EARLY
ACCOUNTS OF THE HOLY ROYAL ARCH IN LINCOLNSHIRE BY E.COMP DR.
BRIAN ROBERTS
(Acknowledged
is the extensive use of William Dixon’s book 1894 “ A History
of Freemasonry in Lincolnshire; Being a Record of All Extinct
and Existing Lodges, Chapters”).
N.B. The present publishers (General Books) acknowledge that
the records are incomplete in the original and therefore papers
are not always sequential or complete.
The
earliest accounts of the Holy Royal Arch being conferred in
Lincolnshire is given in the Minerva Chapter No 35 in Hull,
which showed the exaltation of three brethren from Barton on
Humber on 2nd March 1787, followed by three more from Barton
on 6th July. The first three brethren later persuaded Rev. Matthew
Barnett of the merits of the Royal Arch, and had also founded
St. Matthew’s Lodge on 20th March 1787. Barnett was from the
North of England and was admitted into a Royal Arch Chapter
in Darlington in 1788 (the Chapter of Vigilance No.56).
Within
two months of that event Barnett’s name appears as First Principal
of St. Matthew’s Chapter Barton. The original St. Matthew Chapter
ceased about 1804. The warrant of the present St. Matthew Chapter
is dated 3rd November 1880. A Provincial Grand Chapter was convened
at Barton on Monday 21st March 1881 at which the Grand Superintendent
W.H. Smyth presided and the Chapter of St. Matthew was duly
dedicated.
The Holy Royal Arch Chapter (the Old Chapter)held in Boston
under the auspices of the Lodge of Harmony No. 453 at the Ship
Tavern, was formed on 15th March 1807. There were a number of
exaltations in the first two years and some of the Companions
became founder members of the Chapter of Concord, Lincoln. The
last entry for the Old Chapter was in 1821. Soon after the Union
of the two Grand Lodges pressure seems to have been brought
to bear on those Lodges which sanctioned an irregular (i.e.
without a warrant from Grand Chapter) assembly of the Royal
Arch degree. There were believed to be many of these in the
Provinces.
The revival of the Royal Arch in Boston appears to be due to
Rev. George Coltman, the Deputy Provincial Grand Master, a warrant
being granted for holding the Chapter of St. Botolphs on 1st
November 1843, although initially it seemed not to have flourished
with few meetings being held after its consecration in June
1844. The records listing the 1844 meeting also refer to one
in May 1846, but then not until April 1850. Comp. W.H. Smyth,
later Grand Superintendent, joined the Chapter in September
1862 but again little happened until 1871, but since when St.
Botolph’s has functioned regularly.
The early minutes of the Chapter of Concord Lincoln are largely
missing. It can only be conjectured as to why the Chapter commenced
without a warrant or dispensation, no doubt there were many
others in a similar situation because of the divided state of
the Masonic authorities. Certainly the first Provincial Grand
Master for Lincolnshire Rev. W. Peters had no interest in the
Royal Arch (or any other degrees outside of craft masonry).
On 21st August 1808 the Chapter of Concord opened at the King’s
Arms Lincoln. Four exaltations took place at the first meeting
of the new Chapter and three the following month including the
landlord of the King’s Arms. In 1809 the landlord died and the
Chapter removed to the Green Dragon.
Remarkably, the name changed to the Chapter of Independence,
in deference to another Chapter of the same name in the Province,
although no record seems to show this either in the Province
or in Grand Chapter- the latter’s records only showing reference
to the “Lincoln Chapter”. The record reads, “The Lincoln Chapter
was the last warrant granted by the “moderns” prior to the Union
of the two Grand Chapters in 1817”. In the register of the “moderns”
the Lincoln Chapter was attached to Witham Lodge until 1861
when it was erased by Grand Chapter along with many others for
not having made returns for several years.
Between 1825-1832 the Chapter seldom met and between 1837-1842
meetings were only held once a year. In 1834 a complaint was
made by the Chapter of Concord members to Grand Chapter about
Humber Chapter, Hull, charging only half fees, which they said
had resulted in no exaltations taking place in Concord for 11
years. The Concord action was more likely to be related to the
exaltation in Hull of the promoters of the then new Chapter
in Gainsborough.
