Frontispieces To The Book Of Constitutions.

Frontispieces to the Book of Constitutions .

THE ever growing scarcity of the earlier editions of the Book of the Constitutions of Freemasonry has rendered the artistic embellishments by which they are distinguished practically unknown to the general body of the Craft in the present day . Although three out of the four

Frontispieces here presented have already been reproduced by various authors and publishers , I believe this to be the first occasion on which the whole series has been conjointly depicted in one publication . I purpose offering a few brief observations on each in chronological order ; the lirst

therefore which claims our attention is that which adorns the premier edition , generally known as " Anderson ' s Constitutions , 1723 , " it was also used for the second edition , published in 173 8 .

KllONTISl'lEl'K TO CONSTITUTION'S , 172 H-17 SX . Oritjiutil «'; ' -, Hi 111 . hy ~\ in .

We learn from the imprint on the plate that this beautiful and carefully finished picture was " Engrav'd by John Pine in Aldersgate Slreel , London , " but unfortunately we are left in the dark as to the name of the artist or delineator . I think it highly probable that it was the work of more than one hand ,

which may to some extent account for the omission of the name of an artist . Hogarth , Sir James Thornhill , and Joseph Highmore were distinguished Masons as well as eminent in the world of art . They were all on intimate terms with Pineespecially was this the case with Hogarth and

, Thornhill ; hence it is possible that all three may have taken part either in the conception of the design or in the execution thereof . Pine himself seems to have taken a lively interest in the affairs of the Craft for many years , and it is doubtless to his fertile brain that we are indebted for the

Engraved Lists of Lodges , now known as " Pine's Lists , " which , although originally sold for half-a-crown , may now be considered invaluable . Thornhill designed the Frontispiece for the earlier editions of these Lists , the plate being also used in the Constitutions

of 173 8 ; he was made Senior Grand Warden in 1728 , and Highmore , Junior Grand Warden in 1727 . Hogarth was a Grand Steward in 1735 , and is traditionally credited with having designed a very handsome jewel to be worn by the Grand Stewards in future , one of which is now in the Grand Lodge Museum .

Pine ' s name appears in the Grand Lodge records as " Marshall Pine , " in connection with the public processions 011 the Grand Feast days ; he died in 1756 . With regard to the identity of the figures in this picture I am inclined to think that they are portraits of the Dukes of

Montague and Wharton with their Deputy Grand Masters and Grand Wardens , and that the scene is intended to represent somewhat vaguely the Installation , as Grand Master , of the Duke of Wharton , the stately looking personage in the robe and insignia of the Garter being the Duke of Montague ,

Grand Master in 1722 , in the act of handing the Constitutions and the Compasses ( the Grand Master's emblem of office ) to his successor , while in attendance are his Deputy , Dr . Beal , and the two late Grand Wardens , one of whom is holding the aprons and gloves in readiness for the investiture of the

new Grand Officers , the Deputy Grand Master , Dr . Desaguliers and the two new Grand Wardens . The fourth figure in the group to the left , which is only partly shown in the original , has been almost obliterated in this small reproduction . The architectural portion of the picture may be intended

to represent the Body of Masonry , which , Dr . Anderson , in the last paragraph of his book , says " resembles a well built Arch . "

In attempting an explanation of the Frontispiece used ^ -c the editions of the Constitutions of 175 6 and 1767 I find myself in a difficulty , for it seems to me rather too much " veiled in allegory , " although very slightly " illustrated by symbols . " I am somewhat at a loss to furnish a definite reason for the

presence in the picture of the handsome and well developed female which forms its most striking feature . Possibly the artist intended the lady to represent Masonry bearing the palm and crowned with laurel . Her right arm appears to be resting on the Grand Lodge Arms of the period , and on the

[¦ 'HONTISl'IKCK TO CONSTITUTIONS , 17 S