ALBION LODGE - BEFORE AND AFTER 1790

This publication sets out to give a history of the Albion Lodge No. 196 E.R. working under the United Grand Lodge of England and under the District Grand Lodge of Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean. However, to start on the 6th December, 1790, and just go forward would leave a gap in the building up of Freemasonry in Barbados and of Albion Lodge in particular; so to breach this gap I will start on 12th January, 1740.

On that day Alexander Irvine, who was resident here, started the first Lodge in Barbados. This he called St. Michaels, which was warranted under the "Moderns" as No. 186. Later that same year saw the warranting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Barbados with jurisdiction over "all other islands to Windward of Guadeloupe".

The District Grand Lodge of Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean is the eleventh oldest in order of Provincial/District Grand Lodges under the United Grand Lodge of England, in order of seniority:

The Provincial Grand Lodge of Cheshire 1725

" " " " " S. Wales 1726
" " " " " N. Wales 1727
" " " " " Warwickshire 1728
" District " " " Bengal 1728
" Provincial " " " Shropshire 1732
" " " " " Durham 1734
" " " " " Lancashire 1734
" " " " " Northumberland 1734
" " " " " Yorkshire 1739
" District " " " Barbados 1740

The first Provincial Grand Master appointed in 1740 was Thomas Baxter. He was followed by:

1755 William Maynard

1764 John Stone

1770 Hon. Samuel Rouse

1783 Hon. Benjamin Gittens

1791 Ron. William Bishop

1796 James Cummins

1801 Col. John Straker

1803 Francis Lord Seaforth

1907 Brig. General Charles Shipley

1917 Ron. John Alleyne Beckles

1941 Sir Robert Boucher Clarke

1851 to

1890 A long interregnum

1869 Master of Albion Lodge granted discretionary Power by M. W. Grand Master the Earl of Zetland, but a report must be made to Grand Lodge of any such use of power by the Master.

1990 Col. John Elliott

1995 John Locke

1904 Robert Baynes

1906 John Pedro D'Albuguerque

1930 Lt. Col. William Bowring

1941 Rev. Arthur Evelyn Armstrong

1957 Lindsay E. R. Gill

1973 Maj. Arthur S. Warren

1980 Or. William E. Cooper

1996 Brian Douglas Parsons

There was also an Irish Provincial Grand Lodge in Barbados from 1804 to 1828 but this collapsed when it was unable to carry out an edict issued to it in 1823 with reference to colour prejudice in Freemasonry.

No records exist in Barbados about this Irish Provincial Grand Lodge and therefore the Provincial Grand Masters cannot be listed.

In order to show the flourishing state of early Freemasonry in Barbados I will set out below the Lodges which have been warranted here:

Lodges warranted under the Grand Lodge of England (Moderns) between 1740 and 1791.

1740 – St. Michael's, Warranted 7th January, 1741 as No.187 renumbered 118/94/78/71/132/104, erased 1862.

1752 – St. John's No.260, Warranted 23rd April, 1752 renumbered 152/121/98/99/91, erased in 1813.

1752 – St. Peter's No.261, Warranted 16th December 1752, renumbered 159/125/102/103/94, erased 1813.

1754 – St. Paul's No.262 (Speightstown), Warranted 31st January, 1754, renumbered 174 erased 1760.

1758 – St. James No.238, warranted 20th March 1758, renumbered 191/155/156 erased 1792.

1772 – St. Luke's No.434 (Speightstown) renumbered 341/342/281 erased 1813.

1791 – Lodge of Love and Harmony No.585 constituted a Stewards' Lodge, renumbered 494, erased 1813.

Lodges warranted under the Grand Lodge of Athol (Ancients) between 1790 and 1804

1790 – Albion No. 263, warranted 6th December, 1790, renumbered 333/232/196.

1794 – Union No. 286, Warranted 3rd October, 1794, renumbered 362, erased 1828.

