History of Freemasonry

Whilst masonry in Scarborough itself cannot lay claim to having existed from time immemorial, undoubtedly it is of ancient origin. Legend has it that it was practiced here as far back as 1625: other indications point to the existence of certain lodges in or around 1690, but unfortunately, we lack definite information of this. Quatuor Coronati Lodge records show that there may have been Masonry in Scarborough as far back as 1693, which if correct would be one of the earliest in England.

The first authentic record is contained in that famous document "The Scarborough Manuscript Roll of the Old Constitutions of Masonry" known as the "Scarborough Masonic Roll", which records a "Private" lodge having met on 10 July 1705. The Master of the lodge was William Thompson, who was Member of Parliament for the Borough at that time.

In 1723, the Grand Lodge of All England was advised that a body of freemasons were meeting regularly in Scarborough at the Three Tuns in the market square, without a warrant from Grand Lodge. To regularize the position Grand Lodge issued them with a warrant. The Three Tuns Lodge No. 59 was constituted 27 August 1729 at The Three Tuns Inn under the Constitution of the premier Grand Lodge often called the Grand Lodge of the Moderns. Around about 1738 they moved to "Viponts' Long Room" moving back to the Three Tuns in 1740. This was the Three Tuns in Stockdale Street, later called Globe Street; whose landlady was Betty Chatan so presumably the original Three Tuns must have closed down. In 1740 its number was changed to 52 and under that number the lodge was erased 29 November 1754. Research has disclosed that its formal name was the Scarsborg Lodge and at one time had 80 members. In 1735 the Master of the Lodge was William Thompson, son of the William Thompson of the 1705 lodge, perhaps suggesting that the Scarsborg or Three Tuns Lodge was a continuation of the 1705 lodge. William Thompson Junior succeeded his father as M.P. for the Borough a position he held from 1708 to 1718. In 1715 he was appointed Governor of Scarborough Castle, dying in 1744.

From 1762 to 1768, The Turks Head Lodge under the constitution of the "Grand Lodge of All England" at York met at the Turks Head in the market square. There were other subordinate lodges in this district. One at Hovingham (warranted in 1773). Another at Snainton (warranted in 1778), which met at the New Inn, now known as the "Coachman". In 1779 the jewels of the Turks Head Lodge, originally the property of the "Scarsborg" Lodge, consisting of Gold Compasses, Silver Square and Level were freely given to the Grand Lodge of York by a Bro. Steel, who claimed to be the last survivor of eighty brethren. York Lodge No. 236, where the compasses are still used today at the installation of a new master, allowed Bro. Steel one shilling and six pence per week to assist him in his declining years. The Turks Head used as its Warrant the 1693 Masonic Roll and on cessation of the Lodges activities, the Tyler took this roll to Wetherby where it was used as a Warrant to found the Alfred Lodge No.434 in 1781. This lodge was erased in 1797.  In those days there were a number of Grand Lodges in England. The original (1717) Grand Lodge is usually referred to as the premier Grand Lodge or Moderns, whose Grand Master was the Duke of Cumberland. Moderns being the slightly derogatory term applied by the rival Atholl Grand Lodge.

The Atholl Grand Lodge (1751), who's Grand Master was the Duke of Atholl referred to themselves as the Antients well before the designation of Atholl Grand Lodge was applied. Another Grand Lodge met in York and called itself the Grand Lodge of All England meeting in York whilst a further Grand lodge was known as the Grand Lodge of all England South of the River Trent. There were other minor Grand Lodges including one at Wigan, which had only three craft lodges under its jurisdiction. 

There were 13 founder members of the Globe Lodge of which nine attended the first meeting in a rented room of the Old Globe Inn 15 February 1788. The Old Globe was in those days the principal hotel in the town and renowned throughout the North of England. It was particularly noted for its mutton dishes hence the preference for Roast Saddle of Mutton on the day of Installation.

