Notes On The Old Minute Books Of The British Union Lodge, No 114, Ipswich. A.D. 1762.

a » the Doric Lodge , Woodbridge , now No . 81 , only eight miles distant , ivasan Athol or Ancient Lodge , it is probable that it Avas sought at this time to restrain all intercourse between the two Lodges . It is , however , possible that there may have been an Athol Lodge opened in Ipswich

at this time , and there is little doubt that the authorities in London were taking some action in the matter , for at the meeting in October folioAving we find " a motion was made and carried to erase the

minutes dated June 24 th , 1805 , but was postponed till a letter was seen relative from the Grand Lodge . " At the December meeting we find that dinner was ordered for St . John ' s Festival for 40 members . We may therefore conclude the Lodge was prosperous for a

country lodge again at this time . On the 27 th of the month—St . John ' s Festival—we find a list of subscribers towards the Patriotic Fund at Lloyd ' s , Avhen the sum of £ 11 3 s . was collected . The following is the footnote appended to the list : " The above was subscribed for the

widows and orphans of those brave fellows who fell , and to alleviate as much as po & - the wounded of these , at the Battle of Trafalgar , where our chieftain fell—Lord Nelson . '' B y the way , was Nelson a Mason ? We know the Great Duke was . One is glad to come across a record of this

sort , which proves to the outside Avorld , who are not Masons , that the brethren are not unmindful of their duty as citizens , and that their charity does not begin and end at home , as has so often been said by our enemies .

Up to this time we notice frequent visitors present from the Perfect Friendship Lodge , but noAv its distinguishing title , so far as the British Union was concerned , appears to have become a misnomer , and for some reason or other the two

Lodges were evidently not on such good terms as formerly . At the Feb . meeting in 1806 , we find it proposed that "in future any subscribing member now belonging to the British Union shall not be a subscribing member

to any other Craft Masons' Lodge , if continued above one quarter the said name to be erased from the British Union Lodge . Agreed . Majority 21 in faA'our of the said motion . "

At the meeting in Novr ., 1806 , it was , however , unanimously agreed to amend this Minute— "that in future any subscribing member of the British Union Lodge may belong to any other held under a legal Constitution ( excepting in

Ipswich ) . " At another meeting held on the 25 th Feby ., Ave find that the same Brother who proposed the resolution before mentioned , now " proposed a letter of remonstrance to the Grand Lodge to point out the

proceedings of a few individuals for endeavouring to get a Constitution to act as Modern Masons . Majority in favour of the above motion 20 . ''

Shall we be wrong in surmising that the Perfect Friendship was an Athol or Ancient Lodge , and that its members were at this time striving to get a Charter from the Modem Grand Lodge in London , or are we to suppose that another Athol Lodge in Ipswich or members of the

Woodbridge Athol Lodge were trying to form another in Ipswich , with Charter under the London Grand Lodge . Perhaps Bro . Hughan can solve this difficulty by telling us if there are any records of Athol Lodges meeting in Ipswich at the period named .

Whatever the difficulty was with the Perfect Friendship all was amity again in Deer ., for at tho St . John ' s Festival ( fit occasion for making friends ) we find it agreed " that in future all members from the Perfect Friendship Lodge be allowed to visit on all occasions . " On this occasion

a vote of thanks was proposed to ancl a medal in commemoration of his good services were agreed to be given to the late Master , James Butcher . The following March a sum of £ 3 is voted to a Brother who had been robbed .

There appear to have been 56 members of the Lodge at this time , and we find dinner ordered for St . John ' s Day , 24 th June , for 45 members . It is worthy of note that both St . John ' s Days were kept at this time . It is

also worthy of note that the term So mote ¦ it be , presumed to be so old as to take Masonry back to Saxon times , never occurs in these Minutes , but the Minutes of every meeting are concluded with the words , " Lodge closed in harmony— . Amen . "