Letter of Thomas Forster, Secretary, unnamed Lodge held in the Royal Horse Artillery,...

AR/1519/26

Letter of Thomas Forster, Secretary, unnamed Lodge held in the Royal Horse Artillery, Colchester to Robert Leslie, Grand Secretary

19 May 1812

Letter of Thomas Forster, Secretary, unnamed Lodge held in the Royal Horse Artillery, Plough Inn, Colchester to Robert Leslie, Grand Secretary, 28 Token House Yard, London, explaining that members of Lodges meeting under the Grand Lodges of Ireland and Scotland in the same Garrison do not have to pay initiation fees of three Guineas with registration fees of two shillings and sixpence. This discrepancy damages the prosperity of the Grand Lodge and he wonders if the Deputy Grand Master has discussed this with the other Grand Lodges so that the same fees are charged by all Lodges meeting in England. Members can be initiated for thirty or forty shillings in Lodges meeting under other Masonic jurisdictions and then join an English lodge for the much smaller fee of nine shillings. Signed by present and past Masters and officers of the Lodge. Endorsed with a return, including James Baskett and John Withey, mariners, Colchester, for whom the Lodge sends one pound for registration and membership certificates. Report that William Lennox, excluded for non-attendance and non-payment of membership fees, has rejoined the Lodge and that James Thompson is unwell.

1 document

This unnamed lodge was granted a warrant by the Antients' Grand Lodge in 1809 as No. 156(B) in the Royal Horse Artillery Barracks, Colchester, Essex. In 1811 the Lodge moved to the Plough Inn, Plough Corner, Colchester. After the union between the Antients' and the Moderns' Grand Lodges in 1813 to form the United Grand Lodge of England, the Lodge met as No. 189. In 1814 the Lodge met at the Duke of York, Magadalen Street, Colchester. The Lodge was erased on 5 March 1828.