The Province Of Cornwall.

The Province of Cornwall .

THE Provincial Grand Lodge of Cornwall is one of the oldest in England , having been constituted at Falmouth on the nth June , 1752 ; Bro . William Pye , the first W . M . of the senior lodge held in that town , being also the premier Provincial Grand Master . The Provincial Officers

BRO . P . COLVILM- ; SMITH , P . G . D ., DEPUTY I'ROV . GRAND MASTER . were inani ty selected from the old Lodge of " Love and Honour" ( warranted 20 th May , 1751 ) , and the management , practically , of the Provincial Grand Lodge was left in its

hands for many years ; even the early records of the province being written in the minute book of that lodge . On the whole , the Provincial Grand Lodge has been fortunate as to the preservation and custody of its minutes , not a few of which , like those of the " mother lodge , " are

of a very curious and interesting character . Its respected historian has been the veteran Bro . William J . Hughan ( of Torquay ) , who , from 186 4 to 188 3 , resided in Truro , and joined his adopted province from Lodge St . Aubyn , No . 954 , Devonport , in which he was initiated in 186 3 . Xow ,

however , the honour of being its historian is gladly shared with Bro . Joseph G . Osborne , P . M . 330 and 450 ( of Hayle ) , whose u History of Freemasonry in West Cornwall , from 176 5 to 1828 , " is one of the most valuable and entertaining works of the kind ever published , and to which reference will be made in these pages . This line volume has only to be seen and perused to be warmly appreciated .

Other sources of information as to the Cornish Craft will be found in "A History of the Craft in Cornwall" by Bro . Hughan ( Freemasons' Magazine , from September 29 th , 1866-8 ) , and a " History of Freemasonry in Devon and Cornwall" ( Introduction to Bro . Metham ' s Orations , 18 99 ) . " A sketch of the Lodge of Love and Honour , No . 75

, Falmouth" ( 1877 and 1888 ) , and "Annals of the Cornish Craft from 1751 , " and other pamphlets by the same well known zealous brother ; as well as " Some account of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Cornwall" ( Truro , 1865 , Anon ) . An excellent official Directory is also published , which was

originated and edited in 1870 by Bro . Hughan ( when Provincial Grand Secretary ) and for many subsequent years , the present respected editor being Bro . J . C . R . Crewes , P . Prov . S . G . D .

In 1752 , two lodges were constituted , making then a trio in Cornwall , viz ., one at Helston ( which expired in 1774 ) and another at Redruth , which lasted for nearly a century . A fourth was formed at Penzance in 1755 , and a fifth at St . Ives in 176 5 ; the sixth being chartered at Launceston in

1767 . The last three only managed to keep alive for some twenty years each . During this period , Bro . Stephen Bell succeeded William Pye as Provincial Grand Master . Having constituted the premier local lodge in 1751 ( then at the time only a

Fellow Craft ) , and though succeeded by his brother George as Provincial Grand Master in 1764 , he was again reappointed to that distinguished position in 1775 , and so continued to his decease in 1785 . This Craftsman assuredly served his province most assiduously , and with his brother's aid , the Bell family presided over the destinies of the

Provincial Grand Lodge of Cornwall for full } - twenty years . We now come to the time when the " Atholl" Grand Lodge started a lodge which is still working in the county , viz ., No . 131 , Truro . The warrant was first granted to the 67 th Regiment , 6 th July , 1772 , which held a moveable Masonic Commission for many years ( like man } - of these most useful

and enthusiastic Military Craft centres ) in the Island of Grenada , West Indies , and elsewhere . It was constituted at the Mitre Tavern , Chatham . After various changes , the Charter was transferred to the " Royal Cornish Miners Regiment , " assembling at Dover in 1807 , and after being

held in Kent , Ireland , and then Falmouth , the lodge found a resting place at last in Truro , and finally had a " Civil Warrant" in 1826 , being named the Fortitude , in exchange for the original Military Charter , which remained at No . 175 until the " Union " in December , 1813 .

No- 75 > Falmouth , and the foregoing No . 131 , Truro , have centenary jewel warrants , being dated in 186 9 and 18 73 respectively . Another lodge would also have been similarly distinguished had not the continuity unfortunately

HHO . K BROAD , P . M ., I'ROV . GRAND TUKASUHKR , AND CHARITY RKI'IIKSHNTATl VK . been broken , viz ., the "Mount Sinai , " No . 121 , which , as 16 3 , was chartered under " Atholl" or " Ancient" auspices in 17 6 9 , at George Town , Grenada , West Indies ; which