The first Worshipful Master was Robert Scott, a member of the Britannic Lodge No. 332, (originally No. 423 changed to No. 331 in 1780 and to No. 332 in 1781 being erased on 10 February 1790) often called Britannia, at Whitby. Apparently it was registered in Grand Lodge as Britannic but known locally as Britannia. It is not clear when the founders applied to the Premier Grand Lodge for a warrant. However a warrant was granted 23 August 1788 by Prince Henry Frederick - Duke of Cumberland - Supreme Grand Master of the Order to Robert Scott, Hugh McMillan and James Schofield to open a Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons under the title of the Globe Lodge at the Old Globe Inn Scarborough - signed by Richard S Milnes P.G.M, John Watson Grand Treasurer and Chris Watson Grand Secretary. This was granted to the Globe Lodge No. 531 changed to 440 in 1792 and in 1814 to 504.

The premier Grand Lodge did not recognise any other Masonic degrees outside the three craft ceremonies, which apparently proved irksome to the Globe members. On 18 February 1791 it is recorded that it was proposed and agreed that a Constitution of Ancient Masonry shall be applied for on account of this lodge. A warrant was granted by Right Honourable William Randall, Earl of Antrim - Grand Master of the Atholl Grand Lodge- to William Potter, Hugh McMillan and Robert Scott to the Old Globe Lodge No. 267 on 5 March 1791 and is the one displayed at the Old Globe meetings. The original 1788 warrant is now on display in the library. 

It is from this time onwards that we find reference to the Royal Arch, Mark and Knight Templar degrees. What is surprising is that these two Grand Lodges were at loggerheads. It was constitutionally illegal for an Ancient Lodge to admit a Modern mason into its meetings and vice versa. Yet the Old Globe continued its association with both Grand Lodges and paid annual dues to both. This unique position went on until April 1799 when the lodge chose to remain with the Antients. Many historians and writers on Masonic subjects became very confused with these entire goings on and many thought that there were two different lodges, The Globe and the Old Globe, when in fact it was one lodge with two names.

When these two Grand Lodges eventually amalgamated in December 1813 the number was changed. It is recorded in the minutes of 10 February 1814 that the number of the lodge was altered to 337, on 20 February 1833 to 236 and to 200 in 1863. At the time of the Union the number 504 was allocated to the Globe Lodge and 337 to the Old Globe Lodge. The number 504 was later withdrawn when the error was discovered. 

A resolution on 19 October 1814 required each member to provide himself with a regulation apron. Before this members wore aprons decorated to suit themselves, and their pockets. Examples of these can be seen in the library and the upper lodge room.

The lodge continued to meet in the public rooms of the Old Globe Inn until on 15 September 1797 the members agreed to build lodge premises in the coach yard with an entrance from Stockdale Street, since called Globe Street. The members agreeing to subscribe to a loan for that purpose. This was a most unusual step for of the 300 lodges, then under the English Constitution very few, (a Southampton lodge and Phoenix Lodge No. 94 Sunderland were two), met in their own premises.

Masonic ceremonial and a public procession to St. Mary's Church accompanied the foundation stone laying on 9 October 1797. This is recorded in great detail on a scroll copied from The Scientific Magazine and Freemasons Repository for December 1797, which is kept in the Masonic Hall library. William Travis Esq. M.D. was the Worshipful Master. Beneath the Foundation stone was placed a brass plate inscribed with the details of the ceremony together with coins of the period. When the building was eventually pulled down in a slum clearance scheme in 1936, the plate and some of the coins were recovered and are displayed in the library at the Masonic Hall. Other relics were also recovered: The doorknocker, still in use on the lodge room door, the Inn sign, affixed above the lodge room door, and the old lodge room fireplace now in the upstairs lodge room.

The building was completed in September 1798 the dedication taking place on Monday 10 September when there was another procession and service at the Parish Church - St. Mary's - afterwards the dedication took place by torchlight performed by William Jarvis the Worshipful Master. Masonry was then but little known or understood by many of the inhabitants of that neighbourhood and it was reported that every time the members assembled they were in the habit of raising Satan. 

