"Moderns" And "Ancients," 1757-1765.

"MODERNS" AND " ANCIENTS , " 1757-1765 .

In the Keystone for September ejth , 1 S 99 , to October 14 th ( both inclusive ) are some very interesting excerpts from old records . They have not been duly appreciated or explained as yet , and hence , failing any local article thereon , I append a few remarks of my own that may tend to illustrate their value and importance in relation to the Craft in Pennsylvania at that period .

Though not as printed or arranged , the extracts begin in 1757 , and refer to the " Modern " Lodge , warranted by the Provincial Grand Master of Pennsylvania ( William Allen ) in that year , the first meeting of which was held in the house of Jeremiah Smith , but then and there agreed to commence the tenancy of a room in "Lodge Alley" ( Bro ., Smith's ?) . According to Vol . I ., " Grand Lodge Reprints , " etc ., 1 S 77 , No . 3 met in

the latter place from 1753-4 . This lodge , however , of 17571 was numbered Four , and is not noted in this work . Another lodge ( say No . 2 ) , is referred to therein , of 1749 , the warrant of which is said to have been signed by Lord Byron , Grand Master of England , but that evidently is an error , for not one of the lodges ot the "Moderns" in Pennsylvania has been found registered in the books of the " Moderns " Grand Lodge { London ) . This

lodge of 1757 worked the Three Degrees , and was prosperous , but uncertain as to allegiance . The chief promoters appear to have been "Ancient" Masons , " of probably Irish origin , and their work did not accord with the other lodges in the city of " Brotherly Love , " so the members were taken to task . They were indignant , and in a Masters' lodge that was held , the members decided to appeal to the Grand Lodge of the " Atholl Masons , " or "Ancients , " held in London , England .

The petition was signed on January 3 rd , 1758 , and a copy is reproduced , as addressed to the Earl of Blessington , Grand Master , and therein it is clearly stated that they had declined to conform to the " Modern " ritual , hence their application , which was supported by two members of No . 2 , London , then in Philadelphia , whose position on the English Roll is

now occupied by " Fidelity , " No . 3 . The warrant was granted on June 7 th , 1758 , and numbered 69 . Locally it was ihe first of the " Ancients , " but on No . 89 being issued as a Provincial Grand Lodge , with William Ball as Provincial Grand Master , in 1764 , it became and continued as No . 2 . George Brooks , the Worshipful Master designate , was the Master of the " Moderns " previously .

The By-Laws have happily been preserved , and are printed in the Keystone for September 9 th , 1 S 99 . The Warrant , or the preliminary Charter , is said to have had the consent " of forty-seven Fm- / . - Regular Lodges of Free and Accepted Masons . " There would be no objection to this being perpetuated , had the word York been exchanged for London , lor not one of these 47 lodges were held in the ancient northern city . The additions to 17 C 4 are also inserted .

A long letter is reproduced , bearing dale January 10 th , 1758 , from Bro John Blackwood , of No . 2 , " Ancients , " London , to Bro . Joseph Reed , the Secretary of that lodge , in which it is mentioned that of the actual petitioners of 1758 , several " are Royal Arch Masons , " and that the local Provincial Grand Master detained the Warrant of 1757 , because not satisfied with the conduct of the members , as already noted . The writer

also states that as the Worshipful Master ( Bro . Brooks ) was a Royal Arch Mason , and a member of No . 1 S 3 , Belfast , he had intended applying to the Grand Lodge of Ireland for a Warrant , but accepted the advice of Bro . Blackwood to petition to the "Ancients " of England . The brethren in Philadelphia , thus concerned , did not know previously " that the different bodies had separate Grand Lodges in England , " and they generally

accepted as fact that Scotland and Ireland were worked on the " Ancient system , " which it seems they were . The year 175 S is early for the Royal Arch Degree in America , and is the first time I have met with it so early in that country in connection with the "Ancients . " It is , however , noted in 1753 , under the " Moderns" in Virginia , which is now widely known .

