Tuesday 31 August 2010

Freemasonry and Curling

Curling, a sport similar to bowls but played with large polished stones on a sheet of ice, is sometimes claimed as the national sport of Scotland. James Taylor in Curling : the Ancient Scottish Game (2nd. ed., Edinburgh: William Paterson, 1887), describing the curling society at Sanquhar in Dumfries and Galloway, notes (pp. 32-33) that 'There would appear to have been something akin to Freemasonry about the constitution of the Sanquhar Society, for at an early stage of its history a dispute had arisen among the members as to which was the true Curler Word and Grip, and the Society found it necessary to issue an authoritative declaration on the subject, in the following terms:- "In order to prevent all dispute concerning the Curler Word and Grip, the Master, who always is preses during his office, and the rest of the Society have agreed that the following shall be held and reputed the Curler Word and Grip of this Society for the future:-
The Curler Word.
If you'd be a curler keen,
Stand straight, look even,
Sole well, shoot straight, and sweep clean

The Curler Grip with the Explanation 
Gripping hands in the common manner of shaking hands is gripping the hand of the curling stone. The thumb of the person examined or instructed is thrust in betwixt the thumb and forefinger of the examinator or instructor signifies 'running a port'. The little finger of the person examined or instructed linked with the little finger of the examinator or instructor means an 'inning'. 

It is with reference to this word and grip, doubtless, that in the first minute secrecy is enjoined upon all members'.

The Sanquhar Society was founded in 1774 (Taylor, p. 28).

Taylor also reproduces (pp. 33-4) a song by the Edinburgh doctor and comic poet, James Archibald Sidey (d. 1886):
The Curler's Grip 
Air. - 'Auld Langsyne'
Losh  man! I'm glad to see yoursel',
I'm glad to meet a freen';
But man, the pleasure's greater still
When he's a curler keen.
Sae gie's the curler's grip, my freen',
Sae gie's the curler's grip,
Losh man! I'm glad to see yoursel',
Sae gie's the curler's grip.

We've played thegither mony a time,
Around the curling tee,
I've sooped ye aften up the ice,
You've dune the same to me.
Sae gie's the curler's grip, my freen', &c.

Man! when I feel a grip like that
I'm unca sweir'd to part;
The blood rins din'lin up my arm
An' warms my very heart.
Sae gie's the curler's grip, my freen', &c.

But as the nicht is gye weel thro'
Let's hae anither 'nip',
An' drink success to ilka ane
That kens the curler's grip
Sae gie's the curler's grip, my freen', &c.

The formation of the Royal Caledonian Curling Club in 1838 bears some strong parallels to the formation of Grand Lodges in Freemasonry. Taylor p. 269 describes how the objects of the initial meeting of the club 'were generally to assimilate the ceremonies and mysteries of "initiation", as also the rules and laws of the curling clubs of Scotland, and to form a general and central court of reference, to consist of one or more representatives from the initiated curling socieies who had that day met...'. One of the first actions of the club was to appoint a committee 'for the purpose of considering the mysteries and ceremonies, as also the rules and laws, of the curling clubs of Scotland, and to prepare a mode of initiation and a set of rules and regulations to be observed by the Grand Caledonian Curling Club and the different curling clubs associating themselves therewith..." A subsequent report of this meeting adopted a tone very similar to that of countless contemporary reports of masonic meetings: 'The members met in the morning, almost all strangers to each other. They spent the evening like brothers, as if they had been all their lives acquainted, and separated rejoicing in the friendships they had formed, and in the expectation of often meeting again'. (Taylor, p. 270).

