^ATHELSTAN 5 IS' 047706 FROM THE BENNO LOEWY LIBRARY COLLECTED BY BENNO LOEWY 1854-1919 BEQUEATHED TO CORNELL UNIVERSITY The date shows when this volume was taken. ok C01 the! To renew this book aym the call No. and give to ''le librarian. HOME USE RULES All books subject to recall All borrowers must regis- ter in the library to borrow books for home use. All books must be re- turned at end of college year for inspection and repairs. Limited books must be returned within the four week limit and not renewed. Students must retiirn all books before leaving town. Officers should arrange for the return of books wanted during their absence from town. Volumes of periodicals and of pamphlets are held in the library as much as possible. For special pur- poses they are given out for a limited time. Borrowers should not use their library privileges for the benefit of other persons. Boeks of special value and gift books, when the giver wishes it, are not allowed to circulate. Readers are asked to re- port all cases of books marked or mutilated. Bo not deface books by marks and writinc. HS598.L84"r89""'""">"-"'"^ * li«wf IlilllSa^^^ •"« Roy I oHn,anx^ ^^^4 030 301 695 « Cornell University S Library The original of tliis book is in tlie Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924030301695 A BRIEF SKETCH OF THE HISTORY OF THE ROYAL ATHELSTAN LODGE, OF &fmf fvf9 anb '&vfj^M SE^asons, Constituted No. 159, February 27, 1769, Subsequently No. 10, and now No. 19. By Br. Witham M. Bywater, P.M. & Hon. Sec. Centenary Day, February 27, i86g. LONDON. /|. fy^z-Lj LONDON : PEINTED BY "W. DAVY AND SON, GILBERT STREET, W. THE CENTENARY OF THE LODGE was celebrated at The City Terminus Hotel^ Cannon Street, in the City of London, on Saturday, February 2'jth, 1869, at which the following Members were present : Br. Thomas H. Potter, W.M. Br. John Pollard, S.W. | Br. William A. B. Williams, J.W. Br. Samuel Gale, P.M., Dir. Cer. {Father of the Lodge.) Br. John Savage, P.M. and P.S.G.D., England. Br. Benjamin Starling, P.M. and Treasurer. Br. Witham M. Bywater, P.M. and Hon. Secretary. Br. Daniel Nicholson, P.M. „ Martin Palmer, P.M. „ Charles Tyler, P.M. „ George Cox, P.M. „ Thomas L. Fox, P.M. „ William Stone, P.M. „ Morris Levinson, P.M. „ James Dix, P.M. „ George Rice, P.M. „ William Pound, P.M. Br. James Loveday, P.M. „ George Campion, P.M. „ Thomas F. Stevens, S.D. „ George C. Ring, J.D. „ Coleman Coleman, I.G. „ Francis Ford. „ Charles J. Fache. „ William Clark. „ John P. Hinckel. „ George M. Wolmershausen. Br. Robert James. „ Lewis Dennis. „ John W. Harker. „ Matthew Henry. „ Henry Horner. „ John C. Harker. „ John Denman. „ John Whitmore, M.D. „ John A. Fuller. „ Alfred Tilt, „ Robert Smith. Br. John Charles. „ John C. Goldsmith. „ Charles M. Toms. „ Veargitt Maughan. „ William Black. „ Hermann Conrad. „ John Simpson. „ Robert W. Bilby. „ Henry L. Phillips. „ Benjamin F. Watkins. „ George W. Medley. The following Visitors honored the Lodge with their presence : Br. J. L. Evans, Pres. B. Gen. Purposes. „ John Hervey, Grand Secretary. „ Henry Grissell, S.G.D. „ Henry Browse, J.G.D. „ Albert W. Woods, G. Dir. Cer. „ Thomas Fenn, Asst. G. Dir. Cer. „ Edward Roberts, G.S.B. „ Hyde Pullen, P.G.S.B. „ Edward Busher, P.G.S.B. „ William Farnfield, P. Asst. G. Sec. „ Thomas A. Adams, P. G. Purs. „ James E. Saunders, Pres. B.G. Stewards. „ John Whitwell, M.P., D.P.G.M. Cumb. Br. W. Jones, P.M. 90. , E. G. Phillips, P.M. 96. , Joshua Nunn, P.M. 134. Br. Heather Bigg,W.M. No. i. „ Rev. W. T. Jones, W.M. 181. „ J.Glaisher,F.R.S.,W.M.382. „ Frederick Adlard, P.M. 7. „ Joseph Taylor, P.M. 18. „ William Watson, P.M. 25. „ William Smith, P.M. 26. ■>•> Henry G. Buss, P.M. 27. „ James Pike, P.M. 66. , J. R. Glanvill, P.M. 134. , A. Pritchard, P.M. 162. , H. Levy, P.M. 188. , Geo. Lambert, P.M. 198. , C. Coote, P.M. 205. , H. Greene, P.M. 256. Br. C. Cottebrune, P.M. 783. „ G. Snow, P.M. 829. „ James Slack, P.M. 834. „ E. Kendall, P.M., Chili. „ W. Newton, 3. „ Josiah Walker, 7. „ W. G. Mantle (late 19). ,y Henry Lee, 66. „ W. Irvine, 86. „ C. Woodman, 157, „ G. Riches, 186. „ G. Buckland, 186. Br. R, Br. W. H. Cremer, 205. „ J. J. Loewenthal, 228. „ E. Barrett, 340. „ J. Carter, 382. „ G. Read, 511. „ W. Seaman, 619. „ H. Price, 657. „ W, Spencer, 794. „ E. Cranbrook, 829. „ F. H. Fowler, 907. „ A. Prime, 1139. „ T. Littlecott, 1155. Guy, 1 185. Y consent of the regular Officers of the Lodge, the Offices were filled by Past Masters, and the Lodge was opened in due form with solemn prayer. Mr. George Webb Medley, of Oaklands, Camden, Chisle- hurst, who was balloted for at the last meeting was regularly initiated into the Order by Brother John Savage, P.M., P.G.D. The Centenary