Ihe minutes reproduced extend from 1757 to 1765 , and are valuable both for the period and locality . Bro . Blackwood , of No . 2 , London ( who died in 1763 ) , was elected Worshipful Master of this Lodge , No . 4 , Philadel phia , on June 24 , 175 S , and a Deputy Master and Wardens , Treasurer , Secretary , and two Deacons were chosen . The latter officers ( Deacons ) were mostly peculiar to the " Ancients , " and are first met with in Ireland , A .D .1731 . The term " raised" is mentioned in 175 S , and also " the High Degree of a Master Mason " during the same year .

It appears that the brethren continued to assemble , notwithstanding the forfeiture of their orig inal warrant of 1757 , until January 23 rd , 1759 , when the charter from London , of 1758 , was received and acted upon , " with a solemnity suitable to the occasion . " The term " clandestine" is nolcd

August 14 th , 1759 , as to two brethren , probably " Moderns , " who had to be remade in the three Degrees . Apparently another lodge was started in 17 60 , with Bro . William Ball as Worshipful Master , to be governed by the By-laws of No . 2 , and Bro James Bell was Treasurer of both lodges .

Also a third in 1764 * . This would be Nos . 3 and 4 , but those numbers are not noted until 1767 , in the volume of " Reprints " ( 1 S 77 ) ° f the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania . Bro . Casey , a Past Master of No . 5 , London , was a visitor on November 10 th , 1761 . This lodge , or rather number , is now represented on the English roll by the "Albion , " No . 9 , London .

1 hese minutes prove that there were several lodges started before 1767 , which are not inserted in the List printed in the Grand Lodge volumes already noted , and which reeiuires revision , W . J . HUGHAN , Keystone , U . S . A ., of the oth inst

Craft Masonry.

Craft Masonry .

Industry Lodge , No . 48 . The regular meeting of this thriving loilj ^ e was held on Monday , the 25 th instant , at Gateshead , when , considering the wet weather and the local holiday week , there was an average attendance . Amongst those present were : Bros . J . T . Pragnell , VV . M . ; J . Armstrong , I . P . M . ; liobt . Wliitliclel , P . M . ; Wm . Brown , P . M ., D . C ; \ V . J . Jobson , P . M ., Treas . ; Thos . Douglass , S . W . ; 11 . 11 . Pitt , J . W . ; J . Lawson , as S . D . ; k . E . Klliott , asJ . D . ; G . T . Hootes , I . G . ; K . ferry , Org . ; Joshua Curry , Tyler ; Probably there was no new lod . ^ e really until 17 O 4 , being No . 3 , reckoning No . 1 as the Prov . G . L . and No . 2 , as the Lodge ot 175 S .

Craft Masonry.

W . W . Nichols , W . BIythe , and T . W . Hilton , Stwds . ; A . M . Blenkinsop , R Marson , W . A . Woodeson , W . Witherington , John Carr , J . G . Stephenson , W Richardson , and others . The list of visitors comprised : Bros . H . A . Wand , W . M 541 ; W . D . Sweeney , W . M . 1712 ; E . J . Graham , S . W . 4 S 1 ; J . Aitken , 4 S 1 ; R . G Race , 40 G ; T . P . Winter , 2557 ; J . C . Watson , 1712 ; H . Wrightson , 1712 ; R Scurfield , 26 74 ; and others .

After the introductory business the ballot was successfully taken for Mr . J . Lawrence Armour . Bros . A . M . Blenkinsop and John Aitken , 4 S 1 , were afterwards raised as Master Masons by the W . M ., who also gave the tracing board and the lecture incidental to the Degree . £ 2 2 s . was voted to the Indian Famine Fund , and after receiving the congratulations of the visiting brethren , the proceedings closed , and an adjournment was made to the refreshment board .