The rules published by the Grand Caledonian Curling Cub included regulations for the initiation of members, the word and the grip, and the pass and the counterword (Taylor, p. 271). Many of these derived from the rules of the Kinross Curling Court, which were felt to represent the most ancient usage. Taylor states (p. 134) that 'The original object of the Curling Court was to punish petty offences committed on the ice, and to initiate brethren into the mysteries of curling. It has been supposed to be co-existent with curling clubs and curling brotherhoods, but it appears more probable that the rules and arrangements of the game had been carefully considered before a court of this kind was likely to be instituted'. Taylor prints (pp. 134-138) the elaborate rituals of the court of initiation, of which the following are extracts: 'The candidate respectfully approaches My Lord with a curler's besom in his hand, holding it over his right shoulder, and craves to be admitted a member of the Honourable Court and Club. My Lord now appoints one of the brethren to give him the 'words' and 'grips', and two others, who must be masters of the whole secrets, to be reporters as to whether these have been given correctly. The three brethren then conduct the candidate to an adjoining room, which has been previously prepared fo the purpose, and after careful examination that no intruders are present, and shutting the door, the initiation commences by the person appointed by My Lord first giving the 'words' and then the 'grip'. If the reporters find he is unable to give these correctly, they return with him to the Court, and report the circumstances to My Lord, who immediately appoints some other to the office ... The reports, after the candidate receives the secrets, introduce him to My ord in Court as a brother of the broom and a keen, keen, keen curler. He then goes forward to My Lord, and holding his hand under the table out of view, <i>gives</i> My Lord the 'grip', after which he goes to the brother on My Lord's left, and give him the 'grip'...

The nineteenth-century rhetoric used to praise curling again recalls the kind of language used by apologists of Freemasonry. Taylor writes (pp. 1-2) that curling 'strengthens the ties of friendship, rubs off the asperities of sect and party, and promotes harmony and good feeling among those who would otherwise be estranged by political and ecclesiastical contentions. The moral infuence of curling is a theme on which enthusiastic votaries espcially delight to expatiate. "Where", it is triumphantly asked, "was it ever known that a keen curler was a bad father or brother, or member of society?'".

Sir Richard Broun (1801-58) in his Memorabilia Curliana Mabenensia (Dumfries: John Sinclair, 1830), p. 25, urging players in curling to adopt a universal set of rules, declares that 'Curling, like free-masonry - to which in feeling and good fellowship, it is so intimately allied - should everywhere be conduced on the same principles'. It was customary to refer to 'brother curlers'. The rules of Blairgowrie Curling Club in 1784 and the 1795 regulations of the club in Sorn in Ayrshire both refer to curlers as brethren: David B Smith, The Roaring Game: Memories of Scottish Curling (Glasgow: Glasgow Museums and Art Galleries, 1985), pp. 15-16.

Some of the first literary referenes to curling occur in Henry Adamson's poem Muses Threnodie which is also celebrated for its reference to the mason word and second sight - suggesting that curling may have seemed to Adamson very similar to masonry in its significance  in local life.

A connection between Freemasonry and Curling is not as fanciful as it at first sight seems since of course the production of the polished stones used in curling - which could in the nineteenth century be as heavy as seventy pounds - was a skilled craft, and required the involvement of a stonemason. Boulders were shaped into ounded stones by local masons (W. H. Murray, A Curling Companion (Glasgow: Richard Drew, 1981), p. 58). The 'rare skills of the mason' required to make curling stones mean that there is only one curling stone manufacturer in Scotland, James Wyllie, at the Mauchline Curling Stone Works. Mostly, the names of the masons responsible for older curling stones are not known. Sir Richard Broun states that the addition of a steel-plate bottom to curling stones was the work of John Muir, a mason of Dalry (Memorabilia Curliana Mabenensia, p. 48). Some of the skills required by stonemasons were also valuable in playing the game. Broun, in his chapter describing the game which he entitles 'Initiatory', notes for example that 'Calculation of distance, an important item in the Curling art, is not a mechanical process attainable by practice - but one that depends solely and simply upon the eye'. (p. 20).