In 1868 Scarborough underwent change. The centre of the town had moved westwards, the Royal and Crown Hotels had been established and the Grand Hotel had just opened. The social life of the town was now centred in the St. Nicholas Street, Newborough and Huntriss Row area. The Old Globe Inn had lost its reputation and the area in which it was situated was developing into almost a slum area. By now the hotel had really fallen into disrepute, the lodge room by reason of its leasehold site had reverted to the owners of the Hotel and the Old Globe Lodge were merely tenants. When not in use as a Lodge Room the Masonic quarters were used by the hotel. In the licensing records they are variously described as a Concert Room, a Tap Room and a Smoke Room. A number of the members expressed their opinion that Globe Street and the environment of the hotel were not a fit and decent quarter of the town for gentlemen to meet in. In 1868 they broke away from the Old Globe Lodge to form a new lodge "The Denison" to meet in the newly opened Grand Hotel. On the evening of 22 March 1878 a meeting of 15 brethren interested in forming another new lodge was held at the Bull Hotel. This was to be called the Leopold Lodge meeting at the Old Globe Inn and was warranted in 1878.

Eventually it was decided in the interests of Masonry and for the good of the lodge it was desirable to leave the Old Globe Inn and a search was made for suitable premises. In 1881 Old Globe and Leopold Lodges finally agreed to rent accommodation in the Londesborough Rooms, Westborough. Here they stayed for three years but then decided it was essential to have licensing facilities and a committee was formed to find new premises. In 1884 a suitable site for a Masonic Club was found at 14 St. Nicholas Cliff, our present Masonic Hall. It was proposed that The Old Globe, Denison and Leopold Lodges should combine and share the cost of purchasing and refurbishing the premises on St. Nicholas Cliff. The lodges agreed this and the new Masonic Hall was dedicated on 3 December 1884.

What is this affiliation with Pubs and Inns all about? 200 years or so ago the need for the trappings, which you see in the temple, were needed just as much as they are today but the buildings to house them were not there. The only course open to the brethren was to meet in a pub, coffee shop or other similar buildings. With the use of such materials as chalk, charcoal, clay and sand they represent, on the floor of the pub, something of what we see around us today.  Hence the need to "square" the lodge, that is to say one had to walk around the tracing board. This was called drawing the lodge and was undertaken by an officer called the Tyler, who also stood outside the door to see off any intruders and delivered the summons to the members. All this for a fee of somewhere in the region of half a crown a meeting. Now the big problem of having the Tyler draw on the floor was that it had to be not only cleaned up but also obliterated. For this was a time when the members felt every move they made was secret, and so what happened was the newest member, regardless of his rank and title in the outside world, was detailed to get a mop and bucket and "Clear the Floor".

During the nineteenth century the Old Globe Lodge, at that time the only one in Scarborough, sponsored the Denison Lodge No. 1248, warranted in 1868 but consecrated in 1869, the Leopold Lodge No. 1760, warranted 22 May 1878 consecrated 12 September 1878 and the St Nicholas Lodge No. 2586, a temperance lodge, in 1895. Its members also assisted in founding the Royal Lodge No. 643 at Filey. The Londesborough Lodge No 734 founded at Bridlington in 1858, had as its first two Masters, members of the Old Globe Lodge. More that half a century after the formation of the last local lodge, the Old Globe again appears as sponsor to the newly constituted Scarbrough Lodge No 7147, founded to extend the interest and widen the scope of Freemasonry in Scarborough.

Our predecessors were less reticent than we are today. As has been previously stated the laying of the foundation stone of the new lodge room in the coach yard of the Old Globe Inn 9 October 1797 was accompanied by Masonic ritual and a procession to St. Mary's church. It is recorded that Old Globe No. 267 having assembled at 9-o-clock was opened in the third degree; the Worshipful Master gave a suitable charge and the procession set forth. There must have been hundreds of people present. A comprehensive list, (all in the correct order of protocol), of Masons and other dignitaries present, the route and order of advancement is recorded on a scroll in the Masonic Hall library. These included: Brethren and Officers of Lion Lodge, Companions of the Royal Arch, Chiefs of Knight Templars, Knight Templars, armed, and in the sashes of their order. The procession made its way through Sepulchre and Church streets to the south porch of the church; seating was also in accordance with strict protocol. They returned via Queens Street and the Market Place to the gates of the Old Globe Inn. A sumptuous dinner was served up at the Inn and the evening concluded with harmony and conviviality worthy of Masons and the interesting nature of the meeting.

