THE BUILDER DECEMBER 1919

DR. GEORGE OLIVER
BY BRO. DUDLEY WRIGHT, ASSISTANT EDITOR "THE LONDON FREEMASON,"
ENGLAND

TARDY RECOGNITION of the great services rendered to the Craft by a
great veteran of past ages has at late length been meted out by the
dedication of Lodge No. 3964, Peterborough, England, to the worthy
name of "Dr. Oliver." The announcement has been received with
gratification by all Masonic students, for it was in the city of
Peterborough, in 1801, that the famous Masonic historian, Dr.
George Oliver, was initiated in the St. Peter's Lodge, now No. 442,
at the age of eighteen, by special dispensation.

He was descended from an ancient Scottish family of that name, and
was the eldest son of the Rev. Samuel Oliver, Rector of Lambley,
Notts., and was born on 5th November, 1782. He is sometimes
confused with the Rev. George Oliver, D. D., the Roman Catholic
divine and historian of Exeter, who was born in 1781 and died in
1861 who was also a renowned historian. Some members of the Masonic
historian's family came to England in the reign of James I and
subsequently settled at Clipstone Park, Notts.

In 1803, having only just attained his majority, he was appointed
Second Master of Caistor Grammar School, and in the same year was
advanced to the Mark Degree. In 1809, he became Head Master of
Grimsby Grammar School and founded the Apollo Lodge at Grimsby, of
which he was Worshipful Master for fourteen years, it being then
not uncommon for the office to be held for a number of years. On
25th April, 1812, he laid the first stone of a Masonic Hall in a
town where, previous to his advent, there was scarcely a
representative of the Craft. In 1813, he was exalted to Royal Arch
Masonry in the Chapter attached to the Rodney Lodge, Kingston-upon-
Hull. In the same year he was ordained Deacon, becoming Priest
(Episcopalian) in the following year. 1814 also saw him accepting
office in the Provincial Grand Lodge as Steward, being advanced to
Provincial Grand Chaplain in 1816. In 1814, also, he was presented
to the living of Clee by Bishop Tomline. In 1815 he became a member
of the Ancient and Accepted Rite and shortly afterwards he began
his career as a Masonic author, publishing, in 1820 his celebrated
"Antiquities of Freemasonry," which was followed immediately
afterwards by "The Star in the East." In 1826 he published "Signs
and Symbols" and the "History of Initiation," and, in 1829, he
edited a new edition of Preston's "Illustrations of Masonry."
During all this time he was attending to his important duties of
Head Master of the Grammar School and had under his pastoral
charges two parishes, one being very populous. In 1831, Bishop Kaye
of Lincoln presented him to the living of Scopwick, which he held
until his death in 1867. In 1834 the Dean of Windsor gave him the
Rectory of Wolverhampton and a prebend in the Collegiate Church. He
had previously been appointed Deputy Provincial Grand Master of
Lincolnshire, an office which he held for nine years. In 1835 the
Archbishop of Canterbury conferred upon him the degree of Doctor of
Divinity. In 1838, he joined the Witham Lodge at Lincoln, No. 297,
of which he wrote the history. In 1842 he delivered an oration on
the occasion of the dedication of the Masonic Hall, Saltergate,
when there were present his father, son, and two grandsons four
generations of Freemasons in one family.

The Masonic presentations to him were many. In 1839 the Witham
Lodge presented him with a handsome silver salver and the Apollo
Lodge with a handsome gold jewel, and in 1844 he was the recipient
of a splendid testimonial consisting of a silver cup and service of
Plate contributed to by Freemasons in all parts of the world. In
1862, the Rising Star Lodge, Bombay, presented him with a massive
silver medal on the front of which was a design representing two
native Freemasons, one on each side of an altar, in Masonic regalia
and bearing wands and Masonic symbols. On the reverse was a
portrait of the founder of the lodge. He became a member of the
33rd Degree of the Ancient and Accepted Rite in 1845 and in the
same year was appointed Lieutenant Grand Commander of that Order,
being advanced in 1850 to the highest dignity, that of Most
Puissant Sovereign Grand Commander. In 1846 the Grand Lodge of
Massachusetts conferred upon him the honorary rank of Deputy Grand
Master.

In 1854 his voice began to fail and, confiding the care of his
parishes to curates, he passed the remainder of his life in
seclusion at Lincoln, where he died on 3rd March, 1867, and where
he was buried on the 7th of that month in St. Swithin's Cemetery.

