M A £ O N R Y 
of John Ward, efq. afterwards lord vifcount Dudley and 
Ward, matters were accommodated, and the brethren feem- 
ingly reconciled. This, however, proved only a temporary 
fufpenfion of hoftilities; for the flame foon broke out anew, 
and gave rife to commotions, which afterwards materially 
interrupted the peace of the fociety. 
Lord Raymond fucceeded the marquis of Carnarvon in 
May 1739; and under his lordfhip’s aufpices the lodges 
were numerous and refpeftable. Notwithftanding the 
flourifhing ftate of the fociety, however, irregularities con¬ 
tinued to prevail ; and feveral worthy brethren, ft ill ad- 
verfe to the encroachments on the eftablilhed fyftem of 
the inltitution, feemed to be highly difgufted at the pro¬ 
ceedings of the regular lodges. Complaints were pre¬ 
ferred at every fucceeding committee, and the Commu¬ 
nications were fully employed In adjufting differences and 
reconciling animoflties. More feceflions taking place, it 
became neceflary to pafs votes of cenfure on the mod re¬ 
fractory, and enact laws to difcourage irregular afl'ocia- 
tions of the fraternity. This brought the power of f'lie 
Grand Lodge in queftion ; and, in oppofition to the laws 
which had been eltablilhed in that affembly, lodges were 
formed without any legal warrant, and perfons initiated 
into mafonry for final 1 and unworthy conflderations. To 
difappoint the views of thefe deluded brethren, and to 
diftinguifli the perfons initiated by them, the Grand Lodge 
acquiefced in the imprudent meafures which the regular 
mafons had adopted, meafures which even the urgency of 
the cafe could not warrant. Though this had the in¬ 
tended effeft, it gave rife to a new fubterfuge. The bre¬ 
thren who had feceded from the regular lodges immedi¬ 
ately announced independency, and alfumed the appells- 
tion of ancient mafons. They propagated an opinion, 
that the ancient tenets and praftices of mafonry were pre- 
ferved by them ; and that the regular lodges, being com- 
pofed of modern snafons, had adopted new plans, and were 
not to be confidered as adling under the old eftablifhment. 
To counterafl the regulations of the Grand Lodge, they 
inllituted a new Grand Lodge in London, profelfedly on 
the ancient fyftem ; and, contrary to their duty as Mafons, 
under that affumed banner conftituted feveral new lodges, 
in oppofition to the regular eftablilhed authority. Thefe 
irregular proceedings they pretended to juftify under the 
feigned fanclion of the Ancient York Conjiitution ; and many 
gentlemen of reputation, being deceived by this artifice, 
were introduced among them; fo that their lodges daily 
increafed. Without authority from the Grand Lodge in 
York, or from any other eftablilhed power in Mafonry, 
thefe refraftory brethren perfevered in the meafures they 
bad adopted, formed committees, held communications, 
and even appointed annual feafts. Under the falfe appel¬ 
lation of the York banner, they gained the countenance 
of the Scotch and Irilh Mafons, who, placing implicit 
confidence in the reprefentations made to them, heartily 
joined in condemning the meafures of the regular lodges 
in London ; as tending, in their opinion, to introduce no¬ 
velties into the fociety, and to fubvert tiie original plan 
of the inltitution. The irregular mafons in London hav¬ 
ing thus acquired a nominal eftablilhment, noblemen of 
both kingdoms, unacquainted with the origin of the fepa- 
ration, honoured them with their patronage, and fome re- 
fpedable names and lodges were added to their lift. Of 
late years, however, the fallacy had been fully detefted 
by the attive diligence of a few zealous brethren, and they 
had not been fo fuccefsful ; feveral of their belt members 
deierted them, and many lodges renounced their banner, 
and came under the patronage of the Grand Lodge of 
England. It was, however, much to be wilhed, that a ge¬ 
neral union among all the Mafons iri the kingdom could 
be efftfled ; and in a fubfequent part of this article it will 
be found that fo defirable a meafure has recently been ac- 
complithed. 
In 1771, a bill was brought into tire hotife of commons 
by the Hon. Charles Dillon, deputy grand matter, fox in¬ 
corporating the fociety L,« ait of parliamentj but on the 
4S7 
fecond reading of the bill, it having been oppofed by Mr. 