1797 – Concord No.308 (Oistins), warranted 27th September, 1797, renumbered 391, erased 1829.

1804 – Mount Horeb No. 331, warranted 9th February, 1804, renumbered 422, erased 1829.

1766 – A Lodge warranted by the English Provincial Grand Lodge at Boston - no information available.

Lodges warranted under the United Grand Lodge of England

1829 – United Seaforth No.848/577.

1842 – Lodge Amity No. 713 charter returned 1848.

1874 – Star of Hope NO· 1499 (Speightstown) charter returned 1875. (Never opened).

1887 – Victoria No. 2196.

1888 – St. Michaels No. 2253.

1957 – Union No. 7551.

Masonic Tombstone described overleaf. The beautifully inscribed Masonic Tombstone in the Military Cemetery, Gravesend, Bridgetown. Badly worn by weather, most is still decipherable.

S A C R E D TO THE MEMORY OF **C 0 **ASS**E***OK ··*****WITH ****** WHO SERVED IN THAT CORPS FOR 25 YEARS WITH GREAT CREDIT TO THIS SERVICE AND HIMSELF AND DIED DEEPLY LAMENTED BY ALL WHO KNEW HIM PARTICULARLY SO BY HIS BROTHER MASONS OF WHICH HE WAS MASTER LODGE 25 AGED 40 1856

1983 – Research Lodge of Amity No. 9073.

2000 – Preceptors Memorial Lodge No. 9714

There were two Military Lodges:

1791 – No. 354 I. R. held by 49th Regiment of Foot.

1827 – No. 36 attached to St. Ann's Garrison.

Lodges warranted under the Grand Lodge of Ireland

1783 – Hibernian No. 622 dropped 1853.

1802 – Seaforth No.653 (became English in 1829).

1822 – Leinster No. 222 dropped 1847.

1822 – Integrity No. 259 dropped 1830.

1822 – Amity No. 277 dropped 1842.

1842 – Shamrock No. 282 dropped 1845.

Lodges warranted under the Grand Lodge of Scotland

1799 – Scotia No.267/201/205/206 became dormant in 1831.

1844 – Scotia No.411/340.

1906 – Thistle No. 1014.

1909 – St. John No. 1062.

1956 – St. Andrew No. 1509.

1966 – Unity No. 1625.

1983 – Pelican No. 1750.

Albion Lodge No. 196 E. R. was founded in the year 1790 with John Thomson as first Master, and is now the seventh oldest Lodge outside of the United Kingdom still working under the United Grand Lodge of England. Those older than Albion are:

1740 – Lodge No. 67 in Calcutta, India. – Lodge Star in the East.

1767 – Lodge No. 115 in Gibraltar. – Lodge of St. John.

1770 – Lodge No. 374 in Montreal, Canada. – Saint Paul's Lodge.

1776 – Lodge No. 153 in Gibraltar. – Inhabitants Lodge.

1786 – Lodge No. 150 in Madras, India. – Lodge of Perfect Unanimity.

1789 – Lodge No. 278 in Gibraltar. – Royal Lodge of Friendship.

Albion in 1790, was numbered 263, this was changed in 1814 to 333 and again in 1832 to 232. Finally in 1863 it was renumbered 196, which it still holds.

It would be unfair to early Barbadian Masons not to mention that the Master of Lodge No.2, Lodge of Antiquity, London, in 1759 was a Barbadian Thomas Marriot Perkins and that many names appear on their early register as "of Barbadoes".

As an interesting aside, many members of the Lodges in Barbados helped to form and man the early Lodges in Grenada as military and colonial transferees, a list of these Lodges is set out below:

1764 – La Segesse, St. Andrew No. 347/253/201/202/172, erased 1813.

1769 – St. Georges Lodge, renamed Mount Sinai Lodge, in 1812, No.163, erased 1813.

1771 – Lodge of Vigilance No.425/333/334/275, erased 1813.

