The first twenty years of the newly formed Grand Lodge of England were uneventful.
It must not he supposed, however, that this infant organization should enjoy the utmost confidence of all who were affiliated with it and that it would be permitted to work out its destiny, without being subject to those contentious jealousies which ever disturb associations of men. The Grand Lodge of England fell an easy prey to this human trait, because of the fact that it was not any too strongly united by the bonds of fraternity, and for the further reason that its members had not all together divested themselves of that spirit of freedom of action, which was so manifest in the old operative societies.

In the year 1738 a number of brethren in London became very much dissatisfied with certain alleged transactions on the part of the Grand Lodge of England. The causes which led to the dissatisfaction and secession have not been definitely agreed upon. One writer attributes them to the Grand Lodge having permitted the introduction into its rituals of some innovations, and the suppressing of certain ceremonies which had long been in use. The nature of the innovations with which the members were charged appear from such sources as are obtainable to have been trivial. Some of the questions involved, being, the transposition of certain parts of the ritual, whereby the first became the second, and the second became first. Dalcho who compiled the original, Ahiman Rezon of South Carolina, was made a Mason in an Ancient Lodge and as he was thoroughly acquainted with the seceders is authority for the following statement. "The real difference in point of importance was no greater than it would be to dispute whether the glove should be placed first upon the right hand or on the left." In the absence of any definite information, concerning the nature of these changes it is. assumed that as the Craft grew older and its membership increased certain modifications in the modes of recognition may have been adopted. This so incensed certain of the older and more zealous members that they immediately withdrew from the Grand Lodge. The distinguished historian Mackey, attributes no small part of the dissension to the publication of a spurious revelation, concerning the inner workings of the society by Samuel Prichard. He intimates that one another cause of difference between the two bodies of Masons was traceable to certain constructions of the third or Master's degree, by the attempted introduction into it of the Royal Arch element.

Albert F. Calvert, a recent Masonic writer, discusses the subject of the Schism at considerable length. He states that "complaints covering the irregular initiation of Masons, had engaged the attention of the Grand Lodge. The charge being that several irregularities in the making of Masons had been committed and other indecencies offered. In 1738 a number of Masons, boldly seceded from the Grand Lodge of England and organized themselves under the title of Ancient Masons assuming this distinction because of their strict adherence to the old traditions, customs and practices of the fraternity. This Schismatic body at once commenced to deride the members of the Grand Lodge of England and conferred upon that body the title of Moderns." At this time, there existed at York, a Grand Lodge of Masons. There are evidences that Masonry in some form was recognized in this city as early as 1663 and it is believed that the first lodge was instituted about that period.

The existing York minutes go back to March 19, 1712, and extend to December 27, 1725. The entries are brief and refer to proceedings which took place at private and general lodges of the honorable society and fraternity of Freemasons. The early meetings were presided over by a president, or other governing officer, but there is nothing to show anything in the way of a general organization or a supreme head until the year 1725, when Charles Bathhurst Esq. at a meeting held in Merchant's Hall in the city of York was chosen Grand Master.

The reason for the formation of the Grand Lodge of York as explained by Calvert is that the Grand Lodge of England when formed exercised authority over the Masons meeting in or near London or according to its record "within ten miles of London." It was not until the year 1724 that the Grand Lodge granted warrants to constitute lodges outside the metropolis and it was probably this act which caused the Masons of York to form themselves into a Grand Body in imitation of their London brethren. The original record book containing the accounts and minutes of the Grand Lodge of York was in possession of the Grand Lodge of England in 1778, but the volume in some mysterious manner disappeared and no one even to this day has been successful in locating it. Hughan, the eminent English historian gives the old rules of the Grand Lodge of York as observed in the year 1725. They are so interesting to the student of Masonry that they are reproduced in this chapter:

"Articles agreed to be kept and observed by the Ancient Society of Freemasons in the City of York and to be subscribed by every Member thereof at their admittance into the said Society."

"Imprimis. - That every first Wednesday in the month a Lodge shall be held at the house of a Brother according as their turn shall fall.

"2. All subscribers to these Articles not appearing at the monthly Lodge shall forfeit sixpence each time.

"3. If any Brother appear at a Lodge that is not a Subscriber to these Articles, he shall pay over and above his club (i.e. subscription) the sum of one Shilling.

"4. The Bowl Thall be filled at the monthly Lodges with Punch, once, Ale, Bread, Cheese, and Tobacco in common, but if any more shall e called for by any Brother, either for eating or drinking, that Brother so calling shall pay for it himself besides his club.

"5. The Master or Deputy shall be obliged to call for a Bill exactly at ten o'clock, if they meet in the evening and discharge it.

"6. None to be admitted to the making of a Brother, but such as have subscribed to these Articles.

