[Anon.], An Account of the Institution and Proceedings of the Governors of the Royal Cumberland Free-Mason School (1788)

In the Spring of 1788, Bartholomew Ruspini and eight other Freemasons issued a Plan for a Cumberland Free-Masons School, aimed at educating and maintaining een daughters of indigent Freemasons.2 It was the rst central masonic charity to be formed by the Moderns’ Grand Lodge since the Committee of Charity was established in 1724 to relieve indigent Freemasons by the Grand Master, Francis Scott, Earl of Dalkeith, later second Duke of Buccleuch. A set of rules, regulations and orders for managing this proposed institution were printed by its governors for approval by Grand Lodge.3 A ‘rough sketch’ of this plan was presented to Sir Peter Parker, who was to chair the Grand Lodge meeting on 13 February, but discussions concerning the proposal were postponed at this and subsequent meetings of Grand Lodge.4 A report in e Times on 20 March 1788 indicated a search for suitable premises was underway and a notice appointing Mrs Le Clerc as matron appeared on 4 November 1788.5 Ruspini assembled a Select Committee at the Freemasons’ Tavern to discuss a plan for the School on 14 May 1788. In the event, the proposed new charity did not receive o cial recognition and endorsement by members until the Grand Lodge meeting on 10 February 1790.6

e Freemason Charles Clarke printed a small volume, comprising a set of rules, regulations and orders for managing the proposed institution, for the Governors in 1788.7 A rare item, two copies of this edition survive at the Library and Museum of Freemasonry in London.8 e rst comprises a re-bound octavo

volume in marbled cover paper, with a title page, an introduction on pages v-viii, a list of rules on pp. 9-18, list of patrons and o cers on pp. 19-20 and a list of subscribers on pp. 21-32. e second, purchased by the Library and Museum of Freemasonry, London at an unknown date, comprises a volume with ne full red Morocco leather contemporary bindings, its cover decorated with masonic square, compass and plumb line emblems and the arms of the Duchess of Cumberland in gilt tooling. e front book board features an inlaid green Morocco leather label, ‘Royal Cumberland Free Masons School instituted on Lady Day 25 March 1788 under the patronage of Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cumberland’. It can be argued that this version was produced for Ruspini as founder of the School or represents a commemorative copy presented to its Patroness.9