Masonic Week At Kidderminster.

in this form until 177 S . I have here 1763 , 17 G 6 , 1770 , 177 G , and 177 S ; no private individual or library , save the Grand Lodge of England and Bro . Carson , of Cincinnati , Ohio , having more than one . After 177 S they assumed this printed calendar form , in which , with few exceptions , you have before you those from 17 S 1 to 1 S 14 , when it was

altered to this pocket-book style with which you are familiar , and of which I lack a considerable number between 1 S 15 and 1 S 50 . Another set worthy of mention is nine vols . " Pocket Companions , " dating from 1735 to 1764 , the first-mentioned being of extreme rarity , the list of lodges it contains giving a lodge at Philadelphia , No . 79 , which no other list

mentions . Of the famous " Illustrations of Masonry , " by William Preston , continued by Oliver , there is every edition except the first of 1772 . The earliest magazine on Masonry was published in 1793 . I have persevered to make up a complete set of every Masonic periodical—quarterly , monthly , or weekly —which has appeared to the present date . In this 1 have

succeeded , except the Freemasons' Magazine for 179 8 , the Freemasons' Magazine for 1 S 63 , and from July to December , 1 S 65 . Another very rare set , here complete , is " Cole ' s Constitutions , " from 172 S , engraved on copper plates . Also the whole of the works by Bro . Hughan , all editions of which were limited in number , and have become most difficult to procure .

I believe all the Histories of Freemasonry are here , and another special feature I have made is the collection of " Lodge Histories . " We have about fifty examples of zeal and research , which I trust all lodges will follow . Works on the medals of the Fraternity are represented by Zacharias' Numismatics , Merzdorf ' s , Marvin ' s , and other publications . A considerable number of French and German Masonic

works on all subjects will be found in the collection , but nothing foreign except that which is rare or of early dates . Under the head of Rituals will be found a goodly number of old and Vilre caricatures and so-called exposures of Masonry , by Prichard , Briscoe , Wilson , and several anonymous writers , which I cannot refer to in this brief sketch , as also other curious old works , such as " Multa Paucis " of 1763 , "Long Livers" of 1722 , " Blue Blanket" of 1722 , and others . The whole are catalogued and divided into

17 sections , viz .: — Almanacks , Calendars ' , and Lists of Lodges . Bibliography . Biographies . Constitutions , Bye-laws , and Jurisprudence . Cyclopaedias . Histories of Freemasonry and Proceedings of Grand Lodges .

Lodge Histories . Works on the Higher Degrees . Magazines , Journals , and Periodicals . Works on Medals , Numismatics , Sic Polemic Works for , about , or against Freemasonry . Persecutions of Freemasonry . Rituals , Manuals , and Handbooks . Sermons , Addresses , and Orations .

Song Books and Ode Books . Tales , Sketches , & c . Various . Ten volumes of the latter contain all the pamphlets , scraps , and miscellaneous matter of 100 different Masonic Eubjects . The library portion , I believe , contains about 600 volumes , but I have only been able to allude to sets . The china and pottery , with the quaint diversity of

emblems they bear , I need not mention . The framed aprons you see on the walls are quaint specimens of a period when brethren were at liberty to wear any design they chose , and were not confined to a regulation pattern . Three of the engravings are particularl y worthy of mention—The " Mock Procession " is an original engraving , the copies of 1771 lacking the quaint particulars of the artist ' s lodgings this bears . CiavePs " Histoire de la

Pittoresque " you will find in the library gives a reduced copy , and states that only one original existed . You will see by reference to the old Constitutions that it was the custom in the early times of Grand Lodge for the brethren to form in procession , and escort the Grand Master elect from his residence to the Freemasons' Hall . This

mock procession was organised in 174 1 to throw ridicule on the- Fraternity , and it led soon after to a discontinuance of Masonic processions in London . The print of Count Cagliostro ' s exposure in the Lodge of Antiquity is also , I believe , rare . The particulars of the incident are related on the print . " Picart ' s " plate shows Pine ' s List of Lodges of 1734 , copied in the arrangement

you see . Beiore touching upon the question of medals , I must take this opportunity of referring to a generous gift by a well-known Masonic student and lodge historian in Yorkshire , Bro . J . Ramsden Riley , of Bradford , to whom we are indebted for that framed sheet of old certificates ; the rare engraved list of 177 G ; his " History of the Airedale Lodge ; " the scarce " First Edition of Brown ' s Master Key

of 179 8 ; " " History of the Mihden Lodge , " and the " Musical Entertainer of 1737 . " valuable work engraved b y George Bickham , jun ., and dedicated to the Marquis of Carnarvon when Grand Master . It will take too long time to attempt any exhaustive description of the 400 Masonic medals you see . I have endeavoured , by aid of the cards set against each tray , to take note of special items .

