Exhibitions Of Masonic Curiosities.

EXHIBITIONS OF MASONIC CURIOSITIES .

AMONG the many assemblies it has been our pleasure to take part in , during the time the F REEMASON ' CHRONICLE has been in existence , few were of greater interest to the lovers of the past history of Freemasonry than the exhibition of Masonic Relics which was held at York

during the visit of the British Association to that city a few years back . In a Society which enjoins so much secrecy on its members , and which has always discouraged tbe publication of its doings , except among a restricted few , it is but natural that a great amonnt of doubt and

uncertainty exists as to the past , and ifc is therefore very desirable that every means should be adopted , which may suggest themselves , to collect together old documents , relics , and curiosities , bearing on the past history of Freemasonry , in such a manner as to bring them under the notice of those who

may find in them the means of tracing the Craffc through some of tbe periods -where its history is uncertain , or in confirming some of the many theories which have been put forward at one time or other , and which , at present , are looked upon more as probabilities than certainties . At the

time of the York Meeting , in 1881 , we urged the advisability of establishing a permanent Museum , to which articles of Masonic interest might be given or lent , and we are still of opinion that such an undertaking would prove successful , and of great interest to Masons throughout the world , and

indeed to all who take an interest in the doings of the Craffc a little beyond the portals of their own Lodge . There are innumerable relics of the past , scattered about the country and abroad , which would soon find their way

to a properly constituted centre , and , when once a demand was established , others , which at present are forgotten or unheard of , would come to light in the general search that would follow a properly directed appeal . The Masons of "Worcester are about to follow the

example of their brethren of York , which we may add was repeated early in the current year , and are now organising a Masonic Soiree and Exhibition , which is to be held at Worcester , on the 27 th inst . They invite the loan of old medals , jewels , cups , glasses , seals , charters , certificates ,

aprons , engravings , minute books , & c , and are preparing a catalogue which will contain particulars sufficient to stamp it as a standard work of reference to all interested "i Masonic antiquities . We have little doubt but that a very interesting collection will result , and we hope the

efforts of the Worcester brethren will prove another step towards the foundation of a National Masonic Museum such as we have previously advocated . As regards the arrangements for the gathering at Worcester , we may state that the Guildhall Buildings

«<* ve been placed at the disposal ot the Committee , and that the Mayor , Bro . W . B . Williamson , and fche Provingal Grand Master , Bro . Sir Edmund A . H . Lechmere , ai"t ., M . P ., -will guarantee the safe custody and return of a . y ex hibits with which the Committee may be entrusted . 11

the articles lent for this year's gathering at York are Fon-- < - ] ag a ] p 0 are many 0 t } jerg -which have never before jN-en pnblicl y exhibited . We can but repeat the request of ¦

° se who are organizing this display , that all brethren or . 1 £ = WQ o may . possess curiosities or articles of interest c ° the general body of Freemasons will lend them for the -- ¦ "ng Exhibition , which we understand is to be kept open

Exhibitions Of Masonic Curiosities.

for a week , during which time a series of Lectures and papers on Exhibits and other Masonic matters will be delivered by distinguished brethren . The Grand Lodge of the Province is to bo held the day after the opening of the Exhibition ( viz . on the 28 th inst . ) , so that visitor . , will havo other Masonic attractions than

those of the soiree , lectures , and display of curiosities , thus rendering a visit to the ancient city of Worcester an event of tho greatest interest to Freemasons , many of whom will no doubt avail themselves of the opportunity .

Lux E Tenebra.

LUX E TENEBRA .

A LUMINOUS brother whose adumbrant buncombe betrays the atmosphere , and whose nom de plume smacks of the vernacular of the Holy Empire , represents us , in the April Number of this magazine , as having " started out , a la Don Quixote , to fight wind-mills , " and in the May number he again appears chewing the same cud of enticing fancy .

If it shall appear that setting the facts of history , over against the flatulent assumptions of groundless pretence , is fighting , then tlio aptness of tbe concluding portion of his figure , at least , will be established . It is but charitable to assume that so far as the reckless

assertions and pert flippancy of inuendo which mark our brother ' s criticism have a personal direction , they do nofc indicate that consciousness of a weak position which sometimes prompts au attack upon a person , in order to divert attention from his arguments ; hut illustrate rather that

readiness to dogmatise which characterise those who wear inherited opinions of conventional cut , and that exuberant self-complacency which finds nothing in this world quite so impertinent as a fact that refuses to fit into the design before supposed to be all-embracing in its perfection .

Ifc is hard to find a common ground for debate with one who thinks there can be any gilt in winning truth comparable to that of suppressing it ; but this is no new difficulty . The world has always been full of people who looked upon that hand as impious which persisted in

letting in light enough upon their fetishes to compel a re-adjustment of their conceptions of them . Nor is it a difficulty that promises to come to a speedy end ; for indeed we must all confess that as no human mind is

capable of comprehending truth in all its relations , so among the things most sacred to us all are our misconceptions . It will , perhaps , be a long time before we get so far rid of inherited tendencies that we can see our

individual idols broken without a shudder of fear that the moral order of the universe is somehow in danger ; but mankind in masses , inspired by the courage that comes of touching elbows , is getting well on to an agreement that it is safe to follow truth , no matter how time-honoured may be the

error to which it runs counter , and that in the end it will prove itself to be , like beauty , its own excuse for being . The fact that our brother may not be in accord with this general consmsn . does not forbid the hope thafc some examination of his criticism may prove profitable even to

him , while for a strong-er reason it ought to prove so to others less fortunate . There is . little in his efforts to favour fche impression that he would consciously misstate matters : yet if the lack of information respecting the results of modern Masonic research , and the confusion