. The state and troubles or Italy in 1800, which are too well known to require any comment from me, compelled me to leave it, and since that tune I have visited differ- ent parts of Europe, and suffered many vicissitudes. The greater part of my younger days I passed in Home, the 0 inner abode of my ancestors, where I was preparing myself to become a monk ; but the sudden entry of the French army into that city altered the course of my education, and, being destined to travel, I have been u wanderer ever since. My family occasionally supplied me with remittances ; but, as they were not rich, I did not choose to be a burthen to them, and contrived to live on my own industry, and the little knowledge I had acquired in various branches. I turned my chief attention to hydraulics, a science that I had learned at Rome, which I found much to my advantage, and which was ultimately tho very cause of my going to Egypt. For I had good information that an hydraulic machine would be of great service in that country, to irrigate the fields, which want water only to make them produce at any time of the year. But I am anticipating. In 1803 I arived in England; soon after which I married ; and after residing in it nine years, I formed a resolution of going to the south of Europe. Taking Mrs. Belzoni with me, I visited Portugal, Spain, and Malta, from which latter place we embarked for Egypt, where we remained from 1815 to 1819. Here I had the good fortune to be the discoverer of many remains of antiquity of that primitive nation. I succeeded in opening one of the two famous pyramids of Ghizeh, as well as several of the tombs of the kings of Thebes. Among the latter, that which has been pronounced by one of the most distinguished scholars of the age to be the tomb o^ Psammuthis, is at this moment the principal, the most perfect an. splendid monument in that country. «The celebrated bust of young Memnon, which I brought from Thebes, is now in the British Museum; and the alabaster sarcophagus, found in the tomb of the kings, is on its way to England.
"Near the second cataract of the Nile, I opened the temple of Ybsambul ; then made a journey to the coast of the Red Sea. to the city of Berenice, and afterwards an excursion in the western Elloah. or Oasis. I now embarked for Europe ; and, after an absence of twenty years, returned to my native country, and to the. bosom of my family, from whence I proceeded to England." — Discoveries in Egypt. Pi eface.
OF MASONRY. 339
Africa, in the year 1825, in which quarter of the globe he was initiated into Masonry,124 and which was the scene of all his active achievements: and so little was he blessed with the benefits of fortune, that, on receiving the unhappy tidings of his loss, his widow found herself wholly destitute of support. She had heard of Masonic benevolence, and made her appeal to the Grand Lodge, where the simple tale of real distress is never preferred in vain. The M. W. Grand Master brought to the notice of that august body the distresses of the widow. He stated that Brother Belzoni, who had recently lost his life during his travels in Africa, was initiated at Cairo, in the Lodge of the Pyramids, and during his residence at Cambridge had become a member of the Lodge of the School of Plato, No. 549, in that place; and, as notice had been given in the General Committee of an intention to submit the matter to the Grand Lodge, bis Royal Highness moved, and it was resolved unanimously, " That the United Grand Lodge of Freemasons of En- gland, deeply sympathizing with Mrs. Belzoni, on the irreparable loss which she, as well as the lovers of science and literature, has sustained by the premature death of the late Brother Belzoni, do contribute the sum of 50/. out of the Fund of Benevolence, in aid of the public subscription in her behalf."
121 The Mason, however, is a citizen of the world ; and, in whatever clime misfortune may overtake him, should he meet with Brothers, his relief is certain. In this particular Masonry is respected even by pirates, who are a terror to every other order of men ; and I rejoice that it is in my power to record a triumphant and well-authenticated illustration of the fact. At a meeting of the Leith and Canongate Lodge on Thursday evening. March 5th, 1829, a visitor, who was the captain of a ship, stated, that, when sailing in the South American seas, he was boarded by pirates, whose numbers were so overpowering as to render all resistance unavailing. The captain and several of the crew were treated with rudeness, and were about to be placed in irons while the plunder of the ship went on. In this situation, when supplication and entreaty were disregarded, the captain, as a dernier resort, matte the mystic sign, "which none but Craftsmen ever kne\v.': The commander of the piratical crew immediately returned the sign, and gave orders to stop proceedings. He grasped his newly-discovered Brother by the hand with all the familiarity of an old acquaintance, and swore he should sustain no injury. Mutual acts of kindness then passed between them ; every article that had been seized was restored to its place, and the, two ships parted company with three hearty cheers. — Stirling Journal.