1772 – Lodge of Discretion No. 426/334/335/276, .. erased 1813.

1772 – Lodge in the 67th Regiment of Foot No. 175 reissued to Lodge of Fortitude No. 131.

1792 – Lodge in the 45th Regiment No. 272.

1792 – St. Georges Lodge No. 271 lapsed 1794.

1803 – Lodge in 3rd Battalion 9th Regiment of Foot No.183/221 closed 1824.

1821 – St. Georges Lodge No.732/477 closed 1839.

1825 – Lodge of Harmony No.797/527 closed 1845.

In the press in Grenada of Wednesday, 29th May, 1829, reporting of a masonic event reproduced the following Tyler's Toast.

"All poor and distressed Masons, where so ever dispersed over the face of the Earth and Water; wishing them a speedy relief from all troubles, and a safe return to their Native Countries, if they desire it."

It would be nice if this format could again be used in Grenada.

THE FORMATIVE YEARS

Albion, as was mentioned earlier, was warranted on Monday, 6th December, 1790, by the Grand Lodge of Athol as Lodge No. 263. Reproduced below are copies of the Deputation sent to Daniel Donavan appointing him R. W. Grand Master pro-tempore for the purposes of opening a Grand Lodge in the Island for three hours to Constitute the Lodge, as well as the original charter and first minutes of the Lodge.

DEPUTATION

To the Worshipful Master Daniel Donavan Sir and Brother

The Right Honourable and Right worshipful Randal William, Earl and Marquis of Antrim, etc. etc. etc. Grand Master of the Most Ancient and Honourable Fraternity, of Free and Accepted Masons in that part of Great Britain called England and Masonical Jurisdiction thereunto belonging: Having thought proper, by and with the advice of his Grand Officers, to give and grant his warrant, under his worships Sign Manual and Seal of Arms bearing date on or about the Sixth day of December 1790, to certain worthy Free Masons now residing in Bridgetown in Barbados, to form and hold a Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons; and for the more solemn constituting and installing the officers mentioned in the said Warrant; You are hereby authorised and required to summon or cause to be summoned all, or a sufficient number of the regular Free Masons within the afore said Bridgetown of Barbados, to assemble and meet at and in the most convenient time and place, within fourteen days next after sight hereof; and being congregated, shall then and there make choice of your other Master Masons; (present or past Masters if possible) who shall then and there form and open a Grand Lodge wherein you and they are hereby empowered to preside as Grand Master, Deputy Grand Master, Senior Grand Warden, Junior Grand Warden and Grand Secretary pro-tempore. Such Grand Lodge to be opened between the hours of eight in the morning and seven o'clock in the afternoon of the same day, and to continue open for the space of three hours and no longer: during which time the pro-tempore Grand Officers shall be addressed by the title of Right Worshipful Grand Master etc. etc. and the said Right Worshipful (pro-tempore) Grand Master having first read or caused to be read this instrument, so also the Grand Masters Warrant aforesaid; He, in conjunction with the present Brethren shall solemnly install the new officers of the Lodge No.263, in ancient form etc. etc. etc. To the Master of which he shall deliver the Grand Master's Warrant, together with all the Books, Rules, Orders, General Regulations and Implements, etc. etc.

And when you and they have well and truly performed all and every of the Ceremonies which cannot be written, as well as those that may, according to ancient custom, you shall then, in the name of the Right Worshipful Grand Master Antrim solemnly close Grand Lodge; nor attempt to open it a second time, without another Special Order from the Grand Master or his Deputy for so doing.

Finally, you my said trusty and well beloved Brother shall cause proper Minutes to be taken of all the transactions, proper to be written, which shall have been performed by virtue hereof, and shall cause a faithful copy of such Minutes to be transmitted to the Grand Lodge in London, in order that the said transactions may be faithfully recorded in the Archives of Ancient Masons, forever. For doing all and every of which, this shall be your sufficient authority.

