The Value Of Freemasonry.

on the increase , and if it be , is it either in the power or the province of Freemasonry to contribute towards the solution of the intellectnnl doubts upon which Atheism rests F There are hisrh and worthy functions for Freemasonry to fnlfil apart from the pretension to modify or regulate the theological tendencies of the age . It is earnestly to be hoped that a belief in the Great Architect will always

be maintained . Indeed such a belief underlies and is essential to the principles and doctrines shadowed forth in the symbols of the Craft . But while holding firmly to faith in a Supreme Being who guides the coarse of the snns as well as the destinies of the tiniest of His creatures , it is no part of the business of Freemasonry to associate itself with politico-theclogical agitation . Its main purpose , to use one of the Dean ' s happy phrases , is to provide " o nentral

ground where , without any unreality or compromise , man meets his fellow man and learns to know him apart from those distinctions which prevail without . " Freemasonry has a claim to general respect if only becanse in an age when the tendency of men is to multiply religions , social , and political distinctions , and to withdraw more and more into distinot groups , it supplies a " neutral gronnd " upon whioh all mav find a standing . —TForcester Herald , 30 th August 1884 .

Catalogue Of The Masonic Soiree And Exhibition, Worcester, August 1884.

CATALOGUE OF THE MASONIC SOIREE AND EXHIBITION , WORCESTER , AUGUST 1884 .

OUR Worcester brethren are to be congratulated on tho suocess of _ their Exhibition of last week . It is uot , numerically , a strong Province , neither can any of its Lodges boast of a very great antiqnity . But it is fortunate in having for a chief a brother of long standing and high distinction in the Craft , a most energetic Deputy , and a hard-working and courteous Provincial Grand Secretary . The

Exhibition was well-timed , so as to fall conveniently with the annual meeting of tbe Provincial Grand Lodge . The invitations to brethren outside the Province to do all in their power to make the gathering a success were responded to most cordially , so that we are well within the extremest limits of justice when we say that few meetings of snoh a character have passed off more agreeably or with greater ecldt .

There was a goodly company present , and among the brethren were men of hi gh standing and great learning and judgment , who could view the rare exhibits brought together in an appreciative spirit . But after all only a limited company could be gathered together on such an occasionand for the benefit of those who have longed to

, may be there , but could not , we purpose laying before our readers some particulars of the principal exhibits as set forth in the admirable Catalogue prepared by Bro . Taylor , Provincial Grand Secretary of Worcestershire , and annotated by Bro . W . J . Hughan , P . G . D . of England .

The premier place is rightly assigned to the exhibits shown by Sir E . A . H . Leobmere , M . P ., Bart ., P . G . M . Worcestershire , whose kindly interest in the gathering will ever be most gratefully remembered by the brethren of his own Province , as well as of other districts and the Metropolis . Conspicuous among his contributions to the display will be fonnd a copy of the " Ancient Charges" known as tbe "

Lecb-, mere MSS ., " assigned by Woodford to about 1650 , but regarded b y Bros . Gould and Hughan as " late 17 th century . " This is numbered 8 in the Catalogue , Nos . 9 and 10 being also interesting , the former comprising a series of Masonio Calendars from 1792-1813 , which belonged to George IV . when Grand Master , and the latter a collection of Lodge summonses extending from 1780 to 1800 .

N ° . 10 A is also worthy of note , being an Engraving of Freemasons ' Hall in 1808 , and representing the Festival of the Girls' Sohool , the Chevalier Ruspini heading the procession of Girk , George Prince of "ales as Grand Master , and three of his brothers , the Dukes of York , Kent and Sussex , being present . Nos . 11-50 and Nos . 51-67 are the exhibits sent by Bro . James Newton P . P . G . S . D . East Lancashireof

, Bolton . The former group consists entirely of Medals and Tokens , several of which are pronounced by Bro . Hughan to be of great rarity . As regards the tokens numbered 14 and 15 respectively , Y would suggest that the " I . Schichle , " of the former , and the J . Sketchley" of the latter are probably one and the same person , a nd that a clue to bis identity may possibly be found in the letters