"7. Timely notice shall he given to all the Subscribers when a Brother or Brothers are to be made.

"8. Any Brother or Brothers presuming to call a Lodge with a design to make a Mason or Masons, without the Master or Deputy, or one of them deputed, for every such offence shall forfeit the sum of Five Pounds.

"9. Any Brother that shall interrupt the Examinations of a Brother shall forfeit one Shilling.

"10. Clerk's Salary for keeping the Books and Accounts shall be one Shilling, to be paid him by each Brother at his admittance, and at each of the two Grand Days he shall receive a gratuity as the Company (i.e. those present) shall think proper.

"11. A Steward to be chosen for keeping E the Stock at the Grand Lodge, and Christmas, and the Accounts to be passed three days after each Lodge.

"12. If any disputes arise, the Master shall silence them by a knock of the Mallet, any Brother that shall presume to disobey shall immediately be obliged to leave the Company, or forfeit five Shillings.

"13. An hour shall be set apart to talk Masonry.

"14. No person shall be admitted into the Lodge, but after having been strictly examined.

"15. No more persons shall be admitted as Brothers of this Society that shall keep a public-House.

"16. That these Articles shall at Lodges be laid upon the table to be perused by the Members, and also when any new Brothers are made, the Clerk shall publicly read them.

"17. Every new Brother at his admittance shall pay the Waiters as their Salary, the sum of two Shillings, the money to be lodged in the Steward's hand and paid to them at each of the Grand Days.

"18. The Bidder of the Society shall receive of each new Brother at his admittance the sum of one Shilling as his salary.

"19. No money shall be expended out of the Stock after the hour of ten, as in the fifth Article."

The Grand Lodge of England continued to persist in its innovations and ritualistic changes. The conduct of this body so incensed the seceding Masons that they declared themselves independent and assumed the name Ancient Masons as an indication of their desire to adhere to the Ancient forms which had originally distinguished the fraternity in its inception. About the time of the secession of the Ancients, some friction had occurred between the Grand Lodge at London and the Grand Lodge at York, and the secessionists, seeing an opportunity to strengthen their cause, took advantage of the existing conditions and without any authority from the Grand Lodge of York assumed the title of Ancient York Masons.

In due time the seceders established a new Grand Lodge in London, claiming that they were governed by the ancient York constitution which had been adopted in that city in the year 926. This action on their part gave them an immense prestige and enabled them to secure the recognition of very many influential men in England by reason of their claim of a great antiquity. They further strengthened themselves by securing the recognition of the Grand Lodges of Scotland and Ireland and as a result their popularity was increased. The York Grand Lodge continued to exist until somewhere between the year 1740 and 1750, when it ceased to work. It was, however, revived in the year 1761. The Ancient York Lodges, as they were called became very popular in America, so much so that a majority of the lodges and provincial Grand Lodges established in this country in the Eighteenth Century secured their authority from the Grand Lodge of Ancient York Masons.

The quarrel between the two Grand Lodges of England lasted until the year 1813, when the two bodies became consolidated under the name and title of the Grand Lodge of Ancient Freemasons of England. Pour years after a similar reconciliation took place in America by the union of the two Grand Lodges in South Carolina, thus all distinctions between Ancients and Moderns ceased, and the tempestuous times caused by the incident serve only to furnish interesting reading for the Masonic student.

The meeting for the union of the two Grand Lodges was held in 1813, December 27. The Duke of Kent and the Duke of Sussex, the Grand Masters, with their respective Grand Officers entered the place of meeting and took their seats on the dais. The Grand Chaplain opened the Assembly with prayer and after the sound of trumpet the following proclamation was made.

Hear ye - This Act of Union, engrossed, in confirmation of Articles solemnly concluded between the two Grand Lodges of Free and Accepted Masons of England, and signed, sealed and ratified by the two Grand Lodges respectively, by which they are to be hereafter and forever known and acknowledged by the style and title of THE GRAND LODGE or ANCIENT FREE-MASONS OF ENGLAND. How say you, brothers, representatives of the two Fraternities? Do you accept of, ratify, and confirm the same? To which the Assembly answered, We do accept, ratify and confirm the same. - The Grand Chaplain said - "And may the Great Architect of the Universe make the Union perpetual?" And all responded, "So may it be." The two Grand Masters then affixed the Great Seal of their respective Grand Lodges to the Act of Union, and the work, so far, was complete.

The Articles of Union, and other documents, were deposited by the two Grand Masters in the Ark of the Covenant, for preservation in all future time, and the Ark was consecrated by pouring upon it corn, wine and oil; which Ark and its contents were intended to be preserved through all coming time in perpetual memory of the Union, and the most important Masonic event of the entire century.

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