Page 53 - MML - Journal - Centenary Edition - Vol. 01 / 2023

Grand Lodge had introduced innovations and departures from those original practices. Consequently, the newer, rival Grand Lodge came to be called the ‘Antients’, while the Premier Grand Lodge was dubbed the ‘Moderns’. It was no surprise, that the ‘Antients’ were able to attract a considerable following!
For the next sixty years, the two Grand Lodges continued to coexist, but with considerable animosity. At the turn of the century, the first moves towards a rapprochement between the two sides began, and a union between the rival Grand Lodges began to be discussed. The Duke of Sussex, who was the Grand Master of the Premier Grand Lodge began to make every conceivable effort to ensure that the union became a fait-accompli.
One of the problems he encountered was a total neglect of the actual Installation ceremony in the lodges under his jurisdiction. Masters of lodges were simply elected and physically placed in the chair. No Obligation, no Ceremonials! The Grand Master was convinced that that his lodges should understand the importance of a ceremonial Installation, and that they learnt the proper way to install a Master.
Lodge of Installed Masters of the 20th of April 1813, Re-visited: That was the genesis of the Lodge of Installed Masters’ which was constituted by the Duke of Sussex. On the 20th April 1813 a short-term Warrant was issued - for just one year - for a number of named senior brethren to form an Installed Masters’ Lodge for the specific purpose of properly installing existing Masters; and for instructing them on the proper ceremonies for the installation of their successors. The fruits of their labour are still enjoyed by us today in our Installation Ceremonies!
At this point, I thought that I had successfully completed my study objective.
There was this ‘Original’ Lodge of Installed Masters constituted by the Duke of Sussex for a very specific purpose; and there were these new-fangled Installed Masters’ Lodges of the 20th century called as Masters’ Lodges or Past Masters’ Lodges, formed for the purposes of expanding the Masonic horizons of the members. That’s it! I can now start to write up my article. Boy, how wrong could I be!
Lodge No. 116, a Masters’ Lodge, 1733: Just as I was closing up and stowing away my reference sources, a small snippet caught my eye. This was a reference to ‘Lodge No. 116, a Masters’ Lodge’ in the list of Lodges for the year 1733 compiled by Dr Richard Rawlinson (and deposited with the Bodelain Library in Oxford). Not a Past Masters’ Lodge; not an Installed Masters’ Lodge; but simply, a Masters’ Lodge! What was this? So, it is back to the library again.
From the year 1725, England had the practice of publishing an annual compilation of the lodges in existence in that year. These were the ‘engraved lists.’ From the year 1733, a series of Masters’ Lodges appear regularly in the engraved lists. These Masters’ Lodges were invariably a supplement to a named ‘parent’ lodge. They were not independent lodges. They did not have separate warrants and there is no record ever, in that period, of a Masters’ Lodge being constituted as such. They were attached to and formed a part of an existing lodge. A lodge within a lodge if you will! What was their purpose? Nobody knows for sure; but we can make well- educated guesses.
Let us, once again, delve into early English Masonic history. At the time of the formation of the Premier Grand Lodge in the year 1717, there were only two degrees, that of the Entered Apprentice as the first degree and the Fellow of the Craft or Master, as the second. In the year 1730, the third degree had made its appearance.
Madras Masonic Journal Vol. 01 / 2023 - Centenary Year Edition
A Publication of Madras Masters Lodge No. 103, GLI
52