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  • Oct. 1, 1855
  • Page 4
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The Masonic Mirror, Oct. 1, 1855: Page 4

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    Article FREEMASONRY IN ENGLAND. Page 1 of 7 →
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.

Freemasonry In England.

FREEMASONRY IN ENGLAND .

( Continuedfrom p . 530 . ) THE tews and regulations of the Grand Lodge as now constituted ( A . D . 1717 ) , meeting Avith the entire concurrence of the brethren of the four old Lodges , they considered their personal attendance at the future quarterly communications as unnecessary , and like the newly constituted Lodges ,

considered themselves sufficiently represented by their Master and Wardens , feeling assured that no measure of importance would be adopted without their concurrence . But those officers in their attendance on Grand Lodge found that the other Lodges being equally represented with the four original , would , as they increased in number , have the poAver of gaining an immense majority of votesand therebbe enabled to encroach

onel-, y , even subvert , the privileges of the original Masons of England , which had been vested in the four old Lodges . They , therefore , with the assistance of the brethren , formed a code of laws for the future government of the Society , to which Avas annexed a conditional clause , Avhich runs thus i "Every annual Grand Lodge lias an inherent power and authority to makenew regulations or to alter thesefor the real benefit of this Ancient

, fraternity ; provided always , THAT THE OLD LAND-MARKS BE CAREFULLY PRESERVED ; and that such alterations and new regulations be proposed and agreed to at the third quarterly communication preceding the annual grand feast ; and that they be offered also to the perusal of all the brethren before dinner , in writing , even of the younr /

estapprentice ; the approbation and the consent of the majority of all the brethren present , being absolutely necessary to make the same binding and obligatory . " This remarkable clause , and thirty-eight regulations preceding it , all of which are printed in the first edition of the Book of Constitutions , were approved , and confirmed by one hundred and fift y brethren , at an annual assembly and feast , held at Stationers' Hail , ore

St . John the Baptist ' s day , 172-1 , and in their presence subscribed by the Masters and Wardens of the four old Lodges on the one part ; and by Philip , Duke of Wharton , then Grand Master ; Theophilus Desaguliers , M . D ., _ andE . llS ., Deputy Grand Master ; Joshua Tirason , and William Hawkins , Grand Wardens ; and the Masters and Wardens of sixteen Lodges which had been constituted between 1717 and 1721 , on the other

part . And the Grand Master for the time being , his successors , and tbe Master of every Lodge to be hereafter constituted , were thereby bound to preserve those LAVS inviolate for ail time coming . In commemoration of " this , it has been an established custom since that time for the Master of the oldest Lod ge to attend the installation of Grand Master , and taking precedence of every other brother presentthe Grand Master onl ted

, y excep , to deliver the Book of the Original Constitutions to him on his engaging to support and abide by the ancient charges and regulations . By these Avise precautions , the Constitutions of our ancient brethren were established as a basis on which the future Masonic jurisdiction of England was to be founded , and the ancient regulations and landmarks

“The Masonic Mirror: 1855-10-01, Page 4” Masonic Periodicals Online, Library and Museum of Freemasonry, 1 June 2025, django:8000/periodicals/mir/issues/mmg_01101855/page/4/.
  • List
  • Grid
Title Category Page
UNIFORMITY OF RITUAL. Article 1
FREEMASONRY IN ENGLAND. Article 4
MASONIC REMINISCENCES. Article 11
THE NEW CONSTITUTIONS OF THE FRENCH MASONS. Article 17
MASONIC INTELLIGENCE. Article 21
LONDON LODGES. Article 24
PROVINCIAL LODGES. Article 25
ROYAL ARCH. Article 42
SCOTLAND. Article 43
CORRESPONDENCE. Article 50
SUMMARY OF SMEWS FOR SEPTEMBER. Article 53
NOTICES. Article 59
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.

Freemasonry In England.

FREEMASONRY IN ENGLAND .

( Continuedfrom p . 530 . ) THE tews and regulations of the Grand Lodge as now constituted ( A . D . 1717 ) , meeting Avith the entire concurrence of the brethren of the four old Lodges , they considered their personal attendance at the future quarterly communications as unnecessary , and like the newly constituted Lodges ,

considered themselves sufficiently represented by their Master and Wardens , feeling assured that no measure of importance would be adopted without their concurrence . But those officers in their attendance on Grand Lodge found that the other Lodges being equally represented with the four original , would , as they increased in number , have the poAver of gaining an immense majority of votesand therebbe enabled to encroach

onel-, y , even subvert , the privileges of the original Masons of England , which had been vested in the four old Lodges . They , therefore , with the assistance of the brethren , formed a code of laws for the future government of the Society , to which Avas annexed a conditional clause , Avhich runs thus i "Every annual Grand Lodge lias an inherent power and authority to makenew regulations or to alter thesefor the real benefit of this Ancient

, fraternity ; provided always , THAT THE OLD LAND-MARKS BE CAREFULLY PRESERVED ; and that such alterations and new regulations be proposed and agreed to at the third quarterly communication preceding the annual grand feast ; and that they be offered also to the perusal of all the brethren before dinner , in writing , even of the younr /

estapprentice ; the approbation and the consent of the majority of all the brethren present , being absolutely necessary to make the same binding and obligatory . " This remarkable clause , and thirty-eight regulations preceding it , all of which are printed in the first edition of the Book of Constitutions , were approved , and confirmed by one hundred and fift y brethren , at an annual assembly and feast , held at Stationers' Hail , ore

St . John the Baptist ' s day , 172-1 , and in their presence subscribed by the Masters and Wardens of the four old Lodges on the one part ; and by Philip , Duke of Wharton , then Grand Master ; Theophilus Desaguliers , M . D ., _ andE . llS ., Deputy Grand Master ; Joshua Tirason , and William Hawkins , Grand Wardens ; and the Masters and Wardens of sixteen Lodges which had been constituted between 1717 and 1721 , on the other

part . And the Grand Master for the time being , his successors , and tbe Master of every Lodge to be hereafter constituted , were thereby bound to preserve those LAVS inviolate for ail time coming . In commemoration of " this , it has been an established custom since that time for the Master of the oldest Lod ge to attend the installation of Grand Master , and taking precedence of every other brother presentthe Grand Master onl ted

, y excep , to deliver the Book of the Original Constitutions to him on his engaging to support and abide by the ancient charges and regulations . By these Avise precautions , the Constitutions of our ancient brethren were established as a basis on which the future Masonic jurisdiction of England was to be founded , and the ancient regulations and landmarks

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