Given under my hand and private Seal of Arms, in London, upon the sixth day of December, 1790.

James Perry: D.G.M.

WARRANT OF ATHOL

Grand Master Antrim James Agar S. G. W., James Perry D. G. M. Watkin Lewis J. G. W.

To all whom it may concern:

We the Grand Lodge of this most Ancient and Honourable Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons, according to the old constitutions granted by His Royal Highness Prince Edwin at York, and in the year of Masonry four thousand and nine hundred twenty and five in ample form assembled, viz. The Right Worshipful and Puissant Prince Randal William Marquis, Earl and Baron of Antrim, Lord Viscount Dunluce, Knight of the Most Honourable Military Order of the Bath, Lord Lieutenant of the County of Antrim in the Province of Wessex and Kingdom of Ireland, one of His Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council and in that part of Great Britain called England and Masonical jurisdiction thereunto belonging, Grand Master of Masons, The Right Worshipful James Perry esquire Deputy Grand Master, the Right Worshipful James Agar esquire Senior Grand Warden and the Right Worshipful Watkin Lewis Esquire Junior Grand Warden, with the approbation and consent of the warranted Lodges held within the Cities and Suburbs of London and Westminster do hereby authorise and empower our trusty and well beloved brethren, viz. The Worshipful Mr. Daniel Donavan one of our Master Masons, the Worshipful Mr. John McIntosh his Senior Warden and the Worshipful Mr. William Mansfield his Junior Warden, to form and hold a Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of foresaid at a private room in Bridgetown, Barbados, at the house of Brother Robert William, at the Sign of the Free Masons Arms, on the first Wednesday in every calendar month, or all reasonable times and lawful occasions: And in the said Lodge when duly congregated to admit and make Free Masons, according to the Most Ancient and Honourable Custom of the Royal Craft in all ages and Nations throughout the known world. And we do hereby further authorise and empower our said trusty and well beloved Brethren Daniel Donavan, John McIntosh and William Mansfield, with the consent of the members of their Lodge, to nominate, charge and install their successors; to whom they shall deliver this warrant, and invest them with their powers and dignities as Free Masons etc. etc. etc. and such successors that in like manner nominate, charge and install their successors etc. etc. etc. Such installations to be upon or near every Saint John's day, during the continuance of this Lodge forever. Providing the above named Brethren and all their successors always pay due respect to this Right Worshipful Grand Lodge Otherwise, this warrant to be of no force, nor virtue.

Given under our hands and the Seal of our Grand Lodge in London, this sixth day of December in the Year of Our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety and in the Year of Masonry five thousand seven hundred and ninety.

John McCormick Grand Secretary

Note: This Warrant is registered the Grand Lodge Vol.8, Letter H.

Minute of Grand Lodge Meeting:

Barbados.

In Grand Lodge held, in ample form, at a Private Room in the Dwelling House of Brother Robert Williams on the wharf in Bridgetown, on Wednesday the eighteenth day May 1791 and in the year of Masonry 5791.

Present,

The Rt W'ful Bro. Daniel Donavan, P. M., Grand Master The Rt W'ful Bro. Thomas Jackson, P. M., D. G. Master The Rt W'ful Bro. John McIntosh, P. M., S. G. Warden The Rt W'ful Bro. William Mansfield, P. M., J. G. Warden The Rt W'ful Bro. John Thomson, P. M., Grand Secretary Brother Richard Merritt, P. M. Brother Robert William, P. M., Grand Tyler

(All pro-tempore)

The Grand Lodge being opened at a quarter before five in the afternoon. The Right Worshipful Grand Master produced a Warrant, No.263, from the Grand Lodge of England, as also a Deputation to him the said Right worshipful Grand Master, for the purposes therein mentioned, from the Right Worshipful Deputy Grand Master of England; which Warrant and Deputation were successively read; being as follows viz:

(Here follows the repetition of the Deputation and Warrant as above)