Old Freemasons.

0 f San Francisco , 71 years a Mason . For this brother it has recently been claimed that he is the oldest Freemason in the United States , to which claim , however , the Tyler tells us objection has been taken by Bro . Edward C . par melee , Grand Secretary of Colorado , by whom the following list of venerables is given , viz .: Bro . John B . Hollenbeck , Past G . Secretary Burlington , Vermont , initiated 1813 , Bro . David McDaniel , Vermont ,

initiated May , 1814 , Bro . Wilkinson Dean , Manton , Rhode Island , initiated May , 1814 , Bros . G . Potter , Long Island , Israel Coe , Waterbury , Conn ., and George Kinney , Norwich , Conn ., all initiated in 1 S 15 ; and Bros . B . Nye , Brookfield , Mass ., and Daniel Warren , Bloomfield , Ohio , both initiated in 1816 . We shall not attempt to settle the precise merits of the cases enumerated above , but we hope to hear of their continuing to flourish for some time to come .

Bro. Hughan At Home.

BRO . HUGHAN AT HOME .

Knowing as I do the interest with which everything concerning my valued friend , our Bro . Hughan , is received amongst the Craft the wide world over , I cannot but wish a worthier pen than mine had written this article , but , yielding to none in sincere respect and admiration for him , both

personally and Masonically , I will crave the indulgence of the brethren for any shortcomings they may perceive in it , having done my best , feeling assured that if they knew of the difficulty I had in persuading Bro . Hughan to permit of my thus sketching a few of his surroundings , they would all the more appreciate my fraternal effort .

I cannot commence in a better way than by quoting from Dr . Mackay ' s " Encyclopedia , " biographical section— " The History of Masonry in England , in which the brotherhood of the world is so deeply interested , will never have justice done to its historians , unless there is placed amongst the first entitled to immortality the name of William James Hughan . . . . The fraternity have an international interest in him , and look forward hopefully to the attainments of his continued labours , which have resulted already so favourably . "

Like many other learned men , Bro . Hughan ' s habits are exceedingly simple , and the old adage , " Early to bed and early to rise , " finds a very practical exponent in him , which enables him to get through the bulk of his work before dinner , and he tells me that he very rarely writes by gaslight . He also makes a special point of having been always a total abstainer ,

" hence , " he says , " I always rise with a clear head . Enormous as is the amount of writing he gets through on every conceivable subject connected with the Craft , he never copies anything after he has written it ; the MS . goes at once to the printer , and it is to this fact he attributes bein | j able to get through so great an extent of work in a limited time .

MSS . are often sent to him from every part of the country for personal and friendly revision prior to publication , or for him to kindly write introductions ; indeed , there appear to be very few Masonic works of any kind published of late years with which he has not had something to do ; and , while on this topic , I may mention for the interest of the Craft , that I saw at his house the proof sheets of two most valuable forthcoming books , to be issued shortly . The first is the " History of the Royal Union Lodge

of Cheltenham , * ' by Bro . Geo . Norman , P . M ., & c _ , " with an introduction by William James Hughan , P . G . D ., " and the other is "The Religion of Freemasonry , " by Bro . H . J . Whymper , P . D . D . G . M . Punjab , edited by the indefatigable Secretary of Lodge " Quatuor Coronati" ( Bro . G . Speth ) , also with an introduction by Bro- Hughan . Both these works will form important additions to the literature of the Craft , and will doubtless receive the support they deserve , that of Bro . Whymper ' s , I understand , now being ready for sale .

His house is full of books , and the walls of every room are decorated with portraits of Masonic celebrities from every part of the world , being highly valued by the recipient , the number of similar remembrances in albums being without end . His library contains many rare and valuable books , amongst which , as especially deserving of notice , I will mention a perfect copy of "The Constitutions of tbe Freemasons " with a fine frontispiece by John Pine , dated

1723 , being the first speculative Masonic work ever published , and next , in point of value , the " Constitutions of 1767-7 6 , " the rarest edition , because of the appendix ; but his greatest treasure is a superb copy of the edition of 1784 , bound in scarlet morocco , and containing a " proof before letters " of Bartolozzi ' s magnificent plate ; and I also glanced at a valuable copy of the original edition of " Ahiman Rezon , " by Bro . Lawrence Demott , of the year 1756 .