Warrant from the Grand Master, granting to the Members of the Lodge permission to wear a Jewel in commemoration of the Centenary, was read. Brother Samuel Gale, P.M. and Father of the Lodge was then pre- sented in the name of the Lodge with a Gold Centenary Jewel, and received the hearty congratulations of the members and visitors. The members were then invested with their Centenary Jewels. Brother Witham M. Bywater, P.M. and Honorary Sec- retary, read an Address on the History of the Lodge, which he afterwards presented in a Book containing a Roll, on Vellum, of the members from its constitution, February 27, 1769, to the present date, a list of the Past Masters and Places of Meeting. On the motion of Brother Whitmore, seconded by Brother Savage, the warmest thanks of the Lodge were tendered to Brother Bywater for his interesting and valuable Address, and also for the elegant present of the Roll on Vellum, with reminiscences of No. 19, and Brother Pollard gave notice that at the Meeting in March he would propose a fuller expression of the opinion of the Lodge, and that a suitable Testimonial should be presented to Brother Bywater as a mark of esteem and in recognition of his services.* Brother John Charles Goldsmith presented to the Lodge a handsome Gilt Frame, containing the portraits of all the present members. It was proposed by Brother Savage, and seconded by Brother Bywater, " That the best thanks of the Lodge are " due and are hereby presented to Brother John Charles " Goldsmith for his indefatigable exertions in having origi- " nated and promoted the application to the Grand Master, " by which the antiquity of the Lodge has been recognised " and its Centenary Warrant granted ; and also for the " handsome and valuable present he has made to the Lodge • The following is the Resolution proposed by Br. Pollard, S.W., seconded by Br. Stone, P.M., on 7ith March, 1869, and carried by acclamation : — " That taking into consideration the very valuable " assistance rendered by Brother Witham M. Bywater, P.M. and " Honorary Secretary, in the numerous preliminary arrangements of " the Centenary Day and Festival, and which contributed so largely " to an entire success as testified by the Grand Officers and the other " Visitors of the Lodge on that auspicious occasion ; and also remem- " bering the uniform courtesy he has evinced to the members of the " Lodge during the six years in which he has most ably discharged the " duties of Honorary Secretary, it be referred to the Centenary Com- " mittee to consider the best mode of acknowledging Br. Bywater's " services, and of presenting to him some memento of the fraternal " regard in which he is justly held by his brother members ; and to " report their opinion and recommendation to the Lodge at its " meeting in the month of April." Upon the bringing up of such Report on the 8th of April, it was unanimously resolved that the Testimonial do consist of an Ornamental Mantle-piece Clock, to be presented at the Lodge Meeting in the month of May. " on the occasion of the Centenary Meeting, of an elegant " Souvenir, combining the portraits of the present members " of No. 19. " That the foregoing resolution be engrossed on Vellum, " suitably framed, and presented to Brother Goldsmith in " open Lodge, signed on behalf of the Lodge by the " Worshipful Master, the Wardens, the Father of the Lodge, " the Treasurer, and tlie Honorary Secretaries of the Cen- " tenary Committee."* A Masonic Prayer was offered up by the Rev. Brother W. Taylor Jones, W.M., 181, and an Anthem was sung by the Professional Brethren. All Business being ended, the Lodge was closed in perfect harmony. * The Testimonial to Brother Goldsmith was presented at the Lodge Meeting on the 8th of April. ORIGIN AND PROGRESS OF THE ROYAL ATHELSTAN LODGE From the 27TH February, 1769, Worshipful Master and Brethren. |HE rare occurrence of a Centenary leads me to suppose that a short history of the Royal Athelstan Lodge and its AthoU descent may not be uninter- esting to its members at the present moment. A century in any human institution is so full of matter for contemplation that we are insensibly led away into the past, and regard through the haze of time a period which has witnessed so many startling events political and social — a period sufficiently extended for discoverers and in- ventors to have been bom into the world, to have achieved immortal fame and to have passed away — a period during which Freemasonry itself has not escaped the vicissitudes of time, but having endured serious internal schisms, cemented again by a glorious Union, and having suffered considerable decay, has survived and become more flourish- ing than ever. It is not