Strong personal links continue between Freemasonry and curling. The 11th Earl of Elgin was Grand Master Mason of Scotland from 1961-5 and also President of the Royal Caledonian Curling Club from 1968-9.
The development of culrling may be broadly contemporary with that of Freemasonry in Scotland. The earliest documentary reference to curling occurs in Paisley in 1541 (Murray, p. 17), half a century before the Schaw Statutes. The eariest surviving stone dates from 1511 (Murray, pp. 32-3), but stones of the modern type become more commonplace from the middle of the seventeenth century, suggesting that curling spread rapidly as a sport in Scotland at this time, broadly the same time as saw the growth of Freemasonry there.     




















Friday 20 August 2010

Some Talks on Masonic Processions

A colourful feature of town life in Britain from the founding of the Grand Lodge in London in 1717 until the Second World War were the public processions by Freemasons. These processions were undertaken for a variety of reasons: ceremonies associated with the laying of the foundation stones of public buildings; attendance at church services; special theatrical performances for masonic lodges; and attendance at the annual feast of the Grand Lodge. Masonic processions raise many interesting questions in connection with the social function of urban space and the expression of civic and social identity. They also challenge our preconceptions of Freemasonry as a secret society. It is difficult to depict Freemasonry as a mysterious secret body when, for much of their history, Freemasons in Britain have publicly paraded around towns in their regalia.

Masonic processions died out in England and Wales about the time of the Second World War for reasons that are still mysterious, but some masonic processions still take place in Scotland, such as the 'Masons Walk' of the Lodge of Melrose St John No. 1 bis, which is held annually in Melrose on 27 December, the feast of St John the Evangelist. Masonic processions were the subject of the 2009 Prestonian Lecture of Dr John Wade, my former colleague at the University of Sheffield.

Masonic processions formed part of a rich processional culture in British towns which reaches back to the middle ages. Among the other bodies that paraded in this way were friendly societies, trade unions and social reforming groups such as temperance organisations. In order to understand the significance of the masonic processions, it is essential to place them in the context of this wider urban processional activity. I am currently working on a study of these themes with Professor Pamela King of the University of Bristol, but in the meantime here are three papers which present some of my reseearch on this largely forgotten feature of British civic life.

I first discussed this theme in a talk called 'Neglcted Processional Cultures' given at the Medieval English Theatre Conference at Lancaster University in April 2003:

Andrew Prescott, Neglected Processional Cultures

This second talk was also given to the Medieval English Theatre Conference, at Southampton University in March 2005. It discusses how the Godiva Procession in Coventry became 'a social battleground':

Andrew Prescott, The Godiva Procession

Finally, this paper, ‘"We had fine banners": Street Processions in the Mitchell and Kenyon Films’ was published in Vanessa Toulmin, Simon Popple and Patrick Russell (eds.) The Lost World of Mitchell and Kenyon: Edwardian Britain on Film (London: bfi Publishing, 2004), pp. 125-136. ISBN 1844570479.

Andrew Prescott, 'We Had Fine Banners'

Sunday 15 August 2010

Laying of the Foundation Stone of the Glasgow Lunatic Asylum, 1810

The following was published as an appendix to Stevenson Macgill, On Lunatic Asylums: A Discourse Delivered on 2d August 1810, Previous to Laying the Foundation Stone of the Glasgow Lunatic Asylum, 'Published by Desire of the General Committee of the Asylum; for the Benefit of the Institution', and printed by George Lumsden et al at Glasgow in 1810:

An Account of the CEREMONY, which took place on the 2d day of August, 1810, at laying the Foundation Stone of the Glasgow Asylum for Lunatics.

The Foundation Stone of the Glasgow Asylum for Lunatics, was laid by the Honourable the Lord Provost, acting Provincial Grand Master for the Lower Ward of Lanarkshire, in presence of the Magistrates, Public Bodies, Mason Lodges, and Contributors to the Institution. At Twelve o'Clock, noon, the several parties assembled in St George's Church, when the Rev. Dr. Macgill, one of the Ministers of this City, delivered the preceding Discourse.

