Hungarian Lodge Medals.

Hungarian Lodge Medals .

t UNGARY" appears to have been a terra incognita to _ the Masonic student until a very short time ago , and this is probabl y due to the fact that it has been confounded with the Austrian Empire in which Freemasonry has been suppressed by the authorities , whilst it is , on the . TJV / contrary , a distinct kingdom , with its own parliament , V ^ fe ; laws , and customs , Emperors of Austria having to be separately crowned as kings of Hungary before

becoming the legal Rulers , and there is no Hungarian law prohibiting the Craft . A list of Grand Officers , etc , has appeared in the

"Cosmopolitan Calendar . " and there has been an exchange ot representatives to and from the Grand Lodges of England and Scotland , and , more recently , of Ireland ; but beyond this little or nothing was known to the majority of English-speaking brethren of this Grand Lodge . Even Bro . Gould in his great work dismisses thc subject in

a very few lines , as do also the Masonic Encyclopedias ; but by one of those happy small chances from which great events frequently spring , I applied to the Grand Lodge of Hungary same two years ago for contributions to the collection of Masonic " Outward and A'Tsible Signs" on which I am engaged , with the result of

commencing a very interesting and valuable correspondence with my friend Bro . Lad i si as de Malc / . ovich of Budapest , when it soon became apparent that althongh not in the happy condition of Great Britain , Sweden or Denmark , where Masonry is governed and patronised by the Royal Families , and even as in the latter countries

quite a state institution with its Order of knig hthood for Masons only , yet Hungarian Freemasonry is in a flourishing condition in spite ( if clerical opposition , and is systematically and ably governed by its rulers . Bro . Malc / . ovich and myself contributed a joint article to the , Freemason * on thc formation of the present Grand Body and its ways and customs , and Bro . Malc / . ovich himself has

contributed to the Ars Quatnor Coronatomm -f some most valuable articles on Freemasonry in Hungary in the last century , the remaining papers being awaited with much interest by Bros . Hughan , Speth , Lane and others , as , if its existence can be fairly proved , the Lodge "Three Stars" at Prague , which Bro . Malezovich mentions in 1726 , is older flan any lodge before known- to hare existed on the Continent .

The special object of the present article , however , is to draw attention to Hungarian Masonic medals , which have hitherto escaped the notice of all collectors and writers on this particular branch of study . Bro . Marvin , in his great catalogue ( with

supplement ) of nearly one thousand Masonic medals , does not name one Hungarian specimen , and Bro . Shackles , in his line collection , has onl y three . T purpose , therefore , to give a full description of the specimens in my own collection , with illustrations , which will , I ( rust , prove of considerable interest to the Fraternity .

1 . A very handsome medal in yellow metal . Scale 26 . Inscription on obverse , in Hungarian , " Kgyesseg a liazaban , " device , two clasped hands surrounded by a cloud , ( he sun in splendour ab the top ; on reverse , in German , " Einigheit im Vatcrland , " with a wreath of laurels encircling the year 1868 , both inscriptions meaning

'' Concord in the Motherland . I his lodge was the mother ot the St . John ' s Lodges in Hungary , and was located in Pest ( now Budapest , the two towns being united ) . It sent out so many colonies that it exhansted its vitality , and is now defunct , uiul thc medal exceedingly rare . It was worn suspended by a corded ribbon of red , white , and green , the national colours of Hungary .

2 . A fine medal of white metal of Lodge " Old and Faithful Brethren , " of German origin , and sister of Lodge " St . Istvan , " seated in Budapest , nnd still working , but using another medal . Inscription on obverse , "A regi hu testverek keleten Pesten , " with

square and compasses resting on a cloud . On reverse , " Logo die alten getreuen im Orienzte / . u Pest , " with laurel wreath enclosing ( he date 1870 . The ribbon suspending it was blue . The lodge now is Nourishing , and is rich itt funds , and has a large membership . Size 20 .

3 . A yellow metal medal . Lodge "Concordia . " Scale 18 . Inscrip tion on obverse , "Set . Johnnnis [ 77 ] Concordia Orient Lippa , " with a full length figure of Concord ; on reverse , a laurel wreath with date " 31 Aug . 0 U 871 " and square and compasses . This lodge was founded by the former St . John ' s Grand Lodge in 1871 , but is now defunct , and thc medal rare .

4 . A silver medal struck as a twelve-pointed star . Scale 29 to extremity of points , and 14 in inner circle . On the obverse , two clasped hands issuing from clouds , with the sun in splendour above , On reverse , " Pest kel . ' . d . ' . Osszetartas Fj 000872 , " with an eye in

a triangle , and the square and compasses . This was the medal of thc Lodge "Osszetartas , " formerly working in Pest , under the Grand Orient , and was worn on a crimson ribbon . It is extremely scarce , and the lodge no longer exists .

5 . A silver medal with field removed . Scale 22 . On the outer circle the word " Hungaria " and the motto " Osszetartas , " meaning " holding together ; " within , over two clasped hands , the square and compasses , with " 22 XI 000874 " on the square . This is the medal

Hungarian Lodge Medals.

of Lodge "Hungaria , " still existing in Budapest , and favourably known for its excellent working . It is worn on a short crimson ribbon suspended from a silver bar , bearing the name of the lodge . The reverse is blank . 6 . A medal of white ' metal . Scale 24 . On obverse , square and

compasses , enclosed by a laurel wreath , terminating at the top in two clasped hands . On reverse , "Arpad a tcstveriscghez szabad Komuvesi Szent Janos piihol y Szeged keleten . " This is the medal of Lodge "Arpad of Brotherhood , " working at Szeied ( where the

great flood was ) , having a very large membership and flourishing . "Arpad" was a descendant of the famous Attila tho Goth , and conquered Hungary , becoming its first duke or prince . The lodge w * as formed in 187— , and now uses another medal . The ribbon " is red , white , and green .