His works, in addition to those already enumerated, were "A
Dictionary of Symbolical Masonry," "Book of the Lodge," "The Symbol
of Glory," "The History of Freemasonry from 1829 to 1841," "A
Mirror for the Johannite Mason," "The Revelations of a Square,"
"Theocratic Philosophy of Freemasonry," "Historical Landmarks of
Freemasonry" (two vols.), "Insignia of the Royal Arch," "Masonic
Jurisprudence," "Treasury of Freemasonry," "History and Antiquity
of the Collegiate Church of Beverley," "History and Antiquity of
the Collegiate Church of Wolverhampton," "History of the Conventual
Church of Grimsby," "Monumental Antiquities of Grimsby," "History
of the Guild of Holy Trinity, Sleaford," "Six Pastoral Addresses to
the Inhabitants of Grimsby," "Farewell Address to the Inhabitants
of Grimsby," "Three Addresses to the Inhabitants of Wolverhampton,"
"Hints on Educational Societies," "Essays on Education," "Six
Letters on the Liturgy," "Letter on Church Principles," "Letter on
Doctrine," "Eighteen Sermons preached at Wolverhampton,"
"Monasteries on the Eastern Side of the Witham," "Druidical Remains
near Lincoln," "Guide to the Druidical Temple at Nottingham,"
"British Antiquities in Nottingham and vicinity," "Remains of
Ancient Britons between Lincoln and Sleaford," "Ye Byrde of Gryme."

He was a bright exemplar and clear expositor of the true principles
of Freemasonry, who has had but few parallels. His name was, and
is, a household word in the Craft, and his fame still lives. In his
writings he has left a rich and enduring legacy. Immediately after
his initiation he began to study the science of Freemasonry in an
earnest and industrious spirit, unparalleled in the annals of the
Craft in England and America. He delivered his last lecture in the
Witham Lodge, Lincoln, in 1863, when in his eighty-first year, and
his enthusiasm was then unabated. No more forceful tribute can be
paid to his memory than was written on the occasion of his lamented
death:

"His was the pen, not only of a ready writer, but of one who was
capable of illustrating abstruse and recondite matters, and
presenting them in a perspicuous and pleasing manner. His aim was
to elevate the Order, which he took so closely to his heart, by
informing its members, by explaining its observances, ceremonial,
and ritual, and by placing it on a firmer and more philanthropic,
rational, and religious basis, and he consequently for some years
past has been an authority to the Masonic student. He also firmly
but kindly inculcated the precepts of temperance, fortitude,
justice, and brotherly love, which are indissolubly bound up with
the tenets of the Institution, but which were, and still are, too
frequently overlooked. He sought to explain the moral and practical
tendency of Masonic symbols and teaching. It is somewhat remarkable
that the Masonic works of the learned Doctor are all parts of a
system he conceived when practically a young man, a plan or scheme
intended to demonstrate the capabilities of Freemasonry as a
literary institution."

The achievements of the Rev. Dr. George Oliver are not to be
reckoned by the number of lodges to which he belonged, or the
offices which he held, although here his record was a worthy one.
Rather was his influence felt by all who read Masonic literature
and study the esoteric meaning of Masonic ceremony and ritual. It
was in his lectures to the brethren of his day that he became
specially revered. It is in the written word he has left behind him
that he is endeared to all Masonic students of the present day, and
will, indeed, be appraised by the students of all time.

When he received the testimonial in 1844, to which reference has
already been made, he delivered one of his striking orations, which
was practically a summary of his life's work and aim. He spoke as
follows:

"When I was first initiated into Masonry, about the year 1801, I
resided at a distance of more than twenty miles from the lodge; and
as facilities for communication between one place and another were
not so great then as they are now, it may reasonably be presumed
that I was not very regular in my attendance on the duties of the
lodge. I possessed, however, the advantage of instruction in the
lectures from a very intelligent Master, and I prosecuted the
inquiries with great diligence and, I may add, with great success,
although I was then little more than eighteen years of age. I soon
became acquainted with the mechanism of the Order, for the details
were very simple, and the lectures, as usually delivered,
exceedingly short and commonplace. On inquiry, I found that the
lectures were, in reality, much more comprehensive; and that they
embraced a more extensive view of the morals and science of the
Order than was contained in the meagre portions which were
periodically doled out to the brethren in country lodges. In fact,
at that time, I am afraid a majority of the brethren thought more
of the convivialities than the science of Freemasonry On a mature
consideration, I felt that this could not be the chief design of
Freemasonry; but a change of situation about that time, and being
removed to a distance from my Masonic instructor, drove Freemasonry
entirely out of my head for a period of seven years. At the end of
this time I found myself in a position to establish a new lodge;
and I accordingly established the Apollo Lodge at Grimsby, and was
appointed its first Worshipful Master. Here, then, I had an
opportunity of bringing into operation those improvements which had
suggested themselves to my mind many years before, and during the
time that I presided over that lodge I flatter myself it was
decently conducted. I am sure it was pre-eminently successful.
Still, I could not divest myself of the idea that Freemasonry
contained some further reference than what appeared upon the face
of the lectures, even in their most extended form. But of the
nature of that reference I was perfectly ignorant. I communicated
with my Masonic instructor on the subject, but he was equally at a
loss. I consulted other eminent Masons without success. I remained
in this state of doubt and indecision for several years; when, at
length, an unforeseen accident put me in possession of all the
information I wanted. It was about the time when the Union was
making a noise in the world in 1813 or 1814; a numerous or
flourishing lodge, with which I was in the habit of occasional
communication, appointed a committee to revise the lectures, for
the purpose of making them palatable to all the brethren. Amongst
the members of the lodge were several Jewish Masons, and they
possessed sufficient influence to direct the Committee to withdraw
from the lectures every reference to Christianity. The attempt was
rash; because, if it had succeeded the ancient landmarks of the
Order would not only have been removed, but actually destroyed. The
committee entered on the work with great zeal and perseverance;
but, as they proceeded, unforeseen obstacles impeded their
progress. They complained that on a minute analysation of the
lectures they found them so full of types and references to
Christianity that they could not strike them out without reducing
the noble system to a mere skeleton, unpossessed of either wisdom,
strength or beauty. After mature deliberation, they unanimously
resolved to abandon the undertaking; and pronounced it hopeless and
impracticable. This experiment, which I watched with great
attention, opened my eyes to the important force that Freemasonry
is capable of being made, not only more extensively useful, but of
great actual value to the moral and religious institutions of the
country. I deliberated long on the most feasible method of bringing
the Order before the world as an institution in which Christianity
was imbedded and morals and religion incorporated with scientific
attainments; and without the remotest idea that I was to be the
instrument for its development. It is true I instituted a direct
search into Masonic facts; I penetrated into the dark and abstruse
origin of Masonic inequalities; and the further I advanced in my
inquiries the more I became convinced of the absolute necessity of
some systematic attempt to identify Freemasonry with the religious
institutions of ancient nations, as typical of the universal
religion of Christ.

"Before I conclude I shall take the opportunity of laying before
you a brief sketch of my connection with the Provincial Grand Lodge
of Lincolnshire. I have already said that I was initiated a minor,
and have made a few observations on my Masonic feelings at that
period. But it was not until the year 1813 that I attained
Provincial rank. In that year Provincial Grand Master Peters made
me a present of the Steward's Apron. Three years afterwards his
successor, Provincial Grand Master White, appointed me to the
office of Provincial Grand Chaplain, and I preached my first sermon
before the Provincial Grand Lodge at Barton-upon-Humber. The next
Provincial Grand Lodge was held at Spalding in 1818, about which
time I was taken into the counsels of Brother Barnett, Deputy
Provincial Grand Master, and the sole manager of Masonry in that
county; for neither Provincial Master Peters nor his successor held
a Provincial Grand Lodge in my time. Brother Barnett never convened
a Provincial Grand Lodge or took any step in the execution of his
office without consulting me, although he did not always follow my
advice. It was, however, through my recommendation that annual
Provincial Grand Lodges were brought into operation; and they were
carried on with tolerable regularity until the appointment of the
present Provincial Grand Master.