Coming down to more modern times I must note a beautifully bound , and interleaved copy of Bro . John Lane ' s " Masonic Records " ( presented by the Author ) , in speaking of which Bro . Hughan remarked " I consider this book to be the most extraordinary single volume ever issued in regard to the Fraternity , " and when we take into account the enormous amount

of labour and research necessary to collect the data from which to complete the particulars respecting over 3 600 lodges , chartered by the Grand Lodgeof England , and , that the volume was finished in four years , the term " extraordinary " is the oniy one which will describe such an exhaustive and valuable work .

With regard to Bro . Hughan ' s own writings , the first volume he brought out was " The Constitutions of the Freemasons , " the special feature of which was a fac-simile of Cole's " Constitutions" of 1728-9 ( copper plate ) , of this work only 70 copies were published in 1869 , the price being half-aguinea , " but so scarce has it become that one was sold the other day for three guineas . His next book was the " Masonic Sketches and Reprints , "

two works in one volume published in 1871 , which was so popular that it was reprinted in America in the same year by consent of the author , in a very handsome form . Next came " The Old Charges of British Freemasons" in 1872 , of which the author says— "This is , perhaps , the most successful work I ever brought out , probably from the fact of its going over entirel y new ground . " It was the first collection of "old charges" ever

"lade , and was enriched with fac-similes of several from the XVI . century downwards , the whole forming a very striking volume . The fifth was ' Masonic Memorials , " published in 1874 , containing a reprint of Dr . Jassi gny ' s work of 1744 , in which we have the first typographical reference to Royal Arch Masonry . The most artistic of his productions , however , is "The Masonic Register

Bro. Hughan At Home.

of Lodges , " published in 1878 , with coloured lithographs in thirteen tints . The frontispiece is an illustration of the arms of the Grand Lodge of England , being the first coloured representation of the kind ever produced ; and the sketch for this purpose was specially made for Bro . Hughan by the R . W . Bro . Sir Albert Woods ( P . G . W . ) , G . D . C , Garter King at Arms . The volume also contains reproductions of the jewels of No . 1 , " Grand

Master s Lodge ; " No . 7 , " Royal York Lodge of Perseverance ; " No . 4 , " Royal Somerset House Lodge ; " No . 259 , "Princeof Wales' Lodge ; " No . 6 7 , at Calcutta ; and the special jewels designed for the inauguration of Freemasons' Hall in 186 9 ; and for the Grand Stewards serving at the Installation of H . R . H . the Prince of Wales as M . W . Grand Master ; with many others . All the above works were printed at Truro by his old and valued

friend , Bro . William Lake , P . M . 131 ( now of London ) , and I cannot too highly praise their artistic and typographical excellence . Nothing like them was ever attempted before in Devon or Cornwall , and all of them , but especially the " Masonic Register , " would reflect the greatest credit on any firm . Bro . Hughan ' s last work ( "We are Seven , " he said ) was "The Origin of the English Rite of Freemasonry , especially relating to the

Royal Arch Degree , with a preface by Bro . T . B . Whytehead , " dated 1884 . This volume contains coloured lithographs of the seals of the " Old York Grand Lodge of All England , " and several others . It is handsomely got up , and published by Bro . George Kenning , who is now Bro . Hughan ' s publisher . He is just bringing out a new book , which promises to be of a most interesting character , and will be eagerly sought after , as it contains

a facsimile reproduction of the engraved list of Lodges of 1734 , of which there is only one copy in the world , and' has been kindly lent by its owner , Bro . James Newton , P . M ., & c , of Bolton , for the purpose . Bro . Hughan hopes it will be out in November , and I would recommend Masonic students to obtain copies as soon as possible after publication , as they will be sure to be caught up quickly .

