The Late Rev. George Oliver, D.D.

Dictionary of Symbolical Masonry ; " " The Symbol of Glory ; " "The Revelations of a Square ; " "The Freemasons' Treasury , " "An Apology for Freemasonry , " " History of the Witham Lodge ; " and "The Origin of the Royal Arch Order of Masonry . " The preface to a new

edition of this last work was written in the very year that he died ( 1867 ) , and only a few weeks , therefore , before his demise . Nor must we omit to mention that in the catalogue of sale of Bro . R . Spencer's Collection of Works on Freemasonry to be disposed of by auction by Messrs . Sotheby ,

Wilkinson and Hodge , on the 27 th July next , will be found several unpublished MSS . of the late Dr . Oliver ' s , among them "The Discrepancies of Freemasonry Examined , " " Dissertation on the Grand Hermesian Anaglyph , " " The Pythagorean Triangle , " " A Lecture on the Yarious Rituals

of Freemasonry , from the 10 th Century to the Present Time . " This bare enumeration of his principal works will afford no true conception of their value . The list will give us some idea of his unrivalled energy , but Ave must become familiar with the contents of the most important—of his

"Landmarks" for instance , his "Starin the East , ' or his " Signs and Symbols , " ere we can appreciate his true worth as a Masonic teacher . As an incitement to young Masons to learn what this eminent brother has done for our Order , we take leave to quote one or two opinions , expressed in

reference to one or other of his works at the time they appeared , and likewise those of eminent members of the Craft , who were his contemporaries aud friends . Thus , apropos of "The Symbol of Glory , " BeWs Messenger writes to this effect : No member of the Masonic body has done

more to advance the principles of the Order than the writer of this book , who has proved that this fraternal system is based on the noblest principles , and calculated when carried out according to its primeval intentions , to be the handmaid of true religion . We will not attempt to

explain the object of this , the last , as we regret to hear , of the many excellent treatises which Dr . Oliver has written . This much , however , we must say ; first that whoever reads it , be he a member of the mystic tie or not , will derive much pleasure from its researches , and a large amount of

instruction . Tho Gentleman ' s Magazine describes the " History of Initiation" as " learned , curious , and ingenious , " while of " Signs and Symbols " it says , " it is well written , and merits a place in every gentleman ' s library , whether he be a brother or not . " The Freemason ' s

Quarterly Review writes of " The Star in the East" — " Of all Dr . Oliver ' s works , we cannot but consider this is THE gem , contained in a casket of sterling value , of which the lock and key are of superior workmanship . The authorities which Dr . Oliver has brought , not so much in aid , as

corroborative proof of his clear and undeniable truths , are placed in honourable position . It is impossible to offer any other opinion on the Star in the East , which we have read with a grateful sense of the obligation conferred on the Craft , than that it is a shining light , by which the apprentice

the Craftsman , the Master , and the perfect Master , may equally see their way . " Of the same and another work , Bro . Spencer—to whose memoir we have already said wo are indebted for the facts contained in this article—writes : " Such a work as the " Star in the East , " when put in the

hands of an uninitiated candid enquirer , has a marvellous effect . We have frequently tested it . We have lent them the above work , and almost invariably found that the perusal of it has had the effect of converting the former enemy into a friend , and not unfrequently into a candidate

for initiation . " So also his "Apology for the Free and Accepted Masons , " has " induced the clergy , in a great many instances , to cease from their opposition , and to open their churches to our yearly gatherings . " Here is the opinion of the late Dr . Crucefix , himself an eminent Mason .

Writing in January 1842 to Bro . W . A . Nicholson P . G . S . W . for Lincolnshire , Dr . Crucefix describes the effect on himself of his earliest personal relations with Dr . Oliver , and

refers to the many kindnesses he had received from the latter . He proceeds thus : " I am aware that the Witham Lodge has paid our friend a compliment , " —they had presented to him a handsome silver salver in 1839— " but I

am morally assured that an expression of the Universal esteem in which he is held by the world of Masons will be regarded by him with feelings of justifiable pride ; he cannot be unconscious of his own exalted merit . Lincolnshire ,

his homstead , should lead , London should adopt , and the world confirm the testimony of our Order to its most distinguished member , by the purest wreath that should grace the brow of the Freemason of all times . . . .

The Late Rev. George Oliver, D.D.

There should be a provincial Committee in Lincoln tc co-operate with a London Committee , and all foreign and district Grand Lodges should be addressed . " The proposal was carried out , and the testimonial took the shape of a magnificent cup and a service of plate , which

were presented to him on 9 th May 1844 , and formed the " Oliver Offering , " to which allusion has already been made . The formal presentation took place at the Witham Lodge , adjourned to the City Arms Hotel , in the presence of a considerable number of visiting brethren from

Lincolnshire and the adjoining provinces , as well as from London , in addition to the members of the Lodge . As Dr . Oliver passed up the room , escorted by the Committee , all rose simultaneously , and greeted him with the heartiest enthusiasm . The cup and parts of the service were borne up to

the dais by four P . M . ' s , namely , Bros . W . H . Adams 339 , W . A . Nicholson 374 , Pashley 611 , and Dr . Barton 612 , preceded by Bro , R . Goodacre P . M . 347 and A . G . D . C . for the province . Bro . Goodacre having formally delivered the

testimonial to the chairman , the latter , ( the Rev . J . Osmond Dakeyne ) addressed Dr . Oliver at considerable length . In the course of his remarks he offered an apology for Masonry , and concluded "These facts "—certain to which he had

alluded— " and , above all these hoolcs "—Dr . Oliver ' s Works " have set our Order in its true light . And who wrote these books ? Our friend and brother and guest , whom we are now assembled to honour ! They are the witnesses to his exertions , they are the vouchers for his services .

Our Brother Goodacre has aptly alluded to the spreading of Masonry in the East , and , indeed , over the world . Wherever our principles have gone , thither also has passed the name of Dr . Oliver , the historian and the sage of Masonry ; and contributions to this offering from the

distant climes prove m some measure that his labours are not unrecognised . " Dr . Oliver replied most feelingly to this kind address , sketching his Masonic career at some length , and concluding with these words , " 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 all . "

The following is a translation of the inscription on the Cup : -

To GEORGE OLIVER , Doctor in Divinity and Fellow of the Society of Antiquarians , 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 Archaoologian Second to None ,

In Historical subjects most learned , An Orator , whether in the Church or in our Councils , Both in knowledge and in eloquence most excellent ,

Of the Mystic Union , Founded in Brotherly Love , Belief , and Truth , For forty years the most Erudite Expositor , A Brother of Eeverence unceasingly most worthy :

The Brethren throughout the whole surface of tho earth , Celebrating the rites of Freemasons ; For tho sake both of Honour and of Love , Have given this Offering . A . D . 1844 . A . T ,. 5848 .

Comment on a career so grand , yet so simple , so energetic , and so successful in its labours , were needless . It tells its own tale . The best conclusion we can offer to such a sketch , is the earnest hope , " 0 si sic omnes !"

Dedication Of The New Masonic Temple, New York.

DEDICATION OF THE NEW MASONIC TEMPLE , NEW YORK .

ALL accounts are agreed that the recent Dedication of the new Masonic Temple at New York , to which we

briefly referred last week , was one of the grandest aud most impressive ceremonials which modern Masonry has ever witnessed . In one respect it differed from the