On the 28th December 1866 a lodge of emergency was opened by special dispensation from Province, to inter with Masonic Honours the remains of the late Brother William Bean. Led by the Band of the Volunteer Rifle Corps with drums muffled and trumpets covered the masons marched from the lodge room to the town hall where they were joined by the mayor, the member of parliament, other civic dignitaries and a contingent of police. 

From the Town Hall the procession proceeded to the residence of Brother Bean in Vernon Road. Here the hearse, pallbearers and the mourning coaches of family and friends joined it. The coffin bore Brother Beans regalia and crossed swords. Led by the police, with the band playing the Dead March in Saul, the procession marched to Dean Road cemetery for the internment.  The brethren then reformed and returned to the lodge rooms led by the band playing appropriate sombre music. The records of the funeral are interesting in that they do not contain any reference to a service held in church. It may be possible that the ceremony was what is known is research circles as a Prestonian funeral i.e. a purely masonic ceremony. 

Another procession was held on New Years Day 1887 on the occasion of laying the first stone for the North Shore Seawall and Promenade (later renamed the Royal Albert Drive) by the Mayor of Scarborough, John Woodall Woodall, J.P., Past Grand Treasurer and a Past Master of Old Globe Lodge. He obtained permission from the Provincial Grand Master, the Earl of Zetland, to enhance the ceremony with Masonic ritual. Brethren from all over England joined Scarborough's three lodges - the Old Globe, the Denison and the Leopold - for the historic occasion. The lodge was tyled at 12:30 pm and after opening in the three degrees a procession was formed the like of which it is doubtful Scarborough will ever see again. 

All the brethren were instructed to appear in black frock coats, trousers, ties, white gloves, high hats and full Masonic craft clothing.  A Band of Music followed by two Tyler's carrying naked swords and the visiting brethren headed the procession.  The masons, in full regalia with their lodge banners carried by stewards, marched to the Old Town Hall (now Lloyds Bank). to join Scarborough's aldermen and councillors resplendent in their ceremonial robes.

Also in attendance were a detachment of the Royal Naval Reserve, the 1st East Yorks Artillery Volunteer Corps, the 2nd North Yorks Rifle Volunteer Corps, the Magistrate and a detachment of Police. The procession then proceeded to the site of the stone laying where the foundation stone was suspended over a concrete block. 

After prayers by the Masonic Chaplain, the Masonic Treasurer placed coins on the concrete block. However, when the mayor reached for the silver trowel to cement over the coins he found it had been left behind at the Town Hall, a workman's trowel was borrowed for the ceremony. The stone was lowered into place and laid by the mayor with three taps from his Masonic mallet. The ceremony ended with the freemasons singing their hymn, Hail Masonry Divine. As the spectators dispersed the procession returned to St. Nicolas Cliff where the Freemasons gathered in the Masonic Hall to close the Old Globe Lodge. A plaque commemorating this event is attached to the sea wall on the pedestrian walkway just below Albert Road, known locally as Chain Hill. 

There is reference, on 27 August 1890, of the visit to Scarborough of His Royal Highness Albert Victor Christian Edward, Duke of Clarence and Avondale, Earl of Athlone for the purpose of opening the new promenade and drive on the North Shore. Prior to this ceremony the Freemasons of Scarborough welcomed His Royal Highness, who was the Provincial Grand Master of Berkshire at the Royal Hotel, where W.Bro. Gawne, the Worshipful Master of the Old Globe Lodge, presented an illuminated address on behalf of the three Scarborough lodges.