my intention to trespass upon you at any length, but, in submitting the following short notice to your atten- tion, I must be permitted to remind you that very few printed records exist which give any history of the Ancient or Atholl Masons from whom this Lodge is descended. For a period of three-quarters of a century, during which so many events were being enacted which would have interested us, the Atholl Masons were regarded as irregular and their acts illegal; and their very existence was therefore, as much as possible, ignored. The writers of those days were for the most part on the other or modern side ; and, as the Union in the present century (that glorious epoch in the History of English Freemasonry) was then not dreamt of, little can now be learnt of the Ancient Masons, excepting such facts as are recorded in the old minute books of the Atholl Grand Lodge. I have no doubt that a careful examination of those minute books and other old papers now in the possession of Grand Lodge, would yield a rich harvest of historical facts, which would be most interesting to every Mason who boasts, as we do, of an Atholl descent. Without going further back in our history than is abso- lutely necessary, and merely alluding to the fact that King Athelstan granted a charter to his brother. Prince Edwin, to constitute a Grand Lodge at York in a.d. 926, under the style of " Ancient York Masons," I shall at once ask your more particular attention to some of the events with which the 1 8th century was so replete. We are informed that, after the completion of St. Paul's Cathedral by our Grand Master, Sir Christopher Wren, Free- masonry made but little progress; lodges were decreasing, and the annual festivals were no longer held. The few lodges which then met, agreed that the privileges of Masonry should no longer be restricted to operative Masons, but be extended to men of various professions, provided they were regularly approved and initiated into the Order. It was from 17 17 that the Revival of Freemasonry dates. 13 We are told that the only four lodges which at that time were held in the south of England were known as Nos. i, 2, 3, and 4; and that in February, 17 17, they met at the Apple-tree Tavern, in Charles Street, Covent Garden (the site of which is now occupied by Wellington Street, Strand), and, having placed the oldest P.M. in the chair, constituted themselves a Grand Lodge in due forrri. The result of this meeting was the revival of the Quarterly Communications, the first of which was held at the Goose and Gridiron, in St. Paul's Churchyard, on the 24th of June, St. John's Day, 1 7 17. This revival in the south does not appear to have inter- fered with the proceedings of the Fraternity in the north. For a series of years the most perfect harmony continued to subsist between the two Grand Lodges of London and York, and private lodges flourished in both parts of the kingdom — the Grand Lodge in the north claiming the title of " Grand Lodge of all England," while the Grand Lodge in the south was content to be denominated " The Grand Lodge of England." Matters continued in this satisfactory state until some differences arose, resulting from the Southern Grand Lodge having constituted lodges in the north in 1734, and appointed a Provincial Grand Master for the West Riding of Yorkshire soon afterwards. As a matter of course, the Grand Lodge of York resented these encroachments, and henceforth all correspondence between the two Grand Lodges ceased. It is at this critical period of our history there appears the first indication of that great schism which afterwards led to the forming of the AthoU branch, and ultimately brought about, as one of the very pleasing results, the happy occasion of our meeting here to-day. Referring to the Masonic records of that time, we find that a number of brethren, being extremely dissatisfied at some novelties 14 and innovations which had been introduced into the ancient ceremonies, separated themselves from the regular lodges, and held meetings for the purpose of initiating persons into Masonry contrary to the law of Grand Lodge. In order the more effectually to distinguish themselves from the regular Masons, the seceding brethren styled themselves "Antient Masons," in accordance with the accepted appellation of the York Grand Lodge. Their progress for a time was somewhat impeded by the steps taken to check them ; but we are informed that the imprudent measures adopted by the regular lodges oifended many old Masons, and an open rupture soon followed. Notwithstanding the flourishing state of Freemasonry, irregularities continued to prevail, and many worthy Masons, still adverse to the encroachments on the