Some Memorials Of The Globe Lodge, No . 23, And Of The "Red Apron."

Some Memorialsof the Globe Lodge, No . 23, and of the "Red Apron . "

( BY HENRY SADLER . )

H AVING finished my examination of the records of the Globe Lodge I will now attempt a brief dissertation relative to the origin of the " Red Apron " and the duties and privileges of the Grand Stewards . The Grand Lodge of England was established , as is well known , in the year 1717 , bat the existing written minutes only reach back to 1723 , consequently we have no details of its proceedings prior

GRAND STEWARDS' JEWEL . DESIGNED BY WILLIAM HOGARTH , 1735 . ( OheerKe . ) to that year , other than the very meagre account given by Dr . Anderson in his Book of Constitutions of 173 8 . It

seems that from the earliest days , a " Feast " formed a part of the proceedings at the Annual Assembly , but no mention is made of Stewards until the year 1721 , when the Duke of Montague was elected Grand Master . After the election , Anderson quaintly says , " Then the Grand Wardens were

GRAND STEWARDS' JEWEL , DESIGNED HY WILLIAM HOGARTH , 1735 . [ Jteerrtr . ) order'd , as usual , to prepare the Feast , and to take some Stewards to their Assistance , Brothers of Ability and Capacity ,

and to appoint some Brethren to attend the Tables ; for that no Strangers must be there . But the Grand Officers not finding a Proper Number of Stewards , our Brother , Mr . Josiah Villeneau , Upholder in the Bui-rough , Soullnvark , generously undertook the whole himself , attended by some Waiters . "

In 1722 , a serious dissension occurred winch nearly wrecked the newly formed Grand Lodge , consequently there was no Grand Festival , but in 1723 , the differences had been settled , and things went on with comparative smoothness , as before . Six Stewards were appointed for the Festivals of 1723 and 1724 , but of the mode of selection we

know nothing . We may assume that fresh difficulties prevented the obtaining of Stewards in the three following years , for two brethren undertook the duties , with assistance , as in 1721 . It appears that the prefix "Grand" was first applied to the Stewards in 1725 , for in the Grand Lodge

Minutes of the 27 th December , we read , " After the Generall healths were over , one was drank to the Grand Steward , viz ., John James Heidegger , and his two Deputys . " This arrangement , however , seems to have been unsatisfactory , for , on the 19 th of December , 1727 , a Special meeting

of the Grand Lodge was called for the purpose of making arrangements for the ensuing Feast , when the Deputy Grand Master addressed the brethren at considerable length , and made several suggestions for their guidance and comfort , no Stewards , however , were appointed , but a Brother , Edward

Lambert , kindly undertook the duties of the office . In arranging for the Festival of 1728 , further discussions took place , and complaints were made of irregularities at the last Festival .

It was ultimately agreed to consider at the next meeting how to prevent such irregularities in future . Accordingly , on the 26 th November , 1728 , after the election of Lord Kingston as Grand Master for the ensuing year , it was decided to have a Grand Feast at Stationers' Hall on next St . John ' s Day .

" And Dr . Desaguliers proposed ( that in order to have the same conducted in the best manner ) , a certain number of Stewards should be chosen , who should have the entire care and direction of the said Feast ( together with the Grand Wardens ) , pursuant to the printed Regulations , which being

seconded by Mr . Collis , "The Deputy Grand Master desired that all those who were willing to accept the said office of Steward would advance to the Table and declare the same by signing their names before the Chair . "

The brethren were evidently in no great hurry to avail themselves of a privilege whicli is now an object of ambition to many , and is considered a very distinguished honour , for the record says : " The Earl of Inchiquin was thereupon pleased to offer

himself , in a very obliging manner , to be one of the Stewards on that occasion , But his lordship having been so lately Grand Master , the Lodge thought it would be too great a trouble to , as well as too great a condescention in his Lordship to accept of that Office , therefore would not suffer it , But at the

same time exprest their utmost gratitude for the great Honour and Love his Lord'p . had shown for the Brotherhood and the Craft . "

Eventually 12 brethren advanced to the table and signed their names as Stewards for the next Grand Feast , and Dr . Desaguliers received the thanks of the Grand Lodge for having revived the office of Steward . It will thus be seen that the year 1728 was the first year in which twelve Grand Stewards were officially appointed .

On the 25 th of November , 1729 , "The Deputy Grand Master acquainted the brethren that the Tickets were preparing for the Grand Feast , and that as this was the proper time , for choosing Stewards for the said Feast , he proposed