Immediately after Divine Service was concluded, the Procession moved down Buchanan-Street, along the Trongate, up the High-Street, along the Rottenrow, and down Taylor-Street, to the site of the Building, in the following Order:-

A Band of Music, Drums, & c.
The Town Officers, in Scarlet Uniform and Halberts,
The Magistrates, in full Dress, with their Staffs of Office,
The Town Clerks,
The Town Council, three and three,
William Jameson, Esq.}
James Whyte, Esq.} Magistrates of Paisley
Robert Hart, Esq.}
The Officers of the Barony of Gorbals
Robert Ferrie, Esq.}
David Niven, Esq.} Magistrates of Gorbals
William Mills, Esq.}
Council of Gorbals, three and three
The Beadles of the City Churches,
The Ministers of the City and Neighbourhood, in their Gowns and Bands,
A Deputation of two Members from each of the Church Sessions
The Officer of the Merchants' House
The Dean of Guild, in full Dress, with his Staff of Office
The Members of the Merchants' House, three and three
A Band of Music, Drum, & c.
The Officer of the Trades' House
The Covener, in full Dress, with his staff of Office,
The Members of the Trades House, three and three,
The Rev John Ritchie, Chaplain to the Trades' House, in his Gown,
The Colours of the late Regiment of Trades' House Volunteer Infantry, supported by Captains Meikle and Lynn, formerly of that Regiment
The Officer of the Incorporation of Hammermen
Deacon Napier, and the Master-Court of the Incorporation of Hammermen, three and three
The Officer of the Incorporation of Tailors
Deacon Ross, and the Master Court of the Incorporation of Tailors, three and three
The Officer of the Incorporation of Maltmen
Visitor Hunter, and the Master Court of the Incorporation of Maltmen, three and three
The Officer of the Incorporation of Weavers
Deacon Buchanan, and the Master Court of the Incorporation of Weavers, three and three
The Officer of the Incorporation of Bakers
Deacon Marshall, and the Master Court of the Incorporation of Bakers, three and three
The Officer of the Incorporation of Skinners
Deacon Nicol, and the Master Court of the Incorporation of Skinners, three and three
The Officer of the Incorporation of Wrights
Deacon McCallum and the Master Court of the Incorporation of Wrights, three and three
The Officer of the Incorporation of Coopers
Deacon Scott, and the Master Court of the Incorporation of Coopers, three and three
The Officer of the Incorporation of Fleshers
Deacon Scouler and the Master-Court of the Incorporation of Fleshers, three and three
The Officer of the Incorporation of Masons
Deacon Paterson and the Master Court of the Incorporation of Masons,three and three
The Officer of the Incorporation of Gardeners
Deacon Hamilton and the Master Court of the Incorporation of Gardeners, three and three
The Officer of the Incorporation of Barbers
Deacon Campbell and the Master Court of the Incorporation of Barbers, three and three
The Officer of the Incorporation of Dyers and Bonnet Makers
Deacon Cassels and the Master Court of the Incorporation of Dyers and Bonnet Makers, three and three
Mr Cowan, one of the Teachers of the Trades' House Free School, in his gown
The Directors of the Trades' House Free School, three and three
The Officer of the Faculty of Physicians and Surgeons
The Preses and Faculty of Physicians and Surgeons, three and three
The Officer of the Faculty of Procurators
The Dean and Faculty of Procurators, three and three
The Officers of Police in their full uniform
Captain Mitchell, the Superintendent of Police, with his Medal and Badge of Office
The Commissioners of Police, with their Batons of Office, three and three
The Officer of the Lunatic Asylum
The Coimmittee, the Managers, and the Contributors to the Institution, three and three
A Band of Music, Drumds, & c.