340 ILLUSTRATIONS
The flourishing state of Masonry, in a provincial town, is a subject not unworthy of notice in a general history of the Craft. In the year 1827, the members of the Humber Lodge, No. 73, in Kingston-upon-Hull, finding that the room occupied by them, at the Turk's Head, was much too small and incommodious to accommodate their increasing numbers, entered into a subscription for the purpose of erecting a masonic Hall, in addition to the two already existing in that opulent sea-port. The requisite sum being speedily raised, a deputation of the officers and brethren waited on R. Mackenzie Beverley, Esq., G. S. and D. P. G. M. for the North and East Hidings of the county of York, to request his assistance in laying the foundation-stone of the intended building ; to which he immediately assented, and named the 7th of May for the performance of that solemnity. On the day proposed, a large body of the members of the Humber Lodge, attended by a numerous company of visitors from other Lodges in the town and neighbourhood, assembled at the appointed hour. The Lodge was opened in due form at the Neptune Innt by the D.P.G.M., and the pre- paratory ceremonies were performed.125 The D.P.G.M. inquired of the building Master, if his Lodge was lawful, and being answered in the affirmative, he proceeded to a more accurate investigation.
D.P.Gr.M. "I hereby, in the presence of all these worshipful Masters, Wardens, and Deacons, and in the presence of all these Master Masons, worthy and diligent workmen of our secret Craft, do ask of you and of your company, if you know yourself, at this time, to have done any thing contrary to the laws of Masonry, which has not been told to the Provincial Authorities, and whereby you should be suspended from your work?"
W.M. " We are good Masons at this very time." D.P.G.M. *' Have you, amongst your company, any brother guilty of brawlings, strife, and disobedience in open lodge?"
W.M. " We have none, Right Worshipful Master." D.P.G.M. " Have you any brother who, in open lodge,
136 Having had the honour to assist at this imposing ceremony, I am able to describe it minutely. — EDITOR.
OF MASONRY. 341
is guilty of drunkenness, common swearing, or piofane words?"
W.M; " We have none, Right Worshipful Master/1
D.P.Gr.M. " Have you authority to do this day's work?"
W.M. " We have, Right Worshipful, and, with your permission, will here read it."
The authority was then read, after which the D.P.G.M. resumed, " Masters, Wardens, Deacons, and all working Masons, all is right and as it should be ; and I give you all joy of this day's work. It has begun in zeal — let it end in charity ; and let us give due praise to the Master and Brothers of the Humber Lodge, for wishing to raise a temple to Masonry. May the blessing of Heaven be with us all ; and may the new Lodge increase in virtue, harbour the poor Brethren, and console the rich ! Amen and Amen."
The Ark of the covenant was now introduced and furnished, and the veil was consecrated with the usual ceremonies; after which the procession was formed to the site of the intended building, in Osborne-street, ip the following order : —
Two Tylers with drawn Swords.
Band of Music.
Masons not being members -of any Lodge, two and two. Visiting members of neighbouring Lodges, two and two.
The Foundation-stone, carried by four Masons.
Deacons J Banner of the Humber Lodge. ) Deacons
with Staves. \ Members of the Humber Lodge. { with Staves.
Two Stewards with Wands. "
A Banner.
Koyal Arch Masons, in sashes and aprons, two and two.
The Corn, Wine, Oil, and Salt, borne by Master Masons.
Chaplain of the Humber Lodge.
Past Masters. The Bible, Square, and Compasses, on a crimson velvet cushion,
borne by a Master Mason. The Ark, with its covering, borne by four Master Masons.
Secretary and Treasurer with their Jewels.
Senior and Junior Wardens with their Pillars.
Steward
with a wand. \ Marshal with a Baton. ) with a wand.
The Globes, borne by two Master Masons.
Banner of the D.P.G.M. Acting Provincial Grand Sword Bearer,
Provincial Grand Secretary. Provincial Grand Architect, with a plan of the building.
342 ILLUSTRATIONS
Two Marshals with Batons.
Two C Brother R. M. BEVERLEY, Esq., D.P.G.M., C Two
Sword
Bearers. ( by six Master Masons. ( Bearers,
Brother REV. G. OLIVER, P.G.C. for Lincolnshire, in his robes,
attended by four Master Masons with wands.