"R . A . and P . G . S ., " which are also present in No . 15 . The group Nos . 51-67 are Masonio Books , No . 51 , a Pine ' s Engraved List for 1734 being the most valuable , in the opinion of Bro . Hughan . Among Nos . 68-80 , sent by Bro . J . H . Sillitoe will be found an old illuminated Certificate of tbe year 1764 ; an old scroll , in two parts , of about the year 1680—copy of the old Operative

Constitutions , and specially valuable , according to Bro . Hughan , from its containing " the rare Apprentice ' s Charge ; " some old Minute Books and Aprons ; and an Old Jug ( No . 71 ) of about a century old . The York Lodge ( No . 236 ) and tbe Eboracum ( No . 1611 ) , both of York , contribute between them Nos . 81-101 , several relics of the Gran d Lodge of all England being among the former exhibits , while

among those of the latter are a large Flagon with Masonic emblems on it , of 1694 ( No . 91 ) , and the Bible of the Grand Lodge of all England ( No . 97 ) . Nos . 100 and 101 are Aprons , one linen aud the other leather , with engraved emblems on them . Nos . 102-113 arc conigf .-Wed by Bro . Wbytehead of York , and include photography * a Punch Jug of the very sensible capacity of 18 quarts .

Bro . W . Kelly , Past P . G . M . Leicestershire and Rutland , . sends Nos . 114 to 136 , among them being several mementoes , in the shape of aprons , jewels , & c . worn by thom , of the late Sir F . G . Fowke , Bart ., and the 1 st Earl Howe , both predecessors of Bro . Kelly in the government of the Province . No . 121 is a certificate from the Atholl

"rand Lodge , dated 10 th September 1764 , and having the signature ° f Laurence Dermott G . Sec . No . 137 , exhibited by Bro . Tew , Jj -P . G . M . West Yorkshire , is an ancient brass seal , supposed by Bro . « ev . ; w . C . Lukis to have belonged to a Templar Preceptory , probabl y of foreign origin . No . 142—ono of a number of exhibits sent " y Bro . Chaa . Williams of the Moseley Lodge , Birmingham—is de-

Catalogue Of The Masonic Soiree And Exhibition, Worcester, August 1884.

scribed by Bro . Hughan as " an exceedingly rare and valuable medal , unknown to Dr . Mensdorf , bnt Bro . Marvin describes one impression of it ( No . 32 ) in Mr . Appleton ' a collection . " Only two of this are known to be in this country , and both were to be seen at Worcester . Bro . J . C . Robinson P . M . No . 425 , Chester , contributes the warrant of an extinct Chester Lodge of the year 1766 ; and the Royds Lodge ,

No . 1201 , Malvern , two old prints , which Bro . Hnghan speaks of aa " cnrious and rarely met with . " No . 163 and 164 , sent by the Royal Masonio Institution for Boys , are a balloting box and silver snnff box respectively , both the property of tho Dinner Clnb of that Institution , while the former , which is sphinx-headed and very handsome , was presented in 1755 by the Duke of Richmond—G . M . 1724—to

the Egyptian Sooiety , and in 18 o 2 by the late Bro . R . G . Alston to the said Club . No . 166 , —one of several exhibits by Bro . John Hirst , of Saddloworth , is " A Book of the Antient Constitutions of Free and Accepted Masons , by Benjamin Cole . Dedicated to Lord Kingston , Grand Master . " Of this Bro . Hnghan remarks : ' * This is one of the rarest Masonio Books known , and was printed from engraved plates .

