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architect, in presence of the Lord Almoner, the surveyor-general, and a large company of the Brethren.

SECT. IX.

History of Masonry in England during the Reign of King George II.

THE first Grand Lodge after the accession of George II. to the throne, was held at the Devil Tavern, Temple-bar, on the 24th of June, 1727; at which were present, the Earl of Inchiquin, Grand Master, his officers, and the Masters and Wardens of forty Lodges. At this meeting, it was resolved to extend the privilege of voting in Grand Lodge to Past Grand Wardens ;* that privilege having been heretofore restricted to Past Grand Masters, by a resolution of 21st November, 1724; and to Past Deputies, by another resolution of 28th February 1726.

The Grand Master having been obliged to take a journey into Ireland before the expiration of his office, his lordship transmitted a letter to William Cowper, esq. his Deputy, requesting him to convene a Grand Lodge for the purpose of nominating Lord Colerane Grand Master for the ensuing year. A Grand Lodge was accordingly convened on the 19th of December, 1727; when his lordship was regularly proposed Grand Master elect, and, being unanimously approved, on the 27th of the

This privilege was certainly a peculiar favour; for the Grand Lodge, by the old Constitutions, could consist only of the Masters and Wardens of regular Lodges, with the Grand Master and his Wardens at their head; and it had been customary even for these Officers, at their annual election, and on other particular occasions, to withdraw, and leave the Masters and Wardens of the Lodges to consult together, that no undue influence might warp their opinion.

same month, was duly invested with the ensigns of his high office at a grand feast at Mercers' hall, in the presence of a numerous company of the Brethren. His lordship attended two Communications during his Mastership, and seemed to pay considerable attention to the duties of his office. He constituted several new Lodges, and granted a deputation to hold a Lodge in St. Bernard-street, Madrid. At the last Grand Lodge under his lordship's auspices, Dr. Desaguliers moved, that the ancient office of Stewards might be revived, to assist the Grand Wardens in preparing the feast; when it was agreed that their appointment should be annual, and the number restricted to twelve.

Lord Kingston succeeded Lord Colerane, and was invested with the ensigns of his high office on the 27th of December, 1728, at a grand feast held at Mercers'-hall. His lordship's zeal and attachment to the Fraternity were very conspicuous, not only by his regular attendance on the Communications, but by a generous present to the Grand Lodge, of a curious pedestal, a rich cushion, with gold knobs and fringes, a velvet bag, and a new jewel set in gold for the use of the Secretary. During his lordship's administration, the Society flourished at home and abroad. Many Lodges were constituted; and, among the rest, a deputation was granted to George Pomfret, esq. authorising him to open a new Lodge at Bengal. This gentleman first introduced Masonry into the English settlements in India, where it has since made such rapid progress, that, within these fews years, upwards of fifty Lodges have been constituted there, eleven of which are now held in Bengal. The annual remittances to the charity and public funds of the Society, from this and the other factories of the East India Company, amount to a considerable

sum.

IC At a Grand Lodge held at the Devil Tavern, on the 27th of December, 1729, Nathaniel Blackerby, esq. the Deputy Grand Master, being in, the chair, in the absence of Lord Kingston, produced a letter from his lordship, authorising him to propose the Duke of Norfolk to be Grand Master for the ensuing year. This nomination meeting with general consent, the usual compliments were paid to his Grace, who, being present, was saluted Grand Master elect; and at an assembly and feast at Merchant-taylors'-hall, on the 29th of January following, he was duly invested and installed, according to ancient form, in the presence of a numerous and brilliant company of Masons. His absence in Italy, soon after his clection, prevented him from attending more than one Communication during his Mastership; but the business of the Society was diligently executed by Mr. Blackerby, his Deputy, on whom the whole management devolved. Among other signal, proofs of his Grace's attachment to the Society, he transmitted from Venice to England the following noble presents for the use of the Grand Lodge: 1. Twenty pounds to the charity. 2. A large folio book of the finest writing paper, for the records of the Grand Lodge, richly bound in Turkey, and gilt, with a curious frontispiece in vellum, containing the arms of Norfolk, amply displayed, and a Latin inscription of the family titles, with the arms of Masonry elegantly emblazoned. 3. A sword of state for the Grand Master; being the old trusty sword of Gustavus Adolphus King of Sweden, which was next worn by his brave successor in war, Bernard Duke of SaxeWeimar, with both their names on the blade, and further enriched with the arms of Norfolk, in silver, on the scabbard. For these presents his Grace was voted the public thanks of the Society.

It is not surprising that Masonry should flourish

under so respectable a banner. His Grace (appointed a Provincial Grand Master over the Lodges in the Circle of Lower Saxony, and esta blished by deputation a Provincial Grand Lodge at New Jersey, in America. A provincial patent was also made out under his auspices for Bengal. From this period we may date the commencement of the consequence and reputation of the Society in Europe; as daily applications were made for constituting new Lodges, and the most respectable characters of the age desired their names to be enrolled in our records.

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The Duke of Norfolk was succeeded by Lord Lovel, afterwards Earl of Leicester, who was installed at Mercers'-hall, on the 29th of March, 1731. His lordship, being at the time much indisposed with an ague, was obliged to withdraw soon after his installation. Lord Colerane, however, acted as proxy during the feast. On the 14th of May, the first Grand Lodge after Lord Lovel's election, was held at the Rose Tavern in Mary-le-bone; when it was voted, that in future all Past Grand Masters, and their Deputies, shall be admitted members of the Quarterly Committees of Charity, and that every Committee shall have power to vote five pounds for the relief of any distressed Mason; but no larger sum, without the consent of the Grand Lodge in Communication being first had and obtained. This resolution is still in force.*

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During the presidency of Lord Lovel, the nobility made a point of honouring the Grand Lodge with their presence. The Dukes of Norfolk and Richmond, the Earl of Inchiquin, and Lords Colerane and Montagu, with several other persons of distinction, generally attended; and though the

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subscriptions from the Lodges were inconsiderable, the Society was enabled to relieve many worthy objects with small sums. As an encouragement to I gentlemen to accept the office of Steward, it was ordered, that in future each Steward should have the privilege of nominating his successor at every annual grand feast.

The most remarkable event of Lord Lovel's administration was, the initiation of Francis Duke of Lorraine, Grand Duke of Tuscany, afterwards Emperor of Germany. By virtue of a deputation from his lordship, a Lodge was held at the Hague, where his Highness was received into the First Two Degrees of the Order. At this Lodge, Philip Stanhope, Earl of Chesterfield, then ambassador there, presided; Strickland, Esq. acted as Deputy, and Mr. Benjamin Hadley, with a Dutch Brother, as Wardens. His Highness coming to England the same year, was advanced to the Third Degree, at an occasional Lodge convened for the purpose, at Houghton-hall, in Norfolk, the seat of Sir Robert Walpole; as was also Thomas Pelham, Duke of Newcastle.

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The Society being now in a very flourishing state, deputations were granted from England for establishing Lodges in Russia and Spain.

Lord Viscount Montagu was installed Grand Master, at an assembly and feast at Merchanttaylors'-hall, on the 19th of April, 1732. Among the distinguished personages present on that occasion were, the Dukes of Montagu and Richmond; the Earl of Strathmore; and Lords Colerane, Teynham, and Carpenter; Sir Francis Drake and Sir William Keith, barts., and above four hundred other Brethren. At this meeting it was first proposed to have a country feast, and agreed that the Brethren should dine together at Hampstead on

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