GRAND LODGE OF SCOTLAND

The Grand Tyler, with a drawn Sword
Two Grand Stewards, with Rods
Compass and Level, carried by two Operative Brethren
Two Grand Stewards, with Rods
Square, Mallet, and Plumb, carried by Operative Brethren
Two Grand Stewards, with Rods
Silver Cup filled with wine
Cornucopiae, filled with Corn and Corn Stalks
Silver Cup filled with Oil
Two Grand Stewards with Rods
Two Inscription Plates, carried by Operative Brethren, on one of which is incribed:-

TO RESTORE THE USE OF REASON
TO ALLEVIATE SUFFERING, AND LESSEN PERIL,
WHERE REASON CANNOT BE RESTORED,
THE
GLASGOW ASYLUM FOR LUNATICS
WAS ERECTED BY PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION
By the Favour of Almighty God
The Honourable JAMES BLACK
LORD PROVOST OF GLASGOW
Acting Provincial Grand Master of the Lower Ward of Lanarkshire
Laid This Foundation Stone
On the Second Day of August MDCCCX
AERA OF MASONRY 5810
And 5oth Year of the Reign of our most Gracious Sovereign
GEORGE THE THIRD
In the Presence of the Committee, consisting of
Robert Cleghorn, MD
John Craig, Esq
Robert McNair, Esq
George Rutherford, Esq
John Mair, Esq
James Cleland, Esq
and
William Jamieson, Esq Chief Magistrate of Paisley
And of the other Managers and Contributors to this Asylum
William Stark Esq Architect
Thomas Smith and Alexander Hay, Contractors;
Robert McNair Esq. Treasurer
William Cuthbertson Esq. Secretary
Which Undertaking may the Supreme God bless and prosper.

On the other Plate, the following inscription is engraved:-

MAGISTRATES OF THE CITY OF GLASGOW
MDCCCX
THE HON JAMES BLACK, Lord Provost
Baillies
GEORGE RUTHERFORD, Esq
HENRY MONTEITH, Esq
JOHN BERRY, Esq
ROBERT WADDELL, Esq
WALTER FERGUSON, Esq
JOHN HAMILTON, Esq. Dean of Guild
JAMES CLELAND, Esq. Convener of the Trades House
JOSHUA HEYWOOD Esq. Baillie of the River and Frith of Clyde
JAMES MACKENZIE Esq. Treasurer
RICHARD SMELLIE Esq. Master of Works
JAMES SPREULL Esq. Chamberlain
ROBERT FERRIE Esq Chief Magistrate of Gorbals

GRAND LODGE OF SCOTLAND
His Royal Highness GEORGE PRINCE OF WALES, Grand Master of Scotland, and Patron of the Order
Hon. W. R. Maule of Panmure, Acting Grand Master
Right Hon James Earl of Rosslyn, Acting Grand Master Elect
William Inglis Esq. Substitute Acting Grand Master
John Clerk Esq and Hon Major John Ramsey, Grand Wardens
Joh Hey, Esq. Grand Treasurer
The Rev Sir Harry Moncrieff Grand Chaplain
William Guthrie Esq Grand Secretary
James Bertram Esq Grand Clerk
A. Cunningham Grand Jeweller
Alexander Lawrie Grand Bookseller

THEN FOLLOWED

Two Grand Steward, with Rods
Three Operative Brethren, carrying three bottles filled with the gold, silver, and copper coins of the present reign, and another bottle containing an almanack for the current year, and seven Glasgow newspapers, viz. Courier, Herald, Journal, Western Star, Clyde Commercial Advertiser, Sentinel, and the Weekly Packet.
Two Grand Stewards, with Rods
Architect, with the Plans of the Building
Two Grand Stewards with Rods
The Contractors, and Mr John Weir, the Superintendent of the Work
Usher of White Rod
Bible open, carried on a crimson cushion
Usher of White Rod
Grand Chaplain, in his Gown
Grand Jeweller
Grand Bookseller
Grand Secretary with Crimson Bag
Grand Treasurer with Gold Stick
Grand Clerk with his Book
Senior Grand Warden
Junior Grand Warden
Past Grand Master
Grand Master
Depute Grand Master
Grand Steward with Rod
Master of Grand Stewards with Grand Masters Rod
Grand Steward with Rod

The other Lodges followed the Grand Lodge, conformable to the following Order:-

The Operative Glasgow St John's,
JourneymenGlasgow Operatives

Nos. Lodges from the Country.

