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

NOTES ON THE OLD MINUTE BOOKS OF THE BRITISH UNION LODGE , No . 114 , IPSWICH . A . D . 1762 .

BY BRO . EJIEA HOLMES , 31 ° , P . M ., M . E . Z .. St . Luke ' s Chapter , P . M . M . P . E . G ., P . E . P ., P . M . W . S ., Past Provincial Grand Registrar of Suffolk , Past Grand Inspector of Works ( Mark ) , Past Grand Provost Order of the Teinile , P . P . G ., Banner-Bearer Royal Order of Scotland , & c , & c .

' . ( Continued from page 447 . ) UNDER date , October 3 , 1782 , Ave find that this evening a lodge Avas convened by order of the R . W . M . and Wardens in order to " spend ye evening with Bro . John Blomfieldancl from him to receive the

, benefit of the 3 L s , Avhich Avas accordingly done to ye general satisfaction of the brethren present . " No doubt Bro . Blomfield delivered or explained the three lectures , and it is noteworthy the guarded way in which this is

noted , very different to the open ancl diffuse manner the minutes are often kept , and perhaps , Ave might add , too often reported in the " Freemason . " Oii St . John the Evangelist ' s Day , December 27 , 1782 , it is recorded that this evening Bro , Robert Tovell , Secretary , Avas raised to the degree of Past Master , being found Avorthy .

Some of our younger brethren will be surp -ised to learn , that it was a common custom in the last century , and is , we believe , even now in Scotland , to confer the titular degree of Past Master upon brethren who have never passed the chair . In England now Ave all know a Past

Master is a brother who has served the office of Warden in some warranted lodge , ancl has been elected by the majority of the lodge to fill the chair of U . S . He is then duly installed , receiving the secrets of Avhat are called the Installed Master ' s

degree , and from thenceforth , so long as he is a subscribing member of any lodge , he retains his rank as Past Master and is entitled to a seat in Grand Lodge , On the 5 th November , 1782 , "Mr . John Spooner Avas nominated to take the chair for the ensuing year ; and at the St . John ' s Festival following he was elected R . W . M . ; Bro . B . Foxwell , S . W . ; Bro .

Jacob Bunnett , J . W . ; Bro . S . Ribbans , Treasurer ; and Robert Tovell , Secretary . Thus it Avould appear , as has been before remarked , that at this time all the superior officers in the lodge were elected as is the case IIOAV in Royal Arch Chapters , we believeand not as now , when the AV . M .

, appoints all his OAVH officers from the S . W . downwards , except the Treasurer , who keeps the keys of the money-chest , and the Tyler , Avho is the serving brother of the Lodge , and not the servant of the Masteras some appear to think .

, On March 4 th , 1783 , Robert Koymer , from " ye TAVUIS Lodge , Norwich , " was a visitor . No such Lodge appears IIOAV in the ' ' Cosmopolitan Calendar "—though there are no less than six in the old

cathedral town—the youngest , by the Avay , being named after the late lamented ancl popular Prov . Grand Master , at whose installation last November we assisted , . as the French say ; ancl now , alas , he has gone over to the majority . William LaneOperative

Masonap-, , pears amongst the brethren present at a Lodge holden on the 4 th November , 1783 , and Ave find that this evening the brethren went from the Lodge room at ye Golden Lyon in procession to the theatre to see the comedy "As you like it , " with the

musical piece , called the " Deserter . " The same evening Michael Sharp , musician . Peter Dogneville , dancing master ; Thomas Smith , innholder ; Stephen Pren tice , shipwright ; ancl William Bennett , cooper ancl innholderAvere proposed for initiation .

, On November 18 , 1783 , "Bro . James Garrod was raised to ye degree of Master Mason , being found Avorthy . " This night also " Mr . M . Sharp Avas made a Mason in clue form , ancl was admitted to the second and third degree of Masonry . " The

other four brethren noted above Avere all initiated , but took only the first degree . This is the first instance we have yet come across where a brother has taken the three degrees in one night . The fees are all given , and it appears Bro . Sharp Avas charged as follows : —

For Admission - -, £ 2 2 0 ,, Registration fees - 0 8 6 „ Second degree - 0 2 6 „ Raised Master -060 £ 2 19 0 2 M