"Thus a Provincial Grand Lodge was held at Lincoln in 1820, at
Sleaford in 1821, and at Grantham in 1822. Owing to the increasing
infirmities of Brother Barnett, these interesting meetings were
obliged to be temporarily suspended; and it was not until the year
1825 that the Deputy Provincial Grand Master found himself capable
of convening another Provincial Grand Lodge. It was holden at
Boston on the petition of the brethren of the Lodge of Harmony.
About this time Brother D'Eyncourt was appointed to the office of
Provincial Grand Master; and, owing to circumstances which he was
probably unable to control, no Provincial Grand Lodge was convened
for seven years. During this inauspicious period Freemasonry
declined so much that there was scarcely an efficient lodge in the
Province. The St. Matthew's Lodge at Barton, the Doric at Grantham,
the Apollo at Grimsby, and the Hope at Sleaford, had entirely
discontinued their meetings; and even the Witham at Lincoln and the
Lodge of Harmony at Boston were extremely feeble. At length the
Provincial Grand Master saw the necessity of doing something, and
accordingly he convened a Provincial Grand Lodge at Lincoln in
1832, and another at Horncastle in the following year, at which my
Deputation was confirmed by patent. Thenceforward mine was a forced
interference and I set myself seriously to the work of regenerating
Masonry in the Province. And the process I adopted was this: The
Provincial Grand Officers had been continued for years, which
constituted the chief ground of complaint. I determined to reform
this abuse. I then framed a code of by-laws for the government of
Masonry in the Province. I frequently held two Provincial Grand
Lodges in the year, although I resided, for a great length of time,
a hundred miles out of the province. I advanced active and
intelligent brethren to the purple; I distributed honours with
impartiality, and, I trust, with a strict regard to justice; and
instituted an inquiry into the state of the lodges, and introduced
a discipline which operated so effectually as not only to revive
most of the lodges but to cause new ones to spring up in every part
of the Province. During the progress of these measures for the
purification of the Order, I assure you, brethren, most solemnly,
that I never sought for popularity at the expense of principle; I
never sought for popularity by the infringement of any Masonic law
or a dereliction of any Masonic duty. In a word, I never thought of
popularity; I thought only of the strict and conscientious
discharge of my duty. I flatter myself that I improved the details
of Masonry in the Province. I remodelled the ceremonial of the
induction and departure of the Provincial Grand Master in
Provincial Grand Lodge, which had been very loosely and
inefficiently conducted before my time. I re-arranged the order of
public processions; so that regularity and decorum succeeded
carelessness and disorder, and, I am happy to add, that other
Provinces have adopted my arrangements. Thus, Masonry became
respected; and, instead of continuing to be a byeword and a
reproach, it is now considered a title of distinction. It is more
than thirty years since my connection with the Provincial Grand
Lodge of Lincolnshire commenced. During the whole of that period
Freemasonry has been my constant and unremitting care. Expense has
not been spared, and much personal inconvenience has been sustained
for the benefit of the Craft. I have had no common feeling on the
subject. It has been a kind of monomania, which I have never
endeavoured to suppress. The time has at length arrived when I feel
myself called upon, by years and infirmities, to bid adieu to
practical Freemasonry. You have this day pronounced that I have
discharged my duty, during my official rule, like a good and worthy
Mason; I shall therefore have the satisfaction of retiring from the
scene assured of your approbation. I confess it is painful to sever
a link which has cemented me to the Craft for so many happy years;
and to mitigate my regret I must throw myself on your indulgence.
Your approbation of what I have done will hallow the remembrance of
our connection. Our Masonic union has ceased, and we regard each
other only in the light of private friends. To the subscribers of
the offering my thanks and gratitude are peculiarly due; and to
withhold them on the present occasion would be of violence to my
feelings. For more than forty years I have been a labourer in the
forest, the quarry, and the mountain, for the advancement of the
Order. Your sympathy and approbation have well rewarded my toil,
although I have borne the heat and burden of the day.

"But I fatigue you. I confess, that the very idea of a last
word and that word, Farewell, to brethren with whom I have acted so
long and so cordially  whose zeal has given instant effect to all
my plans and all my wishes is exceedingly bitter and painful. But
my Masonic course is nearly run. I have told you how I began; I
have told you how I continued; I have no occasion to tell you, for
you all know too well, how I ended. There are many brethren present
whom, it is highly probable, I may never see again in this world.
But there is another and a better. There I trust we shall all meet,
never to part again. There, amidst the Masons of heaven's high
arch, we may practice our system of universal love, and rejoice in
the blessings of unadulterated Masonry for ever and ever. Brethren,
farewell, and may God be with you."

The cup with which Dr. Oliver was presented was of exquisite
workmanship. The body was embossed with cherubs' heads and festoons
of roses; the cover and summit with emblems of corn and acacia; the
cover was surmounted with a double triangle, and the F. P. O. F.
intersecting at right angles. On one side of the cup was an
inscription in Latin and on the other with the arms of Dr. Oliver,
from which depended the emblem of the Past Provincial Deputy Grand
Master, viz.,

E. R. on a chief sa.; three lions rampant of the first. EST, a
demi-lion rampant erased er; collared and ringed ar.

The inscription on the Cup was as follows:

"Part of a Service of Plate presented by his Brother Masons to the
Reverend and V. W. Dr. Oliver, P. P. D. G. M. for Lancashire, etc.,
etc., etc., by the W. M. of the Witham Lodge, No. 374, A. D. 1844,
May 9th, A. L. 5844.

"To George Oliver, Doctor in Divinity, and Fellow of the Society of
Antiquaries, Edinburgh; Vicar of Scopwick, Incumbent of
Wolverhampton; lately in the county of Lincoln, of Freemasons
Deputy Grand Master; also of the Witham Lodge, 374, a member and
Chaplain; a philosopher and archaeologian second to none; in
historical subjects most learned; an Orator whether in the Church
or in our Councils, of the modestic union founded in brotherly
love, relief, and truth, for forty years the most ardent exponent
to brethren, of reverence incessantly most worthy; a brother
throughout the whole surface of the earth celebrated the rites of
Freemasons; for the sake both of honour and of love, they give this
offering. A. D. 1844; A. L. 5844."

It is truly fitting that the brethren of today should seek to
preserve on the Register of the United Grand Lodge of England the
name of a brother who will for ever be honoured in the annals of
the Craft of Freemasonry.

