Following the Centenary Celebration for the Provincial Grand Lodge of Lincolnshire in 1892, it was suggested that some record be made of the Masonic events that preceeded that date.

Much of this history is taken from the work of W.Bro. W. Dixon, a Past Master of Witham Lodge No:297 and the Honorary Librarian of Provincial Grand Lodge, which was printed as a result of that decision. His book "A History of Freemasonry in Lincolnshire" was printed by Bro. James Williamson in Lincoln in 1894. There are additional references within this history taken from the "History of Freemasonry in Grimsby" by W.Bro F. J. Chapman which was published in 1939.

As with much Masonic history, the earliest details of Freemasonry in Lincolnshire are somewhat sketchy which is understandable given the nature of our Fraternity, world events at that time, and the fact that some 160 years had passed before W.Bro. Dixon produced his wonderful and priceless work.

A History of Freemasonry in Lincolnshire Prior to the Formation of the Provincial Grand Lodge in 1792

A History of Masonic Lodges Formed since the Foundation of the Provincial Grand Lodge in Chronological Order

The Formation of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Lincolnshire in 1792 and Early Meetings

A History of Freemasonry in Lincolnshire Prior to the Formation of the Provincial Grand Lodge

Grantham

Despite the loss of many of the records of the time, it is clearly documented that Freemasonry was practised in Lincolnshire at the town of Grantham as early as 1726. Doctor William Stukeley, the noted Masonic antiquarian who was born in Holbeach, recorded in his diary that he assisted in founding a Lodge at Grantham. There is no record of this Lodge in United Grand Lodge but shortly after its coming into existence the office of Provincial Grand Master for Lincolnshire also came into being. It may well be that the events in Grantham helped stimulate the founding of a Provincial Grand Lodge in the County.

Lincoln

The earliest recorded Lodge in Lincolnshire under United Grand Lodge is that of the 'Old Lodge at Lincoln' shown in the Constitutions of 1738 and was held at the Saracen's Head in Lincoln. It was shown as being constituted on 7th September 1730 and met on the first Tuesday of the month. The Number given was No:73 on the Engraved List. It was apparently erased from the list in 1760 as no-one had attended the Quarterly Communications for some time.

The duty of attending the Quarterly Communication would have been an arduous task for Freemasons in Lincolnshire in those days.

According to official records, the second Lodge in Lincoln met at the The Angel in the Bailey Wyke and was constituted in 1737 and met on the 1st and 3rd Monday of the month. This was shown as Lodge No:166 and was erased from the Roll in 1754.

The Inn was said to have been erected by Sir Christopher Wren and occupied land north of the road enclosed by two Gateways formerly existing in Eastgate.

Spalding

All that is known of the Old Spalding Lodge is the place and date of its institution - at the Black Bull on the 22nd June 1739. It was No:186 and was, as the Old Lodge at Lincoln, erased in 1754.

The meeting place for the Old Spalding Lodge was also, for a time, the meeting place for the Gentlemen's Society of Spalding. The Society had many famous members and Freemasons including: Sir Isaac Newton, Sir Christopher Hales, and Doctor William Stukeley.

The year 1754 apparently saw not only the two Lincolnshire Lodges erased but also a further 19 'country' Lodges and and about 50 Lodges in London. Following the erasure of the Lincolnshire Lodges from United Grand Lodge, there was a considerable period of inactivity in Masonic terms as no Warrant was issued for a new Lodge until 1787.

After a period of 33 years, it is quite remakable that two Lodges were formed almost simultaneously in Lincolnshire - one in the north and one in the west of the county. There was only six months between the formation of the Lodges and there was no apparent link between them. These were the St. Matthew Lodge at Barton-upon-Humber and the Prince of Wales' Lodge at Gainsborough.

The Old Saint Matthew Lodge at Barton-upon- Humber

On the 20th March 1787 a Warrant was granted to form a Lodge at the George Inn, Barton on Humber with the following Brethren styled as Institutors of the Lodge: Matthew Barnett, Schoolmaster of Barton-upon-Humber, as Worshipful Master; Rev. Thomas Robinson, of Barton-upon-Humber as Senior Warden; Field Dunn, a Tanner of Barton-upon-Humber, as Junior Warden; R. Nicholson, Attorney-at-Law of Brigg; John Westerman, Mariner of Hull; John Stevenson of Hull; and Thomas Matteson, Silk Mercer, of Hull.

On the 21st September (St. Matthew's Day) the Lodge was constituted or dedicated by Bro. Fletcher of the Minerva Lodge, Hull and assisted by Brethren of the Rodney Lodge, Hull and St. George's, East York Militia.

In 1819, Daniel Greenwood of Barton published an "Account of the present state of The St. Matthew's Lodge No:488 Barton upon Humber" but no statistics or history were included. The Lodge had apparently progressed up until about this time but after 1825 the Lodge appears to have gradually declined as no mention is made as far as the Province is concerned. The Lodge did, evidently, continue to meet but was erased from the Grand Lodge roll in 1851.

However, items from that first Lodge were retained and these included the original Warrant, Master and Wardens chairs, columns, and ballot box along with other items.

The Prince of Wales Lodge at Gainsborough

On the 28th November 1787 another Warrant was issued and this was for the Prince of Wales Lodge No:514 which was to meet at the White Lion Inn in Gainsborough. It formed under the Mastership of Bro. Edward Peart, a noted Physician and author of medical books.