On 25 June 1897 at the laying of the Foundation Stone of the Marine Drive, masons in full regalia were present, having accepted an invitation from the Mayor for the Worshipful Master and Wardens of the three lodges to attend.
There have been a number of prominent people members of the various Scarborough Lodges and I am sure most of you are aware of these. Here are a few not so well known.

A prominent local painter -F. Booty- signed his pictures "F. Booty 1248". He was master of the Denison Lodge 1248 in 1880. One of his well-known pictures, " The Bombardment of Scarborough" is hung in a committee room at the Town Hall. 

W.Bro. E. W. Pritchard, Master of the Royal Lodge in 1857, Master of Old Globe in 1858 and 1859, and the first J of the present Old Globe Chapter, was executed in Glasgow 28 July 1865 for the murder of his wife and mother-in-law by poisoning. According to newspaper clippings about 80,000 people were present.

Another interesting character was a Robert MacKenzie Beverley. He was initiated at a special meeting of the Old Globe Lodge on 27 May 1819 at the age of 21 years. At the regular meeting on 16 June he was passed after which he proposed Sir George Cayley (the 6th Baronet), Reverend Edward Myalle and William Grinley Esquire as candidates. In July 1819 he was raised. He did not appear to attend another meeting until a lodge of emergency 4 October 1822 when he came as the first Deputy Provincial Grand Master of Yorkshire North and East Ridings to attend the initiation of Sir John Temple Johnson Baronet. He was also appointed by patent on the 10 January 1823 as Grand Superintendent during Lawrence, 2nd Lord Dundas's (who became the 1st Lord Zetland in 1838) absence abroad. On the 5 April 1822 he was elected a joining member and master of the Constitutional Lodge No. 294 Beverley. At the Old Globe meeting of 16 October 1833 a letter was read out from the secretary of Constitutional Lodge dated 13 September 1833. To the effect that Robert McKenzie Beverly was, on the 6 of September 1833, unanimously expelled from that lodge in consequence of his having neglected and refused to pay his amount of quarterages also having failed to show cause why he should not be expelled. He had ceased to be Deputy Provincial Grand Master in 1832 when Timothy Hutton was appointed in his stead. I have been unable to find any record of him being master of a lodge prior to becoming a joining member and master of the Constitutional Lodge. 

John Woodall Woodall, Master of the Old Globe Lodge in 1860 and 1861 was one of the most active freemasons Scarborough and the Province has ever known and his Masonic career is well documented.

What is not so well known is that he was a Fellow of the Geographical Society and Zoological Society and a member of the British Association for the Advancement of Science. He rebuilt his fathers house in St Nicholas Street, the present Town Hall, including the whole of the under cliff which now forms the St. Nicholas Gardens. At the foot of these gardens he constructed a wharf and boat yard. His interest in fishery affairs was such that he established a laboratory to secure improvements in the seawater fish supply of the nation. In conjunction with this laboratory ran his yacht "Garland" to carry out a series of experiments obtaining valuable information, which was used in an International Agitation for the protection of salt-water fish. He was one of the original members of the Sea Fish Committee for the North East Coast. He sold "Garland" to the Scotch Fishery Board for Scientific Investigations and acquired the yacht "Valleta" in which he continued his fishery research. He voyaged to all parts of the world in the "Valleta". On one of his excursions to the Persian Gulf he brought back a plant, which when submitted to the Royal Horticultural Society, was named the Scarborough Lily or botanically the Vallota Purpura.

In 1895 the Corporation acquired his laboratory and adjacent land to build the Olympia Ballroom, a building which was first erected as a temporary building to house a National Exhibition on Sea Fishery Affairs supported by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries.

He was also very interested in the sporting activities of the town and in the late 1800's prepared a football pitch surrounded by a running track on land adjoining the present cricket ground. It was used for some time, in fact it is said that for only the second occasion in the history of national sport, an evening game of rugby was played under floodlights. This was a match between York and Scarborough. Eventually he called a meeting of resident sportsmen with the intention of presenting the ground to the local football club. During this meeting some dissention arose and he withdrew his offer and the ground was sold as a building site.