Provincial Grand Lodge Of New York Under The "Ancients."

' ng to £ 6 ns . " Now , Lodge No . 219 , according to the Ancient Lodi > e | jsts for 1 S 04 and 1 S 13 , the latter of which will be found in Bro . Gould's 11 Atholl Lodges , " was the Provincial Grand Lodge of New York , and consequently any irregularity noticeable in connection with its non-entry in the proceedings of the " Ancient " Grand Lodge , or its issue to the New York brethren , can only in . reason be accounted for by Bearblock ' s acknowledged omission oi the money paid in re ? psct of it from his accounts . vol the

On turning to the Athole Register , I find at p . 64 , . 7 , following entry , which I have been at the pains of transcribing literally : No . 219 . Provincial Grand Warrant for New York . 17 S 1 5 Sept . The Revd . William Waler , Esqr ., A . M ., P . G . Mr . John St . Browning , Esqr ., P . S . G . W . The Rev . John Brandsley , P . J . G . W . Reed , for Warrant 3 . 3 . o .

This entry , unless I am very grievously mistaken , is in the handwriting of Secretary Bearblock ; it certainly has about it the characteristics of his style , as will be apparent on comparing it with the writing in the Minute Book when he was Grand Secretary , and it would be his duty to write up the minutes of successive meetings . Moreover , there is no evidence in the Minute Book to show that the sum of £ 3 3 s ., though it was received by Bro .

Beaiblock , as acknowledged above , was at any time paid over by him to the Grand Treasurer , which confirms his statement in answer to Leslie ' s query that " these "—viz ., the sums received from Lodges 219 and 218 , which were both Provincial Grand Lodges— " were omissions amounting to £ 6 lis . " This carries us one step further in our enquiry as to the authenticity of the alleged "Ancient" Warrant of Constitution for establishing the Provincial

Grand Lodge of New York , and it shows that , though there is nothing in the " Ancient " minutes about the grant of any such warrant—an omission , by the way , which is very far from being unusual—there is an entry of the Warrant having been issued and paid for in the " Ancient " Lodge Register in what I consider is , beyond all doubt , the handwriting of the man—Charles

Bearblock—who was Grand Secretary of the " Ancients" at the time it was granted , and whose signature will be found at the foot of the document itself . It does not look as if there were anything " equivocal" about a Warrant of Constitution in favour of which such evidence as I have succeeded in accumulating can be adduced .

There is only one other remark which I feel called upon to make in reference to Bro . Findel ' s account of this alleged Provincial Grand Lodge warrant for New York , and the action taken under its authority by the New York lodges . Having stated that nine lodges—three town and six military —assembled on the 5 th December , 17 S 2—should be 5 th September— "in one Grand Lodge , " Me adds : " The brethren of the Lodge of the Regiment

'Seybothen ' ( Anspach-Bayreuth ) were Germans , and at their head was their Chairman , Max von Streit . " This was Lodge No . 215 , consecrated , as we have already seen , on the 21 st February , 1782 , by Bro . Rev . W . Walter , P . G . M . elect , acting as D . G . M ., under an authority from Bro . W . Dickey , D . G . M . England ; and , whatever might have been the nationality of its members , whether they were Germans or North American Indians , it would not invalidate the fact that this was an English lodge constituted by

warrant from and working under the " Ancient " Grand Lodge of England . I am at a loss to understand Bro . Findel ' s motive in introducing this remark , unless indeed it may have been to emphasise his objections to the Provincial Grand Lodge Warrant as a forgery by attempting to show that the Provincial Grand Lodge which was constituted under its provisions was formally inaugurated by lodges which had no right to be represented at , and take part in , its constitution . ( 7 b be continued . )

An Important Work.

AN IMPORTANT WORK .