This Lodge appeared to be very prosperous and was certainly very quick in commencing its Masonic work as the first Meeting was held on the 17th December 1787 - 19 days after the Warrant was granted! Once strated there was no holding the Brethren back and they met again only 5 days later.

In the April of 1787, an Emergency Lodge was held and Bro.Gervas Parnell, a Surgeon, was appointed by W.Bro Peart to fill the Chair as Worshipful Master. The Lodge flourished during his Mastership, a position he retained for over 20 years, and he was ultimately to become the Deputy Provincial Grand Master. He died on 19th December 1831 aged 78 years.

At that time in our Masonic history, there was an uneasy relationship between the 'Antient' an 'Moderns' and in 1789 a motion was put forward that Mr. Richard Wharam, an Antient Mason, be made a Modern Mason and become a member of the Lodge. The Worshipflu Master remained loyal to his own Grand Master and Bro. Wharam was 're-initiated' in the ordinary manner of the Lodge. Despite the differences between the two 'Grand Lodges' it seems that relief was always afforded to Antient Brethren by the Prince of Wales Lodge.

The Grand Lodge records state that the Warrant of the Prince of Wales Lodge was removed from Gainsborough and taken to New Sleaford in 1818 and became the Lodge of Hope, although there was also correspondence for the Master of the Prince of Wales Lodge seeking permission for the Warrant to be passed to the Welland Lodge at Spalding. (The purchasing and movement of Warrants was a usual occurence in those days as we shall see from later events.) The Lodge of Hope flourished for a few years, indeed a Provincial Grand Lodge meeting under it's banner in 1821, but was erased from Grand Lodge records in 1828.

The Old Doric Lodge, Grantham

A petition dated Sept 22nd 1791 was forwarded to Grand Lodge requesting a Lodge to meet in the George Inn, Grantham and a short while later a Warrant No:582 was received from the Deputy Grand Master, Sir Peter Parker, dated 1st October, 1791.

A preliminary meeting was held on the 5th October and at a further meeting on the 13th October 1791 when the Master of Corinthian Lodge, Newark, Sherbrooke Lowe (late High Sheriff of Nottinghamshire) along with Bro. W. Gibson and eight other Brethren in attendance invested the Master and Officers of the Doric Lodge. The first Master was one John Dodsworth.

On the 14th March 1794 the Lodge moved location to the Ship Tavern and the last recorded meeting was on November 14th 1794 - although no Minutes are shown.

No apparent reason is shown for such a sudden cessation of the Lodge although a letter from the Provincial Grand Master, the Rev. W. Peters, which was recorded in the Minutes of the Prince of Wales Lodge, dated April 18th, 1796 gives a clue. It read....

"The Doric Lodge at Grantham having ceased to meet or refused to comply with the laws of the Provincial Society of Freemasons founded on the Constitutional Law of the Grand Lodge of England, is by the Provincial Grand Master's command erased from the list of Provincial Lodges".

A similar statement was placed in the Stamford Mercury on May 23rd 1796.

That the Doric Lodge had failed to meet the requirements of United Grand Lodge are clear in that no returns were ever made after11th October 1792 and is was also discovered that several of the Brethren Initiated in 1791 were never registered with Grand Lodge. That there was some coolness between the Lodge and the Provincial Grand Master was clearly known and the subsequent actions by the Lodge were regarded as something approaching stubborn rebelliousness. This resulted in the summary and unusual erasure within a short time of commencement of the Lodge.

A History of Masonic Lodges Formed since the Foundation of the Provincial Grand Lodge

Urania Lodge No:510, Brigg. 1792.

The first Lodge formed in the new Province was the Urania Lodge No:510 which met at the Angel Inn, Brigg and was warranted on 20th October 1792.

In the first return to Grand Lodge, Richard Nicholson, Attorney, Brigg; Thomas Parkinson, Innkeeper, Brigg; and Michael Atkinson, Attorney, Kirton Lindsey are shown as "Institutors of the Lodge".

Thomas Parkinson was, most probably, the landlord of the Angel Inn.

These Brethren were members of the St. Matthew Lodge in Barton and, as such, also had links with the Minerva Lodge in Hull. It was thought that this was where the name Urania originated.

Urania was one of the nine Muses, daughter of Zeus by Mnemosyne, and patron of astronomy. She is the "heavenly muse" invoked in John Milton's epic poem Paradise Lost.

Eight members of the Urania Lodge are noted as attending the Provincial Meeting at Gainsborough in 1794.

As will be seen in the records of Provincial Grand Lodge later in this history, it was on the 8th May 1795 that an extra Provincial Grand Lodge was held at the Angel Inn, Brigg to celebrate the marriage of the Prince of Wales to Princess Caroline of the House of Brunswick. The Brethren marched in procession, with cockades in their hats, to Chapel at Brigg where Bro. Rev. G. Marris preached the Sermon. The Rev. George Marris was the Provincial Grand Treasurer for several years.

This time in our history was one of turmoil with a fear of invasion by Napoleon Bonaparte and all able bodied men were under some form of military training. There was also a time of scarcity and distress. All of these factors were not condusive to the spread of Freemasonry and probable that this state of affairs led to the decline of the Craft in Brigg.

The meeting of Provincial Grand Lodge in 1795 was the last recorded where the Urania Lodge was represented. No meetings were held of Grand Lodge for a further seven years (as will be seen from the records below) and during that time the Warrant of Urania was removed to Louth. This was a usual transaction in those days and as long as the proper return was made to Grand Lodge no problems ensued.

The Urania Lodge therefore 'became' the St. James Lodge No:510, Louth.

