1838 and later

In 1838 Samuel Morse and Alfred Vail demonstrated their telegraph machine in New Jersey, the steamship "Great Western" made her maiden voyage from Bristol to New York and Queen Victoria was crowned in Westminster Abbey. Fashion was changing; men about town wore dress coats and frock coats with trousers of a lighter colour and narrowly fitted; evening wear favoured black pantaloons. Shirts were white with high, straight collars and elaborate waistcoats were worn. Neckwear was either the stock, a stiffened band covered with a silk or velvet arrangement, or the cravat. Silk top hats were considered the height of fashion.

The Rt Hon Thomas, 2nd Earl of Zetland KG was appointed Provincial Grand Master (GM 1844 -1870). The Grand Lodge rturns for Minerva Lodge showed a membership of fifty in 1838.

In Hull, coal gas street lighting had replaced gas manufactured from whale oil. The borough absorbed Drypool and Sculcoates. A police force was established, and the Hull and Selby Railway was under construction. Gradually the Minerva Lodge began to recover, while "the Larards held sway as Worshipful Masters" (Hovell.) Brother Larard had rejoined from Humber Lodge - it is likely that the C Larard in 1840 was Thomas Larard's son.

Thomas Earle was initiated into the Lodge on 21st August 1845. He was a noted sculptor and  gained a national reputation. He presented the Lodge with a bust of Lord Zetland, which had been produced after personal sittings given by his Lordship. (For a picture of the bust of his son-in-law, see page two.) Perhaps this may have influenced the Right Hon. The Earl of Zetland, Grand Master of England and Provincial Grand Master for the Province of North and East Yorkshire, in bringing Provincial Grand Lodge to Minerva Lodge the following year.  The meeting was held in the Minerva Temple, and the minutes tell us:

Nearly 200 Brethren adjourned to the Music Hall, Jarratt Street, which was tastefully decorated with the flags of Minerva, the ensigns of England and the banners of different Lodges, having a most pleasing effect.

A number of ladies were admitted into the orchestra to witness the entrance of his Lordship and the reception of the Grand Master, which was a most interesting scene.

The whole of the brethren stood in their respective order wearing their various honours, every banner was unfurled, the organ struck up the National Anthem, and the Grand Master, preceded by his Standard and Sword Bearers, and attended by the Provincial Stewards took their seats amidst a flourish of trumpets.

The subsequent proceedings were most harmonious and the ladies having retired, the business of the evening was proceeded with.

Sadly the WM defrauded the Brethren and absconded with the money for the dinner, so the Lodge had to pay £32/2/6 a second time. Only two years later the Secretary stole money from the Lodge. Both villains were found guilty and excluded. It appears that while Freemasonry strives to make good men better, it fails to make bad men good.

There were other arguments over money. Coal Merchant Bro Martin took objection to the WM because his bills were unpaid; the latter claiming that the coal was of inferior quality, and the sorry issue being brought before Grand Lodge. The Grand Master retorted citing the Book of Constitutions which stated that no private piques or quarrels should be brought within the door of the Lodge. The Rt Hon Thomas 2nd Earl of Zetland remarked that he "had had more trouble with Minerva than all the other Lodges in Yorkshire North and East put together."