Banner of the Apollo Lodge, Grimsby.
Two Tylers with Swords.
On arriving at the ground, the Brethren formed them- selves into a square about the foundation, although they were somewhat incommoded by the immense concourse of people who had assembled to witness the ceremony. The canopy of the D.P.G.M. was placed to the east of the foundation-stone, and before the ceremonies com- menced, he addressed the spectators as follows . —
"Men, women, and children, here assembled to-day, to behold this ceremony, know all of you that we are lawful Masons, true to the laws of our country, and professing to fear God, who is the Great Architect of all things, to confer benefits on our Brethren, and to practise universal benevolence to all mankind. We have amongst us, concealed from the eyes of all men, secrets which may not be revealed, and which no man has discovered. But these secrets are lawful and honourable, and are placed in the custody of Masons, who alone have the keeping of them to the end of time. Unless our Craft were good and our calling honourable, we should not have existed for so many centuries ; nor should we have had so many illus- trious Brothers in our Order, ever ready to sanction our proceedings, and contribute to our prosperity. To-day we are assembled in the face of you all to build a house for Masonry, which we pray God may prosper, if it seem good unto Him ; that it may become a house for great and worthy men to practise beneficent actions, and to promote h/trmony and brotherly love till the world itself shall end."
The plan was then produced by the architect, which was handed round to the Brethren, after being inspected by the D.P.G.M., who anointed the tools of Masonry with oil, and delivered them to the Master of the build- ing Lodge, who transferred them to the architect. When the foundation-stone was lowered into its bed, the D.P.G.M. struck it three times with the gavel, and the following Prayer of Benediction was recited by the Provincial Grand Chaplain for the county of Lincoln : —
" May the Almighty Architect of the Universe, who has disposed all things in order according to the excellency of his will, who made the heavens for his majesty, the sun and stars for his glory and oui comfort, and the earth as a place for the exercise of our obedience to his laws, look down upon us Master Masons, now endeavouring to
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build a house according to the rules of charity, in the bond of love. May this house, of which we have placed the first stone in the earth, be a habitation for worthy men to meet together to do good ; may their secret assemblies be convened in law, proceed in honour, and end in charity ; may all Masons that enter under the shadow of its roof, remember that the secret of the Lord is with them that fear him. May the work done here prosper : may the workmen be comforted ; may no strife, brawling, or unseemly words be heard within its Walls ; may the master love the Brethren, and the Brethren honour and obey the master ; may our going out and our coming in be blessed for evermore ; may our baskets be filled with plenteousness, and tho voice of joy and thanksgiving abound ; may there be no mourning nor sorrow of heart, and may the wayfaring Mason find comfort in his journey to his home when he passeth by the gates of this house. 0 Lord, prosper thou our work, yea, prosper thou our handy work, and teach us at all times, and in all places, to build up in the beauty of holiness that temple of our souls which thou hast given us to adorn with all good works, till we arrive at that glorious mansion in the skies, where all things are perfect, and there is no more labour, but peace and happiness for ever and ever. Amen."
The D.P.G.M. then anointed the foundation-stone with oil, and strewed upon it some grains of wheat and salt, and drops of wine, repeating the one hundred arid thirty- third Psalm ; after which the procession returned in the same order to the Neptune Inn, where about one hun- dred Brethren sat down to an excellent dinner, and the evening was spent with the greatest harmony and bro- therly love.
The building was completed in the ensuing Septem- ber, when Brother R. Mackenzie Beverley, the Grand Superintendent of the Province, issued his summonses for a Grand Provincial Arch-Chapter, to be held at the new masonic Hall, at which time the Lodge was dedi- cated with the usual ceremonies.
After the death of H. R. H. tlie Duke of York, the Prince of Wales' s Lodge continued to receive a more than ordinary meed of honour and distinction. H. R. H. the Duke of Sussex, G.M., convened an especial Grand Lodge on Friday, the 22d of February, 1828, for the purpose of securing to that Lodge a continuance of the royal patronage, which it had hitherto enjoyed. The Grand Lodge, numerously attended, was opened in ample form at the Thatched House Tavern. The following distinguished Brethren were present : —
H, R. H. Prince Augustus Frederick, Duke of Sussex,