History Of The Lod Ge Ofem Ulation, No .21.

England in 1767 . The first Charter was issued by this body 111 1769 , consequently the "Royal Arch at The Black Horse " . in 1 767 could not have been authorised by ( hat Society . This incident , in a measure , confirms the opinion expressed by me in Masonic Fads and Fictions , " that Royal Arch Masonry was practised by some of ( he adherents of the

regular Grand Lodge long before the formation of the Grand Chapter , notwithstanding that the learned Dr . Oliver , in his Origin of Ihe Royal Arch , says " the introduction of the Degree into the modern system could not have been earlier than the dedication of Freemasons' Hall in 1776 . " I fail to see any

connection between the two events mentioned , although some such may have existed in the lively imagination of the worthy doctor . Certainly the Royal Arch was in full swing - in 177 6 , nol only in London but in other parts of the country .

) Ti . Acixu i : o .. ! . i . OF THK i . onr . i-: or KMULATIOX , \ t > . . 1 . A possible reason for ( he late master turning up so promptly at the next meeting may have been that the Lodge owed him hall ' -a-crown , for I note in the disbursements on that occasion Ihe following item , " paid Bro' ' - T . Harris what he expended at the Quarterly Communication 2 . 6 . /

, The Lodge got out of i ( . 'difficulty by electing the Senior Warden to the Master ' s Chair for ( he remainder of the term . On thc 1 SU 1 Nov . 1768 , the Lodge was visited b y Bro . John Maclean of The Turk ' s Head . Gerrard Street , who was proposed and elected a member of the Lodge , April 7 th ,

1769 . This brother played a very important part in establishing and disseminating Royal Arch Masonry in England . In 17 6 3 his name heads a list of the members of the first Royal Arch Chapter in London of which we have anv knowledge , then meeting at The Turk ' s Head in Gerrard

Street . At the Anniversary Feast held at the above-named house , Dec . 20 th , 1766 , "the thanks of the Chapter was given by Z , in an Address lo Bro' ' . John Maclean , as Pallidum ! Promoter , who for his instructions and careful attendance " Published in 1 NN 7 , Iml now oul ol print .

was requested to accept a Gold Plate .- Tins Gold Plate is fully described in the records of the meeting and was evidently of a similar design to what has since become ( he regulation Royal Arch Jewel , and as ( his chapter subsequently became the Grand Chapter of England , which has been in continuous existence ever since , we may fairly claim

Bro . John Maclean as the Father of the Supreme Grand Chapter of the present day . After the iirst year of its existence the Constitution Lodge appears to have been far from harmonious , frequent dissensions are indicated , but the minutes are meagre , and kept in a

very slovenly manner . The Secretary was informed at one meeting that a motion would be made for his expulsion , although his offence is not stated ; however , he sent a letter desiring to resign , but was subsequently readmitted . Other brethren , who had been appointed to offices declined to

serve ; several from time to time "discontinued themselves . " Eventually the Lodge dwindled down to six or eight Members , the last entry in the Minute Book being on 28 th August , 1770 , as follows : " This being a Convention Night to consider the State of the Lodge , when it was determined that

the Lodge Debts must be paid and Bro '" . Ireland ( the Treasurer ) had authority to sell the jewels , & c , for that purpose . " Only six members were present at this meeting ,, which was apparently the last at the old house .

The next minutes begin another book and are dated 21 st December 1770 , being the records of a meeting held at The Guildhall Coffee House , by adjournment from The Constitution Coffee House , Bedford Street , Covent Garden ; three members being present , John Hughes , W . M .., John Ireland , S . W ., and Johnathan Barff , J . W ., when the Warrant

and Regalia of the Lodge were formally delivered up to a new set of Brethren , of whom Samuel Hill was appointed W . M ., William White , S . W ., James Dowdall , J . W ., and the other offices filled up . After this Meeting the names of Hughes , Ireland , and Barff , and of other members of the

Constitution Lodge , disappear altogether from the minutes . This was the turning point in the history of the Lodge , three new brethren being initiated and five joining members elected , one of the latter being William White , who subsequently became known as one of the most active and

prominent Masons in London . On the 27 th December following he " proposed to the Brethren , the consideration of a Name for this Lodge , which was agreed to ; " accordingly at the meeting on the 2 nd January , 1771 , Bro . Fox moved that Ihe Lodge be called the " Lodge of Emulation , " which after some debate was approved , and the Lodge ordered to be registered " under its new name and establishment . "

THE RECORDS OF THE LODGE OF EMCLATIOX , Xo . 324 . 1770—1780 . As in all probability the resuscitation of the Lodge and its transfer from Covent Garden to the Cily were due lo the energy and masonic zeal of William White , a few remarks

on his masonic career may nol be out of place . According to his biographer he " was born about the year 1 747 and served his apprenticeship in an eminent mercantile house in Lisbon ; at the expiration of which he returned to England . He was initiated into masonry in 1770 , at the

Old Horn Lodge No . 2 , then held in Westminster , of which he was in due course elected Master , and was one of the ten Masters of Lodges chosen on the Hall Committee at its first formation in 1773 . " On the first of May , 1775 , he served the office of Grand

Steward ( for the Somerset House Lodge ) at which time the Foundation-stone of Freemasons Hall was laid in Great Queen Street . " The above is quite in accord with the Grand Lodge records , wherein he is described as a Wine Merchant and

occasionally as a Stock Broker of Lombard Street , and as Secretary of the Board of Grand Stewards in 1775 . He was also Secretary to Ihe Honourable Artillery Company for many years , in which office he was succeeded by his son ,