Of English Lodge Histories he possesses a copy of every one published , from that of No . 1 downwards , and in many cases the formula , " with an introduction by William James Hughan , " appears on the title-page . Foremost amongst the decorations of his drawing-room , which bears striking evidence , as does the whole house , of the good taste of his most excellent helpmeet , Mrs . Hughan , is an artist ' s proof-engraving of the

celebrated painting by Edward J . Harty , of the Installation of the Prince of Wales as M . W . G . M ., in the Albert Hall , the value of this proof being enhanced by having at the foot the autograph signatures of H . R . H . "Albert Edward , " "Edward J . Harty , with fraternal regards , July , 1878 , " and " E . G . Hester" the engraver . In another prominent place is an address on vellum from Lodge , 131 , Truro , presented to him on

the occasion of the celebration of the lodge ' s centenary in 18 73 , and beautifully illuminated by Bro . W . Lake , also diplomas of Honorary membershi p of " St . Mary ' s Chapel , " No . I , Edinburgh , " Mother Kilwinning , " No . O , Kilwinning , together with votes of thanks for Stewardships of the various Charities . In this latter branch of the science Bro . Hughan has rendered most invaluable services , for which his adopted province cannot but feel the utmost gratitude , and it can truly be said of him that

" He hath a tear for pity , and a hand Open as day for melting Charity . " He has served as Steward for each of the Institutions many times , and the widows and orphans have to thank him for the collection of over £ 2000 on their behalf . He has 45 votes for the " Boys" alone , and the united number he possesses is 95 , the whole of which ' he gives to the Province of Cornwall , on account of his long connection with it ; and whilst speaking of

this , I must note a very handsome gilt purse that I detected under a " shade , " which , on enquiry , I found vvas presented to Bro . Hughan with 270 sovereigns , and a P . Prov . Grand Secretary ' s jewel by the R . W . Bro . the Earl of Mount Edgcumbe , Prov . G . M ., on behalf , of the brethren of Cornwall , in token of their great esteem and affection for him , and of their regret at his leaving that province for Torquay . It is a curious coincidence that the value of the votes he has donated for his lifetime is almost precisely that of the presentation .

He expresses a great admiration for Bro . Gould ' s latest work ; indeed , it was by his desire and recommendation that Bro . Gould was entrusted with the preparation of "The History of Freemasonry , " and the noble way in which it has been carried out amply justifies Bro . Hughan ' s satisfaction in having done so , and also in having been able to assist him in it .

The motto "Order is Heaven ' s first law" is studied most perfectly in his " sanctum . " There is a place for everything , and everything is in its place , and clever little contrivances abound for keeping every book and paper just where it can be most easily got at when wanted . This , again , is of the secrets

one of his success as a writer . He is now collecting materials for a work on medals , and also contemplates a " History of the Grand Royal Arch Chapter . " Whilst telling me of the first-named , Bro . Hughan mentioned that he was assisting Bro . Marvin , of Boston , Mass ., in an appendix to his fine book on medals , and finished by showing me some very fine specimens in his own possession .

I cannot but give the place of honour to the beautiful Masonic Jubilee Medal , struck by Bro . George Kenning . Everything produced by Bro . Kenning is of the highest artistic excellence , but in this case he has surpassed himself , and I have never seen a more beautiful specimen of the medallic art , whilst it entirely throws into the shade the official Jubilee Medal , as must be acknowledged by everyone who has seen the two , side bv side , as I did . The face of her Majesty on the obverse is " three-quarter

lace instead ot in profile , the gain in dignity of expression being immense , while the reverse has a minutely faithful reproduction of the arms of Grand Lodge . Three other fine " specimens were examined by me , viz ., the" Duke of Sussex" medal , the "Athol Lodge" medal , and the " Mossop" Charity medal , the first being that struck at Bath in 1819 , very rare and valuable the second , designed by Kirk and struck in 1775 , is still rarer ; and the last-named , believed to be a " proof" medal , is a large oval , finely impressed , and struck at Dublin .

In another case are jewels of various Degrees , including special Lodge jewels , noteworthy amongst which is the curious one of the ( German ) " Pilgrim" Lodge , consisting of a key and trowel , suspended from a ribbon . I believe I am ri ght in stating that Bro . Hughan holds , or has held , Grand rank m all the regular Degrees in England , up to the Thirtysecond inclusive the Craft he is

. In a P . S . G . Deacon ; in the Holy Royal Arch a Past Asst . Grand Soj ., this being Past rank given by his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales as Grand Z . ; in Mark Masonry , by patent a Past Grand Warden ; in the "Ancient and Accepted Rite" he has received the 30 , 31 , and 32 , honoris causa ; is a Knight Templar- a Knight ot the Royal Order of Scotland , R . C . Y . C . S . ; a P . Senior Sub .