Sketch Of An Old Lodge At Falmouth.*

SKETCH OF AN OLD LODGE AT FALMOUTH . *

BX BKO . AVILLIAM . JAMUS OTGIIAIT , P . B . D ., ElfOLilfD . 'TIHERE are not many lodges that date before the existence of Grand Lodges , aud - " - the number now Avorking by virtue of Avarrants older than a hundred years ago is not so plentiful as to make it a matter of no importance when Ave have to chronicle a few particulars of a lodge that was the first constituted in Cornwalland after a

, lapse of 127 years is as vigorous and energetic as eA'er . The lodge of "Love and Honour , " No . 75 , Falmouth , was chartered by the Grand Lxlge of England , June 12 th , 1751 , as No . 146 . The number has since been altered many times , the last change being in 1863 . These changes iu the numerical position of lodges in this country are rather awkward , as it is not easy to trace old lodges , especially as , years ago , they Avere generally only known and described as held at "such and such" an

inn . The records have been kept in no less than ten ponderous volumes ; some being beautiful specimens of caligraphy , while at times the secretary appears to have suffered from Saint Vitus' Dance , if the shaky handwriting is any test of such a disease . The first Worshi pful Master Avas called Pye , AVIIO , in the following year became Provincial Grand Master of Cornwall . The first clergyman admitted in the county Avas the Rev . William BorlaseAvhoafter he " saw the liht" in 1752 often preached

, , g , , the " Annual Sermon . " The fees then were two guineas for the three degrees , now they are seven guineas . Then , there Avas but one lodge in the county , tho membership not being a dozen Brethren , whereas at the present time there are twenty-seven lodges and about 1 , 600 members scattered over the Province . In early clays , the first and second degrees were frequently given in one e \ r euing , and eA on the three , on a pressing emergency , but such rapid promotion has been prohibited by the Grand Lxlge for

many year .- , and whether the candidate be a prince or a peer , a month must elapse between each degree . The officers were generally elected and installed on tho day of the Annual Festival , and according to the By-Laws every number Avas required to be in attendance on such occasions , " in order to proceed to church in due form , " the procession being of as imposing a character as possible , tho " constable and sergeants Avith their maces " generally walking as aids to the lodge . August 18 th , 1755 , Captain R . V . Lacey and Lieut . A . A . Fitsinghof the " Waterland" from Americawere

initi-, , , ated , after a unanimous ballot . May 18 th , 1757 , the Brethren Avere presented with gloves by the widow of a deceased member , AVIIOSO funeral they had attended , an ! the gift Avas ordered to be recorded in the minutes . The members Ave re as ready to pay their respects "to departed merit , " in the person of an old Tyler , as to one more favourably situated . They were most attentive in that respect , and more than once undertook the whole expense of interment of their "Outer Guard , " after lie had succumbed

to the last enemy . Bro . Wellins Oalcott visited the lodge in 1763 , apparently to introduce his Aveli-kiiown work , "Candid Disquisitions on Freemasonry , " and succeeded fairly in Cornwall , having obtained 80 subscribers . In J . 7 GI , the ballot Avas taken for the admission of a Brother as a member , when " all black balls" were cast ! It was agreed that in consequence of the " severe imputations upon his character , not only as a Masonbut as an honist minhis apron slnll le burnt in the . lod thai no brother

, , ge , shall defile himself by ever wearing of it in future ! " Feb . 27 th , 1706 , the captain of a ship then anchored in Falmouth ha ' rbjur , was " initiated , " and " passed , " such rapid advancement being explained by the secretary , that "hewas only dependent upon the wind" The old Avarrant of 1751 being lost , it was confirmed by a charter ( duplicate ) ,