THE ARCANE SCHOOLS - Fort Myers Beach Masonic Lodge No. 362

Masonic Craft, tradition tracing it back to the days of Athelstan, in
926 A.D. Be that as it may, the Lodge minutes of York are the oldest
in the country, and the relics of the Craft now preserved in that city
entitle it to be called the Mecca of Masonry. Whether the old society
was a Private or a Grand Lodge is not plain; but in 1725 it assumed
the title of the "Grand Lodge of All England,"--feeling, it would
seem, that its inherent right by virtue of antiquity had in some way
been usurped by the Grand Lodge of London. After ten or fifteen years
the minutes cease, but the records of other grand bodies speak of it
as still working. In 1761 six of its surviving members revived the
Grand Lodge, which continued with varying success until its final
extinction in 1791, having only a few subordinate Lodges, chiefly in
Yorkshire. Never antagonistic, it chose to remain independent, and its
history is a noble tradition. York Masonry was acknowledged by all
parties to be both ancient and orthodox, and even to this day, in
England and over the seas, a certain mellow, magic charm clings to
the city which was for so long a meeting place of Masons.[145]
Far more formidable was the schism of 1753, which had its origin, as
is now thought, in a group of Irish Masons in London who were not
recognized by the premier Grand Lodge.[146] Whereupon they denounced
the Grand Lodge, averring that it had adopted "new plans" and departed
from the old landmarks, reverted, as they alleged, to the old forms,
and set themselves up as _Ancient_ Masons--bestowing upon their rivals
the odious name of _Moderns_. Later the two were further distinguished
from each other by the names of their respective Grand Masters, one
called Prince of Wales' Masons, the other the Atholl Masons.[147] The
great figure in the Atholl Grand body was Lawrence Dermott, to whose
keen pen and indefatigable industry as its secretary for more than
thirty years was due, in large measure, its success. In 1756 he
published its first book of laws, entitled _Ahiman Rezon, Or Help to a
Brother_, much of which was taken from the _Irish Constitutions_ of
1751, by Pratt, and the rest from the _Book of Constitutions_, by
Anderson--whom he did not fail to criticize with stinging satire, of
which he was a master. Among other things, the office of Deacon seems
to have had its origin with this body. Atholl Masons were presided
over by the Masters of affiliated Lodges until 1756, when Lord
Blessington, their first titled Grand Master, was induced to accept
the honor--their warrants having been left blank betimes, awaiting the
coming of a Nobleman to that office. Later the fourth Duke of Atholl
was Grand Master at the same time of Scotland and of the Atholl Grand
Lodge, the Grand Lodges of Scotland and Ireland being represented at
his installation in London.
Still another schism, not serious but significant, came in 1778, led
by William Preston,[148] who afterwards became a shining light in the
order. On St. John's Day, December 27, 1777, the Antiquity Lodge of
London, of which Preston was Master--one of the four original Lodges
forming the Grand Lodge--attended church in a body, to hear a sermon
by its Chaplain. They robed in the vestry, and then marched into the
church, but after the service they walked back to the Hall wearing
their Masonic clothing. Difference of opinion arose as to the
regularity of the act, Preston holding it to be valid, if for no other
reason, by virtue of the inherent right of Antiquity Lodge itself.
Three members objected to his ruling and appealed to the Grand Lodge,
he foolishly striking their names off the Lodge roll for so doing.
Eventually the Grand Lodge took the matter up, decided against