Aldermaston Lodge , No . 2760 . INSTALLATION OF liRO . T . S . CAMBRIDGE AS WORSHIPFUL MASTER . Members of the Masonic lodges in Berkshire assembled in goodly numbers in the picturesque village of Aldermaston on Wednesday , the 20 th inst ., on the occasion of the installation of the Senior Warden , Bro . Thomas Salway Cambridge , as W . M ., in succession to Bro . Charles E . Keyser , of Aldermaston Court , who was the chief

founder of the lodge . The brethren , who arrived between three and four o ' clock , met with a cordial reception at the hands of the W . M . and W . M . elect , and other officers of the lodge , including Bros . E . Margrctt , J . Wright , Rev . E . R . Adams , W . Bonny , W . G . Crombie , E . Prince , F . Tunbridge , Veinon Knowles , T . R . Kent , W . J . Langley . J . F . Stevens , and others . Among those attending the ceremony were Bros . J . W . Martin , Prov . G . Sec ; W . Ferguson , W . W . Ridley , L . Fleck , E . J . Lewis , Dryland Haslam , E . O . Farrer , C . H . Dodd , W . B . Biddies , E . Barwell , E . Langston , S . Knigbt , S . Knight , jun ., G . C . Cosburn , F . Bridge , Geo . Gray , J . Bowman , D . N . Heron , W . j . Cambridge , Everett , B . Ruddock , W . B . Reed , and others .

The lodge was opened by the W . M ., Bro . Keyser , about four o ' clock , in the large room at the Hind ' s Head Hotel , where in bygone days the families of the district were wont to meet occasionally for a dance . After the usual preliminaries , Bro . Bonny , the Secretary , read the report and balance sheet of the first year's working of the lodge , which appeared to be in a nourishing condition , financially and otherwise . The membership already numbered 34 , and on this occasion several new members were proposed . In connection with the lodge a benevolent fund had been formed , and the sum of £ 2 2 s .

was voted therefrom , in aid of the distressed Masons in the Transvaal . During the past 12 months a contribution of 10 guineas had been made from the lodge funds to each of the three great Masonic Charities . The report was unanimously adopted , on the proposal of Bro . Ferguson , seconded by Bro . Prince . The installation ceremony was then proceeded with , being performed in an impressive manner by the outgoing Worshipful Master , Bro . Keyser , who was complimented upon the complete way in which the ritual of the Order was carried out . The

newlyinstalled W . M . then appointed and invested the lodge officers for the ensuing year as follows : Bros . C . E . Keyser , P . G . D . Eng ., I . P . M . ; J . Wright , S . W . j A . H . dull , P . P . G . Stwd ., J . W . ; the Rev . E . R . Adams , P . P . G . Chap . Kent , Chap . ; Lieut .-Col . G . C . Ricardo , Prov . J . G . W ., Treas . ; W . Bonny , tP . P . J . G . W ., Sec ; W . G . Crombie , S . D . ; F . Tunbridge , | J . D . ; E . Prince , P . P . G . Supt . of Works , D . of C ; T . R . Kent , I . G . ; V . Knowles , P . P . G . Org ., Org . ; W . J . Langley and E . Langston , Stwds . ; and J . F . Stevens , Tyler . The next item on the agenda was

the presentation to Bro . Keyser of a valuable Masonic jewel , in recognition of the eminent services he had rendered to the lodge . This duty devolved upon the W . M . ( Bro . Cambridge ) who observed that most of the brethren present knew how keenly liro . Keyser took up the suggestion to form a summer lodge at Aldermaston , and also with what energy and liberality he took the necessary steps to carry out the proposal . Several well-known brethren gave their cordial support to the scheme , and the result was a splendid success . Indeed , it rarely happened that a Masonic lodge commenced

its career under such favourable auspices as the Aldermaston Lodge . They had had the advantage of being presided over during the past year by Bro . Keyser , who had set a very high standard of elficiency before them . His remarkable zeal and great benevolence in the cause of Masonry were familiar to all who took an interest in the welfare of the Craft , and it was within his ( Bro . Cambridge's ) personal knowledge that Bro . Keyser devoted a considerable portion of his life and energies in advancing the best interests of the Masonic Order . They were all agreed that it was a great privilege and