established system, were highly dis- gusted at the proceedings of the regular lodges. To dis- appoint the views of the seceding brethren, Grand Lodge readily acquiesced in the imprudent measures of the regular lodges, and the brethren who had seceded, immediately declared their independence, designating the brethren who had introduced «fze/ plans "Modern Masons." The "Ancient Masons" speedily gained the countenance of Scotch and Irish Masons, who heartily joined them in condemning the measures of the regular lodges in London, as tending to introduce novelties in subversion of the original plan of the institution. It will now be desirable that I should refer for a moment to those printed records to which we have hitherto been disposed to look for information, but which, I now fear, are not entirely reliable. The worthy Bro. Laurie, in his interesting " History of the Grand Lodge of Scotland," says, " The Ancients continued to hold their meetings without acknowledging a superior until 1772, when they chose for their Grand Master, John (3rd) Duke of Atholl, who was IS then Grand Master elect for Scotland," &c. &c. ; and that eminent brother and author, the late Dr. Oliver (who more than any other, contributed to Masonic literature) in one of his editions of "Preston's Illustrations,'' says, "The Ancients after their secession in 1739, continued to meet until 1772, when the Duke of Atholl was elected Grand Master and continued as such until he resigned in favour of the Duke of Kent in 1813.'' When recently searching the Atholl Grand Lodge records I was gratified to find that not only the Duke of Atholl, but many other noblemen and gentlemen thought it an honour to preside over the Ancient Masons. Without going farther back than 1753, I find in that year Robert Turner was elected Grand Master, who continued to rule over the Ancient Masons until 1755, when Edward Vaughan was elected and held the office until 1757. He was succeeded by the Earl of Blesinton, who ruled until 1 76 1, when the Earl of Kelly presided until 1767. The Hon. Thomas Matthew was then elected and continued to rule over the Ancient Masons until 177 1, when they elected John 3rd Duke of Atholl (then Grand Master Elect for Scotland) as their Grand Master. We cannot doubt, therefore, that the Ancient Masons did acknowledge many superiors ^^r^ the year 1772. With regard to the asser- tion that the Duke of Atholl, who was elected Grand Master in 177 1, "continued to hold that office until 1813," a similar error has been perpetuated. John 3rd Duke of Atholl held the office until his death in November 1774. He was succeeded to his title by his son John Murray, who (bom in 1755) was initiated, passed and raised in February, 1775, at the age of 20, and was installed Grand Master in March in the same year. He held the office until 1782, when the Earl of Antrim became Grand Master, which office he held until his death in July, 1791, i6 when the Duke of AthoU was re-elected Grand Master, and continued so until the Union in 1813. Having thus, I trust, traced the line of the Ancient Masons to your satisfaction, from the secession in 1739 to the Union in 1813, we must retrace our steps to the month of February, 1769. On the 27th of that month, the Grand Lodge was held at the sign of " The Ship" in the Strand, and Bro. William Clarke, Senior Grand Warden, being in the chair. Lodge No. 159 was constituted, and the following brethren were duly installed officers thereof, viz. : — Bros. Robert Lochhead, Worshipful Master ; James Inglis, Senior Warden, and AVilliam Cousings, Junior Warden. [The Warrant No. 159, Registered in Vol. VI., letter F, page 289]. The first quarterly Grand-Lodge-Return of the Lodge No. 159, is dated June 7th, 1769, and gives the names of 23 members, at that time belonging to it. In 1790 our Lodge was held at the Griffin, Villars Street, York Buildings, and in 1791 it met at the City of Hereford, Lichfield Street, Soho. Up to this date it appears to have prospered, as I find that upwards of 120 members had joined or had been initiated in it during the period. In 1792, in accordance with the custom which at that time prevailed, our Lodge petitioned the Grand Lodge for permission to take the vacant No. 10, that being a Lodge which had been constituted in 1763, but had ceased to meet. Accordingly we find recorded in the Atholl minutes the following : — " March 7, 1792, at a meeting of the Grand Lodge of Ancient Masons held at the Crown and Anchor, Strand, upon motion made, it was resolved that Lodge No. 159 be allowed to take the No. 10 in consideration of the sum of five guineas to the charity."