Bro . W . T . R . Marvin , of Boston , U . S . A ., is now preparing a supplement to his invaluable work on " Masonic Medals , " and is naturally anxious to make the additional volume as complete and accurate as possible . I have promised to do my best relative to medals struck in England , Ireland and Scotland , other than those already described in his grand volume , as

well as generally to add to the number to be described , which hitherto have not been known to our indefatigable brother , who is the best authority on "Masonic Medallics . " Fortunately for us both , Bro . G . L . Shackles , of Hull , has promised to give us all the information in his power , based upon the splendid collection he has amassed , and as his Cabinet of Masonic

Medals is the largest , most varied and important in Europe , we have an abundant store to draw from . Then again , there is the unique Collection made by Bro * George Taylor , of Kidderminster , containing many pieces of special value and rarity , also the excellent Cabinets of curious and ancient medals owned by Bros . James Newton ( of Bolton ) , T . Lamb-Smith ( of

Worcester ) , Major Irwin ( of Bristol ) , and numerous others , which were kindl y lent for the Exhibitions held in York , Worcester , Shanklin , and Pl ymouth , which have done so much to aid in the study , description , and a Ppreciation of the Medallic Collections in this and other Countries . Bro .

I . B . Whytehead ( of York ) , was the originator of these valuable aids to Masonic Research and Study , and but for him and them , we should know much less than we do of the value and character of the Collections made by brethren and lodges , and of the treasures owned by some who do not belong to the Craft .

We want particulars of the following medals , or information as to their on gin , and communications thereon may be addressed to me at Torquay , or ° Bro . Shackles , of Hull . Descriptions of pieces not in the Catalogue of e four great Exhibitions named , and presumably unknown to us , will also ^ gladl y received at earliest convenience , for although the publication of ¦

- supplement will be delayed for some time , it is necessary to begin the cc umulation of suitable material at once . The sizes may be reckoned fording to the number of sixteenths of an inch , which is the standard adopted b y Bro . Marvin .

*• "The Bard of Avon Lodge , " now at Hampton Court , used to give § ° « dal ( value five guineas ) to be contended for at the Collegiate ^ ool , Stratford-on-A von . The competition was open to all the pupils and ° mpnsed an examination in English literature , Shakespeare , & c . Possibly ,

An Important Work.

owing to the removal of the lodge from Siratford-on-Avon , a few years since , that custom is not continued , but whether so or not , a description of the medal is much desired . 2 . In Marvin ' s " Masonic Medals , " No . XXXII ., a Scottish medal is described , which we considered to be about 1736 , but evidently it is some 15 years later . According to the excellent authority of the R . W . Bro .

Cochran-Patrick , the obverse contains a representation of the " New Exchange , " Edinburgh , the foundation-stone of which was laid September I 3 , 1753- I mention this now , that brethren may know of the date being approximately fixed , as it and two others ( now exceedingly rare as this one is ) were placed in that foundation-stone . The reverse of one of these two is the same as that of the medal before noted ( viz ., arms of the Grand

Lodge of Scotland arid motto , & c . ) Marvin ' s No . 32 is owned by Bro . Newton ( 34 Worcester and 317 Shanklin ) and the late Bro . C . Williams * ( 142 Worcester ) of England . An impression is in R . W . Bro . Cochran-Patrick ' s collection , and at the sale of Bro . Marvin ' s medals one was disposed of also . An engraving of the piece is to be found in " Masonic Magazine , " April , 1882 . The description by the R . W . Brother named is

more explicit in some respects than that previously given . "The Grand Master of the Scottish Freemasons [ George Drummond , Esq . ] , grasping the hand of a brother Mason , points to a seated figure ol silence , in the background is the new Exchange at Edinburgh , above are the sun and moon , with the seven stars of the Pleiades . Masonic implements lie about on the ground . Exergue AMICITIA VIRTUTE ET SILENTIO . " ( Per Bro . G . L . Shackles ) .