Witham Lodge No:530, Lincoln. 1793.

The Warrant for Witham Lodge No:530 was dated the 23rd September 1793 and the Lodge was constituted at the Rein Deer Inn in the City of Lincoln.

The Rein Deer Inn was opposite the Stonebow and occupied the whole of the south side of Guildhall Street to Water Lane, and abutted on the High Street to Much Lane. Shops were erected on the site in 1847 and the building on the left of the photograph had become a bank by 1894 when W.Bro. Dixon wrote his history. The population of Lincoln at the time the Lodge was formed was approximately 7.000 persons compared to the census of 2001 figure of 120,779. The Greater Lincoln catchment area, according to the council was twice this figure. The Lodge was consecrated on Saturday February 22nd 1794 and was carried out by Broehter William Gibson, a Mason of note and first Master of the Corinthian Lodge in Newark.

New officers of the Lodge were invested on St John the Baptist's Day (June 24th) - a tradition that lasted for some 50 years until the Deputy Provincial Grand Master, Rev. G. Coltman, requested that it be changed to the Festival of St John the Evangelist on Decemeber 28th. Installations were changed a further 50 years later to late January and are now held on the second Monday in February. On June 13th 1796 a most unusual ceremony took place at the Lodge when a Lodge of Emergency was opened by the Provincial Grand Master. It is recorded that the Rev. William Grey of the Cathedral Church of Lincoln was Initiated without the usual notice and was made a Mason "on sight" - being made a Fellowcraft and Master Mason on the night. He became Master of the Lodge in 1800 -1 and died in 1826.

William Hilton, a noted artist of his time, was born on the 3rd June 1786 in LincolnIn. In March 1806 he was Initiated into the Witham Lodge and so at the time of his Initiation he was not quite 20 years of age.

Hilton was elected to the Royal Academy in 1819 and later became Keeper of the Royal Academy from 1827-1839. He died on the 30th December 1839 and was buried in the churchyard of the Savoy.

A monument to him was placed under the great east window of Lincoln Cathedral. Bro. Hilton also painted a Provincial Banner which was first displayed at the Provincial Grand Lodge of 1818 held in Spalding.

In the early part of 1831, the Lodge records show that Bro. William Leafe was murdered. Great sympathy was shown to his widow and family. A grant of £10.00 was made from the Benevolent Fund and an allowance of 5s. per week from the Lodge. A 'Charitable Assembly' raised a further £150.00 and an amateur play added a further £26.00.

In 1839 a meeting was held on November 5th to Initiate Dr. George Oliver, Junior and his father as Deputy Provincil Grand Master attended. It was also the birthday of the Rev. Dr. George Oliver and the Lodge presented him with a silver salver "In testimony of their warm regard towards him as a man, and as a Mason; and of their veneration for the learning and talent with which he has adorned the Craft".

The Witham Lodge had held its meetings in a number of locations up to this time. Traditionally these were often in public houses and for the Witham Lodge these included the Rein Deer Inn, the Green Dragon, the King's Arms, the White Swan, and the Lion Hotel. However, in 1840 the foundation stone for a purpose built hall was laid on land, rented from the council, which had been the old goal next to the Guildhall. The building took some 12 months to complete but no sooner had the Brethren settled in than the council took possession to use it for municipal offices. The Brethren were, therefore, forced to make alternative arrangements and moved to the County Club Hotel, Castle Hill and some 5 years later moved again to the Coffee Rooms, No.8 The Bail, opposite Eastgate.

In 1846 The Right Worshipful the Lord Worsley MP, the Deputy Grand Master of England was balloted for and accepted as a Joining Member of Witham Lodge.

Three years later, in March 1849, the Lodge were to send him a congratulatory letter on his appointment as the Provincial Grand Master. He had, by this time, become the 2nd Earl of Yarborough and was to serve as Provincial Grand Master until 1862.

The history of Witham Lodge to be continued at a later date......

St. James Lodge No:510, Louth. 1803.

It was in 1803 that notice was sent to Grand lodge that Warrany No:510 had been transferred to the New Kings Head, Louth and styled the St. James Lodge (after the patron saint of the parish church).

A notice was placed in the Mercury stating that..."The firends of Freemasonry are informed that the Meeting of the St. Kames Lodge (No:510) is to be holden at the New Kings Head, Louth, Lincolnshire on the Tuesday nearest the full Moon".

The notice listed the Rev. Thomas Orme D.D., F.S.A. as Worshipful Master, C. M. Clarke M.D. as Senior Warden, and S. C. Pettener, Warden of Louth as Junior Warden.

The Rev. Doctor Orme, Vicar of Barholm, was appointed Headmaster of Louth Grammar School in 1796 having moved there from a similar post at Oakham in Rutland.

He was collated to the Prebendal Stall at Lincoln Cathedral by the Bishop in 1801.

He was a most energetic Mason and was appointed Provincial Grand Chaplain in 1804 and preached at every Provincial Grand Lodge up until his death on 20th October 1814 at the age of 70 years. He is buried under the the altar of Louth Church. A monument was erected to him by the pupils of his school and originally bore Masonic symbols. These mysteriously disappeared around about 1850.

Unfortunately the Warrant No:510 did not fare any better in Louth than it had in Brigg. While the St. James Lodge was represented at the Provincial Meeting in Boston in 1809 by the next Meeting in 1813 arrangements had already been made for its removal. No apparent reason is known for the declineunless it was related to the death of the landlord of the New Kings Head, Bro. Wolfe, who apparently had a Masonic funeral.