It is the First edition , and is a reprodnotion of a version of tbe Old Operative Charges . " The half dozen exhibits of Mr . J . H . Carr , of York , Nos . 191-196 , are old York newspapers , dated from 1764 to 1779 , in whioh are advertisements relating principally to the Grand Lodge at York . The contributions of Bro . M . W . Clarke P . M . No . 57 , Hull—Nos . 208-238 G , are Masonio jewels of various kinds , ono of

them , 238 F " of gold and silver enamelled under glass , representing H . A . B . presenting the Plan of the Temple to King Solomon and King Hiram , set with large stones . " Bro . Hughan dates it about 1800 , and considers it " a valuable jewel "—apart from its intrinsic worth . Bro . C . G . Wragg , Prov . G . Secretary Nottinghamshire , sends a number of certificates of different degrees , with a minute book and

anoient seal—Nos . 239-248 . Bro . T . Fenn , of the Prince of Wales Lodge , No . 259 , figures as the contributor of three most interesting mementoes—Nos . 249-251 , of whioh the first is the Grand Lodge Clothing of the Dnke of Clarence , afterwards William IV . ; three ivory gavels presented by Lord Manser ; and the Sword of the Duke of Cumberland , of Culloden fame , presented by the

Chevalier Ruspini , founder of the Girls' Sohool . The Woroeater Lodge , No . 280 , is a liberal contributor , its principal exhibits being valuable engravings and Books of the Constitntions , one of the former ( No . 260 ) being said to represent the Initiation of the poet Bums , thongh Bro . Hughan suggests it represents his inauguration as Poet Laureate of the Canongate Kilwinning Lodge . No . 284 , is a sorap

book , with reference to whioh Bro . Hughan writes— " A most interesting and nniqne set , simply impossible to be procured now at any price , because many of the uniques have long ago disappeared . " Bro . T . Lamb-Smith , a Past Master of the same Lodge , iB also among the exhibitors on an extensive scale , his contributions—Nos . 285-317—consisting principally of medals and jewels , many of them being of great rarity and value . No . 289 is desoribed as a

" Master Mason's jewel , Chelsea enamel , date about 1750 ; " No . 298 a " Silver Gilt Circular Jewel , Masonic Emblems , ' J' and ' B' on sides , square , compasses , level and letter ' G . ' About 1790 , " Bro . Hughan remarking of the latter that it is " entirely original in its arrangement of the emblems , and a fine impression . " Some of the jewels are old Scottish , and on that account will have been the more welcome in an English Exhibition . ( To be continued . )

Mark Masonry.

MARK MASONRY .

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF BUCKINGHAMSHIRE . THE annual meeting of this Provincial Grand Lodge was held at the Cock Hotel , Stony Stratford , under the banner of the Watling Street Lodge , on Saturday , the 30 th August . The Right Worshipful Prov . Grand Master Rev . J . Studholme Brownrigg presided , and was supported by the Grand Secretary , Bro . Frederick Binckes , and other distinguished Visitors . The Lodges of the Province ,

consisting of the St . Barnabas , Linslade ; the SS . Peter and Paul , Newport Pagnell ; and Watling Street , Stony Stratford , were well represented . The P . G . Treasurer , Bro . J . Williams , of Aylesbury , was re-elected , and the Prov . Grand Secretary , J . R . Wilmer , of Newport Pagnell , re . appointed . The Provincial Grand Lodge unanimousl y voted the sum of £ 1 Is to tbe fund being raised for the family of the

late Bro . Dewar , the brethren expressing regret that their funds did not permit of a larger donation . After the business of the Lodge had been completed , an exceedingly pleasant evening was spent , Bro . Revill , the landlord of the Hotel , having spared neither time nor trouble in rendering the meeting a success . We predict for the Mark Province of Buckinghamshire a brilliant and distingushed future .

We have heen favoured with copy of fnll size drawing of the jewel presented to the daughter of R . W . Bro . Sir W . W . Wynn , Bart ., M . P . on the occasion of her marriage with her cousin Mr . Herbert Lloyd Watkin Williams Wynn . It conveys a very accurate and pleasing idea of

the style and character of the original . The body of the jewel is a double triangle , set with ^ turquoises , and the spaces between the points of the jewel enriched with diamonds , the intrinsic—as distingaished from the far

greater extrinsic—value being about 70 or 80 guineas . The design is most artistic , and the whole reflects the greatest credit on the jeweller from whose laboratory it proceeds—Bro . J . J . Caney , of 44 Cheapside .