In 1841 Dr. Oliver joined the Chapter and in 1848 the Earl of
Yarborough the 2nd Grand Principal and Provincial Grand Master
for Lincolnshire. After 1850 there were very few members and
the Chapter was frequently not opened due to lack of officers.
The Chapter was erased from the roll of Grand Chapter on 7th
August 1861. The new Chapter of Concord was consecrated on 28th
July 1869 by W.H. Smyth.
On 5th May 1813 Rev. George Oliver, Master of Apollo Lodge,
Grimsby, was exalted in the Royal Arch Chapter, “Industrious”,
working with Humber Lodge, Hull, under an old Athol Warrant
( a breakaway group) which was removed to Hull in 1809. It was
strange that he didn’t join Minerva in the same town as this
was the “Mother Lodge” and Chapter of early Lincolnshire Provincial
brethren. There was reference in 1813 to Bro W.H. White, Grand
Superintendent, intending to visit Apollo Chapter, yet Rev.
M. Barnett expressed great concern at the cost, which indicated
the impoverished nature of the Chapter. In the event it was
never confirmed that the Chapter opened in August with the Grand
Superintendent present although there had been a more positive
invitation forthcoming after the initial letter which expressed
the financial concerns.
In 1813 a petition was granted for a new Chapter to open in
Grimsby- the Aletheia Chapter. The warrant never appeared to
have been taken up however, as it does not appear on the register,
nor was it brought forward after the Union. Possibly this was
another funding issue of the time. In spite of this the Chapter
seems to have flourished for several years, but after 1820 no
mention is made of it.
The present Oliver Chapter was attached to the Pelham Pillar
Lodge and has a warrant from 3rd May 1865. The Chapter was dedicated
on 5th June by Comp. Walton of Hull.
All Saints’ Chapter of Gainsborough was warranted on 1st May
1836 with the first meeting being held on 15th August.
The St. James’ Chapter Louth had its warrant dated 6th May 1874
and the Chapter was consecrated by the Grand Superintendent
for N.E. Yorkshire.
The
Doric Chapter Grantham bears a charter dated 4th November 1891
and the consecration took place on the 26th of the same month
by the Most Excellent Grand Superintendent W.H. Smyth.
The 1st Provincial Grand Master for Lincolnshire Rev. W. Peters
was never a member of the Royal Arch Chapter. At the time he
wrote to his deputy that he did not suppose that there was anything
very wrong with it but he claimed that Grand Lodge only recognised
the 3 degrees and that it was dangerous to proceed further.
Anything beyond the Royal Arch was impious and approached the
infernal. This was written just prior to the 1813 Union which
included the Supreme Order of the Holy Royal Arch and its definition
of pure “antient masonry”.
The
earliest recorded appointment of a Grand Superintendent is that
of Walter Powell on 16th December 1802, who was succeeded on
7th April 1807 by W.H. White who was appointed Provincial Grand
Master 7 years later. The appointments then were probably considered
as honours only as there was little to “superintend” as St.
Matthew’s had ceased working about 1804 and the Boston and Concord
Chapters had no warrant for many years.
There is reference in the Chapter of Concord minutes to Rev.
M. Barnett as Grand Superintendent in 1822, although Barnett
himself never seemed to have referred to this in any correspondence.
In
1846 Rev. J.O. Dakeyne was appointed Grand Superintendent and
on 22nd July the first Provincial Grand Chapter was held in
the County Assembly Rooms, Lincoln. Unfortunately there was
controversy in connection with his life outside of his church
calling and eventually he moved out of the Province.
In 1849 the Earl of Yarborough was appointed Provincial Grand
Master and Grand Superintendent for Lincolnshire-he had joined
the Chapter of Concord in 1848.
Very little is recorded after this date to 1875 except the appointment
of Rev. Charles Nairne as Deputy Grand Superintendent. Comp.
W.H. Smyth was appointed Grand Superintendent on 25th March
1875 and installed at Lincoln on 19th August by the Grand Superintendent
for N.E. Yorkshire.
B.
E. Roberts PGStdB, PPSGW.
