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

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

( Continued from page 186 . ) BRO . J . S . CUMBERLAND , of York , is second only to Bro . G . Taylor , of Worcester , in the nnmber of hia exhibits ; while many of them , as indeed may be imagined from the enthusiasm and arcbjeological tastes of our worthy brother , are highly interesting to the admirers of curios . His array of contributions extends from No . 921 to 978 E , and among them we have noted No . 926 , a Silver

Past Master s Jewel , said to have belonged to Lodge 520—the Friendship , of Gibraltar—of which Bro . Hnghan remarks— " the design is most unusual , the square being suspended from the sun . a segment confining the extremities of the square , and enclosing the 47 th problem of Euclid . " Bro . Hughan sets down the date of the jewel " at about 1820 , " under the circumstances . Of 935— " Silver-pierced

Jewel of elaborate design ( circa 1760 ) , " we are told— " This is a rare beauty , and of the same style as a sketch I have of one dated 1730 . It may be of a continental manufacture , and used by a French brother ; at all events it is old and valuable . " As to another silver pierced medal , but of 1790 ( No . 936)—Bro . Hughan says he should " date ifc earlier . The whole of the field is cut out , leaving only the

emblems , these being artistically connected and arranged , so as to form a really handsome combination . " No . 944— " Gilt Royal A »* ch Medal , depicting the removal of the third cope stone . ' Anno Lap . 5767 , ' " appears to have evoked some enthusiasm from the annotator , who writes : "This medal must be seen to be appreciated . The design was adopted in 1802 by the 'Ancients' for the distinctive

Jewel of the 'Nine Worthies , ' or 'Excellent Masters , ' appointed to visit the Lodges and Chapters . " Of No . 954— " Gold-pierced Master Mason ' s Jewel . Copy of an antique , engraved on both sides . " He says— " This is an elaborately engraved medal , diminutive as to size , but not easily surpassed as to quality of workmanship . " Other jewels are similarly commended for their rarity or beauty of design .

Among works bearing upon Masonry is included Derraott ' s "Ahiman Rezon . " London : 1756—1 st Edition . There is also a " Geneaiogie of the St . Claires of Rosslyne , by Father Richard Augnstin Hay , Prior of St . Pieremont , Edinburgh , 1835 . Edited by James Maidmenfc , Advocate . " Bro . Hughan observes in respect of this that ifc is " a rare and particularly interesting work relating to the family of the

St . Claires , and of itself completely dispels the illusion that the office of Grand Master of Scotland was hereditary in the Sfc . Clairs of Roslin , there being a wide difference between the rank of Patra "Query , Patron— " of early days , and that of Grand Master , the latter being unknown in Scotland until 1736 . " No . 975 is a " Curious Masonic Work by W . Finch , A . D . 1807 , " with portraits , & c , which is said

to be " rare in a perfect state , and as a work certainly it is curious , if not reliable . " No . 976 is thus fully described— " Silver and Enamelled Seven Pointed Star , three inches in diameter . Haifa circle ( containing a Painting of three figures , representing Faith , Hope , ancl Charity ) rests upon two columns of Mother-of-Pearl , between which are the Square and Compasses on the Holy Bible , above being the

Suv , and still higher fche letter ' G ' , emblems being scattered around in rich profusion . Rev . Compasses of gold cord tied with fche same afc the head , and confined afc fche points by a segment of Motherof Pearl enclosing the Sun and letter ' G , ' the whole being within a circle . " This is exhibited by Bro . 0 . E . Ruddock , of Ripon , per Bro . J . S . Cumberland , and is pronounced by Bro . Hnghan to be " a

magnificent jewel . " Among the contributions of Bro . Rev . C . J . Martyn D . P . G . M . Suffolk is a " Large Masonic Jug—Figure of Hiberm ' aand St . Patrick , "with numerous emblems and mottoes , " pronounced by the annotator to be a " rare piece , and probably unique . " Bro . J . St . Clair Mayne , Secretary of Lodge No . 494 , Ireland , sends " Old MS . Rule Book

of 494 Lodge . ' Dated July 21 , 1772 . Ifc contains the Bye-laws of the Lodge , originally , and as altered from time to time , with signatures of tbe members . Among these will be found the autograph of the Duke of Wellington ( ' A . Wesley' ) and Earl Mornington , who were initiated in this Lodge . " To this is appended the following note : — " The Lodge , No . 494 , was originated by the Marquis of Kildare