You will be able to find the history , origin , and description of all up to No . 150 in the catalogue in the centre of the room , but time has failed me to catalogue beyond these at present . A goodly number were unknown to writers on Alasonic medals , but the rest you will be able to trace in Marvin ' s work , which lies in the same place . Marvin ' s book was published in Boston in 1 SS 0 , and has now become the standard work on Masonic medals . He there catalogues

about 700 medals , about Go of which he illustrates , few persons are aware of the large number of Masonic medals existing outside the wide field ot lodge jewels and personal decorations . Marvin says the largest cabinet ( 1 S 80 J was that of the Prov . Grand Lodge of Mecklenberg at Rostock , which contained 324 specimens , the next in importance being the cabinets of the Lodges Apollo and Minerva at Leipsic .

Masonic Week At Kidderminster.

In America the Lodge Pythagoras , of Brooklyn , has a collection of about 20 ospecimens . In England there are no large collections save this , except one made by Bro . G . L . Shackles , of Hull , and another by Major Irvin , at Bristol . It will be observed that most of them are of foreign origin , where the striking of medals by the Fraternity has been especially popular during the last 150 years . They

have been struck chiefly in honour ot some distinguished member of the Fraternity , or of some event or anniversary in connection with the lodges and their members . By the aid of agents in the principal cities of the Continent and advertising I have been fortunate in obtaining many rare and unique specimens . The 15 silver medals , No . 4 6 to 60 , were obtained under peculiar circumstances . An acquaintance with the chief

engraver at the Royal Mint , Stockholm , enabled me to advance my wishes . She ( Madame Lea Ahlborn ) is the daughter of Lungren , the famous Swedish engraver , and doubtless the only lady engraver of dies of any note ever known . She kindly proffered to wait upon the King of Sweden , and state my object , with a view of obtaining his Majesty ' s assent to her using the old and new dies lying in the Royal mint , for the purpose of supplying me with

impressions . King Oscar graciously complied , and the result you have before you . Many of the earliest medals known are in this collection . The whole are classed as follows : — England 117 , Germany 52 , France 10 G , Holland 20 , Belgium , 20 , Sweden 17 , Denmark 1 , Moldavia , 1 , Italy 4 , America 52 .

I can only briefly refer to a few of the rare ones : — No . 19 S is unique , being the massive silver jewel , set in brilliants , granted by the Grand Lodge of England to the Country Stewards' Lodge , and bearing the inscription . No . 193 is the jewel of the Grand Stewards' Lodge , which was designed by the celebrated William Hogarth , who was one of the Grand Stewards in 1735 . Bro . Hughan believes No . 147 to be one of the original jewels used by

that lodge . In No . 264 we have another of the most valuable of English medals . Itisthe " Freemasons' Hall medal . J' in silver , specially granted in 17 S 0 to the few lodges and individuals who made loans of £ 25 to pay off the Hall debt , the inscription on this impression bearing the name of " Hugh Dixon , Esq . " No . 192 is the gold and silver jewel worn by the Stewards

who acted at the installation of H . R . H . the Prince of Wales . No . 197 is the jewel of the Royal Alpha Lodge , in which Prince Albert Victor was initiated . No . 1 S 2 is the Royal medal of the Lodge of Antiquity , to be returned on the demise or resignation of a member . No . 43 is a medal struck by the Royal Alfred Lodge Cextinct ) , at Oxford ; its minutes are preserved by the

Apollo Lodge , and they mention that 40 medals were struck in 1772 . Marvin knew of two impressions in America , and this one was obtained from there . No . 21 is a curious old English jmedal of 1763 , with a great number of emblems , and similar to the pierced one—No . 136 . Nos . 151 to 1 G 5 are English Masonic halfpennies and pennies of different varieties . Nos . 1 S 0 to 191 include centenary and members' jewels of

English lodges . Of other English medals you will observe a tray of 14 Royal Arch jewels of various dates , showing various designs . Among the American medals , the rarest are the following five , in silver : —No . 269 , of which only 10 were struck ; No . 270 , the funeral medal of Bro . George Washington ; No . 271 , the Franklin medal ; No . 272 , the George Washington initiation medal ; and No . 273 , the dies of which

were destroyed after 10 were struck . Of German medals , No . 267 is unique , being the only one struck in gold ( see Marvin , p . 56 ) , in , honour of Jaenisch , Grand Master of the Hamburg Grand Lodge in 177 S . Nos . 1 , 4 , 7 , and S are among the earliest of Masonic medals , the latter being the celebrated " Freemasons ' Ducat . " No . s was unknown in silver to writers in numismatics .