The Warrant had moved into the hands of one of Masonrys greatest and enigmatic figures - Dr. George Oliver who was at that time the Headmaster of the Grimsby Free Grammar School. So Warrant No:510 became that of the Apollo Lodge, Grimsby.

Lodge of Harmony No:272, Boston. 1806.

The third Lodge to be formed in the new Province (the second on the present roll) was the Lodge of Harmony at Boston. However, its existence predated its formation in the town - the Warrant bearing the date 20th August 1789. This Warrant had been issued for a Lodge No:544 but the numbers were changed in 1792 to make it No:453.to meet at the White Hart, in the Drapery, Nottingham but no returns were made to Grand Lodge after 1792. Following the custom of the times, the Warrant was disposed of and passed to the Boston Brethren who were to meet at the Ship Tavern. The Warrant was endorsed by the Grand Secretary on 18th January, 1806. The first meeting of the Lodge took place on 4th february 1806.

In 1809 the first Provincial Grand Lodge to be held in Boston took place on the 15th August and attracted a large number of spectators. Afterwards the Deputy Grand Master, the Rev. Matthew Barnett, headed the dinner at the Town Hall.

The Lodge didn't meet between 1830 and 1833 and in the latter year the Lodge moved to the New London Tavern, afterwards meeting in private rooms in Church Street and corpus Christi Lane.

A special banquet was held in 1856 to celebrate the Lodges 50th year in the Province and four years later the foundation stone was laid for the Masonic Hall in Main Ridge, Boston.

The Masonic Hall in Roman Ridge is a reproduction of the Temple of Dandour, in Nubia and is pure Egyptian in nature. On either side of the entrance are two massive cylindrical pillars. The base of the pillars is adorned with leaves, and the chapiters or capitals with leaves and fruit of the palm tree; overspreading the entrance as well as on the cove of the cornice are winged spheres and twisted asps. Their connection with and application to Masonry are of exceeding interest to the intelligent craftsman.

The motto of the Lodge "Know Thyself" is over the principal doorway in Greek characters and the upper room of the Lodge bears several well known Egyptian symbols in alto-relievo.

A little known fact concerns Bro. W. Clegg of the Lodge of Harmony. He wrote the hymns "Hail Eternal, by Whose aid" and "Now the evening shadows falling" used as the Opening and Closing Hymns in many Masonic Lodges around the world.

The history of the Lodge of Harmony to be continued at a later date......

Apollo Lodge No:510, Grimsby. 1811.

While the Warrant No:510 was purchased by Dr. George Oliver and the removal from Louth was registered at Grand Lodge in 1811, it is clear that some Masonic activity, involving Dr. Oliver, was taking place in Grimsby before this time. Dr. Oliver states that he was a member of a Lodge in Grimsby in 1810. However, the earliest return to Grand Lodge for Apollo Lodge does not even mention Dr. Oliver. While an interesting event the year before makes it clear that this was not the earliest date the Lodge was operating - with or without a Warrant.

History records that in 1809 the Duke of Brunswick, in order to avoid being taken prisoner in the war between France and Austria, seized some ships and made his way across the North Sea to Grimsby. On arrival he was given a brilliant reception and was received with due honour by Dr. Oliver and other Brethren before his onward journey to London.

Having purchased the Warrant No:510, along with furniture from St. James Lodge, for the sum of 30/- the Apollo Lodge No:510 was established at the Freemasons Tavern, Loft Street, Grimsby.

Dr. Oliver had come to Lincolnshire to take a teaching post at Caistor Grammar School and was later successful in becoming the Headmaster of Great Grimsby Free Grammar School, Vicar of Clee and Curate in Grimsby.

Dr. Oliver desired the Lodge to be formed under Grand Lodge and had not recognised the 'Atholl' or 'Antient' Lodge that was meeting in Grimsby. This Lodge the 'Spurn & Humber Lodge was known to exist from 1802 but was not recorded in the register of Grand Lodge until 1811. It was erased in 1823 but it was known that the Warrant and furniture had been sold to a person in York some time before January 1817.

The Apollo Lodge No:510 fared well and in 1812 the foundation stone was laid for a purpose built Masonic Hall, the first in Grimsby. It was dedicated and opened on Thursday August 12th, 1813. It is interesting to note that this was again on the birthdate of the Prince of Wales. In 1813, when the Grand Lodges merged to form United Grand Lodge, the Warrant was re-numbered 514 and then in 1832 changed yet again - this time to No:362.

Dr. Oliver was Master of the Apollo Lodge for some 14 years and during that time trade in the town declined and this was refelcted in the state of the Lodge. The last Initiation took place in February 1827 and after 1829 reports and payments to Grand Lodge ceased. The Lodge did continue to meet for a while but in 1831 Dr. Oliver left Grimsby for Scopwick, taking the Warrant of the Lodge with him. It was eventually surrendered to Grand Lodge in 1834 and the Lodge erased in 1835.

Welland Lodge No:679, Spalding 1816.

A dispenation, lasting 12 months, was granted in August 1816 for the Lodge to meet at the Talbot Inn, Spalding on the recommendation of the Harmony Lodge. In the meantime negotiations were entered into for transferring the Warrant from the Prince of Wales Lodge in Gainsborough. The practice of selling and relocating Warrants was, by now, less aceptable to the Masonic authorities and at the wish of the Deputy the Welland Brethren declined the proposal.