( afterwards Duke of Leinster ) in 1772 . In 1775 the Earl of Mornington joined , and on becoming Grand Master in 1777 , presented an Apron , of an unusual kind , which the Masters were invested with down to 1856 , but unfortunately it has been missing for some time . On 7 th December 1790 , the ' Hon . Arthur Wesley' ( subsequently the

Duke of Wellington ) was initiated in the Lodge , the Book of ' Rules ' containing his autograph and other celebrities . The initiation of fche 'Iron Dnke' has been questioned , His Grace ( on the authority of Bro . Gould ) even forgetting the fact himself , but the facfc is clearly proved . "

Bro . Hughan is among the more liberal contributors , and several of his exhibits—which by the way , are chiefly literary—must have attracted a good deal of attention . No . 991— " Nino Photographs of the Aberdeen ' Mark Book , ' from A . D . 1670 , " and No . 994-998 , being

various versions in copy of the " Old Charges" are noteworthy , No . 1011 , " Laws of the Grand R . A . Chapter , A . D . 1778 " ia rare , from its being the "first Edition , " while the nexfc in numerical sequence , ifo . 1012 , which is an edition of the same Laws of 1823 , is set down as valuable "because of the List of Chapters ancl Illustrations of the

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

Jewels . " No . 1013 is an " Original Copy of ' . Articles of Union ' of A . D . 1813 , between the so-called 'Ancient' and ' Modern' G . Lodges . No . 1024 is tho " History and Bye-Laws of No . 3 Chapter , Philadel . phia . by Bro . Mt > yer 187 ' , " which is " believed to be the oldest exist , intr Chapter in the worll . " No . 1031 is a " Gutta-percha impression nf the 'Nine Worthies Medal , '" which Bro . Hughan remarks waa

" struck m 1802 , and resembles others issued during the last century , exhibited by Bro . Newton , Cumberland , & o . Thero are seven preserved by the Grand Lodge , but there were nine . " Bro . the Rev . F . A . Woodford contributes among other curios a " China Masonio Punch Bowl . 1780 , " a "China Jug . 1821 , " a "Cole ' s List of Lodges , 1762 , " and sundry certificates ( No . 1072 ) . Following these are the

exhibits of different brethren , and then comes tho numerous group sont by Brother George Taylor , P . G . Secretary Worcestershire . ( Nos . 1081-1172 . ) These constitute a small exhibition in themselves , and tticludo several exhibits of value or rarity . Thus of No . 1031—" Rare Silver Medal , " 1763—Bio . Hughan remarks , " Th ' s medal is similar to the one worn by Bro . Henry Price , firsfc Provincial Grand

Mnster for all America , and is quite a little treasure . It is Marvin ' s No . 61 , who considers it of English origin , whioh opinion I share with him . It was ' struck in a die , ' as he states , " with what would have been the field c 'ofnlly cut out , ' thus leaving the objects discernible on either side . " Of No . 1035— " Royal Arch Jewel . Early thia Century , "—we aro told . " I have never seen oue of this design

before , the ribbon on either side hans * ing from the jewel being entirely new to me . " No . 1086 is the " Celebrated Martin Folkes Medal , " of whioh Brother Hughan remarks , "Several authorities unite in stating thafc this medal was struck in Rome in 1742 , possibly by Hamernni , in the Papal Mint . It is very rare , in fine condition , anrl possibly the above is the only impression in this

country . Bro . Martin Folkes was D . G . M . of England in 1724 , nnder the Duke of Richmond , President of the Royal Society in 1741 , and President of the Society of Antiquaries in 1750 . Some very unlikely stories have been circulated about this medal , but the facts as to the Masonio and scientific eminence of Folkes are undoubted . We have only met with ifc in bronze . " Of No . 1087— " fche Royal Medal of 1802 , "

