The Library And Museum Of The Grand Lodge Of England.

The Library and Museum of the Grand Lodge of England .

cTheir Origin and ^ Progress—( Continued . ) BY HENRY SADLER .

T 1 TE are precluded by want of space from giving \/ y prominence to many of the valuable donations , for which we are indebted to these brethren , but , as the originals are always on view , we would suggest that our readers come and see for themselves .

The handsome oval jewel , bearing in relief the figures of the three Grand Masters , who are said to have presided at the building of King Solomon ' s Temple , was one of the earliest contributions to the museum made by His Honour , Judge Philbrick , K . C .

( Photo JCIile Portrait Co . ) PAST IfASTKH'S JEWEL , ITS . ; . Pre / enleil hij . Imlije Pliilliriri ; P . G . M ' . We have several of a similar design but of different make , one of bronze , one of silver , and a third a beautiful specimen of Battersea enamel . They were used as presentation jewels to Past Masters of the " Modern" lodges in

ll'litiln Mite Portrait Cu . ) [{ OVAL AltCII I'lilNCIP . U / S JEWEL , Ism CENTU 11 V . J ' rrstulril / ,, / Qiori /' . A ' liniini / . ' Sim . the latter half of the i < Sth century . The one photographed for this paper is of more than usual importance , having an inscription on the back with particulars which are lacking

in others . The inscription is as follows : — " The Gift of the Patriotic Lodge to Robert Kidder , K . W . M ., for liis Steady and Upright Conduct , yune 2 , 9 , ij 8 $ . " The Patriotic Lodge was constituted at Croydon in 178 3 , and was erased from the list of lodges in 1822 , having been several years in abeyance . The line old 18 th century Royal Arch Principal ' s jewel r

one of several presentations , by George Kenning and Son , is unique , being the only example of the kind in our museum . The square and compasses are composed of paste brilliants ,. and the triple triangle in the centre is of garnets , set in silver , the frame work of the jewel being gilt . The unique silver

breast jewel , one of the gifts of Spencer and Co ., is , or was , worn by the members of the Lodge of St . John and St . Paul Malta . Bros . Henry G . and Walter Spilling , who are also liberal contributors to our museum , are here represented by a P . Z . jewel ot unusual design and excellent workmanship ,, presented by the Robert Burns Chapter , No . 25 , to one of its founders in 1850 .

U'lu'to Utile Portrait Co . ) MEM ' -l' - i'S JEWEL 01- ' J . OJXJU ST . J 01 J . V AND ST . PAUL . J ' rrti ' iitril 1 / 1 / Sjieiieer , f- Co . The handsome old collar jewel , given by Samuel VaJlentine , is deservedly much admired . It is composed of

the finest paste brilliants , red , white , topaz—yellow and green , artistically arranged , is apparently of French make , and was probably intended for the Master of a French Lodge in the hitter half of the 18 th century . Owing to the absence of colour the photograph hardly does justice to its beauty .

We consider that the gem of this class is the beautiful little Past Master ' s jewel , presented to Dr . Reynolds by the Royal Lodge in 1777 . It is of enamel and line gold , and the workmanship is of the highest order . The central emblems are of dark bluewith a border of red , on which is the

, motto , " Friendship and Benevolence " in gold letters . The border on the reverse is formed of clasped hands . So far as we know it is quite unique , for we are not aware of the existence of another of the same design . It was evidently