10     Hamilton
78     Englesham Montgomery Kilwinning
112   New Monkland Montrose
146  Cambuslang Royal Arch
149  Rutherglen Royal Arch
150  Partick St Mary's
169  Shettleston St John's
170 Paisley St Marriott's
175 Paisley St James's
191  Paisley Royal Arch
193 Renfrew Prince of Wales
194 Calder Argyll
221 Airdrie St Johns's
237 Old Monkland St James's
247 Lennox Kilwinning
261 Caledonian St John's
264 St Andrew's Cumbernauld
270 Airdrie Operatives

Glasgow Lodges

28   St Mungo's
64   Glasgow Patrick Kilwinning
70  Montrose
76  Argyll
87  Thistle and Crown
129 Union and Crown
144 St Davids's
269 St Patricks's
286 Star

When the Procession arrived at the Site of the Building, the Bands played the King's Anthem, and the Rev Dr Gibb, as Grand Chaplain, gave a very suitable and highly impressive Prayer; immediately after which, the Grand Treasurer deposited the Bottle containing the Coins, and The Grand Secretary deposited the Bottle containing the Newspapers, Inscription Plates, & c. Thereafter, the acting Provincial Grand Master laid the Foundation Stone of the Asylum, with all the honours usual on such occasions, pronouncing, "May the Grand Architect of the Universe enable us successfully to carry on and finish the Work of which we have now laid the Foundation Stone, and every other undertaking which may tend to the advantage of the City of Glasgow and its Inhabitants; and may this Building long be preserved from peril and decay!" On which the Brethren gave three cheers, and the Bands played the Masons' Anthem.

The Grand Wardens then delivered to the acting Provincial Grand Master the Cornucopiae, the Wine, and the Oil, which he poured on the Stone, according to ancient custom; saying,
"May the bountiful hand of Heaven ever supply this City and Country with an abundance of Corn, Wine, and Oil, and all the Necessaries and Comforts of Life".
At the conclusion of this prayer, the Brethren gave three cheers, and the Bands played the Masons' Anthem.

The acting Provincial Grand Master then retired to the centre of the Foundation of the Building, which had been excavated upwards of one hundred feet diameter, and six feet below the surface of the ground, where he was joined by the Magistrates, the Committee, the Grand Lodge, and the Office-Bearers of thirty lodges; the Public Bodies, and the Masonic Brethren out of office, occupied the space above, which was inclosed by a guard, forming as it were a vast amptheatre, which, for grandeur and magnificence, was never equalled in this part of the country.

The acting Provincial Grand Master, then addressed himself, in an animated speech, to the Public Bodies, and the Committee of Management; in which, expressing his thanks to them in several capacities for their services, he declared the high sense which he entertained of the imporatane of this Institution; and "that among those of which this City can fairly boast, none of them, in point of view of true benevolence, will stand higher in public regard, than that of which the foundation had been this day laid.

To this, Mr. Robert McNair of Belevedere, Treasurer to the Institution, and its first proposer, made a suitable reply; in which, "in the name of the Committee of Management, most respectfully in his own name, and in the name of every unfortunate fellow-creature, whose lot may bring them under the protection of this Asylum, he returned thanks to the Lord Provost, Magistrates, and Council, of the City of Glasgow, to Dean of Guild, to the Convener of the Trades' House, to the other numerous Public Bodies and Private Individuals, who have so liberally contributed to this Institution. He returned thanks also to Mr. James Cleland, in particular, for the great personal and professional services which he had rendered - services which those only who know them, can duly appreciate. And concluded, by expressing the obligations they were under "to the Grand Lodge, the other Lodges in the City and Neighbourhood, and all those who had honoured them with threir attendance, and added so much splendour to the solemnity of the day".