The Welland Lodge is first mentioned as attending Provincial Grand Lodge on August 14th 1818 in Spalding. The Rev. Matthew Barnett presided and the Rev. Dr. George Oliver read the sermon. The procession was memorable as the Provincial Banner painted by Bro. William Hilton (see the history of Witham Lodge above) wasdisplayed for the first time.

The Welland Lodge was well represented at Provincial Grand Lodge up to the break in 1825 but no mention is made at the commencement of Provincial Meetings in 1833.

It was erased from the Grand Lodge Roll in 1838.

Hope Lodge No:423, Sleaford 1818.

At the Provincial Grand lodge held in Barton in 1816 it was noticed that the Prince of Wales Lodge in Gainsborough had not been represented since 1809. Between this meeting and the next, held in 1818, arrangements had been made to transfer the Warrant to New Sleaford.

The Hope Lodge was first represented at the Provincial Grand Lodge of 1818 held in Spalding and continued in attendance up to 1825.

The records of The Grand Lodge indicate that the Lodge was erased in 1828.

Doric Lodge No:362, Grantham. 1820.

To be added as time and research permits

Olive Union (Old) Lodge No:858, Horncastle. 1831.

To be added as time and research permits

Trent (Yarborough) Lodge No:422, Gainsborough. 1834.

To be added as time and research permits

Shakespeare Lodge No:426, Spilsby. 1835.

At a meeting of Brethren held at Spilsby, on Friday 27th March 1835, it was decided to form a Masonic Lodge at Spilsby, and having purchased the Regailia formerly belonging to the Shakespeare Lodge at Stratford on Avon, it should also be callled the Shakespeare Lodge.

A petition, recommended by members of the Lodge of Harmony, Bayons Lodge, and the Lindsey Lodge was sent to the Deputy Provincial Grand Master, the Rev. George Oliver, for transmission to Grand Lodge. The Warrant was subsequently obtained on the 12th May 1835.

The Lodge was dedicated in Masonic form on the 11th June 1835 by the Deputy Provincial Grand Master and a procession to the church took place where the Rev. George Coltman preached the sermon. In the return of 1836 he Rev. Coltman was shown as the Junior Warden.

The furniture of Shakespeare Lodge is particularly appealing and consists of a Masters pedestal in mahogany with a let in copper plate depicting Shakespeare pointing to a set of working tools. There are two columns which are part of the whole and these are the same height and material as the pedestal. The base of each column is ornamented with the working tools on three sides and the letters J and B on the third side. These pillars have Corinthian Capitals made of brass. The furniture also included the Master's and Warden's chairs, pillars, oak chest, sword, Bible, and two large wooden figures.

The sword has an ornate hilt and is wonderfully engraved bearing a figure of Shakespeare, his crest and coat of arms, together with many Masonic emblems worked into the steel of the blade. The sword bears the number of the old Shakespeare Lodge No:492.

The chairs are large and gilded, the Master's bearing the carved feathers of the Prince of Wales flanked by a sun. The figures are some 5 feet in height and are represent soldiers - their connection with the Craft being unclear.

The furniture, as described in an old bill found in the oak chest, was purchased in 1834 in Birmingham for the sum of £15 and a further £10 was spent in refitting it.

These artifacts were recently seen on an edition of the BBC Television program the "Antiques Roadshow" such is their antiquity and interest.

After the original Shakespeare Lodge in Stratford ceased to meet, its Warrant was presented to the Shakespeare Lodge in Warwick.

To be added as time and research permits

Hundred of Elloe Lodge No:469, Spalding. 1840.

To be added as time and research permits

Ancholme (Old) Lodge No:785, Brigg. 1847.

To be added as time and research permits

St. Botolph's Lodge No:588, Sleaford. 1851.

To be added as time and research permits

Lindsey Lodge No:712, Louth. 1857.

To be added as time and research permits

Pelham Pillar Lodge No:792, Grimsby. 1859.

The Pelham Pillar which gives its name to the senior Lodge in Grimsby, is a noble column, standing on one of the highest parts of the Lincolnshire Wolds, about ten miles south-west of Grimsby. The rectangular shaped pillar, some 140ft high, was built by the second Earl of Yarborough - started in 1840 it was finished some 10 years before the founding of the present Lodge which bears its name.

The early history of Pelham Pillar Lodge was not quite as solid as the monument. In 1846 a Lodge of Instruction was formed awaiting a full Warrant after a petition, signed amongst others by three members of the Apollo Lodge No:510 in Grimsby, was sent to Grand Lodge nominating one William Cooper Robinson, solicitor of Hull with an office in Grimsby, as the prospective Worshipful Master. This was granted and issued on January 22nd 1847 as No:793 and the Lodge was to hold meetings every first and third Wednesday in every month. Unfortunately, the Warrant never left the Grand Lodge Secretaries office.

All the furniture, jewels and Lodge requisites were bought and placed in the Apollo room and used during the Lodge of Instruction. The jewels cost £7 7s and 0d., the pedestals £4 10s 0d., and the furniture and other requisites about £10. Subscriptions from the Brethren amounting to about £27 were handed to the Master Elect so that he could obtain the Warrant and pay for all the necessities to furnish the Lodge.

The arrangements for the installation kept being delayed on some excuse or other from the WM designate. When pressed to produce the Warrant, it was discovered he had not obtained it nor had he paid for the jewels or furniture which had been received. He had used the money for his own purposes.

Later the WM Elect committed forgery and died in prison. The brother who bought from him the furniture, jewels and collars and other necessities forming a Lodge in Filey, was hanged in Glasgow for poisoning his wife.