—we read " This is Merzdorf ' s 9 and Marvin ' s 262 , and is without doubt the finest of tho English Masonic Medals . Ifc was issued in 1802 by Bro . W . Hollins P . M . 38 , evidently to commemorate the patronage of the Craft by the Prince of Wales and fche Duke of Clarence ( Georgo IV . and William IV . ) The letters " G . P . O . " have been explained to mean " Grand Principal of the Order , " bub

fchey refer to H . R . H . being Grand Patron of the Grand Chapter of fche Royal Arch . We have seen impressions on silver bronze , and white metal . " No . 1088 , — " Masonic Halfpenny Token . Sfcruok A . D . 1794 in commemoration of election in 1790 aud installation in 1792 of H . R . H . the Prince of Wales as G . M . "—isjbelieved by Hughan to be " unique . " No . 1104 "Antique Pierced Silver Jewel in the

shape of a G , " we are told , is " unique in design , so far as my researches go , the letter being usually within a circle . The mottoes ' Nous vivous sur le quarre , ' and ' Virtufce efc Silenfcio' are to be found on Major MoGachen's Medal , and I met wifch fche former once afc Falmouth . Date about 1780 . " As to No . 1110 , — "Silver Star Jewel . Hand holding hour-glass , on blue enamel centre , motto ou

wrist ' Fraternitas , ' inscription on hour-glass 'oenfci anni , '—Bro . Hnghan says it is " quite new to mo , and I cannot find out its origin , " while of No . 1112 , — " Antique Masonio Plate , Roman figures and ornamentation interspersed with Masonic Emblems , " he writes " Of mosfc elaborate design , and probably unique . " No , 1117 , an old apron is noted as a " choice production " and nofc of an " ordinary

design , No . 1129 , a firsfc Edition of the Constitutions of Graud Lodge of England of 1723 , as being as a matter of course exceedingly rare . Nos . 1130-1141 are also " Constitutions , " Pocket Companions , and Ahiman Rezons—all more or less valuable—while No . 1142—" fche Coin Collectors'Companion , 1795 "—is described in the footnote as including " several Masonic Tokens " and as being " very

rare ; unknown to Henry , of London . " No . 1157— " Les Franc . Macons Ecrases . Rare Plates , 1762 "—is spoken of as a " rare edition of a very singular work , the illustrations being very suggestive , " while No . 1158 , " Clavel ' s Almanach Pittoresqae , de la Frano-Maconnerie , 1844 to 1848 , " is set down as a valuable little collection . No . 1164—"' Freemason Examin'd' 1754 . List of Lodges , "

writes Bro . Hnghan , is " a singular work , professedly an ' exposure , ' but is ifc so P The List of Lodges is valuable , for Calendars of that period cannot now be obtained apparently at any price . " We have now completed our review of the Exhibits aa specified in tbe Catalogue , and annotated by Bro . Hughan . Iu general terms , we may remark thafc the work of editing has been carried out with

remarkable judgment by Bro . Taylor , who , as Provincial Grand Secretary of Worcestershire , has played a leading part in connection with this successful Exhibition , and to whom , therefore , we should prove very ungrateful , if we did not pay him at least fche very ordinary compliment—which , however , is considered by many as the

greatest compliment that can be paid—namely , thafc he has carried out a very laborious work with very great credit to himself and in a manner to reflect still greater credit ou fche Province he is associated with . We trust it will nofc be long ere we have an opportunity of chronicling tbe success of a similar Exhibition ; if nofc in Worcestershire or Yorkshire , afc all events in some other parfc of the country .

The Fifteen" Sections

THE FIFTEEN" SECTIONS

WILL BE WORKED Afc tho Emblematic Lodge of Instruction , No . 1321 , on Tuesday , 30 th inst ., at the . Red Lion , York-street , Sfc . James ' s-square , S . W ., at 7 o'clock precisely . Bros . Smith S . D . 1563 W . M ., Smith J . D . 1744 S . W ., Fendick W . M . 1321 J . W . First Lecture—Bros . Seymour , Solomou . Fendick , Davies , Edwards , Farwig , Paul . Second Lecture—Bros . Wetherhilfc , Green , Hemming , Smith , Cottebrune . Third Lecture—Bros . Cdraons , Brindley , Swan . Bro . Swan Secretary ,