No . 16 was struck to commemorate the apocryphal " Charter of Cologne . " Nos . 22 , 2 S , and 39 are very rare , as the dies cracked after a few were struck . No . 23 is also very rare ; Marvin knew of only two impressions . Authorities knew of 32 in copper only . No . 36 was struck on the initiation of Prince William of Prussia , now Emperor of Germany .

No . 37 is very rare ; Marvin had only seen an engraving . No . 3 $ is one of the finest medals , the laws of heraldry being faithfully carried out in the shields which represent the reigns of the Grand Masters of Holland . No . 39 marks the centennial of the initiation of Frederick the Great . Nos . 41 and 45 are medals presented by the Emperor William of Germany to brethren in Berlin on their silver

weddings , in commemoration of his own silver wedding , June 11 , 1854 . No . 42 is very scarce and valuable , struck in honour of Prince Charles of Hesse , 1779 . Nos . 61 , 65 , 6 S , 70 , 104 , and 10 S are examples of a series of mules , of which Marvin names eleven combinations in connection with Freemasonry in Belgium . No . 66 celebrated the establishment of the Grand Lodge of Belgium , which followed the separation of that country

from Dutch government . The reverse of No . 62 is known as the Masonic sermon . No . 63 is worth notice for its finely cut rays , as also No . GS . No . 74 was struck by a lodge now extinct , St . Eugene , of Pans . Nos . 7 6 , 97 , 101 , and 265 are of the few Italian medals , No . 101 being the celebrated Martin Folke ' s medal , who was Deputy Grand Master of England in 1724 .

No . 105 is a Templar medal . Nos . 7 S and So were struck by lodges having powers to confirm the Rose Croix Degree . No . 83 perpetuates the name of Zismendorf , the originator of the Swedish Rite of Masonry . No . 84 was struck in memory of Guinneau , 24 years Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of the Three Globes , Berlin . No . 117 commemorates the amalgamation of three lodges at Berlin , viz ., The Three Skeletons , The Pillar , and The Bell .

Masonic Week At Kidderminster.

Nos . in , 113 , 117 , 119 , 120 , 121 , 122 , 123 , 124 , 125 , and 27 G are not mentioned in any works as Masonic medals , and are mostly rare . No . 130 is a scarce medal , struck in honour of the nuptuals of the Margrave of Brandenburg , with the Princess Sophia of Brunswick . No . 131 is a rare medal of the Lodge Minerva , at Leipsic .

No . 137 was struck by the Grand Lodge of the Three Globes , Berlin , celebrating its centennial festival . No . 140 is a noble medal , unknown to Marvin ; it commemorates 60 years rule of Prince William Frederick Charles ol the Netherlands . No . 142 was struck at Anspach , in honour of the 23 rd birthday of their Grand Master , Christian Fredk . Charles Alexander of Brandenburg .

No . 144 was struck by five Hamburg lodges for presentation to eleven ladies in recognition of humane services to sick and wounded . No . 150 was struck by the Lodge Frederick of the Temple , at Hildesheim , to celebrate the semi-centennial of its sister lodge , Gate of Eternity . Nos . 202 and 204 are probably unique , and illustrate the French design .

Nos . 205 to 219 are English and Foreign medals , chiefly relating to High Grade Masonry , and would take some time to describe ; they are mostly old and rare . Nos . 220 to 262 are American medals . No . 26 3 is very rate , in silver . It is in honour of the 2 Sth anniversary of the lodge at Rcgensburg . No . 266 , only one was known of , and that in the Grand Lodgeof Hamburg .

