Bye Laws of Antient Lodge No.56c
The History of this Warrant No. 56 Antient dates back to 3rd November 1756, see Lanes Book page 76.
56 (a) 3rd Nov. 1756 (Place unknown), Manchester.
-
Cancelled 7th June 1775, for divers misdemeanours, and issued to some Members of No. 171 Antients.
56 (b) 7th June 1775. (Place unknown), Manchester.
- “Warrant of 144 and 56 cancelled, and agreed that the Brethren of No. 171 should have a renewal of No. 56”. Grand Lodge Provincial 7 th June 1775.
- Cal . For 1800 states, “Eagle, Salford, near Manchester (cancelled by order of the Grand Lodge 1792).”
56 (c) 16th May 1803. Standard Tavern, Old Churchyard, Manchester.
- York Minster, Deansgrave, Manchester 1805
- Phoenix , Salford, Lancashire 1805.
- Flower Pot, Red Banks, Salford, 1806.
Lapsed about 1809, but kept in Ahiman Rezon List of 1813.
Seven Page Letter from 56 (c) Ant. Giving details of formation of the Lodge with its Bye-Laws. Note in the front page there seem to be a dispute with a Brother James Irwin.
It reads as follows:
Manchester 11 th July 1803
Rt. Worshipfull Sir & Br.
We take the liberty of thus addressing you
Letting you known that some people in Manchester
Finds themselves very much aggrieved concerning
Our Warrant 56 and all on Acct. of not applying
To them for Certify as although we being regular
Assembled members of No. 297 In particular
James Irwin (who assumes the
Arbitrary & presumptions authority over all
The Lodges in Manchester) Called an unligal
Meeting the day before the Installation under
The No. 39 unknown to the Master who
When he Came to know found himself very
Much offended at Jas. Irwin’s misconduct
& would not
Countenance the meeting on any pretence whatever, also the
Majority of the meeting was very mush grived at being
Called there knowning our authority & our
Actions to be Just & legal.
In consequence of which we have
inclosed a true
Copy of our Bye Laws for your inspection in
hopes they will meet your approbation,
and you will please write soon as possible a letter to us for our
Confirmation which we will acquaint the
Different Lodge with.
Rt. Worshl,
Sir the Officers at our installation being appoint
A Grand Lodge was opened at 5 O’clock on
Monday evening on 4 th inst.
Under Sanction & Warrant 297 &
Closed at 7 Oclock same evening when
Brs George McCarmick James Ruddock S.W. (XXXXX) of 289
== William Rice Wppl. Master of 298 J.W.
== John McClelland 289 S.D. James O’Hare J.W. of 275 J.D. Henry Flavile S.W. 287 & John Tomlinson of 297 Secy.
Page 2 (Start of the Bye Laws).
~ ~ Bye Laws ~ ~
Rules Orders & Regulations to be Observed by the
Brethren of Lodge No. 56…
====================
Rule 1 st. Resolved that this Lodge shall meet on the first
Monday of every Month in order to Act & transact
Such Businefs as seems meet to them for the
Will-being & Honour of the Ancient Craft at the
House of Mr. SHAW, & every Member shall pay
One Shilling towards the night Expence….
Rule 2 nd. Resolved, that No Candidate will be admitted here
That three Black Beans is against him if two
A Proper reason given…..
Rule 3 rd. Resolved, that every Brother of this Lodge shall
Pay three Shillings every St. John’s Day & every Br.
Absent that day shall pay the same expence
Except Sickness Confinement Or five Miles
From the Lodge room….
Rule 4 th. Resolved, that no Br. will be chosen by Singnority
To Preside as Master or any other office in this
Lodge except he merits it….
Rule 5 th. Resolved, that every Br. Belonging to this Lodge
Must Appear (on all regular Lodge nights) as Clean
& decent as his circumstances will allow, with a white
Handkerchief round his Neck & either the addition
Of a Apron or Ribband in his Breast that is worn
By ancient Masons but at no other time until
Furthered Orders…..
(page 3)
Rule 6 th. Resolved, that if any Br., of this Lodge shall Curse
or swear or Sing any Prophane song or give any insult
intendedly to ANY other Br., so that he or they by
misconduct might rndeavour to disturb the Harmony
of our meetings for every such offence shall forfict
sixpence or leave the Room at the request of the Master.
Rule 7 th. Resolved, that if any Br., shall come in our regular
Lodge nights or any other meeting Disguised in Liquor
shall for the first offence forfeit 6d., & every other 1/-d.
Rule 8 th. Resolved, that any Br., absent on our regular ~
meeting nights without him on his next meeting
Night afsining a proper reason shall for every such
offence forfeit one Shilling….