The Brethren again gave three cheers, and the Bands played the Masons' Anthem.

The Procession was guarded by a detachment of 700 men from the 71st, or Glasgow Regiment, and the Argyllshire Militia. The Staff and Band of the 6th Regiment of Lanarkshire Local Militia, formerly the Trades' House Regiment of Volunteer Infantry (upwards of eighty persons), handsomely volunteered to assist in guarding the Trades'  House. The propitiousness of the day added greatly to the splendour of the occasion. The Procession, which consisted of more than 2000 persons, and 240 musicians, was conducted in the most orderly manner, and reflected great credit on the attention of Captain Graham, who acted as Grand Marshal.

Although the concourse of spectators was uncommonly great, from the deep interest which all ranks took in the Institution, yet, we are happy to state, no accident occurred.

The Collection amounted to 163l. 2s.

Freemasonry in Norfolk 1778-1789

Mary Hardy was the wife of William Hardy, a substantial farmer and landowner living at Letheringsett Hall in Norfolk. She kept a diary covering the years 1733 to 1809, which was edited for the Norfolk Record Society in 1968 by Mary’s descendant, B. Cozens-Hardy: Mary Hardy’s Diary, ed. B. Cozens-Hardy, Norfolk Record Society 37 (1968). The diary includes these references to Freemasonry:

p. 30. [1778] May 25 Mon. Zeb Rouse removing muck out of the Yard to the garden gate. J. P. at plow. I went to Norwich M 10 with Mrs Neve in their chaise. Dind [sic.] at Mrs Gilberts, drank tea at Miss Yeomans, saw the free Masons go to the Play, saw Mrs Raven of Kirby. Mrs Neve went to the play & I came home in the chaise alone. Recd a letter from Mr Hardy.

p. 32. [1779] Jan 20 Wed. Mr Hardy Mr Neve Mr Ansell etc opened a free Masons lodge at the Sergeant.

p. 68 [1789] Nov 14 Fri. Mr Hardy went to a [Manor] Court at Salthouse was admitted to the public house called the Dun Cow, from thence went to the free Masons lodge at Blakeney and came home morn 2.

p. 72 [1789] Dec 2 Wed. Mr Hardy and Wm [their son] went to Wells and paid for the Fighting Cocks Public House, came home by Blakney & stopt at the Free Masons Club, home even 12.

George Oliver at Grimsby

The Lincolnshire Parish Correspondence of John Kaye, Bishop of Lincoln 1827-53, ed. R. W. Ambler, Lincoln Record Society, 94 (2006), includes (pp. 57-61) correspondence with the nineteenth-century Masonic ideologue Revd George Oliver concerning a petition brought against him by William Betts as Chairman of the Select Vestry at Grimsby. Betts requested that the evening service at Grimsby be held at 2.30pm instead of 6pm, and claimed that Oliver, as curate of Grimsby, preferred the later time to fit in with his duties as Vicar of Clee. Oliver responded with a lengthy memorial outlining his achievements as curate of Grimsby.

The Early History of the Knights Templar

The James Marshall and Marie-Louise Osborn Collection at the Beinmecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library in Yale University includes the following item:

Osborn Shelves d 132

Fellowes, William Dorset, d. 1828
[Biographical notes on Sir Sidney Smith (1764-1840)]: autograph MS in part 1846
ca. 140 p.; 26 x 20 cm.

Collection includes: a continuous memoir, 31 pages titled "Anecdotes and recollections respecting Sir Sidney Smith and Captain Wright [John Wesley Wright (1769-1805)] of the Royal Navy"; numerous inserted cuttings,engravings, memoranda; also a few letters; a quantity of notes concern the establishment of the Knights Templar in London in 1830, to which Smith and Fellows belonged; this material includes a letter to Fellows from Augustus Frederick, Duke of Sussex (1773-1843).