* On the same * The No. 159, thus vacated was renewed December i8th, 1805, as "The Prince of Brunswick Lodge," and was held in Brunswick Street, Blackfriars Road. 17 day the warrant was issued commencing, "Atholl, Grand Master, We the Grand Lodge of the most Ancient and Honorable Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons (accord- ing to the old constitution granted by His Royal Highness Prince Edwin at York, a.d. 926)," &c. &c., and authorizing the Lodge No. 10 to meet at the Red Lyon, Cross Lane (now King Street), Long Acre, where the old house may still be seen. In 1795 the Lodge was held in the vicinity of Bedford Square. In 1807 it met at the Golden Lyon, Long Acre, and in 1809 it removed to the Golden Anchor, Cross Lane, Long Acre. In the following year (18 10) it met at the King's Arms, High Holborn, and in 181 2 at the Angell Inn, Broad Street, Bloomsbury. We now approach that epoch in the history of English Freemasonry which afforded a lively satisfaction to every true Mason, when all divisions ceased, controversy was pbliterated and an indissoluble bond of Fraternal Union was cemented and established. Early in the present century great efforts had been made by zealous brethren to bring about a better understanding more worthy of the two great bodies, but it was not until 1813 that the wishes of the Duke of Sussex, Grand Master of England, and the Duke of Kent, who was an Atholl Mason, and Grand Master, according to the old constitution of Ancient Masons, pre- vailed over the prejudices of the day. A Lodge of Recon- ciliation was held, at which the articles of Union were duly signed. A grand assembly of Freemasons was afterwards held, at which the act of Union was solemnly accepted, ratified and confirmed ; and the Grand Lodge, henceforth to be known as " The United Grand Lodge of Ancient Freemasons of England," was opened in due form. It was on that occasion the Royal Athelstan Lodge became No. 19. From that day to the present, we have continued to meet i8 in an uninterrupted course of 4»rQgression — content, as our predecessors were, to cling to our " old traditions,''*" and to endeavour by the cultivation of social virtues to unite our hearts in the bonds of brotherhood. During the century this day completed the Lodge has held its meetings at a variety of places, too numerous to mention here, and during that period has. enrolled about 710 mem- bers under its banner. I have fortunately secured all their names. I am not aware that any of them were famous in the annals of their country ; and in all probability some of them were men of humble parts, but nevertheless genial men and worthy masons, who earnestly endeavoured to do their duty, and " fill the circle marked by Heaven." And of those old and worttiy Past Masters who, in trou- blesome times, each in his turn bore the heat and burden of the day, truly may it be said, " although dead, not forgot- ten." They have long since passed to their account, but the influence of their deeds for good or evil remains with us, and the very flourishing condition of our Lodge at the pre- sent day, is, in a large measure, due to their zeal for its interests. As they worked, each one nobly performing his allotted task while to him it was yet day, and unconscious perhaps of the impressions he was making on the hard and lasting rock of time — as unconscious as we are at this moment of the influence we are spreading around us — they worked on zealously; and, as the glorious Temple of our Grand Master, King Solomon, was reared in all its magnifi- cence without the sound of the workman's tool, so did these Masons labour silently, but with an earnestness worthy of the cause, and have left us a Lodge of which we may be justly proud. Of the Past Masters now in our list of mem- bers, we are glad to have eighteen ; and it is a circumstance somewhat remarkable that the period of membership of the senior three amounts to exactly one hundred years. Thus, Worshipful Master,' I have endeavoured to give you a short-.»*ketch of our Lodge; it is, I am aware, excessively meagre in facts, but, I have no doubt, it is sufficiently long to have considerably taxed your patience. The occasion of a centenary is so rare that it is, perhaps, excusable if one is led away to ratable a little into the past. I trust, however, that to all of us, collectively and individually, the past will ever bear reflection, and that, if it yield no other good, it may at least lead us sometimes to give a thought to its glorious antithesis — the future ; and may the Great Archi- tect of the Universe grant that, when that unknown future shall be revealed to us, we may each have a joyful part in it, and be admitted into the celestial fraternity of angels, and the spirits of just men made perfect. — So mote it be.