The Druidical Lodge At Rotherham.

The Druidical Lodge at Rotherham .

jP f 5~—T ^ j N T 8 was one of the few lotlges chartered by the Grand f /^^^ m Lodge of all England at York last century . The \ ( (( K ^^ J I minutes of the Old Grand Lode / e , now in the collections i ^ | || / J I of the York Lodge , No . 236 , tell us the story so far as Fhsfr > VfrUtl it goes .

"On the 12 ih October , 177 S . the Lodge ( Grand Lodge of York ) met according to adjournment . Present : Bros . Siddall , G . M ., Coates , D . G . M ., R . Bewlayas S . G . W ., Beckwith as J . G . W ., Kitson , G . T ., Bussey , G . S ., Wiilbor , Richardson , Willans , Clubley , Robinson , Firth , Fr . Smith , Esq ., Wooley and Hampston . At this Lodge ( after two propositions ) Bro . Josiah Beckwith of Rotherham

nnd Six other Brethren of that neighbourhood petitioned the Grand Lodge for a Constitution to bo granted to them to hold a Lodge at said place , which was unanimously agreed to , and Bro . Thos . Beckwith was desired to acquaint his Brother with the said Resolution . The Grand Secretary was ordered to send the form of said Constitution to Bro . Beckwith , of Rotherham . at his own request

to engross , and afterwards to be returned again io the Grand Lodge in order to be signed by the Grand . Master , eve ., and to have the Grand Lodge Seal allixt thereto . " " Copy of the Constitution granted to ( he Drnidieal Lodge of Ancient York Maceons at Rd licrham , Nov . 301 h , 1778-No . 109 " ( this number is written in different ink and at a different period ) . " Wilhn Siddall . Wr . WILLIAM SIHIULL . GIIAXH MASTED OK AI . I .

ENGLAND . " To all and every our Right Worshipfull and loving Brethern of the most nntient and honourable Societ y of Free and Accepted Maceons , Send Greeting in the Lord . "

"KNOW ye that we have received fhe humble Petition and Request of our well beloved and failhfull Brethern JOSIAH BKCKWITII , JOHN HASSALL , JAMES SIMS , JOHN COUSINS , JOSEPH MIULAM , THOMAS CitAMiiEits and MOSES GLASS , all of Rotheram , in the Count y of York , Praying that we WOITIII grant a Constitution in them , the said Brethren to hold a regular Lodge at Rotherham , aforesaid . "

" Wr . therefore , with the unanimous Assent and Consent of onr Brethern of ihe most Antient GIIANH LOIJOE of All Kngland , and more especially because we are well salislied of fhe good life and conversation of the said Bi-elhern , Josiah 15 eek \ vilh , John Hassall ,

The Druidical Lodge At Rotherham.

James Sims , John Cousins , Joseph Midlam , Thomas Chambers and Moses Glass , Do hereby constitute the same seven Brethern into a Regular Lodge of Free and Accepted Maceons , to be opened at the House of William Charlton , in Rotherham , aforesaid , to be stiled THE Diii'imcAL LoixiK or ANCIENT Yoitic MACEONS , and to bo

held for ever on such days at such hours and in such places in Rotherham , aforesaid , as the Right Worshipfull Master , and the rest of the Brethern of the said Lodge shall appoint . AND we do further , at the request of the said seven Brethern on whom we in this matter repose the Greatest Trust and Conlidence ,

hereby appoint the said Brother JOSIAH BECKWITH to bo Ri ght Worshi pfull Master , Brother John Hassall Senior Warden , Brother James Sims Junior Warden , Brother- John Cousins Secretary , and Bro . Joseph Midlam Treasurer of the said Drnidieal Lodge , when the same shall be opened , and to continue in the said otliees

for such further time as the Brethern of the said Lodge shall think proper ; it being in no wise our intention that this our appointment of the said several Brethern to the ofiices above mentioned shall affect any future Election of the Officers of the said Lodge , but , that such Elections shall be regulated in conformity to the Bye Laws of the

said Lodge for the Time being , all of which we will and require shall be consistent with the General Laws and Principles of Maceonry . Asn wc do hereby will and require yon , the said JOSIAH BECKWITH , to take especial care by due examination that all and every the said Brethern are Maceons

regularly made , and that they do observe the Laws of Maceonry , and in all respects demean themselves as becometh Maceons . AND , further , that you do from time to time enter in a Book to be kept for that purpose an Account of yonr Proceedings in the said Lodge , together with all such Orders and Regulations as shall be made for the

good government of the same . Axn that in no wise you omit once in every year , at or before the Feast of Saint John the Evangelist in Winter , sending us at least one of the Brethern of the said Lodge ( if it can be made convenient ) to lay before us and onr successors , Grand Masters of All England , and the Grand Officers and Brethern , and

Grind Lodge of All England , an Account iu writing of your said proceedings , and copies of all such Rules , Orders , and Regulations as shall be made as aforesaid , to be then and there confirmed , but for reasonable cause , together with a list of the members of the said Lodge and such yearl y sum of money as may suite the circumstances

ot the Lodge , and leasonabl y be expected to be applied towards General Charity , and in Augmentation of the Revenues of the said Grand Lodge of All England . AND we further will and require you the said Josiah Beckwith , Right Worshi pfull Master , forthwith to send us an account of what you and your Brethern shall do b y vert no of these Presents .

" GIVEN at YOIIK this Thirtieth day of November , Anno Domini MDCCLXXYIII , A . L . 577 S , and in the year of tho Most Worshi pfull Grand Lodgo of All England S 53 . " By the Grand Master ' s Command , " JACOII BUSSEY , Grand Secretary . "

Then comes the minute of the Consecration of the Lodge as follows : — "AT Ro-niKi ' . iiAM . Tuesday , the 22 nd of December , 177 S . " The Lodgo met according to Adjournment .

"Present : Brothers Siddall , G . M ., Smith , as D . G . M ., Coupland , as S . G . W ., 'J ' . Beckwith , as J . G . W ., Browne , as G . T ., Bussey , G . S ., Parker , G . C ., Capt . Wiggins , Beckwith , Hassall , Sims ,

Moses , Jackson , Holdsworth , Wilkinson , Charlton , Cosens , Glass , Drake , Aldcrsoii , Barstow , Medium , Williams . Flint .

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rafrvH-His Royal Highness THE PRINCE OF WALES . . / , Treasurer The Rt . Hon . LORD BATTERSEA . ^^ W ^^ * 9 ^ S ^^^^^^^ ff \ - ' 'f ? fi ^ K ^ tf Wr ^ X ^ GLYNN , MILLS & Co ., Lloyds Bank . ( Limited ) . ' ' ** ° * - ~ Z ~ -- ^ ^ Z ^ ss ^^ S ^^ y ^ Secretary—CHARLES H . BYERS .