honour to have had Bro . Keyser as the first Master of the Aldermaston Lodge , and on behalf of the brethren he had the pleasure of handing to Bro . Keyser a Past Master's jewel as a token of their appreciation ot the excellent manner in which he had discharged his duties as Worshipful Master of the lodge . They desired to tender him their best wishes , and to express their hope that he might long be spared to promote the welfare and prosperity of the Craft . ( Applause . ) Bro . Keyser , who on rising was greeted with applause , assured the W . M . and the

brethren that he valued this presentation very highly . He could only say that he had occupied the chair of the W . M . in a number of lodges in different parts of the country , and lie had always endeavoured to fulfil his duties to the best of his ability . He trusted that this would prove only the first of a secies of jewels presented for good Masonic work perlormed by successive Masters of the Aldermaston Lodge . ( Applause . ) Bro . Keyser assured the brethren that it would give him much pleasure to occupy the office of Treasurer to the lodge , on behalf of Col . Gerald Kicardo , until the gallant officer ' s

return from Scuth Afrija . He had the pleasure of receiving a letter a few days ago from Col . Ricardo , who no doubt wrote it with the idea of its reaching him just before the present gathering . In that letter Col . Ricardo desired him to mention to the brethren that he often had the Aldermaston Lodge in memory , and hoped to rejoin them all as soon as the war was over . He ( Bro . Keyser ) was glad to say that Col . Ricardo was filling a post at Kimberley which must be quite congenial to his feelings . He had been

appointed to look after the supply of horses for the army . The colonel was a very good judge of a horse , ard there could be no doubt that he would fill the responsible position in question with advantage to the army and entire credit to himself . Bro . Keyser suggested that immediately after the lodge they should telegraph their hearty good wishes to Bro . Col . Ricardo . This proposal was fully approved , and a telegram was despatched accordingly .

The lodge proceedings , which had occupied nearly two hours , having concluded , the brethren accepted the kind invitation of Bro . Keyser to stroll through the grounds surrounding Aldermaston Court . Some of the visitors with antiquarian tastes , halted within the walls of the parish church , where the work of restoration and decoration is still proceeding , the cost being generously defrayed by Bro . Keyser .

At seven o clock the brethren returned to the hotel , and sat down to a banquet . Masonic toasts were honoured , and excellent speeches were delivered in the course ot the evening , although the time at the disposal of the party was limited , most of the visitors having to drive oil shortly before 10 o ' clock in order to catch the last up train lo Reading .

The toast ot "The Grand Officers , Present and Past , " was proposed by Bro . Bonny . Bro . Martin , P . A . G . D . C . Eng ., made an able response . In reply to the toast of " The Prov . G . Ollicers , Present and Past , " Bro . Ferguson , P . P . S . G . W ., made some suitable observations . Bro . Keyser said it gave him the greatest pleasure to propose the toast of the evening— " the Health ot the Worshipful Master . " He ( Bro . Keyser ) had only been

residing at Aldermaston a few years , but one of the first institutions he became acquainted with on his arrival there was their worthy W . M ., Bro . Cambridge , who had bsen living in the place for nearly 40 years , and who was one of its leading lights It was his privilege when Master of the Lodge of Hope at Newbury to initiate Bros . Cambridge and Wright , feeling that both would make good members of the Order . Since then Bro . Camoridge haei worked assiduously , and had evinced great interest in the Craft , and they all felt glad to see him raised to the position of Worshipful Master of the Aldermaston Lodge , the duties of which he would no doubt discnarge to

the satisfaction of the brethren and the welfare of the lodge , as well as with credit to himself . ( Applause . ) The W . M . responded in graceful terms . Bro . Martin proposed "The Health of the I . P . M . " Bro . Keyser suitably returned thanks . Bro . Stephen Knight , jun ., acting W . M . of the Lidge of Hope , replied for " The Visitors . " Bro . Prince proposed the toastjof "The Masonic Charities . " Bro . Margrett replied . " The Health of the Officers of the Lodge " was also drunk , followed by theTyler ' s toast , after which the company dispersed .