3 . Dr . Frazer , of Dublin , has a curious medal , as yet not identified . Obverse , "Cross of Malta , with old Castle , Church and Head , with Dagger at Angles . Legends , KILL-WININ and SPES MEA IN DEO EST . Reverse , two Masonic columns or pillars , the three lights and Masonic emblems . Legend , Virtuti et Silentio . " The owner considers it dates from 1700 to 1750 . It is of copper . Size 28 ( No . 494 Worcester . )

, 4 . A singular medal—so far unknown—is owned b y Bro . Dr . Frazer , the origin of which remains a mystery . It is oval in shape ( size 32 by 28 , of lead ) and is of ah unusual design . On one side is a figure between two columns and the legend at foot " GLORY BE TO GOD , " & C , and on the other , appirently lodge pavement , on which are three lights , according to the Scottish

custom . ( Master at the East and Wardens in the West ) , with emblems , & c . It was , however , found in Dublin quite recently . 1 must get an exact description , but the foregoing will do as a means of recognition ad interim . It is a puzzle to me , and I regret being unable to assist Dr . Frazer as yet with respect to its origin , & c .

. 5 . Bro . W . H . Rylands has a jewel , the use of which neither of us can fix . It is gilt , and size about 34 , the hanger being of crimson ribbon , & c . The jewel consists of three triangles of varying sizes , so as to include the whole in one jewel , only they hang loosely Irom the tops , and there is scroll work all over each .

6 . The Grand lyler of Grand Lodge of Massachusetts ( Bro . Parker ) wrote me about a jewel , or star , of five points , with raised rays , within being a circle pendant , enclosing a double triangle of five points , having the letter G in the centre . Around the circle are the letters " BB . H B . HH . FF . KK . " I do not believe it ij Masonic , but connected with another Society known to those who are familiar with the " Morgan Exposure , " by Thorne ( Devon ) .

7 . Bro . T . Lamb-Smith has a triangle of silver and pastes , which enclose , on a black ground , a square of gold resting on wreath of gold . Can any one enlighten us as to the purpose for which this was made and worn ? I shall probably write out another list ere long ; but meanwhile desire the aid of all interested in Masonic medallics in tracing the foregoing . W . J . HUGHAN .

Freemasonry In France.

FREEMASONRY IN FRANCE .

BY BRO * R . F . GOULD . The following paragraph , under the heading " News from Paris , " ap < = peared in the Daily News of the 17 th instant : — " Paris , Friday , Sept . 16 . " The Freemasons of France are holding their general assembly or convention at the Grand Orient . 275 lodges are represented there . Two ministers

attend the sitting—M . Heredia and M . Barbe , and an ex-Speaker of the Chamber , M . Brisson . Freemasonry was brought into France for the first time as a political organisation in the 18 th century , and united with the sect known as the Illuminati . In this country it was always hostile to the Monarchy , and unquestionabl y by its occult action helped to bring about

the Revolution . Louis Blanc thought it greatly helped to undermine Louis Phillippe . Freemasonry certainl y help ed MM . Brisson , Floquet , and other leading political men to rise to high situations . Gambetta seeing the influence of the Masonic organization joined it . The time at which he entered the Grand Orient was a time of reaction against Clericalism and

everything that was favoured b y the Reactionists of the Versailles Government . It was about then , on the motion , not of M . Littre but of a M . Massol , who entered in 1886 into a memorable controversy with Father Hyacinthe , that a convention held in the Rue Cadet erased the Great Architect of the Universe from the statutes of the French Masons . The actual convention

is debating whether it should not be restored , inasmuch as its omission has the effect of isolating the Grand Orient from the brethren of other countries and withdrawing it from the Universal Church of Freemasonry . The French brethren also have not admitted at the election for their Grand Council which has just taken place any Alsace-Lorrainers . They wish to be in amity

as Freemasons with the German lodges , to one of which the Emperor William and the Crown Prince belong . Of course this is without prejudice to their patriotic hopes as Frenchmen . The President of the Grand Council just elected by 200 votes is a Radical , and opposed M . Spuller at the last bye-election lor the Co te d'Or . " The Paris Correspondent of the Dail y News , though by no means a safe guide with regard to the past history of the Society , brings before us soma