It, clearly,does not pay to mess with Pelham Pillar.

As the disgraced WM Elect could not replace the funds and with no way of recovering the money no further attempt was made to revive the Pelham Pillar Lodge No 783 under this Warrant until 1855. Unfortunately as the designated WM and Wardens had since died a new Warrant was deemed necessary and nothing further was done at that time.

In 1859 there came to the town a Sergeant in the Borough police, Bro. Stephen Hardcastle an old Witham member and Provincial Officer, who finding masonry non-existent, called upon several Brethren to form a Lodge. At their first meeting on 6th May 1859 twelve Masons were present. They decided to appoint a committee to canvass all known Masons resident in the town with a view to reforming "The Pelham Pillar Lodge". By the second meeting twenty five Brethren had agreed to join in establishing the Lodge. They also agreed that subs would be £1 payable in advance.

They further agreed to write to Bro. Thomas Hewson, a clerk and a future Master (1863) of Humber Lodge No:57 in Hull, thanking him for his offer to act as WM for the first year. It is well to remember that throughout his membership of Pelham Pillar, Thomas Hewson travelled to and from Hull which was quite a journey in those days. His travel expenses being paid for by the Lodge.

To mark the association between the two Lodges, Humber Lodge No:57 is to re-establish an old custom of inviting Pelham Pillar members to their 'Founders Day' celebrations.

The Warrant for Pelham Pillar Lodge was dated 15th June1859 as No:1094 - the Lodge was subsequently renumbered No:792 in 1863. The Lodge was opened at Chapman's hotel on September 29th 1859 and followed by a service at the Parish Church, where the sermon was preached by the Rev. E. R. Larken the Provincial Grand Chaplain.

IN 1864 Dr Oliver was elected an honorary member of the Lodge. On receiving the news from the Secretary of Pelham Pillar, Dr Oliver wrote: ..."To be once more esteemed a Grimsby Mason is amongst my greatest honours..".

On 6th April 1865, Mr. Anderson Bates, 41, Solicitor, was initiated into Pelham Pillar. He was to become a wonderful Mason who did much for this and also the St Albans Lodge. As W.Bro. Dixon says in his 'History in Freemasonty in Lincolnshire' of 1894.. "The Grimsby brethren in general, and those of Pelham Pillar in particular, owe much of their prosperity to the zeal of Bro. Anderson Bates. Bro. Bates, in his capacity as W.M. (1870), Secretary, Lecturer, and lastly as historian of the Craft in Grimsby, has done infinite service to the cause; and it is but doing simple justice to state that, had it not been for his enthusiasm for the craft, much of its early history would have been lost.

Masonry in the Pelham Pillar Lodge was found to be in a healthy state in those early days and it was, numerically the strongest Lodge in the Province - in 1899 the membership of the Pelham Pillar Lodge stood at 182. This increasing membership led to the formation of the St Albans Lodge No:1294 in 1869; the Smyth Lodge No:2284 in 1888; and the Earl of Yarborough No:2770 in 1899. All these lodges being name after the Provincial Grand Master at that time.

Franklin Lodge No:838, Boston. 1860

To be added as time and research permits

Alexandra Lodge No:985, Long Sutton. 1863.

To be added as time and research permits

Hereward Lodge No:1232, Bourne. 1868.

To be added as time and research permits

Ancholme Lodge No:1282, Brigg. 1869.

To be added as time and research permits

Bayons Lodge No:1286, Market Rasen. 1869.

To be added as time and research permits

St Albans Lodge No:1294, Grimsby. 1869.

To be added as time and research permits

Olive Union Lodge No:1304, Horncastle. 1870.

To be added as time and research permits

St Hugh Lodge No:1386, Lincoln. 1871.

To be added as time and research permits

St Matthew Lodge No:1447, Barton on Humber. 1873.

To be added as time and research permits

Isle of Axholme Lodge No:1482, Crowle. 1874.

To be added as time and research permits

Hamilton Lodge No:1600, Alford. 1876.

To be added as time and research permits

Lumley Lodge No:1893, Skegness. 1881.

To be added as time and research permits

St Lawrence Lodge No:2078, Scunthorpe. 1884.

To be added as time and research permits

Smyth Lodge No:2284, Grimsby. 1888.

To be added as time and research permits

Ermine Lodge No:2351, Lincoln. 1890

To be added as time and research permits

Earl of Yarborough Lodge No:2770, Grimsby. 1899.

To be added as time and research permits

St Guthlac Lodge No:2880, Deeping St James. 1901.

To be added as time and research permits

Excalibur Lodge No:2959, Lincoln. 1903.

To be added as time and research permits

Lord Worsley Lodge No:3017, Cleethorpes. 1903.

To be added as time and research permits

THIS SECTION TO BE CONTINUED....................................

The Formation of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Lincolnshire in 1792 and Early Meetings

1792

On the 21st June 1792 the members of the St. Matthew Lodge, Barton on Humber; the Prince of Wales Lodge of Gainsborough; and the Doric Lodge of Grantham met at the George Inn, Grantham for the purpose of Installing their first Provincial Grand Master, and to assist in the formation of the first Provincial Grand Lodge of Lincolnshire.

A diploma of appointment by H.R.H. The Prince of Wales, Grand Master, was read and the Rev. William Peters, LL.B., Chaplain to the Prince of Wales.&c was installed as Provincial Grand Master of Lincolnshire by John Dodsworth of the Doric Lodge.