¦ / . A white medal , of scale 23 . On obverse , square , compasses , and perfect ashler , surrounded b y a quatrefoil bearing the legend "Hnladas , Pest , Mai us 24 1871 ; ' and on reverse , "Fortschritt ' Or :

Pest , 24 Mai 1871 " ( die of reverse cracked ) . The medal of Lodge " Haladas " or " Progress " ( which " Fortschritt " also means ) and worn on the left breast , which is very unusual with lodges descended from the former St . John ' s Grand Lodge .

8 . A very beautiful medal of yellow metal , attached to a scarlet ribbon . Scale 34 . On obverse , a double six-pointed star bearing a book inscribed K . K . between a square and compasses , with legend " Az Eloiteletek legyozcsehez K 6 n 3 * vcs Kalman , Pest Kbl . * . O 0 OS 72 . I . 24 . " On reverse a similar star bearino- the

tetragrammaton , surrounded by a glory , and a snake with its tail in its mouth for " eternity" between the letters J . B . M . This is the jewel of the Lodge " Konyves Kalman , " descended from the former Grand Orient , and working in Budapest . It is the largest and wealthiest of the Hungarian lodges , having some two hundred

members , and is in every way flourishing and admirabl y worked . It is named after an old king of Hungary , called Colomanus , or Kalman , who reigned at the beginning of the 12 th century . Ho was a man of great culture , and far in advance of that period * in his liberality of views and enlightenment of mind ; and , on finding that

he abolished trials against witches , "Which , " said he , "do not exist , " one need only glance at English history as late , as the 17 th century to see what metal this grand old prince was made of to dare to utter such an opinion sonic five hundred years before . He took

great delight in reading , hence was called Konyves'Kalman , " or " thc book-lover Kalman , " and hence the title of the lodge . Tho inscription means " Lodge Konyves Kalman— ' for the vanquishing of prejudices' ( this is a motto)—Orient of Pest . " The K . K . on the book is simply the lodge name . Date of formation , Jan . 24 th , 1872 .

9 . A bronze medal of scale 21 , worn attached to a bow of skyblue ribbon . On obverse , head of Humboldt , surrounded by the endless snake , with the legend " G . - . U . ' . V . - . f ~ j zu 'Humboldt ' im Or . ' . Pest . Gegr . ' . 000869 . " On reverse , between the square

and compasses , the letters B . . 1 . M . and KOSMOS , surrounded by a snake , with tho same legend as the obverse . This is the medal of Lodge " Humboldt , " of German ori gin , under the Grand Orient , and although tho membership is small , it is noted for its very excellent working .

10 . A brass medal of scale 24 , attached to a blue ribbon , bearing on the obverse a device of a scul ptor working at a rock with mallet and chisel ( Bro Hughan suggests that he is probably cutting steps ) ,

with the legend " Logo zur arbeit . In ltiborc Virtus . " On the reverse , a square and compasses with legend " Gegriindet Orient Pest . 20 III 000871 . " This was the medal of the " Lodge of labour , " established in Pest on the 27 th of March , 1871 , but is now defunct .

11 . A . gilt medal , scale 28 , of Lodge "Corvin Mdtdys , " established in 1869 . Obverse , compasses and square , with a raven ( corvus ) standing on the latter with a ring in his beak ; legend "Corvin Mdtyiis piiholy Pest kel Qj . " On reverse , a double triangle , with legend " Megnyittatott 000869 . 1 KI . Nyoleadikho 21 . " The raven

is an armorial bearing of the " Hiinyadis" family , from which sprang the famous John Hiinj-adi , the champion of Christianity and tho terror of the Turks . The inscri ption on reverse means " has been opened in the year 1869 , on the 20 th day of the 8 th month , "

( October as ( he Grand Orient , of which this was the mother lodge , counted March as the 1 st month ) . The average number of members is 60 , amongst them being several Grand Officers past and present , including tho actual Grand Master , M . W . Bro . Stephen Rakovoskv .

12 . A white metal medal , exquisitely designed , and which Bro . Hnghan says is the finest he has seen for some time . Scale 28 . On the obverse , a crowned female figure scattering money , with a lion seated b y her ( both being emblems of magnanimity or generosity ) , and behind them two pillars erased , the first bearing the square and

compass ; on reverse , " Lodge zur Grossmuth , Or . Budapest , " with branches of oak and laurel . "Grossmuth" or " Magnanimit y " is the name of thc lodge , and the medal is worn on a light blue

ribbon . Ibis lodge was formerl y clandestine , but became defunct , and some of its members being received and re-initiated in Lodge " Eotvos , " formed the present Lodge of the name in 1888 , working in German .

13 . A fine white medal of Lodge " Eotvos , " established in 1877 , and having an average membership of 45 . Scale 27 . On obverse , a sun , square and compasses , with legend " ¦ ' ' / , 877 Eotvos j ~ j O . ' . Budapest Kel . ' . "; and on reverse , surrounded by a wreath o oak and laurel , a bust of the late famous and liberal-minded state