No . 26 S commemorates the establishment of the Mars Lodge , at Jersey , by Baron Sadogusky . It is very raie and valuable . Nos . 302 to 30 G represent the members' jewels worn in foreign lodges . The tray of lodge jewels once belonged to Bro . Geo . Downing , who was Prov . Grand Master of Essex ; and the next fray contains chains and jewels as worn by the late Bro . T . H . Hall , Prov . Grand Master

Cambridgeshire . A considerable number of medals follow , which I have not yet classified , and , in concluding this brief description , I can only express the hope that at some future time it may be my fortune to recur to the subject again , so as to refer at greater length to the " medals of the Masonic Fraternity . A cordial vote of thanks to Bro . Taylor closed Monday's

most interesting proceedings . Tuesday evening ' s programme was to have comprised a lecture by Bro . VV . J . Hughan , entitled , "Connecting Links between ancient and Modern Masonry . " Bro . Hughan had provided for his enforced absence by supplying the chief points of what would have been his lecture , in MS . to Bro . Taylor , who , after again alluding to the loss Bro . Hughan had sustained , read the same to

the assembled brethren . The lecture , which was frequently applauded , was written in Bro . Hughan ' s well-knowh lucid and learned style , the most convincing proofs of the continuity of Ancient and Modern Freemasonry being grouped under the following heads : Earliest Evidences of Operative and Speculative Freemasonry in England and Scotland . Origin of the words " Lodge " and " Freemason . " The old Charges of the British Craft . Peculiarities of the

Society . Its Christian Basis until the iSth Century . Modern Lodges , the Lineal Descendants of the old Fraternity . The original Secret of the Freemasons . The Choice and Registration of Marks . The Ancient as well Honorable Character of the Free and Accepted Masons . Links supplied and the Continuity established . On the motion of Bro . W . B . Williamson , P . P . G . W . Worcester , seconded by Bro . H . Preen , VV . M . 377 and

, supported by Bro . J . Mossop , VV . M . 1 S 74 , a hearty vote of thanks was accorded to Bro . Hughan for his kindness in promising to visit Kidderminster , and under so severe a family affliction providing for his enforced absence so well . It was coupled with an expression of sincere sympathy in the loss he had sustained . A vote of thanks was again accorded to Bro . Taylor , who promised , at the request of the brethrento allow the

col-, lection to remain on view for the remainder of the week . We had almost omitted to mention that these gatherings were held under the auspices of Hope and Charity Lodge , No . 377 . and the Lechmere Lodge , No . 1 S 74 . Monday's programme , including the installation in the afternoon of Bro . Jno . Mossop as VV . M . of the last mentioned lodge .

The ceremony was ably performed by Bro . the Rev . A . B . Timbrell , I . P . M . On Wednesday night a Masonic ball was held in the Town Hall , under the patronage of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Worcestershire , when a large number of brethren and ladies , embracing most of the elite of the neighbourhood , assisted at a very brilliant and successful gathering .

First Annual Ball Of The Royal Jubilee Lodge, No. 72.

FIRST ANNUAL BALL OF THE ROYAL JUBILEE LODGE , No . 72 .

This ancient lodge has made an innovation in its annual programme by holding its first annual ball , and as it is described as the first annual ball , we presume future years will see the custom firmly established , for if the first is any criterion , the brethren of the Royal Jubilee Lodge will look

torward with pleasure to what , judging by the experience of the first , will prove one of the most enjoyable events of the year . A desire to hold a ball had arisen in the lodge for some time past , and at the installation meeting of the present VV . M ., Bro . G . F . Jenkins , a proposal that the first annual ball of the lodge should be held was heartily taken up , and a considerable number of brethren volunteered to act as Stewards .

I he Westminster Town Hall , with its splendid suite of rooms , was engaged for the 5 th inst ., and the Committee of Stewards entered heartily into their labours , which resulted in bringing about a most enjoyable evening for the members of the lodge , with their relatives and friends . Dancing commenced at S . 30 to the music of Sibbold ' s City of London Band

, there being present Bros . Cama , the newly-elected G . Treas . ; G . F . Jenkins , W . M . and President ; Aug . Darch , Sec . and P . M . ; N . Turner , I . P . M . and Treas . ; C . R . Williams , S . VV . and Vice-President ; W . Lloyd ; G . Morton , and T . Meekham , P . M . 69 and 12 SS , M . C . ' s ; T . Dunkley , VV . M . 201 ; T . Turnbull , P . M . 1275 ; J . D . Simmons , Braund , Staddon , Belfrage , Walker , VV orth , Payne , and Baker , P . M . 2030 . The majority of these