The Brethren had assempled at 11.00am to proceed to church where a Sermon was to be preached by the Rev. Brother Nicholson on the Principles of Masonry. Dinner was to be taken at 2.00pm precisely!

The two senior Lodges existing in Lincolnshire appear to have welcomed the establishment of a Provincial Grand Lodge and the choice of its first Grand Master - in the person of The Reverend William Peters. The Junior Lodge was less enthusiastic in the choice - despite having the lions share of the chief honours as can be seen from the following list of Brethren:

Provincial Grand Master: The Reverend William Peters
Deputy Provincial Grand Master: John Dodsworth, Esq., M.D., Doric Lodge
Provincial Senior Grand Warden: The Rev. Matthew Barnett, St. Matthews Lodge
Provincial Junior Grand Warden: The Rev. Thomas Smith, Prince of Wales Lodge
Provincial Grand Treasurer: Thomas Liddiard, Doric Lodge
Provincial Grand Chaplain: Rev. John Nicholson, Doric Lodge
Provincial Grand Secretary: William Cooper, Doric Lodge
Provincial Grand Sword Bearer: Peter Tyler, Doric Lodge
Provincial Grand Architect: John Langwith, Doric Lodge
Provincial Grand Painter: William Pulteney, Prince of Wales Lodge
Provincial Grand Stewards: Rev. Thomas Robinson, St. Matthews Lodge; Martin Brumby, Prince of Wales Lodge; James Douthwaite, Doric Lodge
Provincial Grand Tyler: W. Bradley, Doric Lodge.

Clearly, the temptation to have appointed Peter Tyler as the Provincial Tyler was avoided by the Provincial Grand Master!

No mention of Provincial Grand Lodge were made in the Minutes of Doric Lodge and the Brethren, with the exception of Bro. Langwith the P.G. Architect and Bro. Bradley the P.G. Tyler, did not attend the second Provncial Grand Lodge held at Barton in August 1793.

The names of the Deputy Provincial Grand Master and other Grantham Brethren, with the exception of Bro. J. Langwith a loyal supporter for many years, did not again appear on the Roll of Attendance at Provincial Grand Lodge.

It was decreed that Provincial Grand Lodge was to be held each year on the Prince of Wales birthday i.e. the 12th August.

Other events of 1792 which was a Leap Year:

February 23 - Death of Sir Joshua Reynolds, British painter (b. 1723)

February 29 - Birth of Gioacchino Rossini, Italian composer (d. 1868)

March 7 - Birth of John Herschel, English mathematician and astronomer (d. 1871)

August 5 - Death of Lord North, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (b. 1732)

August 10th - French Revolution: Storming of the Tuileries Palace - Louis XVI of France is arrested and taken into custody

December 3rd - George Washington is re-elected President of the United States;

1793

Provincial Grand Lodge at The George Inn, Barton on Humber was held on the 11th and 12th August 1793. Prior to the meeting, the Provincial Grand Master had sent Notice of Appointment of the Reverend Matthew Barnett as Deputy Provincial Grand Master - and he presided accordingly. Only five of the Officers appointed at Grantham, including the Tyler, were present.

Three Lodges were represented with the Urania Lodge of Brigg attending and the Doric Lodge being absent. The first day was set aside for a business meeting and would, no doubt, have considered the matter of Doric Lodge. All appears to have been brought to a satisfactory conclusion as far as the Province was concerned and the Brethren prepared for the next days festivities.

It was decided that the next Provincial Grand Lodge would be held at Gainsborough unless a Lodge should be formed before that period in the county town and city of Lincoln. A complete set of gilt jewels was also ordered.

Other events of 1793:

January 21 - After being found guilty of treason by the French Convention, Louis XVI of France is guillotined.

April 1 - The Unzen volcano erupts in Japan and causes an earthquake resulting in some 53000 dead.

July 13 - Charlotte Corday kills Jean-Paul Marat in his bath.

October 16 - Execution of Marie Antoinette is held.

Undated - The British Navy starts to issue lime juice to prevent scurvy

December 18 - French forces under Dugommier capture Toulon from royalists and British forces under Vice Admiral Lord Hood. The British fire the dockyards and take sixteen ships, one of which is HMS Lutine, a famous treasure ship. The bell from HMS is preserved at Lloyd's of London.

1794

Provincial Grand Lodge again met on the 11th and 12th August, this time at the White Hart, Gainsborough under the hand of the Rev. M. Barnett, the Deputy Provincial Grand Master.

The Brethren walked in procession, properly clothed, to the church and were watched by a large crowd of spectators.

Other events of 1794:

February 4 - The French Republic abolishes slavery.

May 28 to June 1 - The Glorious First of June (Battle of Ushant), naval battle between British and French.

July 12 - Horatio Nelson, while directing his ship's guns set up in a shore battery during the siege of Calvi on Corsica, a French shot struck the battery rampart in front of him driving a shower of earth, sand and pebbles into his face, lacerating it and badly damaging an eye. He made light of the injury but was never able to see more than dark or light shade with that eye after that event - despite it retaining an almost normal appearance.

July 28 - Augustin Robespierre, French Revolutionary leader (executed) (b. 1763)

1795

In the May (8th) of 1795 an extra Provincial Grand Lodge was held at the Angel Inn, Brigg to celebrate the marriage of the Prince of Wales.

The 32-year-old George, the Prince of Wales, was joined in holy matrimony to his first cousin, the 26-year-old Princess Caroline of Brunswick, in the Chapel Royal at St. James Palace on the evening of April 8, 1795.