Onflow, at the defire of feveral brethren who had peti¬ 
tioned the houfe againlt it, Mr. Dillon moved to poftpone 
the confideration of itjine die; and thus the defign of a a 
incorporation fell to the ground. 
On the 1 ft of May, 1775, the fouodation-ftone of Free- , 
Mafons’ Hall, in Great Queen-ftreet, Lincoln’s Inn-Fields, 
was laid by lord Petre, the Grand Mailer; and it was de¬ 
dicated on the 23d of May, 1776, by the fame nobleman, 
in the prefence of the moll diltinguifhed brethren of the 
kingdom, and upwards of four hundred ladies. This 
magnificent hall was conftruited by brother Thomas 
Sand by, profelfor of architeilure in the Royal Aca¬ 
demy ; and has happily fuperfeded the neceffity that ma¬ 
fons were before under, of hiring halls for their mafonic 
meetings and public feftivals, or reforting to taverns t«a> 
tranfaft the bofinefs of their fociety. 
On the gth of March, 1786, H. R. H. Prince William- f 
Henry, now duke of Clarence, was initiated into Mafonry 
at the Lodge N° 86, held at the Prince George inn at 
Plymouth. 
On the 4-th of January, 1787, was opened in Loudon, 
the Grand Chapter of Harodim. Though this order is of 
ancient date, and had been patronifed in different parts of 
Europe, there appears not on record previous to this pe¬ 
riod the regular eftablifhment of fuch an aflociation in 
England. For fome years it was faintly encouraged ; but, 
after its merit had been further inveftigated, it receiver! 
the patronage of feveral exalted mafonic characters. The 
myfteries of this order are peculiar to the inffitution it- 
felf; while the lectures of the Chapter include every branch 
of the mafonic fyftem, and reprefent the art of Mafonry 
in a finiflred and complete form. The Grand Chapter is 
governed by a grand patron, two vice-patrons, a chief ru¬ 
ler, and two afliftants, with a council of twelve refpectabl® 
companions, who are chofen annually at the chapter neareit 
to the feftival of St. John the Evangelilt. 
On Thurfday,the 6th ofFebruary, 1787, his royal higft- 
nefs the prince of Wales was made a mafon, at an occa- 
fional lodge, convened for the purpofe, at the Star-and- 
Garter Tavern, Pall Mall, over which the late duke of" 
Cumberland prefixed in perfon. And 011 Friday the ziffc 
of November following, his royal highnefs the duke of 
York was initiated into mafonry, at a fpecial lodge con¬ 
vened for the purpofe, at the fame place, over which the 
Grand Mailer alfo prefided in perfon. The duke was 
introduced by his royal brother the prince of Wales, who 
aflifted at the ceremony of his initiation. 
On the 25th of March, 1788, another event worthy of 
notice in the annals of Mafonry took place—the inflitu- 
tion of the Royal Cumberland Freemafons’ School, for 
maintaining, clothing, and educating, the female children 
and orphans of indigent brethren. To the benevolent ex¬ 
ertions of the chevalier Bartholomew Rufpini, the frater¬ 
nity were firll indebted for this eftablifhment. Under the 
patronage of her royal highnefs the late duchefs of Cum¬ 
berland, the fchool was originally formed ; and to her fof- 
tering hand is owing its prefent flourifhing ftate, by her 
recommending it to the royal family, as well as to many 
of the nobility and gentry of both fexes. On the ill of 
January, 1789, fifteen children were taken into a houfe 
provided for them at Somers’ Town, Sr. Pancras ; hut 
fince that time, by the liberal encouragement which the 
charity has received from the fraternity in India as well 
as in England, the governors have been enabled to aug¬ 
ment the number of children at different periods to fixty- 
five. Fora defeription and reprefentation of the prefent 
building in Sr. George’s Fields, and other particulars, lee 
the article London, vol. xiii. p. 515. and Plate VII. 0.—• 
This excellent charity has fince given birth to other in- 
ftitutio'ns of a limilar nature for the Sons and Widows of 
diftrefled or decealed Mafons. 
On the jorh of February, 1790, regular notice was 
given in the Grand Lodge, that H.R. H. prince Edward, 
now duke of Kent, while on iris travels, had been ini¬ 
tiated 
