At The Sign Of The Perfect Ashlar

to notice , been embellished with a number of interesting illustrations of Craft Masonic jewels , a description of which has been written by our well-known Bro . Robert Manuel , P . M . 1196 , and a member of the Board of General Purposes . S > « 3 » « S >

Our Masonic ancestors of the eighteenth century were very prone to fall into poetry , or more frequently doggerel , in describing the virtues and high ideals of the brethren of the mystic tie , as well as in presenting the lighter and more frivolous aspects of the Freemasonry of that day . Volumes

of verse of every degree of merit , except perhaps the highest , were issued from time to time , many , it must be confessed , of a sort that would not pass the severe criticism of tlie Mrs . Grand } 7 of to-day . But in this the Masonic poetaster merely shared the methods of his contemporaries .

The following reproduction from a newspaper of the year 1735 may be taken as a fair sample of the style of such compositions , and although the play at which the prologue was to have been spoken was apparently not performed , the writer evidently thought it too good to be lost to the world ,

and finding an editor of the same opinion , it has secured nearly two hundred years of immortality by being reprinted in a nineteenth century journal . What more could its author have hoped for ? © - © &

" PKOLOGUK intended lo have been spoken at the PLAY for the entertainment of the ancient and honourable order of FRKKMASOXS . " Ha !—what a noble show of aprons here ! Well !—who wou'd not such glorious badges wear ? Lo I ( indistinctly blended under these *

Peers , commoners , and men of all degrees ; Who in strict bonds of amity con \ o ' m Of masonry to reach the grand design- — Wit , virtue , learning , harmony divine . This the great order where mankind is blest

With all the soul can know 7 , or sense shou'd taste ; Whose science truely noble and sublime Is known t' have bore the test of searching time . Free-mason ' s art , which nothing can destroy , Ancient as that creation we enjoy , That down from Adam's to our present age

Stood proof ' gainst wars , floods , fire , —nay—pious rage . Discord has never once presum'd t' intrude Into one lodge throughout the brotherhood . There no religions , parties , nations , men Attempt each other's freedom to restrain ; But ( all distinctive titles laid aside ) ,

Peace is their aim , and virtue their chief pride . Not that we are of peace so meanly fond ( When honour calls to war ) that we'd despond . No—Each true mason here wou'd drain his blood For king , or country , or his brethren's good .

For you , fair circle , too , we'd do as much , Spite of whatever idiots may reproach , For tho' some dames suspect : we hate their sex ; Those dames who ' ve tried us , own—they're gross mistakes Then—wou'd I might ( methinks ) our myst ' ries tell ! Our art wou'd o'er the universe prevail . The world shou'd then admire our moral lessons :

And kings aspire to be accepted—masons . But vain my wish . ' where is the earthly crown That can new lustre add to our renown ? For tho' since Solomon grand master reign'd From each grand master we ' ve new splendour gain'd . The craft from Weymouth ' s dayes henceforth may date

Its glorious , blest , unalterable state ; Whence masons glory , grandeur , happiness ¦ Shall ne ' er diminish , as they can't encrease . "F . Bl . YTHK . " * Painting lo the Aprons .

•& "*> « 2 > Bro . W . J . Crawley , LL . D ., S . G . D . ( I . C . ) , has contributed to the pages of " Ars Quatuor Coronatorum" a highly

interesting and important article dealing with the family of the Wesleys or Wellesleys and its connection with Irish Freemasonry . The origin of the family from which our great Duke sprung is traced from Anglo-Norman times , and in the hands of Bro . Crawley the story is of fascinating interest ; but the most attractive feature in the article to

Freemasons is the fact that the future Duke of Wellington , then the Honourable Arthur Wesley ( for so at that time he spelt his name ) , a subaltern of the 12 th Light Dragoons , was initiated in the Trim Lodge , and was the third of the Wesleys of Dangan to sign the roll book . No date was

appended to the signature , but the corresponding entries in the Treasurer ' s book show that the admittance fee was paid on the 7 th December , 1790 , and the traditions of the lodge places the scene of the ceremony at Dangan Castle .

*• ¦©> < 3 > We cannot claim , however , that our renowned fellow Craftsman ever showed any special interest in Freemasonry ; indeed , his admittance into the Order took place in ( he month when he was seeking the suffrages of the electors of the

borough in which the lodge was held , and as Dr . Crawley 7 remarks , " what could be more natural than that he should seek to ingratiate himself with the local Freemasons by joining the local lodge ? That he did ingratiate himself is plain enough . He was returned for the Session opening 20 th

January , 1791 . It must be confessed , " our author goes on to say , "that the verb 'ingratiate' is not easily conjugated with Field-Marshall the Duke of Wellington as its subject , the more so as the Iron Duke some fifty years later declined to associate himself with the lodge or with Freemasonry—but that

was fifty years later . The newly-appointed aide-de-camp , the young Parliamentary hand , the entered apprentice Freemason plunged into the boisterous gaiety of the Viceregal Courts and sowed his wild oats after the manner of the generation . Who shall sav that the process was not a necessity for the

education , nay , the emancipation of ' the slender , hlue-eyed , hawk-nosed and rather sheep-faced boy' whom his mother believed to be hopelessly deficient in ability ? "

«> s > «• There could be little doubt that to a young man of his habits the idea of joining the lodge presented itself rather as a social event in an electioneering campaign—and the Parliamentary Mason has since had many

representativesthan as a solemn and serious covenant . It appears , however , that the Hon . A . Wesley continued a subscribing meniber of the lodge from December , 1790 , to December , 1 795 , when his Indian campaigns severed his connection with Trim .

« e < 5 > < 2 » On the removal of the old lodge to Dublin in 18 3 8 , the new Secretary , Bro . Edward Carlton , an eminent Dublin attorney , wrote to the Duke of Wellington soliciting his patronage , and asking permission to call the lodge by his

Grace ' s name , but the Duke was not in a compliant mood , and the application elicited the following reply : — " London , August 13 th , 18 3 6 . The Duke of Wellington presents his compliments to Mr . Carlton . He perfectly recollects that he was admitted to the lowest grade of Freemasonry in a lodge

which was fixed at Trim , in the county of Meath . He has never since attended a lodge of Freemasons . He cannot say that he knows anything of the art . His consent to give the lodge his name would be a ridiculous assumption ot the reputation of being attached to Freemasonry , in addition to

being a misrepresentation . The Duke of Wellington hopes , therefore , that Mr . Carlton will excuse the Duke for declining to comply with his suggestion . "

¦ £ y « $ ; < % ] , These extracts are of interest in establishing ( he fact that the Duke had become a member of the Fraternity , which for many years had been denied , although it must be confessed that the Craft gains little lustre from the conneclion , and ( hat his association with it possesses no features of interest beyond the bare historic record .