Rule 9 th. Resolved, that if any subscribing Br., of this Lodge
should be rendered incapable of supporting himself &
family by sicknefs or any Complaint, so thar the same
does not appear to have come by luxury or evil
living each subscribing Br., of this Lodge shall pay
the sum of 6d per week into the hand of whoever may
be appointed so long as the Distrefs’d Br., or Brs., may
Continue in their Illnefs & two Brs., shall be appointed
to examine & enquire into the distrefs’d Brothers
situation and draw from this subsription a necefsary
allowance to be delivered to the Distrefs’d Br., weekly
while in sicknefs a regular Acct., of which must
be delivered into the Lodge every St. John’s Day…
Rule 10 th Resolved that if any Br., of this Lodge should die
while he is a subscribing member, that every Br.,
shall attend him to the place of Interement with an
apron Sholder Scarf of Linnen & white Gloves this
rule to be at the pleasure of this Lodge….
Page 4.
Rule 11 th. Resolved, that any Br., wishing to Join this
Lodge cannot be admitted on any Acct., whatever without
A Just Certificate from the place he was made in or a
Renewal from another…..
Rule 12 th. Resolved, that any Br., wishing to join this Lodge
by Certificate (and be found worthy) shall pay the sum
of 10/6d., Sert., (immediately with his Certificate) to the
fund & pay for his Register & Tylers dues….
Rule 13 th. Resolved, that if any Br., should redicule any
Other Br., in Regard of Religion trade or Occupation
he shall be fined in five Shillings and not be
admitted to sit in the Lodge until he first pays
the fine & makes an Humble submifsion for his
former transgrefsion, all fines to be put to the fund
for Relief of Distrefs’d Brothers….
Rule 14 th. Resolved, that no Modern mason or any other
Subsriber there to will be admitted to enter this
Lodge on any Pretence whatever, & futher that no
member of the Lodge shall be allowed to visit any
modern Lodge on any Acct., under no lefs Penalty
than being fined 10/6d and deprived of three nights
and then to at the pleasure of this Lodge whither
he or they receives admittance or not, by so doing
the Better to enable the Ancient Craft from
being adultered by the Modering & also every
Visiting Br., shall Pay one Shilling towards
the nights Expence…
Page 5.
Rule 16 th. Resolved that every Br., that is made in this
Lodge shall pay the sum of three pounds three shillings
sterling for his admifsion & pay for his Register &
Tylers dues, & also any two Brs., that has any
debates that require a Committee, it is to be tried
by a Committee of our own Members and them
that is the Occasion of the Committee shall Defray ¼ expence.
Rule 17 th, Resolved, that if any member belonging to
this Lodge shall devilge any Secret given him from
the Chair to any person not belonging to this Lodge
for the 1 st offence shall be fined in 2/6d, and will not be
admitted to sit in the Lodge until he first pays
the fine, & makes an Humb., Submifsion for his former
transgrefsion, & if found guilty a Second time fined
in 5/-d & third time to be Excluded & Reported
to the Grand Lodge. ~~~~~
Rule 18 th Resolved that no Candidate will be admitted
of in this Lodge until he is some time on
report so long as the Master & rest of the Officers
think Proper so that proper enquiry may be made
into his Morals & Character & no Report will
be accepted of in this Lodge until paying the
sum of 10/6d = for the same & if found worthy by
the Brethren & not appear the money is forfeited
but if Rejected the money is Returned, & futher
in Cause of any Emergency every Visting Br., shall
pay one Shilling towards the nights Expences…
Rule 19 th. Resolved, by the Brn., of the Lodge that there
is no Drink to be drunk to the Expence of this
Lodge on a Regular meeting Night or any other time
unlefs orders from the Chair & also that there is no
member of the Lodge can have either Vote or Voice
whatever that is three nights in Debt.~~~
Page 5.
Rule 20 th. Resolved, by the Brn., of the Lodge that if
any member causes any disturbance going
home from the Lodge shall be (for the first offence)
fined in 1/-, second time 3/- and third time to be
excluded from every benefit arising from –
Ancient Masonry - - - -
Rule 21 st. Resolved, that every subscribing member
of this Lodge shall Pay the sum of 6d per
quarter, to purchase a pew or pews in Church
or Chapple so that they may the more –
Comfortable & Regularly accommodate –
Themselves in their Respective Places of
Worship on the Sabbath Day ~ ~
John Green Secy.
Page 6.
Rt W’ppl., Sir
we have given you a Copy of the Transaction
to Shew our Actions in every particular
Corrosponded with Your Directiond in hopes
You will write to the satisfactions as our
Actions shall be always According to Your
Directions – We Remain Rt., Wppl. Sir
Your Obed. Friend & Br.,
Walter Dillon Master
John Green Secy.
You will Please direct for John Green
Care of Mr. William Shaw Ring of Bells
Old Church Yard Manchester
Lodge No. 56
(c) Ray Sheppard