rive from his benignant sway. That the great Architect of the Universe may long secure these blessings to them and to their country, by the preservation of his Royal Highness, their illustrious Patron!" This motion was seconded by the Honourable Washington Shirley, and passed unanimously, and with masonic

honours.

This was followed by a motion,-"That the grateful Thanks of this United Grand Lodge be given to the Most Worshipful their Royal Highnesses the Duke of Kent and Duke of Sussex, for the gracious condescension with which they yielded to the prayer of the United Fraternities to take upon themselves the personal conduct of the Negociation for a Re-union, which is this day, through their zeal, conciliation, and fraternal example, so happily completed. To state to them that the removal of all the slight differences which have so long kept the Brotherhood asunder, will be the means of establishing in the Metropolis of the British Empire one splendid edifice of Ancient Freemasonry, to which the whole Masonic World may confidently look for the maintenance and preservation of the pure principles of the Craft, as handed down to them from time immemorial under the protection of the illustrious branches of the Royal House of Brunswick; and may their Royal Highnesses have the heartfelt satisfaction of long beholding the beneficent effects of their work, in the extension and practice of the virtues of loyalty, morality, brotherly love, and benevolence, which it has been ever the great object of Masonry to inculcate, and of its laws to enforce." This was also unanimously approved; and was followed by a Motion of Thanks to the six Commissioners appointed by the two Fraternities to assist the illustrious Princes in the said Negociation for the zeal, conciliation, and ability, with which they discharged their important trust therein.

The following Resolutions were also severally put, and carried in the affirmative unanimously.

That Books be opened by the Grand Secretaries for the regular entry and record of the proceedings of this United Grand Lodge; and that there be inserted therein, in the first instance, an account of all the Resolutions and Proceedings of both Grand Lodges with respect to the Negociation for the Union, and of the conferences of the Commissioners thereon; together with a copy of the Articles of Union, and the confirmation thereof; also copies of the Letters written by their Royal Highnesses the two Grand Masters, and Grand Secretaries, addressed to the Most Worshipful the Grand Masters and Grand Secretaries of Scotland and Ireland, announcing the same, together with the Resolutions of these Grand Lodges in reply.

That the proceedings of this day be communicated to the Grand Lodges of Scotland and Ireland, and to express to them that this United Grand Lodge feels with the most sensible satisfaction the fraternal interest which they take in the important event of this day. To assure them that it is the anxious desire of this

Grand Lodge to maintain the most constant, cordial, and intimate, communion with the Sister Grand Lodges of the United Kingdom; to which end they are persuaded that nothing is so essential as the preservation of one pure and unsullied system, founded on the simple and ancient traditions of the Craft.

Several other Resolutions were also passed relative to the internal management of the Fraternity; after which the United Grand Lodge was closed in ample form, and with solemn prayer.

SECT. XVII.

History of Masonry from 1813 to 1820.

MASONRY is, in itself, of so retiring and unobtrusive a nature, that, except in the case of processions, &c. it rarely comes in contact with the public. We have, however, to record, that in January 1815, it came under the cognizance of the law, in an action tried in the Palace Court, Westminster; wherein Thomas Smith was plaintiff, and William Finch, defendant.

The plaintiff was a copperplate printer; and the action was brought to recover 41. 2s. being the amount of work done for the defendant. A plea was set up by Finch, stating, that the plaintiff was indebted to him 161. 19s. 6d. for making him a Mason, and giving him instructions in the various degrees in his Independent Lodge, at his own house near Westminster-bridge. It was proved by the evidence of the Rev. Dr. Hemming, Past Senior Grand Warden, as well as of Mr. White, and Mr. Harper, Joint Secretaries to the Grand Lodge, that the defendant was not authorized to make Masons; on the contrary, that his whole system was an imposition on the parties who were so deceived by him; and that no man had a right to make Masons for private emolument. The trial occupied a considerable portion of time; and after an excellent charge from the judge, stating, that from the whole evidence it appeared that Finch's conduct was altogether unjustifiable; that he could neither make Masons nor procure them admission to any Lodge, and that he was totally disavowed by the Fraternity; the jury, without hesitation, gave a verdict against Finch, to the full amount of the printer's demand.

In the year 1816, Freemasonry was revived in Russia, under the protection of his Imperial Majesty the Emperor; and the Grand Lodge of Astrea, at St. Petersburgh, forwarded a communication to the Grand Lodge of England, inviting that august body to hold a regular correspondence with it; and also a reciprocal admission of Brethren of the two countries who should bear proper certificates or diplomas. The letter was ordered to be recorded in the proceedings of the Grand Lodge, and his Royal Highness, the M. W. Grand Mas ter was solicited to reply to the communication, and to express the great satisfaction the Grand Lodge felt at the revival of Freemasonry in Russia, and the cheerfulness with which it embraced the proposals of the Grand Lodge of Astrea.

On the 24th of September, 1819, a Grand Masonic Festival took place at Bath; being the DEDICATION of the BATH MASONIC HALL, with all the splendid ceremonials which characterize the public processions of our antient and honourable Fraternity.

His Royal Highness the Duke of Sussex, Grand Master of the Örder, having graciously signified his intention of honouring the ceremony with his august presence, the Meeting assumed the higher title of an Assembly of the SUPREME GRAND LODGE OF ENGLAND, instead of that of a Provincial Grand Lodge.

The procession moved from the Guildhall, to the number of between 800 and 900 Brethren, decorated with their different orders, emblems, ensigns, and ornaments, many of them of the most elegant and costly description. The Royal Grand Master joined the procession at York House, and walked uncovered to the Masonic Hall, returning most graciously the salutations of the immense throngs, consisting of nearly the whole population