It must be understood that a match between cousins was not illegal at this time because the dangers of inbreeding were not yet understood. Such a match was, in fact, considered a good idea because it kept money in the family.

Princess Caroline Amelia Elizabeth of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel, born May 17th 1768, was the second daughter of Karl Wilhelm Ferdinand, Duke of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel and his wife, Augusta Charlotte. The bride's mother was the sister of George III of England and the Aunt of the Prince of Wales.

The Annual Provincial Grand Lodge was held, as usual, on the 11th and 12th August at the Rein Deer Inn at Lincoln. The Provincial Grand Lodge went in procession from the Assembly Rooms, Above Hill to the Cathedral where a sermon was preached Rev.Bro. E. Jordan. The Brethren later returning to the Rein Deer Inn.

Other events of 1795:

January 3 - Death of Josiah Wedgwood, English potter (b. 1730)

April 7 - France adopts the metre as the unit of length.

December 13 - A meteorite fell at Wold Newton, a hamlet in Yorkshire in England. This meteorite fall was subsequently used as a literary premise by the science fiction writer Philip José Farmer as the basis for the Wold Newton family stories.

October 31 - Birth of John Keats, English poet (d. 1821)

1796

On the 13th June, 1796 the Provincial Grand Lodge meet once again in the Rein Deer Inn, Lincoln. Where , as mentioned in the history of Doric Lodge, it having ceased to meet or refused to comply with the laws of the Provincial Society of Freemasons founded on the Constitutional Law of the Grand Lodge of England, was by the Provincial Grand Master's command erased from the list of Provincial Lodges.

The Lodge was closed and adjourned until the Fourth Monday in Trinity, the meeting to be held again at the Rein Deer Inn, Lincoln. However, an advertisement was placed in the Stamford Mercury summoning the Brethren to meet at Lincoln on July 3rd 1797. This date proved inconvenient to the Provincial Grand Master and the meeting was not held.

There does not appear any record of Provincial Grand Lodge meeting again in 1797 but the Provincial Grand Secretary does record that on the 25th June the Deputy Provincial Grand Master, Gervas Parnell, had received a letter from the Provincial Grand Master... "signifying that on finding no particular business which rendered it necessary to call them together there would be no Provincial Grand Lodge this year."

The next recorded Provincial Grand Lodge did not take place until seven years later in 1804.

Other events of 1796:

March 9 - Widow Joséphine de Beauharnais marries General Napoléon Bonaparte.

March 30 - Carl Gauss obtained conditions for the constructibility by ruler and compass of regular polygons and was able to announce that the regular 17-gon was constructible by ruler and compasses.

May 14 - Edward Jenner administers the first smallpox vaccination.

June 11 - Death of Samuel Whitbread, English brewer and politician (b. 1720).

July 21 - Death of Robert Burns, Scottish poet and Freemason (b. 1759).

November 6 - Catherine II of Russia, "Catherine The Great", dies and is succeeded by her son Paul I of Russia. His wife Sophie Marie Dorothea of Württemberg becomes Empress consort.

1804

The Provincial Grand Lodge is recorded as having met on the 13th August at the New Kings Head, Louth - the Brethren thereby missing the date decreed at the first Provincial Grand Lodge that it should be held on the Prince of Wales birthday of 12th August.

It was decided that Lodges should provide themselves with flags bearing suitable emblems and also a Grand Architects Jewel be ordered.

A procession to the church took place where the Grand Chaplain, Rev. Dr. Orme gave the sermon and a brief account of..." the antiquity of the Institution". The text was from the 2nd Chapter, 1st Epistle to St. Peter V.17 - "Honour all men, Love the Brotherhood, Fear God, Honour the King".

1805

Provincial Grand lodge meet at the George Inn, Barton on Humber on August 12th but there is no record of the business transacted. It is recorded in the Minutes of the Prince of Wales Lodge that the..."silk aprons provided for the Procession at Barton should be disposed of to the Members wishing to purchase them to prevent the expenses falling upon the Brethren".

In the advertisement summoning the Brethren to Barton, the Provincial Grand Secretary wrote.....

" The Provincial Grand Master thinks it necessary to make known that as the pure and uncontaminated principles of Religion and Loyalty are zealously cherished by the Masons of this County, no Man who belongs not to a Constitutional Lodge, or who hath not in times past been a Member of such Lodge shall be permitted to walk in the procession or be at the Feast on the 12th August.

It is an especial manner thought proper to give this notice, as attempts have been made by men who pass under the name of what is falsely called the higher degrees of Masonry to obtrude themselves into this County, whose impious and destructive principles are of such a nature as shall never gain admittance into the county of Lincoln without the names of the parties concerned being made public".

"By the Provincial Grand Masters command, Wm. Gray Grand Secretary"

Other events of 1805:

April 2 - Hans Christian Andersen, Danish writer is born (d. 1875).

June 4 - The first Trooping the Colour ceremony at the Horse Guards Parade in London.

August 28 - Alexander Carlyle, Scottish church leader dies (b. 1722)

December 23 - Birth of Joseph Smith, Jr., American religious leader, founder of Mormonism (d. 1844)

October 21 - Death of Horatio Nelson, British admiral (mortally wounded in battle) (b. 1758).

TO BE CONTINUED....................................

Any contribution to this history would be greatly appreciated and can be sent by email to : administrator@pgllincs.org or mailed to W.Bro. Stewart Oxborough, The Provincial Office, Masonic Hall, Cambridge Road, Great Grimsby, DN34 5SZ.